Analog SFF, May 2011 by Dell Magazine Authors

Author:Dell Magazine Authors
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dell Magazines

Short Story: THE WOLF AND THE PANTHER WERE LOVERS by Walter L. Kleine

Some bedfellows are even stranger than they look. . . .

Ace Craddock leaned back in his chair on the sagging veranda of Slow Eddie's Last Chance Saloon and Hotel. Ira and Silas, the two old-timers he was jawing with, not only didn't know they were his marks, they wouldn't even know they'd been marked and taken by poor “sickly” ol’ Arnold Craddock when he left town on the Monday stage.

"Purty sunset, ain't it, Arnold?” said Silas, with a hidden chuckle.

The chuckle alerted Ace, telling him he wasn't the only one playing games in this town. “Sure is,” he said, dutifully looking down Main Street, squinting into the soft glare of the huge orange ball hanging above the hills. He saw the reason for Silas’ chuckle.

A wolf and a panther strolled past Widow Mullins’ little slumping-in-the-wind shack, Parson O'Grady's church and parish house, and the Wells Fargo stage stop, straight toward Slow Eddie's like two old lovers come to town for an evening of fun, sport, and amusement.

The great, grizzled gray wolf looked older, and maybe wiser, than the hills. The panther, bigger than any mountain lion had a right to be, was in the prime of life, her coat more golden than sunset.

They passed women and children on the warped board sidewalks. The children waved. Their mothers smiled indulgently.

Ace stared, slack-jawed, like the city slicker he was supposed to be. Some old carny lived here, probably Silas. The geezer must have trained the animals just to have something to do; something he could use to spook tenderfoots, like Ace pretended to be.

Best watch out for Silas, Ace told himself. Carnies knew cards.

Because he knew they expected him to react, Ace scrambled to his feet, wicker chair overturning behind him, right hand clawing awkwardly for his six-gun. He was faster than most gunslingers west of the Mississippi, but was no more about to let them see it than he'd let himself get hanged for shooting some mark.

"Easy, young feller.” Silas’ hand clamped on his with strength surprising for an old man. “Easy now. I know it ain't, uh, you know, usual, exactly, but them there's old friends. No need to worry yore head about ‘em. Jus’ don't get in their way when they've had a few. Siddown, now. You don't want to be rude and act like they was somethin’ odd, do you?"

Pressure urged his gun hand gently but firmly down. He let the gun slide back into his oiled leather holster and righted his chair.

"Them there's Lupe and Kitty,” said Ira. “Thought they'd show up tonight."

"Yup,” said Silas.

He'd play their game, Ace decided, feeling his blood race with the joy of meeting a real challenge. Who'd have thought he'd find it in Wiggin's Creek, Population 76?

"Fine-looking couple, Silas,” he said with the practiced sincerity of a lifetime lived by controlling cards and marks.

"Shore are,” said Silas. “Why, I remember when they first showed up. Winter of ‘66 it

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.