Excerpt from ‘The Case of the Dancing Cowboy’

Editor’s note: Below is an excerpt from the children’s book, “The Case of the Dancing Cowboy,” written by John R. Erickson and reprinted with permission via Newspapers in Education. To catch up on the story, read the previous excerpt in the e-paper edition of Saturday, May 16.

Chapter 9 (cont.)

The runt was asleep again, which was fine with me. I had better things to do than carry on a pointless conversation with him.

I spent the next fifteen minutes casting adoring looks at Miss Viola, and wondering when Slim was going to invite her to the dance. I mean, here was a perfect opportunity. Surely he wouldn’t let it pass.

The minutes dragged by. Miss Viola snipped and combed. Slim talked about horses and cattle, the grass, the weather, and a bearing that had gone out on the stock trailer.

And all at once, the haircut was over.

While Viola swept up the hair on the floor, Slim went into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He came back, all smiles.

“By gollies, Viola, you didn’t have much to work with but you sure did a fine job. I believe it’s just as good as store-bought, or even better ‘cause…”

I held my breath and waited for him to finish the sentence: “‘Cause you’re a whole lot prettier than a barber.” I KNEW that’s what was on the tip of his tongue, but dern his hide, he didn’t say it.

You know what he said? He frowned, chewed his lip, shuffled his boots around, started jingling the coins in his pocket, and turned red in the face.

Miss Viola stared at him, waiting to hear the rest of the sentence. “Yes? Because what?”

“Because…” We were all waiting. Even Drover had raised up to listen. “Because…your haircuts are free.”

I couldn’t believe it. What a clod! What a meat head! The little smile on Viola’s lips faded. A shadow seemed to pass over her eyes. She went for her purse. Slim stared at the ceiling and jingled his coins. He’d had a perfect opportunity to give that fine lady a compliment, and then to ask her to the dance, but he’d blown it, totally blown it. “BECAUSE YOUR HAIRCUTS ARE FREE.”

No dog in history had ever made such a stupid statement or smudged such a great opportunity. I was very tempted to bite him on the leg.

In fact I made a vow to do just that. When Miss Viola left, I would sneak up behind him and…

All at once I kind of wished I hadn’t eaten that last sardine.