The Trouble with Drifters
Chapter 34: Teaching the Teacher
Thor snorted then shook his mane (A/N1) enjoying nature once again. Being confined to a small space wasn't his idea of 'fun'. He did however enjoy talking with the other animals. Betsy had a good personality, Hanna is funny and Poseidon was a jerk. Poseidon acted like royalty when in reality he was just another horse. Thor didn't care though; he and Jonathon were on the hunt once again. Soon they'd be running down Indians and criminals doing what they do best.
-Talking-
The three men were two miles west of town before Daniel spoke. This caused Kowalski to smile holding his hand out to his friend. "Charles did I say something funny? I just commented on how bumpy the trail is." Daniel asked pushing his glassed up for what felt like the hundredth time. "Thanks Danny boy, you just cost me $50.00. I'll pay up when we stop Kowalski." Jonathon said in annoyed tone. "How did I cost you money? I'm just starting a conversation." He replied placing his glasses in the coat pocket giving up on keeping them on. "We made a bet on how long before spoke. Jack said you'd start talking before we left town." Kowalski answered with a chuckle. Daniel didn't know how to respond, he could be quiet if need be. However talking is what he did best, how he earned his living.
"Don't be so surprised Daniel, you could talk the ears of a jack rabbit." Jonathon added while keeping an eye out for trouble. He had come into town the same way. The difference being his thoughts weren't clear as they are now. The way Inara 'welcomed' him to town was unique and really enjoyable, made him feel human again to be honest. Then seeing his friend Kowalski along with Janet and Cassandra helped greatly. Samantha, well...she is another story all together. Intelligent, beautiful, and honest were a few words that could describe her. "I can't imagine being out here without having anyone to talk with." Daniel replied waving his hand around. "Jack talked with himself, that way he gets all the right answers." Kowalski answered looking over his shoulder at the teacher. "Na, I talk with Thor and Homer. They have more sense than most of the criminals I captured." Jonathon responded looking for a good place to stop. "I couldn't go without someone to talk to; I'd go crazy out here by myself." Daniel replied ignoring the bounty hunters comment about talking with his horse and mule. "Jack is part crazy already, that makes him immune." Kowalski added with a chuckle.
-Did you aim there-
"This looks like a good spot campers, we'll stop here." Jonathon said moving Thor of to the right. "Why are we stopping Jack, Reynolds Ranch is another 10 miles down the road." Kowalski asked following his friend. "Is someone following us Mr. Wayne, perhaps Indians or maybe even some of the rustlers?" Daniel said looking around getting excited; maybe he'd see the bounty in action. Wayne had gave him a rifle to carry despite his objection, would he have to use it? "No one is following us professor. We are stopping so you can familiarize yourself with a firearm. This place is good as any." The teacher had thought Wayne was joking about teaching him to shoot. Janet told him he wasn't but didn't believe her. Why would he care one way or another? "Why is it necessary for me to learn?" Daniel asked from Poseidon. "You're a man aren't you?" Kowalski asked as he dismounting from Betsy as if it was obvious. "I am, but I fail to see the connection. Not knowing how to shoot doesn't make me less of a man than you or him!" he responded while getting off his horse. "Danny Boy, once you're married it'll be your job to protect Janet and Cassie. Janet knows how to use a firearm because I taught her. That doesn't give you an out though. I'm going to ensure you're able to do that." Jonathon answered looking him in the eyes. Daniel understood now. Jonathon is entrusting him with Janet and Cassandra's lives. He wouldn't always be around to protect them against the evils of the world.
"Since you put it that way I can't argue." Daniel replied following the other two men. "There wouldn't have been to begin with because you don't have a choice in the matter." Jonathon replied pulling his the rifle from the scabbard. "Follow me professor, your about be educated in reality." Daniel looked at Kowalski then the backside of the bounty hunter. "Better get moving professor, he's dead serious...no pun intended." Kowalski told the perplexed man. "Are you coming Danny Boy?" Jonathon asked leaning the rifle against a tree.
