"WELL MAYBE NOT BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE FRECKLES AND YOUR ALL GROWN UP." "IS YOUR DAD HERE?" I ASKED. "NO HE HAD TO GO TO JASPER THIS MORNING." WAS HER ANSWER. "THAT'S ALRIGHT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO. I'LL SEE HIM LATER." I SAID AS I TURNED TO GO.

"HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET HOME?" SHE ASKED. "WALK," I ANSWERED, I'M USE TO IT." "IF YOU WILL JUST WAIT A LITTLE WHILE, DADDY WILL BE BACK FROM JASPER AND I'LL TAKE YOU IN OUR PICKUP." I ASKED IF POP HAD BEEN IN TO GET THE MAIL YET? "OH, YOU DON'T KNOW..." "DON'T KNOW WHAT?" I ASKED. JOHNNIE LOOKED UNCOMFORTABLE BUT SHE FINALLY SAID "YOUR DADDY WENT DOWN TO PORT ARTHUR TO WORK IN THE OIL REFINERY TWO YEARS AGO. HE WROTE YOUR MOTHER EACH MONTH FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THEN THE LETTERS STOPPED COMING. THERE HASN'T BEEN A LETTER FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR NOW. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED." "YOUR MOTHER WAS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. SHE BROUGHT IN SOME MORE JARS OF HONEY FOR US TO SELL FOR HER." "SHE'S BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET." NOW I WAS NEVER MUCH ON WRITING AND WHEN I WAS IN EUROPE I NEVER GOT ANY MAIL SO I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT DAD. AS I STARTED WALKING DOWN THAT DIRT ROAD I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FOUR YEARS THE WAR HAD TAKEN OUT OF MY LIFE. IT'S NOT FAIR I THOUGHT, TO GIVE UP FOUR YEARS OF MY LIFE AND NOT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY. I KNEW MY SISTER SUE HAD GOT MARRIED AND MOVED OFF TO HOUSTON AND LEFT MOM AND DAD BY THEMSELVES. NOW I LEARN THAT DAD HAD GONE OFF AND LEFT MOM BY HERSELF. WHAT WOULD I FIND WHEN I GOT HOME? AS I TURNED OFF THE DIRT ROAD ONTO THE DIRT TRACK THAT LED TO OUR HOUSE I COULD SEE THAT THE WEEDS HAD GROWN UP IN THE RUTS BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC ON OUR TRACK.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE I WAS AT OUR FRONT GATE. THE HOUSE LOOKED THE SAME BUT THE FENCE AND BARN LOOKED A LITTLE RUN DOWN. THERE WERE THE TWO ROCKING CHAIRS AND TABLE ON THE FRONT PORCH THAT HAD BEEN THERE THE DAY I LEFT FOR THE ARMY, AND THERE WAS A BLACK DOG LYING ON THE PORCH NEXT TO ONE OF THE ROCKERS. AS I OPENED THE OLD GATE THE DOG CAME OFF THE PORCH BARKING AND GROWLING AT ME. I QUICKLY CLOSED THE GATE WITH ME ON THE OUT SIDE. THEN I HEARD MOM'S VOICE SAY "BUCK WHO IS IT?" AS SHE WALKED OUT ON THE PORCH."LANDS-A-GOSHEN BUCK IT'S LOREN." "LOREN WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME KNOW YOU WERE COMING HOME." AS I STEPPED THROUGH THE GATE BUCK STAYED BETWEEN ME AND MOM. MOM SAID "BUCK IT'S ALRIGHT, HE BELONGS HERE." SHE HUGGED MY NECK AND LED ME UP ON THE PORCH AND TOLD ME TO SIT DOWN IN ONE OF THE ROCKING CHAIRS WHILE SHE WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND GOT US SOME LEMONADE. ..."HELLO BUCK ," I SAID AND REACHED OUT A HAND FOR BUCK TO SNIFF. AFTER HE DID THAT HE WENT BACK AND SAT DOWN BY THE OTHER ROCKING CHAIR. WHEN MOM CAME BACK OUT ON THE PORCH, SHE SET TWO GLASSES OF LEMONADE ON THE TABLE AND SAT DOWN IN THAT ROCKING CHAIR. "NOW THEN TELL ME HOW YOU GOT HOME AND HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY." AS SHE TALKED HER HAND WENT DOWN TO BUCK'S HEAD AND SCRATCHED HIM BEHIND THE EAR.

