Posted December 14, 2022
"Now thet sounds ta be a good idea, Justus. 'cours now we need to keep are eyes open an' the horses close. Game's one thing, injus is another, but I think we'll be alright, an' the horses could use a long drink an' some rest."
Justus knew that the chances of game coming to drink were good, but would they be in the right spot, and would they come down with the scent of man? Questions that would be answered soon enough. The thought of hostiles coming upon them? Fair, maybe.
"No nappin' now, this is bidness we're about." He added with a smile.
Posted December 15, 2022
"Ah, well, ya ruined my plans!" Justus chuckled, finding a spot that was shaded by a thicket of trees, and gave them a good view of the open space around the water.
After giving Mule a lemon drop from his pack, Justus pulled out some biscuits and jerky they'd been given for lunch and offered some to Pythias. Hopefully, game would come along soon, they didn't have long to linger here, and it wasn't essential that they being back a deer.
Posted December 15, 2022
"Right purdy country. it is. No wonder the Injuns wanna hang onto it." Pythjias observed as the river moved slowly by, on it's journey to where? It didn't matter. "We should oughtta fill are canteens while we're loafin' here."
The former scout had his rifle at his side, hoping they would get lucky and tote some venison back to the herd. Be a welcome change from salt pork, jerked beef, or rabbit. Not that rabbit was bad, it just wasn't often anyone caught one. they dared not fire a shot for fear of a stampede.
Posted December 16, 2022
"Not loafin'." Justus grinned, fetching the canteens. "It's hard work watchin' fer game...gotta sit real still all that time."
Chuckling, he headed to the water to fill the canteens, then made his way back. "Can't actually say as I ever actually just sat an' waited fer deer ta come along." He'd shot deer before, but those had been ones he'd come across on the trail.
They hadn't been there but a few minutes when a buck and three females wandered from the trees and down to the water to drink. Justus glanced at Pythias and whispered, "I can take th' on on th' far left."
If they coordinated their shots, they could bring down two of the animals, with luck!
Posted December 16, 2022
"We take the buck, leave the does." Pythias said sternly. "He'll be a plenty to clean and take back." He smiled, "Take him."
Pythias had as good a shot as Justus, but let him be the one to take the buck, they dress him out, and the hide would be his to do with as he pleased. Easier to haul the one back, than two, though the doe's would be lighter and easier to manage.
Doe's make bucks and does as well, that keeps the population up. There was no law against shoot anything a man wanted to shoot, but it was just they Pythias believed. He watched as Justus got set.
Posted December 17, 2022
Justus nodded, deferring to the older man's wishes. Slowly, he raised the rifle and took aim at the buck, taking a breath as he relaxed his body, waiting. When the buck finally raised his head from his drink, Justus squeezed off a shot, catching the animal in the head and dropping it to the ground in that instant as the does scattered.
Glancing at Pythias, he grinned. "Venison fer supper!" And then it occurred to him that if they hauled the carcass back to the drive, then headed out again, they weren't going to have the benefit of the change of meat.
"Reckon it's still gonna be jerky an' biscuits fer us anyway, huh?" He stood and brushed dirt from his pants before grabbing Mule's reins so they could fetch the kill.
Posted December 17, 2022
"Nope, t'aint. We'll be first in line fer supper. Good shot, Justus." Pythias said. "Let's get to dressin' him out load up an' clear outta here. Thet shot'll be heard a long ways."
So they made their way to the kill and began the task of dressing it out, burying the guts and such, then bundling the meat in the hide to take back to the herd which would not be that far back of them.
"Should'a had a pack animal along." Pythias bemoaned as he worked on a simple travois to haul the meat bac. "This'll leave a trail straight back to the herd. That is, if anyone's nosin' around after your shot. Let's get a move on. I'll tow, you lead out an' keep thet Winchester ready."
There was no telling what that shot would stir up, so both men would be prepared to defend their kill and themselves.
Posted December 18, 2022
The physical work and change of pace was actually welcome from the long hours in the saddle, and Justus was looking forward to getting their prize back to the herd.
"If anything follows us back, we'll just ask 'em ta supper!" He chuckled, letting Mule take the lead, his rifle resting across his lap. If there was anyone fixing to take them on, he figured they'd likely have attacked by now, but that didn't mean they couldn't be following them back to the herd, so he stayed alert.
It was a time later that they spotted the herd ahead of them, and he slowed a bit to let Pythias move up beside him.
"Looks like they're makin' good time," he commented, "oughta be good an' hungry by now!"
Posted December 18, 2022
"They're always good an' hungry." Pythias said, "and they are making good time."
Craddock and Tisdale were on point and broke into a gallop the greet the two.
"Whatcha got there Pythias? Sompin' good?" Tisdale asked as he and Craddock turned to join the.
"Fresh venison, Justus he took him with one shot." Pythias bragged.
"Well, there'll be good eaten fer a number of days startin' tanight!!" Craddock exclaimed. "Good goin' there kid!"
The chuck wagon was again at the front of the herd and close to the group of riders who sat waiting.
Posted December 19, 2022
"There wasn't any wind, an' he turned his head just right fer me," Justus commented, not accustomed to the praise. I was just lookin' forward ta a change from beef!"
He chuckled and grinned, although he had no complaints about the meals. "Just a bit of a change, an' better us than th' wolves."
Tonight would be a little more work for the cooks, since they had to clean the carcass, but after that it would be a matter of just using the meat however he wanted to, and Justus was certain it would be tasty!