As the Eagle Flies

by J. D. Oliver

  “Yes,” Faith said, then she walked to the roll top desk and rolled up the cover, “here it is.” Then she handed it to him. He looked at the logo and smiled.

  I said, “What’s the smile about?”

  “Oh, we’ve been trying to pin something on them for years. They are really good at covering their tracks. Perhaps this time, though.” I poured him another cup of coffee.

  “How much do you want to bet?” I said.

  “On what, may I ask?” He said.

  “On how soon you will get stonewalled. I bet it isn’t even a week and they will have you reined in.”

  He took a sip of coffee, then said, “I’m afraid I would lose that bet. I personally think it won’t take them 48 hours. You and I both know where this will lead, off the record, we know it’s this administration and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. But I will tell you this, I’m going to keep a duplicate copy of everything I find. Perhaps when this administration is gone, then we will see. But really, does anything really change from one administration to the next?”

  “No, it hasn’t. They all think they can make changes, but when they get in there, it’s the same old story, their hands are tied. Then they become just as corrupt as the old ones were. You see, just like the Bible says, it is not up to man to direct his own step. It belongs to God to do that.” I said.

  “Yes, that’s what I’m afraid of; is that God’s patience will run out. Well thanks for the coffee, I’ll be in touch.” Then he got up and left.

  I looked at my wife and said, “Well, I suppose I had better call Dad and Felicia and fill them in on the last day or so.” Faith said, “Give me the phone, I’ll do it. You go and check on your horse, brush him or something.”

  I handed her the phone. Rosie asked if she could go along, “Sure, why not pumpkin. Would you like to pick out a horse for your own?”

  “May I? A horse of my very own?” Rosie said.

  “Sure, you may. After all you are a spirit rider, aren’t you?” I said.

  “I don’t know what you’re really talking about, horses just seem to like me is all.” Rosie said, as we let the screen door slam. From the kitchen we heard Daisy call out, “Hey, don’t let the screen door slam.”

  Red and the hands had already saddled up and went to check the cattle. There were still some FBI agents taking pictures and stuff, we ignored them. In the pasture next to the corral were some young fillies and some colts, two year olds. The crew still hadn’t started to work them yet. Some of them were still pretty rank.

  “How about one of those?” I said, gesturing toward the young stock. As we approached they snorted and ran around, like they were so spooked, they were just bad actors.

  Rosie sat up on the top corral rail, just looking. Pretty soon they quieted down. Most of them tried to ignore us. But one black colt, was what is called ‘proud’, meaning they had missed one testicle when they cut him. I could read him like a book, he came running up, snorting and blowing snot.

  He slid to a stop right in front of us. Rosie looked at him and said, “Now that was just plain rude, if you’re going to be my horse, you’re going to have to learn some manners.” He hung his head, cowed a little bit you might say, then Rosie said,

  “Come here, closer so I can get on.” He sidestepped right up to her, she swung a leg over him and they trotted off around the pasture. She brought him back around.

  I said, “Is that the one you want?” She nodded. “You know he is what we call ‘proud’, that means when they cut him to make him a gelding, they missed one of his testicles?”

  “Yes, he told me, does that mean he can’t father any colts?”

  “Well, it’s rare, but I guess it’s possible, one’s better than none.” I said. “And just what do you mean, he told you?”

  “Oh, I know what their thinking, sort of. They don’t speak, but somehow I know their thoughts. I can’t really explain it, I just do.” Rosie said.

  “So do they know yours?” I asked.

  “Perhaps, I think they know what I’m feeling, they might understand more. But all horses can pick up on what anybody is feeling, didn’t you know that?”

  “Yeah, I did. That’s what makes them good with the disabled. I had a horse when I was just a young shaver, every time my foot would come out of the stirrup, he would stop, he was a good babysitter.”

  “Can I take Diablo out of the pasture and pick a stall out for him in the barn?”

  “I suppose, but have you asked him if he wants to leave the group?”

