Reginald Jarvis Winslow IV or “Pokey” as he was known to his fifth grade classmates and even his teachers, was walking along the north trail at the ranch, kinda looking at the fences to make sure that there were no breaks. That was very important to Dad and Grandpa Jarvis but Pokey didn’t know what all the fuss was about. It was just a “stupid fence” but boundaries were vital to the protection of the land and to raising young ranch hands in Eastern Texas. At least it seemed to be important to Dad and Grandpa.
He had ridden out there on “Miss Almy” the old nag that was Grandma’s favorite riding horse back when she was the “Lady” of the ranch. But she had died when Pokey was two and he really couldn’t remember her, but there were pictures showing him smiling and sitting on her knee.
It was getting late and he was about to mount up and head back when…”Pssst…hey kid!”
Pokey wasn’t sure he’d actually heard a voice with the wind coming up and all and there didn’t appear to be anyone else out there in the dusty scrub of weeds and, well, there couldn’t be! It was his family’s land and had been for generations and the next ranch was clear over the horizon.
“KID…here…over here!”
Pokey wiped his eyes and there in the afternoon glare he could just make out a shadowy figure of…was it…a….wolf?
“Yeah…it’s me talkin’ atcha kid…what’s your name?”
“Ah…what….oh….Reginal…ah Pokey…but wait…you’re a…wolf…aren’t you?”
“Ha…naw…No wolf…ha…I guess I’m what you’d call a coyote!”
“A coyote! But …you coyote’s…can’t talk….and….”
“Well I can and I’m talkin’ to you! It’s a long story kid don’t make me go into it now…anyway…look, I’m gettin’ kinda hungry. You all don’t leave much around here to eat.”
“Coyotes are …not nice…I mean Dad says…”
“LISTEN…I’m…well, different! I guess you can tell that huh?”
“What do you want?”
“Food kid…I told ya…ah…Pokey…dumb name…where did ya get that one?”
“Long story…I don’t wanna go into it just now!”
“Hey I like you kid…you got spunk! Most kids would be screamin’ runnin’ home needin’ a pants change!”
“You don’t scare me none…well not much.”
“You like lamb kid?”
“Is that like mutton?”
“IT’S NUTTIN’ like mutton…lamb is…well different…tender and juicy and…gosh now I’m REALLY gettin’ hungry! It’s sheep kid…you got any sheep on this farm?”
“No…and it’s a ranch. We got horses and cattle and pigs and chickens…and…”
“CHICKENS! Yeah…chickens is nice!”
“Chickens ARE nice.”
“That’s what I said. Can you get me one…or…a…maybe two?”
“You mean like live and cluckin’?”
“I mean cluckin…frozen, fried…Chick-Fil-A…anyway you can get ‘um!”
“I can’t be feedin’ you…Dad says…”
“Look kid…I’m starvin’…you ever starve…naw I guess you haven’t…you got it good…I seen ya…”
“You SAW me…”
“That’s what I said…you repeat everythin’?”
“I’m just correcting your English…ah….coyote.”
“Well stop it! English Spanish…what’s it matter…I’m starvin’ here!”
“Ah…it’s gettin’ late…I gotta go or Dad…will come lookin’ for me….ooohhh..where’s Miss Almy?”
“I…ah…guess she got spooked….I’m not real popular in the animal world…but I’m workin’ on it.”
“Crap! I gotta walk all the way back to the house now.”
“Heck kid it’s only a quarter mile or so…you soft or somethin’?”
“I’d rather ride back…I hope she’s back at the barn. Dad would have my hide if…”
“She’ll be back there….horses are too domesticated for my tastes…she’ll be there.”
“Chickens ain’t to domesticated for your tastes though huh?”
“Hey kid…you got a sense of humor…I lkie that…BUT I’M STARVIN’!!! GET IT???”
“I’m gonna be in big trouble if I get caught!”
“Yeah…and I’m gonna be in bigger trouble if I don’t eat!”
“OK…OK…I’ll see what I can do…I’ll check the freezer…but I can’t bring stuff all the way back out here!”
