Trials of Hell

Chapter One

A man rides through the desert. The man was dressed in ragged old cloths. They had sweat stains and dust all over them. It was if they had been dragged across rocks. He was slumped over as if he were asleep. A slight deep breath was all that could be heard from him as he breathed. His horse resembled that of a skeleton. It’s ribs could be seen on its side. The man had a canteen hanging from his saddle. It was covered in dust just as much as the man was. The man swallowed and licked his lips.

He reached for the canteen and brought it to his chin. He pulled the cork from the opening. It was so dry that the cork did not make a sound and part of it fell apart in his hand. The man dropped it to the ground. He the took the canteen and held it to his mouth. Not even a drop fell from it. It was so hot that what little water he had evaporated. The man just looked at the canteen with disappointment.

At that time his horse stopped and fell over. It had become so weak and frail that it could go on no more. The man was thrown to the ground. He laid on the ground winded. He could hear his horse trying to catch its breath. The man slowly got to his knees and looked at his horse. He rubbed its neck with a tired worn look on his face. The man drew his revolver from his side. “Sorry ole friend” he said with a rasp in his voice.

He put the gun to the horses head. His hand was so weak and shaky that he had to use both hands just to cock the hammer back. With a quick squeeze the gun fired. The man just fell backwards after the shot. He lay on his back looking at the sun that was beating down hard on him. The man knew that he was to soon take his last breath. He just closed his eyes and waited for death to come. At that moment the man could hear the distant sound of horses. The man thought that it was all in his mind.

He thought that he was hallucinating. The man turned out to be wrong. Men from a nearby trail heard the shot and came running. It took them about ten minutes to get to the site from which the shot came. They found the man who at this point was completely passed out from the heat. They grabbed him and draped him across the back of one of their horses. One of the men looked to the other and asked if there was a close by doctor. The one man said that they were not far from a town.

It took them until sun down to reach the town. The sun was setting as the group came into the edge of town. The men stopped their horses and asked a woman where the doctor was. The woman said the doctor was in the center of town by the sheriffs office. Both the men tipped their hats and said “Thanks” as they began to ride again. They raced through the town at break neck speed. They soon came to the doctors office and leaped from their horses to get the doctor. The doctor was an old man about in his mid fifties.

“Doc” said one of the men. “We found a man in the desert. He was passed out when we found him.” the doctor told the men to bring him in. The two men draped the man’s arms around their necks. They carried him in to the office. The doctor put on a pair of glasses and lifted the mans chin. He turned the mans head and told the other men to take him to the back bed room. They took and laid him on the bed. The doctor told the men to go and tell the sheriff what was happening.

The men left the doctor alone to examine the man. The men went into the sheriffs office next door and found the sheriff looking over some papers on his desk. The sheriff looked up at the men and asked “Yeah?” The men began to tell the sheriff what had happened. As they went on with their story the sheriff stopped them. He had a look on his face as if he was thinking hard about something. The sheriff opened a drawer on the desk and pulled out a stack of wanted posters. “What did you say he looked like again?” asked the sheriff.

The men described the man and the sheriff soon stopped at a poster in the pile of papers. “Did he look like this?” said the sheriff showing them the picture. The men said yes that’s him. The sheriff stood from his desk and told the men to follow him. The went back to the doctors office and threw the door open. The doctor was coming out of the back room. He looked to the sheriff and before he could say anything the sheriff told him that the man in the next room was wanted for murder. The doctor proceeded to tell the sheriff that he was in no shape to move.

The man who was awake now could hear the men in the next room. He was laying in the bed and knew that he must get out of the building before the sheriff could get him. He slowly sat up and and put his boots on the man was still weak. And tried to stand but almost fell just catching himself on the bed railing. He walked over to a window and opened it. The man climbed out and leaned against the wall. He was not sure where he was or how to get out of the town before the sheriff found him.

The man looked up to the night sky and knew that he would never get past all the street lamps in the town. He stuck to the shadows and allies and soon came to the edge of town. A saloon sat before him and he thought that he might be able to hide for the night and get some rest and food. The man slowly approached the saloon to find no noise coming from it. The man walked in to see a bartender behind the counter. “Come in”

Said the bartender. The man asked where everyone was. The bartender smiled and said that it was getting late and he closed early that night. The man said that he needed a room and some food. The bartender told the man that he had a few rolls left from dinner and that he had one room left. The man pulled a silver dollar from his pocket and sat it on the counter. The bartender told him that the cost was two coins. The man took another from his pocket and sat it on the counter.

