Chris and Stars by Anne Tolar

"Well, Pard, I think this Fourth of July party is a total bust-up."

"Why's that, Buck? Everybody in town's just about here."

"Everybody except a certain Stud."

"He can't help it if he's not here. He didn't mean for it to happen."

"You'd think a man who can outdraw Johnny Ringo could stomp out a fire faster than that!"

"Hard to stomp out a fire on a rocket that was headed for your butt." Vin snickered at the memory.

"Well, shoot...guess you're right about that!"

"Harder when you're trying to balance a plate full of wieners and 'tater salad."

"You see the look on his face when he's trying to think on it?"

"Didn't have no time to think on nothing, Buck. He's trying to balance plate, shove kids, and move his butt to the east all at the same time."

"Last move, I figure he got sort of got mixed up on his directions. I swear he moved right into the path of that thing."

"I think he's trying to save his shirt."

"Yeah...guess so. Just a pity to see them teeny little red and white stars on his black shirt get all singed."

"Yeah, they's real purty across them shoulders, and it took him about a week to work up the nerve to wear the thing. He's gonna kill the Kid."

"J.D. didn't mean to do it!"

"J.D. don't never mean to do nothing. He just looks at Casey, and his mind goes right to her eyes."

"Ain't where Chris says they go."

"Chris would say it! J.D. still ain't worked around to that hard a look yet."

"He ain't THAT young, Vin. Boy's been to the livery before...remember."

"Yeah, but he just got sorta yanked into it that time."

"Shoot...thought that boy were'nt ever gonna get past that one. Thought I's gonna have to teach him how to make up to a fine young lady."

"Yeah, but 'fore he could do it, I thought Casey's gonna yank him baldheaded!"

"Yeah, yeah...lucky thing he done got shot. You reckon Ole Chris is gonna come back today, Vin?"

"Depends on how hard Narthan sits on him, but I 'spect he'll make it back okay."

"Chris ain't gonna be sitting or let nobody else sit on him neither! But he worked mighty hard to help get this thing going 'cause Billy and the kids asked him to. You know he don't like these town parties that much to start with, but you let the little ones beg one time...he's a goner. Poor Ole Chris, his face is gonna might near be as red as anything that got touched by them sparks!"

"You hear him give it to Nate about trying to make him drop his drawers right there on the spot."

"Glad he didn't. Nate might a caught some hot lead real fast."

"Shoot....Nate ought to know better than to touch Chris out in the middle of the street, much less start hittin on 'im. Should a just maybe hinted that his pants was on fire. Hell, Chris didn't even want a little ole hug from you the first time we met."

"Poor ole Chris."

"You call me old one more time, you're gonna think hot lead, Buck!"

"Pard! You came back! How's the...ah...the...injury?"

"I'm fine."

"Sure ya are, Cowboy. Sure ya are. Anything burned but your cheek?"

"No, Vin, and it ain't that bad, and I wish you'd just SHUT UP about it."

"Sure, Chris. Come on, I'll just fix ya a new plate of food. What do you want?"

"I just want food! I'm hungry. Just make sure J.D. don't have no rockets, and I'm nowhere near the potato salad again."

"Why's that, Stud."

"If you gotta know, Buck, rockets are just a might faster than me, and a bowl of potato salad don't protect your tail bone worth a damn."

"You broke that?"

"Shut up, Buck. Ain't broke!"

"What Cowboy. You broke WHAT?"

"Shut up, Vin. It's just sore."

"Hey, Chris... Nate says you broke your tail bone! That's just a HOOT! Want to see me fire off some more rockets?"

"J.D., you're gonna think hoot when I get through with you."

"Come on, Cowboy. It's just a little ole rocket...not like he singed your hat."

THE END