Wolf of the West

1.

     The hot, Arkansas sun rose up into the sky as if it were being dragged from the horizon by an unseen force, unwilling to move. The town of Fort Smith was still snoozing or was just now waking from their beds, ready to begin their chores or go to their jobs.
     Though, one young man was already up bright and early. Rudy Shepherd was attending the stables as he poured some fresh slop into a trough for his father's pigs. He wiped his forehead from the heavy lifting of the bucket, but couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the pigs crowd around to feast, especially giggling at the piglets who had to stand up on their back legs to reach their breakfast. He shook his head as he sat down the bucket and walked back to the barn door, yawning and cracking his freckled knuckles.
     "Mornin', Jeb." He greeted the old donkey by the door, since the stubborn ass wouldn't get out of his stable. Jeb just seemed to vacantly stare at the freckled boy before letting out a broken bray of annoyance, sputtering his nose at him. Rudy made a face as he pulled up his pants in a huffy manner. "Yeah, that's how it usually is with ya, old boy." He grumbled to himself, kicking some straw that lay scattered on the floor as he walked outside. His blue eyes scanned the town below the hill that lead up to the Shepherd's estate. The rays of the sun barely reached over the rooftops but he watched as little by little, it strained its way into the shadows.
     Rudy was only interrupted by a small peck at his boot. He looked down at his feet to see his beloved white hen giving a few small pecks at his spurs. He rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "You little bitty— whatcha doin'? Waiting on Will? Yeah, I am too. He said he'd be here this mornin' before service." He told his pet while also talking to himself as he stooped down and picked up the hen, sitting down on a small bench outside the barn. "Won't take him long, Henrietta."
     Rudy's speculation was accurate, seeing as not too long after the short conversation between the boy and his hen, the small boy trudged his way up the trail to the farm. He was dressed and done up as nicely as ever but his face looked groggy, as if he had just woken up. Will's father usually had him up pretty early for the morning service, but he never got used to it, especially when he pushed himself to wake up even earlier in order to see his close friend in the morning.
    "Mornin', Rudy. Henrietta." Will gave them a sleepy wave as he approached, rubbing his eyes before taking a seat on the bench alongside them. "I don't mean to keep being late."
     "Sleepin' in again? I think your pa told you— 'Only four hours tops for my boy! Gotta keep the gospel alive in my son for twenty full hours!'" He teased his best friend as he gave him a light shove of his shoulder. Rudy always loved picking on his best friend with talk of his pastor father and how he'd usually keep his strict, Christian ways in day to day life. Rudy himself was a God worshipping man, but that didn't mean he couldn't poke fun at his friend. 
     Will's ears burned red from the teasing and he shot Rudy a look, though he found it difficult to stifle a laugh at the comments. He wasn't entirely wrong, after all. Will did end up sleeping in, and barely had time to get dressed that morning. "Oh shut your mouth, Rudy, you don't even gotta clue what you're talkin' about. My pa just wants to do what's best for me, and I'm busy at night anyway. And I actually got five hours last night." He muttered the last part sheepishly as he gave Henrietta a pat to the head. "Why's that loon always got somethin' to say?" He asked the chicken in order to poke fun at his friend in return. The hen, as always, just lazily blinked her eyes as her white feathers ruffled up.
     This made Rudy chuckle, "I think she thinks you're the loon, ya whackjob. You need more than five hours, that's why I hit the hay at nine every night." He explained with a shrug, gently setting Henrietta down as he stood up and stretched his back. "You gotta start doing the same, or else you'll end up lookin' like old Jeb." He teased with a small pat to his friend's shoulder.
     "I know I gotta sleep earlier." He sighed, rubbing his eyes once more. "But I'm always doin' somethin'. I'm either finishin' closin' up late or I'm a nervous wreck thinkin' I forgot to finish a chore. I can't very well hit the hay at nine if I'm on the verge of havin' a fit at ten 'til. Plus, you know I go to the pasture after my pa goes to bed." Will explained with a helpless shrug, slightly preferring looking like Jeb than having his father crack down on him for messing up. "But enough of that, I don't wake up at the crack of dawn and hike here to make myself nervous before the service. You finish your chores yet?"
     "I'm 'bout to." The ginger sighed as he stood to his feet, happy he had a break, though he was now yanked back into the reality of finishing his daily chores. "I just gotta go check the coop for eggs if you'd like to help." He offered.
     "Sure, I'll help." Will responded as he stood. He generally enjoyed the animals (especially the chickens) on Rudy's farm, so it didn't really feel like he was helping with a chore. "What're you up to today? Got plans later?" He asked as he walked with his friend to the chicken coop. Rudy was about the only person in Fort Smith that Will genuinely enjoyed being around, having grown up with him. That being said, it wasn't really much surprise that he liked to spend the majority of his free time with him.
