Foundling
by Sevenstars
SUMMARY: Just a little speculation on the origin of Mike's pet fawn Twink, introduced in "The Accusers." Thanks to Noelle for beta reading.
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Whoa, Trav. Whoa! What—
Oh. I see. Dead deer... easy, now, easy!
Looks like a lion got it. Tracks... yeah. Not a big'n as lions go, but still... too dang close to where our cattle range.
Ain't been a lion this part of Sherman high range since before I come here, to hear Slim tell it. Must be a young'n, just findin' a huntin' ground of his own. Might be we better think on settin' some traps.
Best get home and tell Slim...
—What was that?
Dang, if it don't sound like a lamb... can't be some fool runnin' sheep up here, can it? On Sherman land? Slim'll go through the roof. Wouldn't be too dadgum pleased about it myself, I reckon.
Sounds like it's in that plum thicket... whoa, boy, lion's long gone.
Well, what do you think about that.
A fawn.
Just a little muley fawn. Shucks, I didn't know they made a sound like that.
Hey, little feller. Why, you ain't one bit a-scared of me, are you?
Now don't you— Oh. I get it. That's your mamma out yonder, ain't it? She's so chawed on I couldn't rightly tell was she buck or doe.
She must'a' been comin' back to get you when the lion jumped her. Lucky you wasn't with her, or he'd'a' had him a nice dessert.
Only...
Aw...
You're still sucklin', ain't you? That's why you ain't scared of me. You're too little to know about human folks. Your ma, she never got the chance to teach you.
What am I gonna do about you? I leave you here, you'll starve, if the lion don't get you first.
Know what I oughtta do. Same as we'd do with a newborned calf on a drive. Shoot you.
Never could stand to do that job.
'Course lots of times you can find a farmer who'll take a calf or two... some of 'em build up fair-sized herds, adoptin' giveaways like that.
Only farmers ain't interested in raisin' deer, are they?
Hey, leave off my jacket! I ain't your ma, little feller.
You're kinda cute, ain't you? Look at them spots. And long legs like a colt, and worse at makin' 'em do what you want. Whoa! There, that's just what I was talkin' about.
Oh, no, Jess, don't you start gettin' attached. What'd you ever do with a fawn, anyhow?
Now if Andy was here, 'stead of in St. Louis... shoot, he fetched home that wolf pup that one time... fawn can't be no more work...
But he ain't here.
But Mike is.
No, now, Jess—not without you ask Slim first—Lord knows he come close to losin' his temper over Andy's pets more'n one time...
Aw, what can he do to me, shoot me?
Bet'cha he couldn't no more shoot this little feller than I could.
So, I reckon there ain't but one thing to do.
Come on, now, you little wobbly-legs—come to Uncle Jess—
Why, shoot, he don't weigh no more'n a good-size dog.
Whoa, there, boy. Steady. Ain't but a little fawn, he won't hurt you none...
...that's it. There, see, you can't hardly feel him up there, can you?
All right, let's go. Wonder what Mike'll say when he sees'im.
Wonder what Slim will.
Aw, you ain't scared of Slim, are you, Harper?
...Dang right you are, sometimes. Not this time, though. Like you told him one time, man's gotta keep good in his own eyes. Couldn't'a' done that if I'd left this little feller behind, or popped a cap on him.
Let's go home, Trav.
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Note: Yes, I know Twink is a little girl, but Jess hasn't bothered to try to sex her yet...