7/18/09

Delivering the Bad News

Seventeen days riding due east across the Arizona flats and I've finally locked her in my sights. My dusty boots clomp through the saloon doors carrying such a heavy burden.

The swinging door squeaks open as I go over those few words I've rehearsed so many times over. I've got to say it right.

Her powdery skin is velvet under the dim bar light. It's been four months since I last laid eyes on her, pouring that cold beer for me on the night we left. If I was half the man I should be, i would have just found the money and got her out of this place.

She looks up from behind the bar, and her pale blue eyes light up like stars of the big dipper. The night before it happened, Bill and I stayed up late talking about her and staring at that same constellation. A man would be a fool not to love her like he did. But like I always said, fools always get what's comin' to them.

She recognizes me from under this cake of dirt. A shriek of delight escapes her lips and she runs toward me, but instantly realizes that i'm alone.

"Where is he? Where's..."

I remove my ten-gallon hat and hysteria sweeps over her. She screams and drops to her knees, sobbing. I slowly crouch down beside her. She's in my arms now.
Mine.

1 comments:

  1. Any chance somebody's been watching Deadwood?

    ReplyDelete

I dare you.