Dustin Carter | Updates

Veterans In The Wild Journal

Dustin Carter — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:47:09 -0500

November 10, 2025

Day 1 on my hiking journey. I made it to Vegas yesterday and enjoyed the town. I dropped some cash on football and lost it all. Basketball was another story, and I won most of it back. Also, I went and saw a Vegas show. The Empire Strips Back and it was awesome. I spent some time at the Mob Museum and really enjoyed that as well. Tonight, I’m sleeping in a tent. But the good news is I have my own tent. Hell Yea! I ate a few bites from a dehydrated meal today as well. I’m not that hungry yet so it was that bad. Honestly it tasted like shit. I’ll probably end up eating ramen tomorrow and beef jerkey. That’s my style. The drive here was beautiful. And I loved looking at the rock formations. Some of these people will probably get on my nerves over the next few days but oh well. Don’t know about all this sharing of my feelings though. Not used to that stuff. Lets see what this journey holds. It’s hard to now turn on my cell phone even though I have service. I miss home already. Both my kids and wife. Dealing with everything the last few months has put a lot of stress on me. Don’t know if this trip will help or not. But I’m willing to give it a try. Going to read my book for a bit, then try my best to get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow ill have more to write about and to discuss.

The first day wasn’t so bad. It was good actually. Now at night there are no electronics or anything to do. I didn’t have to share a tent with anyone which is great but it also puts me here by myself. Which I’m good with. Everyone is cool but everyone is mostly the sterotypicall people I thought I would cross paths with on this journey. Everyday will be a challenge for me but its also one day closer to home. Sleeping on the ground will take some time but I think I have enough padding to make it liveable for five days anyway. I think my socks stink. Tomorrow morning I’ll get new fresh socks. And I’ll keep a fresh pair to sleep in as well. It’s cold outside right now. If you didn’t bring cold weather gear this journey will be tough at night. I’ll survive no matter what. Just changed my socks and I already feel like a brand new man. Don’t know what I want to get out of this but I hope its something good. It was cool hearing that the guys leading this are friends with people who are in the show Alone. Cant wait to go home and say that I did something like that. Not really.

November 11, 2025

This shit sucks! Fuck this I want to go home. Not a fan, Hard fucking work!!! My pack weights 60+lbs and is the heaviest thing ever!!! Fuck this! I want to quit. My whole body hurts. It’s the packing that got me. The sights were fucking beautiful. This trip need to be twice as long due to the hike. A long conversation needs to be had with all participants. But other than that I apologize for bitching. Great organization and the thoughts that past thourough my head were amazing. Breaking you down really humbles you. Plus hearing that everyone is struggling. Tonights talk was amazing. Opened my mind up to everything people go though. Shit just like me. We all struggle in different ways. I’m thinking about my wife right now, thinking about everything we’ve been going through. Everything from me being an asshold to me feeling like I just want to throw in the towel all the time. I’ve wanted out for a minute now, but maybe its me being selfish. Maybe it would get better if I spoke up more. Honestly I just want to say I love you and I;m not always right. But being away, doing this hard core shit makes me want to work on us and me. Not so hard core. But also it make me want to work on us. This program would be good for anyone, find a easier one and you might not break so easy. Maybe its hard for that reason to break you down. To see what you really want. I love that about this trip. I know what I want. My family. I wish I could call right now. Ill call for a helicopter and be in my bed in a minute. Wont complain about that (evacuation – cant read my own hand writing here.) I love my wife, Love Georgia (I wrote Tara but I was out of it already) & Dalton and I have a love hate relationship with this walk right now. Happy Veterans Day. I missed talking to Koch, Wilson, and Willoughby. All my other brothers I served with. Happy Veterans Day to all veterans in the world. Cant wait to see the Veterans Day posts on Facebook and Instagram and everywhere else in the world. Vega is one of the guys on this quest. Stand up!!! This dude here is stand up. Lives just north of me and I think hes pretty cool, picked up my ruck and carried it. He saw I was struggling and took it and carried the load. Saved me, I was literally done and he carried the load. Vega from Street Fighter??? Hes a great guy. Name I can remember, Joe, Vega, Andi, Jessica, and Tex. Ill get them all tomorrow. It’s tough rembering the names. Oh yea, I bought a lot of junk food but took some of the suff they gave me and left it. Ill survive!!! 6 miles to go tomorrow at a 45 minute mile pace. If we leave at 9AM, should get there in 4 ½ hours. I hope we are able to stop some, Ill need it. Took my Tylenol already and I’m going to read a few pages and crash, I love my wife, daughter, son, mom and bubby, and my dad. All my family and friends. Everyone.

November 12, 2025

Today was tough. Not near as bas as yesterday but still tough. We were scheduled for 6.2 miles ans some people say we (went) 6.7. So it was a hike going. Back is going to test my limits. For 2 days we’ve walked down, but tomorrow we will go see what we came for Rainbow Bridge. If the boat is there I want to take it back home. Probably wont, but I want to call this quits. Hiking ain’t for me. Fuck This. I miss my home and my wife and kids. Ben was right – I need to open it up. Tell my wife my issues. Big and small. Loved my talks today. Talking with Andi is really good. That lady is great to talk to. Every ones stories have hit home. Beyond the hard core hiking, the benefit of this is from everyone telling their stories. I think that is really beneficial. I need a massage & a bed. When I get home I’m going to sleep for 2 days. Been wearing the same clothes for 2 days and my shirt is starting to stink quite a bit, going to keep wearing it because why not. I brought way too much shit – everything. Tomorrow I will offer snacks to everyone. Survived today on Jerkey, PB&J tortilla wraps, and water & kool aid. This hike –

11/13/2025 November 13, 2025

We made it here. Its absolutely beautiful. My mind and body have been tested over the last few days. Seeing this religious site is breathtaking. We were allowed to walk under it which signifies a new journey and letting the warrior go. It feels so good right here the sun is blocked perfectly by the rainbow bridge. The canyons are so tall & absolutely beautiful. Knowing that great warriors from another time walked through those arches is absolutely magnificient. It’s quiet, its peaceful. When we started this journey a Navajo named Hank blessed our journey, he knew what hardships we were about to face and wished us well and safe travels on the way. He threw something down on the trail (charcoal or ash) or something. And not too long into the journey a black raven or crow has been following us. It followed us here today. It’s Hank’s spirit keeping an eye on us as we endure this journey. This trip is halfway over but we still have many miles to go. Up and around many tall passes and through some rocky tough terrain. I’m hoping to have the strength & determination to finish this journey. Its been tough so far and today is by far the easiest day here. But I’m going to make it and get back home. Sunday!!!!

Picture I drew of Rainbow Bridge as I sat there and marveled at it.

(It's probably better you don't see it. My drawing is horrible. Won't let me paste it on here.)

Let’s finish the game.

Today was a great day. Connecting with everyone was awesome. Going to Rainbow Bridge was awesome. Not too many people can say they’ve seen it in person and even fewer can say they hiked 15 miles to see it. The food is getting more tolerable and I’m sure I’m going to make it out of here. Cant wait to get home and see my family. 2 more nights in the bush or desert. Tomorrow will be tough on me. The journey will be tough. But I’ll get it finished. Looking up at the stars tonight was great. I think I know everyones names now, Vega, Tex, Andi, Peter, Joe, Keinsha (not spelled right), Jessica, Endid (Don't think this is right either), Ben, Todd, & Dale!!! All are awesome people and have seen the world. All of their experiences are amazing & I’m proud to be on this journey with them. I miss my friend Foogie, thought about him today as I was walking back from Rainbow Bridge. Going to make it! Special thanks to Andi & Peter for today. Joe is a cool guy as well. Till tomorrow. Cant wait to see what I feel tomorrow as I’m making that crazy journey back to Spot #1. No matter what tomorrow will suck but I’m going to push through it! Till tomorrow good night & God Bless. Tara, Dalton, & Georgia I love you very much, miss yall & cant wait to be home.

November 14, 2025

It’s my last day here and I’m ready to head back home. Can’t wait to hear how Georgia’s cheer contest went as well as Dalton’s pledge on Veterans Day. I missed it but even though I was not there with them I was there in spirit. I’m always with them in spirit. Today’s hike wasn’t too bad. Maybe I’m getting better at this hiking stuff or maybe I’m adjusting to a new routine. I do like it here now and enjoyed myself today. Even hopped in the super cold spring today. The sights were amazing. Absolutely the prettiest sites these eyes have ever seen other than my family. I’ll miss the beauty of the (cant read my writing). I won’t miss the grueling walks though. Tomorrow will be the toughest test yet. We will leave here and walk 6.7 miles back to life. Cant wait to call home and talk with my wife & kids & mom & family & friends. This trip has been extremely hard on my body but worth it, more than worth it for my mind. Earth, Water, Air, & Fire. This is what Hank talked about. Can’t wait to pick up that sand as I cross the trail head and let it run through my hands. To feel the course rocks and sand that has made this trip exceptional. That’s a big word. Everyone has been great. I want to thank Andi, Peter, and Joe for being our guides. All of yall are great and thank you for taking me on this journey. And to the Veterans in Wild Organization; Wow, can’t say enough good things about this trip. Tomorrow will be hard but I cant wait to stop at the gas station and get a Dr. Pepper and a Bag of Cheetos. Tomorrow night I will write in my journal on a table. The grind is real. One day left and its going to be the toughest one yet. Let’s finish strong!

Saturday November 15, 2025 9:41pm

We made it bac. Wow, what a amazing trip. It was definitely a once in a life time trip for me. Loved the beauty, hard effort, and struggles internally and externally. Over the last 5-6 days I’ve been able to work on myself mentally & physically. None of it was easy. But it was all worth it. Over the last five days, I struggled physically & mentally. It was tough but as the days went on my ruck go lighter and I continued to push myself. It was awesome. Highly recommend this trip for any and all vets that want to look in their selves and come out stronger. No showers or any modern convivences for the trip was tough, but getting back today made me appreciate everything I have, my wife, kids & family. I love you all and cant wait to se you tomorrow night. That burger tonight was awesome. I hated the food and will not eat jerky for a long time and I’ll never eat dehydrated food again. Thank you to Peter, Andi, Joe, and Veterans in the Wild for this amazing opportunity. Another thing I’m proud of this group of veterans that rolled with me on this expedition. Tex, Vega, Ben, Dale, Todd, Kennishah, Jessica, Enid (Spelled them both right this time). Yall are all rock stars. I loved getting to know you all. I loved hearing your stories and chatting with you all on the trail. I hope everyone of you finds peace in the world and knows that you are all great people and you all have a place in my heart. Thank you for walking over 30 miles with me. You know the saying “you don’t know where someone is coming from if you haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.” Well we walked 30 miles up and down moutains, through narrow valleys, back and forth across creeks, in sand, on rocks big and small, and to Rainbow Bridge and back while learning about each other and leaning on them during one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’ve never walked a mile in your shoes but I’ve walked 30 miles beside you learning about you. If there is anything I can ever do for any of you please pick up the phone. To my family I’ll be home tomorrow.

Dustin Carter

Cairn and Crows

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Fucking Aggies

Dustin Carter — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 23:46:25 -0400

6/24/2024

A&M just lost, and I couldn’t help but think about my friend Ross, who passed over ten years ago. I would have loved to be texting him for the last few days even weeks about Texas A&M’s baseball season and everything else in our lives.

Tonight, alone we would have texted back and forth twenty or thirty times about the baseball game. We would probably have been like schoolgirls texting back and forth, talking about a hit or bad call—especially the last three innings.

I think of him often especially during football season or sporting events that we both would have loved. That was our time to shine. He knew everything about sports. At all hours of the day, he was watching some sporting event. Whether it be football, baseball, basketball or even women’s volleyball or cricket he would be watching it and know about the sport and people playing. More than once, I would walk into his house, and he would be watching some game on tv that I knew nothing about, but he would know the players and everything about the game. If no game was on, I can guarantee you that he would be watching SportsCenter.

The last few weeks with Texas A&M baseball remined me of the year he passed away. Back then Johnny Football was the talk of the town and what I would have given to pick up the phone and talk to him about this kid who was taking the world by storm. Watching Johnny Football play the game without a care in the world and living like a rock star, helped push me through that difficult time in my life.

Even though Texas A&M did not win the World Series tonight, I can laugh and sleep good knowing that my friend is looking down shaking his head in disappointment and all he would say is, “Fucking Aggies.”

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 8

Dustin Carter — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 12:41:10 -0400

Chapter 8

"Sam, look," shouted Hank as he pointed down to a track in the mud.

Sam ran over to where Hank was standing, and they both knew that it was Roy's boot print. Sam didn't think twice. Instantly, he started to cross the river; he knew where Roy went. Now, all Sam had to do was find him. Sam saw another boot print on the other side of the river, and before he could even take a look at which direction it went, the dogs took off towards the smell of Roy and the hogs. They were gone in a full sprint before Sam could even step in that direction. The good thing was the dogs barked the whole way. Hank also crossed the river and tried his best to catch up with Sam and the hogs.

Sam followed behind the dogs as they made it through the brush. He pushed through the thicket and made his way out to the pasture. He saw the dogs going crazy to his left and knew something had happened. Laying right where the dogs were was a humongous hog carcass. Sam pulled out his pistol and ran towards the boar. He said a quick prayer as he approached the carcass.

This was the biggest hog he had ever seen. It had to weigh five hundred pounds or more. Before Sam had even made it up to the beast, what he saw was his worst nightmare. He could see something under the beast and knew it could only be one thing. Sam ran as fast as he could and didn't hesitate one second to do his best to pull the beast off of his son. Hank had just made it through the brush and saw Sam. He took off running towards Sam. Sam was pulling the boar off of his son, and with Hank's help, they got Roy out from under the hog. Sam instantly got on his phone and called 911 while Hank looked over Roy. There were cuts and gashes all over his body. Hank checked for a pulse, and there was a slight pulse, but Roy was not breathing. He went to work on performing CPR. Sam didn't have service where he was, so he took off running in the pasture. He figured he might get better service if he got to the open ground. The call never went through, but he sent a text with the coordinates he got from his GPS.

Sam knew he didn't have much time, so he put the phone in his pocket and ran back to Hank, who was still performing CPR on Roy. Hank had been a volunteer firefighter in his younger days, so he knew what he was doing.

"Is he good?" asked Sam.

"He has a slight pulse, but he's not breathing," replied Hank.

"I wasn't able to get ahold of anyone. There was no service, but I sent a text with our grid."

"I'm going to stay here and keep working on him."

"OK, you tell me what you want me to do. I can fix a cut all day, but I don't know anything about CPR," replied Sam.

"I'm not leaving his side, but I need you to return to the truck and get Mr. Fergugon to call 911. Once you do that, bring your truck down to the river crossing. Honk the horn, and I'll run down there with him. Once I get him breathing, I'll quickly patch him up and get him back across the river."

Sam didn't say another word; he took off in a full sprint. He was back across the river in less than a minute, then continued to his truck. As Sam ran, he looked down at his phone to see if the service had improved. There was a bar, and he dialed 911. He continued to run to the truck. Once someone answered, he told them what had happened, his coordinates, and how to get to his location.

The dispatcher did what she had to and had someone on the way to his location. The only issue was that they were a good twenty minutes outside of town. Sam stayed on the phone, and she told him they had a helicopter in the area, and she had dispatched it to his location. There was also an ambulance on the way, so Sam told Mr. Ferguson to open the gate, and he told him to relay the directions once the ambulance arrived. Sam didn't wait for the ambulance to arrive; he had to get back to his son. So Sam hopped in his truck and drove down to the river, then ran across and returned to be by Roy's side.

Just as Sam made his way across the river and through the brush, Hank started yelling. Sam ran faster. He was zoned in on getting back to his son. And as soon as he got back to where Roy was. Hank was helping Roy sit up. At almost that moment, Roy came to and started breathing normally again. Sam fell to the ground and started hugging his son. Hank began to look over Roy's body to fix up any serious wounds he might have.

Roy was pretty banged up, and Hank worked on those wounds while Sam held onto his son. He held him tightly. Off in the distance, the helicopter was making its way along with the sirens from the ambulance flying to the rescue.

Sam held his son and said a prayer. Roy was in pain, and all he could get out of it was, "I did it for Bandit."

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 7

Dustin Carter — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 12:40:00 -0400

Chapter 7

Roy didn’t know what it was, but he stepped forward and began to cross the river. Each step brought him closer to the other side and deeper into the river. He took his time and made sure he had solid footing before each step. One wrong move and Roy knew he could end up downstream or something worse could happen.

At least once a year for as long as he could remember, someone usually passed away in the river due to them getting taken downstream and getting sucked down in the undertow. There was a kid in Roy’s grade a few years back that drowned in the river. He wasn’t best friends with him, but Roy definitely never forgot him. Roy thought about him as he crossed the river and prayed he did not end up like his classmate.

As he crossed the river, his mind also flipped to the movie Lonesome Dove, where Newt got killed by the water moccasins. Roy was more scared about that happening than drowning.

About thirty yards in, Roy realized he was in the middle of the river, and the water was only up to his knees. This gave him relief as he picked up his pace some. He wanted out of the river more than anything else at the moment.

When he was close enough to the bank, Roy could see hog tracks everywhere. Everything was torn up, and the closer to the bank Roy got, he could even smell the stench of them.

Roy quietly made his way out of the river as he looked for a trail. It didn’t take long to find one with the moon glistening off the river, giving him even more light. Roy could see exactly where the hogs went. As he walked, each step would sink down in the mud. Roy knew he needed to step quickly but quietly, and he definitely didn’t want to lose a boot in the mud.

Finally, he reached dry land and maneuvered towards the hogs’ path. There was no turning back now. Roy still had an arrow notched in his bow and could not go home without the beast. He checked his watch and had been gone just over an hour. Roy knew he had about two hours before his mom and dad woke up and started looking for him.

Roy worked his way down the path, and he could hear some noise from the distance. He had never hunted this land, so he didn’t know where to look for it. He figured he would keep his ears open and head to the location where he heard them and follow the trail he was on. All the grass was knocked over, all the branches that happened to be in their way.

He didn’t want to make any noise, so he tried to walk on the same grass that had been trampled by the hogs. Roy was trying his best to be as quiet as possible. The only thing worse than missing a shot is scaring away the prey. He continued to follow the sounds. As he walked, he came to a brushy area covered with every plant that grew along the river. Mesquite, pecan, poison ivy, and various vines grew out there. There was also a lot of youpon and oak trees. Once Roy passed all of this, he came to a pasture.

The sound of the hogs had grown by this time, and Roy knew he was very close. He could hear them, but they had just run through the area he was in. The smell of them was still present.

Just then, Roy looked off to his left, and along the tree line was a herd of wild hogs. Roy could see them, but he wasn’t close enough to distinguish which one was which. He got down low on all fours and started to crawl toward them, using the tall grass to cover him while staying as close to the tree line as possible. After a few minutes, Roy finally saw exactly what he had come for. The beast was right there with the other hogs lying in the mud. Roy was still too far away to put that arrow right where he wanted it, but he also knew that he couldn’t get much closer without alerting the other hogs of his presence. He quickly looked again and figured he was at least thirty yards away from the beast. If Roy could get another ten yards closer, he would definitely get a kill, but at this range, it would be a very long shot for him. He decided that he needed to try to get closer. Roy stayed as close to the ground as he crawled forward, barely moving at all.

When he went about three yards. Roy froze. A hog was right in front of him, and its tusks were nearly touching his face. He didn’t know what to do but knew he was done if that hog spotted him. Just as the tusks poked through the grass again, it briefly grazed across Roys’s face before turning around and returning to the pack.

Roy was so scared that he knew it was now or never. He slowly picked his head up, and he saw the beast standing in front of him. He slowly pulled himself up and took a knee. His bow was in his left hand, and his right hand pulled the string with the arrow nocked. Roy stayed as low as he could; he glanced at the trees and saw no wind blowing. Roy slowly started to pull the string back on his bow and take aim at the beast. He wanted the arrow to enter right behind his left shoulder and hopefully go through his chest.

The string was pulled back, but the beast moved just enough that Roy didn’t have a shot. He held it. There were stories of hunters pulling back on the string and holding it for long periods. Roy was not one of those hunters. He had a very short time to release this arrow. His arm started to shake just a bit as he held his shot. He thought about dropping the pull but continued holding his shot.

Then the beast made a sharp turn the other way, and Roy only had a split second. Roy knew the arrow was not as instant as a gun, but he released the string, and the arrow flung out of his bow towards the beast. In less than half a second, the arrow landed perfectly. Roy was relieved.

The beast turned and looked right at Roy. Roy froze; he knew that the shot didn’t kill him. All bets were off now. Roy reached back and grabbed another arrow as the beast turned towards Roy. At this time, all the hogs were going crazy, and most started running in all directions. Roy was not worried about any of them other than the beast. The beast took off at Roy as he tried to nock another arrow in his bow. He looked down at the bow and tried to get it nocked more than once. Roy looked up, and all he could see was the large snout of the beast and the cutters, which were at least eight inches long and sharp as a razor.

Roy stood up, pulled the string back, and instantly released it. The arrow landed on the back right shoulder of the beast, but it didn’t even phase him. Roy knew this was the end. The beast made contact with Roy and head-butted him sending him back at least ten yards. Roy’ tried to use the bow as a shield, but it flew out of his hands as he sailed through the air. Roy knew this was the end. His body went limp for just a second, and he knew the wind had just got knocked out of him. He thought the hit from the beast was probably on par with getting hit by an NFL linebacker.

He was not going to go out without a fight. Roy popped the tab on his sheath and pulled out his knife. The beast came running straight towards him; his head was down, and his bottom cutters were coming straight for Roy. As the beast made contact with Roy, he was slammed down on the ground, getting closer and closer to being mush in the mud.

Roy was taking the beating of a lifetime, but he was still awake. His right hand just started stabbing into the beast. This blade was brand new and had a razor-sharp edge on it. As tough-skinned as the beast was, the blade quickly entered his neck. Roy continued to do his best to stab the beast until he finally went unconscious.

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Roy’s Redemption Chapter 6

Dustin Carter — Sat, 25 May 2024 10:49:19 -0400

Chapter 6

At precisely three am, Roy got out of bed. He first opened his door and walked into the living room to see his father passed out on the couch. Roy also looked down the hall, and every light in the house was off. Then he returned to his room and dressed as quietly as possible. Once Roy was dressed, he made sure his knife was on his hip, and then he pulled his backpack out of his closet and his bow with the quiver that held twelve arrows. Roy knew he would not need all twelve; he hoped only one would be used.

Once he had everything he needed, he walked out of the house. But before Roy could hit the road, he needed one more thing from the barn: his dad’s night vision scope. This would let him see the hogs at night and give him an advantage in the hunt. As Roy approached the barn, the dogs in the kennels started to wake up and make noise. Roy knew they would start barking at any moment, and if he wanted this hunt to be successful, he would need to do it the old way. No nightvision and no gun. He would be hunting like the Indians did over a hundred years ago.

Roy headed down the gravel road and looked up at the stars to see which direction he was going. The moon was dim, so his eyes were able to adjust quickly. Walking down the gravel road to the highway was no problem for Roy. He didn’t want to be seen on the highway, so he walked along the fence lines. This let him use the trees and fence for concealment. Every time a car would pass down the highway Roy would stop and make sure not to move until the car passed on the road. It was nearly impossible for two vehicles to be out this time of night to see him. Once they passed him, he gave them a few more seconds to keep driving before he continued walking.

The road to the ranch where he was headed was only about a mile and a half from his house. Then, the ranch was another half to three-quarters of a mile down a gravel road. Or at least that’s what Roy thought. It only took about twenty minutes for him to reach the gravel road and get off the highway. Roy was not wasting time; he was on a mission and practically jogged the whole way.

Roy heard something off in the woods before he even reached the ranch. He couldn’t see much but heard a pack of hogs breaking through the brush about a hundred yards away. He stood there and listened for them for a while, and he could tell they were just babies. The noise was not as loud as you would hear with a bigger and older hog. Roy knew that there is usually a large hog in the vicinity wherever you find small hogs. He could not leave the road and go off in the mesquite and yaupon brush to find them. It would take hours to get through there, and Roy wasn’t about to waste his time going after a bunch of small pigs. He had only pig on his mind.

Roy quickly climbed over the gate when he made it to the ranch. As he climbed over, he thought about what he was doing. Now, he had officially done something wrong. He entered someone’s land without their permission. His dad could hunt the land, but Roy was not granted that same permission. Now Roy could hunt with his dad all day, but the owner of the land never told Roy that he had permission to hunt on his land, and neither did Sam.

Now, when Sam finds out about what Roy is doing, that will be an issue Roy will have to face when the time comes. He knows if he comes home empty-handed, he will get an ear full from his father. But if he brings the beast home, he will still get an ear full from his father, but his dad will be proud of him for avenging his best friend’s death.

As Roy entered the ranch, he said a quick prayer that he would find the beast and kill him fast. He also prayed for Bandit to guide him. Roy wasn’t an Indian, but almost every hunter prays for the skills of the past Indians to help them on their hunts. The way the Indians hunted hundreds of years ago is still practiced by hunters worldwide. The most famous Indian hunting ritual is the heart of the animal. When a hunter kills an animal, it is customary, especially for new hunters, to eat the heart of the animal. Roy did this with the first deer he killed a few years ago. Before they moved the deer or even cleaned him out, his father took his knife, opened the deer’s ribcage, and cut out his heart. He took a bite and passed it to Roy. Roy was nervous and scared but he took the heart from his father and held it in his hand. He was scared to grab it, and the heart was lying in his hand.

“Take a bite,” said his dad, who had blood dripping down his chin.

Roy put the deer’s heart up to his mouth and took a bite. At first, he just nibbled and looked up at his dad. Sam motioned for him to take a bite, so he knew that his nibble was not good enough. Roy shoved that heart in his mouth and bit down on it. Pulling a chunk off the heart with his teeth. He did his best to chew it up, but he quickly pushed it down and swallowed it whole. Roy almost choked on it but would not throw it up in front of his dad.

Once he swallowed it, he handed the heart back to his dad. “Now you have the heart of the deer in you. When your heart ticks, his heart will also tick. Never forget that. Anytime you hunt, you will have that deer with you. The more animals you kill, the more hearts you will eat. The great hunters of this land used to eat every heart, and that’s why they were able to get the sense of the animals they had killed.

Roy thought about this as he entered the ranch and wanted every advantage he had to help guide him and protect him on this hunt. He also knew that he would only get one shot off if he was lucky, so he went ahead and notched an arrow in his bow and began to make the trek down to the river bottom. As ROY walked down to the river, he thought about Bandit and hoped that he would be able to avenge his death. Not only did he think about how Bandit passed but also about all the good times he had with his best friend and brother.

Roy’s senses were on high alert; his eyes had adjusted, and he could see clearly at night, just like it was day. The Mesquite and Post Oak trees were easy to distinguish, with the moonlight perfectly hitting them. His hearing had also adjusted, and Roy could hear the slightest sounds as he walked down to the river. The closer he got, the louder the flow of the water could be heard as it rushed around a bend on the northern slope of the property. With every step Roy took, he made sure that his heel landed first and rolled his foot as he stepped. If a branch or something made a noise under his foot, he would quickly pick his foot up and continue to walk. While still trying to be as quiet as possible. The morning dew started to settle more and more as the minutes passed, and fog started to cover the river bottom. Roy knew he had to walk south until he found the low-water crossing.

As he continued to walk, Roy could see where the hogs had traveled through the grass and towards the river. He could tell that nothing had been through here recently, and those tracks were probably from the day before when he lost his best friend. Roy was looking for fresh tracks, but he didn’t see any. He did come across a set of deer tracks that looked much like hogs, but the deer tracks were more pointed than a set of hogs, and the hogs were wider than a typical deer track.

The hunt continued until Roy came to the river. He slowly made his way down to the low water crossing and seriously thought twice about crossing. He knew what he was about to do would get him in big trouble with his dad and the game warden. He would be labeled as a poacher. And he didn’t want to bring shame to his family’s name. Roy thought about it for a moment and was about to turn around.

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Roy’s Redemption Chapter 5

Dustin Carter — Sat, 25 May 2024 10:47:45 -0400

Chapter 5

Once they were back at the house, Sam went inside and got the keys to the backhoe, and his wife followed him out. Rose walked to the truck, hugged Roy, and held her son tight. She knew how dangerous it was for them to hunt hogs and hated that they did it. But at the end of the day, it was part of their lives and helped them pay the bills.

As Rose hugged Roy, she leaned in and told him how great of a dog Bandit was and how Roy should be proud to have owned such a beautiful friend. Roy cried in her arms. He didn’t want to let go of her, just like he didn’t want to let go of Bandit. But after a few minutes, she told him they needed to ensure Bandit had a good burial. So, she walked him over to where his father was about to start digging a hole under the Live Oak tree where their family buried all their animals.

There were no crosses or tombstones under the tree, but Roy knew the names and locations of every dog buried under the tree. He had grown up with a few of them, and he heard the heroic stories of the others.

Sam picked out the perfect plot for Bandit to be buried. It was under the Live Oak tree but situated on a spot where he could see down the hill, and every day at sunset, the sun would shine on him.

As the men dug the hole and got it ready. Rose went inside and got an old blanket and some of Bandit’s toys to bury him with. Once the plot was ready, Sam took Bandit’s body and wrapped him in his blanket and the toys. He climbed into the hole, and Roy handed him Bandit’s body. Bandit was laid to rest, and once Sam climbed out of the grave, everyone took off their hats. Sam said a prayer for Bandit and thanked him for his years of friendship and faithfulness.

Roy stood beside his mother, and even though this was not the first time they had had to bury a dog, this was the hardest one. Bandit was Roy’s best friend and his companion. He was not only a hunting dog but a member of their family. Roy couldn’t hold back his tears or sobbing. He looked up at his dad and even saw him wiping tears from his face.

When the prayers for Bandit were finished, Sam returned to the backhoe to fill in the hole. Everyone stood around and helped until the job was done. Then Rose returned to the house to finish preparing lunch while the other guys tended to their dogs. Mr. Ferguson and Hank took their dogs back home while Sam and Roy took them back to the kennels to finish tending to their wounds and ensuring they all had fresh water and food. About an hour later, everyone returned to Sams’s house and had an excellent home-cooked meal. Rose cooked fried chicken with mashed potatoes and greens. Most of the food had come from their small farm. As they ate, everyone shared stories of Bandit, and they all reminisced about the good times they had together. They shared hunting stories and all the good times they shared with Bandit over the years.

Roy listened to the stories and even shared a few of his own. The time with the family and friends helped him cope with the loss of his brother and best friend. Once they finished lunch and cleaned up everything, everyone sat on the front porch, and they drank some whiskey that was made in the woods of one of their hunting friends about twenty miles away. Sam even let Roy touch his beak with it, and he quickly turned away from the one-hundred-plus-proof hooch.

The men sat outside for hours reminiscing about Bandit, and the talks started about going back out in the morning to look for the beast. Sam wanted that pig dead, and the more he drank, the more determined he was to kill that wild boar. He wanted that pig’s head to rest next to Bandit’s grave. Just so Bandit’s soul would know that they avenged his death. Roy sat there and listened to his dad talk about getting even for Bandit, and of course, Hank and Mr. Ferguson felt the same way. Anytime one of their pups was killed, they made sure to find the culprit and even the score for their dog.

When the sun had finally set, and the moonshine was gone, the men called it a night and headed home. Roy took a shower and cleaned up for bed while his dad passed out on the couch.

Before Roy fell asleep, his mom came into his room, “I’m sorry for your loss, son. I know how much Bandit meant to you.”

“Thanks, Mom. He was a good dog,” replied Roy.

“Yes, he was. He was the best dog I’ve ever seen, and I’m not a hunter, but I’ve been around your dad’s dogs for many years now, and I can tell you he was always my favorite one. I never had a worry at all when it was just me and him out here.”

“I know what you are saying, Mom. I want to kill that hog myself. I hope Dad’s not too drunk in the morning to go out.”

“Well, I can probably say he will be. They drank a lot of shine tonight. But let’s wait until the morning before we say it will not happen. I’ve seen your dad drink more than this and get up at three in the morning to find a hog or deer.”

“Sounds good,” replied Roy. The boy hugged his mom and kissed her on the cheek before he laid his head down and tried to get comfortable. Rose left the room and turned off all the lights in the house before she went to her room.

As Roy lay in his bed, he couldn’t get comfortable. Something was missing, and he knew what it was. Bandit always slept at the foot of his bed, but tonight, Bandit was not there. Roy tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, and he never got comfortable. After an hour or so, he knew that his dad wasn’t going to make the hunt in the morning, and Roy started to get mad that his dad drank so much that he wasn’t going to be able to wake up in time to avenge Bandit’s death. Bandit was a brother to Roy, and there was no way that he was not going to be up at the ass crack of dawn to hunt down the beast and put a bullet in his head. Roy’s mind started racing more and more, and he knew it was no use to try to sleep. If it had been Roy on the other end of that hog cutter, Bandit would have jumped on and not let go until either he or the beast was dead. And at that moment, Roy knew what he had to do. Dad or no dad. Roy was going to track down the beast and kill him.

He started to devise a plan to get back to where Bandit was killed. He would follow the tracks back across the river until he found the beast and killed him. There was no far-fetched plan. The plan was simple: return to where Bandit was killed, find the beast, and kill him.

Roy knew the roads and terrain there. It was only a few miles from his house, and he could make it there in an hour or so. It was less than two hours on foot. Then, when he crossed the river, that would be tricky. Roy had never been across the river but knew it was a low-crossing area. But he didn’t know how low the water really was. Was it just a foot or so deep, or was it ten or more feet deep? Roy knew that would be one of the hardest parts of his hunt other than facing off with the beast. But would he be able to swim across the river if it was deep, or would he be swept downriver and potentially drown? Roy thought about these things as he planned for the hunt.

He could not get up and start packing and making a lot of noise so he stayed in bed until it was time to leave. Roy knew he was not going to be able to take a lot of items with him. But he had a backpack he had always taken hunting, which held the essentials. It had a couple of water bottles, a change of clothes, a small bag of beef jerky, and some other energy and protein bars. He also had five-fifty cord and a compass in case he got lost. Roy also had a firestarter and a lighter that he found one evening after Mr. Ferguson and his dad stayed up drinking and smoking cigars after a hunt. He also carried a pocket knife and hog knife his dad gave him. He didn’t have a lot of stuff to carry.

The only item he wanted to carry was the 1911, which was locked up in the gun cabinet. Roy knew if he went into the gun cabinet without his dad’s permission, there would be hell to pay. Not only would he never be able to sit down again from the whipping he would receive, but he would lose the most critical factor in being a young man with his father, which was his father’s trust. More than once, Sam sat down and told Roy about the importance of trust, and he drilled in Roy that once trust is lost, it is nearly impossible to regain it.

He knew that losing the trust of his dad was a huge deal. Going out hunting without telling anyone was a bad enough offense, but losing the confidence of his father because he took a gun without his consent was the equivalent of the death penalty in his mind.

So, instead of taking a gun, Roy went into his closet and got his bow, which he had gotten as a Christmas present from his parents. Roy had killed a deer with it last winter and took a few hogs with it. No, it was not a 1911, but it would do the job if the arrow was placed in the correct spot. This wasn’t locked up like the guns, so it was fair game. Roy had some arrows with arrowheads that were razor sharp and could easily slice through the toughest hogs.

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 4

Dustin Carter — Fri, 17 May 2024 14:47:27 -0400

Chapter 4

Father and son were up early the following day, ready to hunt. Roy wore hunting clothes, which amounted to his oldest pair of jeans, boots with snake gaiters, and a long-sleeved Wrangler welding shirt that used to be his dad’s. And on his hip was his with his brand-new pigsticker. Roy had to wait until they were ready to leave before his dad opened the gun cabinet and handed Roy his grandfather’s 1911 .45 that he brought home from World War II.

Rose was up even earlier than them, preparing a hearty breakfast of fried eggs, sausage, and toast for Roy and his father. Even Bandit got a couple of eggs and some leftover sausage in his bowl.

They had a big day planned and needed to get all the dogs ready to go and loaded in the trailer kennels. Once they got to the barn, Roy put the cut collars and vests on the dogs while Sam put the GPS collars on them and made sure everything was working. Bandit stood by and supervised. If he saw something wrong, he would always bark or jump on the issue until it was fixed.

Once they had everything ready, Roy put a vest and collar on Bandit and his GPS Collar. Roy’s dad kept track of all the dogs except for Bandit, which was Roy’s responsibility. Then, the three of them hopped into the truck. Sam drove, and Roy jumped into the passenger seat while Bandit took his place in the truck’s bed.

Today, they were hunting just down the road from their house. Sometimes, they would drive an hour or two for a hunt, but today, they wanted to check out a ranch that was nearly two thousand acres covered in pecan, live oak, and mesquite. This ranch also had over three thousand feet of access to the river and at least five different ponds.

When they pulled up to the ranch, two of their hunting buddies were also there. Mr. Ferguson was the old man of the group and was in his early sixties. He was as tough as they come. And Hank was one of Sam’s best friends from childhood. They all hunted as a team and tried their best to always go hog hunting together to make sure someone was there to ensure they were safe. They were not scared of anything, but nobody knew what those crazy hogs would do. A couple of years ago, Hank took a pretty nasty shot from a boar and ended up having to be airlifted to San Antonio from the injuries he sustained from the boar’s six-inch tusks hitting his lungs.

“Roy and me will take my dogs and Bandit down to the river bottom and push anything we find towards the western ponds. Y’all can start here and work the fence lines on the eastern side of the property and push west. Give us a ten to twenty-minute head start, and we should be able to meet up in an hour or two. That a plan?” asked Sam.

The other two hunters looked at each other and agreed, “Yeah, that will work for me; just make sure you have your GPS on, so we know where you are at. Don’t want your boy here getting all that good meat, with his new sticker,” replied Mr. Ferguson.

Roy pulled out his knife and showed everyone, “Mr. Ferguson, you know it’s only going to take one jab with this thing here, and that hog will drop quick.”

“We’ll see about that young buck,” replied Mr. Ferguson.

The two groups separated and took their dogs down different paths. Roy and his father worked their way south towards the river and the pecan trees that were hundreds of years old. There was a low spot in the river where they knew the hogs crossed over from. The grass was pushed down, and they instantly saw fresh tracks.

“Couldn’t be older than a couple of hours. Maybe an hour or two,” Sam said.

Roy took a quick look at them, and he could see they were wet, “Yes, sir. They are still wet. Probably came through here about an hour ago.”

The two of them continued to look for more tracks as the dogs circled the area. They moved quick, with their noses down, smelling everything. Bandit signaled that he wanted to head away from the river. He got a whiff of something, and he wanted to go.

“Look, Dad, Bandit’s got one he wants.”

“Yeah, let’s go see what we can get into,” replied Sam.

They walked about a hundred yards towards the ponds when Roy found something he had never seen before, “Dad, come look at this.”

“Whatcha got, son?” Sam looked off into the woods, trying to see a sign that the hogs had been through the area.

“Dad, if this is what I think it is. We’re gonna need some serious firepower.”

“Come again?”

“Dad, get over here and look at this.”

Sam made his way over to what Roy was looking at, and when Roy pointed to the track on the ground, his mouth dropped, and his eyes bulged. “That might be the beast.”

“The beast?” asked Roy.

“Yeah, the beast. Stay alert,” said Sam as he unbuttoned his holster holding his S&W .44. Roy, go ahead and get that pistol ready. Keep it holstered, but make sure you can get to it on a seconds notice.

Roy popped his 1911 out of his holster and made sure he could quickly get to it. Then, they continued to follow the tracks of the beast. The further away from the river, the thicker the brush got. As they followed the tracks, they found an area that was freshly rutted. Everything in the area was completely torn up. Most of the time, you could see where the hogs rutted but, something else caught their attention. A three-inch-thick mesquite tree was shattered. Whatever it was, it hit that tree and tore it to pieces. Roy didn’t know what to think. He was nervous and even a little scared. But he was out with his dad and the other hog hunters, and he would not show any fear in front of these men. Every man here was someone to whom Roy looked up, and he knew deep down that there was no way that he would ever let them see any fear in his eyes. But he was scared.

Once they were about three hundred yards from the ponds, one of the dogs finally had a good trail and started barking up a storm. The other dogs caught on, too, and they took off. Bandit was right there leading the pack.

Roy and his dad knew they found the beast before they even laid eyes on him.

Bandit and the other dogs instantly found what they were looking for. A pack of wild hogs was in one of the shallow ponds. Twenty or thirty of them at least and every one of them was dirty and caked with mud. When they saw the dogs come through the brush, most of the hogs took off. A few of them wanted a fight, and so did the dogs. There was no waiting or talking back and forth like when people fight. No, these dogs smelled the hogs, and as soon as they saw them, they wanted to take them out. The fight was on. The pack of hunting dogs sprinted towards the hogs and did their best to grab a leg or even an ear. It didn’t matter what they could grab ahold of as long as they bit something. Their job was to bite onto the hog and don’t let go. The hogs were trying to defend themselves. They put their full weight into knocking off the dogs and even used their biggest weapon, their cutters or tusks, which most people call them. Some of the tusks were as sharp as razors, and some had points that could easily pierce the skin.

Mr. Ferguson’s dogs heard barking and snorting from the hogs and ran into the fight. When everyone arrived at the pond, they all froze. In front of them was the biggest, nastiest, and meanest hog any of them had ever laid their eyes on. It was a hog that tales were told of. This hog was throwing dogs off of him like rag dolls. Bandit was having a hard time holding his own. He had a good bite on the giant hog’s ear but was getting tossed everywhere. But he didn’t let go.

“Stay back, Roy,” said Sam as the men pulled out their knives and started to make their way into the fight. “You stay back; do not get in this. You hear me.”

“Yes sir,” replied Roy as he took a step back.

The men knew this was not a good place they were in, but they had no fear. They went after one of the smaller hogs first, and Mr. Ferguson was able to grab the smaller hog by the back of his neck and put his blade in the hog’s heart. That hog went down fast and without much fight, and instantly, the other dogs went to jump on another hog. Three or four of them were left by now, including the beast.

Sam took a step back and examined the situation. He had six dogs plus Bandit; Mr. Ferguson always ran eight dogs. He moved quickly and put his blade in one of the other hogs. As soon as it was done, he looked back at the others, who were all struggling. At this time, he knew he better do something fast. He pulled out his .44 and pulled the hammer back as he aimed it at one of the hogs tossing his dogs. It took him a tenth of a second before he could pull the trigger, and he saw it out the back of his eye.

Roy saw it, too. In less than a second, Roy unsheathed his brand-new knife and went in. Sam pulled the trigger and shot one of the hogs in the head. When the hammer was released and hit the firing pin, every dog and hog took off running. Even the beast took off. Roy ran after him. And after a few yards, he was able to stop running. Bandit lay there on the other side of the pond. When the pistol was fired, the beast had sunk one of his cutters into Bandit and drug him off. Bandit kept his bite on the beast’s ear even after being gored by the beast. He kept fighting. It wasn’t until the pistol was fired that the beast took off and threw Bandit back one last time when his cutter landed right between the collar and vest. The tusk was so long that the beast could not shake Bandit immediately. As he escaped, the beast finally shook Bandit off and ran over him as he headed back towards the river.

Roy saw this and ran to Bandit to comfort him and examine his wounds. He sat on the ground next to Bandit and held him in his arms as Bandit looked up at Roy. He held Bandit and yelled for his father to come help.

Sam saw what happened to Bandit and looked around and saw that most of the dogs had also taken a beating. At least five other dogs had severe wounds that needed to be looked at and tended to quickly. He ran over to Roy and Bandit and got down on a knee.

“Dad, please help him,” cried Roy. His face was next to Bandit’s now. Bandit put his tongue out and licked Roy. There was a glimmer in Bandit’s eyes after that lick. Roy kissed Bandit on the head and told him he would be alright. The boy showed the dog all the love in the world in those last few minutes.

Roy looked up at his dad, and his dad looked right into Roy’s eyes and said, “Son, I hate to tell you this, but Bandit is not going to make it.” The two of them had tears running down their faces. “You have a choice, son; you can go back over there with Mr. Ferguson and turn around if you don’t want to see this, or you can send him home. It’s your choice, but it must be made now.”

Roy knew what would happen; he thought about walking towards Mr. Ferguson for a brief moment and knew what he had to do. “Dad, Bandit’s my dog. I know what I need to do.” Roy leaned in and kissed Bandit’s head one last time. His eyes were starting to fade, and he tried to lick Roy as well. Roy leaned down and got the last slobber from Bandit. As he leaned up, Roy said he was sorry and loved him.

Sam was holding Bandit now, and he pointed to where Bandit’s heart was located. “Go straight in. Don’t hesitate. Make it quick.”

Roy pulled out the knife his father had gifted him and put the tip right where his dad had told him to. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, but he did what he had to do. Bandit jumped just a bit, and Roy’s dad held him tight. Then he was gone.

Roy dropped his knife and held Bandit. He knew he was gone but sat on the ground and held on to his best friend.

The other men knew what had just happened, but they didn’t have time to stop since so many other dogs were hurt. They all had been there before. Each has had to put down a dog they loved on a hunt. No one ever liked doing it, and it always hurt, but it was something that every hunter had to be prepared for at any moment. The hogs they were hunting were vicious creatures that could not show remorse. It was a kill-or-be-killed world they lived in, and today, the wrong side lost a good dog and friend.

Roy’s dad said a quick prayer for Bandit, then got up and started helping Mr. Ferguson and Hank. They tended to the other dogs with quick clot and a staple gun. Once they finished fixing wounds on the dogs. They did a quick count and accounted for all of the dogs.

Sam offered to pick up Bandit and take him back to the truck, but Roy had grown up more in the last fifteen minutes than he had his whole life. He turned down his dad’s offer and said he would carry Bandit’s body back to the truck. Bandit weighed a good sixty pounds. Roy put his knife back in his sheath and then tried to pick Bandit up. He had some trouble picking him up, and his dad helped get his body up; then Roy carried him back to the truck and laid his body on the tailgate.

When they were back at the truck, they looked over the other dogs again and gave them all first aid before they left for the house. Mr. Ferguson followed Roy and his father back to his house. Every time they lost a dog, everyone in the hunting party made sure to help with the burial.

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 3

Dustin Carter — Fri, 17 May 2024 14:43:31 -0400

Chapter 3

Roy and his father hunted all year long. But their favorite time of year was in early February. The mornings were still cool, the deer hunters were all gone, and it was probably the best time of the year to hunt hogs. Weeks before the first weekend of February, they would prepare everything for hog hunting. Sam would lay everything out in the barn that he owned related to hog hunting. Roy and Bandit were always there. This was the time of the year when he would open up his new toys and gadgets.

As the world evolved, so did hunting. Over the years, dogs have become huge investments, and a good dog can breed, and the puppies can be worth thousands. The hunters would put large collars and stab-proof vests on the dogs to keep them from getting stabbed by the tusks or cutters on the boars. They even put GPS collars on the dogs to keep track of them once they are turned loose to look for a boar.

Even though they have GPS and stab-proof vests, that doesn’t always keep them safe. Most of the time, if the hunters are not nearby, a giant boar could take on three or four dogs and hold its own. When that happens, the dogs usually require stitches or staples. Every hunter that uses dogs gets really acquainted with putting a staple or using a needle and thread on their dogs.

As Sam laid out everything, he told Roy, “Come over here, son. I have something for you. You just turned twelve a few months ago, and I’ve been thinking about how much you love to hunt with me. And your mom and me have decided to get you your own hog knife. I think it’s time you get your hands dirty. I know you’ve been there with me many times as we’ve killed hogs, but from now on, I won’t be right by you every minute. It’s time you walk on your own two feet and handle business. What do you think about that?”

“Yes, sir. I’m ready. I’ve been ready. You know I can do it all. I can track just as good as any dog we have. Bandit is the only dog we have that can do it better than me. But other than him, I can do it just as good as any other pup we have. Not only can I track them, but I know exactly what to do.”

“You’re a damn good tracker, and you know ninety percent of what it takes to do this. But you are still young, and some lessons are only learned when you are in the sticks if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, sir. I do.”

“Well since you are a man now, we thought it was time you had your own pig sticker. So here you go, son,” Roy’s dad handed him a box about three inches wide and at least twelve inches long.

Roy started to pull the paper off the box, and he knew what it was before he even unwrapped it, but once that paper was off the box and the box was in his hands, Roy held it for a moment and savored the day. His family was not big on presents, and he knew this was one of those times when his dad was telling him that he was no longer a boy. Once he opens this box, he puts that sheath through his belt loops and slides that blade down in there, saying that it’s time to say goodbye to being a kid and welcome manhood.

The box was taped up by his mom, and Roy had to use his fingernails to break the seal on all four sides of the box. Then he held the top of the box with one hand and the bottom with the other as the two pieces separated. The knife was still hidden in a cloth when the top was finally separated from the bottom. Roy pulled the fabric away, and the knife was snuggly locked into the sheath. Roy put the boxes down and picked up the knife. He pulled it out of the sheath and held it in front of his face, admiring the smooth Damascus finish on the blade and the handle that looked to be made out of some bone with turquoise blended in with it. The blade was at least eight inches long, and the handle was four inches long.

After looking over the knife and admiring the quality, Roy put it back in the sheath and gave his dad the biggest hug he had ever given him. The two men embraced, and they had a father-and-son moment. Sam shed a tear, and Roy had to wipe his eyes more than once. Bandit was right there by their feet, and once they finished embracing, they both leaned down and petted Bandit.

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 2

Dustin Carter — Thu, 09 May 2024 17:06:23 -0400

Roy's Redemption

Chapter 2

Years later, Roy became an active teenager who played every sport he could play. He played football, baseball, basketball, golf, and he even ran track. When not playing sports, he raised chickens and turkeys for 4-H and helped his parents around the farm as much as possible. One of his favorite hobbies was hog hunting. Over the years, he learned everything he knew about hunting from his dad.

Bandit had also become the top dog on the farm. He could round up the cattle almost by himself, and when they went hunting, there was never a time when Bandit did not find a hog or even a pack of hogs. Bandit had even won awards for how he would get birds when they were dove or duck hunting. His eyesight and sense of smell were locked in. Bandit would protect the house and the farm when not rounding up cattle or hunting. Numerous times, he brought back dead snakes or rats up to the house. One evening when Roy was out in the back pasture he almost stepped on a rattlesnake. When that snake curled up and was about to strike Roy, Bandit was there in a heartbeat. He bit down on the snake and instantly started shaking his head. This went on for a couple of minutes, and finally, when the snake was dead, Bandit laid the dead snake down in front of Roy’s feet. He was the best dog Roy, or his dad had ever seen. Bandit could do it all. Bandit was truly the brother Roy never had.

Of course, there were other times when Bandit didn’t fare so well. There were a few times when he passed by the wrong snake or critter. Roy and his dad always knew when something like that happened. Bandit would return with his eyes swollen nearly shut or some other body part swollen or bloody. If he got into it with the coyotes, he would return to the house with bite marks and scratches all over his coat. As he got older, he gained quite a few scars on his coat from his battles with the coyotes. Then there were the other times when Bandit would go head-to-head with a skunk. Bandit always won the war but everyone else knew he lost the battle. That stench would not go away for what seemed like weeks.

Every chance Roy got, he would go hunting. Not always hog hunting but he would hunt deer, doves, ducks, coyotes and any other animal he could find out on their small farm. Bandit was always there with him. That dog was an excellent hunter. Roy’s dad always said Bandit was the best dog he had ever seen, and he claims to have raised hundreds of hunting dogs.

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Roy's Redemption Chapter 1

Dustin Carter — Thu, 09 May 2024 17:04:30 -0400

Roy’s Redemption

Chapter 1

“Roy, come outside,” yelled his dad, Sam, through the screen door.

The boy put down his book and ran to the door to see his dad standing there with a six-week-old puppy in his arms. Roy ran outside and asked, “Is that our new puppy, Dad?”

“Well, son, this is your puppy, but before I hand him over to you. I want to make sure you know the responsibility that comes with having a dog like this. It’s going to be your job to feed and take care of him. You will train him and make sure he listens. I’ll help you with him, but this is your pup, and he’s your responsibility. Do you hear what I am saying?”

“Yes sir,” replied Roy, reaching up to hold his puppy. “I promise I’ll take care of him, and he will go with me everywhere.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The dog can’t go to school with you, and he is going to live out here on the ranch.”

“I promise I am going to take care of him. He’s going to be the best dog we have,” said Roy as he looked over at the dog kennels where their hunting dogs were.

“So, what are you going to name him?” asked Roy’s mom Rose.

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t thought about it. But I’m sure something will come to me,” replied Roy as he put the puppy on the ground and started playing with him. Instantly, the dog started biting on Roy’s hands. His teeth were as sharp as razor blades, almost instantly cutting into Roy’s little hands.

Sam walked into the house and grabbed a small ball that Roy used to play with. He tossed the ball out, and the puppy grabbed it and ran off to the yard.

Roy tried to catch him, but it was no use. That little puppy was already faster than Roy was. After a minute or two of chasing the puppy, Roy stopped running and turned to his parents, “I’m going to call him Bandit; that’s his name.”

“I like that, son,” replied Sam.

“Me too. He looks like a bandit.”

“You stay out here and play with Bandit. I have some work to catch up on with those heifers in the pasture. But I’ll be back in a few hours. Stay out here and make sure he gets to know you. And get him some food and water, too. I’m sure your mom can find a couple old bowls inside for him.”

“Yes, sir, if you need some help, let me know, and I’ll be happy to go out there with you,” said Roy.

“Not today. You need to play with Bandit,” said his dad as he took off for his truck. Before Sam started the truck, he rolled down the window and don’t make any plans for Saturday. I want you to start coming with me on the hog hunts. This weekend, we are going over to Babb’s place to see if we can put down a hog or two.”

“You’re going to let me go?”

“Yeah, you’re old enough now to start hog hunting. And I need all the help I can get,” replied his dad just as he started up his old Ford and took off.

Roy sat on the front lawn and played with Bandit for the next few hours. Once the sun started to go down, he went inside and found an old pillow for Bandit to sleep on in his room.

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The Suit by Dustin Carter

Dustin Carter — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:05:42 -0400

The Suit by Dustin Carter

This short story came to mind a few weeks ago when my son and I were driving to Dallas to see my daughter cheer. I was listening to Joe Rogan's interview with That Mexican OT while I was driving, and somehow, my mind went to them being hitmen. It stayed in my head for a day or two, and I eventually just started writing it. It is Tarantinoish (Is that a word?) with Jules and Vincent. I hope you enjoy it, Austin.

The Suit by Dustin Carter

The car pulled up to the curb, and Johnny picked up his phone and called his partner Juan.

“I’m outside,” said Johnny. Nothing else was said as he instantly tapped the end button on his phone.

A few minutes later, Juan came walking out of the house. Johnny was in the car by himself, and as soon as he saw Juan step outside, he asked himself, “What the fuck is he wearing?”

Juan took his time and strolled right up to the car. He was wearing a white University of Texas button-up baseball jersey, golf shorts with low-top nikes, and white tube socks.

“Who the fuck taught you how to dress?” asked Johnny as soon as Juan opened the car door.

“What are you talking about? I figured it was time to blend in with the people. Look like the regular person in Austin who’s going to the game tonight,” Juan replied as he sat down in the car.

“You can’t dress like that in this line of business,” replied Johnny as he put the car in drive and took off.

“Why can’t I? I was thinking about it, and we dress like businessmen every day.”

“Yes. We need to show everyone we mean business. Did you look at yourself in the mirror?”

“Of course I did. I look good. I can walk into any bar in this town and blend in. I’m dressed like one of the people.”

“We’re not trying to blend in. We need to put forth the look that we mean business. When someone looks at me, they know I’m here for a damn good reason. I’m here to accomplish a goal.”

“Have you seen the places we have to go? Two grown men walking up in a suit and tie. That looks suspicious. I mean, who wears a suit these days? I’ll tell you who wears a suit: businessmen, politicians, and professional killers. And we sure as hell are not businessmen or politicians.”

“Well, when I walk into somewhere, I want them to know I mean business. Someone will see you walking up and looking like that, and they will probably try to fight you. Make a bigger mess than we need to deal with.”

“Nothing like that will happen. I just think it’s smarter to move in and move out and not be seen. Just think of what I’m wearing as camouflage.”

“That’s not camouflage,” replied Johnny as he continued to pull out of the subdivision where Juan lived and worked his way to the toll road.

“Plus, it’s a hell of a lot cooler than wearing that suit you are wearing.”

“Naw, ain’t nothing cool about what you’re wearing. You look like a fool wearing that. Fools are not cool.”

“We’re gonna have to agree to disagree on this one, Johnny.”

“That’s not going to happen. Here’s what we are going to do. We’re going to do this job that we need to do. Then, once we take care of this issue, we will go down to the suite store, and we’re gonna get you a new suit.”

“Not going to happen. I’m wearing this from now on. Where do you put your piece at with that getup on?”

“It’s right here,” replied Juan as he lifted up his jersey and had his pistol tucked inside the wasteland.”

“Where’s your silencer and extra mags?”

“Right here,” said Juan as he lifted the other side of his shirt.

“What about a knife? Where did you put that?”

“It’s in my pocket.”

“You have your extra piece on your ankle? Where’s that at?”

“I don’t need it.”

“That’s why you need a suit.”

“So, the only reason I need a suit is to carry an extra sidearm?”

“Yea, that, and you will look good,” Johnny replied as he merged onto the highway heading north.

“I look good now.”

“You’re wearing a baseball jersey. You know baseball players wear those as part of their uniform.”

“This is my uniform. Watch how I move in and out of places while you look like the person who kills people. They will pick you out of a lineup with what you are wearing.”

“That’s where we differ, Juan.”

“Why’s that?”

“There won’t be anyone left alive to pick me out of a lineup.”

“We will see about that.”

A few minutes of silence passed while Johnny and Juan were driving north. They were stuck in traffic even though the tolls were supposed to be faster and traffic-free.

As they sat in traffic, Johnny glanced over at Juan and shook his head in disappointment.

Nothing was said until Juan couldn’t take it anymore, “What’s your problem?”

“You look like a fool. In this business, we can’t go around looking like fools. We’re supposed to be the best at our jobs and professionals at that. And you’re out here looking like you’re about to go watch a baseball game, eat a hot dog, and spill mustard all over your shirt.”

“I’m not going to drop mustard on this shirt. Damn, jersey cost me a bill. There ain’t no way I’m gonna drop any mustard on this shirt. As a matter of fact, as soon as we get done with this job, we’re gonna stop off at the 7-11, and I’m gonna get one of those hot dogs that have been rolling around on that grill all day. I’ll load that thing up with mustard, relish, and ketchup, and I guarantee you I won’t drop any of it.”

“We’ll see soon enough,” replied Johnny as he exited the toll road and turned down a neighborhood.

“You know where we are going?” asked Juan.

“Yeah, just a few streets up. We will take a left, and the house will be three houses down. Should be a brick house with a red garage door. Husband and a wife with a couple of kids. Kids should be at school and the wife at work. The husband should be home alone,” replied Johnny.

“You sure he’s home alone?”

“He should be. I’m not a psychic. And I don’t have a camera sitting in front of his house, but he should be home alone.”

“What if he’s not.”

“Then we take care of business. Get in and get out.”

Johnny finally pulled up to the house, and one car was in the driveway. He pulled up just past the driveway, and they both got out of the vehicle. Johnny buttoned up his jacket while Juan straightened up his jersey. As he walked up to the house, he screwed the silencer onto his pistol. Johnny did the same. Johnny rang the doorbell, and after thirty seconds, no one came to the door.

Johnny pointed to the door, and Juan instantly knew what to do. Juan put three bullets into the door lock and another two in the area where the door hinges were. As soon as he did this, he kicked the door in.

They entered the house and searched every room until they finally found what they were looking for. They found the man they were looking for in the little girl’s room. He was hiding under his child’s bed.

Juan pulled the man out and took him to his bathroom. Johnny followed behind.

“Where’s the money you owe, Big Mike?” asked Juan.

“I don’t have it,” replied the man. He didn’t respond to Juan, who asked the question. He replied to Johnny.

Juan flipped his pistol around and stuck the man in the face with the handle, instantly gashing open his forehead.

“You see what just happened?” asked Johnny.

“No, what happened. Did I miss something?”

“Yeah, you missed something. He didn’t reply to you; he replied to me. It’s because of what you’re wearing.”

“Did you not reply to me because of what I’m wearing?” asked Juan.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” replied the man who had blood running down his face.

“Fuck this. Where’s my money?” demanded Juan.

“I don’t…”

Juan didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence. He put two shots into the guy’s chest and one in his head, just like he was taught.

“Let’s go,” said Juan as he turned around and left the restroom.

Johnny saw what had happened and walked out behind Juan. “There’s another reason you need to be wearing a suit.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, when you wear a suit, you also have a jacket on. Some come with two buttons, and others with three buttons. There are some suits with more buttons than that.”

“What’s your point?” asked Juan as they walked out of the house and got into the car.

As Johnny was putting on his seat belt, he replied, “My point is that if you were wearing a suit, you would not have ruined that jersey with the blood splatter from shooting that guy.

Juan looked down and saw his brand-new jersey was covered in blood. Johnny put the car in drive and took off.

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RIP ICEMAN

Dustin Carter — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

4/2/2025

Val Kilmer passed away last night. In so many ways, his work touched my life.

The first movie I remember going to the theaters and seeing was Top Gun. I watched it with my dad and brother in San Antonio. That day, we went to see two movies; it was my dad’s thing to go to San Antonio and watch two movies back-to-back. I was at my grandma’s house in Devine earlier in the day, and Dad was looking at the newspaper to see what times the movies played. I remember him saying we would watch Top Gun, and I didn’t want to watch a war movie. I didn’t know what it was about but wanted to watch something else. I couldn’t tell you the other movie we watched, but I remember watching Top Gun. That’s probably one of the best movies I ever saw in a theater. That and Home Alone. The crazy thing is that it was almost forty years ago, and that same location is still used as a movie theater today. I drive past there a couple times a year, and my mind always goes back to watching Top Gun there.

Doc Holiday in Tombstone. What else needs to be said. Was this not the best movie character of all time? As a writer, I want to create a character like that. I know Doc Holiday was real, but Val Kilmer brought Doc Holiday back to life. When someone says Doc Holiday, they picture Val Kilmer in Tombstone in their minds. The attitude, mannerisms, and dialogue are something we may never see again. People can try to emulate that, but it will never be recreated. This character alone is enough to put Val Kilmer in talks of the best actor ever.

Now, on to the scene in Heat. You know what I’m talking about. Every guy I know dreams of robbing a bank and getting in a shootout using those skills. It was one of the best shootout scenes in a movie ever. He’s throwing rounds in all directions, taking a knee. At the same time, he reloads, gets back up, throws five to ten rounds to the south, then turns and does the same thing in the opposite direction. It’s one of the coolest shootouts I’ve ever watched. Val Kilmer did such a good job in this scene that it is used to train people how to react in a gunfight. This is a scene every writer dreams of writing.

Thanks for being such a good actor; your roles have entertained me and stayed with me for most of my life. Rest in Peace, Mr. Kilmer.

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Cover Release for The Veteran

Dustin Carter — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Here is the Cover Release for The Veteran

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Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor

Dustin Carter — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor

I had this book on my TBR list for quite a while, and it was worth the wait.

Ozark Dogs takes place in a small town in Arkansas. Jo is a senior in high school and was raised by her grandfather Jeremiah, who was a Marine Sniper in Vietnam who now runs a junkyard. Jo’s father is doing life in prison for murder. Jo wants to be a regular girl, but her grandfather watches over her every move to keep her safe.

There is a feud with the family of the man that Jo’s father killed that has been going on since Jo was a baby. And they will stop at nothing to get revenge.

The plot twists are great and there are quite a few unexpected turns that will blow your mind.

Eli Cranor is a great writer, and this book was just as good as Don’t Know Tough. He also has a new book out now titled “Broiler.” I usually wait for the paperback to come out but I might have to get my hands on a copy of Broiler sooner than later.

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Empire Of The Summer Moon

Dustin Carter — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Empire Of The Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

Empire Of The Summer Moon is a must-read for anyone passionate about Texas history. As a Texan who cherishes our state's rich past, I believe this book and its captivating narrative should be revered alongside the Alamo and other iconic tales of our land.

It was amazing. Being from Texas, I could relate to many of the locations that were talked about. But Texas is such a big place that there were many places I had to look up to see where they were.

The book's portrayal of the Comanche people's way of life, their nomadic existence across Texas and the plains, and their resourcefulness in hunting buffalo and living off the land is truly admirable.

Until we showed up and ruined their way of life.

This book is excellent and heartbreaking at the same time.

One thing I took from this book is that thousands of people who lived in this country long before we did were forced to change. They didn’t have a choice; it was either change or be hunted down and killed. And I see a lot of that today in our world. They want us to all change and adapt to their new world lifestyle where we would be happy just to keep it the same.

I see why the Indians fought to keep their lifestyle. If you don’t fight to keep what you want then you will lose it.

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All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

Dustin Carter — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

I picked this book up at Black Pearl Books in Austin, off of Burnet Rd. It’s a great little bookstore. I also got this cool Come and Take It sticker.

What a good book! I had a hard time putting it down. I had to wait longer than most since I prefer paperback books, but I got it the day it came out, and it was worth it.

It has redneck snake worshippers; that’s all you need to know. If they are using a cottonmouth to pray to Jesus in the book, then you know it has to be good.

Great story, plot, characters. Titus was a great character for the Sheriff.

I’ve now read all four of Cosby’s novels, and this might be my favorite.

The only issue that I have is some minor editing issues. There were a few parts where I had to say this doesn’t work for me. But it also makes me feel better about my writing as well. As writers, whether you are a mass-market author like Mr. Cosby or a self-published author like myself, when you are writing 100,000 words, a couple of mishaps will always find their way in.

Great job and I can’t wait to see what is coming next from S.A. Cosby.

Next up for me is Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor.

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A Clash Of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Dustin Carter — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A Clash of Kings

George R R Martin

Book 2 of the Game of Thrones Series

I spent almost a month reading this. It was right at 1000 pages, and take my advice and watch the show for this one. I loved the first book and thought it was better than the show. But book two just seemed to drag on right until the end. The last two hundred pages were good but not good enough to keep me entertained. I love the show, but now I’m having doubts about moving forward with the book three. I'll give it a few months and see. Sci-fi just isn’t my cup of tea.

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Moonshine Mafia by Jon Marple

Dustin Carter — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Moonshine Mafia by Jon Marple

This is a story about a family's moonshine business in West Virginia in the 1920s and 30s. Not only is it about moonshine during prohibition, but it also has prostitution, a couple of heists, and a young lawyer who starts to get a taste of life. It took me a minute to get into Moonshine Mafia, but when I did, I couldn’t put it down. I know a book is good when I can’t sleep because I’m thinking about it.

Overall, it was a great story with great characters and great dialogue.

I’m excited about the second part of this story, which is being worked on.

The only downfall in this book is the editing. I don’t knock self-published authors for this as long as the story is still good, and it doesn’t bother me much. I completely understand that most self-published authors only have money for maybe one editor, while mainstream books have twenty or more people editing and proofreading them.

This was a great book if you are a fan of Lawless with Tom Hardy or the book The Wettest County in the World: A Novel Based on a True Story by Matt Bondurant

Also, the chapters were all short, which is always a big plus.

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Roy's Redemption Coming Soon

Dustin Carter — Tue, 7 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Coming soon, I will release my short story titled “Roy’s Redemption.” I will release a chapter of it every Friday for the next eight weeks. It’s a short story about a hunting dog. Initially, I thought I would write about a thousand words, but it quickly morphed into ten thousand words. Way too much to put out at once.

I finished Hondo by Louis L’Amour a few weeks ago, and I liked the dog Sam. Then I dived into the dog world and thought about Old Yeller and Hank the Cowdog. Many friends back home have hog hunted for most of my life using dogs, and I’ve always heard their stories, and I figured I could write something up. So this Friday, I will release Chapter 1 of Roy’s Redemption, which will run for eight weeks. Each Chapter will be available on my website at www.dustincarter512.com.

Thanks for the support, and I hope you enjoy it.

Dustin Carter

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No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

Dustin Carter — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

I wanted to love this book so much, but at the end of the day, it basically just put me to sleep every time I opened it. I rushed through it yesterday to finish it.

This is the third McCarthy book I’ve picked up in my life. The first, “The Road,” is one of my all-time favorites. The Road literally gave me nightmares as I read it. It was one of my top five favorite books ever.

Then, shortly after, I picked up another one of his books and stopped reading it. I couldn’t get into it.

But now, years later, I wanted to give this book a chance. I gave it a chance, and it helped me go to sleep.

The story was based in Southwest Texas, and I have been to many of the places in the book. Just a few days before I picked up the book, I traveled to Del Rio. Last week I was on my way to Fort Stockton, I thought I better not stop on the side of the road. Even though I did a took a few pics.

The story could have been so much better, but I still don’t know what it was really about. Yes, it was about drug money and a killer trying to get it back, but other than that, I was lost.

I’ll give Cormac McCarthy 2 stars for this one because I liked the locations, and he wrote “The Road.” I'm gonna watch the movie tonight again

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