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"Well, some of the fella's were foolin' around like they always do at eatin' time. Newcomb yelled it was on its way, but they were all hollerin' and Fletcher was a bit hard of hearing you know, so he didn't hear and didn't get out of the way. Darn thing kilt him lickety split."
"That's a hard way to go."
"I don't know about that, he was dead before we got to him. Then we had a strange kind of fella come askin' questions about a big man he hired to work for him, and he never came back, wanted to know if we'd seen him. He described him to us, but from the description none of us had ever seen him. The man looked mean and onry and smelled like a brewery. We sent him on his way, he wasn't too happy about it. He hollered he had more questions, and we told him we had work to do, and to go about his business somewhere's else."
"So, sounds like you've had a lot going on lately."
"Too much. We all went to the funeral, the boss shut down the operation for that. His kids sure took it hard. I guess he was a right good daddy to them."
When Lissa got up to feed the animals she heard him ask, "How come you put him to work, Jack."
"'Cause, I get dern tired of workin' all day and havin' to come in and do more. He needed a place to stay, caught him campin' out in the woods. So, I offered him a place an eats to do what I didn't want to do anymore."
"Well I guess that's pretty good deal for you both then."
"Yep, you know Shining Moon ain't around all the time and he don't do much in the house. He's an outdoor man if you ask me. So, I figured this fella might come in real handy. It's workin' out."
"How is Shining Moon?"
"Fine."
"He ever get married?"
"Nope, but you never know."
"That's the truth. He'll go to that reservation and find him a squaw one day and bring her back here. Then you'll have to get rid of Lester as the squaw will take over."
"Ya think?"
"Yep, that's how it works."
"Corky, I'm glad you came by, gonna stay the night with us?"
"Nah, I gotta get back. You know I married, don't you?"
"You're foolin' me?" Jack's jaw fell in shock.
"Nope, I got me a squaw."
"Well I'll be damned. How come?"
Corky smiled now, "Had to find someone to keep my feet warm in the winters."
Jack laughed.
He walked Corky to the door and Jack bade him goodbye.
Lissa came inside. "That was a surprise."
"Yeah, good thing I came in when I did."
"I was very glad to see you." She chuckled.
"He's an old friend. We go back a ways."
"He seemed nice. You feelin' alright, you look a little green around the gills."
"He wanted me to try some of his homemade corn liquor and I couldn't refuse, so I took some. My stomach will never be the same."
