by Brad Raylend
Luke grinned and chuckled. “Sorry … didn’t mean to get all sappy on ya.” He wiped the tears from his eyes.
“No … no it’s fine, Luke. Thank you for telling me that,” Todd said kindly. “I know how you feel; I live with similar regrets.”
“If I would have never met her, I don’t think I would have ever come out of the darkness, and if I ever lost her … I fear I would return to it.”
Todd looked down, then back up at Luke. “You’re a good man, Luke, and I think it’s for that reason that you were given Sarah. All you needed was someone to …” Todd stopped mid-sentence and thought for a moment. He then had an epiphany. Perhaps the only thing York needed was for someone from the outside to change his outlook on life, much like Sara had done for Luke. Maybe it was Todd who could convince him to come back into the light, or maybe it was Kara.
Luke broke the silence. “This is one of the many reasons why I came with you, Todd. I know the type of man your brother is, and I want to help you save him before he is lost forever.”
Todd nodded. “Thank you, Luke. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. You’re a good friend.”
Luke smiled and leaned back on his saddle, using it as a headrest. He breathed out slowly, looking up at the stars. “Nice night, huh?” he said.
Todd looked up at the crescent moon that glowed amongst the many stars. He felt warm inside, and for the first time in a long time he felt hope. Even with the apocalypse looming over him, he wondered if all this was meant to happen. Maybe the doomed future could be altered, just like Luke had been. He smiled and laid back, resting his head in his interlocked hands atop the saddle. “Perfect,” he said softly.
* * *
The next morning, Luke and Todd set out early after a quick breakfast. They continued west, away from the rising sun. They yelled over the galloping horses, talking about the mission at hand and how they would go about their search for York.
Their plan was to scout out the town from afar for a while, and ensure the place was not hostile in any way. They then would go in and talk to locals at the various establishments and try to find out if they knew anything regarding York’s whereabouts. They continued riding, their bandanas tied around their faces to shield them from the thick dust. They came to a small meadow and passed through it. When they reached the other side, they could see a stagecoach in the distance. They slowed their horses to a trot as the coach approached them.
As the coach neared, they could pick out an older man driving it. He wore a small billiard hat and a striped blouse and vest. Luke and Todd studied him as he drew near, watching for any sudden movements from the driver. They came up to each other along the thin road and the man called out to the four horses attached to the wagon.
“Whoa!” he said.
The horses came to a halt and he put both reins in one hand and extended his other out to Luke. Luke took it firmly and shook it.
“Howdy!” the man said cheerfully.
This was the first time Todd had heard someone say howdy, and it made him smile behind the dusty bandana.
“Were ya headed, fellas?” the man asked.
Luke nodded down the road. “Headin’ into town.”
“Hansen?” the man asked.
“I reckon,” Luke replied, slightly impatient.
“Well you boys ain’t got too much farther to go … we just came from there.”
“Who’s we?” Luke asked.
The door of the stagecoach opened, and the heel of a woman’s boot stepped down onto the metal step of the wagon. A tall flashy white hat came out first, worn by a young woman with shiny red hair. She held up her skirt as she stepped down and pulled down the brim of her large hat to shield her eyes from the sun.
“Ma’am,” Luke said as he tipped his hat towards her.
She smiled, her pale cheeks reddening, then she looked over at Todd and her expression turned to shock. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. She stared at him in silence for what seemed like minutes. Luke looked over at Todd and then back at her.
“Handsome … isn’t he?” Luke chuckled.
She stepped towards Todd, who had removed his bandana moments earlier. “You look just like him,” she said softly, almost in disbelief.
“Like who?” Todd asked, already knowing who she was referring to. He felt his heart rate pick up as his search had just taken an unbelievable turn for the better.
“The man with the scars,” she said.
Luke looked over at Todd, who sat in silence. “Sounds like our guy,” he said with a grin.
Todd leaned forward on his horse. “You know him?”
She nodded up at Todd. “He helped me … I’m going to Durango to take the train north, getting out of this Godforsaken desert.”
“Sounds like a swell fellow,” Luke said.
Todd dismounted his horse and stepped in front of her. She looked him in the eyes, then her eyes trailed down his body then back up again. She was amazed at how identical he looked minus the scars and longer hair. She leaned forward, speaking in almost a whisper.
“Are you here to help him? Is he in some kind of trouble?”
Todd looked down at the ground. “Let’s just say I’m trying to keep him out of trouble. He has had enough for a lifetime.”
She smiled kindly. “Please, take care of him. I could see the sadness in his eyes. Many might confuse him for an angry man, but I could tell it was sadness that was lingering in his heart.”
“Was he alone?” Todd asked.
“Yes, but out of choice. He said it was what he deserved,” she said, shaking her head sadly.
“What was he doing when you met him, and where was this?”
“At the saloon in town. He was sitting at the bar by himself, just minding his own business.”
Todd pondered for a moment then asked, “This was …”
“Last night,” Courtney interrupted.
“Was he carrying any weapons on him?” Todd asked, as he took out York’s journal and jotted down some notes.
