The sun is high as I ride the sun beaten path of the barren dry cracked desert floor. My horse breaths heavy from my weight and my gear. I take my handkerchief whipping my brow and neck off. Looking up in the sky I see that is high noon. “Good”, I said, “Almost there.” Looking forward the heat plays with my vision. Only blurry things shift about in and out. I hear a call of the eagle high above me. “What the hell are you looking for up there, because there ain’t nothing down here”, I said. Spitting, I wipe my mouth on my sleeve, there wasn’t much that came out. Grabbing my water can and taking a swig. Cool and refreshing as it travels down my throat. I’ll need to fill up soon, good thing I’m about to be where I need to be at. The town of Vaquero was where I was called to. Soon my travel would be over until the next calling.
I’m called to people that don’t want me. My situation is created and then I’m needed. It’s not a job of easy hearts, it takes a breed of men that can’t be born, but made. I’m called by people that don’t want to see my shadow coming, they want to run, but what would you do when, you’re a wanted man. I find that man that has done wrong, or done wrong in the eyes of the law, and then I bring him in, dead or alive, to me it doesn’t matter. I get paid to get the job done, and I’m the best at getting the job done. The wanted may run from me for a while, but I always get them and then from there the law decides their fate.
I’m on the hunt now for a wanted man. Someone one who is especially high on my list to get taken care of. Jermain Bradford, is his name and his crime is murder. Wanted in many counties, and has been a very bad boy. He has been gathering a gang of folks with him. This one is going to be fun that is for sure.
The town is now in sight and is not a mirage. Taken out my three fifty-seven I check my bullets, good. Checking the other I’m good. Checking my belt I refill what is missing there from my pack. I pull my rifle out of its holster and make sure it’s reloaded as well. Getting out my tobacco I roll a smoke. It’s smooth and feel good as I inhale and the hold it for a bit. I release it slow and smooth. I’m only about a couple hundred yards out now. I’ve been doing this for a long time, I remember the time when I started, this moment use to get me a rush, the anticipation of the encounter, but now, my heart is steady and calm. It’s just another job that needs to be done.
I slow my mount riding straight for the area I know where a wanted man will be, the saloon. I pull up to the jail house to check in first. No one’s there, go figure, a town like this, law isn’t important. I move my horse onward. “Easy boy we are almost at a resting point”, I tell my horse who was ready for a break. The saloon is at the center of town and facing the main street. General store and other little shops follow the along to the saloon. Even a hotel is on one side, better probably staying there then the saloon I imagine. Not to many people around here, I can see that Jermain has taken over pretty well. I can’t stand seeing good people do nothing to protect themselves. They have to hire me and in my line how is it that they have to hire someone like me, if they just could take care of themselves then I there would be no need of me, sad, and pathetic the whole lot.
The Saloon seems to be popping a bit, guessing that there are going to be a few guys in there besides Jermaine. Well let’s introduce ourselves. “Here boy”, I said as my horse is allowed a rest and some water. I roll another smoke and light it before I head in. There are two guy sitting out on the bench as I walk on up to the doors. Nodding to them I walk up to the doors and look in. It is indeed the place to be. The cards are being dealt and the dominoes are being played. Seems a little bit of music is in order as well, just a lovely little get together we are having. I don’t seem to see Jermaine though in all of this, we’ll let just see what the story is.
Pushing open the doors and walking on over to the bar I pull out a coin and place it on the wood. “What’ll be stranger”, asked the barkeep? “Whiskey”, I said. The barkeep grabbed a glass and poured one out. I tipped my hat and turned standing at the bar. A half-naked girl runs by me with a man chasing her. Looking around I spot a card game with a man, a wanted man. Walking over I stand back just a bit to get noticed but not interfere. The winning hand drops and the crowd around the table cheers and groans. A man slaps the table saying some stupid remark that he can’t lose. A girl is in his lap showing off her goods to everyone. He says a joke and then grabs her ass laughing all the way with everyone else. She laughs as well, but I can tell that she is not happy with the situation. Trash not only him but her to for being in that lap, and being in this place. Trash all around here, what fun this will be. I can tell that most of his men are here, with his top two at the table. One is playing as well, he is losing, but I bet that’s because he’s letting Jermaine win, brown nose for certain. The other is sitting in the corner alone with a drink. Pretty sure that his drink hasn’t been refilled once. That one is the trouble. He is the real deal. This piece of shit of man here is nothing, but that man, he is real, he is like me.
