Of Wolves and Men (9 page)

Butch wasn’t the kind of man who liked to be wrong. He said, “Excuse me, ladies. Thank you for the meal, but I have work to do.” He put his hat on and left.

Charlie exchanged glances with JP and Goat. None of them had a problem with Butch before so Charlie had no idea of what the two men were thinking.

“Can I have another helping?” Goat held up his plate to Suzie.

“Sure, Hal.” The girls never called him ‘Goat’.

Charlie leaned closer to Vernon. “I know it ain’t my place, boss, to fire someone.”

“You feel Butch is that bad of a worker I need to let him go?”

“Not a bad worker. No. But this last week, it’s the bad attitude. He don’t like me bein’ the manager. I can see it in his eyes. He’s angry now all the time.” Charlie peeked behind him first before he said softly, “and very jealous of the girls’ friendship with me.”

“Yeah. That I know.” Vernon chuckled.

“Here ya go, Hal.” Suzie set another helping of food in front of him. “Can I get anyone anything else?”

The rest of the men shook their heads, saying, “No, thank you.” She began clearing the table.

Connie walked up behind Charlie and caressed his back lightly. “You work with Butch, Charlie.

We don’t.”

“I hate to lose him,” JP said, “I got no complaints. He works hard, boss.”

Charlie felt the same. Butch was a hard worker. “He’s just becomin’ a nuisance.”

“Sit, Harley.” Sherlane held a scrap of meat for the dog.

Charlie said, “Speakin’ of a nuisance.” He smiled. “You, dog!”

Vernon said, “He’s just doin’ his job. He thinks he’s a Doberman Pinscher.”

Charlie and the other boys laughed. “True.” Charlie said, looking back as the dog begged for food.

~

Charlie headed out of the ranch house with the other two men. Just as he did, the truck filled with their wranglers arrived. Charlie stood by as they unloaded. Most of the men were sitting in the open truck bed, while three were inside the cab. “Mornin’ boys.” Charlie greeted them.

They gave him a wave as they began their job of grooming the horses and mucking out the stalls.

Goat, JP, and Charlie walked to the stable to get their own duties underway. Charlie removed Spirit from his stall and led him to the open pasture while he shoveled horse droppings into a wheelbarrow.

He heard JP ask, “Where’s Butch?”

Charlie poked his head out of Spirit’s stall. He yelled Butch’s name, looking in the direction of Scout’s stall in the barn. “Ain’t he here?”

“Nope. He’s out somewhere and didn’t clean Scout’s stall either.”

Charlie stewed as he continued his job. He didn’t count on this unusual predicament. If Roman wasn’t the wolf threatening the ranch, Charlie would be out trying catch him or scare him away.

He wasn’t sure he blamed Butch for his actions. They were well intended.

He tossed clean hay down on the floor of Spirit’s stall, filled his water bucket and then wheeled the dirty hay to a truck and dumped it.

The other men were busy taking the horses out and brushing them, checking their shoes, and inspecting their condition before the tour groups arrived and they began a hike up into the hills.

Charlie called to Spirit and approached him. The horse stood still as he took a hold of his halter and brought him back to saddle up. “You and me got to take a ride, fella.”

He tossed his saddle on Spirit’s back and the bridle over his head. Once he was ready, Charlie swung his leg over the horse and sat tall. He waved to JP as he left. JP gave him a nod of his head, as if they both knew Charlie was going to see what Butch was up to.

He rode directly up the trail to the area with the cut fence line. Sure enough the barbwire was tampered with. Hopping down from Spirit, Charlie inspected the cut marks, and could easily tell they were from a wire clipper. He repaired the small opening quickly and heard Spirit snort.

Charlie took a look at him and noticed his head was turned, looking back, his ears perked up.

“What is it?” Charlie stood, fixing his hat and tucking the tools back into the saddlebag.

Hearing a noise, Charlie put his foot into the stirrup and mounted him, walking Spirit down an embankment to the reservoir. He spotted Scout standing idle, and Butch kneeling at the edge of the water, washing his hands. They were too far off to see well but Charlie thought it was odd.

He began walking Spirit closer to have a conversation with Butch about him neglecting his duties back at the barn. The moment Butch heard them approach, he stood quickly, wiping his hands on his jeans, with an unreadable expression on his face. Charlie couldn’t tell if it was anger or fear.

“Butch, what are you doin’?”

“I found another cut up deer.”

