Just Common

Chickasaw Nation

Hi ya, Folks. Why, how ya been, abouts ready ta start this here story fer the day. Is ya ready? Du, du, dudu da. That's right yains don't answer. Well, guess I just set this up a touch.

Folks, just knew I wouldn't arrive till, well after dark, so I set up camp abouts dark. Figure I am runnin close ta what they expected out this here journey. Why push ridin in the dark, just ta get there. Hell Folks, they couldn't start ta copy till the next day, any ways. We starts at camp, two hours from Chickasaw Land.

I cut open can beans, cuts up what left a my salted pork, threw that in with those nasty lookin beans.
Folks these beans mixed in somethin red, think it's some kinda tomato sauce. They sure weren't good, but they a fill a fella up. Can say that much, drank the last bottle a ale I gots. Laid back on my saddle an, thought a Tam. How I should a just went after her!

Ya know, Folks bet ya been in the same situation. Should ya have gone after, that person ya felts fer. Folks I shook that off, an tried ta relax. My mind wanted no part a that. So I tossed some more Buffalo dun on the fire, looked up at the sky. Pulled the cork, on my corn licker. I was a heathen folks as Pa would put it, drank straight from the bottle.

Folks, I talked it over, with myself. First I say, Common, Tam, would not a shot ya. Just her way, sayin ya need not feel obligated ta me nor the child. Then I say, could be she woulda shot me. Tam is a different breed a lady. Then I say, a real man, would have went after her. Once she cooled off a touch.

Folks I talked that over most the night, my conclusion, was after this here ride. Ifin I can, the Law don't gets in the way. Why I am headin ta Seminole Land, an checkin up on Tam! See ifin we can't work this out. Folks figure by then that baby may just be in this here world or close ta it.

Just as the sun come up, I was waitin fer the Station Master, ta arrives folks my night was sleepless. I wasn't in a real good state a mind, ya see this ride. Well, it has been ta blame long! Might fed up! Rather be aroamin the Lands than stuck ta route! Truth be known, rather be lookin fer Tam!

Folks, the Chickasaw don'ts have a Post. They only has a Station. They permanent Company lives at they own houses. They train an work at the Station. All Stations have a front room, that ya can gets inta. Even after the Master closes up, fer the night. Place has a few tables an chairs, sleepin room off ta the side. Big map on the wall, list updates an such. So I go on in, an take a seat, wait fer that Master ta open up.

Folks they was no, small stove ta make coffee in that room. Hell most Stations have that, an some kinda left over biscuits or bread. Nothin here, lan sakes, no coffee! What in tarnation is up with that?
Folks, I heard the Master a the Station unlockin the place in the backs. I stepped outside, fer him ta get settled in. Hates ta feel rushed myself, so I gots out the way.

I walks back in, that Master say, mornin Ranger, what can I do fer ya. I say, ya have updates from the Carolina an Bama Rangers. Ifin ya could take thum off my hands a spell. Be a right nice. He looks at me an say, York Ranger, ya might far from home.
I laughs some, say just a touch far. Common Howard ya be? Ben Waters, updates just sit it on the counter. Might take a day, maybe day an a half. Have couple the Company fellas copy it.

I say, as I place that book a updates down, it grew some, must weigh near 10 pounds now. How ever long it takes, they place I can grab a bite ta eat, maybe a good clean room? He say, few come through here, take a bunk in the sleepin room. Food I'll have the wife get ya some. After ya eat, we can discuss what ta do abouts the fella I gots locked away in the back room. Ya eat first though. How's shit on a shingle sound? Folks, that is good. Ifin ya don't know what that is, why it's beef or any ground meat in gravy over some toasted bread. I say that is sir I will take it. He say two eggs a go with it. Might nice a ya I say.

