#7 - TALE MAKER

#57 - We got up and moved around, or over to the fire, to which more fuel was added. The night was getting crisp. Into the ice chests for more beer went more hands.

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Chaps – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  #7 – Tale Maker 

We got up and moved around, or over to the fire, to which more fuel was added. The night was getting crisp. Into the ice chests for more beer went more hands. 

Gino stepped up front saying, “Let’s do the Giveaways!” Shouts went up again. “Did everyone sign the waiver? Yes? Ok! I’ll take your word for it. We have a few more items.” 

“Jim donated a nice thirty-eight-inch drop riffle sluice box, Johnny put in this gold pan and magnifier. Dale gave us a black sand magnet. Robert, a number twelve classifier. Mother Lode, a first aid kit. Denny has an invite to his claim. Rich, a portable camp toilet (which always brings on a few laughs). Alex, a couple of nice pickers (holding up a vial with its contents). Slow Mo put in this thirty-six-inch pry bar. Terri and Tom contributed three different sized buckets, with a pair of insulated gloves.”

“Thank you, All! I think that sets us up pretty nice. Everyone has a good chance at something. We have a fine turnout. I’m glad you made it up here! This three-pennyweight nugget, on a necklace, will go home with someone.” 

A chorus of “Alrights!”, ” Yahoos!”, “Thanks, guys!”, and more rose from the group. He handed it to Jessica, who passed it to Lynn, and around the fire it went as Gino pulled out a string of tickets and made his way around and through everyone.  

“Ok, you know how it goes. Put the ticket’s stub in this bucket.” A flurry of activity set the stage for the draw. 

“Everyone got a ticket?” 

At random, Gino chose someone to reach in for the winning ticket for each item. Each giveaway came with applause. Slow Mo won the camp toilet (with the accompanying “hoots”) to which he said, “Run it again if you will, I have one already!” Mother Lode won the redraw. One by one we made it to “The Nugget.” Gino had Jessica pull out the winning ticket. 

The number was called out. The friend of Charles’ and Betty’s daughter won the prize. She may have been a teenager. Gino walked over to her.  

“What’s your name?” he asked, reaching out and shaking her hand.  

“I’m Barbara. Thank you, so much!”  

“You’re welcome, young lady. It’s nice to meet you, Barbara.” He placed the pendant around her neck. “It looks great on you!” 

She just stood there looking at it. She was thrilled. Another round of handclapping followed. 

“Ok, everyone, that pretty much wraps it up. Thanks for the giveaways, and the fine food! We - -,” Gino was interrupted by Otis’s baying. 

All eyes moved to what he was baying at, and upon seeing “The Bear,” we were on our feet!  

In a flash and moving as one to a point a couple of steps to the front of the group, Slow Mo had his pepper spray out, and Jim had his hand on his revolver, and Gino had grabbed his shotgun from its place at the wood stack. More than a couple others reached to their sides or in their coats. 

Otis continued baying and looked like he would take out after The Bear. Gino called him to his side and hushed him.  

We stood there wide-eyed. The Bear stood at the same place where Gino and Otis had earlier entered the woods. He had his nose in the air, one paw raised, looking like he would rear up for a better look. He was maybe a hundred feet away. 

“With all this noise, he still came into camp,” Gino said to Jim and Slow Mo. “That’s not good.”

He stepped up a couple of yards, chambered a round, shouldered his shotgun, and fired. The round hit the ground and sparked a few feet in front of and to the bear’s side.  

The Bear turned on a dime, almost in midair, and disappeared back into the shadows, crashing through the brush in his noisy retreat. Gino fired another shot. We could hear him making tracks, and it would have been too bad for anything in his way. Otis couldn’t resist, he bolted. Gino called out “STOP!” and Otis planted himself. I was surprised how well he minded. He was itching to give chase. Another few seconds and Gino’s third round echoed into the woods. Still, we could hear him putting distance between us. The night returned to silence as his footfalls faded away. 

A raucous mix of claps and shouts and whistles split the air. The Bear could probably hear it. “Holy ----!” “Scared the bejeebers out of me!” “That’ll show him, he’s headed to the next county!” “Good shooting, Gino!” “Thanks, guys!” “I ain’t sleeping tonight!” “I’ve got to visit the head!” 

Gino cycled through the remaining rounds to clear the chamber, then reloaded. I took the rounds to be slugs by the way the ground kicked up from the first shot. He gave Otis a good rub. We quieted down. 

“I don’t think we will hear from him again tonight. If anyone wants to set up here by the fire, we can keep it going all night. I have a couple bear sprays if anyone wants them. If you don’t feel safe and want to go, I can see why.” Gino added, “We need to clean up and make sure things get stowed away proper.” 

I saw Jessica whisper to Gino, “I’m staying with you!” He smiled. 

We started on the cleanup and broke into spirited talk again. More wood hit the fire. Only Betty, Charles’ wife, had real concern about the kids, but didn’t pursue her thinking as the kids didn’t want to leave. No one appeared overly concerned about The Bear. It was but a good tale to tell at some later date. I suspected though that The Bear wasn’t forgotten. He was on my mind. 

Everything that could be burned to ash was, and canisters and packs made ready for hanging in the tree. Jim and Robert were down at the creek scrubbing down the grill. I made myself useful splitting more wood, thinking it would be a long night. 

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From my CD - REMNANTS - “The Golden Slide”  

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