Buffalo Skull by Russ Hall

Author:Russ Hall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western, comanches, cattle ranchers, Texas rangers, growing up
Publisher: Renegade Rhino Press
Published: 2017-09-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Justin woke up to the hollow rumble of Francis still snoring, the dry wooden walls and roof echoing and magnifying the sound. The big man lay in the middle of the goat shed shelf where all three of them were supposed to sleep. But he’d used the excuse of an injured left arm to sprawl out and take almost all the space. Just this once the boys had let him. Scamp was on his bedroll out in the open and Justin had at least snagged the blanket away from Francis. It had been a pleasant night to sleep under the stars, which were fading now as the gray of dawn crept upward from the horizon and across the sky.

He pushed the edge of the blanket off and stood. He reached for his boots, shook them upside down first to check for scorpions, then pulled them on.

Though the sky was barely light, he saw Aunt Sara out in front of the house pumping water into a bucket. He rose and headed toward her. As he went, he glanced out to the goat pasture and saw Button pouring a bucket of water into the trough there. She had to put up with Boxo nudging her playfully and the goats crowding around close, bleating and wanting a touch from her as well.

“I trust Scamp isn’t going to sleep the day away. He’s supposed to put out some feed for the goats.” Sara kept pumping as she spoke.

“He was just stirring when I started this way.” Justin glanced toward the goat pen again, watched Button rubbing the thick fur of Boxo’s head.

“Don’t let your tomorrows get in the way of your todays.”

He looked back to Aunt Sara. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re pining and thinking ahead to what might be. Don’t forget to breathe, to savor the clean air, to enjoy a bit of tasty food, or the comfort to be had from a loyal soft-headed animal.”

“You think me and Button . . .”

“I don’t think any such thing. I think you’re a young boy, so it’s normal you go soft in the head from time to time. But I’m telling you not to miss the fun of growing up. Now you’d best get to your chores. You’re weeding in the garden today.”

“You’re the only one I know who can talk about having fun and doing chores in the same breath.”

“That’ll give you something to mull over while you’re getting after them chores.”

Justin glanced back toward the goat shed, saw that Scamp was up and heading this way. He heard Button’s voice. She was almost to them, carrying the empty bucket.

“You did a right good job of scaring off those Comanches, Justin. But I doubt you could have done them any harm with Francis’s little gun.” She held up a hand to hide a giggle.

“Well, not on purpose.” Justin grinned. “But it has a heck of a kick and makes noise. That’s all I could hope for until you all showed up with the long guns.

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