Country Comforts Part 2 by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves some suggestive content with underaged characters. You have been warned.
Several days had passed, much like the wind that was now picking up in the Badlands. Things at the farm had remained at a slow but steady pace for both boys. Ralph had been able to keep up with his chores, even with the limited help from his friend. Baxter was still healing, but his hand was more usable than it had been a few days prior. They had become an even better team while working together and even closer as a result.
Frank, on the other hand, remained his usual strict self. Often checking up on the two cubs, to make sure that the puppy was doing his part. Of course, Baxter had been limited by his injury, but he still kept himself busy. Doing things that didn't require nearly as much arm strength and sticking to less strenuous tasks in general. Ralph, too, kept an eye on his, ever wary to make sure the boy didn't overdo it and get even more injured.
Early one morning, Ralph arose to the usual sound of the rooster crowing as the sun came up. The young kitten had grown accustomed to it, so it was nearly as jarring as it had been over the previous few days. Yawning and stretching, the shorthaired boy rubbed his eyes of the crust that had lodged itself within his lids. Lying in bed a bit, no longer was he quite as worried about what Frank would do if he caught him lounging around.
Just outside his window, he could overhear the rickety, constant slam of the wooden slats against the pane. Kneeling up in the bed, Ralph looked outside. Dust could be seen all over the place as fresh piles of the sandy claw were collecting all around. Swirling in the wind, the clumps of it, big enough to be seen, were reeling through the air. Just as he was about to open the window, he heard a knock on his door.
"Get up, Ralph. We 'ave work to do. There's a dust storm comin'." Baxter said from the other side of the door.
Ralph immediately hopped out of bed, even if he had no idea what a dust storm even was. Dust storms were all too common in the badlands. The impact of such events on the small farm usually spoils its topsoil, making the already problematic grounds even less fertile. Even more destructive was the potential damage it did to the crop yield, in addition to the harm it caused to the animals. The puppy knew all too well it couldn't just be ignored.
The kitten came out of the room after dressing himself. His pile of laundry was freshly cleaned after the dog had shown him how to do it. Padding into the kitchen, he found an unfamiliar face roaming around the inside of the home. A calico woman with a deep scar across her snout. Looking at her briefly, Ralph remembered seeing a woman the very first day he'd arrived there. Perhaps this was the woman of the house, he told himself.
"Ya'll get yer grub on. I need ta help Frank fer the dust sets in." The lanky woman snapped a rider's whip before exiting from the room.
The puppy made both of them something to eat. A simple selection of whole fruit, milk, grains, oats, and barley. Stirring the mixture on the range top oven, Baxter motioned for his friend to help him. Ralph didn't need to be told what to do. Taking it upon himself to cut the fruit for both of them and mixing it into the crock pot when he was asked to. The smell of whatever was inside was not too appealing.
Baxter poured out the sloppy meal into two bowls. The pallid shade of it did not make it look like an appetizing meal. Both of them sitting down before beginning to chow down. Surprisingly, the taste of it wasn't too bad, and the cat boy found himself enjoying it. The warmth and texture of it were unique, and the touch of sweetness from the squeezed berries within made it tingle the tongue for just a bit.
The two cubs made quick work of their meal. The food was delicious and hit the spot for both of them. Ralph insisted on cleaning up since his friend had taken it on himself to make it. Of course, he helped anyway, since the dog understood that time wasn't on their side now. Rushing him out of the kitchen and through the living room once they were done. The kitten simply went through the motions, even if he didn't understand why.
Outside, Ralph realized just how windy it was. Spawling gusts of wind spurled around dirt on the property. Immediately shielding his eyes, the bigger boy offered his paw to his friend to get him out of the open. Passing right by old Frank, who was galloping by on a young buck of a horse.
"Get yer fanny to work. Dust be a comin'. Start with da' silo's and make sure der shut. Can't 'ford to lose da' feed." The tabby said before rushing on once again to return to his own task.
Baxter didn't need to be told twice. This wasn't his first time experiencing preparation for a Dust storm. He hurried along the smaller boy, who put up no protest despite his nostrils quickly filling up with sand and dirt. Sneezing from the unfamiliarity of the smell of it, Ralph continued to try to bear through it.
"Cover yer face. We'll have to grab scarves from the barn." The dog said, modeling what he had done for the other cub.
The kitten covered his snout, following along with him to the side of the barn. Already, dirt was collecting alongside the silo of food. The outlet pipe was quickly collecting debris and needed to be cleared and sealed. Baxter used his healthy hand to dig out the sand from the base of it. Several centimeters had already piled below, and even more was still collecting.
"Get me a shovel, will ya?" Baxter didn't point out where the tool was kept since his friend knew where it was now.
Quickly, Ralph moved over to the storage shed. Opening the door to it was much harder than he expected. The constant beating of the wind against the side of it didn't make it any easier. Forcing it open, the door slammed against the side of the building with a thud. The sand began to flow within the inside of it as the cat boy panicked. Reaching in, he grabbed the shovel before digging into the collected pile in hopes of making it easier to shut.
From within the shed, he made a quick driving motion over his head. Each time he shoveled, the sand was quickly blown away. Yet looking below the pile blockading the door further was much smaller. Peeling around the side of the building, he quickly shut the door. The thing slammed once again as he felt the full force of the wind against his body. Shielding himself as he trudged forward to deliver the shovel to his friend.
"Here." The kitten said shortly while still covering his maw.
Baxter offered him a red and white striped scarf. "Wrap yer face in this. It will make it easier."
Ralph briefly looked at how the dog had done it before imitating the tied fashion around the back of his head. The dog didn't waste anymore time shoveling the sand from the front of the silos.
"Go cover da pigs trough wit' a tarp. There should be one in da barn." Baxter continued to ignore the fact that his sore wrist was causing him pain.