Courtney tilted her head back slightly and her eyes shifted to the sky as she tried to remember. “I don’t … no, I don’t believe so.”
Todd nodded, looking down at his notes. Then he put the journal into the inside pocket of his duster. He looked over at Luke and shrugged. “Sounds like an easy day to me. He’s unarmed, and he has no idea we are coming. Plus, I know the guy ‘pretty’ well, and my gut is telling me that he isn’t just going to shoot at us at first sight.”
Luke chuckled and his horse snorted, as if to let Todd know that it was time to get moving. Todd looked back at Courtney and asked her what her name was. She told him, and he held out his hand to shake hers. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Todd was surprised by this, and he did his best to conceal his blushing cheeks with the shade from his hat. Courtney smiled at him and quickly turned and stepped back up into the wagon. The man on the bench tipped his hat to Todd and Luke and cracked the reins on the horses who jerked forward, bringing the heavy stagecoach loaded with luggage with them. The coach became smaller as Todd and Luke began trotting down the road. Luke had a smirk on his face that made Todd do a double take.
“What?” Todd snapped.
“I’m amazed that you ain’t been snatched up by some young gal,” he said with a hearty chuckle.
Todd rolled his eyes and smiled. They picked up the pace and raced down the long dirt road for about two hours. Few words were spoken between the two as they rode. Todd was becoming more on edge as he continued to take in what he was about to see. He was about to be the first man in history to have ever met himself. It was unreal to think of it in such a simplistic way, and he still had a tough time believing it. In a way, he had almost convinced himself that York was in fact his brother because of how many times he had said it. He hoped that when he and York actually came face to face that York would be smart enough to play along with the “brother” cover story. Considering York’s almost obsessive feelings about altering the
timeline, Todd assumed that it wouldn’t be a problem.
Luke could tell that Todd was getting into the mindset. He had the look of a man who was about to fight. He didn’t want to disturb him during these crucial times. He knew how important it was to be alone with your thoughts when you were about to do something like this. He admired Todd’s maturity, and his overall grasp of their journey. During their planning, Todd left no stone unturned as he jotted down notes in York’s journal, asking about every terrain feature and town illustrated on the map. Weather, illumination, environmental hazards and even wildlife were taken into account during their map study. Luke was impressed by how thorough he was and his incredible attention to detail.
The town was beginning to come into view in the distance. The heat emitting from the baking sand and dead grass made it appear as if it were a mirage, an unreachable figment of the imagination. They spurred their horses, increasing their speed at the sight of the long-intended destination. They passed beneath several large buttes that cast long shadows down into the valleys below. Their menacing size made Todd look up them in awe. It was like he was returning to the place where it all began. They approached the outskirts of the town, and Todd prepared his mind and body for the unreal experience he believed he was about to experience.
UNEXPECTED CONFRONTATION
It was a sweltering day in the city of Hansen that forced most of its occupants to stay inside or hidden beneath the shade of porches like desert animals. Like a small creek bed in the middle of the desert, the town was the only sign of life for as far as the eye could see. It was hidden between several large buttes, lying on a single road that ran east back to Colorado. It then headed west past Comb Ridge and eventually ran into Lake Powell.
The town was used often by outlaws and criminals as a place to lay low before crossing into one of the four corner states. The sun-baked road was like a frying pan, cooking the people walking across it. A few sweaty brows were shaded to view the two figures approaching from the distance. They trotted at a conservative pace as if they had been traveling for quite some time and they and their horses were parched.
Old timers of the town rocked in their wooden chairs, eyeballing their lever actions, keeping a close watch on the two strangers. They pulled down their bandanas, revealing their drastic differences in appearance. One seemed like an ordinary cowboy. He was tall and broad, with thick facial hair as most men of his age. He carried two pistols on his belt and a Winchester rifle on his saddle. The other man, however, looked like he didn’t belong. He was a younger man and he seemed curious as he never stopped looking around. He studied the locals and the buildings with intrigued eyes. The two rode up to the local saloon where they dropped down from their horses and tied them to the hitching post next to the front porch.
The saloon was an old rundown building. It had two stories which seemed to be barely holding together by the dark aged wood. In big faded white lettering was the saloon’s name, displayed above double swinging doors: “The Watering Hole.” Todd and Luke studied the building suspiciously, then looked around the town. Todd felt anxious; at any moment he could be standing face to face with his same-self. He remained vigilante, eyeing everyone within view, studying their body movements and posture. So far, he had yet to see anyone who struck him as familiar. The two looked at each other, then ascended the two steps up onto the porch of the saloon and pushed through the swinging doors. Luke entered first, then a few seconds later Todd followed.
It was crowded inside the saloon, with crusty citizens rubbing elbows and drinking hard liquor. The piano player was playing an uplifting tune, and the prostitutes were strolling around casually in their large dresses, flicking Chinese fans in front of their faces. Luke walked to the far side of the bar and looked out into the main floor, while Todd casually approached the bartender.
