Dinner is done and it’s almost dark, but John is just now shuffling up the dusty path to our house.
It must have been a hard day in the mine because he’s tilting to one side and walking real slow.
And why isn’t he riding Hollow Hoof?
Whatever happened, I’ll bet I can make him feel better -- always do.
And I’ll bet he tells me I’m pretty -- always does.
He’s walking through the door now.
“Damn horse ran off while I was down in the mine,” he says to Molly. He used to tell her she was pretty, too.
“Oh, no!”
“Well, it ain’t my fault.” John sounds angry.
“No, I didn’t think it was, but what --”
“And … well, Mr. Rumley fired me today.”
“Oh, John!” Molly’s voice is so shrill it hurts my ears. “What happened?”
“One of the carts derailed and hit another one. Whole load of ore spilled down into the cavern. Wasn’t my fault, though!”
“Then why --”
“I don’t know, OK? I don’t know!”
“What are we gonna do, John?”
“Well, I reckon you’ll leave me for some fancy boy who’s not such a bonehead. I’ll prolly just go hungry for awhile.”
“No, John!”
He leaves, slams the door behind him as he heads out.
It’s really dark now.
There been lots of bad days since John and Molly lost the ranch -- that’s how they say it -- but this must be the worst.
Oh! The door is opening again.
John sticks his head in and looks at me.
“C’mon, Callie. Let’s go for a walk.”
I trot next to his side as the door whooshes shut behind us, and I can hear Molly crying.
John pats my head, and I feel him calm down.
“You’re just about the prettiest dog I ever seen, ol' girl.”
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