PHOTO PROMPT © G.L. MacMillan
Whiskey For My Men
“Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses,” a sleeve against his mouth Max swallowed the fire and reached for his guitar. The usual camp noises were muffled: a rustling of bedrolls and saddles, the horses chewing on the day’s events, a soft bellow from a calf. The bottle passed wordlessly from man to man, their shared grief masked by the slow burn of whiskey and the soulful guitar notes.
The kid had been as green as his mount, the cattle had turned in a collective panic and the roan had shied and lost her footing.
Someone would have to tell his Mama and there wasn’t enough whiskey in the world.
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For more flash fiction and Friday Fictioneers go here.
I borrowed the line “whiskey for my men, beer for my horses” from “Beer For My Horses” a song recorded by American country music artists Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. It was composed by Keith and Scotty Emerick.
For a better taste of cowboy life and the American West – “faster horses, younger women, older whiskey” here’s a song performed by Tom T. Hall.
What's for dinner, Doc? 
Maybe with enough whiskey the blows will hurt less. Hope his mama goes easy on him.
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This is lovely. I really like the western genre and am a big fan of Elmore Leonard’s pulp magazine work – his racism and sexism diminishes as the years pass – a sort of social record in itself.
I think you’ve captured the campfire scene and the occasion beautifully. Bravo.
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Thanks Patrick,
That sounds like interesting reading.
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I enjoyed this story so much. As I read it, I was able to visualize the scene of the men by the camp fire passing around their whiskey to ease and to blur the pain of what had to be said later. Super Great story …. !!!! 😀
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Thanks Isadora,
I think setting was paramount in this flash campfire story.
Tracey
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The setting up of a scene is a skill I’m continuing to work on. In 100 words, it’s extremely difficult. It’s the reason why I’m enjoying the challenges from Rochelle. Reading stories such as yours give me insight on how to develop that. Thank you for that. 😎
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No amount of whiskey will be enough for these men. Beautifully crafted story !
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No amount of beer will comfort the horse either. 🙂
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Thanks. I think the mother will need some too.
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A great take on the prompt. These guys will need to drink a lot to face the grief of the mother who will have to hear this sad news.
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Thanks Alicia. Somehow I see Max doing the telling. He seems to understand what people need in the moment.
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You got this one, Girl!
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Thanks Jill. I could use a little whiskey this week myself.
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I wonder how they choose who has to tell her.
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Dawn,
I’m sure it will be Max and maybe the kid’s Mom is a widow who needs help around her ranch. 😉
There’s more to Max’s story.
Tracey
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Are you writing it?
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Max is my American Hobo and he branched out into singing and cattle drives I guess. My WIP is stagnant at the moment but I shall follow Max’s lead.
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Congratulations on evolving a western take on the prompt. And the description of the night-time noises was superb. Well done.
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Thank you Sandy. It’s difficult to fully convey setting in 100 words but it works here.
Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
Setting and emotion blended beautifully in your novel of a hundred words. Beautifully written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. I treasure your comments.
Tracey
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Such a tragic tale well written. You set the tone so well, I really enjoyed it.
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Your western stories have a quality of authenticity and insight.
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I’ve got deep Western roots M.J. and my Dad was a gifted story teller.
Thank you,
Tracey
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For some men (people), there isn’t enough whiskey in the world… Good one!
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True that Lorna
Thanks
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What a wonderful story with such a tragic ending. You obviously have taken after your dad in story telling. 🙂
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Great story… and one that must’ve been repeated over and over in the ole west…
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Very touching tale.
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🙂
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Trampled to death can’t be a good way to go.
Good piece.
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This reminds me of an old, old folk song my mother used to sing about a young cowboy trampled in a stampede. I feel for the one who has to tell his Mama. Pass the bottle.
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Yes , let’s have a nip.
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Cool… great take on the challenge!!
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Thanks Courtney
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Excellent tale, well crafted.
I enjoyed this very much.
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Thank you CE.
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PS Elmore Leonard is a marvellous writer.
Actually, was, he is dead now.
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Very sad. Feels very true-to-life to the real West.
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Thank you Perry. I’m channeling my father to achieve the authenticity.
Tracey
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Max swallowed the fire–that draws you right in and keeps you til the end. Great story, sad and vivid. I look forward to reading more about Max.
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Thank you. I think the setting was critical in this short fiction.
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Loved this. Silently passing the bottle, the shared grief… Great.
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Thank you KT. I always appreciate your comments.
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Fantastic scene-setting, and wonderful characters. I could feel the grief.
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Great old West story with the sadness of the loss of life on the trail, Tracey. —- Suzanne
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This is actually one of my all time favorite stories. Thank you
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