
A Runaway Christmas
Our best Christmas ever was painted by a runaway white and black “Commander” setter that Carl Jr. Duffield gave me. His name was “Nip”. Carl and I had a long, hilarious friendship that began when he…
Our best Christmas ever was painted by a runaway white and black “Commander” setter that Carl Jr. Duffield gave me. His name was “Nip”. Carl and I had a long, hilarious friendship that began when he…
Ben (“Long”) Reach had a soft spot for dog trainers. After fifty years as a lawyer in Albany (“All-Benny” in local speak), Ben knew them all—the ones who worked on the Yankee plantations and the…
Ben could not believe Red Cool’s telephone message, left for him with Joanne. Red had been fired as equine, canine and hunts manager of Bent Pine Plantation, a job he had held thirty years. Ben…
“Ronny Eanes wants to see you and Dr. Sam together. I told him to come at 5 today,” Joanne said. “He say what for?” “Nope.” Ronny and his father were long-time partners in the bird…
For thirty years Harry Amburn had made two thirds of his income in October. Other months he worked as a wood cutter, a snow shaper on snowmobile trails, a Muskie guide, a fuel pumper at…
The scout William Jackson sat alone at the end of a bench munching barbecue chicken and canned green beans. It was during lunch break at the end-of-season championship in a piney woods state. Jackson was…
It had built between them for a decade, but its seeds had been sown at their births. Their fathers had been rivals before them, and they had apprenticed under the fathers. In this tenth season…
John and Mary White were brother and sister, children of Fred and Alice White, Ben Reach’s long time clients and friends. Fred had died five years ago, Alice a month ago. Ben was handling Alice’s…
Every wagon dog string needed one, few had one, all dog men wanted one. The One was a pointer or setter which, when quail were elusive, could be counted on to find and point some.…
Joanne came into Ben’s office right after he returned from lunch. “Two young men stopped in just after you went to lunch and asked to see you. They were bird dog folks I know from…