The smaller cat nodded, walking right into the wind. The bristly wind cascaded against his fur as he walked through it. Now shielding his eyes, he walked forward at a slower pace as he made his way into the barn. Inside, it smelt just as bad as it usually did. He still had not gotten used to the foul odor of the pig sties. Inside the beasts were squealing and whining as they were frightened by the sudden change of weather.
Ralph knew he didn't know how to settle them down and decided to just ignore them. A few of them snorted at the boy as he passed by them. One of them even tried to ram him, almost sweeping him off his feet, but he was able to avoid the brunt of it. Finding the tarp strung to the wall along with a rope tying it down. Fighting with the knot a bit, he was finally able to free the tarp as it flapped into the wind.
The thing snapped to his side as the wind raced through the pig styles. Ralph tried holding it closer to his side, as it continued to flow into the wind. Trying to reel it back, he clumped it up in his hand as he finally managed to get a hold of it. Quickly, the cub tried to cover the troughs. Already, he could see there was dirt collecting inside, but it was a problem to deal with after the weather had passed. Fighting with the tarp as he fit it around the edges of the iron-clad troughs.
Nearby, the pigs were still panicking. Many of them were walking aimlessly around. The kitten looked at the door to the barn, which had long since blown open. The thing was plastered to the inside as several gusting gales of debris cascaded inside. An idea popped into his head: what if he propped the thing shut? Perhaps it would further protect the pigs and other animals from further distress or potential harm.
Bracing himself, he moved forward against the wind. His scarf blowing off as he tried to shield his mouth from the constant fray of dirt against it. Yet he tarried on ever still, determined to try to shut the door. Eventually finding his way to the door and seeing that the hinges to it had torn off. It was no longer a matter of just swinging it shut. Instead, he began to push it forward, fighting against the wind as he made ever-slow progress.
"Let me help ya, boy." A vaguely familiar voice said to him from nearby.
The woman from earlier positioned herself right next to him. Together, they pushed the door forward against the wind. Gradually, it made it back to the position where it was when it was shut. The woman held her full weight against it, motioning for a cub to put a latch in place. Ralph noticed a torn piece of wood nearby, quickly picking it up. Latching it in between the two handles, which he figured would make it sturdy enough to stay shut.
"Good job. Got er' done good. Now get and see to the hen coop." The taller cat didn't wait for him to respond as she took her leave.
Ralph understood what needed to be done. Briefly looking around, he noticed the pigs were much more settled down now. No longer squealing or grunting at him. A few of them were even nibbling away at the straws of hay that had collected in the corner. The boy felt better now, though the constant battering of wind against the side of the building reminded him that the ordeal was not over. Slipping from the rear of the building, he fought with the exit door to get it closed as well, barring it shut so nothing else could get in.
Back outside, the cat boy was assaulted once again with the brazen brush of sand against his face. Covering his face, he began the slow trek toward the chicken coop. He knew it was just the opposite of the styes, so it wasn't a far walk. Several tumbleweeds cast themselves across the property as they were tossed to and fro. Ralph having to duck underneath a small wooden placard that had freed itself from nearby.
At the chicken coop, he found the ramp leading up to it had been torn asunder. The remnants of the plank of wood lay broken, with but half clinging to the underside of it. The door easily popped open the moment the kitten put even a small amount of force into it. A sudden gust of wind rushed inside, causing the chickens within to flutter and scurry about. Ralph quickly slipped inside the building, trying to reseal it against the onslaught of windy gusts.
Chicken feed and seeds swirled around within as Ralph finally managed to shut the door. The constant clucking of chickens reminded him that they were flustered. Collecting whatever eggs some of them had laid and covering them with a wire lid. One of the birds pecked him a few times as he tried to collect the prize. Still, he had been pecked before, and it didn't faze him as much as it did.
Ralph refilled their feed boxes and affixed a water bottle to the inside of the coop. Repeating it for each of the perches and nesting boxes within. Some of the birds continued to flutter about as they tried to fend off the intruder. Yet, it did not deter him, and he tarried on as he filled the last of them. Fetching his egg basket before making the door, another rooster barraged him with a peg.
The kitten forced himself out of the coop, sealing the door shut once again. Shielding the basket of eggs as he carried the thing from the coop to the house. Passing right by Frank, who was now driving one of the tractors nearby. The thing plowing along as the man pushed dead crops to be used as compost later. The amount of ruined crops was staggering to be sure, but little could be done about it at this point.
Ralph brought the eggs inside, stashing them in the kitchen before stopping by Baxter's room. Grabbing himself another scarf, covering his nose and mouth so that it wouldn't blow away quite as easily this time. He figured the other boy wouldn't mind and quickly returned outside. Looking for something to help with, he noticed that his friend was shepherding sheep into their corrals. The cub headed over that way in hopes of finding a way to assist him, even if he didn't know how to herd.
"Do you need any help?" He shouted into the wind, hoping that the dog would hear him.
The puppy hustled along the sheep into a closed-in area but did not immediately respond. The other cub assumed he hadn't heard him and decided to follow along. Snaking in just behind him, following the last few sheep as they filed into the corral. The wooden siding of the house rocked and swayed against the constant gale of wind. Every so often, the building creaked but still stood strong against the inclement weather.
"Baxter?" Ralph asked again at the end of the herd of sheep.
The bigger boy finally noticed him. "Oh, sorry. Didn't notice ya. Can you go find ol' Bess? I think she was spooked by the wind, and Frank would be upset if she were lost."
"Yeah, any idea where she is?" The kitten didn't even know where to look.
The dog continued to move along with the sheep into the stalls. "I saw 'er over by the tool shed."
Slipping back out, Ralph looked around twice over. The wind had only gotten stronger, and the debris in the air was even thicker. Frank raced by on a horse, following quickly behind a steer that showed no signs of slowing down. The kitten began to make his way to the tool shed. Following along the nearby row of fences, using it to help himself along. A single board of it frayed off before being thrown into the distance.
