and coaxed Leroy awake. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to find that most everyone in their group was already up and on their way. Even Bugger was nowhere in sight. Leroy dressed quickly, saddled up Molly and gathered his stuff, but when he put on his shoe, something felt different. He soon realized in horror that his twenty-dollar gold piece was missing. Leroy frantically looked through the grass, his bedroll and practically tore his shoe apart hoping to find his treasure. He racked his brain trying to think if it could have fallen out somehow, but he distinctly remembered seeing it before he turned in the night before. Finally, Leroy let out a deep sigh and finished getting his things and headed out to catch up with the others.
The trail had narrowed down a bit, and with more travelers joining their company, the whole progression slowed to a crawl. The coolness of the morning gave way to the warming sun, and the overhanging trees were budding with greenery and some with tiny white flowers that floated to the ground when a stiff breeze shook the limbs. Birds were chirping and busily building nests, and a large yellow and black butterfly circled about Leroy’s head before disappearing into the thick woods.
It was a beautiful spring day alright, but Leroy took no notice as he was sick at heart over his loss. He goaded Molly past wagons and eventually caught up with Bugger. “Hey, Bugger, how come you headed out this morning and didn’t rouse me?”
Bugger just shrugged his shoulders. Leroy thought it was odd that Bugger didn’t say anything since he was always full of gab. So Leroy spoke more firmly this time, “I said, how come you didn’t bother to rouse me this mornin’ when everyone was headin’ out?”
Bugger began to whistle. Leroy grew angrier by the minute. “Look, Bugger, I have somethin’ to say to you, and you had better answer me, do you understand?”
Bugger finally looked him in the eye and said with contempt, “I ain’t got nothin’ to say to you, boy.”
With that, Leroy jerked Molly’s reigns and pulled up close enough to grab Bugger by the arm and yank him hard. When he did, Bugger grabbed Leroy, and the two of them tumbled to the ground punching and kicking each other. Leroy yelled, “Gimme my gold piece, you thievin’ scoundrel.”
The mules hee-hawed and came to a halt, and the travelers near them all stopped to witness the commotion. Leroy was getting the better of Bugger when a large man grabbed both boys by their belts and pulled them apart. The man spoke sternly, “What’s this all about, boys?”
Leroy sputtered and said, “This thief stole my gold piece.”
Bugger vehemently denied the accusation and yelled, “He’s a liar.”
“No, yore the liar. You took it. You know you did! Now fess up!”
The big burly man said, “Let’s take a look at yore money bag,” and he let go of both boys and reached for Bugger’s bag hanging from his saddle. He dumped the contents on the ground, and quarters and silver dollars spilled out rolling everywhere.
Bugger stood up tall and spoke with disdain, “See, no gold piece, jest silver. I thank you owe me an apology, Leroy, you little squirt!”
Leroy looked sheepish, but he could not make himself utter an apology. He was not convinced. “I know you have it. You probably hid it somewheres.”
The burly man said, “Well, I thank you young fellers oughta kiss and make up,” and he looked squarely at Leroy.
Leroy gritted his teeth, found his hat, crammed it on his head and jumped on Molly. Bugger straightened up, ran his fingers through his bushy orange hair and then gave Leroy a smirk as he began to collect his silver coins. Leroy held Molly’s reigns taut and looked on with scorn until Bugger got on his mule and took off in a fury. Leroy shook his head in disgust and got back on the trail with determination in spite of his loss.
As he rode along, his eyes began to sting and smart, and he fought to keep tears from rolling down his cheeks. He was filled with anger, and he seethed while muttering words under his breath, “I’ll git you, Bugger. I’ll git you good; you wait and see, you thievin’ son of a gun.”
As the day wore on and the sun beat down, Leroy conjured up all kinds of ways he could get his gold piece back and how he could get back at Bugger. He imagined hog tying him, then stringing him upside down in a tree, but somehow that seemed too civil. Then he had a better idea: he would bury him up to his neck near a big red ant bed and let them have their way with him. Or, he might dangle him over a precipice until he cried out for mercy and promised to give back the gold piece. Any number of ways to punish the Bug came to his mind until the whole group halted for the evening.
It wasn’t until he dismounted that he realized he had eaten nothing all day, and his stomach ached for food. There was a creek nearby, and after taking care of Molly, Leroy stripped to his long johns and got in the cool refreshing water washing away the dirt and grime. The deep scratches Bugger had inflicted stung when the water hit them, but Leroy embraced the cleansing effect of the water and allowed himself to soak in his misery as he sank waist deep in the creek. After a few more minutes, he rose and gingerly picked his way through the smooth rocks and climbed up on a large outcropping where he stripped completely. He wrung out his long johns and hung them on a nearby tree. Then he grabbed his britches and his belt which he tightened to a notch not used before, and he realized he was getting thinner.
As he returned to his camp, he heard soft humming coming his way. He looked up to see sweet Cora walking toward him. He barely had time to get his shirt on when she approached him. “Hi there, Leeroy.” He tried to respond, but all he could manage was a slight nod.
“I heared how you and that Bugger Smith had a fight on the way, and I come to see how yore adoin’.”
Leroy stood as tall as he could and finally got his tongue to work: “I’m alright, I reckon. I thank Bugger got the worst of it, and I’m pert near sure I coulda finished him off ‘cept some big burly guy yanked me up when I was gittin’ the better of him.”
“Well, that big burly guy was my paw, and he said you both needed his interference, or you mighta broke somethin’, like yore nose. Anyways, Maw says you might be hongry, and she told me to brang you some of our dried venison and a dab of liniment for yore wounds.”
Leroy softened. “That was mighty kindly of yore maw and truly special of you to brang it to me. I’m plum near starved fur shore. I’m building a fire. Would you like to sit fur a spell?”
Leroy spread his blanket, and Cora plopped down while he got the fire roaring. He was totally self-conscious as he felt her unwavering stare. He tried to think of something more to say, but nothing came to mind, so he sat down an arm’s length away from her, unwrapped the venison and took a bite. He savored every bit of it, glancing every now and then at the fire and then at Cora. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, wishing he could think of just one thing to say.
After he finished eating, Cora said, “Now let me rub that liniment on yore wounds.”
Leroy totally blushed, but nodded in consent. Cora moved closer, dabbed her fingers in the liniment and tenderly rubbed the ointment on the scratches on the back of his hands. Then she gingerly massaged some into the deepest scratches on his face and neck. Leroy could feel her breath on his skin, and he struggled to keep his equilibrium, so he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, their eyes locked, and he could barely breathe. When she finished and rose up, he clambered to his feet and managed to mumble, “Thank ye kindly.”
“Twas nothin’. I’ll be seein’ you, Leeroy.” And she skipped off humming that same tune.
Leroy
