Nov

25

Sheriff McWorther always got his man. Everybody knew that, and everybody knew he'd be looking for him. So when Stubby Pringle opened the door of the cabin and let the Sheriff and two deputies in, he wasn't too surprised to see him, but he was surprised to see two guns pointed at him. "Stubby, how long have I known you?" asked the sheriff. "I reckon since I was thirteen and when Pa died and you came to take him away" answered Stubby.

"That's right son. And do you remember what I told you?" continued the sheriff.

"I sure do James, I sure do, and I stayed out of trouble just like I promised you" said Stubby. Sheriff McWorther didn't say anything and just motioned to Stubby to come along. Stubby's new bride Abigail peeked in from the kitchen where she was preparing their Thanksgiving feast. It was to be the best dinner since they got married . The night before Stubby went hunting and shot a wild turkey to make it a proper feast.

Abigail just stared at the four men silently without saying a word. Very slowly, without ever averting his eyes from the deputies with the guns Stubby walked over toward the kitchen door, touched Abigail's hand and said "I will be back soon. Just make sure Old Jake gets fed just as soon as he shows up" and walked past the Sheriff through the front door grabbing his fleece-lined jacket from the nearby chair on the way.

It has been three months since Stubby and Abigail got married after a long courtship following their chance meeting at the Christmas dance the previous year. Abigail was an orphan just like Stubby and had been on her own since the age of fourteen after she ran away from her aunt in Oklahoma. She was barely making a living at the saloon in the valley when they met. Her clothing was not in a much better shape at the dance, but Stubby never looked at anything but her face that reminding him of an angel. He rode to the saloon the very next day and proposed to her right there. She wanted to say yes, but being shy and cautious by nature after being hurt all her life by strangers she talked him into waiting until summer. The wedding itself was a pretty small affair with just Old Jake, wouldn't miss Stubby "jumping the broom" for the world, in attendance. This was the only good dinner they ever had together. The Thanksgiving feast was to be the second one.

Outside Stubby was getting handcuffed. He wasn't saying anything and neither was anyone else. Deputy Parnell saddled Stubby's roan, and then tried to help him get onto it. For the first time Stubby's face expressed an emotion, contempt, as he pushed his hand away. "Don't be tryin' to paddle now, son" said the Sheriff as Stubby got onto the roan in a single motion barely using his cuffed hands for support.

They rode into the valley with Sheriff McWorther leading the way, then Stubby, and the two deputies behind him with their guns still drawn. The road was only slightly covered with snow so it didn't take them long to make it to the county jail. They uncuffed Stubby and put him in one of the four cells. Every other one was empty because there was not a lot of law-breaking going on in the county under Sheriff McWorther's watchful eye. Usually. This time was different: Hutch Handley's body was discovered the night before, slumped over his horse that wandered aimlessly near the ranch. Hutch Handley had only one enemy: Stubby Pringle and other ranch hands had seen them arguing earlier in the day when his and Stubby's paths crossed after Stubby's turkey hunt.

As it was Thanksgiving, the Sheriff and deputy Hampton left to enjoy their own feasts, leaving only the rather unhappy looking Parnell to watch over Stubby. "You want to confess?" asked Parnell, but Stubby just stared into the distance without acknowledging his presence. "The Sheriff is sure as a gun you did it, so you might as well" continued Parnell getting the same silent reaction. After adding that Stubby was "in a peck of trouble", Parnell got out his pipe and very slowly started filling it with tobacco to pass the time.

It was getting dark outside and Old Jake finally made it to the cabin. Old Jake was not well and expected that he had only a few months to live. This Thanksgiving was probably going to be his last and he wanted to enjoy like one would want to enjoy their last dinner on earth. He found Abigail in tears and after asking her about what had happened Old Jake opened the front door and just stared into the darkness outside. Abigail interrupted her sobs and told Jake about Stubby wanting to make sure Jake got fed. "Might as well et'" said Jake, surprising Abigail who expected him to try to help Stubby in some way or at least wait for his return. She served him turkey with elderberries and muskidines, ham, mushrooms and buckweats. He ate slowly stretching his one glass of whiskey for as long as he could. When he got his fill, he got up, put on his jacket and after giving Abigail a quick hug walked out the door. And hour later he was in the valley at the door of the county jail.

Deputy Parnell woke up from his deep slumber after several hard knocks on the door. "What do you want Old Jake?" was how he greeted the tired and shivering man at the door who was barely able to breath the freezing air without coughing. "I want to confess Marvin. I done killed that lickspittle Hutch." said Jake while placing himself in the chair next to Parnell's. "Get the Sheriff here now.". Parnell handcuffed Jake and placed him in the cell next to Stubby's who also just woke up. Parnell then locked the front door and went to Sheriff's cabin only a half a mile away. "Had a good dinner Jake?" asked Stubby Pringle. "I sure did Stub, I sure did" answered Jake and who then has to pause to catch his breath.

Soon Parnell shows up with the Sheriff who asks Jake to tell him exactly what happened. Jake describes how he came across Hutch arguing with Stubby, and threatening to kill him. "That made me mad as a hornet" adds Jake, "soon Hutch was gettin' real proddy and when he tried to wap Stubby I done shot him twice". Sheriff McWorther unlocks Stubby's cell and lets him out. "We'll fix this flint tomorrow, but you best be on your way now Stub." Stubby smiles at Old Jake who smiled back at him, and leaves without saying a word. Jakes eyes close as he fell asleep with the smile still on his face. Jake's breathing becomes less labored and soon can't be heard at all. Stubby Pringle is now at his cabin enjoying the turkey and all the trimmings with Abigail whose tears are now gone. He pours what's left in the whiskey bottle into Jake's glass and drinks it while looking at the moon that's now bright and visible through the window.


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