The Devil Don't Go There
By Leighann
*DO TO MATURE THEME READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.*
I don't own the rights to the characters, but am just taking them off the dusty shelf for a bit.
~1~
It was a bitter cold, rainy, windy November afternoon as Festus made his way through Picture Canyon west of Dodge. He had been turkey hunting and it had been a good trip, but the weather had turned, and he now needed to find some shelter from the storm.
Festus had just about given up hope of finding a shelter, when he spotted a cave. He nudged Ruth towards the tunnel, dismounting when he got to the mouth of the cave. Festus led Ruth inside finding a rock to set on the reins to keep Ruth from wandering off.
Festus noticed firelight dancing on the cave wall and walked towards it. The cave curved around, and there was a small fire, saddle, and a laid out bed roll. Festus knelt down to inspect a can heating up by the fire. He poked his finger in the can of beans, bringing it to his mouth. The beans were lukewarm, which meant that whoever made camp must be nearby. Festus stood up to call out, when he felt the barrel of a gun behind his right ear.
"Hold yer tail feathers jes a dang minute," Festus said as he held his hands away from his side. "I don't mean ya no harm." He claimed, as he raised his hands higher and stood up. "No need to go pull'n that thar trigger."
The gun barrel never moved as Festus felt a hand on this back nudge him to the other side of the fire. Festus moved a few steps forward and turned around with his hands still held high. "Names Festus Haggen, an' like I said I don't mean ya no harm." He greeted, as he looked the stranger up and down.
The unknown cowhand stood five foot eight, wearing a drover coat, a blue bandana tied around the neck, a Stetson hat low on his forehead, and shoulder length dark blonde wavy hair with hazel eyes. The cowhand motioned for Festus to sit down with the gun and Festus obliged. Once Festus was settled on the ground, the cowboy holstered the gun.
"Ain't much of a talker, are ya?" Festus asked.
The buckaroo just looked at Festus before taking a knife out from his coat pocket, and stirred the can of beans with the blade. He then took a bowl, poured half the can into it and handed the bowl to Festus.
"Can't eat these here vittles with my hands, ya know. Mind if I get my eating tools out my saddlebag?"
The cowboy shook his head, diligently watching Festus as he got up, and went over to Ruth, who had made his way farther into the cave. Festus made sure not to make any sudden movements as he got a spoon out of his saddlebag. He also took out a piece of rope and hobbled Ruth's front legs before returning back to his place by the fire.
Festus looked across the fire at the wrangler. He noticed a sheen of sweat on his face and his eyes looked glassy. The cave was warmer than the cold rain outside, but not warm enough to make someone sweat. "Ya feel'n poorly are ya?
The only answer Festus got was a small bout of coughing from the cowboy. Festus jumped up and grabbed his canteen off Ruth and brought it to him. Festus saw that the cowboy's hand was on his gun. "Whoa now," Festus said, holding out the canteen. "Drink some of this here water."
The herdsman took his hand off the gun, reached over pulling out a canteen from his pack, and drank from it.
Festus returned back to his spot by the fire and started eating his beans. "Ya shore don't say much, do ya?" Receiving no answer, he continued. "Ol' Doc, he likes to jaw at ya, and Miss Kitty she'll sit thar and a listen until she has sum'n to say."
Festus watched the stranger pull the collar of his coat tighter around his neck and lay back against his saddle as he jabbered on. "Matthew likes ta ask questions and he likes to hoorah o' Doc. Newly, he's a bit quiet like you." It wasn't long, as Festus watched, before the cowboy's eyelids began drooping. "Thems the folks I know'd back in Dodge. You ever been ta Dodge, have ya?" Festus continued to prattle on until the silent stranger was asleep.
Festus got up quietly, grabbed a burning branch from the fire, and set off to explore further into the cave. Since the wrangler had a saddle, Festus wondered where his horse was. He didn't have to travel only a few feet into the cave, when he came upon the steed. The stallion whinnied when Festus approached. "Easy there," Festus said in a calm voice, as he gently took a hold of the horses bridle.
Keeping near the wall as not to spook the horse, Festus moved past the stallion and continued deeper into the cave that ended not much farther. When Festus returned back to the fire the wrangler was still asleep, so he unsaddled Ruth, put out his bedroll, and settled in for the night.
Just before dawn, Festus woke up seeing his own breath. The rain had been moved out by the bitter cold wind. The fire was a bed of embers, so Festus got up to put some nearby wood on it. As Festus moved towards the firewood he noticed the cowboy was shivering, and still had sweat on his face. Festus reached down and placed the back of this hand on the wrangler's cheek. "Golly bill yer'a burn'n up." Festus knew that he had to get the fella to town and soon. "Fella, we gotta get you outta here."
Festus quickly broke camp and saddled the horse and his mule. The cowboy was half conscious with fever, but Festus managed to get him on the stallion. Dodge was a day's ride from the cave, so with the stallions reins in his hand, Festus set out for Dodge.
TBC