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Scouts

August 15, 2023 | Short Stories | Comments
The year is 1947. The War is finally over, in Europe and Japan. Veterans of the War, leaving home for it as boys, have returned as men, matured by a baptism of fire, some wounded physically, more wounded emotionally, but sharing joy it is over along with its scars.  They are at Broomhill, Manitoba, having trained bird dogs nearby since mid-July. It is the first week in September, time for the Canadian prairie trials, resuming after the War. Mose Blevins had been a scout all his adult life, and now he is fifty-five, not old, but his arthritis is taking its toll. His son Robert is home from the War in Europe. He is twenty-six, hoping to succeed his father as a dog man on Twin Oaks Plantation in Southwest Georgia.  Read more

Before and After DNA

July 24, 2023 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
Before DNA proof-of-parentage became possible, practical things were different in many ways, Ben Reach and Sam Nixon MD contemplated in their end-of-day musings over drams of The Macallan in Ben’s library-conference room. Nowadays, proof of “who’s your pappy?” was answerable conclusively by a Q-tip swab of saliva submitted to a lab test for humans or beasts, thanks to DNA science.  This had revolutionized pointing dog breeding practices starting in summer Read more

One Too Many

July 18, 2023 | Short Stories | Comments
Billy Eanes was desperate for money. To pay gambling debts. Without the money he would be dead—and soon. Billy was now working as a freelance field trial scout. For years he had scouted for Moose Morris, the top all-age handler on the circuit, but Moose died, heart attack. Since then Billy had freelanced.  Read more

A Deeper Loyalty

July 10, 2023 | Short Stories | Comments
The year was 1947. Jess Combs and Frank Eanes were veterans of the War in Europe, home now to Alabama and Georgia where before the War they had apprenticed under their fathers to become pointing dog field trial trainer-handlers.  Read more

More Field Trial Friends Remembered ~ Marshall Loftin

July 7, 2023 | Remembrances | Comments
Like Ed Mack Farrior, Marshall was a link to a glorious period for field trials and a consummate raconteur. He had also seen his share of hard times. He was not an admirer of The National Bird Dog Champion Association, for a very personal reason—its rigidity had cost him his best customer and field trials its most avid English setter sponsor, Dr. J. U. Morrison.  Read more

The Auction

May 30, 2023 | Short Stories | Comments
The legendary pointing dog field trial scout Abe Moses dropped dead from the saddle of his horse Feather while riding in the gallery of the Manitoba Championship, having just scouted his employer’s last entry. It was during the last brace, for a bye dog that was immediately picked up by its handler to end the stake. A thirty minute all-age, then a thirty minute derby, were to follow. It was three pm and club officials decided to postpone further running until next morning. Read more