Liberty Run

by David Robbins

  A minute dragged by.

  Two.

  Sundance could feel his shoulder muscles beginning to ache.

  The sparrow stayed perched on the tree, chirping contentedly, enjoying the sunshine.

  Sundance felt a twinge in his right shoulder, and he remembered the cautionary advice the Healers had given him, not to strain his shoulder or he would spend another week in the infirmary. If the damn bird didn’t move soon, he’d have to for—

  The sparrow took wing.

  Sundance drew like never before, his hands streaking to his holsters, the Grizzlies flying free and sweeping low, the barrels already aimed, and then, and only then, did he realize Hickok hadn’t drawn! He froze, utterly dum founded.

  Hickok laughed. “I never draw on a fellow Warrior either,” he explained. “And I’m goin’ to speak my piece, whether you like it or not.”

  Sundance absently stared at the Grizzlies in his hands, then at Hickok.

  “Bertha has been alone for a long, long time,” Hickok was saying. “Too long. Once, way back when, she told me she wanted us to be an item.

  You’ve got to admire her grit!” Hickok paused, his tone softening. “I felt real bad about it, ’cause I never seriously looked at her as more than a friend. A close friend. One of the best. And when I met Sherry, it cinched things for me. I know there’s been a lot of gossip about Bertha and me.

  Some people ain’t got nothin’ better to do with their time than flap their gums!” He stared at his moccasins. “But I wanted you to know there isn’t any truth to those lousy rumors. And I wanted to ask you something, man to man. Warrior to Warrior.”

  Sundance noticed Hickok was using a normal vocabulary. “What is it?”

  Hickok gazed into Sundance’s eyes. “How you feel about Bertha is your business. But if you do have any feelings for her, any feelings at all, then why don’t you go talk to her? I know you’ve hardly said three words to her since you got back from Philly. I’m not even going to ask you why. That’s your business too. But if you do like her, even just a little bit, why don’t you get to know her? I guarantee you’ll never find a better woman, anywhere.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Sundance asked. “If she wants to talk to me, then why didn’t she visit me in the infirmary?”

  “I’m doin’ this ’cause I’m a busybody,” Hickok answered. “And ’cause Blade said Bertha was actin’ like she’s interested in you. I don’t know why she didn’t come see you when you were laid up. She’s kept pretty much to herself since you three came back. I think something happened to her out there. I don’t know what. That’s for you to find out. If you want to, that is.”

  Hickok grinned and started to turn. “There. I’ve said my fill. The rest is up to you. And if you’re half the man I think you are, I expect to be best man at your wedding.”

  “Hickok,” Sundance said.

  Hickok stopped. “What?”

  “You tricked me, didn’t you? You never intended to draw. You just wanted me so rattled you could have your say without me interrupting. Am I right?” Sundance queried.

  Hickok chuckled. “I’ll never tell.”

  Sundance grinned. “I’m beginning to understand the reason for your reputation. It’s well deserved. You’re one shrewd Warrior.”

  Hickok raised his right forefinger over his lips. “Shhh! Don’t let Geronimo hear you saying that! He thinks I’m an idiot, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  Sundance laughed. “I’ll never tell.”

  “And give some thought to Bertha, will you?” Hickok mentioned as he began to stroll off.

  “I will,” Sundance promised.

  “One more thing,” Hickok said, looking over his right shoulder.

  “What?” Sundance responded.

  “You can put those Grizzlies away, unless you want me to find you a sparrow to shoot.”

  Three months later Sundance and Bertha were married in an elaborate Family ceremony. Hickok served as best man.