Chapter Selection: 1 2 3

3.

“Thought you might need my help son.”  Manny’s .44 Army was inches away from the back of Tommy’s head, and although advanced in age the hand did not waver or deviate.  Ben quietly whispered a prayer and faced the four men also involved in the stand-off.  “Now sirs, there ain’t no need for this to get any worse.  We can all put these things away and walk.  I won’t arrest no-one nor hold it against them.”  The four men stared intently, guns drawn and cocked ready, just a twitch, a noise, a strained word and it would all erupt in gunfire.  John Terrier stared hard at Manny Vincent, time had not chipped away the stone of hate that he carried in his heart.  Though the war had happened many miles away, it had been visited upon his family and friends by marauding bands of outlaws and thieves.  Bands such as those led by Vincent often left no-one behind alive to tell tales or bear witness.  Pete and Wayne Roberts cared not for long life or quiet retirement but revenge, cold and simple.  They and Dave Mellard had answered the call when Terrier’s farm was robbed and burnt, a Company raised to protect the county’s many farms.  But the years of living rough and constant vigil had taken a terrible toll, and more than once they had returned from long rides to find homes reduced to rubble and charred remains of family and friends.  Now, no young sheriff was going to prevent years of subdued anger from boiling over. Manny Vincent knew, felt it in his heart, that there was no way out without killing.  He had slipped out the back way when he had peered out the window and seen the four armed men outside the office.  Creeping round the building he had spotted the young man with his gun drawn gaining the edge over his son, and he had stealthily copied his movements to do the same.  Now, with the six men all on eggshells it was going to get very dirty very fast.  “Son, these gentlemen ain’t out for words.  It’s blood they want, mine.”  Manny moved round to get the boy between himself and the gunmen.  “Now, who are you four that take such offence at my bein’ in town?”  Terrier took a step forward, his gun never leaving its aim on young Ben; “Captain John Eustace Terrier, 1st Kansas Militia.  You know what you did against us you yellow backed murderer!  Time to pay.”  Before anyone could speak Terrier fired, his bullet smacking into Ben Vincent’s hip knocking him back over the steps and crashing through the door to the office.  Manny stared in disbelief and screamed; “No!!”  As the stunned members of Terrier’s group froze in amazement Terrier yelled “Fire boys, bring him down!” The three men turned and as their guns blazed Manny pushed the boy Tommy viciously between himself and the guns.  Dave Mellard fired once, twice before he saw his boy sent sprawling towards himself and his compatriots.  He pulled his Navy sharply away but watched in horror as Tommy was hit, spun round and was shot again as he fell to the dusty floor.  John Terrier had eyes only for his target, his first two shots clipped the wall close behind as he ignored Mellard’s boy and fired at Manny as he tried to get inside the office.  Vincent had ducked down and crabbed sideways, snapping off a shot that took Wayne Robert’s shin from under him.  The smashed bone toppled Roberts over and he yelped out to his brother.  Pete had taken aim but not fired, the boy getting shot and his brother now calling out distracted him and he too took one of Manny’s bullets in his shoulder.  Down he went, joining his kin bleeding in the street. Manny pulled his boy away from the doorway and tried to shut the door but Terrier kicked it back open.  Manny put a shot in his side but Terrier kept on, firing and hitting Manny in the hand and thigh.  The Colt slid from his grasp as he pitched back and slammed into the wall.  Sliding down he came to a rest beside his boy, who was now clutching his stomach and almost unconscious.  Terrier stood, his Navy Colt pointed at Manny’s head.  “Told you it would end this way, old man.  Time don’t heal nothing like what you did.  But before you die I want you to know, your boy is dead too.  After I finish you I am gonna tell him all about Vincent’s Irregulars and your brand of fighting.  He’s gonna know what you did, before I bleed him dry.”  Manny coughed, the pain splintering through his body.  His hand was smashed by the bullet that had ploughed through it, his thigh a dull throbbing mess of blood and torn flesh.  Terrier put his boot on the wound and rested all his bodyweight on it; “Oh, I know it hurts, I know you will bleed out soon so I will say goodbye now.”  He looked over at the curled ball that was Ben Vincent; “As for your boy, I’ll take real good care of him!”  Terrier stood back and raised his gun.  Drawing the hammer back slowly he took careful aim, steadied his hand, and gently squeezed the trigger.  Inside the sheriff’s office the blast echoed around the room. Ben Vincent had taken the shot in his stomach and gone down.  The fall inside the office door had stunned him but the pain in his gut kept him from blacking out.  Hearing the shooting and shouting outside he had tried to reach the gun cupboard but couldn’t move; the searing pain like a hot poker in his side.  Ben had felt his father drag him away from the door, then the shots in the office and Manny Vincent was lying next to him on the floor.  John Terrier was stood there, and talking, taunting his father.  Then the talking stopped, and seconds of silence.  Ben was curled up, but not entirely in pain.  With his legs under him, his boot and the Colt Sheriff concealed within was close to hand.  Ben drew a deep breath that caused no little pain, then as fast as was able sat up and fired. Dave Mellard was sat by his boy, his head cradled in his arms.  Tears coursed down his cheeks as Tommy gripped his hand, it was a grip he had felt before.  “Pa, I thought I had…..I’m sorry Pa, I didn’t mean…….”  Mellard hushed his boy, and held him closer.  The bullets in Tommy’s chest were his fault, and anger fought with the pain he felt inside himself.  “Don’t talk son, don’t talk.  You did good, you’re a good boy.”  The Roberts were hurt too, he knew, but not badly.  Inside the sheriff’s office where Captain Terrier had followed he heard shots.  Dave Mellard didn’t care, he just held his dying boy, and wept. Terrier was aware of  the movement at his side, and seen the revolver the sheriff had hidden too late.  Turning quickly he was a fraction too slow as Ben Vincent’s shot powered into his neck, exiting the other side and sending a crimson arterial spray spattering across the window panes.  Terrier sank to his knees, gurgling blood and air bubbles as his left hand clutched at the gaping ragged holes in his neck.  His right hand brought up the gun, and fired.  Falling on his face, Captain John Terrier choked and spluttered his last.  Manny Vincent  crawled over to his son, and saw the red rimmed hole in the side of his temple.  As the tears welled in his eyes he pulled Ben over with his left arm and clutched the dead boy close to his chest.  Mellard stood, the gun in his hand.  His son, Tommy, was dead.  The sheriff’s office had fallen silent, no-one came or went.  The people watched from behind closed doors and drawn curtains but he wasn’t interested in them.  He walked towards the door, and stepped inside.  Mellard’s eyes adjusted to the darker building and he saw John Terrier lying dead on the floor.  In the corner were Vincent and his son.  Mellard brought up the gun and aimed.  Manny Vincent looked up, his eyes red and swollen from crying.  Dave’s hand trembled slightly as he realised Ben Vincent was dead.  “Go on Mellard; you got me dead bang.  Nothin’ left for me here.  My Ben is dead and it’s my fault.  I should have died on the plains like he said.  My boy..my Ben..”  Manny dropped his head and started sobbing again.  Mellard didn’t speak, didn’t fire.  He  lowered the pistol, and went back to his own son lying out in the street. END

Chapter Selection: 1 2 3