Peter Makuck
Peter Makuck teaches at East Carolina University, where he has edited Tar River Poetry for the past twenty years. He is the author of a collection of short stories, Breaking and Entering (University of Illinois Press), and several books of poetry, the most recent being Against the Distance (BOA Editions, Ltd.). He lives in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.
— From December 1999The Trouble With Smitty
Smitty was lying on the seat beside me, getting antsy to exit his holster and have some fun. I told him to be patient. I didn’t want some rancher investigating gunshots. The dirt trail was badly rutted and washed out in a few places. It led me down into a dry creek bed at one point, and if not for four-wheel drive, I’d probably still be there. The windows were down, and I could smell the clean scent of sage.
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