"I'M HOME FOR GOOD MOM." I TOLD HER. "I'M OUT OF THE ARMY AND DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK." "OH" SHE SAID, AS TEARS WELLED UP IN HER EYES, "I'M SO GLAD. I HAVE MISSED YOU TERRIBLY." "MOM TELL ME ABOUT DAD. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND JOHNNIE KATE TOLD ME HE LEFT ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO." "I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HE JUST QUIT WRITING A YEAR AGO AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING SINCE." SHE SAID. "BUCK AND I KEEP LOOKING FOR HIM TO WALK UP TO THE HOUSE ONE DAY JUST LIKE YOU DID, BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET." "WHERE DID THIS BUCK COME FROM, ANYWAY?" I ASKED. SHE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE DUMPED HIM OUT ON THE HIGHWAY BY SPURGER'S STORE WHEN HE WAS JUST A PUPPY AND ON ONE OF HER TRIPS TO THE STORE SHE FELT SORRY FOR HIM, BEING ABANDONED LIKE THAT AND SHE HAD BROUGHT HIM HOME WITH HER. "HE'S BEEN GOOD COMPANY FOR ME AND HE KEEPS THE ANIMALS OUT OF MY GARDEN." SHE ADDED.

"WELL HE'S A GOOD LOOKING DOG, A BLACK LABRADOR. I WONDER IF HE IS ANY GOOD AT HUNTING?" I SAID. "HE'S A GOOD WATCH DOG, I KNOW THAT." MOM SAID. "WELL WHEN WE GET BETTER ACQUAINTED I'LL GIVE HIM A TRY." "RIGHT NOW ALL I WANT TO DO IS WALK AROUND AND LOOK AT THE OLD PLACE. YOU DON'T MIND DO YOU?" I ASKED " YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. YOU ARE HOME NOW. BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK I'LL HAVE LUNCH ON THE TABLE. IT SURE IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME. BUCK YOU GO WITH LOREN." THE BLACK DOG STOOD UP AND WAITED FOR ME TO LEAD THE WAY. " BUCK YOU KNOW JUST AS MUCH AS I REMEMBER ABOUT THIS FARM, YOU LEAD THE WAY." AS WE WONDERED AROUND THE PLACE IT WAS EVIDENT THAT NO MAN HAD BEEN HERE IN A LONG TIME TO DO THE LITTLE THINGS THAT IT TAKES TO KEEP A PLACE UP. WE WALKED BACK TO THE RIVER AND AS I WALKED I SANG A LITTLE DIDDLE I REMEMBERED FROM MY CHILDHOOD. "YOU GET A LINE AND I'LL GET A POLE, HONEY. YOU GET A LINE AND I'LL GET A POLE, BABY. YOU GET A LINE AND I'LL GET A POLE AND WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE CRAWDAD HOLE, HONEY BABY OF MINE." BUCK DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE MUCH FOR MY SINGING BECAUSE HE RAN OFF AND WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE. "HA HA, BUCK I DON'T BLAME YOU. I NEVER COULD SING." AFTER LOOKING AT THE RIVER WHERE I HAD SPENT MANY AN HOUR FISHING AND SWIMMING, I WALKED BACK TO THE HOUSE. MOM SAID, "COME ON IN, LUNCH IS ON THE TABLE." AS WE SAT THERE EATING WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT HAD BEEN ON THE FARM WITHOUT DAD. SHE TOLD ME SHE DID THE BEST SHE COULD, BUT IT WAS JUST MORE THEN SHE COULD DO TO KEEP THINGS UP. SHE LIVED BY SELLING EGGS AND HONEY AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLES WHEN THEY WERE IN SEASON. