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.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsHCAPzYgj
“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.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXjZJCNiqn
“You sound like you been doing this a spell,” Br’er said as he walked over to the makeshift counter that Julius had built.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9BeMhdBNd
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.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydxcVvNf8g
Br’er nodded his head in agreement. “Time moves funny on the trail, too,” he replied to his host.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16N5RuVbCo
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.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfcVt6p6qx
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. 645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS4GIykDKK
“That I can do,” Br’er answered. 645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZa64eKiwI
“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.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUCkRI9STb
“Will do,” Br’er said. “They should be here soon.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J0brsgKg3
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.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jTo1s2nud
“Not sure,” he replied, “but what I want to know if he is a gabber like us? Looks to be a cat.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77QwYsPbgD
This time Allie shrugged her shoulders. When they reached the dilapidated shack Allie poked her head in. “He safe?” she asked Br’er.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT0OKMQ34g
“He’s safe,” Br’er replied as he continued chunking up the turkey. “And he’s invited us to supper.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUyLhXU51a
“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. 645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG7jbl0Iqt
“Manners, girl,” he said. “The host ain't invited us to eat nothing yet.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GbKjBYfOW
Allie glared at Br’er. “I just wanted a little taste!”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKCP7yDFG2
“And ye’ll get one when the host tells you to get one,” the rabbit replied. 645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XC44g1pc8
“I bet you had one,” she snarled.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRazo4XrM9
“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.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0iL6jNUeo
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.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPqfpXKVjC
Br’er nodded. “I reckon so.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCPcaGyRdS
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. 645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrc5kWp45i
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.645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDzpwSmhI0
Julius did the same. A tear trickled down his cheek and he said, “I… I… I know you, girl.”645Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGs7rJQgqj
“Julius,” she exclaimed as she ran into his arms and embraced him in a fierce hug.
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