  Rosie was quiet for a while, then said, “I guess he wants to stay with his friends for awhile, but will you tell the men to leave him alone; he doesn’t like them.”

  “Yep, I can’t blame him for not liking them, if someone botched the job like they did, I wouldn’t like them either. I’ll find out who did that and he won’t be allowed to cut anymore colts.” I said.

  As we walked back to the house, I said, “Why did you name him Diablo?”

  “He was just feeling so mean, I told him he was acting just like the Devil. I told him I was going to call him Devil Ray, but he said he liked the Spanish Diablo, better.”

  “Where did he learn Spanish?” I asked.

  “One of the hands speaks Spanish, Diablo says he likes the way it sounds.”

  I put my arm around Rosie’s shoulder and hugged her close, I had one very special daughter here. She hugged me back, we walked into the house that way. Faith was just getting off of the phone. “Well, what are you two so happy about?” Faith asked.

  Rosie proceeded to tell her all about Diablo. Then she went to play with Alita. Faith looked at me and said, “How did you know he was ‘proud cut’?”

  I thought a second, “shoot, I don’t really know, it just came to me, must have been how he was acting, I guess.”

  “Humm, are you sure you’re not a little bit like Rosie?”

  “Now that you mention it, maybe just a little bit, horses have always liked me.”

  “Well they’re not the only ones; I like you more than a little bit.” Then she planted a big wet one on me.

  When we came up for air, I asked, “So what did Dad and Felicia have to say?”

  “Your Dad was quite upset, he wanted to come up here right away. But I told him that you had everything under control. I also told him that he would have to oversee the drilling on their place down there. I explained that they would be contacting him. Also that when they did, before he let them on the place, to check credentials.”

  “Yeah, we’re going to have to ask the guys here for some thing that only they would know, like a mole on their ass or something.” I said.

  “Yes, or something a little bit less embarrassing.” Faith said, with her little lopsided grin, which I was learning it meant that I had said something that was gauche.

  “I was also wondering Honey; I remember you saying that your caretakers lived in the guest house. How come they are living in the main house?” Faith asked me.

  “I don’t know, I guess you will have to ask Daisy. Does it bother you?” I said.

  “No, I guess not, it was just a small point. You see, I have a good memory and when things don’t balance, it bothers me.” Faith said.

  “Then I would suggest you ask her, I’m sure there’s a good reason.” I said.

  Faith chewed her lip a little bit, I could see the gears going around. Faith headed for the kitchen, where Daisy was making lunch.

  I went into the Den and took a book off of the book shelves that lined the walls of the den. Settling into the cowhide leather chair, I started to read. I never even got the first page read, till my wife was back. “I found out why, the hot water heater went out in the guest house. Your Dad didn’t leave instructions on what to do, whether to repair or replace. So they just moved up here. Isn’t that strange? They can run the ranch, but when a domestic appliance malfunctions, they don’t know what to do?”

  I laid the book down, I looked at her, “I think I know why. My Mother
handled everything to do with the house. I’ll call the plumber, have him come out and take care of it. Do you want them to move back to the guest house?”

  “Heavens no. I want them to stay here with us. It was just something that was a little off kilter.” She started to whistle and bounced off toward the kitchen to help Daisy with lunch. I sat there for a second, thinking. Now some people would of thought that was weird, but not me. I was glad my wife picked up on small details. Who knows her little quirk might save our lives one day.

  I called the plumber, I told him to bring a new hot water heater out with him when he came on the morrow. As I hung the phone up, Red and the hands started to come in for lunch. It was a good thing we had a big dinning room table.

  At lunch, Rosie asked, “Who cut my horse and missed one testicle?”

  Faith choked on the drink of water she was taking, “Rosie! Really, not at the dinner table.”

  Red laid his fork down and said, “We’re sorry Rosie, but we were all doing the branding and cutting, perhaps we got in too big of a hurry. It won’t happen again, will it men?”

  One of the hands asked, “Which horse was it?”

  “The big black,” Rosie said, then added, “who speaks Spanish? Diablo likes Spanish.”

