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A Firing

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…

Ben Reach savored the first two weeks of March because with them came the Southeastern and Masters Championships at Albany (“All-Benny” to natives like Ben and his pal, Sam Nixon, MD). Ben no longer judged…

A Brace at Dixie

When you ride a brace at Dixie On a crisp and sunny morn You’ll have had a taste of heaven As sure as you’ve been born When you get to the breakaway A short ride…

The Last Summer — Maybe

It would be their last summer together on the prairie. Or so they thought. Ben Kane had taken his twin sons Fred and Carl, named for their grandfathers, first when they were eight. That was…

A Too Familiar Story

“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…

The Grouse Guide

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…

Close Call

Fred East called Ben on a Monday Morning. There was worry in his voice. Ben figured it must be bad health news because Fred had too much money to worry about anything else. Fred didn’t…

The Rivals or a Good Day’s Work

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…

The Chair

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…

The Dark Side

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…