Just Common

Fort Sill & The Oddity

Folks, I was up waitin on thum ta open the Orderly Room. That ways, I could draw my 15 Lincoln pay, an rations. Wanted ta get myself headed back east, maybe find Tam. As ya know, not all thins go as planned or wanted. So the story begins early mornin at the Orderly Room, remember folks that place like a Station House.

I entered, the Orderly Room Sergeant, say name an rank, an yar pay book! I say Ranger second class Common Howard, I slid my pay book over ta him. I also need ta draw rations. Fer those a ya that don't know Ranger second class, ain't special just next rank above private, sound special though don't it.

He gave me 20 Lincoln, signed my book. I say Sergeant, I am a bit over paid here. He smiled, say nope, Ranger first class, ya are now. Should of happened last pay. He reached under his counter pinned that rank on my epaulets, then say remember don't pin those on upside down, or yall be a Corporal. Folks, darn near jumped fer joy.

Why I was the rank a private! I am a junior NCO now, well real junior, still not much more than a overpaid private is all. Corporal is what's I need, folks that rank is a good rank. They don't bother with politics, anythin above that is political in nature.

I say, like ta draw two weeks rations. He say one week, gots a job fer ya. I say, well, was hopin ta turn east, Sergeant ya know head home. He say, can't spare any one from the Post. He say weeks rations, ya check out what this mister Kern wants looked inta, an report back what ya find out.

I say where is this Kern fella at, how far away is this place. Kern a be here shortly, he lives about three days ride away. Close ta the Dakotas, about days ride from thum. Lan sakes, that ta far away, never gets back east. I say, well ifin I am needed, what is goin on? Kern a tell all that is needed. Just report back ta me. He plopped my rations down an say out corn licker sorry. I nod an say still have one bottle.

Folks I gets, my stuff packed on that blame horse. I see the Sergeant pointin at me, this tall skinny fella look near 70 walks over. I say ya must be Kern. He say yep, Roger my first name, own spread out near Great Bend. I say, what's ya gots goin on out that aways? He say, gets my wagon tell as we head ta my Ranch, the Grande. I nods an say it must be big with a name like that. He smile bigger than any in 200 miles. Any direction, own near 200 Square miles. Folks miles now not acres. Lan sakes sounds a might big!

Ties my horse ta that wagon, an climb on, say ya know the way. Folks Kern he don't say much till about an hour out. He say now didn't wants ta tell ya, till we gots movin. Ya might a laughed an told thum ya thought I was crazy. Think that Sergeant sent ya  just ta gets rid a me. Folks my ears perked up, this fella seen somethin he can't explain. I say, never know, might just find this interestin.

He say, I seen it twice as a youngster, guess was close ta 15, maybe 14. This light shines out the ground, twice a week fer a just a few minutes ta maybe half-hour. Then it just disappears. Like a flash a lightenin. I say others seen recently? He say yep, three times a week now. They are good workers none thum, want ta go near the place. Hell don't blame thum, it bothered me I won't go down ta see what it is. Oh an the last time, Jim man that saw it last, say strange noises were made while the light started ta glow.

So I looks at him an say, ya want me ta look inta it. He say, yep tell me what it is. Folks I gots me an Oddity ta look inta. I say I am yar man! I won't just ride down now, wants see it a couple times an study it first. Learn It some Kern just say, long as ya figure it out is all I needs.

Folks, that night Kern, told me about the two times he seen this here light. The first time, he say it was winter. They was about inch snow on the ground, an just started snowin again. When he saw this light, he say this light bright as near daylight. What looked like steam off a pot boilin water, almost like fog rose from the ground the light glowed, but it lit the ground up, fer yards around it. Not like the moon or the sun shows it's light.

More like from out the ground, not from the sky. He say that is best way ta put it. I asks what about that second time, was it the same? He say that one was summer, the light was the same no fog this time. Common this part I never mentioned till now. I saw people come out the ground, two of them they looked around, sat maybe twenty minutes or so, then they were gone an the light went away bouts the same time.

Folks, that when Kern say late, Common best sleep. I watched as he put this hammock up under the wagon he say I sleep here, the wagon or the ground under don't matter ta me where ya sleep.
Folks I chose the wagon not on the ground figure I won't wake feelin hurt. The nights been gettin cool of late. Might not feel as tight an ache as much.

Folks must say, that sounded a lot like, what me an Mike Keefer did, ya know at the N.O. One place. Sat outside a spell, only problem is that place was further north. Maybe it's that place he told me abouts, could be like that place I found near Tri City.  Folks this is just bit perplexin, think I was sent because, they didn't want ta waste a Post Ranger on a wild goose chase. Folks don't matter my curiosity has peaked! This could be worth the wait, ta find Tam.

Think we best stop here, Beth is yellin about something. Never know with her at times folks she can be on pain in the backside. Well till next time folks.

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