“Look kid…it’s against my better judgement…but I’ll sneak down back of the barn and you leave the grub out on the northeast corner and I’ll get it. I shouldn’t be doin’ this… I KNOW it…but I gotta take a chance now.”
“OK…but I shouldn’t do a thing for you for scarin’ Miss Almy.”
“Yeah…well…get goin’ you got some walkin’ to do.”
“Pokey turned and, head hung low, began the long trek back to the ranch house. After a few steps he turned back to see if the coyote was still there.
“Pick it up kid…get it goin’!”
Pokey walked a bit faster, not much…but enough to notice. He still wasn’t sure the coyote wouldn’t decide that fifth graders might taste just as good as chicken!
He finally arrived back home, his father standing in the doorway.
“Where you been son? Almy’s been here for ten minutes…we got worried…I was just about to mount up and go out lookin’ for you!”
“I…ah…got off her to check on the fence…and….she…got spooked by a …somethin’ I guess, and ran off.”
“Well, tie her up when you dismount next time. You’d better wash up for dinner…we’re havin’ chicken!”
Dinner was uneventful as usual. Pokey’s Dad and Grandpa Jarvis talked about a tainted ground beef recall and whether or not the price of feed corn was going to rise due to “this ethanol craze”. Pokey’s mom had gone into town and shopped for ‘Unmentionables” whatever they were. “Pokey didn’t find out ’cause his mom didn’t mention what they were. Parents could be really dumb sometimes he thought.
At the end of the meal…”Mom…is there any…chicken left over?”
“Yes Reggie…two pieces…why…you’re not still hungry are you?”
“No but I thought I might like a…snack later…in my room…or somethin'”
His mother looked at him over her half glasses and shook her head. “I guess growin’ boys need fuel…huh? I’ll leave them in the fridge…you can get ’em later.”
“Thanks mom.”
Pokey left the dining room as his dad and grandpa went into the den and turned on the news. His mom was cleaning up in the kitchen as Pokey left by the back door and walked over to the barn. The chickens were fluttering around and the horses seemed restless, bobbing their heads over the stall gates and swinging them from side to side.
“That coyote!” Pokey thought. He walked around to the northeast corner but there was no coyote, then as he turned to walk back…”Hey…where’s the grub?”
“You weren’t here a second ago….”
“WHERE’S THEM CHICKENS kid…ah…Pokey? HUH?”
“I have to wait a bit yet…mom’s still in the kitchen.”
“I can’t stay here all night you know! Those domesticated critters you love so much are gettin’ antsy!”
“Yeah…I’ll go look…but if the animals make too much fuss dad will be out here…and…he’s got a shotgun…a Purdy!”
“OH…I bet it’s pretty all right…just lovely I bet….I’M STARVIN’!”
“OK…OK….hold your…ah…fur on or somethin’…I’ll be right back. Stay downwind or whatever will ya?”
‘I AM downwind dope…that’s why I picked the northeast corner…GO!!!”
Pokey snuck around and looked into the kitchen window. His mom had left the romm and the overhead light was off. He crept in and got the chicken out of the fridge and took it back out to the coyote.
“HERE…HAPPY?”
The coyote pounced on the chicken and ate quickly and agressively as if he had just caught the chicken parts himself although Pokey figured that they usually weren’t battered and fried golden brown like these were. “Well…BATTERED…maybe” he thought with a smile.”You’re welcome!!!”
The coyote kept eating.
“You are VERY welcome!”
“Yeah…OK….thanks…I’m still hungry though. But maybe not quite as much.”
“You’d better go…if dad….”
I know…I know…” And the coyote’s tail was the last thing Pokey saw as the agile animal sped away.
The next day after school, Pokey went up to the fence where he had met the coyote. Miss Almy seemed a bit tentative as they neared the spot where she’d spooked the day before. Pokey got off and tied the horse to the fence rail. Miss Almy tugged a bit at the reins and gave a wide eyed stare to the fence leaning her body back toward the direction of the barn, but finally settled down and busied herself eating some sage grass as Pokey looked around for his coyote.
