Chapter 4: The Town Drunk
It was a five-minute walk for Becky from their house to the general store, holding Baron in one arm and a basket in the other. Avery was still at work that morning, so it was just her and the baby at home. She like many other townsfolk had been minding their own business as they walked by and across the street from building to building. Before entering in the store, Becky wanted to show Baron the display of the window where a poster had proudly proclaimed that Pronghorn's General Store was the place to buy groceries, provisions, boots, shoes, crockery, silverware, candy, toys, games, cigars, dress cloth, and everything kept at the lowest prices for cash or country produce.
"I sure hope you're prepared for what's inside my son," Becky had gently nuzzled the face of Baron, wrapped in a tiny blue blanket just his size. "Hopefully your first time in the general store will do you some good."
She hoped that he wouldn't be too alarmed by Mr. Pronghorn or other customers if any of them should speak so loudly. Entering through the door carefully, little Baron was a decidedly well-behaved infant to see the first shelf of creamed corn cans for eight cents stacked next to the hundred-pound sacks of white sugar for five dollars. A pretty beaded purse had caught his curious eyes as it did for Becky, but she needed to stay focused on what the family needed first before buying any items they might not afford at the moment.
Becky had then walked Baron across where he saw the toys and dolls, chirping with joy and curiosity, as if someone or something had welcomed him into a new world, his tiny arm suddenly reaching for a plush rabbit that looked a little like Clover Cottontail in a nurse outfit. He liked it so much; Becky turned her attention to what got her baby all needy and saw that he was attempting to reach the bunny toy.
"Why that looks like Miss Clover," Becky put the basket down for a moment to inspect the price on the toy. With the money that the buzzard family earned since moving here, the toy was no more than ten cents, so maybe it would not hurt to buy it for Baron, hoping Mr. Pronghorn can offer a good deal on it along with the soaps, shampoos, cans of golden cream corn, vegetable goods, the cheapest sack of sugar & jam, bread, biscuits, tea bags, castor oil, cough syrup, powdered milk, and the fresh fish for supper.
The back door had silently opened, with Mr. Pronghorn stepping out and seeing that Becky was deciding on the lowest priced items and what she could fit into her basket while carrying her baby, even noticing how the little one stared curiously at the candy aisle of chocolate covered drops, peppermint sticks, ribbon candies, horehound drops, chocolate babies, bubble gum, gummies, licorice, and lollipops.
"Why howdy there, Miss Becky," he welcomed her from behind the counter. "So nice to see you in my store today. If there's anything I can help yah with, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Thanks Mr. Pronghorn," Becky could only smile back, having finished filling her basket. "I know I can't spend the whole day here ponderin' on what's the cheapest item to buy just to prevent overspending'. But I suppose I'm ready now, and so is my baby." She walked up to the counter and set the basket in front of him to inspect.
"So, this is the darlin' little hatchlin' named Baron am I right?" Mr. Pronghorn got a good look at Baron, who had his eyes open, seeing an unknown figure before him. "Why howdy there little one, ain't you the cutest one in this town yet."
Knowing that someone unknown was speaking to him, baby Baron was starting to whimper in distress.
"I'm afraid he ain't used to seein' new faces around him," Becky explained apologetically, patting her son in comfort. "As a matter of fact, we haven't taken him out that often, not even when he got sick terribly and had to keep him quarantined as the doctor ordered."
Mr. Pronghorn was shocked to hear this. "Oh my, I'm sorry that it happened ma'am, although he's lucky to have lived through it and be here in your arms now. Is he your firstborn?"
"He sure is Mr. Pronghorn," Becky answered. "I've been wantin' to start a family for some time, but first we got our Baron to take care of and see how he'll grow accustomed to this town."
Mr. Pronghorn nodded his head in agreement to that. "This town might have its ups and downs, but we're thankful in havin' a place to stay. Oh well, let's get down to business, shall we?"
He started to check the supplies that Becky had placed in her basket, seeing that she had struggled picking the least expensive ones. Perhaps remembering the hard times in his own youth, Mr. Pronghorn took a look at the plush toy that little Baron loved and saw the price of it to be two dollars and was willing to cut half the price for the struggling family.
"Ma'am, pardon me for sayin', but I couldn't help but see how you was searchin' hard for the lowest priced items in my store. Well…. I'll tell yah what. Don't hesitate to buy one can or jar o' jam that's a bit larger than this. I'm never reluctant to cut half the price on what you pick, which is my way of helpin' the other families that are strugglin' financially."
Becky couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you sure about that Mr. Pronghorn? My husband is not one for unneeded charity."
Mr. Pronghorn shook his head in protest. "Nonsense ma'am, this ain't quite charity. It's common hospitality and bein' a good neighbor. And I couldn't quite make this toy unaffordable for your little bundle o' joy. He deserves to be happy with it. Consider this a small gift on my part."
Little Baron was reaching his tiny arms out to the toy after Mr. Pronghorn had finished checking and handed it back to Becky, before finishing up on the other items. Becky couldn't say no to him when he offered another good deal on the largest salmon, bigger than the one she chose before.
