An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley by Brian Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

Parker raised his hand. Morgan nodded at him.
    “What about the horses, boss? What are we going to do about them?”
    “I’d hoped we could move them all inside with us,” Morgan replied. “But the cabin just ain’t big enough. There’s enough room for the smallest—Stephens’ horse—but that’s all. The rest of them will have to take their chances.”
    “Stephens’ horse?” Johnson frowned. “Well, hell—that little pony ain’t worth the trouble. It ought to be one of our horses. They’re faster and stronger, and can carry more weight.”
    Morgan grinned humorlessly. “Tell you what, Johnson. We’ll bring your mount inside with us, too. You can sleep outside with the rest of the horses. How would that be?”
    Johnson stared at his boots. “I don’t think that would be too fine, boss. No, I don’t cotton to that at all.”
    “That’s what I thought you’d say, cocksucker. We ain’t got room for them all. I don’t like it any more than you, but that’s how it is. Stephens’ horse is the smallest. It comes inside. The others don’t.”
    Johnson and Parker’s expressions were sullen, but they didn’t reply. Stephens stayed silent, as well, but the grin on his face spoke volumes. Gunderson merely loaded another wad of chewing tobacco into his mouth.
    Morgan glanced up at the sky and noted the sun’s position.
    “Okay,” he said. “Let’s get this finished while we still can.”
    Sullen, the others went back to work. Gunderson waited until they were out of earshot and then approached Morgan.
    “Boss, I got an idea about them horses, if you want to hear it.”
    Sighing, Morgan nodded. “Go ahead.”
    “Well, I reckon if I was to take an axe and a saw and sharpen up some logs on one end, they’d make some pretty formidable pikes or spears. Then we could tie the horses up against the cabin, so that the wall has their backs, and encircle them the rest of the way around with the pikes. The horses wouldn’t be able to wander out, and these crazy bear things would have a hell of a time getting to them.”
    Morgan paused, considering the suggestion. He glanced at the horses and then back at the burly woodsman.
    “How long do you figure it would take you to do that?”
    Gunderson shrugged. “If I can get some help digging the holes once I’ve sharpened the logs, I reckon it wouldn’t take more than two or three hours.”
    “Okay. Do it. I’ll make sure you have the help.”
    Nodding, Gunderson walked away. After a moment’s hesitation, Morgan called out to him.
    “Gunderson?”
    The big man stopped and turned. “Yeah, boss?”
    “It’s a good idea, but do you really think it will work?”
    Despite the seriousness of their situation, Gunderson grinned.
    “Hell, Morgan. I don’t know. You reckon any of the other stuff we’re doing will really work?”
    “You’d better fucking hope so. For all our sakes.”
    Gunderson spat a stream of tobacco juice and walked away. Morgan stared up at the sky, and watched the sun continue its trek to the west. The breeze picked up and rustled through the pines. For a moment, it almost sounded as if something was walking amongst the trees. Then the wind died down again. When it did, Morgan shivered.
    Other than the sounds of their labors, the forest and the clearing had gone silent again.
     
     
       
    SIX
     
     
    Supper that night was deer meat, potatoes, and thin gravy. They washed it down with water from the river. Morgan forbid any of them to drink liquor—reminding them that they might need their wits about them later on. Conversation was sporadic and muted during the meal, other than a few compliments to Clara and Crystal on its preparation. Clara responded to the attention. Crystal’s reaction was less enthusiastic, but simultaneously, she was careful not to offend the men.
    When they were finished, the men relaxed long enough to smoke on the porch and watch the sun go down. There was no card game or bullshit session or taking turns with