Ralph could hear the constant whining of a cow nearby. He figured it had to be old Bessy. Trudging forward, he continued toward the old building. Just in front of it, he noticed the sundered lid of a tin silo. The thing was completely flattened against the building with a noticeable dent near the center of it. Just beyond the side of the building, he found the elderly cattle hiding its head in the side of the building.
"Come on, Bess, let's get you to shelter." The cat boy tried fixing a rein over her head, but she quickly snapped away and snorted at him.
Looking within the small space where she had her head, Ralph found a stash of silage and was snacking away. Ralph quickly grabbed a big handful of it, trying to offer it to the cow. Immediately getting the beast's attention but not letting her take it from him. Instead goading her along with the wind, guarding the treat with his other hand so it didn't blow away. Slowly but surely, they made their way across the field and back into the stalls.
Ralph led the beast back inside, leaving the fresh feed inside the trough next to its usual stall. The beast snorted at him again, huffing at a bull nearby that seemed just as disinterested as she was. It would be a shared space for the time being, one that the cow would have to deal with. The moment old Bess got back to eating, no longer seeming as interested in the male counterpart sharing the space with her.
A bell clanged loudly as the kitten just finished wrangling her within. "Get yer' hides inside. The worst is comin'."
The cub had no idea what this even meant, but overhearing the unmistakable tone of Frank's voice made it sound all too serious and threatening. Quickly, Ralph retreated from the stall and made his way back home. Sure enough, the man was outside. His gaze was ever vigilant as if looking for something. He didn't even say a word to the city boy; he didn't think he needed to. Padding inside, the kitten made his way into the front room.
Frank was not far behind him, shutting the door with a loud slam. Lodging the thing sealed with an iron latch to keep it secure. The older cat immediately turned on the radio. Unsurprisingly, the usual broadcast at that time of day was talking about the dust storm. The station was full of static, but was comprehensible all the same. Ralph looked over at Baxter, who didn't seem worried but was listening to the news anyway.
"This is your afternoon news bulletin. The Dust storm has hit the area and is expected to remain in effect til night fall. Make sure to stay inside and ensure any animals do the same. Emergency response will only respond to certain requests. Be wary of your family's safety until the Dust storm is lifted."
The older man huffed, seeming frustrated with the turn of things. It was not the first time the farm had dealt with a dust storm, but it was always a big deal. He knew there was potentially a lot of damage, and there was very little he could do about it. Also knowing that his family and helpers had prepared with what little notice they had. All they could do now was sit and wait.
"Ya' have a day off, cubbies. Can't be washin' up either. Not til the Dusty is gone. Go do what'cha like." The tabby cat grabbed a newspaper from a wicker basket and began reading it.
Ralph looked over at the puppy, who looked back at him. Even if he had only been there a few days, this was the first free time the kitten had been given since he got there. The idea of having off time hadn't even occurred to him since the regiment of chores and other responsibilities had become all too normal for him. Motioning for him to follow him, Baxter padded off towards the stairs leading to his upstairs room.
Following in behind him, the smaller boy didn't question it. Baxter had been his only sense of solace or reassurance, and he wasn't about to turn down the invitation. The dog led him up to his room. The rickety floorboards and planks of wood lining the side of the house creaked as the windy gust hailed against it. Briefly looking outside, Ralph realized he could see nothing but the sandy haze obscuring any view he might have had.
"Ya wanna play a board game or somethin'?" The puppy asked as he didn't have much else he'd brought with him.
Ralph looked at him curiously. "Sure, which one?"
"Cat and Mice. Have ya played it before?" Ralph went over to his closet nearby to fetch it.
The smaller cub shrugged. "Nah, but I'm keen for whatever."
The dog pulled out the game from a beat-up box. Bringing it out onto the floor in front of them, he placed the board on a small rug. The board was a colorful one with colored circles adorning the sides. The purpose of the game was either for the cat to catch the mouse or for the mouse to get away. Baxter flipped a plastic coin provided within the box. It landed on the side with the cat, making him the cat.
The bigger boy proceeded to explain the rules of it. It was a simple game with not many mechanics or rules to it. Some of the preset numbers had moves one had follow if they landed there. They began the game by rolling the dice a few times, their designated pieces going forward or back a few spaces each time. Ralph got lucky and landed on the first named slot, resulting in his piece going ahead and an additional 3 spaces. The other cub waited while it was his turn, finally joining in after three turns.
Ralph kept a good pace ahead of his friend until the other boy handed on 31, adding a pre-designed dog to the mix. Forcing the dog into the fray with a non-player-controlled piece. The kitten got
lucky and scored a lucky hole, putting it even further ahead of his friend. Eventually, the dog got lucky and scared off his canine counterpart in the game after finding a slab of meat. Getting ever closer to his target, even as the mouse neared the end of the board.
The final space was soon reached as Ralph celebrated with a holler. Giving a quick pump of his fist, he inadvertently shoved the board, causing the pieces to shuffle a bit.
"Sorry, I got a bit excited." The kittens said as he rubbed the back of his head.
The bigger cub chuckled at him. "Na' a problem. Did purdy well for yer first time." Baxter collected the pieces so they wouldn't get lost.
Joining in helping his friend clean up the board game, Ralph collected what was left of the colorful pieces and threw them into the tattered box. Through the thin floorboards of the home, they could hear the radio blaring in the living room. News still bantered on about the weather, and not much had changed. Looking briefly out the window, they could see that things hadn't gotten any better.
"Wanna get some lunch? I'm kind of hungry." The smaller cub said as his stomach rumbled audibly.
The dog shrugged. "Yeah, sure."
They both got up before Ralph waited for his friend to stash away the boxed-up board game. Padding back downstairs, they headed into the kitchen to find it was vacant. Nearby, they could still hear the droning of the radio. Ralph was certain that Frank was probably listening to it, but he wasn't about to check. The dog looked into the icebox briefly, scanning over what was available inside.