“How can I help ya?” the bartender asked, not seeming to recognize him. Perhaps he was a different bartender than the one who served York the night before.
“I was hoping you could help me out,” Todd said loudly over the noise of the saloon.
The bartender leaned up against the bar, leaning over to hear him more clearly.
“I’m looking for my brother. He has scars on his face. He and I are twins.”
The bartender studied Todd for a moment, puckering his lips and rubbing his freshly shaved jaw. He looked around the bar then back at Todd.
“Ya know,” he said, canting his head to the side, “I think I do remember the fellow … yes. I didn’t bother chattin’ with him for obvious reasons, he looked like a mean son of a bitch.”
Todd was about to ask another question when a large mug slammed down on the bar next to him, drops of beer splashing across the wood surface and onto Todd’s sleeve. Todd scooted over to make room for the individual who was obnoxiously making his presence known. He had long dirty blonde hair that was knotted and greasy. He wore a dirty short-brimmed hat that complemented his overall homeless look. He rudely asked for another drink then looked over at Todd with a devious grin which revealed his tobacco-crusted yellow teeth.
“Well, well, well,” he said. “If it ain’t the whore lover himself.”
Todd looked over at him with a hard glare. “Do I know you?”
The man’s grin turned to a scowl. “Watchya mean? We’ve been looking for your sorry ass for weeks. You …” He paused, then studied Todd’s face closely. “I recall you lookin’ a lot uglier the last time we met.”
Todd snickered. “You must be thinking of my brother. And who might you be?”
“The name’s Pete Moore, and you must have lost your Goddamn mind, ‘cause the last time we met, you busted up my little brother over a cheap whore,” he said, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder to a group of dirty men sitting at a circular table. The youngest-looking one had a swollen nose and black eyes. His crusty lips barely concealed his tooth-absent mouth.
Todd laughed at the sight of the ugly kid, and Pete stood up quickly, knocking his bar stool down. The piano player stopped playing to see what the source of the commotion was. Every head in the bar turned to see the two men facing each other. The bartender nervously wiped down a shot glass behind the bar, and the prostitutes sat motionless in the arms of their soon to be customers. Todd reached down and picked up the barstool and gently placed it back, aligned with the others. Pete’s eyes stayed locked on him, his hand hovering over his six shooter.
“Something wrong here?” Luke said as he approached from behind Pete.
“This asshole beat the shit out of my brother in Durango and ran like a chicken shit coward,” said Pete, spitting a wad of tobacco onto the ground.
Todd’s grin faded away and his faced hardened. He clenched his fists, waiting for him to make any sudden movement. “I told you, that was my brother. Do you see any scars on my face?” Todd said through gritted teeth.
Pete eyed his flawless skin then replied, “I don’t care what kind of tricks you think you can pull. I know it’s you, your disguise won’t help you.”
The four men sitting at the table stood up, glaring at Todd. The entire saloon was dead silent. Luke watched the four of them as they began closing in around Todd. Todd felt his hand begin to tense up as he prepared to draw his 1911.
“You sure you want to do this here?” Todd asked, looking around the room.
Pete snickered. “Why don’t we step outside?”
Todd turned and walked to the swinging doors, the five rustlers following closely behind. Luke waited for them to step out before he followed. Todd and Luke had planned to not enter together to hide their partnership in case of just such an incident. As far as the Moore brothers were concerned, Luke was just an ordinary citizen who was concerned about the safety of the innocent townsfolk.
The six made their way out to the road where the five of them encircled Todd. Todd turned slowly, studying the five men around him. Each man carried a single revolver on their right hip, with the grip to the rear, meaning each man was right-handed and wou
ld no doubt lead with a wide right-handed haymaker. The chubbier one of the five held a double barrel shotgun under his arm. Pete had grabbed his coat as they left, which concealed a lever action shotgun. He held it in his left hand, down at his waist, pointing at Todd with his right.
“You’ve done made a big mistake fuckin’ with the Moores,” he said. The four others nodded in approval. “You’re gonna pay for wutch ya did.”
He dropped the shotgun to the ground, along with his coat, and rolled up the sleeves of his dirty shirt. Todd watched him carefully as he paced around him slowly, waiting for an opening. Luke watched from the porch, his hands resting on his dual Peacemakers. The four rustlers spread out around Todd, making an inescapable barrier.
Todd rolled his eyes. “Listen, you morons. I’m not York, okay. The guy who made a fool out of you idiots is my brother. We are looking for the same pers—.”
“Shut up!” Pete yelled. “You ain’t foolin’ anyone.”
Todd slapped his hands down to his side and sighted loudly. “God, you guys are idiots!”
The five men circling around Todd looked at each other in confusion. Suddenly, Pete reared back with his right fist and swung at Todd. Todd quickly countered his blow by curling his arm up to his head, deflecting Pete’s punch off to the left. In one smooth motion, he extended his arm, placing his hand on his chest and locking Pete’s right arm between his shoulder and neck, then drove his right foot back, knocking Pete’s feet out from under him and throwing him to the ground.