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.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sMuKjAzpr
“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.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxszKFJxPx
“You sound like you been doing this a spell,” Br’er said as he walked over to the makeshift counter that Julius had built.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tri1TEGps
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.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9if147pFfe
Br’er nodded his head in agreement. “Time moves funny on the trail, too,” he replied to his host.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjVcIGdJ5F
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.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdghrgPkyi
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. 605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPa90teEgL
“That I can do,” Br’er answered. 605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY9FkWjax0
“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.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSuTuZvx50
“Will do,” Br’er said. “They should be here soon.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0ADqUl6yj
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.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiCesYIrzm
“Not sure,” he replied, “but what I want to know if he is a gabber like us? Looks to be a cat.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwppFvbDyn
This time Allie shrugged her shoulders. When they reached the dilapidated shack Allie poked her head in. “He safe?” she asked Br’er.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnynYfT2Zol
“He’s safe,” Br’er replied as he continued chunking up the turkey. “And he’s invited us to supper.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAxVq2VoG4
“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. 605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1QAfICNqR
“Manners, girl,” he said. “The host ain't invited us to eat nothing yet.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ppN8do4Ku
Allie glared at Br’er. “I just wanted a little taste!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PTPpMRTud
“And ye’ll get one when the host tells you to get one,” the rabbit replied. 605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdnW33R5xF
“I bet you had one,” she snarled.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXaIiuDAIg
“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.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8WQbGrIg9
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.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO34R37eRlM
Br’er nodded. “I reckon so.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3psZOAPxDS
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. 605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT2AjaMEF3
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.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTBj5DbtbW
Julius did the same. A tear trickled down his cheek and he said, “I… I… I know you, girl.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3TCP2xHm5
“Julius,” she exclaimed as she ran into his arms and embraced him in a fierce hug.
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