"Ya want fritters and fish? Mr. Frank still has some of 'is catch left over from the other day." Baxter figured it would be a good choice since it was rare they ever got to have fish.
The kitten seemed surprised at the offering. "Sure, I've never had fish before."
Back in the city, fish was something of a delicacy. The cat's family lived far enough from any water that fish had to be imported. Daily transports of seafood in general were rare, so when one found such a thing in the market, the catch would often be overpriced. As such, Ralph's parents never indulged much in what they considered a luxury.
"Maybe we could go to the river sometime and hang out after the storm is over?" Ralph suggested that ideas of leisure began to fill his mind.
The dog arched his eyebrow toward him. "What? Mr. Frank would never allow dat."
"Oh come on…we've worked plenty over the last few days. Don't we deserve a little free time eventually?" It was the first time that Cat Boy had made such a request.
The bigger boy wasn't sure what to make of the comment. "He would tear our hides if e' found out."
"Who would say if he had to? Maybe we could slip away after work one day, that way he isn't suspicious." Ralph quickly pivoted, figuring he'd be more open to that idea since breaking the rules didn't seem to be a good choice for either of them.
The dog put the fish on the range stove. "Maybe."
The smaller boy smiled, glad that he wasn't outright rejected. Stepping over to the fridge, he poured some juice for both of them. The smell of the sauteed fish filled the room with the stagnant stench of salt and pickles. It was an odd mix of flavoring and preservatives, one which Ralph was unfamiliar with, since in the city, processed foods were more common. The two of them waited as the fish sizzled on the stove.
As the food finished, the woman of the house came to check on what was going on. Seeing the dog boy by the stove didn't concern her and she just moved on without saying a word. Ralph helped with serving up the food. Delivering each filet onto a plate with a nearby spatula. His friend joined him at the table, and the two boys ate up. The fish was a mixture of mild sweetness that didn't flake much when they bit into it.
Ralph found himself enjoying the seafood. Neither knew it was catfish, but that didn't matter as it tasted good all the same. The kitten inadvertently leaned on his friend's shoulder, seeming all too comfortable with getting closer to him. Baxter didn't seem to mind either, even going as far as to extend his arm around his friend. The two remained silent for a few moments with neither of them saying anything.
They finished up before long, with the cat boy taking it upon himself to clean up for both of them. Trying to help him, Baxter budged his way into the cleaning line. Yet Ralph wouldn't have it and insisted instead. Eventually, the puppy gave in and took a load off. Washing what they had used as dishes and utensils, the smaller boy cleaned each of them. There wasn't much for him to clean, so it didn't take long.
"Ya wanna listen to da Mystery House or Empire Builders when you're done?" They were the dog's favorite radio dramas, and most boys their age listened to them frequently.
The smaller cub turned his head toward his friend, seeming surprised. "Really? You get Empire out here? I'd totally listen to that with you if it's on and we get reception."
Baxter got up from the chair and nodded. "Yeah, I'll head upstairs and get 'er ready, kay?"
"Yeah, I'll be right up." The kitten dried a few of the dishes.
The dog padded out of the kitchen, passing right by Frank, who was still listening aimlessly to the living room radio. Not paying attention to him, the boy passed right by without a word. Making his way up the stairs, he headed over to a wooden table where an older radio was affixed. The clock on it had long since stopped working, but the antenna worked all the same. He flicked it on as static came from the cloth-frayed speakers. Rotating the little nob until he found the channel where Empire Builders was usually shown.
An advertisement was churning about, but it was about the latest release of western action figures, so he knew he was on the right channel. The puppy waited a few minutes before Ralph showed up in his room. Patting the spot next to him on the bed, Ralph urged the other boy to join him. The smaller boy eased himself onto the small mattress, the metal springs underneath squeaking against their combined weight. It wasn't much longer before the "Empire Builders" radio broadcast began.
"Howdy, Pardners. Today on Empire Builders, Ol' Sun Dance strikes again at the Great Train Heist of 1892. Sunny and lead the Wild Bunch to rest the goods away and secure the loot. Their goal was to outwit the law and score and score what they saw as easy winnings. It would be a bargain they would pay with their freedom. Join Sheriff O'Neal and J.A. Mayer in their pursuit of the varmints. Will they take 'em away in cuffs or will the Wild Bunch slip away again? Stay tuned and find out."
The two boys listened intently as the show began in full. It was a dramatized fictional re-telling of a historical event that had happened several decades prior. The glorified hero of Sheriff O'Neal would be put up front and center as the titular good guy, versus the bad narrative played out. Cops and Robbers, as they had come to be known by the older generations. But to the two cubs, it was a story they never told.
A man rides on a horse down the lambasted plains of the Midwest. A cold snap had run through the area, and icicles hung on the dead leaves and foliage that remained in the area. A long string of train tracks ran through the area, the Great Northern Railroad, one of the largest and most well-known in the region. An old steam locomotive strung down the tracks, chugging along with powdery grey smoke pluming from its singular funnel.
The man, a young Igauna, had just finished a prison sentence several years prior. The punishment for which he earned his name. Ol' Sundance…the tan bison hide top coat with matching chaps made him none too distinguishable. His face covered in a half-torn black cloth. His Stetson was the only thing that matched it, a wide-brimmed hat that further shielded his face from recognition just as well as it did from the beating rays of the sun.
Next to him was an older Buffalo known to his fellow outlaws as Butch. His own coat was a sundered full-length black flannel one. The man's face scarred by a black eye from a recent dispute at a nearby saloon. His hat was a smaller bowler style with a scarlet ribbon tied into the back of it. The very same heirloom given to him by one of his many short stints of romance. No longer did he remember the woman's name. It was simply something he kept as he liked the look of it.