"My won't Avery be surprised to see what's for dinner tonight," She smiled with excitement in the good deal that Mr. Pronghorn offered out of kindness instead of pity. "There you go Baron, hold onto that bunny now. She's gonna need you." Once she handed the toy to Baron, he hugged it lovingly. "Thank you, Mr. Pronghorn, I'll be sure to come by here again when I can."
"Drop by anytime Mrs. Buzzard," Mr. Pronghorn insisted, taking whatever money that Becky offered him, putting it in a safe place where nobody could find it. "And feel free to trade what you can with me and Mrs. Hedgehog at the bakery."
"I promise." Becky had left the general store, seeing that her son was now getting sleepy. "Looks like it's time for your nap Baron. Better get you on home."
Although the proud mother buzzard had been minding her own business and was walking beside the road, the most unexpected thing would happen when a large figure had passed by and shoved her aside forcefully, causing Becky to almost fall on the ground, if not for a nearby barrel to prevent that from happening, once she hung on to it quickly.
"OUTTA MY WAY!"
What set her off in a panic more was the fact that whoever shoved her had nearly caused her to drop Baron, still hanging onto him securely, and seeing that some of her supplies had spilled out of the basket, lying next to the barrel with Baron's toy rabbit being one of them. Hearing Baron start to cry, Becky was both shocked and angry that she quickly stood up and called out the culprit that pushed her.
"HEY, YOU, WHY DON"T YAH GET BACK HERE AND APOLOGIZE!" She snapped, seeing the same large culprit stop in his tracks and turn around to whoever shouted at him. He looked like a brown bull with large horns, wearing a red shirt and blue overalls. Becky was angrier than scared when he started moving towards her, having noticed that he was swaying strangely as he did so.
"What did you say?" The brown bull sputtered harshly, and displeased that someone called him out, towering over the mother buzzard, holding onto her crying baby protectively.
"Y…you heard me Mister!" Becky's voice waivered slightly, but remained ultimately stern, even as Baron was still crying. "I know it was you that pushed me from behind and almost made me drop my baby. We both could have been hurt…. or killed because of you. It's bad enough you made me drop my groceries, but not when my son is fragile." She stood firm, refusing to let go of Baron in her arms as she continued with her voice rising slightly. "Do you honestly think its ok to just push other folks like that and expect them to be alright with it? What a cowardly way to live."
"And what are you supposed to be?" He demanded, in his unbalanced walking, the bull was close enough to crouch down to Becky's level, ignoring Baron crying as if he were not there. "I don't recall seeing you around these parts before."
"That's beside the point!" Becky had argued back in defense. "You almost made me drop my baby on the streets where he could have gotten seriously hurt. The least you can do is apologize after knowing what you did is wrong."
"Hey, wait a second, I recognize you now," the bull sneered, snorting down on the angry, yet frightened mother. "You're from that buzzard family that just moved in town. I've been all over Moo Mesa in every other town and met all sorts of folks that still see your kind as cruel n' revoltin' scavengers that don't belong anywhere." The bull grinned broadly down on Becky, which made her legs tremble. "How I would've loved the pleasure to partake in the tradition of VULTURE HUNTING SEASON!"
As he spat out the last three words real loud, he lunged backward causing Becky to stagger backward slightly, being more scared for Baron than for herself. Now she was starting to feel a bit regretful if calling him out had been a good idea instead of running off to tell the sheriff about this, then maybe Baron wouldn't be crying fearfully in her arms right now and might have made it worse for him by letting her emotions get the best of her. Still, she kept on her defiant state, protecting her baby.
"Get away from her Hunter T Smith!"
Becky had turned to see Mr. Pronghorn show up at the store entrance, holding onto a pitchfork, ready to use it against her attacker and prevent trouble from entering into his shop.
"That is a mother with a baby you're threatening," Miles raised his voice slightly, his eyes shifting across the various market goers. Becky had forgotten about them in the heat of rising altercation, having not anyone else to help her out, as if they knew who Hunter Smith was enough to be afraid of going anywhere near him. "Miss Becky is right to be cross with your unacceptable behavior. You owe her and that baby an apology!"
The town drunk called Hunter T Smith had let out a derisive snort as he eyed Miles briefly, hardly threatened by the pitchfork that the general store owner held onto. Still, he seemed pleased enough with the reaction he got out of Becky, the smug grin returning to his face.
"So now we got an old coot wantin' to play bodyguard am I right?" Hunter had scoffed at this. "A buzzard defender is that it?"
"I'll do what I can to help a lady in distress," Miles said firmly, stepping toward Hunter and pointing his pitchfork at him, hoping it would be enough to scare him away from Becky and her child. "Now back away!"
Hunter Smith had seemed to freeze, eyes wide in disbelief as to what he heard from the general store owner. For a time, he was silent as Miles kept the pitchfork pointed, and then he let out the most uproarious and boisterous laugh that Becky ever heard of, placing his hand over his eyes as he continued to laugh like a maniac, reeling back and forth. His laugh grew louder and louder enough to scare Baron who kept on crying, as she and Miles were able to take notice of several civilians stopping dead in their tracks in what they were doing before, looking intently at the scene before them.