The others are all second handers riding along feeding off the shit that this man creates, not much there to have to worry about but the numbers. It’s always a numbers game, and eventually your number is up. “Hey, stranger, you watching, or you playing”, asked the man that is wanted? “Little of both I believe”, I answered. “Well then take a seat and buy in, I like when a stranger shows up, always fresh money to take”, said the wanted man smiling with a gold tooth gleaming in the candle light of the room. I tipped my hat and took a seat, buying in the dealing started.
We played through the night, I kept my self in the game, but never winning much. One by one they dropped out and passed out from being tired. Finally, it’s down to me and the wanted man. His brown nosing cohort was still sitting at the table but was out of the game. The other one hadn’t moved, still sitting watching all.
“Well stranger, seems you lasted till now, but that’s all about to change”, said the wanted man. I finish rolling my smoke, “Might be, or it might not be.” Jermaine smiled, “All in, let’s finish with a bang.” “Indeed”, I said.
Quickly I pulled my three fifty-seven, first shot was the one in the corner. Gone, then I take another shot I wounded the wanted man. Makes it hard to get away if blood is telling everyone where you are going. The cohort drunk and uncoordinated stumbles to get his gun, and I make him a just a memory. The saloon is now waking up. I stand taking the butt of pistol and smacking Jermaine in the head, and he is out. “Now don’t you move I’ll be right back”, I said.
Now I have both hands full. Standing at the bar I wait. Notice that my smoke is gone, I roll another one. I hear the noise I’m waiting on, and grab my guns taking a deep breath. Men run form the upstairs rooms, I take aim as they try to figure out the situation. One, two, three, and four shots and three dead. The barkeep, walks out shaken. “Here”, as I place some coins on the bar, “for the trouble.” I pour myself a drink and raise it to the barkeep and then throw it back. Tilt my hat to the barkeep and then walk over to Jermaine still out cold.
Taking my smoke I put it out on his arm. He screams in pain jumping, then screams again because of the gun shot. “Welcome back, let’s go”, I say. Grabbing him from the table I stand and start to walk out, but then stop. I back up pulling at Jermaine. I look at his cards, smile and place them back down. I throw him into the bar and then get a small rope and bind his hands behind his back. “Barkeep, fetch the doc and tell him to meet me at the jail house”, I say as I pour myself another drink. “Will do sir”, said the barkeep and he headed on out. “Alright, let’s take a walk shall we”, I say grabbing a bottle and a glass.
Pulling Jermaine out the door the sun is now up, and it is now shining brightly. The air was cool from the dessert air, but soon it would be plenty hot. “Let’s move”, I say. We start to walk towards the Jail house. I grab my horse and put the bottle and glass in a pouch. I reload my guns real quick and then place one of my revolvers back in its holster. I pull the horse with Jermaine walking in front of me. The wind starts to pick up here and there. It’s quite in the town. Everyone is asleep still, even after the events of the saloon. I keep my eyes glancing to roofs and windows. I keep Jermaine in front of me and slightly to the side. My horse walks on the left of me. I’m in cover so to speak, and shooting someone’s boss isn’t exactly going to get you paid a lot. I hear a noise and see a cat run from between two building chasing a rat. Things are getting tense.
Just then Jermaine yells out, “Help, Amigos, Help!” I smack him on the back of the head to shut him up, but don’t knock him out. Raising his hand up from behind I push him forward and make the horse start to walk faster. I start to hear movement. We get to the Jail house and I shove Jermaine into it, which startles the sheriff. “Pardon”, I say. I quickly go back out and grab my rifle, bottle, and glass. Slapping my horse on the rump it moves on out of the way. I back into the jail house and then close the door. The sheriff is still dazed sitting in his chair arms raised thinking he’s being held up. “Get your arms down and put the prisoner in a cell you damn drunk”, I say. The sheriff slowly gets up trying to figure out what’s going on. As he starts to walk towards Jermaine he stops as he says something to him, “I’ll kill you, you damn fool if you try to get me into a cell.” I slap him on the head and tell the sheriff, “Hurry and get him in.”