He waited for a half hour or so and still no sign of…whatever his name was. Probably coyotes didn’t have or even NEED names but Pokey thought he may as well give him one. As he was thinking, Miss Almy suddenly reared up and whinnied loudly, pulling at the reins trying to break free.
“That’s some scardy cat horse you got there Pokey boy!”
Pokey tried to calm the horse down and stroked her neck and turned her away from the view of the fence.
“She’s not the sharpest pitchfork in the barn eh Pokey?”
“Listen she’s just acting naturally. It’s her instinct…she also spooks at snakes.”
“Yeah…hate snakes myself…too chewy…and they’re dang hard to catch too! What’s for dinner tonight boy?”
“I can’t get you more food…my parents would surely suspect somethin'”
“How about those table scraps…what happens to them?”
“I…guess mom throws them in the trash…or maybe that mulch pile we got.”
“Why don’t you…let me think now….ah…help your mom after dinner and clean off the table for her?”
“Wow! She’d REALLY suspect somethin’ then! But…maybe I could ask for a raise in my allowance and offer to do another chore.”
“Worth tryin’ kid…worth tryin’!”
“But wait a second…you’re a coyote…you hunt for food and live in the wild…why do I have to feed you like a…well…a dog?”
“Oh that was cold…that hurt Pokey boy. You see I’m not really from around here…I’m more from the north and west of here…more hill country don’t cha know! And there just ain’t a lot of wild game over here like there was back where I came from.” Then…under his breath he said…”no sheep either.”
“I’d better get back before Miss Almy dies of fright!”
“See ya same time same place after dinner.”
“I’ll try…I’ll try.By the way….what’s your name?”
“Don’t have ’em…don’t need ’em. Those wolves they sorta got names…travellin’ in packs…Alpha Male the leader and then the others down to the whippin’ boy…but me I travel alone…my own Boss.”
“Good…see you later Boss!”
As the boy rode off…”That kid’s got a future…I’m startin’ to like the little guy…must be the food.”And the coyote turned and walked the fence line laying low and staying in the shadows.

Amazingly, Pokey’s mom bought the whole “allowance added job scheme” hook line and sinker much to Pokey’s relief. After all, he WAS dealing with a predator much larger and far stronger than himself with a mighty set of jaws and sharp teeth that just ripped through those chicken bones like they were twigs. But there was something about Boss that was kinda like a pal, a buddy which Pokey didn’t really have, except for a couple of guys at school, but they lived miles up the road.
That night and for a few nights following Pokey secreted leftovers and table scraps out to Boss, although one night the coyote did complain about the family eating all the chicken fried steak so that there were no leftovers.”No more VEGETARIAN nights boy…OK?”
Then one evening after dark and after Pokey’s catering services were completed his Dad was sitting with Grandpa Jarvis in the den and what he said made Pokey freeze stiff!
“Jody Sanders up the way says he saw a coyote runnin’ along his pasture road last night. It was a full moon and he just spotted his outline but Ole Jody knows coyotees. I suppose he’d shot a few around that hen house of his.”
“Yeah well, those treehuggers made it illegal didn’t they…can’t do that now!” Pokey’s grandpa said.
“Oh HA…just shoot ’em and throw ’em out on the road. That’s what ranchers are doin’ now…can’t ever prove nothin’ that way Pop!”
“Yeah…I guess you’re right. Those coyotes are mean…I don’t see any good in ’em anyhow!”
“You know they are actually puttin’ coyotes back into the national parks, actually bringin’ them in and lettin’ them loose. Balance of nature or some such lame excuse.”
“Yeah…first they unbalance it then they got to balance it again…and it’s us taxpayers that are the ones sufferin'”
Pokey slipped out of the den and up the stair to his room, shut the door and laid on his bed…and cried.
The next day Pokey walked up to the fence line and waited and called out to “Boss’ but when it got dark and close to dinner time he went back down to the house. That night Boss never showed for “dinner” so Pokey just left the scraps on the ground at the corner of the barn.They were still there the next morning and Pokey gathered them up and threw them in the trash before he left for school.
Two days and nights went by and Pokey was sure something bad had happened to his pal…maybe Mr. Sanders shot him. But maybe Boss went back to Hill country. He might never know.