"OH, THIS IS TOO PERFECT!" Hunter practically sang. "THE HONORABLE MILES PRONGHORN IS A BUZZARD DEFENDING TWIT!" He let out another howl of laughter that made Baron cry louder, with Becky trying to calm him and try to gather the spilled supplies cautiously while keeping her distance from Hunter. "AND WHAT'S THAT AWFUL SQUEALING I'M HEARING?!"
"Knock it off Hunter, I'm warning you!" Miles was getting real steamed up with him, caring less in how big this bull was. "Get off my property before I call the sheriff!"
Yet without warning, Hunter had swung his arm over to Miles and grabbed onto the pitchfork, the store owner struggling to keep control of it, despite the fact that the large bull was still bigger and stronger than him and Becky altogether. It was no further use for Miles once Hunter took the pitchfork out of his hands and threw it across the streets.
"WHAT A DISGRACE! THE OWNER OF THE TOWN GENERAL STORE HAS GONE SOFT WITH THE CARION EATERS!" Hunter let out another howling laugh, despite never taking notice how Miles refused to leave Becky's side, hearing Baron cry continuously. "HOW DISGUSTING! DID YOU FORGET WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE GREAT WAR?! MASS DESTRUCTION AND MASS GENOCIDE….CAUSED BY THE BONE PICKERS WHO SHOULD GO BACK TO THE HELLHOLE THEY FLEW OUT OF!"
"YOU'VE BEEN GETTING ON MY NERVES LATELY HUNTER!"
Miles, Becky, and Hunter had heard another angry voice somewhere that was recognizable to them. The drunken bull had stopped laughing at that instant and was about to threaten whoever called him out until he was cut off when he found himself slammed down on the streets. It took Becky a second to realize what had happened to her attacker. Both she and Miles realized that Hunter Smith had been tackled by a tall, handsome mutated hawk in tanned feathers, dark brown vest, blue-green shirt, brown gloves, dark brown chops, and sheriff's badge on his vest, and cowboy hat. It was Sheriff Clarence Hawktail, standing and towering over the crumpled Hunter.
"Disturbin' the peace again ain't yah?" Sheriff Hawktail muttered, crossing his arms as he glowered down at the bull.
Hunter seemed to still be trying to make sense of what happened. Clutching a hand to his face, glancing around wildly at everyone who had stopped what they were doing. Hunter had suspected that someone must have gone to get the sheriff without him knowing while the others hid in their homes in fear of the drunken bull. He never noticed Becky and Miles show a sign of relief to have law enforcement come to their rescue.
"Sheriff Hawktail, how…. how…. how did you get here so fast?" Hunter sputtered, evidently still reeling from the hard fall on his nose, now bleeding.
"Did you forget that I can hear trouble a mile away?" Sheriff Hawktail had tested him. "And I could hear the sound of a lady in trouble, and Miles in need of my help from a bully like you!"
"But Sheriff, I was just…."
"The only rights yah got here Hunter are to remain silent!" Clarence had cut him off again, taking out his lasso. "You must really love the jail house that badly. If so, you can stay there for another three months. Unless the town council decides they've had about enough of you as these poor townsfolk!"
He was now prepared to hog tie Hunter until the bull threw a punch at the hawk, only to find that Clarence had dodged it in time, fast on his feet as he had used the lasso at a fast pace to get behind and force him onto his stomach, using the chance to tie his limbs really easily without any trouble.
"I know your type Hunter T Smith!" Clarence had huffed, having his hands on his hips, standing before the defeated bull. "You sure talk big for a tough guy that likes to act all big n' macho all over himself. But in the end, you ain't nothin' but a spineless, weak-minded coward!"
Hunter could barely say any more words of backlash against the mighty Sheriff Hawktail who had already crushed his pride and his dignity, if he ever had any to begin with.
"Now I think you owe Miss Becky Buzzard an apology for pushin' her aside n' threatening her life. That goes for Miles Pronghorn just the same."
"Oh, really Sheriff, how can you…."
"It ain't a matter o' takin' sides Hunter!" Clarence hissed. "It's all a matter in keepin' the peace in this town, and treatin' all folks equally, regardless of their background."
Hunter had grumbled in frustration and defeat, having no strength left to fight now that the alcohol in his system had him worn out. "Alright fine. I apologize for everything…. Sheriff. Now can I go home?"
"No, you ain't goin' nowhere except to the jail house!" With that, Clarence turned to face the crowd, clearing his throat before raising his hands to get their attention. "Now all you folks go back to your business. This matter has been handled." He was now signaling for his other deputies to come forward and help drag him to the jail house before something else had stopped them.
"SHERIFF, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
AN: I'm so terribly sorry for the long update to this story. I've had a lot of distractions happening lately which I hate when that happens. But I'm going to still try and avoid too much of that and hope to write for this story more often which really needs my attention. And I would like to give credit to a certain friend named Daniella who gave the idea on the name for the town drunk. By now it looks like there is someone else in town other than Hunter T Smith who might soon later give Baron's family a hard time for all we know, someone who may not be pleased with their race living in town. Who could it be? Find out in the next chapter The Town Founder?