     "Gotta go to the chapel, which I'm more than sure you already know." He gave him a playful look as he walked back around the large, old barn toward the fenced chicken coop in the back with Will trailing along at his side. Hens of all colors scattered around the dried grass while a big, black and green rooster strutted around protectively with its tail feathers regally stuck up in the air. "After? Hm." He clicked his tongue in thought as he approached the sheltered coop and entered. "Nothin' much at all, really. Gotta run some meat by the butcher and deliver a few cartons of eggs to the ladies from down the road. Then do my nightly chores than I'll be all set to hit the hay again." He told his partner as picked up a wire basket from the floor, pacing around the shelves of nests and checking each little bundle of hay and feathers for eggs.
     "You wanna do somethin' after church today since you ain't too busy?" Will asked casually as he checked the lower shelves. "I won't have much to do 'til I gotta lock stuff up, since I did everything last night. I think. Did I?" He asked himself, running through his mental checklist of things to do once again as he collected two eggs from a nest and carefully placed them in Rudy's basket. "My pa's havin' a luncheon today with some other fellas so I think I ought to find somethin' else to do so I don't end up an errand boy."
     "Makes sense. I wouldn't wanna be an errand boy for yer Pa." Rudy dramatically shuddered his shoulders as he put an egg into the basket. "No offense but yer pa can be awfully scary. Or just intimidating. Both words work, I guess." He chuckled softly as he finished checking the shelves and looked down at his collective of eggs. "But we can totally do somethin' after service. Maybe go grab a soda or somethin'? A sarsaparilla?" Rudy asked as he stepped back outside into the grass with his basket of eggs.
     Will thought he was already pretty much an errand boy for his dad, but he didn't fancy doing quadruple his usual work for all of his father's friends. But at Rudy's suggestion, Will couldn't hardly hold back a grin as he followed his friend out of the coop. "That sounds great, Rudy. Y'know, everybody tells me that water was God's gift to the earth, but I'd say it's the sarsaparilla root." He only half joked as he dusted his hands off onto his nice pants.
     Rudy snorted out a laugh through his freckled nose as he closed the door behind his friend, turning to head back toward the house. "Damn right— but you know cobbler is my heaven on earth. Sarsaparilla is a close second." He joked softly, though he knew that cobbler was always the best dessert for him. "I hope they have some at the market. There's this apple cobbler that these little ol' ladies make that is just so damn delicious— they have cinnamon in it and it just makes it so much better." For a moment, his stomach seemed to merge with his mind as he blabbered on and on about the joys of apple cobbler.
     Will couldn't help but give a small laugh at Rudy's hungry rambling. "Shoot, that sounds like a plan to me! After the service, we go grab some sarsaparilla and then stop by the market to find some cobbler." He suggested as he thought about going out to the pasture to eat the sweets with him without the bustling noise of the town. He didn't really know how to suggest that without it sounding silly, though.
     Rudy seemed to light up instantly with a wide, toothy grin and let out a "Woohoo!" of excitement and even threw his head back as he did so. He pulled open the back door and entered in with the basket still in hand. "I still gotta get dressed and make my hair settle down— do you mind cartonin' these eggs for me real quick while I throw on my suit?" He asked as he sat down the wire basket. "I'll be as fast as a hare— promise." He threw in as an extra beg.
     "Have you just been butterin' me up to get me to finish your chores?" Will asked jokingly, rolling his hazel eyes and shaking his head, though his smile didn't fade. "Go on, then." He waved him off to go get dressed, not minding at all. "Do be fast, though. I don't wanna be late." Will told his best friend as he began to carton the eggs for him.
     "Yes! I mean, whoops. Haha. Thanks, Will, you're a real pal." He gave his friend a quick shoulder hug before jogging back to his room and closing the door behind him. While inside, he threw off whatever he had on including his dusty boots, shirt and pants. Then he hurried to slip on his button up dress shirt, blue vest and his big, navy blazer. He adjusted his tie as fast as he could but it was barely hanging in the knot. He didn't even notice as he was already set to combing and pushing back his tangly, curly hair. It was a pain to get it to stay back, but he managed to do so save for a few of his baby curls hanging loosely in his face. Nonetheless, he overlooked his outfit within a flash and left the room. It took him ten minutes max to get his Sunday best on, but he was back with Will soon enough— messy, unknotted tie and all.
     "Told'ya I was fast!" Rudy even sounded a little out of breath as he put his hands on his hips triumphantly. Will, still in the kitchen, glanced at his partner as he stacked the cartons he'd filled. An amused look washed over his face as he broke into a laugh. "Rudy—" he started as he approached his friend, but he ultimately decided against teasing him. "Y'know, never mind. Just lemme slick ya up a bit before we go." Will chuckled, shaking his head. "You look real nice." He glanced up momentarily at the taller boy as he fixed his tie, making sure it was even and that it laid nice and smooth on the rest of his clothes.
     Rudy's freckled face burned red with embarrassment from understanding of how disheveled he appeared. Clearly flustered, he awkwardly let out a few chuckles. "Thanks. Weird not bein' in old pants and suspenders." He joked softly as he watched Will straightened his tie. "Ties are your thing while tying and knotting ropes are mine." He teased as he overlooked himself one more time. "Thank you for sortin' those eggs too, I really appreciate it." He thanked him once more.
