The Brooch

Tator Tot

"If he was a stranger... how did he know who you were?"

"Well see, I wondered that very same thang. After them ladies were clear out of sight and I came out from hiding...It was in that moment of me laying there and collecting my thoughts as to what had just happened when Malcom decided to formally introduce himself.

"It's alright to come up naw? They gone." He grinned staring down at me. "Ya know, I could hear them ladies on the other side of the lake. Peeked my curiosity. Thought sure one was about to claw at the other. At that sight, I sure as heck couldn't turn away. Sides I was ready for some entertainment." He snickered. "Ain't no mistaken they were on a hunt. Didn't know what for. Till I seen your dinghy. I could see over here. Seen ya hidin like some scaredy-cat afraid to touch the water. Thought I'd do the friendly thang and come to yo rescue." He laughed helping me up.

"Thanks kid." I mumbled.

As he helped me all the way up, for the time being, I had left my dinghy. I sat on the side of the hill, underneath the shade of a tree.

"Say, what's a fella like you runnin away from them fine ladies for? Heck most fellas I know, includin me, myself and I, woulda been delightfully runnin to, and not from." Malcom asked scratching his head in curiosity.

"Don't ask kid. Sides it's a long story." I mumbled stretching my stiff limbs.

"Tickle my ears with it, why don'tcha." He laughed. Sides you're a silly sort. And I ain't got to be nowhere special. Not yet anyways." He said treading on my heels.

"Maybe you don't kid. But I do."

"Where?" He asked. "Appears to me you were just goin up yonder, ridin to nowhere before I came along."

"And to nowhere I want to return kid. The sooner the better." I said starting to get back up as soon as I sat down.

I was anxious to return to prepare my dinghy for departure. Working out the rest of the kinks in my limbs, I started to move along.

"You don't sit long do ya? He laughed.

"Suppose not. So if you'll excuse me__"

"I been followin you. You know?"

"Whut?"

"For days actually." Malcom suddenly said popping open and taking a swig from the beer he had previously swiped from my arms.

"Have ya?"

"Mmm Hmm."

"Why? Do I know you kid?" I asked.

"Nah. Not exactly." He said coyly shaking his head.

"Then would you mind tellin me, why exactly are you following me? And for days?" I asked.

"Yup. I could." He widely grinned.

His mouth said nothing, but his eyes said everything as he just gawked at me in the most peculiar way. Can't deny instantaneously, my curiosity was peaked.

"Hmm. You must know I'm a proprietor if you been on my tail. I gather that must mean you are lookin for a job from me or some em? Someone send you my way?"

"You could say that. But can't say I want a job from ya." He smirked.

"No job?"

"Nope. No suh."

"Then whut? You chasing my money? Maybe looking for a handout? Say listen kid, thanks for you whut you did, but if you think I'm gonna pay you off just cuz you helped sway them ladies from my whereabouts__"