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED MUCH TO GET BY. MR. SPURGER LET HER HAVE CREDIT WHEN SHE RAN OUT OF MONEY. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE THE OLD PICKUP OVER TO SPURGER'S STORE AND ASKED HIM HOW MUCH MOM OWED HIM. I PAID OFF HER BILL AND THEN ASKED TO BUY SOME 30-30 SHELLS AND SOME 22 SHELLS. MR. SPURGER LAUGHED AT ME AND SAID, "BOY, DON'T YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A WAR ON. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY 30-30 SHELLS IN OVER TWO YEARS." "WELL I GUESS I KNOW ABOUT THAT WAR, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULDN'T GET ANY 30-30 SHELLS." MR. SPURGER SAID, "I WAS JUST TEASING ABOUT THE WAR. I HOPE I DIDN'T HURT YOUR FEELINGS." "I DO HAVE SOME 22 SHELLS. HOW MANY BOXES DO YOU WANT?" I TOLD HIM I WOULD TAKE A CARTON IF HE HAD THAT MANY. THAT'S 10 BOXES. THAT SHOULD LAST ME FOR A WHILE. "YOU GOING TO DO SOME SQUIRREL HUNTING?" HE ASKED. "YEP." I SAID. "I SURE DO LIKE FRIED SQUIRREL." HE TOLD ME. "WELL I'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THAT." WAS MY ANSWER. THE NEXT MORNING JUST AT DAYLIGHT BUCK AND I WENT DOWN BY THE RIVER TO SOME BIG WHITE OAK TREES THAT I KNEW WERE DEN TREES. I SAT DOWN WITH MY BACK AGAINST A TREE WHERE THERE WAS SOME BRUSH IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO TWO OF THOSE DEN TREES AND WHEN THE SQUIRRELS STARTED STIRRING AROUND I FIGURED I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SHOOT SOME. BUCK WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME WATCHING THE TREES JUST LIKE HE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE I SAW A SQUIRREL COME OUT OF A HOLE IN ONE OF THE TREES AND GO OUT ON A LIMB FOR AN ACORN. I TOOK A BEAD ON HIS HEAD WITH THE OLD REMINGTON 22 AND SQUEEZED OFF THE SHOT. MR. SQUIRREL FELL OUT OF THE TREE AND JUST AS SOON AS HE HIT THE GROUND BUCK STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO HIM, PICKED HIM UP AND BROUGHT HIM BACK TO ME. HE DROPPED THE SQUIRREL ON THE GROUND AT MY FEET AND SAT BACK DOWN. THEN HE LOOKED UP AT ME AND STARTED WAGGING HIS TAIL. HIS TONGUE WAS HANGING OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH AND HE HAD THIS LOOK ON HIS FACE AS IF HE WAS SAYING, HOW'S THAT. I COULDN'T KEEP FROM LAUGHING. I SCRATCHED HIM BEHIND THE EARS AND SAID, "GOOD BOY, BUCK." WELL WE STAYED THERE AND KILLED SIX SQUIRRELS THAT MORNING AND EACH TIME I WOULD SHOOT ONE BUCK WOULD GO GET IT AND BRING IT BACK TO ME. WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE HOUSE I CLEANED THE SQUIRRELS AND MOM FRIED TWO OF THEM AND MADE BISCUITS AND GRAVY TO GO WITH THEM FOR BREAKFAST. AFTER I ATE BREAKFAST, I TOLD MOM I WAS GOING UP TO SPURGER'S STORE AND ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO GO. SHE TOLD ME NO, THAT SHE HAD TO MUCH WORK TO DO TO BE GOING OFF TO THE STORE BUT YOU CAN BRING ME A 25 POUND SACK OF FLOUR AND A LARGE CAN OF BAKING