Not going quietly

I thought Jem would be ready to retire, hang it up, head to the couch, rest on his laurels.

After all, he recently turned 13, the life expectancy of a springer spaniel. He has aches and pains, walks like John Wayne, and falls a lot.

But after I left him home on the second day of the season, my wife told me if I wanted to stay married I should never do that again. She said Jem moaned and groaned and howled until I returned home with the other dogs.

He hasn’t stayed home since.

Jem accompanies us on the first hunt out of the truck, usually a quick loop through the sage and short grass where I ca...