We Face The Giants... TOGETHER

FROM THE BOOK -

Catherine was already on the porch when we rode up.?Her long fire-touched mane was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing her slender neck and straight shoulders.?She rose as we came even with the steps, smiling with genuine enthusiasm.?“You fellas have been busy!” she said.?And then, looking straight at me, she added, “It’s good to have you back.”

?

It was suddenly very warm, even for a mid-September morning.?I saw Tuck roll his jaw around, like he was working a chaw... only he didn’t chew.?And off to my left, Floyd chuckled and headed for the barns.

?

Now what was their problem?

?

Catherine noticed Floyd’s movement and turned to her father.?“Dad, grandpa Caldwell is out in the tack shop.”

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“Oh, well good for him.” Ben said.

?

“Dad, he’s been out there since before dawn...”

?

“Oh.?Well, yes, thank you, daughter.”

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“I’ll come help.” Tuck offered, as he started around the house.

?

“No my friend.?If you don’t mind, I think young Travis is who I would like along on this one.

?

Tuck just nodded.?“By all means.?Floyd and I will get these horses rubbed, brushed and settled in.?Then we’ll take care of the hides and meat.”?And then, as he and Floyd took the reigns of our mounts and made the turn at the west end of the house, he added simply, “I think you’ll find he’s a good one to have around.”

?

Ben looked at me and said, “...already have.”?Then he turned to Catherine.?“Daughter, if you’re up to it, I think fresh hot tea, all around, might be the ticket.?I’ll send Travis for it, when the time is right.”

?

Catherine smiled and nodded, “Yes Father, it will be ready shortly.” Then she lifted her chin slightly and looked at me for a second.?She pursed her lips, looked aside thoughtful-like, and then back at me with an honest, piercing look that I didn’t know soft blue eyes could muster.?Then she turned and headed into the house.

?

Ben patted me on the shoulder and said, “Well Travis, we are about to go spend time with a fine man.?And wherever he is in his mind, at this moment, our only task is to be there... with him, wherever that may be.?Understand?”

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“No sir, I have to be honest with you, I don’t.”

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He smiled warmly at me then, gave a slight chuckle and said, “Honest is the way you get there Travis.?You’ll catch on and do just fine.”

?

?Through the door of the tack shop we could see Caldwell, sitting slumped on the workbench staring a hole in the floor.?Ben knocked on the doorframe like he was visiting a neighbor.?“Mind if we come in?”

Tear-swelled eyes slowly turned under heavy brows.?There was no pleading this time, just a tugging combination of bone-deep sadness, and resignation.?The face said so much... there was no need for words.

As we walked on in, the rich, heady aromas of sawdust and leather gave way to the sharp, pungent odors of urine and soiled self.?Ben walked right on up to the man and patted his shoulder with warm affection, but did not speak for a moment.

Me??I was totally lost.?But I wasn’t about to let Ben down, so I walked over and sat down on the low bench next to Caldwell. ?The smell was almost overpowering, but I followed Ben’s lead and kept a straight face.?I didn’t know the man well enough to feign ‘closeness’, so I just sat there, looking around the shop like I hadn’t a care in the world... which I didn’t, really.

“You missed a heck of a hunt my old friend” Ben said cheerfully.

“I’m sorry...”

“Oh, nothing to be sorry about.?I’m sorry you weren’t right up there in the middle of it with us.”

Caldwell glanced my way, and then looked even further down into the floor, like he was ashamed.?“No, I’m sorry I came here and caused all this mess.”

“You’ve caused nothing but great good the whole time I and my family have known you, sir.?You just had an accident, that’s all.”

Caldwell started swaying back and forth, ever so slightly “I drifted off again.?I could feel it coming on... I did my damndest to make it stop, but I couldn’t.?When I came around, miss Catherine was trying to clean me up.?I got so embarrassed that I came out here... and haven’t been able to go back in and face her.”

Ben actually chuckled.?“That’s nothing to fret over.?You took care of a thousand of her messes while I watched over Kate.”

The old man rose halfway to his feet.?Like a robbed mother bear he roared, “She was a helpless infant, damn it!?I’m just messing myself like one!”?His ancient features sharpened with instant strength, his forearms deeply creased with coiled tension as those massive hands clenched for battle.

I gotta tell you, I was genuinely afraid.?Afraid that either man was about to be seriously injured by this explosion of rage... and I wasn’t too sure about my safety.?Ben never flinched, he simply looked at him with that same gentle, genuine, unflustered smile.?“What you are is the most fearsome warrior and sharpest tactician I ever served with, and one of four men on this earth I would trust the life of my treasure’d daughter with.?What you are at this moment, Caldwell, is what I’ve always known and trusted and loved... nothing about who and what you are has changed, at all.?Your tent is wearing out, that’s all.?And this just happens to be the way it’s wearing out, that’s all.?And I am proud to stand with you, by you and over you against all onslaughts, just as you have for me so many times over the years.”

The old man relaxed under Ben’s gentle, honest discourse.?By the time he finished, Caldwell was sitting again.?At that last line, Caldwell actually chuckled, himself.?“We were in some hell-raisers over the years, weren’t we, young’n?”

“Yes sir, we were.”

“ I felt like pooping my pants a few times back then... now I get to do it, and no one thinks the worse of me.?I guess that ain’t so bad.”

They both laughed out loud at that one.

A clear-eyed Caldwell then turned and looked at me, as if for the first time during this whole affair.?“You keep seeing old Caldwell during his less than stellar moments, don’t you boy??But you got brass, and you got class... thanks for coming in.”?And then he sort of looked around with his nose wrinkled up and his eyes squinted.?When he looked back at me he said, “Oh... and sorry about the stink.”

I couldn’t help it, I busted out laughing.?Thank God, they did too!

We walked to the house together, and Caldwell went in the west end door straight to his bathroom.?After about a half hour he appeared, fresh as a daisy and all slicked back and pressed, like he was ready for a date.?When he saw Catherine, he hung his head sheepishly and began his apologies.?She nearly knocked the wind out of him as she ran and hugged him.?“Grandpa, I love you.?I know what’s happening, and I’m just proud you’re here.”?There was no more said.

...there was no more needed.

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QUESTIONS -

* After reading this snippet, have you ever been a friend like Ben was for Caldwell?

* Could you be a friend like Caldwell had been for Ben?

* In your life, could you USE a friend like they had been (over and over) for each other?

I have had the unfathomable privilege of friends like Caldwell (both before, and during their journey through dementia). And, by our God's rich Grace, I have had the very rich privilege of being a friend - like Ben Arden.

I have never been my better 'self' than in those relationships/times... or richer for the experience.

NEVER.

-CM Sackett-