a light snow was coming down. She listened to the hoot owls as well as the coyotes howling in the distance. “This sure is pretty and peaceful.” She scanned the valley. Before long, the monster showed up. He looked so magnificent standing there broadside, looking in her direction. His antlers reflected the moonlight. The light snow looked like glitter as it fell on him.
Officer Shot was watching her through his binoculars, talking to himself. “I knew it, you ain’t getting away from me this time!”
Cat took out her sketchpad and sketched a picture of the buck. He stood there as though he knew what was going on. After she was done and had put her pad and pencils back in her backpack, the buck nodded and walked away, as if knowing she was done. As she picked up her backpack and started to leave, a yearling came into view.
“Not tonight, this is your lucky day. Sorry, coyotes. No free meal tonight.”
She hiked over to the cave and went home the back way.
Officer Shot couldn’t believe it. It was as though she had disappeared into thin air. He was talking to himself, as he walked back to his truck, “You got away this time, but I’ll get you. There’s a new sheriff in town. You ain’t gonna get away from me, you little smart-ass.”
Cat would lead Shot on more wild goose chases. It was getting personal with him. Every time he thought he had her, she would slip away. It became known as the game of “Cat and Warden.” Officer Shot was getting no slack. When he walked down the street, somebody would yell, “Hey, Warden, I saw Cat with a fishing pole. Gonna ask her for her license?” The whole town was getting into the game. Young and old alike were on Cat’s side. There was a board up on the barbershop wall that was keeping score. Every day it would be updated. You could bet on what the score would be at the end of the week. Put your guess and two dollars in an envelope, wait till the end of the week, and if you guessed it, you won the pot. If no one had the right answer, the money would be put in next week’s pot. Most of the entries had the rookie at zero. Even the judge and Conrad played.
*****
Widow Johnson’s oldest boy wanted Cat to take him deer hunting. It was too late for this season, but Cat would be able to get him ready for next year. On opening day, Cat killed a nice buck on her dad’s property. She would have to tell the story to the boy every time she went over there. His mother would shake her head.
“The kids sure love it when you stop over. I appreciate all you have done. He can’t wait till you can take him deer hunting. That’s all he talks about.”
“If it’s all right, I can take him rabbit hunting.”
“Sure, that’d be great. Bless your heart.”
Cat smiled. “No problem.”
“I have my husband’s guns here, but they might be a little big for him.”
“That’s okay. I’ll let him use mine.”
“Bless your heart.”
“I had better get home. I’m sure Mom has something for me to do.”
“All right, come back anytime.”
“Thanks, bye.”
*****
After supper one night, Cat said to her mom, “I think I am going to take a bike ride.”
“Gonna go to your second home, the woods?”
“Yeah, I haven’t been out for a while. It’s a clear night. There should be a lot of animals out tonight.”
“You be careful.”
“As always.”
Cat was riding her bike to one of her favorite spots, a valley that had a lake and plenty of grass for the wildlife. It was a great place to relax, gaze at the stars, and watch the animals get a drink and graze on the grass. It was a good place to refresh her soul. She noticed Officer Shot’s pickup alongside the road. Cat wasn’t in the mood for games tonight, so she snuck by him.
Cat turned down a fire road toward the valley. When she got there, something just didn’t seem right. She looked down toward the valley. There were two guys by a campfire. Off to the side was an old junky red pickup. Cat picked up her binoculars. What she saw made her more sick than mad. They had shot a small deer but had not killed it. They were poking it with a stick. She could hear it cry. The guys would just laugh and take another swig of whiskey. They should be shot down like rabid dogs.
Cat had a high respect for animals. The Good Lord put them on earth to use, not abuse and torture. She had no problem killing animals for food or their fur, or killing rodents and predators that were destroying crops and property. It was all natures predator-prey of the food chain. What these jerks were doing was not only illegal but just plain wrong. She sat there for a bit. So much for enjoying the moonlit night. Now, what do I do? I guess it’s a good thing I left my rifle at home. She sat there a bit longer. I’ve got it! Hot Shot wants to catch some slime balls. Here’s his chance.
Cat snuck back around Shot’s truck. This time she rode past him, making sure he saw her. When he did, he started following her with his lights off.
Cat said to herself, “Trying to be sneaky keeping your lights off, huh?”
As she got to the turn off, she turned on her flashlight. She wanted to make sure he didn’t get lost. Shot had taken the bait. Cat hid behind some trees to watch the show. When Officer Shot saw the guys at the campfire, he turned on his lights and sped toward the truck. The two jumped in their truck and took off. They drove about twenty feet, and both back wheels fell off.
Shot jumped out of his truck with his shotgun, pointed it at the two, and yelled, “Out of the truck, now!”
The two got out of the truck with their hands up and in full view. “Where’s the girl?”
“What girl?”
“Don’t give me any shit, scumbag, the girl that tried to warn you.”
They started to put their hands down. “There ain’t no girl here.”
“Bullshit! Put your hands up. I followed her here.”
“Look, pig, we don’t know nutten about no girl.”
“Get to the front of the truck.” He held his shotgun with his right hand and grabbed his handcuffs in his left. One of the guys tried to hit him. Shot hit him in the face with the butt of his shotgun. While he fell to the ground spitting out blood and a couple of teeth, Officer Shot pointed the shotgun at the other. “You wanna try, dickhead?”
“Uh, no.”
“Now grab one of those wheels that fell off your truck and set it by your buddy.”
“What for?”
“Just do as I say. It would be a lot easier to just shoot ya.”
He brought the wheel up and set it down by his friend.
Shot took his cuffs and threw them on the ground. “Pick ’em up. Put the cuff on your buddy’s left hand, keyhole toward his body.”
The