  The same man raised his hand. “Good, you can take care of Diablo when I’m not around, he doesn’t like the rest of you.” Rosie said, as she took a bite of fry bread. Everyone at the table was staring at her, she just went on eating like they weren’t even there. Then she looked up, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, I didn’t say that I didn’t like all of you. Diablo told me that he didn’t, I was just passing on his feelings.” Then she went back to eating again. They were still staring at her.

  Rosie glanced at me and her mother, I winked at her. She cast her eyes down, but a little smile was building on her lips. She was in complete control of the table and she knew it. I pity the man that she would grow up to marry. That is if she ever did get married.

  After we helped with washing and drying the dishes. Rosie asked if we all could go for a ride. Faith and I allowed as we all could, if we only would, which we figured was a good idea. All four of us went to the corrals, Rosie wanted Alita to ride with her. She sat her in front, in between her arms. Their saddle was an A-Fork, where the saddlebow was narrow, so Alita could put her legs on both sides of the pommel comfortably.

  Of course they were riding Diablo. I saddled my old horse, Nick, for Faith. I roped one of the working string for myself. He was a Roman Nosed, Strawberry Roan. The first thing he did was try and bite me. I rapped the bit against his teeth and he stopped it. I grabbed his ear and pulled his head down and told him a story, it had an unhappy ending, he didn’t like it.

  I knew the first chance he got he was going to try and dump me. My old spurs were hanging on the tack room wall. I put them on. I swung aboard, he was a sunfishing devil, I sunk the spurs deep. He came back to the ground and proceeded to try to give me a liver transplant. This went on for a full two minutes. Finally he figured he wasn’t going to dust me. So he just up and quit and trotted over to the women, as nice as could be.

  Faith said, “What was that all about?”

  Rosie answered for me, “Oh, you know how males are, they always have to establish the pecking order.”

  “Are you alright Clay, your nose is bleeding?” Faith said, as she leaned over and wiped a drop of blood off my chin.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, he did ring my chimes for me though, didn’t he?”

  “That wasn’t what I was worried about, I was more worried about the family jewels.” Faith said.

  “Oh, yeah I think their okay still. Time will tell, won’t it?” I said.

  “Oh please, will you two stop it,” Rosie said, “I know what you’re talking about, Dad didn’t get hurt any, I read on the internet that they pull back up inside for protection.”

  “Oh, is that right young lady, perhaps you’d better tell them that. Also, maybe we had better start blocking some of that internet, what do you think about that?” I said.

  “I wasn’t on any of those sites, this was on the Mayo Clinic site. You don’t have to worry about me watching any of those awful web sites. I hate them.”

  “Well good for you Rosie,” Faith said. “We don’t like them either.”

  “Hey,” I said, “lets change the subject, it’s such a beautiful afternoon, where do you want to go?”

  “Well we haven’t seen the drilling rig, why don’t we ride by there?” Faith said.

  “Okay, you did bring your .32, didn’t you?” I asked.

  “Of course, I never go anywhere without it. What about you?”

  “Yeah, mine’s in my pocket, what about you Rosie?”

  She reached into Alita’s diaper bag and pulled her Uzi out. “I have it, one never knows.”

  I know it seems strange that we’d have to go about armed. After all this wasn’t the wild frontier anymore, or was it? In some ways it was more dangerous now then it was back in the nineteenth century. Then you knew what was dangerous and what wasn’t, now one just didn’t know anymore.

  The grass hadn’t turned brown, as of yet. Even though it was the middle of summer. This area had been getting rain, for once. We were riding single file, with me bringing up the rear. Rosie was in front. There was the buzz of a Rattlesnake, Diablo danced to the side. Faith palmed her .32 and blew its head off.

  Rosie said, “Oh, what did you kill him for? He was just warning Diablo not to step on him.”

  Faith said, “I’m sorry Honey, it was just an automatic response, my gun was in my hand before I had even thought about it. When my family is in danger, I react without thinking.”

