The Secret of the Lost Spur
David Storie
eBook
(Xulon Press, Feb. 25, 2015)
“Jeb, will you hurry up and finish your fence mending! I am afraid we are about to get soaked.” She picks up the shovel and turns in the direction of the bin. She won’t leave me; she’ll wait even though I know she wants to take off running. I got it! Grabbing the hammer in one hand, pliers in the other, we run for the feed bin. I am only a few steps behind her; the wind is definitely picking up. Dropping the tools inside, Annie closes the bin door and slides the wooden latch in place; that’s when we hear it. An animal’s howl in the distance, long, cold and scary drifts up from the woods, we freeze where we stand. Our pigs, Wendell and Thelma Lou’s squeals follow, knowing something wicked is on the way. Thelma Lou and the piglets run to the back of the pen for cover. Wendell, ready for a fight makes a stand between them and the direction of the howl. The second howl breaks the silence, we know it is coming from down the drive, where we were earlier. It is not afraid and slowly coming our way. We sprint for the house; Pappy is standing on the porch looking down the road. In an instant, we see him break for his truck. Annie changes direction, and I follow as the third howl splits the air running chills down my back. We reach the truck the same time as Pappy. As we crawl in, the only thing he says is, “Lock your door, I don’t know what is out there.” Starting the old truck, he pops the clutch and floors it, cutting the wheel a hard right in a half circle sending dust everywhere as we head out.