The bartender sat a shot glass on the counter and pored a shot of Kentucky red eye. The man said “I didn’t get that.” The bartender told him that the first is always free. He then handed the man a key and told him the last door on the left up the stairs was his for the night. The man drank the shot and took the key. The man climbed the stairs and soon found a long hallway before him. Rooms sat all to both sides of him. He proceeded down the hall and could hear snoring in some rooms and nothing in others.

The man soon came to his room and went in. The bed sat next to a window. It was old and dusty as if no one had been in it for a year. The man did not care for he was still tired and weak. He closed the door and walked over to the bed. The man did not even take his boots or hat off. he just fell face first onto the bed and fell asleep. “AAahhhhh!!!” a scream rang from all corners of the room. The man sat up and looked. A second scream filled the air. The man leaped to his feet. The man ran to the door and opened it.

He stepped into the hall that was now dark. The lamps that had lit it earlier were now dark. The man looked around to find nothing. The room that was next to the mans had its door slightly open. The man put his hand on the door . As he did a chill went down his spine. He slowly opened the door and said “Hello?” As the door opened a bed sat at the far end of the room. A small girl sat on the bed. She was facing away from the door. The man stepped in and asked was she alright.

The girl did not respond, she just sat silently. The man walked closer to her “Little girl? Are you alright?” As the man rounded the foot of the bed his face turned pale. He soon got a look at her face. It was that of a black chard skull. Her eyes were gone and her hair was black and hung down. The man looked with eyes winded and said “My God” At that moment the girls head turned and looked at the man.

The man fell back against the wall looking on in horror. The girl then stood and slowly started to walk towards him. The man thought quickly and ran to the door. He opened it and found nothing. The floor and the walls were all gone. Before him sat a bottomless black void. The man turned and found that the girl was right behind him. He fell back in fear into the void. As he fell the girl looked down at him. She grew smaller and smaller as he fell. Until he could see her no more.

Chapter Two

The man fell in total darkness. The odd thing that he realized was that there was no wind. No noise, top, or bottom. Just darkness and silence. Devoid of any and all light. SMACK! The man suddenly hits ground. He could feel the wind leave his lungs and it felt as if all his bones had broken. But strangely he was able to lift himself and stand. When he stood he still could only see darkness. The man grew more and more uneasy. Considering the sight he had just seen. The man looked to his sides, up and down and could see nothing.

Suddenly a light was in front of him. He squinted as he looked at it. It seemed far away. Almost as if it was miles from him. The man did not care though. He did not wish to stay in darkness any longer. He started towards the light. Even him walking made no sound. “A man could go nuts in this kinda place.” he said to himself. As he drew more near to the light he could smell the faint smell of smoke. As the area around him grew with light he could see more around him.

He found that he was walking in a forest of sorts. It was almost odd for the forest seemed familiar to him. As he kept walking an opening soon started to appear in the forest. As he entered the clearing a small ranch home and farm sat before him. It was odd the man felt uneasy yet safe. Almost as if he was in a place of peace. The man was not taking any chances though. He drew his revolver and approached the house slowly. He stepped onto the porch and cocked his revolver. Placing his hand on the door made his heart beat fast. It felt as if it would explode in his chest.

He turned the knob and opened the door. He was met with something that surprised him. A quiet home. A fire in the fire place which was made of stone. “Now. Now the smell of smoke makes seance.” He said scanning the room. A noise in another room caught him off guard. He turned his gun to the door of the room as a women stepped through. She was beautiful in all aspect of the word. She had golden hair with big blue eyes. A stained apron and dark blue blouse tucked in a dress as golden red as the sunset.

“Well you took longer then you said.” the woman said looking at the man. The man was puzzled. The woman looked familiar to the man and how she was speaking to him made him feel even more at ease. The woman put her hands on her hips and said “Supper is almost ready. Your daughter is out in the yard getting eggs. Will you go tell her to come in an wash up?” The man lowered his gun and holstered it. Confusion came over his face as he looked to the ground thinking. The only thought that kept repeating in his head was “Is this real?” “Well?” said the woman.

The man nodded and turned around to go back outside. He closed the door behind him as he stepped out. Still thinking hard about what was happening. The man walked over to the barn area looking around him. The sky was blue and the sun was bright. The grass was a green with trees surrounding the area. The barn was made of wood boards and sat dominating the edge of the clearing. The man walked over to it and saw a little girl around a few chickens. She had a basket in hand with eggs in it. The man stopped and looked at her closely. He knew that this girl could be like the last.

The man cleared his throat with his hand on his revolver. Ready to pull it at a moments notice. The little girl turned. She had a bright smile and a round little nose. “Daddy.” she said happily. She ran over and hugged the man around his waist. The man taken by more of a surprise. It was all to real. Everything seemed right to him. This was his child. He took his hand off his revolver and placed it on her head. A slight smile came over his face as he did this. He felt at peace with what was going on. He picked up the little girl and held her in his arms.

