The two slept in until a late 6 o’clock the next morning. Pard was up moving about first. Bubba opened up his eyes to see Pard standing in the doorway.
“What are you thinking”? asked Bubba.
“Just planning the day ahead” replied Pard.
See this was a big day for Pard. He would travel into town to try his luck at selling his furs. In hopes that he would make enough to provide for his needs over the next month or so before he would be able to return to the big city of Mattawamkeag.
“What is the plan”? asked Bubba
“Well we need to scrounge up the furs and load them in the truck. Then we’ll make the trip to the dealer. Once there he will look over the hides and decide on a price. If I see that it’s a fair price he’ll give me some cold hard cash. Then I’ll need to run to some stores and stock up on belongings I’ll need. Hopefully I’ll make enough to supply for 3 months. See once I come back in during this time of year it could be that long before I make the trek back to town. If the money isn’t good enough for that I’ll buy enough for the next month and hopes that I can get back to town.
“Do you have enough to last do you think? Asked Bubba.
“I’m not quite sure. I have 17 muskrat, 9 beaver, 11 coyotes, 4 bobcats, 28 coon, and 7 fisher pelts. It’s still early in the season so not quite sure what Mr. Hubbard will be allowing on the pelts.”
“Well lets get them loaded and head into town” said Bubba.
“Gonna be a long day. We better grab a quick breakfast. Once we get back we’ll need to check our some of our traps” said Pard.
“Don’t worry about breakfast Pard. We’ll go out to eat in town, my treat” replied Bubba.
Boys Pard thought it’s been a long time since I’ve gone out to eat.
“Sounds good, if you don’t mind” said Pard.
“Least I can do for you showing me the area and letting me stay with you”. replied Bubba
“Let’s take my truck down to town; it will save on your gas” said Bubba.
“Well that sure would be a great help” replied Pard.
The two of them loaded up the pickup with the pelts and headed for town. One way town was about 52 miles. 17 miles of which would be dirt road. Of course the 1.5 stretch immediately out of camp I wouldn’t categorize as a road. It’s a trail.
“How long will the trip take”? asked Bubba
“It will take a little over an hour to get there. Then we’ll be in town for at least a couple hours. Then the trip back” said Pard.
“What are you needing for supplies? Asked Bubba.
“Oh golly geesh, I’ll need some batteries for the flashlight, propane for light and stove. Along with a nice box of wooden matches, lighter, pen with paper, a few canned goods from the grocery store, as well as a few other items while I’m at the grocery store. Let’s see, what else? I’ll need some scent, trapping supplies, and some ammo for the old 32 Winchester.”
After what seemed like a long ride already they finally reached paved road. On the way to town Pard shared a variety of stories stemming from hunting, fishing, family, and stories about him raising cane when he was younger. It seemed to Bubba at each bend in the road, each field along the way, and each house brought a smile to Pards face as he shared these stories. About a half hour later they reached Mattawamkeag.
There first stop was Pete’s Pelts. First thing Bubba noticed was it did not appear that this building was a business. It was run down with cedar shingles peeling off the walls and roof. There was an old tin sided shed that the wind had blown half the tin off.
“This guy is a good business guy? Asked Bubba.
“Yes sir, the best. It doesn’t look like much. He’s the fairest, most honest and hard working guy you will ever meet” replied Pard.
They walked through the front door and there was fur and pelts everywhere. It took a couple trips but the two of them was able to get all the pelts in.
“Wow, looks like you’ve had a decent month there Pard” said Pete.
“Well I’ve seen worse and seen better” replied Pard.
“Pete let me introduce Bubba to you. He’s been with me in camp for a couple days. He’s from down along the coast. He’d rented the old Moore camp for a week but ran across me. I figured I could use the company and this greenhorn to the area could use some help finding them wiry whitetails.”
“Howdy do” replied Pete.
“Nice to meet ya” said Bubba.
“What have you got for me”? asked Pete.
“ I have 17 muskrat, 9 beaver, 11 coyotes, 4 bobcats, 28 coon, and 7 fisher pelts” said Pard.
“These are some nice looking pelts. Still early yet and a lot that I’ve been getting in aren’t worth the time put in for them. These though are your usual Pard. You never cease to amaze me.”
Pard just smiled with anticipation of how much Pete would offer him.
“What do you figure is fair for these Pard? Asked Pete.
“Oh I have no idea, you’re the expert Pete.
“Like I said these are some nice pelts for this time of year. The coons still aren’t worth a lot. Fishers need to go up more. But I think a fair price for the lot would be $1926.00. That sound like something we can work with?”
Pard thought to himself that’s the best month I’ve had for awhile.
“Yes, yes, yes that will work”. replied Pard.