The sheriff moved him on and got him in a cell. As he did I went and shut the windows and then grabbed my rifle, bottle, and glass. I went and stood at a window peering out down towards the saloon. As the sheriff was walking in I was pouring a glass. He looked over at me, “Oh, sorry only one glass”, I said taken a sip. He was standing still shaking. I say, “Might want to grab a gun.” The sheriff walked to grab a rifle from the weapon hold. He looked over his shoulder, I was still looking over at him watching his movements. Trust was something that was not here in this town for me, and this poor fool was not fooling anyone.
“Now you see, I could say get ready for a fight, but then the question has to be, are you fighting with me or against me, and from what I’m watching it’s going to be against me. So, the question here is live or death, you choose?” The sheriff wasn’t moving he just stood there still. I started to hear things coming alive outside and down the street. “Better hurry and decide, there’s about to be a twister heading this way”, I said. The sheriff put the rifle back and raised his hands. “That’s a chose”, I said as I took the bottle pouring another glass, and was taking another sip. The sheriff moved slowly to the door and started to unlock it, he looked back towards the cells one last time. Just as he was about to open the door, I put my cup down. Just as the door was opening and he was stepping out. Gun fire rang out and he fell dead. Closing the door and locking it quickly I then picked up my cup and took another sip, “Wrong chose though.”
“BOSS, BOSS, you in there”, yelled a voice from outside! “He’s in here, not exactly talkative or in the best of shape. I sent for the doc, but I bet that he has been delayed”, I said. “You don’t send him out, you’re gonna die”, said the voice outside. “Funny, but I find that hard, being that if you try to kill me, then your boss is going to die. You can think on that for a bit or try the hand dealt, and see what happens”, I said. “You gonna die stranger”, said Jermaine as he coughed. “One day probably, today, nah”, I said, “You, yeah you will”, he said back. “Also you keep calling me stranger” I said. “Yeah, you are to me”, said Jermaine. “Nice to know you remember well”, I said. “Look I don’t know you stranger, I can guess why you’re doing this. I can pay you three times the amount on my head”, Jermaine said. “Always money, people think money is everything. Lose something you love and then you’ll see that money isn’t a damn thing”, I said. “Who are you mister”, asked Jermaine? “A stranger, and you a wanted man, and that is all you get to know”, I said.
Peering out I can see that they are posting up on the roofs across the street and moving to be in areas to shoot in. The jail house, like many others, was a bunker and ready to hold off a small assault. I was in no hurry. I took another sip of my bottle. Jermaine’s wound was still bleeding and that was the purpose of the shot I put there.
“So, how’s that doc coming”, I said rolling another smoke, “Your boss is probably wondering when he will get here. Thinking he needs one pretty bad. What you think Jermaine, you think you can hold off for a while?” At first he didn’t answer then, “Give me a doc stranger, please.” “Well, I sent for one, and yeah he’s probably right out there, but your men are stopping that. Funny, but your guys will probably be the reason you die”, I said. “You shot me stranger, I’m gonna die because of you”, said Jermaine. “Yeah, but it isn’t fatal unless it isn’t looked at by a doc”, I said. “Get the doc”, said Jermaine yelling! “You get that guys, your boss is saying get the doc”, I said. “Alright, we are sending him in”, said the man outside.
Peering out I ready my rifle and aim it towards the building across the street. I point it to where it can’t be seen well. As they walk the doc out I take aim and shoot both men walking him. They both fall and then shots fly. I lean back and hide behind the strong stone wall to the side of the window. From the shots I can tell there are nine more out there. That window is now a hot spot so let’s see what we can do now.