POWDER. "IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO BE MAKING A LOT MORE BISCUITS THEN I USE TO." SHE SAID. I SAID "COME ON BUCK YOU CAN GO WITH ME." WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE I TOLD BUCK TO STAY IN THE PICKUP AND TOOK THE OTHER FOUR SQUIRRELS IN TO MR. SPURGER. WHEN I HANDED HIM THE SQUIRRELS HE SAID, "LOREN, I'VE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU. WHEN ONE OF MY SALESMAN CAME BY THIS MORNING I ASKED HIM WHEN WE WOULD GET SOME 30-30 SHELLS AND HE SAID HE HAD TWO BOXES OUT IN THE TRUCK I COULD HAVE," "YOU CAN HAVE BOTH BOXES IF YOU WANT THEM." I TOLD HIM I WOULD TAKE THEM AND HE COULD EXPECT SOME MORE MEAT. HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND GRINNED. HE KNEW WHAT I MEANT. I KNEW HE LIKED VENISON AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT OPEN SEASON ON DEER YET A MAN LIVES OFF THE LAND WHEN HE LIVES OUT LIKE WE DO. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT TO THE PICKUP, JOHNNIE KATE WAS THERE PETTING BUCK. " HI JOHNNIE KATE." I SAID. "I TOLD YOU MY NAME IS NOT JOHNNIE KATE. HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?" SHE YELLED AT ME. "GOSH, YOU'RE A LITTLE TOUCHY THIS MORNING, AREN'T YOU?" I SAID. "NOT IF YOU CALL ME BY MY NAME." SHE RETORTED. "OK, JOHNNIE I JUST FORGOT. FORGIVE ME?" I ASKED. SHE SAID SHE WOULD IF I WOULD TAKE HER OUT TO SEE MY MOM AND THEN BRING HER HOME BY DARK. "OK, GET IN. YOU DON'T MIND RIDING WITH BUCK DO YOU? IF YOU DO I'LL PUT HIM BACK IN THE PICKUP BED." SHE ANSWERED, "I GUESS I HAVE BEEN WITH BUCK MORE THE LAST TWO YEARS THEN YOU, AND IF ANYONE IS GOING TO RIDE IN THE BACK IT'S YOU." ALL I COULD DO WAS LAUGH.

WHEN WE GOT BACK OUT TO THE FARM JOHNNIE CARRIED THE FLOUR AND BAKING POWDER INTO THE HOUSE WHILE BUCK AND I WALKED DOWN TO THE RIVER. I SAID, "BUCK DO YOU THINK I COULD CATCH A COUPLE OF CATFISH FOR LUNCH?" WE WALKED BACK TO THE BARN AND FOUND SOME HOOKS AND FISHING LINE. I WALKED OUT BEHIND THE BARN AND TURNED OVER A FEW BOARDS THAT WERE LYING ON THE GROUND AND PICKED UP SOME WORMS. THEN I WENT BACK TO THE RIVER AND CUT ME A WILLOW POLE AND TIED MY LINE AND HOOK ON IT AND I WAS READY FOR THE FISH. I DROPPED THE WORM BAITED HOOK NEXT TO AN OLD STUMP AND WAITED. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE I HAD A BITE. I SET HOOK AND AFTER A SHORT FIGHT I PULLED IN A CATFISH THAT WOULD WEIGH CLOSE TO FOUR POUNDS. IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE I HAD ANOTHER THAT WAS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. I FIGURED THESE TWO WOULD MAKE MOM, JOHNNIE AND I PLENTY FOR LUNCH SO I WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND CLEANED THEM. BUCK WAS WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE KEPT LOOKING AT THE WATER LIKE HE WAS THINKING HE SHOULD JUMP IN AND RETRIEVE A FISH FOR ME. WHEN I TOOK THE FISH IN THE HOUSE AND ASKED JOHNNIE IF SHE WOULD LIKE SOME FRESH CATFISH FOR