After I had breakfast, that Waters show me some corn licker three cases a it, marked Texas Rangers Chickasaw Nation. I say corn licker, what this all abouts? Fella I gots locked up stole this, here corn licker. Need help decidin a punishment. I say what abouts the Company Commander, or another Ranger? He say, well he is kin ta both us, myself an the Company Commander. We want this ta be fair an just. I nod Kin ya say, how close a Kin is he?

He say we all brothers, an he is a drunk! I just nods an say, don't knows about ya, but corn licker ain't worth takin! Stuff is just not worth the time. He just nodded. Folks has ta tell ya, that fella was a might beat up. Looks at Waters, say might beat ain't he? He didn't want ta come peaceful like.

What Waters say, I just nod on that. Say give me a few minutes, ta talk ta him. Have a decision about 20 minutes or so. Waters left the room. I asks what yar name? He say, Samuel Waters. I asks him, why in Sam White Hell! Ya take corn licker? Folks, this one must be a real drunk. He say just needed a drink. Folks, fer ya, that don't know. Rangers get one bottle a corn licker a month. That is rationed out, ta us fer medical purpose.

Put it this aways, we gets ta have a drink clean a wound or numb the pain. It is the cheapest stuff the Rangers can purchase ta ration out. He say only took what's I needed. Folks, the beatin he got, the reason he gave. Well I just sat an looked at him, can see ya needed one bottle ta drink or ta clean a wound numb the pain, but ya took three cases!

I call in Ben, say punishment is 5 lashes suspended ten days locked in here, that does not include the day or days already spent. Those ten days must be worked off also. Think maybe he can work it off here at the Station. No alcohol fer those ten days. 
Ben he say, sounds more than fair ta me.

Folks, they only took a day ta copy that book, a updates. Left the next day, with the sun. Glad also, hell they had no place ta eat, or decent private place ta sleep, or a Saloon ta relax or dance at. Hell they was nice people all that matters, wanted a fair an just findin over a theft. They worked hard on those updates, can not asks fer nothin more.

I made my way ta Duncan, the sun ta my back an that blame book a updates gots more added ta it. Lan sakes, be tired a this already. Ya see folks Rangerin ain't all gunfights, danger, or some kinda excitin life. Most the time, is just fightin the boredom of the day. Just never know, what is around the next turn or town ya pass through.

Ya see, Rangerin is like, goin ta places ya may not want ta be in, then it could be a place ya not want ta leave. Ya may meet people ya care fer, or meet ones ya glad ya may never see again. Ya could find a right nice farm, an nice family a livin there. Just might find, one they just gettin by.

Hell find a place, most people left, because the mine played out, or some catastrophe happened. A family a movin on because they no work, or more land or better land. Out a food or Trinkets, helps out by splittin yar rations with thum ta have a meal on. Rides with thum till the next town. Rangerin is abouts the people nothin more folks.
Whens ya learn that, the  boredom is worth the time, mostly.

Ya talk ta yar horse or yarself. Think abouts yar Momma or Pa, remember that last good time ya had, whether it was a nice supper at farm, or in a Saloon. That old barn or tree ya found ta stay dry or gets out the sun a spell. That drink a water out that cool mountain stream, or maybe just watchin the sun set or rise. Ya ride some walk yar horse some, take break an ride some more.

Folks ya go till ya gets where ya are goin or till tired. That backside may go numb or hurt ta high hell. Ya, maybe the only person around fer days. Ya locked inta solitude. Takes gettin used ta, but it can be a decent life, ifin ya try. Why sometimes ya long fer people an the noise of a town. Then after an hour or day, ya want ta get away. Just never know how ya may feel or what may come yar way.

Duncan wasn't much of a town folks, one Saloon no Inn or Hotel ta speak of, or a House a Pleasantries. They had one Pleasantry girl, that had a place her own with one room she let out. That is where I stayed the time I was in Duncan Texas way. Guess it is abouts that time ta stop folks.
Do hope I didn't bore ya none, with what Rangers real life, can be like. Till next time folks, ifin they is one.

Thanks all for reading, vote maybe make a comment. I do hope you return for more.