"Kowalski, why don't you try out your new pistols? Show the professor how it's done." He added motioning Daniel over to where he stood. "Sure, I'll go first. That way you can show me up." Charles replied walking up to the clearing. "Watch Kowalski Danny Boy, speed and accuracy is the key. I don't expect you to be good as him or me." Jonathon told him focusing on his friend. He hoped Charles hadn't lost his touch. Drinking takes its toll on a man's' reflexes and confidence. "What do you expect then?" Daniel asked as Kowalski drew his guns. Three consecutive shots rang out quickly followed by two more. The teacher jumped at the sudden sound. "I expect you to gain basic knowledge and experience. Then practice until proficient. "Jonathon said noticing a hand sized group in a fallen tree trunk. "Damn, my hands aren't steady like they used to be." Kowalski complained holstering his pistol. "Try again, that group isn't that bad." The bounty hunter said encouraging his friend.
"How can I protect them if I can't shoot like Charles or you?" Daniel asked as more shots rang out. "Knowledge is a powerful tool; you know that more than anybody else." Jonathon answered pulling out his Colt pistol as more shots rang out making Daniel jump a bit. "Knowing how a pistol works is the starting point. The will to use it comes from here!" he added pointing at Daniels heart and head. He looked at the pistol the bounty hunter just handed him.
Taking a life in self defense or that of loved ones never crossed his mind until now. Should that day come now or in the future would he be able to pull the trigger? "I hope that day never comes." Daniel replied taking the pistol in his hand. "Pray it don't, it's not a road you want to go down...trust me." Jonathon responded looking back at his friend. "Well, with more practice I think I can get back to where I was. These pistols are bit heavier than my last ones." Kowalski said walking up beside them. "You're good enough if we get in a fight. Go ahead and try the sharps, the Telescopic sight (A/N2) is set for two hundred yards." Jonathon told his long time friend without looking at him.
"You're up professor; I need to know what I'm working with." Daniel walked up to where Charles had stood taking a deep breath. He took a target shooting stance pulling the hammer back firing all five rounds into a rotting tree trunk. Daniel turned to the bounty hunter proud of himself. "How's that for shooting? All five rounds is hand sized group like Charles did." He asked seeing Jonathon shaking his head. Kowalski laughed off to the side as he took aim at tree limb 200 yards away. "I hit the target just like he did." Daniel said pointing at stump. "Where did you learn to shoot at, English Etiquette School?" Jonathon quipped taking the pistol back. "Matter of fact, yes I did. Came in 1st my senior year." The teacher responded proudly.
A large boom went off beside Daniel making his ears ring. Jonathon ignored the sound as he reloaded the Colt. "I'm proud of you professor. Shooting like that in the real world will make you a bullet magnet." Kowalski chuckled out loud at his friends comment. "Okay, how should I be shooting then?" Daniel asked with a huff. He knew how to shot a pistol and rifle. "Like this Danny Boy, see that oak tree over yonder, the one with a drooping limb." Jonathon replied standing at ease. "Yeah, what about it?" he asked looking closely at the tree. "The tree is about 10ft away; imagine that's a bad gut ready to draw down on you. Or worse, one that just broke into your house intending on hurting Janet or Cassie." Daniel looked at the tree then Jonathon. "Watch closely professor, you're about to be schooled." He said drawing his pistol quickly putting all five rounds into the tree chest high. Jonathon then holstered and drew his second pistol. He emptied the pistol cutting the limb off showing how accuracy and speed mattered. The limb landed with a thud disturbing some birds making them fly away. "You shoot to live, not impress." Jonathon told the teacher.
"I can't shoot like that, maybe with lots of practice over time." Daniel replied impressed with the bounty hunters ability. "I don't expect you too. I expect you to access the situation quickly then react. Shoot to kill because that's your only choice." Jonathon answered putting his pistol on half cock to reload it. "Try again Daniel...this time pick a spot and kill your target." He said handing the pistol back after loading five rounds. Daniel looked at the Colt then down range. He placed it by his side taking a deep breath. With resolve Daniel drew and fired hitting a few inches below Jonathon's group. "How did I do that time?" he asked satisfied with his effort. "Were you aiming at that spot professor?" Jonathon replied re-holstering his other pistol reloaded and ready. "No...'sigh'...I was aiming the spot above yours." He admitted dropping his arm down. "Thought so, still not bad given two of your shots is shoulder level, the rest somewhere in the weeds." The bounty hunter said. "Thanks, I think." Daniel replied not sure how to reply.