LUNCH, SHE SAID, "I HAVEN'T HAD FISH IN SO LONG, I FORGOT WHAT THEY TASTE LIKE." MOM SAID, "GIVE ME THOSE FISH AND WE WILL REFRESH HER MEMORY." JOHNNIE PEELED SOME POTATOES FOR FRENCH FRIES WHILE MOM WAS FRYING THE FISH. AFTER WE ATE ALL THE FISH WE WANTED THERE WAS STILL SOME LEFT AND I GAVE IT TO BUCK. JOHNNIE AND I SAT IN THE ROCKING CHAIRS ON THE FRONT PORCH AND MOM BROUGHT US A BIG SLICE OF THE SWEET POTATO PIE SHE HAD BAKED THAT MORNING. I TOLD MOM ARMY CHOW WAS NEVER LIKE THIS. IT SURE WAS GOOD TO BE HOME. JOHNNIE JUMPED UP AFTER EATING HER PIE AND WENT IN TO HELP MOM WASH DISHES, BUT MOM CHASED HER BACK OUT OF THE KITCHEN AND TOLD HER TO GO SIT ON THE PORCH AND VISIT WITH ME. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON AT SCHOOL AND AT THE STORE. I ASKED HER ABOUT ANY BOY FRIENDS AND SHE SAID THERE WAS NO ONE SPECIAL. BUCK WAS HER BEST BOY FRIEND. BUCK HAD BEEN LYING ON THE PORCH UNDER THE TABLE AND WHEN HE HEARD JOHNNIE SAY HIS NAME HE GOT UP AND WENT AND SAT BESIDE HER CHAIR. SHE LAUGHED AND REACHED DOWN AND SCRATCHED HIM BEHIND THE EARS.

IN A LITTLE WHILE I EXCUSED MYSELF AND BUCK AND I WENT OUT TO THE BARN TO BUILD SOME NEW NESTING BOXES FOR THE HENS. JOHNNIE WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO VISIT WITH MOM. AS THE AFTERNOON WORE ON JOHNNIE CAME OUT TO THE BARN TO SEE WHAT BUCK AND I WERE DOING. I ASKED HER WHAT SHE AND MOM HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT. "OH JUST GIRL THINGS." SHE ANSWERED. SHE HELPED ME PUT SOME STRAW IN THE NEW NESTING BOXES AND THEN HELPED ME PUT THEM IN THE CHICKEN HOUSE. BUCK MADE EVERY STEP WE MADE, INCLUDING GOING INTO THE CHICKEN HOUSE. THAT REALLY STIRRED UP THE CHICKENS SO I HAD TO TELL HIM TO GET OUT. I GUESS THAT HURT HIS FEELINGS BECAUSE HE WENT OFF SOME WHERE AND WE DIDN'T SEE HIM FOR A WHILE. WHEN WE FINISHED WITH THE CHICKEN HOUSE WE WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND SAT IN THE ROCKING CHAIRS DRINKING SOME LEMONADE AND TALKING WITH MOM. IN A LITTLE WHILE BUCK CAME UP ON THE PORCH AND LAID A RABBIT AT MY FEET AND LOOKED UP AT ME. JOHNNIE SAID, "I THINK HE IS TRYING TO MAKE UP WITH YOU. HE THOUGHT YOU WERE MAD AT HIM WHEN YOU RAN HIM OUT OF THE CHICKEN HOUSE." I LAUGHED AND SAID, "GOOD DOG BUCK. NO I'M NOT MAD AT YOU." AS I REACHED DOWN AND PATTED HIM ON THE HEAD. "COME ON AND I'LL SKIN THIS RABBIT FOR YOU. YOU CAN HAVE THE WHOLE RABBIT YOURSELF." BUCK SAID "WOLF" AND CAME BOUNDING DOWN OFF THE PORCH AND FOLLOWED ME AROUND THE HOUSE, JOHNNIE TOLD MOM, "THAT IS SOME SMART DOG YOU HAVE THERE." MOM TOLD HER, "I'M NOT SURE I HAVE HIM ANY MORE. HE SURE HAS TAKEN UP WITH LOREN." "WELL I THINK HE BELONGS TO BOTH OF YOU." JOHNNIE ANSWERED. WHEN I CAME BACK AROUND THE HOUSE, JOHNNIE SAID SHE HAD TO GET BACK HOME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD TAKE HER NOW. AS WE GOT IN THE PICKUP AND STARTED, JOHNNIE SCOOTED OVER REAL CLOSE TO ME ON THE