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The Whittaker ho With two open s, the single dooras protected by a tattered blanket hanging across the opening Living alone, Mrs Whittaker existed on her chickens, local gaarden she kept in the shade of her ho heavy rains and required constant maintenance As the sheriff drove up, he pondered the idea of seeing an eighty-year-old wo to repair the roof But when he arrived, the place was strangely quiet

Buddy tied the reins to the wind the horse to drink froentle breeze turned the blades pu water, but when Buddy looked up; he could see one of the blades was round a few feet away Mes, the blades turned in a lopsided ht the space where the one blade wasHis eye followed the space as it looped around A rustyaround, Buddy called out

"Hello! Mrs Whittaker?"

Buddy searched for any ain

"Mrs Whittaker, its Buddy, the sheriff, don't shoot!"

He waited, yet there were no other sounds but the squeaky wind out his six-shooter, Buddy crept up to the homestead to peer into one of the open s He heard a cracking sound, like wood breaking, followed by a lol and sohast A e object lying on the floor The lion's face was bloody as it gnawed on the unseen entity Without thinking, Buddy yelled out and fired a round

"Hey!"

The lion looked up, eyes alert, and stared at the sheriff; deciding on a plan of attack or fleeing Buddy fired another round at the lion and missed The lion ran towards the door and stopped a few yards away looking back at the homestead house Buddy fired two more rounds which sprayed in the dirt on either side of the lion Instantly, the lion took off running Making a last ditch effort, Buddy took steady ai animal A tuft of dusty fur tore loose from the cat's ru like a druled to reload his pistol His hands were shaking While perfor his task, Buddy kept a watchful eye on the lion to ensure it continued its journey Walking slowly to the door, the sheriff called out again