Hell for Leather

by Joshua Yancey

  “I love you, too.” said Alaine with tears in her eyes, “How did you find me?”

  “Does it matter? I always seem to find you somehow.” he said. Alaine smiled. Arthur made a move for his weapon. “I wouldn’t do that.” said Zeke. “On second thought,” he continued after a moment, “if I kill you, Alaine’s a widow and I can marry her, so by all means, pick it up. Make it your wedding present to us.” Arthur seemed drunk and crazy. Zeke was calm. Arthur looked down at his gun and nonchalantly picked it up. Zeke cocked the hammer back.

  “Zeke,” whispered Alaine into his ear, “don’t do this. You’re better than this.” Zeke made no reply. Arthur began to chuckle like a madman.

  “It’s funny.” he said, “I should have known I’d end up like this.”

  “Arthur,” pleaded Alaine, “put it down.” Alaine was watching his hand but Zeke was watching his eyes. What he saw made him uneasy. For too long, they stood there, Zeke aiming at Arthur. Arthur standing there with a gun in his hand and Alaine with her arms around Zeke. It was too much for Arthur to bear. His hand came up.

  A thunderous boom erupted from Zeke’s gun and Arthur spun to the ground. Alaine had closed her eyes but now opened them.

  “You killed him.” she said quietly.

  “No I didn’t.” replied Zeke. Alaine was confused. Zeke walked slowly over to Arthur as though he were strolling through a park. Arthur was lying on his back, holding his right shoulder and groaning.

  “You missed.” he managed to hiss between gasps of pain.

  “No.” said Zeke, holstering his gun, “I didn’t.” Alaine, who had been frozen in shock, finally thawed out and ran to Zeke’s side.

  “You didn’t kill him?” she still wasn’t sure what to think.

  “Well,” sighed Zeke, “I figured if old Smythe is half as good at lawyering as he seems to be, then killing this son of a bitch would be just doing him a favor. I’ll let Smythe take care of him.” Alaine threw her arms around Zeke’s neck.

  “Never leave me again.” she begged.

  “Don’t worry, darling.” he replied, wrapping his arms around her, “I ain’t going anywhere. Not without you.” Zeke whistled to his anonymous horse who dutifully obeyed and trotted to his rider. The three of them turned away from Arthur.

  “You can’t just leave me here.” moaned Arthur, struggling to his feet.

  “You’ll be fine,” answered Zeke without looking back, “even with that limp.” Arthur was confused.

  “I don’t have limp.” Arthur replied. In one smooth motion, Zeke turned, drew his pistol and fired. The expert shot hit Arthur in the leg where it would do little more than hurt like a sonofabitch.

  “I will not abide a man calling me a liar.” Arthur fell to the ground moaning. “Be quiet, you sissy.” admonished Zeke as he turned to leave.

  “You’re absolutely incorrigible.” smiled Alaine.

  “Probably.” said Zeke.

  Zeke loosely tied his horse to the wagon, which wasn’t actually broken and turned it back towards town.

  “What do we do now?” asked Alaine as the horses pulled them forward to the horizon.

  “Whatever we want. We’re free.”

  With the setting sun behind them, the landscape before them was lit with a heavenly, golden glow and for the first time in a very long time, Zeke was at peace. His home, now and forevermore, was sitting beside him, holding onto his arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

  THE END