HERE NOR THERE, DENNIS G. [classic english novels TXT] 📗

of any kind for at least a month and the Diamond Backs had been acting like kids in a candy store.
Really big kids with lots of guns and no reservations about murdering whoever they wanted.
It had been a long ride from Washington, but Billy didn't mind. They were only a days ride out form Bristow now and all three men were looking forward to some good food, baths, and a clean shave. Since they crossed into New Mexico Marshall Dixon had been riding out front, he wanted to be the first to face trouble should it come. "Marshall, you want some water?" Billy asked as he took a few pulls from his canteen. "That sounds pretty good right now." The Marshall replied. Billy sidled up next to the Marshall and passed him the canteen. "I want you boys to know something. You know I requested some soldiers from Ft. Randall to help us put things right." Billy and deputy Carlton both nodded. "Well the good news is they are coming, but the bad news is they wont get there till about a week from now, which means were gonna be the only law in the whole damn territory for a while.
I need you boys to keep your heads. Don't go anywhere alone and keep your eyes wide open all the damn time. That goes for you Billy, that gal of yours is gonna have to wait a little longer, we can't afford any distractions.
Were gonna be way out numbered and we gotta watch each others backs." Billy and Deputy Carlton both mustered their most serious tones and responded in unison "Yes sir!"
"Deputy Carlton?" Dixon said. "Sir?" "You and me have ridden together before and I know you can follow orders. Your good with a gun and I know your a capable law man, your still young yet, but your gonna make a damned good Marshall one day." Deputy Carlton couldn't help but to gloat a little. Marshall Dixon was a pretty hard nosed man and compliments came few and far between. But it wasn't lost on James that there were two reasons for the Marshall to talk him up a bit.
He wanted the deputy to go in to this situation with more confidence than fear running through his head.
Dixon turned to Billy next. "Deputy Lawton?" "Sir?" "I know this is your first time out, but I need your familiarity with the terrain and the people. I expect nothing but good things out of you, don't let me down son." His voice was hard and his face stern and Billy knew he meant business.
"No Sir. I wont." Marshall Dixon didn't want to be too hard on the boy, but he needed for Billy to fear him more than he feared outlaws.
The rest of the ride was pretty quiet and they reached Bristow right at sundown. When they rode up to the sheriff's office they found a derelict structure peppered with bullet holes. The wooden sign engraved with the word Sheriff was hanging by one end and had been hit with what looked like a shotgun blast. Billy didn't even recognize the building as the one he had seen built from the ground up not five years before. Deputy Carlton was thinking that it looked a hundred years old and remotely wondered if there were any ghosts inside. They dismounted without a word and climbed the rickety wooden steps.
Before Billy reached the top step his vision blurred, vertigo raked his mind and he staggered backwards down the steps. His sense of balance faded more and more with each unsure step until he struck a hitching post and toppled over it into the street.
With great effort Billy managed to right himself and get back to his feet. He swayed like a drunkard and staggered a few more feet. He was holding is arms out as if he were a blind man trying to negotiate his surroundings by feel alone.
A wave a nausea washed over him and he made a gagging dry heave motion. He grabbed his head and winced in agony as his nose released a torrent blood.
He stumbled forward flailing aimlessly and dropped face first right into the street like a sack of wet grain. A fine powdery cloud of dirt puffed up around his limp body. Delirious with exhaustion deputy Carlton let out a burst of laughter and doubled over holding his arms over his stomach.
Marshall Dixon just stood in a brief state of confusion "What the ......" he paused for a moment waiting for the young lawman to pick himself up and stammer some excuse about loose steps or some such nonsense to explain his clumsiness. But Billy didn't stir. When it became clear that he wasn't moving at all Dixon barked at his remaining deputy. "Carlton! Shut the hell up, you gibbering idiot. Get over here and help me."
Dixon knelt next to Billy and rolled him over. Billy's face was covered with dirt from scalp to chin. Dixon drew the bandanna from his neck and dusted the young deputy's face
repeatedly until he had cleared most of the dirt away from his eyes.
'He's still breathing' he thought. "Can ya hear me son?" At first there was no response then muttered whispers began to lazily pass over Billy's lips and Marshall Dixon knelt down even closer and turned his good ear to Billy's face in an effort to make out the almost breathless words. "Where did you..... where did you park the car? I lost my keys yesterday..................have to take a taxi...........................get home in time."

 

Chapter 2

The End

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Publication Date: 01-24-2011

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