The Price of a Normal Life, Part Iv

Hopkins just fumed, and dove for his iron, Bud’s gun barked, and he fired right then, The Pinkerton’s charged at the gunshot, And stared down on the lifeless corpse of Hopkins. “Sorry I could not get him for you alive,” Was all Bud said when they looked on the scene. “You’ve got your man, you’ll get your reward, but there is some place else that I have to be.” The very next morn bud arrived at the ranch, and found Henry working out in the corral, he said,”I thought about the things that you said, there’ll be no more trouble from Hopkins now.” Henry drew near, stared down the young man, Said,”Well at least now you might have a chance. But it doesn’t explain what you’re doing here, why you dared to come back here again?” Bud just frowned, said,”With things how they are, I need to find myself a living, of course. You gotta big spread and I thought maybe you could use a man who can break a horse.” Henry went silent for a very long time, then rubbed at his chin, deep in thought, “And were I to hire a man like yourself, how can I ever be sure what I’ve got?” Bud swallowed hard, and said to Henry: “If you doubt that my words are sincere, Then I’ll work my first year for just room and board, To prove to you that I want to be here.” Henry just smirked as he heard the words. “How ’bout I start you out at half-pay. You give me six months without a slip up, then I’ll know the truth in what you say.” Bud shook on it, could not help but smile, but then Henry said one more thing: “Also, you’re not to make eyes at my girl, until I decide that she’s an age for courting!”