SEAT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THIS AND I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG I TURNED TO HER TO SAY SOMETHING AND SHE TURNED TO ME AT THE SAME TIME. SHE REACHED UP AND KISSED ME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR DO. I FINALLY GOT OUT, "YOUR NOT HELPING MY DRIVING ANY." "WELL!" JOHNNIE SAID "I'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE ROOM YOU NEED TO DRIVE!" AND SHE SCOOTED ALL THE WAY OVER AGAINST THE DOOR AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. SHE DIDN'T SAY ANOTHER WORD. WHEN I PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE STORE SHE WAS OUT OF THE PICK QUICK AS A FLASH AND RAN INTO THE STORE. I SAT THERE FOR A WHILE WONDERING IF I SHOULD FOLLOW HER IN. THEN I DECIDED I BETTER JUST GO HOME. I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS IN ANY MOOD TO TALK TO ME. THE NEXT WEEK I WAS BUSY AROUND THE FARM DOING THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE TO KEEP A PLACE UP. FENCE MENDING, CLEANING OUT THE STALLS IN THE BARN AND A DOZEN OTHER LITTLE THINGS. THEN I HAD STARTED CUTTING FIRE WOOD FOR THE WINTER. BUCK WAS ALWAYS WITH ME WHERE EVER I WAS. ONE MORNING AS WE WERE TAKING THE MULE DOWN IN THE WOODS TO PULL UP ANOTHER LOG TO BE CUT UP FOR FIRE WOOD, BUCK STARTED BARKING AND RUNNING THROUGH THE BRUSH IN FRONT OF ME. JUST THEN I HEARD A PIG SQUEAL. BUCK HAD FOUND SOME WILD HOGS AND WAS IN HOT PURSUIT. I CALLED HIM BACK AND TOLD HIM NO CHASING HOGS THIS MORNING. WE WERE AFTER FIRE WOOD NOT PIGS. BUT WE WOULD COME BACK IN THE MORNING WITH THE 30-30 AND SEE IF WE COULD GET A HOG. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK DOWN THE OLD WINCHESTER MODEL 94 30-30 AND BUCK AND I WENT BACK TO THE AREA WHERE WE FOUND THE HOGS YESTERDAY. I TOLD BUCK TO FIND THE HOGS AND HE STARTED SNIFFING AROUND. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE WAS ON THEIR TRAIL. IN JUST A LITTLE WAYS WE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND I SHOT A BIG BOAR. BUCK COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE PLEASED WITH HIMSELF. HE KEPT WALKING AROUND THE DEAD HOG, GROWLING AND DARING THE HOG TO GET UP. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGH HE SHOT THE HOG HIMSELF. WE WENT BACK TO THE BARN AND GOT THE MULE AND DRUG THE HOG TO THE BARN AND HUNG HIM UP TO CLEAN HIM. MOM CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT THE HOG AND SAID, "THAT'S GOING TO BE SOME FINE EATING AND I CAN RENDER A WHOLE BUNCH OF LARD OUT OF HIM. WE WON'T HAVE TO BUY ANY LARD ALL WINTER." I TOLD HER SHE COULD THANK BUCK FOR THE HOG, HE WAS THE ONE WHO FOUND HIM. AFTER I CLEANED THE HOG AND GOT HIM CUT UP, I TOLD MOM I WOULD BUILD A FIRE IN THE OLD SMOKE HOUSE AND HANG HIM IN THERE TO CURE. THEN BUCK AND I WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER TO BAIT MY THROW LINES. WHILE WE WERE AT THE RIVER BUCK KEPT SNIFFING AROUND UP ON THE RIDGE ABOVE