Ryland Creek
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    • Book I: The Last Coon Hunter
    • Book II: An Exceptional Hound
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    • Dave Muffley
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  • Ryland Creek
  • About The Ryland Creek Novels
    • Book I: The Last Coon Hunter
    • Book II: An Exceptional Hound
    • Book III: The Legends of Ryland Creek
    • Book IV: The Master of Hounds
    • Book V: The Forest Ghost
    • Book VI: The Time of the Backroads
    • Projects in the Works
  • Buy the Ryland Creek Saga: Print Books
  • The Ryland Creek Saga in E-Book
  • The Ryland Creek Saga in Audiobook
  • Blog: In a place called Painted Post
  • Reader Reviews
  • Meet the Author
  • An Ode to Painted Post
    • The Magical Realism of the Ryland Creek Saga
  • Other authors
    • A.V. Rogers
    • Dave Muffley
    • Dutch Van Alstin
    • Glenn Sapir
    • Judy Janowski
    • Michelle Pointis Burns
  • Contact
Ryland Creek

A Reason to Pause

9/3/2023

18 Comments

 
Picture
The old coon hunter had arrived at a little after 1:30 a.m. His mother had called, fearing their guest walker hound, Annie, due any day with her first litter, was in distress. Donning his headlamp, he made the short drive down the backroads to his parent’s home, and while a heavy fog had enveloped most of the Painted Post region, the forests of Ryland Creek—his destination—were oddly absent mist.

After he’d parked his truck and made his way to his hounds, the young walker greeted the old man as he entered her kennel. With her wagging tail as he kneeled to examine her pregnant frame, Annie seemed none the worse for wear.

Maybe she wouldn’t give birth for another day or two.

Or perhaps she’d just wanted him near at this time.

Hard knowing for certain, but she seemed to calm as he gently stroked her ears.

“It’ll be all right, girl.”

Her sire, Seth, the ebony cur as dark as a moonless midnight, sat on his haunches and watched in the adjacent pen.

Then it struck the old man. It was nighttime, and he was wearing his headlamp. However, none of the hounds were barking raucously as they always did, expecting to head out to chase a ringtail.

Perhaps they sensed the imminent birth of Annie and Seth’s pups.

Hard to know for sure if they knew what was about to transpire.

But likewise, hard to imagine they didn’t.

“You’ll be all right, girl,” the man repeated as he stood to exit and latch the kennel gate. “See you when the sun rises in a couple of hours.”

With a soft whine-close-to-a-whimper, Annie watched him depart.

First going inside his parents' house to reassure them all was well, the old man then slowly walked back to his truck. He’d just opened his pickup’s door when he heard Annie cry out. The houndsmen knew his dogs, and that strange bark could only mean one thing.

The hunter didn’t panic, but he likewise doubted another nigh 60-year-old could have beat him in a race back to the kennel. He just reached the gate, with Annie still outside her coop, when the first puppy dropped from her womb. Seconds later, he fell to his knees and scooped up the tiny body—as dark as his sire—and held it aloft.

None of the other hounds barked.

Seth had risen on this hind feet, his front paws resting on his kennel's wire mesh, to peer into Annie’s kennel but remained silent.

Annie spun about anxiously, looking at the life she’d just brought into this world.

Even the forest seemed to hold its breath.

And then the little pup moved his head boldly and made the softest puppy noise.

The old man looked over his shoulder. “You’re a father, Seth.”

The ebony cur snorted.

Returning his attention to the tiny hound, the old coon hunter smiled in the dark, unconcerned anyone but his hounds could see, and that was all that mattered.

“Welcome to Painted Post,” he said.

When the bright sun rose several hours later pushing back the fog, the pup would be joined by six siblings—all healthy.

And the world was new again.


18 Comments
Mattea Orr link
9/3/2023 09:16:51 pm

I have never clicked on a link so quickly. Congratulations and welcome to Painted Post, little ones! I can’t wait to hear the names

Reply
Mimi Lewis
9/3/2023 09:44:54 pm

Congratulations!!

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 05:57:57 am

Thank you, Mimi!

Reply
Shanne
9/4/2023 12:30:49 am

Are these your Seth’s real babies or a story? Congrats to all if the first!

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 05:58:54 am

This is real--just put in third person.

Yes, Seth is a daddy.

Reply
Judy Janowski
9/4/2023 06:29:15 am

What are their names?

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:35:13 pm

We're a ways off from the naming just yet.

Reply
Chanon L
9/4/2023 07:54:53 am

This is indeed wonderful news. I hope Annie and all the pups are healthy. Congratulations!

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:36:11 pm

Pups are healthy (and loud!). Annie is proving at this point to be an outstanding mother. Let's hope she stays the course!

Reply
Flora
9/4/2023 09:24:17 am

congratualtions to Annie and Seth, can't wait to meet the new arrivals. Glad all went well and I hope Seth is struting around his kennel.

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:36:32 pm

Thanks, Flora. He seems rather proud at the moment.

Reply
Betty
9/4/2023 10:16:11 am

Congratulations! Will you keep all the puppies?

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:37:16 pm

Annie does not belong to us. The agreement with her owner as I got my pick of one.

Reply
Christina Fanelli
9/4/2023 12:03:16 pm

Cute!

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:37:32 pm

They are!

Reply
Laura K
9/4/2023 01:23:30 pm

Oh my! Love love love!!!’n

Reply
Joe
9/4/2023 03:37:50 pm

They are cuties.

Reply
Tracey Y
10/12/2023 08:59:20 pm

Congrats! They are wonderful! Love this pupful story!

Reply

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