Clementine snickered a little at his embarrassment.

Benjamin turned to his canine friend. “Paco? Are you gonna be okay?”

He still stood in a daze. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. We should go. I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

“Alright.” Benjamin asked the other two, “Are you ready or do you need a minute?”

“No, we’re ready,” Roscoe said as he looked at Paco. They started to leave.

“That was an amazing shot, Your Majesty! How did you do it?” Clementine asked in admiration.

“Luck,” Benjamin smiled. “Pure luck!” He looked back. “I hope he’s okay”

Roscoe snorted and rolled his eyes. “Paco the Brave!”

• • • • •

WHEN THEY WERE OUT of Paco’s hearing Benjamin asked, “Why do you call him the Brave?”

Clementine grinned and Roscoe chuckled. “Well, Sire, Clementine and I weren’t fortunate enough to have been born when it happened, but legend has it that one day everybody was sitting around the kingdom, you know, just taking it easy and enjoying the peace and quiet . . .” Clementine snorted at that. “… when all of a sudden Paco saw a huge snake next to King Pugsly’s throne–I guess when he was with you. Well, Paco panicked and caused a mass evacuation. Hundreds fled the cave, with Paco at the rear to make sure everyone got out safely. Everybody sat outside the fox den, thinking they were under attack. Cars were driving by–”

“They’re lucky it wasn’t hunting season!” Clementine said.

“And finally a badger, who’s older than dirt, mind you, went in to check it out while everyone waited outside…” The pig was breathing heavily from the laughter he was holding in. “…and he came back out holding a long piece of rope that some farm sheep chewed off its neck!” The goat and pig laughed as though they had never heard the story before. Benjamin smiled mechanically but felt sorry for Paco. “Ever since then, when the kingdom is in danger they call on Paco the Brave to save the day!”

Benjamin walked back to find the rat-terrier. Paco was hopping through the tall grass toward them. Benjamin sat down and the exhausted dog joined him.

“I wish this grass wasn’t so tall, My King!” Paco panted.

Benjamin didn’t know how to start the uncomfortable conversation but forged ahead. “Um, Paco, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“I’m scared to death of snakes.”

Paco was stunned. “Uh…well, me too, Sire.”

“I’ve been terrified of them since I was little. I don’t know why.”

“But, Sire, what about when you threw that fire stick–”

“Just like I told the other two, it was luck, Paco. I panicked and didn’t really know what I was doing,” Benjamin said sincerely.

“But you did something. I just stayed back, like a coward.”

“Well, you went up to the rattlesnake and–”