Br’er waved towards his companions and when he saw that they were making their way towards the shack he followed Julius in. As he reached the doorway he saw Julius taking the turkey out of a black oven.821Please respect copyright.PENANANlT7jsoDwv
“The trick is to smoke them for a day or two,” the cat said to Br’er. “You gotta let them sit and smoke for a few days. Throw in some danderbrush every now and then to make sure that flavor really sinks in.”821Please respect copyright.PENANARBloYABKet
“You sound like you been doing this a spell,” Br’er said as he walked over to the makeshift counter that Julius had built.821Please respect copyright.PENANAk62zHcvB54
Julius sat the turkey on the counter and took the ancient looking carving knife that sat upon it and started piecing apart the golden turkey. “I don't really know how long I been doing it,” the cat said as he plopped wonderful smelling pieces of meat onto a wooden plate. “Time moves funny out here.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAH9LjAhs2hP
Br’er nodded his head in agreement. “Time moves funny on the trail, too,” he replied to his host.821Please respect copyright.PENANAi122mdU8jL
Julius nodded and handed a small sliver of turkey to his guest. Be ’er popped it into his mouth and chewed. It was the best piece of meat he had ever tasted. The flavors that enthralled him made him go silent for a moment and involuntarily close his eyes in appreciation. “My word,” he whispered after he swallowed the bite. “My word.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAS0HkU6YV40
Julius smiled and continued on with his work. “If you would like to finish carving this bird up I will go fetch some carrots and taters from the hill over yonder,” he said as he nodded towards a green hill that looked to be a half mile or so away. 821Please respect copyright.PENANAhqDJDPwTqy
“That I can do,” Br’er answered. 821Please respect copyright.PENANAEcinnYvUtM
“Alrighty then,” Julius said as he walked to the door and grabbed the shotgun he had sat in the corner and a burlap sack that didn't lay far from it. “When your friends get here ask them to fill that kettle up with water from the pump on the side of the hut if you would and throw it on the fire.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAGfqDq1q3Wg
“Will do,” Br’er said. “They should be here soon.”821Please respect copyright.PENANATP8oLn8nqD
And he was right. They weren't far behind at all. They saw Julius, in the distance, walking off towards the hill. “Where do you spose he’s going?” she asked Oswald. Oswald shrugged his shoulders.821Please respect copyright.PENANAo1B0o0dRbH
“Not sure,” he replied, “but what I want to know if he is a gabber like us? Looks to be a cat.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAHaMaCeGHvd
This time Allie shrugged her shoulders. When they reached the dilapidated shack Allie poked her head in. “He safe?” she asked Br’er.821Please respect copyright.PENANAQ74bJTXG8W
“He’s safe,” Br’er replied as he continued chunking up the turkey. “And he’s invited us to supper.821Please respect copyright.PENANAjBOTAdMMwD
“Hot dog,” Allie exclaimed as she entered. She walked over to the plate where the turkey was and tried to take a nibble, but her greedy hand was slapped by Br’er. She snapped her hand back and nursed the sting on it. 821Please respect copyright.PENANA5I4Ke5n04b
“Manners, girl,” he said. “The host ain't invited us to eat nothing yet.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAaVLCnXaY7K
Allie glared at Br’er. “I just wanted a little taste!”821Please respect copyright.PENANAOOrG7lOO66
“And ye’ll get one when the host tells you to get one,” the rabbit replied. 821Please respect copyright.PENANAYaAtiX85db
“I bet you had one,” she snarled.821Please respect copyright.PENANAufhDWCIRAT
“As a matter of fact I did. Right after he handed it to me,” Br’er said through a smile. “Now make yourself useful and go fill that kettle with water from the pump on the side of the hut.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAU0kqVtcbw4
Allie took the kettle out to fill it, muttering about rude rabbits all the way. When she had left the shack Oswald sat down his pack and looked at Br’er. “Can we trust him?” he asked.821Please respect copyright.PENANAHlt5Ddc2Oc
Br’er nodded. “I reckon so.”821Please respect copyright.PENANATYY3Gjfi6s
Oswald breathed a sigh of relief as he sat on the ground. It wasn't long before Allie came back in with the kettle full of water. “No, no don't mind me carrying this heavy kettle,” she said to the rabbits. “You just continue your lazy asses doing all of nothing.” She sat it on the rack over the fire so that it would start boiling. 821Please respect copyright.PENANAIBc0kfWm2G
She made her way over to her pack and started rifling through it when the owner of the shack returned. Julius’ shadow fell over her as she was bent over. She straightened up to introduce herself to their host when she and Julius locked eyes. Her breath stopped as she gasped.821Please respect copyright.PENANArE6TOVBNlZ
Julius did the same. A tear trickled down his cheek and he said, “I… I… I know you, girl.”821Please respect copyright.PENANAqrlHMrFV0A
“Julius,” she exclaimed as she ran into his arms and embraced him in a fierce hug.
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