     "Don't worry your lil head over it, you know I'm all about that kinda stuff. Sortin' and tyin' and bein' neat, anyways." He waved off the thank you's in an unbothered manner. "My old man would box my ears if I let you show up late and messy anyways." He said sheepishly, honestly just glad to help. "Speaking of which, we'd better be off if we don't wanna be late." Will guesstimated, not knowing the actual time.
     "Right. Let's go." Rudy gave a nod as he smoothed the wrinkles out of his suit one final time before heading over to the front door, opening it for Will to leave as he turned his head to look at the town. A few people in the distance were walking toward the doors of the chapel and there was the casual morning routine bustle of motion in the street.
     Will felt a little relieved when he saw that people were just now entering the chapel, which meant that the two boys weren't late yet. He gave a small nod as thanks to his friend for holding the door as he left Rudy's home. "I hope it isn't too long today. Not that I don't like church—of course I like church—I'm just excited for later today. And I don't wanna nod off durin' the sermon again." He said, messing with the hem of his suit coat and thinking about the whooping he got for the last time that happened. Thankfully, the time spent with Rudy had woken him up a bit more than he'd been on his way to the farm.
"What? Nah, I think you hate church." He sarcastically gave him a nudge as he walked down the slight hill that lead to the Shepherd's farm down into the town. "But I don't blame ya. I nod off plenty during the sermons." He sympathized with him, "Especially if the cows start mooin' all night. But just keep later in mind and get all excited about it— that might help." He stated.
"Yeah, well we all know you nod off during em, Rudy. But you ain't the pastor's boy and your pa won't smack the snot outta you for it." Will nudged him back as the walked towards the chapel's open doors. "But you're right, that will help. It's gonna be a good day." Will assured himself aloud as they entered in order to get rid of the general anxiety that came from being within a certain vicinity of his father.
"Damn right— a great day. A great morning, afternoon, night— it'll be good. Hell. It'll be fun, too." He carried on playfully and rather dramatically as he walked toward the front doors alongside Will. While doing so, his blue eyes scanned to the side to see his father standing outside the general store talking to a group of bounty hunters. He knew this was common for him, as his father was once a bounty hunter himself. While seeming to stare off and study the men around his father, he felt his stomach do a flip at seeing their holstered guns. Something about seeing such an intense group of large, armed men around his father made him grow rather flustered.
Chet, Rudy's father, who was talking amongst the men, saw his son about to enter the chapel. The man gave the redheaded boy a small, fatherly tip of his hat in a manner to say a wordless "Good morning." Rudy gave a nod of his head back, feeling as if the small gesture was a prideful moment. After all, his pa never really spent too much time around him.
Rudy always made it hard for Will to keep feeling bad, but this time he didn't try to force back the comforted smile. But it faded naturally when he followed Rudy's line of sight. "Oh, I think some of them are the fellas having the luncheon with my pa." He said, having seen some of them before. Will's dad didn't really keep him informed on his life as a bounty hunter before Will was born, either. He only really knew that him and Chet were partners, but the boy didn't really mind not knowing about it anyway. As they entered the chapel, Will barely had time to get out another word before a familiar voice called to him.
     "Will, I thought I asked you to get here early. We only got a few minutes before we have to start." Will's father, Virgil spoke to him sternly from where he stood near the door, where he greeted the other churchgoers.
"Oh, uh. Sorry, sir. I was just makin' sure Rudy got here on time. I guess I wasn't payin' enough attention." Will couldn't help but mutter as he emotionally prepared himself for a scolding.
"You guess?" Virgil asked, his blue, stern eyes meeting Will's hazel ones. He hesitated. "No, sir, I wasn't payin' enough attention." His son clarified awkwardly.
"Well, don't let it happen again. I won't get onto you for makin' sure people come  in for service, but it ain't up you whether or not Rudy's late. You need a better sense of responsibility and commitment. We're gonna have a talk about it tonight after you finish up your chores." He told him, giving Rudy a small glance when they spoke about him, getting a small sigh from his son. "You'd better head on inside, Rudy. I'll meet up with you after." Will turned back to his friend glumly.
Rudy felt his palms begin to sweat at the stern confrontation between Will and his father. He gave a small, awkward yet sympathetic glance to Will as he was subtly ushered off. "Alright. See ya later, Will." He bidded him a short goodbye, "Just keep what I said in mind." He added in a positive manner, giving him a small pat on the shoulder before turning to head to a wooden pew. Rudy usually sat in the back so he could snooze off, which is where he took his spot and leaned back into the seat, sighing softly at being able to sit down.
"I know. Thanks, Rudy." Will gave his best friend a nod and small, grateful smile, but said nothing else as he watched him head into the church and take his seat. He couldn't help but feel guilty and ashamed every time Rudy had to sit through the tense conversation any time they were around his dad, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it. And he was genuinely grateful for the positive air Rudy brought into his life. Will only wondered what he would do without his best friend, and brushed off the negative feelings the best he could while thinking about the rest of the day.