What Can Be Said 007

The only way I can think to explain the emotion behind returning Warrens Car to him would be to tell you of a particular event that took place one night when we were still getting used to life on the farm.

After dinner the usual at home was clearing the dishes, making sure there was enough wood for the next morning and for most finding a good book to consume our imaginations with. As you can probably guess, bed time came early at home. There was always more work than could be done in a single day. And having goats was always one of the biggest challenges. You can’t imagine how hard it is to keep goats in a wooden fenced in area when they want out.

That night started out the same as any but when you have chickens and goats and other farm animals you have to always keep your ears out for critters that may decide to try and make a meal out of your animals.

We were sitting around the table as it began to get dark out; I'm sure I was doing something to occupy my mind for a short while before bed. Not long after it had gotten dark we began to hear a blood curdling high pitched squeals and howls. This was the first time I had ever heard such a noise. The sound of a pack of Coyotes can send shivers and make the hair stand up on your neck regardless to how big a man you might be. That shrill noise can certainly make any one think twice about walking out into the dark night.

Never-the-less that’s exactly what we did. Dad, Fred and I reached for the guns and a hand full of extra ammunition and rushed out the front door, straight toward the howl of those Coyotes. The adrenaline that coursed through me was like nothing I had ever experienced. We started out on a fast run and slowed as we got closer to their howls. Soon we had gone so far we could no longer see lights in the cabin, that’s when the adrenaline turned to fear.

As it turned out they saw or smelled us before we could see them. A couple a shots in the air and they went silent. That was the last we heard of them that night. I can still remember how my body shook as we got near to the house. Not in fear but in relief that it was over.


...After it was decided that the car had to go back it became a matter of setting up a meeting place. We sent message that we would leave the car at a friend’s house and that he could pick it up there. The next morning Dad, Fred and I piled into the car for one last ride, and just like that night with the Coyotes, we went armed with our weapons. We were taught not to trust anyone, and always be prepared for that unknown factor that exists in all of us. “The human factor”! It was time to hunt down those howls again. The different was, this time they were in the shape of a man.

I recall the ride there as being extremely nerve racking. It was thirty or so miles to the town where we would meet Warren. When we got there we all three kept watch for Warren just in case he was in another vehicle. We didn’t want him coming up from behind or getting to the meeting place before we were ready for him. Once we got there we took the back roads and cut through parking lots to avoid as many intersections as possible.

When we were finally there, we sat there in the car for a moment, as if wishing this was already over.

It’s interesting to realize that the same emotion I felt running down those wild animals was the exactly the same as not knowing if we all would get out of this alive. The response from adrenaline is powerful and I can see where it could become addictive and corruptive of ones soul. Making something that one would never imagine seem suddenly very possible.

We sat at the house where we arranged to meet Warren for just a few moments when a car stopped across the road and he jumped out with a spare key. And just as quickly as those Coyotes went silent, he drove away. Without a single incident, it was over.

We got a ride back to the city shortly after but this time the weapons went in the trunk. As happy as I am that it went uneventful I will never forget how that day could have ended very differently. The Glory be to God above. Several years would pass before I saw that little town again. Continued…