  “Your instincts were right Faith,” I said. “You see a Rattlesnake also reacts without thinking, he would strike out of instinct also. So you did right. You probably saved one of our horses from getting a venomous snake bite.”

  “So, am I forgiven Rosie?” Faith asked.

  “Yes, it’s just sometimes I get overly sentimental, I have to learn to toughen up, I guess. I suppose your quick reaction to danger, was how I felt when those men were shooting at you and Dad.”

  “Yes, Rosie,” I said, “your first reaction was to save us, and you did. Just as Faith’s reaction saved our horses.”

  We could hear the drilling rig working before we came over the last hill. It was still sitting right where it was supposed to be in Coyote Draw, as if it would of moved.

  I sure hated them, but I guess it was a necessary evil. The only solace I had was knowing it would all be put back as it should be, the land I mean.

  We rode up and ground tied our horses. Yeah, as I stepped off, that Roman Nosed Devil tried to bite me again. He was a funny one, I think he just did it to see if he could get away with it. Then he nickered softly and rubbed up against me, go figure.

  Randy Fillmore, the owner of the rig seen us and came our way. (I’m sorry I didn’t tell you his name before.) But I guess I had more important things on my mind. He held his hand out to shake, I took it. He said, “I got hold of my cousin Spike in Arizona, they talked to your Dad and as such they are in the process of moving the rig to his ranch.”

  “Good, I guess. As you probably can tell, this isn’t my favorite activity. If it wasn’t for the Oil shortage, I wouldn’t do it. The money isn’t that important, but anything that decreases our dependence on foreign oil is.”

  “I’m glad the money isn’t that important to you, but I have to feed my family.” Randy said.

  I looked at him and said, “I’m sorry, I came across as a pompous ass. I just meant that the money wasn’t the reason I was doing this, not that I was looking a gift horse in the mouth.”

  “I understand. I think we should be reaching oil pretty soon; the core samples are looking good. After we get this hole producing I think we can move over a few feet and send out some laterals. That way we won’t have to disturb anymore ground.”

  “Good, that’s what I like t
o hear.” Faith said.

  “Uh, Mr. Bronson, has any of your men been around here?” Randy asked.

  “No, I don’t think so, why?”

  “Well, just this morning I seen the glint of someone glassing us from the hilltop, over there. It was just a glint and then it was gone.” Randy said.

  “I’ll check it out.” I said. Faith and Rosie, with Alita on her hip, had started to pick wildflowers. I walked over to where they were. I told them what Randy had said.

  “Who do you think it was?” Faith said.

  “I don’t know, but who ever it was, was probably up to no good. It’ll just take me a few minutes. You guys wait here, Brutus and I will ride up there and scope it out.”

  “You and who?” Rosie asked.

  “My horse, I named him Brutus, just now. Don’t you like it?” I said.

  “Well it sort of fits him, with his Roman nose and all.” Rosie said.

  After giving Brutus another rap in the teeth. I mounted up and circled around and came up on the hilltop from the side. No one was there. But I could make out where someone had lain; by the way the grass was bent over. Who ever it was had stepped in a cow pie, I bet he was mad. I could see his footprint very clearly. Whoever it was, was not wearing boots, that was a print from a street shoe or I’m no tracker. Of course that only narrowed it down to about 98 percent of the population, but it got me to thinking.

  I followed his tracks, leading my horse. They led back over two more hills. To where an ATV must have been parked, the tracks went back towards the county road. I got my satellite cell phone out of my pocket and called Charles Hester in Montana.

  “Hey Charles, this is Clay Bronson, did that Dipper Tick ever show up there?”

  “No Clay, he didn’t. It’s been pretty quite here.”

  “Oh, another thing Charles, we’re starting our own Oil company. Only we’re going to do the drilling and recovery in an environmentally safe way. Think about it, if you want in let me know.” With that I hung up. Isn’t it strange how we still use the expression ‘to hang up’? When all you have to do is close the lid to disconnect.