The encountered odds with Butterbeans

Emily Kate was regaining her colt’s trust. The excited and playful colt would run each time Emily approached. After a while Emily was able to get within a few feet. Then, it was a matter of some fancy apple slices, and the jig was up. She moves them back toward the ATV. The afternoon sun is warm and this part of the Bar K property was closest to one of several box canyons that stretched through this region.

Emily Kate

In fact, her brother Jared, was exploring one of them now. To be fair, it wasn’t the box canyon that held the draw. It was the old, antiquated townships. There were a few in the area, from the early 1800’s. Many of them are now old ghost towns. Dilapidated and crumbling with age. Jared enjoyed exploring the old structures. He remains convinced there is some form of buried treasure.

Emily smiles at his innocent imaginings, and continues leading the colt back the way she came. Her mind is on the more pressing matters of the upcoming welcome party she has planned. She only knows bits and pieces about the young man, and the very adorable Labrador. However she hopes they will choose to attend. The colt jumps, and presses backward a step or two, before moving forward again.

The encountered odds with Butterbeans

Alex looks into the opening, in the floor, of the old barn. He is certain Butterbeans has a reason for vanishing beneath the floor. However he is unwilling to risk it. Therefore, he decides to take every precaution. He fastens one end of the climbing rope to a foundation post of the barn. Then he looks at Jared and lays out his plan.

“I’m going after Butterbeans. At least, this time, we will be ahead of the game. The rope is the anchor point. If there is any trouble we will be able to backtrack.” Then Alex hands Jared a small handheld radio. It is a two way radio and Alex quickly helps Jared with the basic operation.

“If we get separated, use the radio. If you get nervous, use the radio. This should only take a moment, but if you need anything …” at this last part Jared chimes in with a smile, “use the radio!” Now Alex smiles too. He is thinking this really shouldn’t take long. Although it wasn’t unusual for Butterbeans to explore on her own, it was uncommon in unknown places.

The Odds

Alex is thinking this, as he descends to the open area below the barn. It isn’t lost on him that in this old town, this is the second structure, with a sub basement. Indeed, it was easy to imagine a labyrinth of unexplored places beneath the old town. Alex moves further into the darkened area. He follows the paw prints on the old dusty floor. They lead to an unexpected passageway that carries on as a tunnel.

Alex feels stunned. He had not expected this. Furthermore, how much rope did he have left? This tunnel looked long. And dark. It stretched onward as far as he could see. Then, he hears a familiar sound, as he walks into the passageway. A light padding as though several paws were moving along. Quickly.

Alex calls out to Butterbeans and gets a light huff of a bark in response. He knows that one very well. He is to follow. So he does.

Odds with Butterbeans

Emily is almost to the spot where she parked the ATV. The colt is walking calmly beside her, and that is when Emily sees the rabbit.

Ordinarily it would have been a delight to see a bunny in its haste. However, the hare had appeared as if from thin air. Not only had it startled Emily but also the colt. The colt reared backward, which caused Emily to stumble. The ground beneath her feet gives way, and Emily tumbles down. She falls and lands at the bottom of an old well. Now she was definitely in a fix.

---

Thank you for reading! Like, follow and share The Frog Journal on X @1finja1 – and on The Frog Journal Facebook page click here. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay up to date on new content and updates.