“I also will need to get a few things off of you for the next month, maybe even three.” said Pard.
“Well pickup what you need and we will minus that from the money and give you the left over” said Pete.
Bubba noticed that Pard was walking around with a little extra skip in his step.
“Was that a good run” asked Bubba?
“Oh was it ever.” replied Pard.
“Well to make it a little better on you I’m gonna buy all the stuff you need for 3 months” said Bubba.
“Oh no, I couldn’t let you do that” said Pard
“I didn’t ask. I told you I was going to do it. It will all be worth it when you put me in a hot spot for a nice deer” said Bubba.
“And don’t go light because I’m buying either” added Bubba.
So Pard walked around there picking only the things he needed up. Inside it felt as if he was a kid again on Christmas morning. After picking up all that he needed Bubba paid Pete and shook his hand and said “thanks for making my friends day”.
Pard shook Pete’s hand and said “I’ll see you a little after the New Years I reckon.”
Pete said “I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you have for me”.
“Let’s go get us some breakfast now” said Bubba.
So Pard pointed him in the directions of Mrs. Meyers place. Pard could taste them homemade biscuits. He began to drool thinking about how moist and tasty they used to be.
“You’re gonna love Mrs. Meyers cooking” said Pard.
Upon entering the small diner it was apparent this was the local hang out for the good ole boys. After a bunch of introductions the two of them sat down at the long breakfast bar. They ordered up breakfast and talked about their adventures. Pard caught up with the town folk. After stuffing themselves it was time to get over to the grocery store.
“Bubba, I enjoy coming to town. Mrs. Meyers breakfast is top notch. But, I understand why I love to live in the woods. What a bunch of bullheads those people are”.
The two of them laughed all the way to the grocery store. They finished up their shopping again Bubba treating Pard.
“Lets go over to Sam’s Sporting Goods” said Pard.
Again on the way Pard shared stories with Bubba. Each time he would share a different story he would chuckle to himself under his breath. Bubba could see the sheer joy on his face. Bubba began to think Pard really enjoyed his life now being in the woods but he sure missed the times he spent living in town also.
They arrived at Sam’s. This was a log sided building that was immaculate on the outside. Inside their were mounts of all kinds of animals. There standing behind the counter was Sam. Sam was older gentleman who from his face it was apparent that he had lived a full life.
“Hey there Pard” said Sam.
“Hello Sam. Been keeping busy? Asked Pard.
“You know it’s that time of year” replied Sam.
At this time Sam kind of chuckled and pointed to a slender fella over in the corner looking at deer lures. He had city slicker written all over him. The slicked back hair. Sideburns halfway down his cheeks, cleanly shaved and whitened teeth that would blind a ghost. The three guys each laughed to themselves about this city slicker picking up and smelling each of them.
This young fella then walked over and purchased a whole bunch of lures, calls and other supplies. This guy was already decked out in his blaze orange vest and hat. He had on that 600 dollar scent loc suit freshly purchased from some sales catalog. He said “I’ll take all this stuff and I need some ammo”.
“What kind of ammo will you need” asked Sam?
“I’m hunting with a 308 semi auto” replied the man.
“Oh, well here’s some good ammo that will hopefully work for you” said Sam.
Pard added “your not from these parts are you”?
“No, I’m from Atlanta. That’s in Georgia”
“That gun would work great for you in Georgia. Them semi’s up here in the back country tend to jam up in this cold weather though” said Pard.
Sam added in hopes of a gun sale “yeah, I hear story after story of them semi’s jamming up right in the heat of the hunt”.
“What do you guys hunt with? Responded the man.
“Well there’s lots of good calibers. But you want a nice bolt action for this neck of the woods” said Sam.
“I swear by the 270” added Bubba.
“Well let me get a 270 from you with some ammo for that as well”.
Sam rung up the sale for the southern city slicker. He then pointed him out back to a gravel pit.
“You’ll wanna site that puppy in before opening day and there’s no time like the present”.
The city slicker made his way out to the gravel pit. The three guys stood on the back porch and watched this guy shoot. For a city slicker it was apparent he had spent some time shooting. Within a short time he had that 270 rung in to a saucer plate size circle.
“Well that’s a heck of a gun” said the man.
“I told you. It was the best investment you’ve ever made, I guarantee” added Bubba.
As the city slicker made his way out of the store each of the men just grinned and never said another word.
After saying their goodbyes Bubba and Pard made their way to Pard’s parents house for some lunch. After about an hour Pard said “we gotta get back to camp; still have them traps to check”.
All the way back to camp Pard shared different stories about the area. The two of them also chuckled and laughed about the city slicker and how he appeared as green as the springtime grass.