He began to miss Boss but thought”…maybe it’s best not to ever know what really happened.”
Pokey couldn’t even tell anybody about his coyote…they’d never believe him and think he was crazy for sure! Pokey didn’t even believe it really happened himself sometimes…but…he KNEW it did!
The next day was Saturday and Pokey wandered up to the fence line and sat and just thought about when he first met the coyote and how they had talked and …well…how much Pokey missed him.
“Psssst kid…it’s me!”
“BOSS!”
The coyote, limping slightly came to the fence. “Had a bit of bad luck a few nights back.”
“Oh…Did you get shot? I wanted to warn you about Mr. Sanders…but then…”
“Naw…it was dumb…a rattler…not even a big one…kinda got me on the rump…and it really…I mean REALLY hurt for days, but finally it’s gettin’ better, but it’s still swollen and I can’t sit on that side yet.”
“Oh good…I thought you’d been shot.”
“Oh GOOD? What are you some kind of fiend or somethin’ kid?…YOU get bit by a rattler see how YOU like it!”
“Oh no Boss I don’t mean good I…mean…I think Mr. Sanders saw you and Dad said ranchers shoot coyotes and throw them on the road even though it’s illegal.”
“Yeah well, get me a lawyer kid!”
“You gotta be careful Boss…more careful. And by the way you missed chicken fried steak last night!”
“Plenty left overs too this time I bet!”
“Ah…yep!”
“Well, all’s I had in three days is some chewy rattlesnake…and a small one at that!”
“Got him huh?”
“Yeah…after he got me! My bite’s worse than my bark…or howl or whatever!”
“I’m glad you’re getting better…and maybe there is some steak still left!”
“Don’t get my hopes up Kid I’ve had a tough time out here lately…and well…I’m thinking about…headin’ back.”
“I…had…thought that maybe you DID leave…then I thought Mr. Sanders got you, then well…I missed you.”
“Really? Well if I weren’t hurtin’ so bad I would’ve missed you too I’m sure.And not just because of the food. And…ah….do you really think there are some steaks left?”
“I’ll meet you later OK…I’ll have something…as much as I can get OK?”
“Yeah…oh….and thanks.”
That night Boss ate two chicken fried steaks and one veal picata and was happily full though still smarting from the snake bite. Meanwhile Pokey’s mom was amazed at how her growing son was eating them out of ranch and home!

That night a violent thunderstorm came up from the southwest and there were reports of funnel clouds and even a possible tornado touching down in Rado county just a few miles away. But later the winds calmed down and the rain turned into a drizzle with just an occasional flash in the sky and a far off rumble.
Pokey was asleep when he heard “THE BARN!!!THE BARN’S ON FIRE!…Hurry Dad.”
Pokey jumped up and an eerie orange glow was coming through his window and almost lighting his bedroom.
He grabbed his robe and ran down the main staircase to the entry hall and his Dad and Grandpa Jarvis were hurrying out of the door heading for the barn. Pokey ran behind them and as soon as he got outside he saw flames coming from the barn roof and heard the crackling of the fire and the whinnying of the horses. Dad was getting the water hose when suddenly Pokey saw “Boss” the coyote jumping at the barn door latch, knocking the left door back and springing the latch which freed the other door. Then Boss jumped again and again at the freed door pushing it until it swung fully open.
Pokey’s father yelled “Look…a coyote’s tryin’ to get to the animals…go get my gun Dad while I get the hose goin’!”
“NO DAD NO….that’s Boss…he’s friendly…he’s tryin’ to help!”
“Get outta the way son…we’ll handle this…I think we might have caught it in time!”
Pokey ran and pulled at his father’s arm…”NO DAD…He’s tryin’ to help us…can’t you see?”
Then Grandpa Jarvis came out of the house past Pokey’s mom with the shotgun and raised it and aimed it at the coyote.
‘NO GRANDPA!!!!NO!!”
When the trigger was pulled one loud blast was followed quickly by another…”GOT HIM!”
Pokey snapped his head over toward Boss and saw the coyote roll over on the ground then crawl to the edge of the barn and lie on his side.