WHERE I HAD MY LINES. WHEN I GOT THROUGH BAITING, I WALKED UP WHERE BUCK WAS AND ASKED HIM WHAT WAS SO INTERESTING. I LOOKED AROUND ON THE GROUND AND FOUND SOME DEER TRACKS. "SO BUCK THIS IS WHAT YOU FOUND, IS IT?" BUCK STARTED DOWN THE GAME TRAIL WHERE THE DEER HAD GONE AND HE STOPPED AND LOOKED BACK AT ME AS IF TO SAY ARE YOU COMING? I HAD TO TELL HIM NO BUCK WE ARE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THAT TRAIL RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE AND GET THE 30-30. HE DIDN'T LIKE IT BUT WHEN I CALLED HIM BACK HE CAME WITH ME. WE WENT TO THE HOUSE TO GET THE RIFLE. BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE MOM SAID SHE WANTED ME TO DRIVE HER TO THE STORE. SO NO DEER HUNTING TODAY. THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE DAYLIGHT BUCK AND I WERE BACK AT THE GAME TRAIL WAITING FOR IT TO GET LIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE. AS THE SKY BEGAN TO TURN GRAY IN THE EAST THE BIRDS BEGAN TO STIR AND WE COULD HEAR THE SOUNDS OF THE THRUSH IN THE BUSHES NEXT TO US. HE IS ONE OF THE FIRST BIRDS TO MOVE AROUND IN THE MORNING. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE I HEARD A SQUIRREL JUMP FROM ONE TREE TO ANOTHER. THE WOODS WERE WAKING UP AND COMING ALIVE. THEN I SAW THIS SHADOWY FIGURE IN THE BRUSH BESIDE THE TRAIL. AS I WATCHED THIS ENORMOUS BUCK STEPPED OUT ONTO THE TRAIL. I KNEW THAT IS THE ONE I HAD BEING WAITING FOR. I EASED MY RIFLE UP TO MY SHOULDER AND DREW A BEAD ON HIS FRONT SHOULDER. JUST AT THAT MOMENT OLD BUCK HAD STOOD IT AS LONG AS HE COULD AND HE LET OUT A LOUD BARK AND JUMPED AFTER THE DEER. BEFORE I COULD GET A SHOT OFF THE DEER AND BUCK WERE OUT OF SIGHT DOWN THE TRAIL. THERE WASN'T ANY USE IN HOLLERING AT BUCK, HE WASN'T ABOUT TO STOP NOW. I WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND TOLD MOM WHAT BUCK HAD DONE AND SHE SAID "WELL HE'S JUST DOING WHAT HE HAS BE DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. HE HASN'T HAD ANYONE TO TEACH HIM ANY DIFFERENT." "YOU WAIT UNTIL HE COMES HOME. I'LL TAKE A HICKORY STICK AND TEACH HIM SOMETHING." I MUTTERED. MOM FIXED ME SOME BREAKFAST AND AS I ATE MY MAD SIMMERED DOWN AND I KNEW MOM WAS RIGHT. WHEN BUCK CAME BACK HOME I DIDN'T WHIP HIM, IN FACT I DIDN'T WANT TO GET ANY WHERE CLOSE TO HIM. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY HE HAD GOT TO CLOSE TO A SKUNK AND HE SMELLED PRETTY RANK. IN FACT MOM NOR I NEITHER ONE WANTED TO BE AROUND HIM FOR SEVERAL DAYS. OLD BUCK JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS AN OUTCAST AND IT HURT HIS FEELINGS. HE SLEPT OUT IN THE BARN FOR THE NEXT WEEK. WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE PORCH AGAIN HE SURE WAS A HAPPY DOG. WELL AS THE WINTER DRUG ON I NEVER DID GET TO SHOOT THAT BIG DEER BUT I THOUGHT THERE WAS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. BY THEN BUCK AND I WOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT