Author Description

This morning he felt like the kid, Benny Schofield. It had been this way for more than a week. Hunger always made him feel small. How could anyone feel strong like a man when their belly was empty. His name was Benjamin Schofield, the same as his father. Before he died, his Pa was called Ben and they had called him Benny. A couple of months after his father died, he started thinking of himself as Ben Schofield, the man. It was easier at first. His Pa had a winters worth of wood cut and there was always provisions stored away, those that would keep like salt, coffee, flour, baking powder and lard. It hadn't been easy and he wished he had paid more attention when his father made those wonderful biscuits. It didn't matter now. He had nothing left to even make pan bread. For the last two weeks he had subsisted on grass roots and three rabbits he had caught in a snare. Pretty soon, Ed Gage would have his way. Benny would have to leave the homestead or starve to death. His father had been handy with tools and had built a fine cabin on the homestead. After people had a look at that cabin, his father could have worked every day and Benny could have helped him but his Pa had to step out into the yard with his rifle and challenge Ed Gage from the E & G Ranch and three riders who were going to drive a hundred head of cattle through their wheat field. His Pa felt he was in the right but he'd no right getting himself killed and leaving a fourteen year old son on his own. Maybe his Pa thought he could bluff but he should have known better. If Red Endle hadn't pulled his gun on Whitey, Benny felt sure he would have been lying in the yard with his father. He could still hear Ed Gage yet. “Now, son, there was no need of this happenin'. Your Pa had plenty of work. There was no need of him fencing and plowing up good ranch land. Your Pa's gone now. You hitch up that wagon after you bury your Pa and get out of the valley.”