That pitch-black steamer chugged along in the distance as they watched it from the hill. A crew of 8 behind them, each carrying some degree of firearms. Butch gave a single throw of his arm, motioning for them to set upon the train. The whole lot of the Wild Bunch stirred up into a frenzy as they galloped down from the hill and onto the plains below. The Buffalo and his protégé, Igauna, followed at the rear, arming their pistols with a few bullets before joining the fray in a dusty rush of hooves against the sun-baked sand of the Midwest.
The train itself had but a singular crew of defenders. Several hired guards boarded the rear-most caboose and a half dozen attache' riding alongside it. The two at the forefront of the crew were O'Neal himself. The disguised lawman had been tipped off by a vagabond who had the very same run-in with the kid and his crew. Only having to slip a few Indian heads as bounty for the information, but it was more than enough to go off.
Butch and his crew immediately noticed the cavalcade accompanying the vehicle and shouted to his men. Yet, he knew they had come too far into this to simply give up. Looking at the men below, it wasn't clear that they had firearms. A quick split-second decision followed as he yelled.
"Give 'em hell." He said in a burly tone before the crew set on them once again.
The Wild Bunch beset themselves upon the train, with the foremost member of it setting a stick of dynamite at the furthest edge of the tracks. Forcing the thing to come to a screaming halt. The lawmen and their deputies immediately sprang into action as Butch and his crew began firing at them. Pulling out their own revolvers and rifles, a gunfight ensuing between the two groups. Bullets ringing between them as the horses whinnied and panicked, as a few of them buckled to the violence.
Only moments later, the dynamite exploded, and the locomotive was torn from the tracks. A hiss of black smoke followed as some of the following train cars tipped to the side away from the track. Several of its closed compartments opened and spilling whatever contents were within. A few of the Wild Bunch tried to snake around and collect in an unorganized bunch towards what they presumed was loot.
O'Neal and his deputies' horses had been shaken by the abrupt noise, but soon were able to collect themselves. The sheriff blew his whistle as his men formed into a tightly knit group. Rushing forward once again to meet the outlaw and his brigade. Gunfire followed again as bullets strayed through the air. Striking one of the Wild Bunch, sending the man's horse reeling to the backside.
A volley sent back and forth, each landing another victim, further diminishing both the defense and raid itself. At the end, only Butch, Sundance, O'Neal, and an injured deputy remained. Cassidy knew they had overstayed their welcome. No longer was it worth recovering whatever treasure remained.
"Get'er gone." The Buffalo and his men slipped into the distance.
O'Neal looked at the carnage created by the assault. The crew on the train was the only one showing any signs of life. Most of his own men had passed from gunshot wounds or loss of blood. Looking to the horizon, he figured it wouldn't be worth it to follow after the vagabond. He had lived to fight the outlaw another day, and he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Yet he swore he would catch both men and put them behind bars.
So the telling of the story came to a close. Both Ralph and Baxter had been listening to the entire episode with the utmost attention. The action of the narrated scene was tantalizing. Neither had heard of the tale before, as such history lessons were kept out of the school books of that era. Yet in that moment, both could feel the adrenaline inside of them rising as the scene played out. By the end of it, they wanted more.
"Pew pew…O'Neal was so slick." The puppy boy said as he got up from the bed to go look for something.
The smaller cub looked over to his friend, unsure what he was doing. "You liked the law, man?"
"Oh, yeah. Sunny and Cassy were ne'er-do-wells. Ain't like 'em at all. Check this out." The bigger boy pulled a small face police badge from his trunk of things in the closet.
Padding over towards his friend, the cat boy took a quick gander at it. It was a polished piece of nickel with the insignia of the 22nd. A fake division of law enforcement officers invented by the very same channel that had just narrated to them. The star-shaped symbol with dotted edges and the word "Sheriff" engraved at its center. It was a toy meant for younger children, and there was light scuffing to it from previous use.
"A police badge?" Ralph was surprised his friend liked such things.
The puppy nodded fullheartedly. "Mhm. I want ta' be a police officer when I get big."
"My dad is a police officer. He works for the precinct back where I live." The smaller boy couldn't remember the specifics of his father's job.
Baxter's face lit up with delight. "Really?"
"Uh-huh. His precinct was involved in putting the Chedara family behind bars." The kitten expanded on the truth a bit to glorify it more.
The dog's eyes sparkled a bit. "That is so slick. I wanna meet yer Pa."
"Maybe you can. My parents will have to pick me up at the end of spring vacation anyway. That's in just a few days." A frown crossed Ralph's face as he realized the truth of his words.
The bigger boy looked at him curiously. "Why are ya frowning? Is somethin' wrong?"
"Because I know that eventually my parents will come pick me up. I can't stay here forever. I have to go back to school eventually." The kitten sighed as he vented his disappointment.
Baxter hesitated a moment before responding. "Oh, dat stinks."
"Maybe you could visit or something? Or maybe my parents could bring me out here again.
The smaller boy was searching for any alternative to give him a piece of mind.
The puppy scratched his chin. "Maybe. I have ta' work still. My parents rely on da' dough."
Ralph got up closer to his friend, wanting nothing more than to be closer to him. A moment of silence was exchanged between them. The only sound they could hear was the gusty gales outside the window and the occasional slap of the wooden frame. Baxter eased his arm around the other cub, feeling inclined to comfort him. Gently, he kissed the other boy's head, seeming not to be bothered with showing him a bit of intimacy.
Blushing, the smaller boy couldn't help but curl into him. Baxter's body warmth and touch against his body were soothing. Relaxing his worried state just enough to let the concern slip from his mind. Baxter looked down at him briefly, taking notice of how his friend was completely cradled in his grasp. A few butterflies flitted around in his stomach as the unfamiliar closeness started to get to him.
Inadvertently, the kitten was taking slow but deep inhales of the other cub's body smell. A mixture of sweat, the earthy grains of sand wedged within, and his own odor. It was nothing strong, but Ralph didn't find it unappealing. In fact, he found himself liking the arid smell of it. Each breath he took pushed the fur of his friend's body back against Baxter. A light chuckle escaped from the bigger boy's maw as he felt the unfamiliar sensation brush against him.
