Odell
ry as it is when it rains in West Texas ever'body smiles. Used to I couldn't smile when it
rained. I did when I was a kid, but it all changed in the sixties. I spent a year, mostly in the
rain, watchin' friends die. I don't think about it much anymore 'cept when it rains. Used to
I couldn't smile when it rained.
I met Odell when Sam brought him in for lunch one day. He was an ole feller with legs a bowed as a wish bone. He had wavy iron grey hair, sky blue eyes with a twinkle, and a ready grin. He was built small and wiry. Them that last seem put together in that way. He didn't say much, but seemed to take pleasure from listenin' to Sam and me given each other grief. When I saw Sam later that afternoon I ask him 'bout Odell.
"I ain't never seen Odell before. I thought I knew all the ole boys 'round Bushland." Sam took a sip of coffee. "Odell ain't got out much since Susie, that was his wife, died. He does work for Bobbie out on the Flat Iron some, an' a little work for me now an' again. Otherwise he hides out in a little ole trailer out behind where the grade school was. He don't even know how ole he his. He don't know what year he was born in. I do know he was a young man when I was jest a kid."
"He don't look it," I said. "Here I thought you was as ole as a feller could get." He ignored my guff. "Odell has buried three wives. I think this last one almost done him in. If Bobbie or me don't go get him he don't do nothing but hang out with a hoss that is most as achient as he is. Slim, anytime he comes in here you feed him, you hear. I'll take care of it."
"Ain't necessary, but I sure will charge you anytime your payin'. your buyin' this coffee ain't you?"
"My own, I am, but I ain't payin' for yours. 'Bout time the house bought a round much as I eat in here."
"We did buy a round last year at Christmas when you was gone down to Dallas."
"Well, I'll be real careful not to leave town too often. I wouldn't' want to break the bank. By the way you're goin' up to Colorado with me next month, ain�t ya?"
"Figured to," I said.
"Ole cowboys don't leave much to show where they been,
Just ole faded photos with big Texas grins,
Hard work an' low wages the sun an' the wind,
The dust an' the cold, the snow an' the rain.
"Odell come in pretty regular. He never would say much 'cept to compliment my cookin'. He had a soft spot for my cornbread. We don't make no johnny cake. My maw always held that servin' sugared cornbread with the main course is for ignorant, ill-breed folks. If you want cornbread for desert there's honey or sorgum on the table.
I went out of my way to make Odell feel comfortable, and make sure he was at a table with other folks. Even if a feller don't know who he's eatin' with, it's better breakin' bread with a stranger than alone; it is easier on the digestion too. I do remember him showin' up one time for lunch in particular. I think Sam's daughter from Dalas was in Amarillo at the time. Frank the taxidermist brought me in a wild turkey. He raises them legal an' ever once in a while has a call for a stuffed one. Don't ask me who buys a stuffed wild turkey, or why. I ain't never had much use for trophies or the folks who favor dead animals as decor. I eat what I hunt, an' if I have a use for the skin I'll tan it out, but I ain't keepin' no stuffed animals. Some feller from Amarillo ask me if I wanted the head of a long horned steer. I told him no, but I'd sure take the whole steer if it was still walkin' 'round. I cold smoked the turkey Frank brought me an' trotted it out as a lunch special. I don't know how Odell heard tell of it, but he did. Odell come a riddin' in on his horse. We have a lot of horses in our parkin' lot ever' day, but up 'till then ever' one of 'em come in a trailer. I had to find Odell a place in back to tie 'er up. He was kind of somber and embarrassed by showin' up on hoss back and 'causin' a fuss.
"Work from sunup to sundown with the ground for a bed,
For the makin's, coffee, beans, beef, an' sour bread,
All them ole drovers is long dead an' gone,
Leavin' worn out saddles an' ole cowboy songs.
"I didn't see Odell for a while after he showed up for turkey. Sam came in almost ever' day, and when I ask him 'bout Odell he said Odell was not doin' so well. Ole cowboys ain't too much into complainin' so I knew it was pretty serious with Odell. One afternoon late into fall Sam come in worked up and dragged me into the back.
"Slim, Something got to be done. Odell won't leave his trailer."
"Well, you said he was feelin' poorly."
"I know it, but this here is serious. He's done decided he's goin' die, an' he jest sitin' there waitin' for the end. His ole hoss died is what done it."
"When did that happen?" I ask him.
