volume one IN THE D U D L E Y C L A R K - Ohio Vine Tours

“For more’n thirty years he was th’ biggest sensation in th’
world. His movies were top grossers for twelve years straight.
That’s a record no one’s ever broke. He was bigger’n Bing,
bigger’n Sinatra. More pop’lar’n John Wayne. Clark Gable was
his best bud. Any these names ring bells?”
“Yes, sir. Bing Crosby, right? Frank Sinatra. John Wayne I
know. Don’t know the other dude.”
Old Guy snorts.
“Don’t know Gable? How about Franklin Pangborn?”
No.
“Walter Brennan?”
Uh-uh.
“Rodchester?”
Sorry.
Old Guy chews his cud before striking upon a thought.
“Roy’s th’ guy stuffed his horse.”
A light goes on inside Roy’s brain.
“Oooh.”
“Trigger, th’ Wonder Horse.”
Roy cracks a smile.
“Trigger the Wonder Horse.”
Cool.
While they sit, wrapped again in weedy silence, Roy’s knees
bounce.
Old Guy’s eyes follow his bouncing knees, a puckish smile
maturing upon his face.
“How ’bout some milk?”
Roy’s knees stop bouncing.
Did Old Guy just offer him something to drink?
“Uhm.”
But how do you turn down a man with a gun?
He stalls.
“You gotta kitchen?”
Old Guy corrects Roy.
“Ette. Kitchen-ette.”
Roy needs more fluid in him like Rick needs mean lessons.
“Sure.” He hears himself say this as if from far away.
Whatever you want, Old Guy. Just don’t kill me. “Sure.”
1 ROY ROGERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY