Here They Come

“Gol-ly! Mr. Farmer!” My new farm hand said with unreasonable enthusiasm. I think his name was Timmy, or Jason, or Robert? God, I can’t remember. They just come and go so fast. “I can’t believe I get to start work on the farm today.”

I took a sip of bourbon from the bottle and eyed the horizon. Waiting. “Aye. But, ye best get your pitchfork ready there, boy.”

The boy looked up at me with innocent eyes. “Why?”

Staring at him, I realized I would kill to be able to go back to that same level of nativity he has. I took another sip of bourbon, letting its vanilla and caramel flavors coat the back of my throat. My eyes are different now. Thick, black, bags underlined thick. My irises, once a warm brown, now a ghostly grey. And my pupils, closed slits that only spied for incoming threats. They've seen too much, and because of that they chose to remain fixed on the horizon. Waiting. “Adventurers.” I replied in a low, rumbling voice that was roughened from years of smoking cheap cigarettes to take the edge off.

“Mr. Farmer…” The boy picked up the old farm hand’s pitch fork, examining the handle closely. “There’s blood on this.”

“Aye. If you’re lucky, yours won’t join it.”

I heard a faint clatter of hooves. Not horses. Not yet. The sound came from behind us, in the barn. It was Bessie, my prized cow--and the reason all those pesky adventures come ’round here. Bessie’s special, ya see, she has golden milk. Great for potions and whatnot, but not so great for the farmer, i.e. me, that owns her and has to protect her from adventurers.

I took another swig of bourbon, then I glanced down at the boy. He was so young. Couldn’t have been older than twenty-two. I doubt he’s ever had a good liquor in his life. Offering the bottle to him, I said. “Here, boy, have a sip.”

“Oh, no thank you, Mr. Farmer. I don’t really drink.”

I chuckled at his rejection. “Not yet.”

Suddenly, my stomach pinged with anticipation. They were here.

There was a new stampede of horse hooves in the distance, towards the horizon. “Best stand up, boy.” I ordered. “Here they come.”