"Let's try the rifle, see how you do with that." The bounty hunter said moving to get the Henry. "Don't take it personnel Daniel, he means well." Kowalski told the teacher leaning the Sharps against a tree. "One minute he's serious, the other sarcastic." Daniel replied shaking his head. "You'll get used to it. He respects you by the way." Charles informed the teacher looking around the area. "What makes you think that?" he asked looking back at the bounty hunter. Jonathon was checking on the horses retying their leads so they didn't run off. "Jack is letting you marry Janet and be a father figure to Cassandra. Believe me if he didn't approve of you you'd know it." Daniel looked at Kowalski dumbfounded. Does Wayne have that much say Janet's life? Would she allow him to have that much say is a better question. "Don't let it go to your head professor." Jonathon said walking up quietly making him jump. Kowalski just laughed out loud slapping Daniel on the back. The bounty hunter handed Daniel a rifle motioning him to follow.
Twenty minutes later Jonathon came to a conclusion. He did well enough with a pistol but was to slow on the draw. The man's marksmanship with a rifle is excellent. Daniel would be better off with a Mares Leg for a side arm. The point ability of a cut down rifle along with more controllable recoil would do the teacher well. "Are you thinking the same thing I am Jack?" Kowalski asked leaning against a tree rolling a cigarette (A/N3). "Do I get a choice in what I use to protect Janet and Cassandra?" Daniel asked with a huff. He liked the rifle better than the pistol but maneuvering it around might be an issue inside the house. The pistol jumped more than he liked when firing quickly. Shotgun, well Janet might not like having to patch all the holes. "No..!" both Kowalski and Jonathon answered making the teacher roll his eyes. "Mare's Leg would do fine, combination of both." Charles said with confidence. "... plus it makes a good club if needed." Jonathon added seriously. "What's a 'Mare's Leg' and what would it cost?" he asked resigned to going with their choice. "It's a cut down rifle about yeah long chambered in rifle or pistol caliber. Trust us, you'll love it." Jonathon replied picking up the Henrys while Charles got his Sharps. "Do you happen to have one I can shoot by chance? I would like to know what I'm buying!" he asked following them back to the horses. "Neither of us have one. Jack however knows who does, he found out the hard way." Kowalski snickered remembering what his friend told him about that particular encounter with Zoe Washburn.
"You could've warned me about the two of them." Jack said mounting his horse. Kowalski and Daniel did the same after putting their rifles away. "That would've taken the fun out meeting Reynolds and Zoe." Charles replied as they road back out to the trail. This got Daniels attention, the bounty hunter met Malcolm and Zoe. This would be a great story to add to Jonathon's book. "What happened when he met them Charles? I'd love to know." The teacher asked making Jonathon groan. Great, the first thing Daniel wants to know about is two people getting the drop on him. Why couldn't it be a courageous Calvary charge or making a stand against Comanche?
The three men reached Serenity Ranches entrance. Wasn't much, just the normal wooden fence with a name hanging from an arched entry way. The only difference being a downright unfriendly sign. "Well, I guess we've been warned." Kowalski quipped following Jonathon onto the property. "Duly noted, they are about friendly as an angry grizzly bear." The bounty hunter replied then added. "...are you coming professor? Or are you checking for spelling errors?" Daniel caught up to the two friends then asked his question. "Do you think they are being serious?" Jonathon looked at Kowalski rolling his eyes then answered. "Why don't you ask them professor?" he replied to see if the man would do just that. It'd be interesting to hear their answer. "I believe I will Mr. Wayne." Daniel responded not picking up on the man sarcasm. The message on the sign ran through his mind 'If you're found here at night, you'll be buried before morning!' Surely they were trying to scare people off...weren't they?
A/N1: The hair on a horse's neck is called 'mane'. It's thicker and coarser than the horses coat (hair).
A/N2: The first documented Telescopic sight aka rifle scope was invented between years 1835-1844 by Morgan James of Utica New York. More information on 'Telescopic sight' can be found at .
A/3: Early cigarettes were nothing more than tobacco rolled in precut paper with no filter. The practice is of rolling your own cigarettes are still done today. My brother used to roll his own till he quit smoking.
LoneWolfOniell