The old cowboy rode out along the fence all day and at sunset, he had his camp set up and a fire going.
As he ate his food, he made sure to save a little for the coyote who had laid down and watched him across from the fire.
“That for me ?†the coyote asked. “Yep,†the old cowboy said. “All I had was beans and a little bacon,†he said. “That's alright,†the coyote said. “It's better than bugs and Horned Toads.†“I guess,†said the old cowboy. He poured some water from his canteen into his dish when the coyote had finished eating. The coyote gratefully lapped that up also. Then it went back around the fire and laid down again to keep watch.
It talked to the old cowboy for about an hour and then the old cowboy laid back against his saddle and pulled his blanket over himself and went to sleep.
The coyote looked at the horse, who gave an occasional snort when it looked at the coyote.
As the old cowboy slept, he quietly died. The coyote knew right away and stood guard over him all night.
At first light, the coyote took one last look at the old cowboy. “Adios, Amigo!†the coyote said. It walked over to the horse and chewed apart the rope hobble on it's forelegs. The horse had been weeping. The coyote then turned away and loped off into the desert.
A short story by Jim Hall