"Hey, watch it…" But the puppy didn't push the other cub away, as he too was enjoying it.
They remained like that for a few moments. The careful touch of the dog lightly stroked against Ralph's back. Each time he did so, it made the boy feel even warmer and safer. Baxter's touch was slow and methodical. Even if he had never done anything like that before, it almost came to him as instinct. The dog was finding himself to like the feeling even more with each passing second.
Suddenly, the door popped open with a loud pop. "What're you two…?"
Frank's voice was unmistakable. Cut off by the sight in front of them. Baxter's face reeled in terror as he pushed the cat boy off him. Yet it was too late, the man had seen them in their moment.
"The hell' do ya think you two were doing?" The tabby's voice was stern as he inched toward them.
The dog looked down at Ralph, who had a look of disappointment on his face. Ralph was feeling scorned and confused, no longer enjoying the embrace of the boy he found himself longing for. Baxter peered his eyes back up at Frank, whose face had a look of disgust about it. He panicked, figuring he needed an excuse to explain himself. He simply couldn't afford for Frank to be angry at him. There was too much at risk.
"He was homesick, so I was tryin' ta help him." The puppy came up with the best white lie he could come up with.
The older male folded his arms defensively. "Yer a fibber. That ain't true, and you know it. Get yer fanny out of here, city boy. Me an' Baxter gunna chat…"
"But…" The kitten was interrupted the moment he tried to speak.
Baxter shook his head as if to motion for him not get into it. The smaller boy knew how much his friend needed the work. No matter how much he liked the boy, he knew he couldn't risk it. Huffing, he slowly stood up as he walked toward the door.
"Make sure ta shut it, city boy." Frank didn't even bother to look at him.
Snaking out of the room, Ralph felt disheartened and lost. He didn't know what to do. Within moments of shutting the door, yelling ensued. The argument within was mostly undiscernible. Not wanting to hear the other cub lambasted, he walked down the stairs. Going back to his room, he hung his head low as he went right past the living room. The lady of the house taking note of his disgruntled state as the cub went by her, but said nothing.
The kitten remained shut in his room, bundling up on his flimsy bed. The combination of the creaky springs and the constant gale did him no favor in making it harder to relax. His mind was swimming with negativity. Mixed between what he perceived as being spurned by the other boy, as well as Frank's reaction to his closeness. But he figured there was little else to suspect, as such things were not common in that era.
Ralph peered out the window. Not much could be seen through the obscured sandy haze of swirling dust. Piles of sand were the only thing apparent just at the edge of his windowsill. The cub sighed as he dipped his head back on the thin pillow near the top of his bed. He briefly looked down, realized he felt grimy, but knew there was little he could do about it at the moment. As he lay there idly, a knock rapped at his door.
The boy's heart raced in that moment. Who could it possibly be? He thought to himself. Normally, Frank wouldn't just knock on his door. The man had always been abrupt. A tremor crept through the kitten's voice as he faintly raised his voice toward the door.
"You can come in." The small cub swallowed as he sat up in bed, wondering if he would regret those words.
Opening slowly, the door budged until it was fully ajar. The calico woman walked right in, her lean form just as caked in dirt as the boy's own was. She walked toward the cub with careful steps. Each one she took caused the floorboards beneath her paws to squeak. No words escaped from the tall woman's scarred snout until she was right next to his bed.
"Yer Ralph, Cheryl's boy ain't ya?" The older cat seemed to know who he was despite never having formally met before.
The smaller cub looked up at her curiously. "Yeah, why? Who are you?"
"Ya can call me Vicky. I am ol' Frank's better half." She took it upon herself to sit on the edge of the bed.
Ralph forced a smile. "Nice to meet you."
"What's got you in such a hissy?" The woman wasn't used to comforting children as she didn't have any of her own.
He looked away from her. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Don't be such a fool, boy. I ain't here to castigate ya. Why don't ya tell auntie what happened?" Vicky's voice was brazen but soft all the same.
Ralph thought about his options before looking at her. Despite the rough nature of her face, she looked serious enough. Perhaps she wasn't here to chastise him after all. He took a deep breath before responding to her. He knew he needed to talk to someone about this, so he decided to spill it all despite barely knowing her.
"Frank caught me wrapped up in Baxter's arms all up close and personal and stuff." It was the simplest way he could explain what he was doing without fully understanding it.
The woman looked at him awkwardly. "Up close an' personal, eh? Ya like that boy?"
"I dunno. It's weird. He's just like any other boy at school, but I feel different around him." Ralph was wading through his confusion as he hadn't quite confronted it just yet.
She tilted the cub's eyes up so he looked at her. "Different, hmm? Ya mean like flutterie's in yer' gut?"
"Yeah, it kind of feels like butterflies are floating around. I get all warm inside and stuff when he touches me, too." The kitten still tried to avoid her gaze by staring through her.
Vicky snorted at him. "Yer' funny. Ya know it ain't seen as normal like this. Boy's ain't supposed ta' like other boys."
"Really? But why does that matter? I just like being around him. I don't care if he's a boy or a girl." Ralph didn't see the problem with it.
The calico flicked his nose. "Cause the word of da' almighty is strong in dees parts."
"So what am I supposed to do? I have never felt like this before." The smaller cat was fully aware of the part religion played in life.
The older lady chuckled at him. "If I were ya, I'd try ta move on. Plenty of fish in da sea. Lots of purdy girls."
"But I don't want a girl. I want to be around him." Even if he didn't fully understand it all, he knew is that Baxter made him feel good inside.
Vicky looked at him briefly. Hearing about homosexual attraction wasn't something she was used to. Such things usually remained in the closet. This boy seemed too young for such things. Too young to understand what he was even doing. Too naïve to understand why it was different. Too innocent to care about what society dictated was right. As she looked into his eyes, a devious plot crept into her mind, and a smirk crept across her face.
