Feels good to do somethin' right.

“Why we wastin’ time goin’ all the way back to the ranch? Lookie, I know that I done messed up, so give me a durn chance to fix it!” I pleaded all sweet-like.

“Why should I? You kicked up a row with that there horse seller for no reason. Why? Cuz you thought he was tryin’ to bilk us, or cuz he mentioned that feller you saw the other day? You, Miss Nina, sure need to stop livin’ with that big ole chip on that there shoulder of yours.”

“I don’t want to talk about that cheat! Let me just fix this! Let me try!” I pleaded again.

He looked on over at me and just sighed. “Okay. But let me say this right here, if you get us thrown in the calaboose this time cuz o’ yer temper, I’m goin’ to clean your plow and then drop you off at the ranch. Comprendo?”

My grin was all the answer he needed, even though he sure was lookin’ a little worried about it.

So we started our way to the next town, Big River. I did my best along the way to make up fer the difficulties I did. It made the time pass to town easier than hollerin’ did. We made it there in no time. I remembered that Big Cal was from there.. I was hopin’ that he made it back in after that difficulty we had at Wet River. He says he is kinda a big bug there, so I was sure settin’ my sights on him helpin’ us.

Well, sure ‘nuff, Big Call was sittin’ there on the first porch we past, grinnin’ like a jackass eatin’ cactus. Pinned to his chest was a shiny star with the words “Sheriff.”

“Sheriff? You a sheriff? Why didn’t you go on and tell me that?” I said to him as he shook hands with me and Ahanu.

“What? And spoil my fun. Oh, Missy, I couldn’t have you knowin’ all that. You would’na wanted to play cards with me if you thought I was a ace high man! Now what do you reckon I can do fer ya?”

So I told him everything. Well, everything about what I done, not everything concernin’ Danny McCoy. That’s still my secret and it ain’t passin’ these lips even after I’m six feet under.

He just gave me a disappointed look. “Now, Miss Nina. I knew all about that mess with Red Johnnie. I was there, member? Now, this tale you just told me’s not hard to believe but I reckon you deserve it if I didn’t help you. I’ve watched you coffee boil around and be so lazy that you wouldn’a even called Sueeeee!!! in a pig pen. But I’ll help you on account of yer uncle. He’s a decent feller, hardworkin’. And I’ll help you cuz I think that you finally realizin’ that you can’t live life trying to beat the devil around the stump. But, I suggest you best start learnin’ from yer uncle and this gent right here. Be someone he can tie to before he throws up the sponge with ya. But this just some friendly ad-vice from a friend.” And with that, he led us on down to the corral and introduced us to the horse seller.

As we started headin’ back to the ranch later on that day, Ahanu looked at me and said,” Well, if that don’t take the rag off! You finally listened to somebody and did a fine job at dickerin’ with that there seller. Weren’t it a good feelin’ to not take on so all the time and do a fine job? I hope you can keep on being sound on the goose and stop shootin’ yer mouth off. You might even be a person I can ride the river with on the next trip.”

What he said, right there, made me feel all warm inside. It kinda felt good to do something right fer a change. It sure weren’t no effort to do it, but don’t be thinkin’ I’ll be changin’ all my ways overnight! Sure as shootin’, I’ll still have some fun yet, just a more respectable kind of fun! Yeeee-haw!