Chapter 14
Amos Slade sat where he was staring forward with a look of pure disbelief on his face. The Widow Tweed appeared to not notice the hunter's look as she continued milling about her kitchen. Andy remained where he was sitting at the table, looking at the widow with a look of confusion, not judging, just trying to figure out the logic behind what the widow had just said.
"You have got to be kiddin' me?!" Amos exclaimed, breaking the awkward silence as he rose from the table slightly, "What gives you the right to--!". The widow turned around, "Amos Slade, sit down!" she said. Amos' fist which he had raised during his protest, stayed in the air for a bit as his face got redder before he finally lowered it, slamming it down on the table.
"I'll do anything I've a mind to woman!" he said, "and you aint got no right meddelin' when it aint none of your business!". The widow had been removing her apron and she now laid it on the counter with a slap, a light slap but a slap all the same. "Now you see here Amos, I've been living just a ways from you for quite a while and I aint seen nothing good ever come out of your taking off to them woods and hunting--".
"So yer spyin' on me!" Amos exclaimed, "Why you meddlin'--". The widow held up her hand, "I aint done!" she said, putting her hands on her hips and literally glaring at Amos, "Now like I was saying, I've never seen any good come of your hunting trips, and now with your teaching Andy here" she said, indicating to the teen with her arm, "Why there's been nothing but trouble for the boy since you started! First with his poor puppy getting almost killed by an adult fox, as he said, and then loosing her on your last trip, even though you had experience dogs who's job it is to track things, and now--".
"Have you got cotton in yer ears or are ya just not listenin!" Amos interrupted, "We found that pup thanks TO good ol' Copper and Chief!".
"And how did she get lost in the first place?" The widow asked, "if your dogs are so skilled and you and them know everything". Amos' face got red again and he tried to form a response yet found he couldn't make any words come intelligible out of his mouth.
Andy turned to the widow, "Mrs. Tweed, I--I like hunting with Mr. Amos" he said, "He hasn't forced me into anything". The widow sighed, "I know Andy. I know you honestly mean that, but I don't think you know any better, honey".
By this point, Amos had found some of his voice, "you got no right!" he said, jumping up from the table. "If Andy says he enjoys huntin' then who are you to go meddlin' and tellin' him he can't! You aint exactly the boy's mother!".
The widow came closer to the table. "No, but I seem to be the only responsible adult who's looking out for him! Amos, Andy has a criminal record now because of you!".
"I didn't have nothing to do with that!" Amos exclaimed at the top of his lungs as he slammed his hat down on the table. He glared at the widow for a bit longer before picking his hat back up and striding purposefully towards the door. "Come on boy" he said to Andy, "we don't have to listen to this!".
"Amos, Andy's staying here" Widow Tweed interjected. Amos had just reached the door and as he gripped the handle he turned to the widow. Widow Tweed continued, "Both him and Chipi. I think it's best if they take a break from hanging out around your place for a bit".
Andy remained where he was sitting at the table not knowing what to do or say. Amos continued to glare at the widow before forcefully pushing the door open, "Fine, I'll go get the pup and bring her by. But one week and then I have to get the both of them back on their hunting training!".
"We'll see" Widow Tweed replied as Amos left her house and angrily strode over towards his place to go get Chip to drop her off. "Dang female!" he muttered, "Now once she lets them out of their "house arrest" Chief and Copper are gonna have to work extra hard to get that pup back on track!".
Amos Slade sat where he was staring forward with a look of pure disbelief on his face. The Widow Tweed appeared to not notice the hunter's look as she continued milling about her kitchen. Andy remained where he was sitting at the table, looking at the widow with a look of confusion, not judging, just trying to figure out the logic behind what the widow had just said.
"You have got to be kiddin' me?!" Amos exclaimed, breaking the awkward silence as he rose from the table slightly, "What gives you the right to--!". The widow turned around, "Amos Slade, sit down!" she said. Amos' fist which he had raised during his protest, stayed in the air for a bit as his face got redder before he finally lowered it, slamming it down on the table.
"I'll do anything I've a mind to woman!" he said, "and you aint got no right meddelin' when it aint none of your business!". The widow had been removing her apron and she now laid it on the counter with a slap, a light slap but a slap all the same. "Now you see here Amos, I've been living just a ways from you for quite a while and I aint seen nothing good ever come out of your taking off to them woods and hunting--".
"So yer spyin' on me!" Amos exclaimed, "Why you meddlin'--". The widow held up her hand, "I aint done!" she said, putting her hands on her hips and literally glaring at Amos, "Now like I was saying, I've never seen any good come of your hunting trips, and now with your teaching Andy here" she said, indicating to the teen with her arm, "Why there's been nothing but trouble for the boy since you started! First with his poor puppy getting almost killed by an adult fox, as he said, and then loosing her on your last trip, even though you had experience dogs who's job it is to track things, and now--".
"Have you got cotton in yer ears or are ya just not listenin!" Amos interrupted, "We found that pup thanks TO good ol' Copper and Chief!".
"And how did she get lost in the first place?" The widow asked, "if your dogs are so skilled and you and them know everything". Amos' face got red again and he tried to form a response yet found he couldn't make any words come intelligible out of his mouth.
Andy turned to the widow, "Mrs. Tweed, I--I like hunting with Mr. Amos" he said, "He hasn't forced me into anything". The widow sighed, "I know Andy. I know you honestly mean that, but I don't think you know any better, honey".
By this point, Amos had found some of his voice, "you got no right!" he said, jumping up from the table. "If Andy says he enjoys huntin' then who are you to go meddlin' and tellin' him he can't! You aint exactly the boy's mother!".
The widow came closer to the table. "No, but I seem to be the only responsible adult who's looking out for him! Amos, Andy has a criminal record now because of you!".
"I didn't have nothing to do with that!" Amos exclaimed at the top of his lungs as he slammed his hat down on the table. He glared at the widow for a bit longer before picking his hat back up and striding purposefully towards the door. "Come on boy" he said to Andy, "we don't have to listen to this!".
"Amos, Andy's staying here" Widow Tweed interjected. Amos had just reached the door and as he gripped the handle he turned to the widow. Widow Tweed continued, "Both him and Chipi. I think it's best if they take a break from hanging out around your place for a bit".
Andy remained where he was sitting at the table not knowing what to do or say. Amos continued to glare at the widow before forcefully pushing the door open, "Fine, I'll go get the pup and bring her by. But one week and then I have to get the both of them back on their hunting training!".
"We'll see" Widow Tweed replied as Amos left her house and angrily strode over towards his place to go get Chip to drop her off. "Dang female!" he muttered, "Now once she lets them out of their "house arrest" Chief and Copper are gonna have to work extra hard to get that pup back on track!".