The woman whispered into his ear. "But maybe it ain't so bad if ya' can keep it secret. Just don't let anyone catch ya with 'em."
"Secret? Like hide it? Are you not going to say anything about it? Why are you helping me?" The confused cub was questioning his choice to come clean to her now.
The calico stood up from the bed, causing the spent coils to slowly recoil. "I ain't helpin' nothin'. I dunno what yer talkin about. Ya ain't tell me anything of the sort."
With that, she left the room. Ralph was left to his thoughts. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Vicky's sudden shift in tone seemed strange to him. She had been willing to listen to him vent, only to seem interested in throwing the issue under the rug. What he didn't understand was what he didn't know. That she wanted nothing to do with it. Discussing such things within the faith was forbidden. For her to even have knowledge of it and yet do nothing was seen as blasphemy.
He sank back down in his bed. Talking about it made him feel a little bit better about everything. Even if he didn't understand the woman's purpose. To him, she was toying with his feelings. He tossed and turned a while as he wrangled with his thoughts. The constant ticking of a worn old grandfather clock was the only source of noise in the room, beside the constant gusts of wind from outside.
In Baxter's room, things were not going much better. The dog found himself cornered by his boss. The older male's fury was known to him. The greyed-out eye stared through his very soul. The puppy figured he had messed up and that he had to answer for whatever he had done.
"What in tarnation ya think ya were doing with da city boy?" The tabby pinned him against the wall, causing it to creak.
The younger boy shook his head. "I wasn't doing nuthin'. We were just relaxin'."
"That ain't no relaxin, and ya know it. Ya better stop fibbing to me, 'er I'll send ya home." Frank knew just how to get him to talk.
The dog's eyes grew wider at the threat. "He was just layin' against me. It wasn't nothin' serious. I swear."
"Ya' were rubbin 'is back. That ain't what just friends do…Ya better not been keen on em'. Ya aint are ya?"
Baxter flinched as he tried to move, but made no headway. "No. He's just my friend. Ya gotta believe me. I promise he was jus' home sick and tried to help 'em."
"Ya' better be telling the truth 'er I'll have ya hide. Ya have been a good hand on dis farm. I can't 'ford to lose ya." The older male finally let 'em go.
A deep sigh of relief left the boys maw. "I promise it won't happen again."
"Ya better not. Keep 'way from the city boy. He's a fairy, and I can smell it on 'em." The tabby brushed off the boy before finally exiting the room.
Baxter watched as he left the room; his heart pounded in his chest. He knew he had dodged a big potential problem there. Frank could, at any time, just get rid of him whenever he wanted. His family needed the money. But to have seen the look on the other boy's face when he pushed Ralph off him was heartbreaking. The disappointment in his eyes was all too apparent when he stared back at the dog. He simply couldn't push it back in his mind.
The dog retired to his bed, briefly looking at the hand that had stroked the other boy just moments ago. Everything about being close to his friend seemed right. Why was it such a problem for Frank? But the cub knew he couldn't risk the job at the risk of endangering his job. His family needed this more than his friend did. After all…Ralph would be gone soon, and they would likely forget each other, or so he thought.
It wasn't until later that night that they saw each other again. Frank had simmered down a bit and had made dinner for the whole lot of them. Unlike usual, Vicky would join them. The woman typically would leave the house on her own volition as she had her own private residence nearby. She and Frank may have been married, but they were an estranged couple with a fragmented relationship. It was more a marriage of mutual benefit than one of love.
"Get yer hides down here. Da roast is ready." He shouted into the living room.
Ralph was still in a funk from everything that happened that day. Talking to Vicky hadn't helped much and, if anything, had made him feel even worse. Still, he couldn't ignore the constant rumbling of his stomach. Slowly, he eased himself out of the bed, briefly looking out the window to see if things had settled down. A light gust could still be heard howling, but not much could be seen except for the illumination within.
Making his way out of his room, the kitten hung his head low. Walking into the kitchen, it was completely silent. Only the sizzle of a fry pan could be heard accompanying the occasional tap on the window from things hitting against it. Ralph saw the dog boy already sitting at the table. His face was without emotion, completely straight, and seeming unconcerned. Not seeing the usual smile on his snout was a change from his normal demeanor.
The kitten wasn't sure if he should sit next to the other cub and took it upon himself to sit next to Vicky instead. The calico woman glanced at him before wincing a smile at him. Frank delivered the food to the table, sliding plates to each of them. A smaller helping for the city boy, but it was barely noticeable except to the older male himself. Ralph didn't even care as he looked at the plate, gingerly swirling around the potatoes with a fork.
His uncle sat down opposite the younger cat. It was a strange silence shared between them as Frank hadn't turned on the radio. The usual receiver had lost reception earlier in the day. He assumed one of the towers had probably been affected, but couldn't look into it. Occasionally, the older cat glanced over at his young nephew. His disgruntled state did not go unnoticed by the older man. But to Frank, it was a necessary step to keep order in his house, where it was his rule.
Dinner would be without words that night. The light scraping of silverware against the porcelain plates would be Ralph's only solace. Slowly eating through the meal, which was not too appealing to him. Yet, he didn't want to anger Frank any further, and so he forced himself to eat it. It was hardly the most satisfying meal, yet it was one he would remember for some time. As they finished, Frank got up, commanding him to do the dishes before leaving the table with his wife.
Ralph looked back at Baxter, who was now the only one at the table besides himself. The puppy boy was without words. His eyes were distant, and his head was in his hands. The kitten hoped the other cub would help him, but it didn't seem like he was in the mood for it. Getting to work, Ralph started the usual regimen of washing and drying the dishes. The other boy watched him for a bit before slipping away without a word.
