Of Wolves and Men by G. A. Hauser

leg traps. We got no coyote problem. Nothin’ is messin’ with our ponies. And if you don’t think your use of those things isn’t going to mess with your trail ridin’ business think again.”
    Charlie shot Butch a look of fury. “He’s thinkin’ of himself, not you, not your ranch, your work.
    Have you thought about the long haul of usin’ those things?” Charlie took a breath, trying to calm down. “I’ll paint you a pretty picture, boss,” he said sarcastically. “We got us a nice party of city folks all lookin’ for a pretty leisurely ride in the mountains.”
    Vernon waved his hand for Suzie to not pour him more coffee, and focused on Charlie.
    “Here we are, our nice little ridin’ trail expedition,” Charlie said, sneering, “Oh, lookie here.”
    He pointed as if he were on the trail. “A poor baby deer with its leg in a steel trap. My, ain’t that a nice memory to bring back to the folks back home?” He snarled at Butch, wishing he were a wolf at the moment and he could scare the crap out of him.
    It didn’t take Vernon more than a minute. “No traps, Butch.”
    “Thank you, Dad,” Sherlane said, “They’re inhumane and Charlie’s right. Can you imagine some young child seeing that on our trail ride?” She shivered to show her point.
    Butch wasn’t the kind of man who liked to be wrong. He said, “Excuse me, ladies. Thank you for the meal, but I have work to do.” He put his hat on and left.
    Charlie exchanged glances with JP and Goat. None of them had a problem with Butch before so Charlie had no idea of what the two men were thinking.
    “Can I have another helping?” Goat held up his plate to Suzie.
    “Sure, Hal.” The girls never called him ‘Goat’.
    Charlie leaned closer to Vernon. “I know it ain’t my place, boss, to fire someone.”
    “You feel Butch is that bad of a worker I need to let him go?”
    “Not a bad worker. No. But this last week, it’s the bad attitude. He don’t like me bein’ the manager. I can see it in his eyes. He’s angry now all the time.” Charlie peeked behind him first before he said softly, “and very jealous of the girls’ friendship with me.”
    “Yeah. That I know.” Vernon chuckled.
    “Here ya go, Hal.” Suzie set another helping of food in front of him. “Can I get anyone anything else?”
    The rest of the men shook their heads, saying, “No, thank you.” She began clearing the table.
    Connie walked up behind Charlie and caressed his back lightly. “You work with Butch, Charlie.
    We don’t.”
    “I hate to lose him,” JP said, “I got no complaints. He works hard, boss.”
    Charlie felt the same. Butch was a hard worker. “He’s just becomin’ a nuisance.”
    “Sit, Harley.” Sherlane held a scrap of meat for the dog.
    Charlie said, “Speakin’ of a nuisance.” He smiled. “You, dog!”
    Vernon said, “He’s just doin’ his job. He thinks he’s a Doberman Pinscher.”
    Charlie and the other boys laughed. “True.” Charlie said, looking back as the dog begged for food.
    ~
    Charlie headed out of the ranch house with the other two men. Just as he did, the truck filled with their wranglers arrived. Charlie stood by as they unloaded. Most of the men were sitting in the open truck bed, while three were inside the cab. “Mornin’ boys.” Charlie greeted them.
    They gave him a wave as they began their job of grooming the horses and mucking out the stalls.
    Goat, JP, and Charlie walked to the stable to get their own duties underway. Charlie removed Spirit from his stall and led him to the open pasture while he shoveled horse droppings into a wheelbarrow.
    He heard JP ask, “Where’s Butch?”
    Charlie poked his head out of Spirit’s stall. He yelled Butch’s name, looking in the direction of Scout’s stall in the barn. “Ain’t he here?”
    “Nope. He’s out somewhere and didn’t clean Scout’s stall either.”
    Charlie stewed as he continued his job. He didn’t count on this unusual predicament. If