I walked to the back of the jail and saw that there was a back door. Well bordered and strong. “Probably watching it”, I said, then looking up I see that there is a hatch to the roof. “Now don’t you go anywhere I’ll be right back”, I said to Jermaine who was about to pass out. I climbed to the top and slowly and quietly open the hatch. Crawling out and to the edge I take my hat off and peer over the top. I can see the three roof shooters. I sit and then start sliding back till I can see the top of the building well enough. Slowly far enough back I can see the men across the way. I pull my rifle up and shoot making him gone. Falling to the side I roll over and slowly look up. I aim and raise up high enough to see him. It only takes a second but I zero in and shoot, now two down. The other ones hurries his shot and misses. I turn and shoot taking number three. I puff on my smoke and send up some smoke. I then place it with a new one on the ledge but to a point that it can’t be seen, then climb back down.
“Still having fun”, I said to Jermaine passed out now. I walk over to the other window and peer out. Three in the down stairs windows and three in the upstairs. I look on for a bit more. The smokes I have up there, has their attention and two in the upstairs shoot. I take the opportunity and shoot back on the down stairs at two of them. I see one fall and cause one to roll to the left behind their wall to the left. I take aim and shoot three times. I hear someone fall, and then there was four.
“So how’s that Doc coming, your boss is getting whiter”, I said. “Damn you”, said a new voice from outside. “Good to know I have a new person to talk to. Want to send in the doc, I would say that your boss would call to him, but he’s taking a nap right now”, I said. I can hear some yelling and soon the doc is starting to walk across the street. I unlock the door and when the doc gets there I tell him to come on in. He enters and I tell him to lock it. I point to the back and head that way with the doc to let him in. I then walk to the back door and unlock it. I lock the cell to the doc surprise, “I don’t think he’ll cause you much problems, but you might want to get done then stay towards the back”, I told him then slipped out the back.
Moving to the right and up the town unseen. I get myself far enough up town then cross the street quickly. I then work myself back down to the building that the four are left in. I get to the back and see that there is some stairs to the second floor and then a ladder to the roof. I get up there and take a look over the edge. I pull my rifle up and wait. Finally after fifteen minutes I see two of them start to move forward across the street. As they get into the middle of the street I take aim and two shots, quick and steady. Two more down and now just two to go.
“So, want to end this like men”, I yell from the roof. There is now answer, “Just come one out and show me your guns. Let’s face it, how many of you were there this morning, and how many of you now. Be smart and come on out. I’ll give a fair shot and meet you both in the street.” Two people walk on out and look up towards the roof holding the barrel’s of their guns. I get up and make my way down, taking the door on the back side of the building to pass through. I stop just at the door looking at the two men. I walk out holding my rifle in one arm. I take out and make another smoke. I light it and then place my rifle leaning up against the column of the hang over. I walk out into the street with the two men on the left side of me.
“Now, let’s end this shall we”, I say turning to face them. My eyes are locked onto theirs. I still in this whole time, haven’t had a rush. I can see the rush in them though. I can see the sweat running from their head. They are getting twitchy, and their fingers tap at the butts of their guns. I hold my hand steady no movement. I see one swallow deep, and then he drops, with the second falling to his knees then face into the dirt.
I place my gun back in its holster. I take a pull on my smoke and then take it out to blow the smoke out. Placing it back in my mouth I take my hat off and then wiping my head and neck off. “Sure is getting hot again”, I say placing my hat back on. I start to walk towards the jail house and whistle as I do. My horse comes walking over from down a ways. I grab the reins and talk to him softly, then lead him to the jail house tying him up. Going in I unlock the cell and let the doc go after thanking him. I grab Jermaine and walk out the door. I sat him in a chair and then walk out across the street grabbing another horse taking it back to the jail house. I grab Jermaine and though him over the saddle tying him down. I saddle up and get ready to ride out, when I’m stopped by a towns men.
“Mr., we have to thank you. Thank you for saving our town”, he said. “I don’t need any thanks, I’m just doing my job”, I said. “That man has been terrorizing us for weeks now. There has to be something we can do? I mean stay a bit and rest. You have Jermaine, you rest up and then go out”, he said. “I have to get him to his destination, being late isn’t something that is held in high standards. His partners are well, already there”, I say. “Well, alright, can we at least know who you are”, he asked? I say back, “I’m just a wanted man.”