A Pot Of Gold
Heath Barkley smiled as he made his way to Spring Meadow. It was a beautiful
spring day and he was enjoying it. Silas has packed a nice lunch and the ranch
was slow.
Finding a nice shaded tree, the blonde dismounted, grabbed his saddlebags and
sat against a nice shade tree. His hunger was abated with fried chicken,
biscuits and a nice cool drink of his water. A soft breeze was blowing and he
basked in the sunshine. He started to close his eyes but then spotted something
glittering in the distance. Reaching for his gun, he walked quietly to the where
he had seen the flash.
In surprise, Heath stared at a leprechaun, dressed in all his finery. He was a
short little man, dressed in green, with gold buttons, gold belt buckle and
green turned up shoes. The little elf had large ears, black hair, a twinkle in
his brown eyes and a large smile on his face.
“Boy howdy, ain’t never seen anyone like you before.” Heath pushed his hat back,
not sure of what he was seeing.
“Well, laddie, you are awful tall. Oh well, I guess I will have to give up my
precious fortune now,” the leprechaun lamented and was close to crying.
“Fortune? Now why would I want your fortune?” Heath scratched his head, still
unsure of what he was seeing.
“Why, everyone wants a fairy’s pot of gold. Why else did you come upon me so?”
the elf said indignantly.
“First off, I want to know how you come to be here. I thought you only were in
Ireland.”
“Ah, my boyo, we come with all the folk of Ireland.”
“O’Callaghan?” The blonde’s blue eyes lit up.
‘Oh yes, I tagged along when they came here, but then they ran off and I wasn’t
able to catch up with them,” the fairy sighed.
“So you’ve been living on Barkley property ever since as, my brother would say,
a hooligan squatter.” Heath laughed.
“Hooligan now? Why, your brother needs to be taught some manners.”
“I can vouch for that. You were saying about your fortune?” The blonde came
closer to the elf.
“Well now, you caught me, so, by all laws, I have to tell you where it’s hid.”
The elf sat on the ground close to tears.
“Fortune, huh. Sorry to disappoint you, little fella, but I got all I need
here.” Heath smiled and his hand showed all he could survey.
“Do you now? You have no need of money or wishes? I find you a strange one,
laddie.” The elf tilted his head
“If I had found you a few years back, I would have needed your fortune, but
right now, I don’t need it. I have a loving family, a soft bed, a full belly and
so much money that I don’t need any more.”
“Ah then, you are a lucky man, Mr...?”The elf winked and put out his hand.
“Heath. Heath Barkley is the name.” The blonde reached out his hand to shake the
elf.
“A pleasure meeting you Heath Barkley, and it is hard to find a man happy in his
own life.”
“Yes, I’m a blessed man. Now what did you say your name was?”
“Oh, I didn’t say, laddie. Now if you put down that shooting iron, I’ll be on my
way.”
“Oh, sorry about that.” Heath put his gun back in his holster and looked back
toward the elf only to see he had disappeared.
“Boy howdy, ain’t going to tell anyone what I saw. They’d say I was plum loco.
But it’s a beautiful spring day and, like the elf said, I’m a happy man.”
*****End*****
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