“Let’s get them eggs to your mama.” he said with joy. He carried her to the house with a slight tear in his eye. He thought was everything that happened just a bad dream. Have I awaken from a nightmare? It did not matter to the man. He walked in the house and set the girl down. She took the eggs to her mother in the next room. The man followed close behind with a slight grin on his face. The woman took the eggs from the little girl and told her to go wash up. The man looked at the woman a smiled.

The woman could feel him looking at her and said “The last time you looked at me like that was the day you asked me to marry you.” The man chuckled and said that it was the best day. The woman smiled and looked at him. She told him to go set the table for supper. The man nodded happily and walked over to the table. He took some plates that sat in a cabinet next to and set them around the table. The woman brought over a small chicken and set it in the center of the table. She looked at the man and said that the scrambled eggs would be done in a bit. That he should go wash as well.

The man went to the water closet and opened the door. The little girl was drying her hands and looked up at him. “Don’t you know you have to knock before entering a water closet?” She said with a smile. The man laughed and said is that so? The girl nodded and he simple told her to go to the table chuckle in his voice. He patted her on the back as she walked by. He then walked over to the stand and washed his hands in the water bowl. At this point the man thought to himself that this was real. That there was no possible way the events of yesterday had happened.

The man went back into the dinning room and sat at the table. He took his hat from his head as he sat down. The family began to eat the meal that sat before them. The smell of roasted chicken and eggs filled the room. The smell of the wood fire in the stone fire place was almost gone with the smell of the cooked food. After they ate the woman told the little to get ready for bed. The little girl did as she was told and left the table. The man smiled and watched the girl as she left. The woman then looked to the man and said “We need to talk.”

The man looked up at her. A slight smile still on his face. “I got another message from the bank. They want to know how long before we pay them the mortgage.” said the woman with a concerned look. The man sat back in his chair taken back by this. He rubbed back his hair and said “Can we sell some animals?” The woman sighed and told him that even if they did they still would not have enough. The man thought hard and told the woman that he needs to sleep on it. That he might have an answer in the morning.

The woman stood up and said that she hopes he’s right. That night the man lied awake in bed thinking how could he get money fast. He did not want to lose the life he had. It was soon morning and the man had hardly any sleep. He got out of bed and got dressed. The woman sat up as he was dressing himself and asked what he was doing. The man told her that he would be going to the bank to talk to them about the debt. The woman said to be careful and come back home safe. The left the house and walked over to the barn.

A horse stood in a stall eating hay. The man put a blanket on its back then a saddle. As he mounted the horse he remembered how dark it was in the forest. Still unsure he grabbed a lantern that hung on a pole in the barn and rode off. As he entered the forest it was bight as the morning fog burnt away. The man now understood that the night before must have been a bad dream. It took an hour on horse back before the man came to a town. A train sat on the edge of town blowing its whistle as it started to pull away from the station.

The streets were busy with people walking around and into the shops. The man rode into the town and found the bank to his left at the center of the town. He stopped his horse at a hitching post and tied it up. He stepped into the bank and looked to the counter. A set of rod iron bars went across the counter and a man stood behind it counting up silver dollars and bank notes. The cashier looked up at the man and asked him if he needed any help. The man walked over to the counter and asked to see the bank manager. The cashier told him the manager was across the street at the saloon eating lunch.

The man thanked the cashier and left. He stepped out and looked across the street to the saloon. He walked over to the saloon and went in. It was slightly dead inside. Very few people; maybe one or two people even in the place. The man saw a well dressed man sitting at a table eating a bowl of potato soup and green beans. He approached him and asked “Are you the bank manager?” the well dressed man looked up and wiped his mouth. “Yes sir I am.” he said with a heavy southern accent. The man told him that he needed to talk to him about his house mortgage.

The manager gestured for the man to sit down. The men began to talk for what seemed like hours. “I’m sorry sir. But your farm is two months behind already. Either you have the money by the end of the week or I’m afraid I will have to foreclose on the property.” said the manager with a strong tone. The man looked down and thought. What... What could he do to keep from loosing his home. The manager stood and told the man that he had to go back to work and to come see him if he got the money. The man watched the manager leave with a look of concern on his face.

The man sighed as the manager walked out the door. Just thinking of what he could do to save his family from losing their home. At about the same time the man let out his sigh two other man came to the table. “Couldn’t help but hear you problem sir. Mind if we join you?” said one of the men. The man just nodded and the men sat. “My name Robert and this is Issac.” Robert and Issac began to tell the man about an inheritance that Issac had to go pick up at a bank three towns over.