Sam took off his hat. He don't do that 'less he's goin' into church, which is seldom, sittin' down at home after a day of it, or doin' some serious thinkin'. "Calls for measures this does. I'll call Bobby. I want you to pick up a bottle of that Irish we favor, an' if you could cook something special for tomorrow night. Whatever you think is right. I'll cover all the bets.
"You figurin' on throwin' Odell a party? I asked. You sure it'll work. He don't exactly sound in the mood."
"Well, we'll just hafta see." Sam said.
Later that day I talked to Frank 'bout a turkey. He reckoned he could stuff one and hold on to 'er. I told him I'd buy it if he didn't sell 'er in the next month. I picked up a bottle of Old Bushmills the next mornin' and Frank brought me the turkey. I got to smokin' 'er quick as I could. I had to hot smoke 'er. I don't favor hot smoke for doin' with fowl. It was a big bird and took most of the day to get 'er done right. Sam come by to pick me up right 'round six. I was ready for him, had a regular picnic ready.
"Damn, Slim, you sure fixed enough victuals!" Sam said as we carried it all out to his truck.
"You know I don't favor no half measures when it comes to eatin'. You didn't say how many was on the invite, an' I figure it's all on you anyways."
"I figure 'bout five or six of the boys'll show. Carlitos, maybe Sibbert if he can get back from Canyon. Bobby of course an' a couple of the boys off the Flat Iron."
"Then we're fixed 'bout right if they bring there own snake syrup."
"I reckon we'll be all right in that department," Sam said as we climbed into the truck
"All that's left of that dream is the wisp of wood smoke,
That shadows the ground like a tired ole ghost,
It whispers the tale of hosses an' men,
When the work is all done, an' the long trail ends.
"Sam stopped the truck a little ways from Odell's place. The sky was clouded over but I could make out a little trailer beside a corral with a little lean-to on one side.
"There ain't no lights on," I said.
"Nope, nor smoke neither," Sam replied.
"We just goin' sit here?" I asked.
"I figured to wait on Bobby. It sure has gone to cloudy. I think it might rain," Sam said grinnin'.
The idea of rain didn't please me much, but I never said nothing. We waited in the silence for a little while 'till Bobby come up in his truck pullin' a hoss trailer. We all went on in and rousted Odell out. He didn't looked real pleased to see us, but as the rest began to arrive I could see him lighten up some. He was a little dazed from all the company, but he tried his best to make us all comfortable. His little trailer was pretty near full up and the firewater had come out by that time. I had a look around. Odell's place was neat as a pin. It wasn't long on furniture or much else. His saddle sittin' on top of an ole curved top steamer trunk was 'bout as decorative as the place got. Ever'body had a drink in hand when Sam spoke up. "Odell, I know you figured you come to the end of the trail, but we fellers, here, have come together to tell you it ain't so. Now we figure you can sit here an' starve yourself, but I know your too damn tough to die by givin' up. You ain't never give up. I reckon your too ole to learn now. Slim, you an' Bobby go on out an' bring in the victuals."
We carried all the chuck in and spread 'er out on the table. Oh, lordie," Odell said, "smoke turkey," and it was the end to his fast. In fact you woulda swore all of them boys hadn't ate in days. After a time of eatin' drinkin' and good natured josh Sam spoke up again. "I reckon it's time to go outside. Odell grab your ole Sam Stack tree an' lets see iffin you still know how to head North."
Bobby opened up his trailer and backed a hoss out. It was 'bout a three year ole, and from the look, of good disposition and conformation. Carlitos was standin' beside me and whispered in my ear in Spanish that the hoss come out of his bunch. Carlitos trains cuttin' hosses for a lot of rich folks. Bobby helped Odell get the saddle on and we all give out a whoop when Odell mounted up. I don't think I ever saw the like of it. On the ground Odell was a little ole man, but when he put that foot up and the leg over the years rolled off him. I could see him as a young man, his back straight, his arms relaxed, as he held the reins easy in his right hand. Sam had his hat in his hand.
"Now Odell, you need a hoss to work for me an' Bobby, an' this here is yours. You don't need to worry 'bout payin' for 'er, we'll jest take it out of your wages. Now head that hoss out of here."
Odell give his hoss the spur and headed off to the North through the dark. I walked over beside Sam. "If he lives 'bout a hundred years he might pay off that hoss." Sam laughed, "I hope I'm 'round to see the day."
Out in the dark Odell turned his hoss 'round and headed 'er back. I felt a drop of water on my face, an' looked up into the sky. The rain had come an' I was smilin�.
