Arizona Blue—Gunfighter
Wild Flower
Part two [continuation]
“NO WAY…GUNFIGHTER!?[Screamed Todd] —then he went for his gun as Blue’s stance was half to the girl, and half to Todd. But even before Todd could get his gun out of his holster, Blue had pivoted, lifting his holster upward slightly, which had a hole where the barrow of the gun was in the leather for a bullet to pass through without loosing any velocity. And his bullet raced across the room like a bolt of lightening, lodging straight in the upper part of the chest.
“It was a fare fight, short lived, but a fare one…” commented the bartender, as nervous as a squirrel with stolen nuts. He was so panicky; he was starting to stutter he was so wound up.
Then gathering up his composure, he said with a swallow:
“It’s a shame; it seems it didn’t have to end up this was, a?a darn shame. ?br />
Then the tall man outside of the bar, talking loud to his friend now—a few spectators about, said:
“I told Todd just let this squaw go, it’lle’d ben-his death, and darn well it has been, Damn, fool!?br />
“Yaw,?said Blue, taking a deep breath, as he often did after a gun fight. For two reason, one because he stopped breathing every time he went for his gun, it gave him better aim, and second, to capture the excitement, the moment, the high:
“Yaw,?he said again, “I suppose it was fare, as fare as his stealing the Indian woman.?br />
Blue looked at the Indian woman She didn’t move Blue knew she was a little in shock, disbelief She was free though Wild Flower, it’s true, no one has a hold on you Its best you find your way back home
With that, Wild Flower seemed to catch her breath. Put on a big smile, kicked the gun, and brushing her hair back with her hands—used as a brush—looking one last time around the dingy and narrow smelly bar. There was no goodbyes, she simply walked past the bartender, around Todd’s dead body, and stopped by Blue, not saying a word? then out the door.
Blue, put a silver dollar on the bar counter, said Jake with a smile:
“What’s that for??br />
“Tell the preacher man to bury him with a bible. Too bad he didn’t have time to read it before him drew.?br />
—Having said that, Blue walked out the door. As he looked about, Wild Flower was nowhere to be seen. Blue smiled—said to himself: Smart gal. Jumped on his saddled horse, and bid farewell to the tall man, and his friend. He knew the town had jumpy nerves after that, and it was best he be headed north.
Written 1990, revised 12/2001, originallyPublished 2002; revised August, 2005
Dennis Siluk's web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com