Charlie’s stomach knotted. “Where?”

“There.” Butch pointed, climbing on Scout’s back.

Suspicion began to invade Charlie’s thoughts. But he was going to give Butch the benefit of the doubt. He followed him. As he drew near, he could see a deer carcass, steam rising out of its opened entrails.

Immediately Charlie knew. “Butch, please tell me you didn’t do this to prove some demented point.” He hopped off and could easily see the animal was just killed. It was still hot and bleeding, the cold air making it a mass of vapor trails waving in the breeze.

“Me?” Even his denial appeared cliché.

“Get down here.” Charlie pointed to the ground.

Reluctantly Butch did.

Charlie grabbed his arm and inspected the cuff of his jacket. It had blood all over it. “Why?

Why did you have to do this, Butch?”

Butch tugged his arm away. “I just wanted to prove to you we needed to do something.”

“By faking this ritual thing?” Charlie pointed to the animal in disgust. “You do realize there’re trail rides today.” Charlie took out his cell phone. “I have to tell Vernon not to come near this area until we clean this up.”

“Don’t tell him it was me.” Butch appeared threatening.

“You’re jokin’, right?” Charlie shook his head and stared at the deer as the line connected.

“Vernon, look, don’t bring them tourists up the west side.”

“Why, Charlie? We got more trouble?”

“Yeah. We do.” Charlie stared into Butch’s eyes. “I’ll tell ya later, boss.”

“Okay. Thanks for the heads up.”

Charlie shut off the phone and pocketed it. “
You’re
goin’ to tell him.”

“He’ll fire me.”

“Yeah. He will.” Charlie said, “Tie it up and let’s take it out to the mountains. Ain’t no reason she needs to go to waste. Let the coyotes gnaw on her.” He knelt beside it. “Tell me you did not cut that animal’s heart out.” Seeing the sickness wash over Butch’s expression, Charlie got his answer. “Ya know, I can see the buckshot in her. How would you explain that?”

“I was gonna say I shot at something near it.”

“Butch…” Charlie stood and approached him. “What happened to you? You and I, we got on all right. I thought you were a bright boy in the interview me and Vernon had with you. I expected more from you.”

“And I thought you would be a good friend, Charlie. But you’re not the same either.”

“How have I changed?” Charlie took his rope off his saddle and began to tie the hind legs of the dead deer together so they could drag it.

“I don’t know. We used to go out and have a beer at the Other Side…now? Nothing. You won’t even go out with the girls and me so I can get to know them better. Then you go and befriend some wolf and call him Roman.”

Charlie stood with the end of the rope in his hand. “There ain’t no Roman!” After he said it he glanced around to see if anything was watching them, particularly a crow. “And I don’t want to go out with you and the girls.” He tied the rope end around the horn on Butch’s saddle.

“Why don’t you? I know they’re both keen on you. But once you pick one, I can date the other.”

“Are you deaf? I am not datin’ either of Vernon’s girls.” Charlie said, “Get in the saddle. Go.”

“Don’t tell Vernon, Charlie.” Butch stood beside him.

“I have to. I can’t keep somethin’ like this from him.” He tugged on the knot to make sure it was tight. “Now go on. Take her way out yonder where no one can find her but the scavengers.”

Charlie waited but Butch didn’t budge. “Why aren’t you getting’ on that horse, Butch?”

“Because I’ve a feelin’ once I head that way,” he pointed and said, “You’ll go right to the ranch.”

“I told you to go. It’s up to you to clean up the mess you made. Bad enough this poor thing had to die like that. Not to mention that deer huntin’ season ended last month.”

“You’re going to report me to fish and game too?”

“I’ve half a mind to!” Charlie was growing angry that Butch had already screwed up and now wanted complicity.

“I’ll say you killed it! You and your wolf.”

“Why do you keep goin’ on that I own a wolf?” Charlie was fed up with this argument. “And I’m not the one with blood on my coat sleeves. You are.”

“Charlie, don’t. I need this job.” Butch grabbed Charlie’s lapels.

“Then listen when I tell you to do somethin’ and stop actin’ like a fool.” Charlie brushed Butch’s hands off his jacket.

“I swear, Charlie, don’t tell no one about this! It’s just you and me up here, and no one has to know.”

Throwing up his hands in frustration, Charlie replied, “I can’t do that. You think I want to be involved with your messy deeds? I have enough to worry about.” He pushed Butch to the horse.

