Excerpt from John R. Erickson’s ‘The Case of the Dancing Cowboy’

Editor’s note: Below is an excerpt from the children’s book, “The Case of the Dancing Cowboy,” written by John R. Erickson and reprinted with permission via Newspapers in Education. To catch up on the story, read the previous excerpt in the e-paper editio

Chapter 8 (cont.)

“I leave ‘em out there until I need ‘em. It saves folding and finding a place for ‘em.”

“Slim, honestly!”

“Well, it works. You ought to try it sometime.”

“Bachelors! It’s a wonder you’re still alive.”

“Survival of the fittest, I reckon. Them that’s tougher than the germs will survive.”

She got all her stuff and came up behind him. “Now, I’m going to wash the cut with soap and water.”

“Could we skip the soap?” “No. It might sting a little bit, so grit your teeth and don’t complain.” She went to work with her soft pretty hands, while old Slim bit down on his lip and glared at the wall. “Does that sting?”

“Is the Pope Catholic? It feels like you’re cleaning it out with a hoof rasp.”

“Well, it’s a pretty nasty cut.” “It was fine ‘til you put soap on it.”

“Please hush.” She finished up her work and then hustled off to the bathroom.

She came back with a little red bottle of something. “Now, hold still another minute and we’ll be done. I’m going to put some antiseptic on it.”

“Will it burn?” She glanced at the label on the bottle. “No. This is the kind that doesn’t burn.” “Good.”

She dabbed some red stuff on the wound and stepped away. Slim’s eyes got bigger and bigger, and then he jumped out of the chair.

“Jeemanee crickets! I thought you said it wouldn’t burn!”

She smiled. “I misread the label.”

“Yes ma’am, I think you did. Either that or somebody lied.”

“It won’t burn for long, and it just might save you from an infection.”

“Right now, I’d go for the infection.” He paced around the room for a few minutes, fanning the back of his head. Then he dropped into the chair again. “Whew, boy! That stuff ’s even worse than soap.”

She watched him for a moment. “Slim, you really should go to town and get a few stitches in that cut. It would heal faster if you did.” “I ain’t going to the doctor.” “Then at least let me trim your hair.” His eyes swung around and locked on her. “Trim my hair? What for?”

She closed her eyes for a moment, then patted him on the arm. “Slim, sometimes it’s hard to get a point across to you in a subtle way, so let’s talk man-toman. With half your hair burned, you look ridiculous.”