"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted March 31, 2019
Addy glanced at Hannah. "I can follow at a distance with a buckboard an' th' doc, carry supplies, food, water..."
"I'll ride along with the wagon if you don't mind." Speed offered, although it had been made clear he was going back for the wagon with Addy. "One more gun and another set of eyes couldn't hurt, I've a Shapes 45-70 that I'd like to retrieve before we set out. It'll pack a punch if need be." Truth be told, Speed would just as soon not have another encounter with the beast. However, if that were to happen, he'd like to have the firepower to knock it down, if not kill it.
Posted April 7, 2019
Hannah got the doctor a cup of coffee and nodded at Mr. Guyer, "The heavier weapon is a good idea. We'll wait here for you."
She then grinned at the doctor, "I am sure you will get plenty of business before this bear is located and killed. He - or one like him - raided the area a few years back. Never did find the animal. Around here, people call him Old Satan. Is it's the same bear, he's missing one eye and has some scar tissue on his face from being burned. Uncommonly large for a bear native to these parts too." Hannah shook her head and sighed, "Last time, Old Satan cost the farmers and ranchers plenty before he disappeared."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted April 8, 2019
As Hannah spoke to the Doctor, Speed rose and started for the door, looking to Addy he said loud enough for all to hear, "Back shortly." and went out the door into the crisp morning air. The gun would be in his room and would take mere minutes to retrieve.
The air was refreshing and served to wake him from whatever drowsiness remained. He picked up his pace, they would need to be heading out soon, the sky was getting light in the east as the dawn approached, there was little time to waste.
He reached his room, took up a cartridge belt with the heavy caliber cartridges some thirty in all, far more than he might need, but better too many than not enough. He double checked his pistol loads, satisfied he did not bother with replacing the empty loops, four I all, of the twenty on the pistol belt.
Draping the canvas cartridge belt over his torso, and taking up the rifle he headed back out into the dawn of a new day, hoping that somehow the bear would be found and destroyed without further loss of stock or human life, though he was unaware of any humans being attacked to this point.
He stepped into the Marshal’s office and announced, “Ready when you are.”
Posted May 25, 2019
Hannah waited while everyone filed out of the Marshal's office so that she could lock up. She had sent word to her father about what had happened and that he was needed in early. It would not be that long before the day shift would come in anyway. While the others got situated, Hannah slipped her gelding's halter off, bridled him, slid her rifle into its scabbard and vaulted easily onto his back. Jingo snorted and whipped his short brush-like tail back and forth.
Backing the horse up, she nodded toward the trail, "Lead on." Hannah was not wild about the idea of heading out before sunrise. She did not think, even with Speed's heavier gun, that they were equipped to handle a beast like the bear was reported to be.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted May 25, 2019
Addy had the buckboard hitched and ready to go, and the doctor was just returning with his bag and some other supplies. And not only had Addy grabbed some blankets and spare water, and she'd had the owner of the cafe make up some food for them, in case they were gone a long time.
As Hannah and Speed started out, she snapped the lines and got the buckboard moving, then started out of town. "It's near th' road," she told Hannah, "at least it won't be hard ta find, 'bout two miles out."
It wasn't too difficult to pinpoint the spot, the road showed the signs of a struggle, even though the wagon and dead horse were out of sight in the trees. "This is where we got attacked," she commented, pulling the wagon to a stop. The horses could smell the blood and were restless, but stayed in place. "Doc, we can load yer gear on th' buckboard here." Hopefully, Hannah and Speed would pick up a trail, and hopefully it wouldn't go too deeply into the woods, where the backboard couldn't follow.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted May 27, 2019
We can scout around first, see if there are any fresh tracks.” Speed offered. “Although, something’s got to the horse, so maybe he’s not too far off. Best be on our guard.”
He was concerned that the bear might be close, though he seriously doubted it would come after four people. Though, who was he to be sure of anything a bear might do at any given time. So he’d watch the landscape and the horse's ears for any sign of danger. He looked to Addy and the Doc.
"You two gonna be alright here?" He asked concerned that the bear might, in fact, be back for the carcass. Then looking to Hannah, "Anything Sheriff?"
Posted June 13, 2019
Hannah dropped to the ground and looped Jingo's reins over the buckboard's seat support. She did not tie them. If the bear came back, she wanted the feisty mustang able to escape. She also levered a cartridge into the chamber of her rifle. Moving cautiously and keeping a wary eye on her surroundings, Hannah approached the carcass of the dead horse. She noted that it had been dragged a few feet which indicated the strength of the animal they were looking for. This made her already wild hair stand a bit on end.
"Looks like he killed just to be killin'," Hannah said as she paused near Speed's horse. "I'm gonna start looking for his tracks by walking a widening circle." She shook her head, "I almost hope we don't find him."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted June 14, 2019
Addy nodded. "We'll stay on th' road and in th' open," she told Speed, "an' I got th' shotgun." Of course, even so, it was a gamble, that bear had proved to be bold and unpredictable, and if he came charging at them, there really wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Best get ta movin' this equipment," she commented to the doctor, giving him a no-argument look when he appeared ready to protest. "C'mon an' grab an end." She wasn't doing this alone!
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted June 14, 2019
"Looks like he killed just to be killin'," Hannah said as she paused near Speed's horse. "I'm gonna start looking for his tracks by walking a widening circle." She shook her head, "I almost hope we don't find him."
"He is, well meaning no offense to the fairer sex, but I'd agree, this one's going to be a handful when we do find him." Speed remarked. "Wished I had Sharps fifty along about now." The power of his wished for rifle was well known. He scanned the horizon looking for a sign of the animal, but there was nothing to see other than trees and prairie grass. "I'd say there'd be some torn up ground as he was running when last we saw him, uh, it."
Posted June 28, 2019
Hannah grinned at Guyer's ongoing attempts at not being offensive, "I think we can safely call it a him. After all, if it's Ole Satan, then prevailing legend states that its a boar," she gave the proper gender name for male bears.
She continued to walk in ever-widening circles until she spotted some dirt that looked a bit churned up. Kneeling down, Hannah gently traced the disturbed ground with one finger. She knew enough about tracking to know that the depth of the track indicated an animal of unprecedented size and weight. It fit right in with the reports coming in from around the region. The track also headed west where, if the bear kept going, it would meet the border of Lost Lake Ranch.
"Mr. Guyer, looks like it may have headed this way," Hannah said, pointing her rifle in the direction of the track.