painting by Steve Atkinson
Blackthorne
Cinemagenic 156
Caballo
“When riding a horse, we borrow freedom.”
--Helen Thompson.
1.(sound cue) guitar and coronet.
2(wide drone shot) the encampment in front of the
cabin. (drone descending shot, closing on the front
door) The vaqueros had pitched two large tents,
bright red canvas with yellow tassels. These were for
cooking and gathering. There were three smaller
sleeping tents to one side.
Jesus was warming up some chow. The river was
fifty yards from them. One man was washing tin
dishes, while another was fishing. Adjacent to them
was a corral with six horses in it. Fancy Spanish
saddles were perched on the top railing.
3(sound cue) coronet & drums.
4(one-shot) Buck stepped out onto the low porch,
using the crutches, that were capped in lamb’s wool.
5(expand to wide shot) The men exploded in
applause, followed by cat calls and whistles:
Aye, carumba! The Buck! The Buck!
Buck held up his hand, squinting in the sun.
Enough, enough--gracias. You are wonderful
compadres! He sat down in a tattered wicker chair.
You would think I was Christ risen.
6(two-shot) Jesus: Don’t be so humble, Hefe. Christ
was only stabbed a couple of times. You were shot
to pieces.
Buck laughed, holding his ribs. Jesus lifted up a hand;
I know. I will try to behave. Jesus put a red sombrero
on Buck to shield his eyes. They placed two over-
turned buckets next to his chair, and brought him some
hot chuck and coffee.
Buck: Muchas gracias.
He sipped the coffee and his eyes widened:
Damn, son, who boiled their socks in this?
Everyone laughed. One tall charro said:
Probably all of us at one time or another.
Buck groaned. Then he began to eat slowly. The
bacon was thick-cut and meaty. The eggs were
over hard with black pepper on them. The beans
were spicy.
Buck: This is some good groceries.
Tall Charro: One good thing about being on the Buck
Watch, is we eat good.
7(sound cue) piano and fiddle.
8(two-shot) After breakfast, Buck shared a cigar with
Jesus.
Buck: When I get back on my feet, how about you
fellers come to work for me?
Jesus, after a pause, gazing out: Nooo--I don’t think so.
Buck: What?
Jesus: It’s too late.
Buck: I’d pay a fair wage.
Jesus: smiling: Miss Salina already hired all of us. We
are for you already.
Buck chuckled, and sat up straight in his chair,
shaking his head and folding his arms. You know, I
probably don’t deserve that woman.
Jesus: Probably not, but you got your hook in her
good. So you are a damn lucky hombre.
Buck puffed on the cigar and stared out at the corral.
Suddenly his body jerked. He pushed back the
sombrero, and pointed out at the horses.
Buck: Who owns the Appaloosa?
Jesus: You do. No one else will ever own him.
Buck: My God, is that....Chatawa?
Jesus: Yes. We found him picketed in the trees when
we came to rescue you.
Buck: with a tear rolling down his cheek: I am blessed.
Jesus: I promised myself that if you cashed it in, I
would return that stallion to the wild.
Buck: I think I’ll be sticking around for a while.
Jesus: Good--that damn horse is wearing us all out
riding him. A true war horse, a special spirit. So heal
up and mount up.
Buck: I can do that.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub OLN