"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted August 29, 2018
All thoughts of Mars or bricked roads were gone in a heartbeat as the wagon lurched precariously and the creature attacked the horse, the others panicking and fighting to get away from the danger. Speed drew his revolver and fired as he hung on for dear life.
The first shot went wide, the second creased the animal's head, the third grazed the thing's shoulder. But no real damage was done. Where was the shotgun? He continued to fire three more times but to no effect.
"Addy? Shotgun" He shouted trying to re-holster his pistol, finally tossing it in the back with the freight.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 5, 2018
With the forward momentum suddenly stopped, the wagon was at least relatively stable, if akimbo, and with Speed shooting at the bear, she was concentrating on the horses, but when he called for the shotgun, she nodded, bracing herself as she leaned down and probed for the weapon that was usually behind her feet on the floorboards.
"Spit an' tarnation!" she growled...there wasn't time for this! But finally her fingers closed around stock and she managed to drag it closer then pick it up. The chaos was disorienting, but Addy knew that panic would be deadly. "Loaded...just don' shoot me!"
And with that, she jumped to the ground then pulled her Bowie knife and started to cut the harness from the near wheeler, no easy task considering the horse was trying to climb over her to get away from the bear!
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted September 7, 2018
The chaos was disorienting, but Addy knew that panic would be deadly. "Loaded...just don' shoot me!"
“Not on your life” Speed responded fighting to hold on with one hand and taking the shotgun with the other. His intent was to kill the bear. The wagon was stopped, the cargo askew, the bear mauling the horse a Speed eared the hammers back and took aim.
And with that, she jumped to the ground then pulled her Bowie knife and started to cut? the harness from the near wheeler, no easy task considering the horse was trying to climb over her to get away from the bear! ?
As with all things in life, the unexpected happened just as Speed squeezed both triggers, the horse attempted to bolt throwing him off balance and both barrels sent buckshot into the night sky!
“Damn it!” Speed shouted.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 8, 2018
Addy heard the shout right after the shotgun went off and glanced toward Speed. It was apparent that the shots hadn't hit the bear, but the noise had spooked it and it paused in its attack, looking toward the wagon, then turning and running off.
Still, the horses were struggling, and Addy managed to free the horse she was with, then move to the next, the near lead. The draft horse was trying to get away, still, from the smell of its mate's blood, and Addy tried to calm it at the same time as dodging flailing hooves. Another slash of the knife on leather and the horse's big head swung around and caught her in the chest, knocking her back...
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted September 8, 2018
Speed leaped to grab the halter of the animal, though he knew he'd have a hard time of it holding the animal from bolting. The bear was lumbering off now in the distance. The threat appeared to be passed as the animal jerked free and bolted in the opposite direction of the bear.
The force generated by the horse drove Speed to the ground. He quickly regained his footing and turned, offering a hand to Addy. "You alright?" He asked, genuinely concerned. "How far you figure the horse will run?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 9, 2018
As the horse broke free, Addy scrambled back to avoid the hooves as the freed horse galloped away, then sighed and took Speed's hand, getting to her feet. "He'll likely run home," she commented, "I think we're close enough, an' they know th' way."
Sheathing the knife, she moved to the lead horse that was still standing and started unbuckling the harness. "Can ya get that other wheeler?" she asked Speed. Since the horses were relatively calm now they could take some time, although she added, "If he gets jumpy just go ahead and cut 'im loose." It was better not to ruin the harness, but the horses were a priority.
As she worked on the buckles, she glanced at the horse that was down. It was still moving, barely, and that along with the blood was worrisome, but he was either all right or not, and getting the other two animals away first wouldn't change anything. "We can ride these two back ta town, an'..." Well, in all honesty, despite her outward demeanor, she wanted to scream and cry all at once, but that wouldn't accomplish anything, and there was a lot to accomplish.
"Damm..." she muttered, shaking her head, "damm bear, pretty bold attackin' on th' road like this. We should let th' sheriff know." Thank god it hadn't been a lone rider who had bee attacked, that might have been real bad.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted September 11, 2018
"Damm..." she muttered, shaking her head, "damm bear, pretty bold attackin' on th' road like this. We should let th' sheriff know." Thank god it hadn't been a lone rider who had bee attacked, that might have been real bad.
Speed stood near dumbfounded. The shotgun had slammed back and popped him on the forehead. The was a slight trickle of blood, and the knot was rising. He exhaled heavily and said, "Damn is right. That horse looks done in. Shame." He wiped his forehead and looked at his hand. "I had thought to ride along with you too, might have been me."
He walked over to Addy. "Anything I can do here? Hell of a mess we got." He thought to find his pistol and then there was the shotgun to consider, though it was doubtful anyone would be along anytime soon, at least not till they got back to retrieve the wagon and its contents.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 16, 2018
Taking a breath, Addy looked up at the man, then grinned. "Well, yer bleedin', but yer standin', so I reckon we can worry on that later." Now that she thought about it, her ribs were hurting, and so was her knee, but not so much that it would stop her until she was done with what needed doing.
Her own pistol was still on her hip, and she reluctantly drew it then walked over to the downed horse. "Damn," she muttered softly, but then she pressed the pistol against the suffering animal's temple. "Hold them other two tight," she asked Speed, then pulled the trigger. She hated losing the animal, not only was it a big expense, but she liked her critters, and that had been a good one.
"Well, let's get ta town, get patched up, an' I need ta get back out here." Sleep wasn't going to happen tonight. "Ya ride bareback all right?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted September 17, 2018
He gripped the harnesses of the town animals just as Addy squeezed the trigger. Sad end, but more humane than leaving it to bleed out. The animals barely flinched at the shot, snorted wanting to toss their heads. "I'll get my pistol, it's in the wagon bed. You leaving the shotgun or taking it?" He didn't know if she owned the weapon or if it might belong to the freight company if in fact there was one. "Bareback? Since I was a boy."
He rummaged through the back quickly and found his revolver, checking and replacing loads, then putting in in the holster. Grabbing the horses mane he swung up on the horse. "Think that bear'll be back?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 22, 2018
Addy shuddered at the thought of the bear returning. Bad enough the poor hose was mauled and killed, but she'd rather it not be eaten, too. "Likely," she commented, handing the shotgun up to Speed, then swinging up onto the remaining horse. "If not the bear, cyotes, wolves..."
Sighing, she nudged the horse into a fast walk. "Not how I planned this ta go," she muttered, "an' I hope that wagon's still there when I get back." It was nearly dark now, but at least the two of them could move faster this way. "Dang! That was a good animal, an' expensive, too. Just hope th' other's back at the' barn." This was her own business, her own team..."Hope that wagon ain't too broke, neither. Might hafta patch it together." Lordy, it was going to be a long night!