They Called Him Bruiser 4

Part 3 here. Index here.

Every hand is gathered around the pen. Watching. I’m braced for shouting but it’s church-like hush. Still got Bruiser worked up and skittish.

He’s confused that I have bags on my back and I don’t have the pail. I feed him the carrot, piece by piece, tryna keep this normal as I can. Then I walk to the post and untie the hitch.

Bruiser goes stiff. Expects to be dragged and beaten and shouted at.

Instead I wait. Don’t move. Keep my focus on him. Ignore the fidgeting and whispering.

Sloooowly Bruiser relaxes. Muscle by muscle. Once he’s curious rather’n scared I walk to him, coiling the tether as I go. But leaving slack, making sure he doesn’t feel trapped.

He lets me scratch him under the chin. Listens as I murmur the plan to him once more. I know he doesn’t understand but I lay out every step anyways and the calm reassures him.

Alright. Go time. I open the gate.

Bruiser stops on the threshold. Sniffing and looking around like the air just the other side of the fence is exotic. I wait. Let him get his bearings.

Finally he steps over that invisible wall to my side. I start moving as he reaches me, so he doesn’t stop or hesitate. Just smooth pacing down the dirt track towards the sell block. All the hands lining the way like it’s a parade.

Step by step. I’m murmuring sweet nothings. Bruiser’s getting into the swing of things.

Bossman himself is waiting by the block. Smiles wide as we come alongside.

“Well done, lad. Well done.”

I grin back. Dreams melting sweet on my tongue.

“Now then…” Bossman rubs his chin and eyes Bruiser, who’s fidgeting and glaring at him. “A hale beast, but scrawny. Reckon I can let him go for three bob.”

Sharp mutters spring up as I squint at him. Taking three bob offa four hundred crowns seems a silly gesture but whatever. I shrug and reach for his outstretched hand-

Jose springs forwards and grabs my wrist, freaking Bruiser out. I jerk my hand free and focus on soothing Bruiser while the crowd shifts. Thankfully they’re cutting a wide birth around me ’n’ Bruiser to huddle around the other side of the sale block. Around Bossman.

I’m too caught up cooing calm to hear what they’re blathering about. Until Bossman’s voice cuts over the crowd. “Did that look like a struggle?”

Every hand’s glowering. I’m starting to put together what’s going on. This isn’t about pinching back three bob from the reward pot. No, now that the legendary Bruiser is at his sale block he’s tryna weasel out of paying the reward at all!

Rage chokes my tongue, and I fight to keep it tamped down. Keep that calm up. Bruiser’s close to panicking as is. I have to stay calm.

Sam fills my gaped silence. “Might not have been a struggle for him, but don’t reckon anybody else could do it. That’s skill, ain’t it?”

Part 5 here.