“OH NO…you shot BOSS grandpa!”
“Stay away Pokey he might not be dead, just injured and you don’t wanna go near an injured wild animal!”
“But he was just tryin’ to help Grandpa…” Pokey’s tears started running down his cheeks as he broke away from Grandpa Jarvis and ran over to Boss.
The coyote’s tongue was hanging out and his eyes looked glassy and Pokey laid his head on Boss’s chest and cried.
When Pokey looked up Grandpa Jarvis was standing over him and the coyote, reloading the Purdy.”Get away son…I
wanna make sure to finish him off!”
“No please Grandpa…you don’t understand.”
Then Boss lifted his snout slightly and licked Pokey’s cheek…twice.
Just then Pokey’s Dad came over…”I got the fire stopped Dad…just the roof…must’ve been lightning…Did you get him?”
Then Grandpa Jarvis lowered his gun down to his side…”Well…I’ll be!”
Pokey was petting Boss and Boss was licking Pokey’s face and hand.
“I’ve never seen nothin’ like it!”
“I told you…I told you…Boss was just tryin’ to help and…you…shot him!”
Pokey’s father was standing staring down at his son and the coyote, shaking his head slowly from side to side.
“Don’t die…don’t die Boss!”
“Pokey…I don’t understand…I mean…how…when…this is a coyote son…”
“Boss comes to meet me everyday up at the north fence…and well..I kinda been feeding him.”
“I don’t know son…this is a wild…”
“No Dad…it’s OK….he’s from Hill country…and he can’t find food as easily here.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“I…ah…heard it at school.”
Pokey’s father kneeled down and looked closely at Boss who was still licking the boy’s hand. I think you got him on the left haunch Dad…Good shot!”
“Oh no…that’s the same place he just got bit by a rattler!” Pokey quickly realized that he shouldn’t have said that.
Then his Dad put his hand tentatively on Boss and, moving the fur aside, saw two distinct fang marks and a red swollen spot near the still bleeding pellet wounds.
Pokey’s father looked up at Grandpa Jarvis. “Well I’ll be! The kid’s right! But…how did you know son…did you see it happen…the rattler get him?”
“Well, I kinda saw his wound just like you.” Pokey hated lying to his Dad…or to anyone really, but he just couldn’t tell the truth this one time.
Pokey’s father stood. “I just don’t know what to do…I mean…that’s a coyote…and he’s acting like a dog!”
Boss winced and rolled his eyes. “I know Boss…get used to it!” Pokey whispered to him.
“Son…we just can’t keep a coyote..as…a pet! I mean …he’s wild…the animals…your mom…plus everyone would think we’re plumb loco!”
“But he’s different Dad…can’t you see?”
“Yeah…well…it’s strange as all get out…I’ll grant you that!”
“Can we at least get him fixed up…after all Grandpa shot him!”
Pokey’s Dad and Grandpa just looked at each other. “If either of us ever tells any of the neighbors about this…well..WE oughta be shot!”
“I’ll go get some healing creme and try to get the pellets out if you hold him down.”
“OK Dad….”
Grandpa Jarvis went back to the house and told Pokey’s mom what was going on and she was nodding and Pokey heard her say…”So that’s where all the food’s been going!”
After the adults left to go to the house Pokey asked “You OK Boss?”
“OH YEAH…dandy…did he have to shoot me right on my snakebite? And it double hurts now!”
“You’ll be OK…we’ll get you better.”

Over the next week Boss slept in the old dog house that used to belong to “Fetch” the family dog that just ran away for no good reason one day and was never seen again.Pokey made a deal with his Dad that Boss would be let go, back into the “wild” as his Dad called it, after Boss had healed.
And so it was. Pokey kept meeting Boss at the fence. Mom and Dad and Grandpa Jarvis never knew that Pokey and Boss chatted…and eventually Boss headed back to Hill country where he naturally belonged and could resume being an average happy coyote and Pokey could resume being a slightly above average Texas boy.

Pokey always missed Boss his whole life and guessed that Boss always missed him. How do I know for sure?…because…I’m Pokey!