“Now take this carcass up the mountain.”

“Don’t you push me.” Butch spun around and glared at him.

“Fine! You know what?” Charlie took his mobile phone out of his pocket. “I was goin’ to try and help you after you explained it to Vernon, but now? I’m goin’ to have Vernon ride up here to see this for himself.”

Butch whacked the phone out of Charlie’s hand and it scattered to the frozen ground, skidding off under the brush.

“You son of a bitch.” Charlie puffed up. “You think this is helpin’ you?”

Butch reached for something on his belt. Charlie knew the man had to have his knife with him to have done the damage he did to the doe. He could see both of their shotguns hanging from Spirit and Scout’s saddles. Charlie grabbed Butch’s right wrist and held tight. Butch’s fingers were gripped around a five-inch fixed-blade knife.

“Don’t be stupid!” Charlie tried to get Butch to drop the knife, twisting his arm. “You goin’ to kill me? You think that’ll get you out of, or
into,
more hot water?”

“Don’t matter now!” Butch began struggling with Charlie. “You’re going to make me lose my work, report me to fish and game… I’m going to lose everything as it is.”

Charlie held the knife hand over Butch’s head and grabbed him around the neck with his free hand, trying to trip him backwards. “You’ll lose even more in the state lock-up, you bonehead!”

Butch fell backwards, nearly into Scout. The horse shifted away but didn’t go far with the deer carcass attached to its saddle.

Charlie fell with him, not relenting his grip on the wrist holding the knife. “Let it go, you stupid boy!” He had Butch pinned under him, slamming his hand over and over again against the rocks and hard soil to loosen his hold.

Butch opened his fingers and the knife dropped out of his hand. He lay panting under Charlie, his eyes welling up. “Charlie, please.”

“You don’t leave me a whole lotta’ choices, Butch.” Charlie made a move to stand, reaching for the knife.

Before Charlie did, Butch gripped him by both shoulders, making Charlie search his eyes. “I need this job.” Butch bit his bottom lip. “I’m so jealous of you…”

“Why? I don’t get that.”

“You got all the girls after you… Vernon likes you best.” Butch seemed embarrassed by a tear that ran down his face. He wiped it roughly.

Charlie rolled to his side so he and Butch’s crotches weren’t pressed together. “I don’t want to date Vernon’s daughters, for the hundredth time. And I’ve worked longest here, so me and Vernon are close. That’s it.”

“No…no…”

Charlie stood holding the knife at this side. “I’m not sure what’s goin’ on in your head, Butch.”

He tucked the knife into the saddlebag on Spirit’s back and picked up his phone where it lay under some brush. He heard a loud squawk and spun around.

The crow was perched close by on a low branch, eying him.

Butch stood slowly, straightening his jacket and hat. “It ain’t that, Charlie. You know why.”

Charlie tried to think. “No. I don’t know why.” He mounted Spirit. “Come on. I’ll walk with you to get rid of the deer.” He watched Butch swing his leg over the saddle, looking defeated and not like the eager young man he’d been only a week ago.

Scout began dragging the dead doe as Charlie walked Spirit beside them. “I reckon we should bring her way deep off the trail. Vernon’s got bookings all week, ya know.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Nineteen,” Charlie said, giving Butch a glance from under the brim of his hat. “By now, I would have thought you’d be more sensible.”

“I am. I just do stupid things.”

Charlie laughed at the accurate appraisal. The crow flapped close to where they were. He could feel the gust from its large wingspan. With the crow keeping them company, they walked silently to the thick line of evergreens inside the federal land area.

“That bird is just dying for a free meal.” Butch tilted his head to the carcass.

Charlie looked over his shoulder and found it hitching a ride on the dead deer as it was dragged.

“I suppose it’s got to eat somethin’.” Charlie addressed the bird, “Wouldn’t you rather have pork chops and hash?”

The bird tilted its head but kept its balance as the horse’s gait jerked the rope.

“How about here?” Charlie stopped Spirit and hopped off.

When Butch did the same, he waved at the bird to scare it off. “Shoo.”

The crow didn’t move.

“That can’t be the same bird from the other day, can it?” Butch untied the rope from his saddle.

“If it is, he don’t scare easy.”

“No. I know he don’t.” Charlie gave the bird a scolding glance. He crouched down and untied the legs of the deer releasing the end of the rope so Butch could coil it up.

“Thanks, Charlie.”