Not even noticing until he was done, the cat boy looked back at the vacant table. Ralph knew it was a bad idea to follow him, but he still wanted to check on his friend. Just as he was about to head out of the kitchen, he was stopped by the older male. Frank's glazed-over stare felt like it pierced through him as he stood there. The man's grasp was firm but not enough to cause him harm.
"City boy, yer ma is comin' to pick ya up in the morn'. Make sure to pack up yer' things. Yer done." The bigger male moved past him without another word.
The boy was without words for a moment, thinking to himself what could have caused this change. Initially, he was supposed to stay there the entirety of spring break. Yet now that singular event had changed the plan. Part of him wanted to go home, but there was still that part of him that wanted to stay. Not because he liked the work or even the animals, but rather because inside he still liked Baxter, even despite feeling scorned by him.
Ralph huffed at him but didn't respond. He knew he didn't have a choice now. He had to at least tell Baxter what was happening. Even if the dog was upset at him, he needed to know. There was little he could do about it now. Looking behind him, he assured himself that the older male wasn't looking. Quickly, he snaked away back through the living room. Right passed the older calico woman, who didn't even so much as utter a word at him.
Going up the stairs, he went up more carefully than usual. The wood beneath his paws creaked, but it was barely audible. Not bothering to knock on the door, he peered inside. Briefly looking within, he could see the silhouette of Baxter. The dog's familiar floppy ears and long snout outlined against the moonlight, peering within. The cub was bundled up in its own legs, clearly distressed.
"Frank is sending me home tomorrow." He said shortly through the slit of the door.
The dog whispered a barely discernible response in a broken tone. "Good."
Ralph felt his heart pierced with pain. The feeling of disappointment billowed up inside him as a frown crept across his face. Slipping back outside the room before shutting the door once again. His mind swirling with negativity as he crept back down to the living room. Hanging his head low, he slunk past the couch and towards his room. Already in his mind, he was searching for answers, but in reality, he had none.
Confusion was abound in the young boy. Ralph thought that the dog was just as interested in him as he was. Yet the whole change of atmosphere since Frank's response was obvious. Nothing seemed to make sense to him. The only comfort offered to him was now the fact that he would go home tomorrow. That shred of him that wanted to stay there had been dashed in an instant. Now all he wanted was to be done with the place.
Retiring to his old bed, the creaky springs seemed all too welcoming in that moment. Unconcerned by the fact that he hadn't washed, as it wasn't something he could do right now anyway. The young kitten was all too glad to hit the hay as he plopped his body on the small mattress. All he wanted to do was to sleep his worries away, hoping that things would get better and that he could just forget about this whole thing.
He tossed and turned for quite a while in bed. Still thinking about everything that had happened. Perhaps Vicky had been right all along. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be after all. Maybe Baxter had used him for unknown reasons. Maybe the dog had been toying with him the entire time. All he knew for certain was that it was over. The cub told himself he could move on…that he would just forget about it all.
It took some time for the fatigue of the day to catch up to him. Ralph's mind began to wane, and he closed his eyes, giving way to sleep. The combined mental exhaustion, stress, and physical exertion finally took its toll on him. Even with his head constantly throbbing, his mind slipped into the dream realm. It would be a dream he would not forget for some time, one that would seem all too real.
Ralph found himself at home, back in the city. His room just how he left it just a few days prior. In the very same bed that he enjoyed previously. The plushy in his arms reminded him of the solace and peace he found in his fortress of solitude. Looking at the walls, the poster of Felix the cat grinned at him with unmistakable glee. Its shiny grimace seemed to almost mock him as the black and white cat pointed at him from above.
The black and white cat took a single but elongated step from the poster. It's leg easily extending from the elevated surface on the wall to the ground below. Following soon by the other one. Felix's stretchy body bending and flexing as the cartoon creature stepped toward him. The other cat was without words, but that same mocking smirk was adorned on its face as it neared the still resting boy on the bed below.
Felix peered down at him with an inky hue to its form. The thin lines of the drawing wavering a bit, giving it an almost wavy look. Ralph stared at the creature as it reached out towards him. The moment its hand almost touched him, the thing snapped back. It's form blurring into an ink blot that resembled no shape. An amorphous blob of black and white with only the circles of its eyes remaining within.
Ralph watched as the cartoon creature became unrecognizable. Its shape remained without a true shape. Eventually, the thing began to shift, taking a more rigid design in its nature. Shrinking down in size at first, forming limbs and features that might resemble an Anthro. Gradually, it began to form something more recognizable. Taking on a very familiar sight in a rather dark representation of his former friend.
Baxter stood before him, the inkbound core of it pulsated and throbbed as if it were breathing. A thin slit extended across its head, white light emanating within almost as if representing hollow eyes and a mouth. What looked like a smirk extended across its face, sharp edges along its extended grin. The façade of the boy in front of him cackled, causing a bubbly gurgling sound to resonate from its non-existent maw.
The thing lurched forward, its plume-like appendages reaching toward Ralph, who sat still on the bed. Fear had taken over him, and his heart was racing. The kitten panicked as the thing got ever closer to his person. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not move. Just as the thing latched onto his head, the cub awakened in a sweat. Breathing hard as he sat up in the bed, finding himself back in the borrowed room from a moment ago.
The whole thing had only lasted several minutes, but it may as well have been forever. It had seemed all too real. Ralph sat there in the bed, catching his breath as he recovered from the nightmare. Looking out the window to discover things had settled down a bit. Only the still light of the ever-present moon could now be seen. Trying to settle himself, he lay back down. Glad the nightmare was over.
It would take him quite a while to go back to sleep. Tossing and turning in bed for almost an hour before fatigue would take him once again. His mind would be much too tired to dream again. The combined mental stress from the day had taken its toll on him. Fortunately for him, Ralph would remain bundled up in bed, hugging his pillow, crouched against his body. Hoping for some sense of solace, to return home, and never see this place again.
