Whitebark Stream Boots

The cowboy watched as the dark girl positioned herself in wait for the rodent to scurry out and meet her teeth. She was swift and her aim was sharp, but Reno hadn’t lied when he’d said how quick the gophers were. It took one look at her gaping jaws and bolted back for the hole in the earth with frightened cries to its friends.

Amalia was not bothered by her misstep. Even the stumble. She laughed with a joyous sound, filling the air with a noise that captured and tickled the dusty cowboy. Reno liked her company, he found. He wished that things had been different, that he could have stayed there for a while to get to know her.

Awh well, ya did good there. Let’s see if we can put our heads together.

Reno padded toward the nearest hole and sniffed at its mouth with ears standing at a point upon his head. He could hear them scurrying around in there. He trotted a short distance toward another hole that he believed could be connected. Their scent was strong at the entrance of that one. Reno licked his lips and stuck his nose in there, inhaling deep.

I’m gonna give ‘em a good scare. You keep yerself ready to spring if they come rushin’ out.

Snout was returned to the hole and Reno growled a low noise. He barked into their hiding place and heard the scrambling of little feet as they moved to flee.