DEER HUNTING. I GUESS HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL IN A HUNTERS HEART. I WAS OUT IN THE BARN MENDING SOME HARNESS FOR THE MULE WHEN I SAW JOHNNIE DRIVE UP IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. SHE GOT OUT AND WENT IN THE HOUSE TO VISIT WITH MOM. I WONDERED IF SHE WAS STILL MAD AT ME. BUT I WAS TO CHICKEN TO GO UP TO THE HOUSE TO SEE. I FIGURED IF SHE WANTED TO SEE ME, SHE WOULD COME DOWN TO THE BARN. I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THE HARNESS REPAIRED BECAUSE OF LAYING IT DOWN EVERY FEW MINUTES AND WALKING TO THE BARN DOOR TO SEE IF JOHNNIE WAS COMING. BUCK KEPT WALKING BACK AND FORTH WITH ME. FINALLY HE SAT DOWN AND JUST LOOKED AT ME AS IF TO SAY, WHEN YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHERE YOUR GOING THEN I'LL COME WITH YOU. I DECIDED I WOULD CLIMB UP IN THE LOFT SO I COULD SEE THE HOUSE BETTER. AS I STARTED UP THE OLD LADDER, I COULD SEE THAT SOME OF THE RUNGS WERE ROTTEN, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT HALF WAY UP ONE OF THEM BROKE UNDER MY WEIGHT. WHEN I FELL, I LANDED ON MY LEFT LEG AND I FELT IT BREAK. "DAD GUM IT" I SAID "I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE WAR WITH OUT GETTING HURT AND I COME HOME AND BREAK A LEG." BUCK CAME RUNNING OVER TO ME AND STARTED LICKING MY FACE. "GET AWAY BUCK. QUIT IT." I TRIED TO STAND UP BUT THE PAIN TOLD ME I WASN'T GOING TO DO THAT. I PUSH BUCK TOWARD THE DOOR AND TOLD HIM TO GO GET MOM. GOOD OLE BUCK. HE UNDERSTOOD "MOM" AND AWAY HE WENT TO THE HOUSE BARKING ALL THE WAY. MOM AND JOHNNIE CAME OUT ON THE BACK PORCH TO SEE WHY BUCK WAS BARKING. BUCK TURNED AND STARTED BACK TO THE BARN. THEN HE STOPPED AND LOOKED BACK TO SEE IF MOM WAS FOLLOWING. SHE AND JOHNNIE WERE STILL STANDING ON THE PORCH, SO BUCK RAN BACK TO THEM AND STARTED BARKING AGAIN. HE TURNED AND STARTED BACK TO THE BARN. THIS TIME MOM GOT THE IDEA AND SHE AND JOHNNIE FOLLOWED BUCK TO THE BARN. AS JOHNNIE AND MOM ENTERED THE BARN THEY SAW ME LYING ON THE GROUND AND CAME RUNNING TO ME. "WHAT HAPPENED?" JOHNNIE ASKED AS SHE KNEELED DOWN NEXT TO ME. MOM SAID "ARE YOU HURT?" I TOLD THEM I THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY LEG. "YOU STAY WITH HIM WHILE I GO GET THE PICKUP AND WE'LL TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL IN WOODVILLE." MOM TOLD JOHNNIE. JOHNNIE SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME AND TOOK MY HEAD IN HER LAP. SHE STARTED CRYING. "DON'T CRY, IT DON'T HURT THAT MUCH." SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID "THAT'S NOT WHY I CRYING. YOU JUST MESSED UP EVERY THING." " WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I MESSED UP EVERY THING?' "YOU MESSED UP MY WEDDING PLANS." SHE WAILED. "I'M SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GETTING MARRIED." I SAID "WHO ARE YOU MARRYING?" 

 "YOU, YOU BIG LUG."

THE END "THE MOORE HOME STEAD" BY LOREN MOORE