It was a large sum and they needed someone to help protect them on the long ride home. The man asked how much he would be paid. Issac taking a drink of his bottle said “It would be just enough to pay the bank.” The man thought hard about what he was being offered. It was a way to save his home. His daughter would have a safe place to lay her head at night and a warm bed to sleep in. The man looked to Robert and Issac and said “I’m in.” The men shook hands and said that they would meet in the morning to leave.

The man left the saloon and mounted his horse. He was off to his home to prepare for the long ride ahead.

Chapter Three

The man rode his horse through the forest that he had before. Running through his head was the thought of how much food he should take. The sun was setting and the man still had a good fifth-teen minute ride ahead of him. The man then stopped his horse. He turned to look behind him for he thought he had heard something walking. He looked for a good few seconds when a loud shriek. A pale man with no eyes and worms coming from his skull appeared in the path. He had on a suit that was dirty and his cloths had a bit of grave yard mold on them.

The mans eyes widened as he turned and spurs his horse. The corpse stayed close behind him. It was keeping right at the rear of the horse. Letting out grotesque grunts as it tried reaching for him. The horse was breathing hard and the man was pale with fear. The man could soon see his home in the distance. He turned to look behind him and the corpse was practically touching the horses tail. He stopped his horse in front of his home. Looking back into the now dark forest. He could see nothing chasing him anymore.

Just as quickly as the corpse came it was gone. The man paused and looked around him. He sat on his horse looking for any sign of movement for what seemed like hours. He dismounted his horse still pale with fear. He moved slowly to the barn on the far end of the dark yard. His heart shuttered with every step he took. The sounds of the night time forest that surrounded his home made him more and more paranoid. Upon reaching the barn he opened the door. It was quiet with all the animals asleep. The smell of straw filled his nose as he lead his horse inside.

The man placed the horse in the stall for the night and started back out to his house. When he stepped into the yard closing the door behind him. He could feel something watching him. He looked around and could see nothing. The moon soon came from behind some clouds and gave light to his surroundings. Now that he could see there was still nothing. He still was nervous as he walked back to his home. The man made it across his yard with a heavy step. Stopping to look around only once more.

It was strange. He could still feel eyes on him; But could see nothing in the moonlight. The man went inside his home. He locked the door with a small iron slide lock and placed a chair against it. He walked into his bedroom and found his wife asleep. He started to wake her and tell her what had just happened. But then he paused and thought. If he told her she would think him mad. Maybe even put him in an asylum. He then sat on the foot of the bed and thought more about it. What if what he saw was just from him being tired. He could have imagined the whole thing. His wife started to roll over to her side.

As she did he looked at her. He knew he couldn’t tell her when he saw he face. He did not wish to worry her in any way. What would he do if she left him and took his only child. Or worse how could live in an asylum knowing his daughter would think him insane. He let out a slight sigh and moved to his side of the bed. He took off his cloths and was only in his long johns. He laid down and slowly went to sleep. Still on edge from it all and still wondering was it real.

The morning sun soon rose. The sunlight filled the bedroom and the heat of it hit the mans face. He opened his eyes to the light filled room. His wife was gone from the bed and her side made. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He put on his pants and shirt. Then his boots. He walked into the next room to find her making a fire in the fireplace. “Dear....” said the man watching her building a fire. “I need to talk to you.”

The woman turned and asked him how his meeting at the bank went. The man looked at her with worry in his face. He told her that the bank manager was only going to give them a week to pay. The woman sat down hard in a chair next to the fire and hung her head in one hand. The man then told her of how their luck may have changed. He told her of Robert and Issac. The two men he was to meet soon for their ride.

She stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. “How do you know we can trust these men?” she asked. The man shrugged and said that they do not have much choice in the matter. She took her hand off his shoulder and walked over to the fire. She crossed her arms and just stared at the flames. The man walked up to her and placed his hands on her arms. He told her to not worry. That he would be gone maybe three days and would be back in time to pay the bank.

She looked at him over her shoulder. She was unsure of what to say to him. The man simply said that he was going to pack and say goodbye to his daughter. The man began to pack a sack with a tent and some jars of food. He took a canteen of water and placed it in his bag. About that time while he was tying his sack. Robert and Issac rode up to the house. The mans wife stepped out on the porch as the men rode up. Robert tipped his hat to her and said “Good morning ma’am. Is you husband ready yet?” The woman looked at the two men. She nodded and said yes to them.

The man started to walk out of the house. Right as he stepped out his daughter ran up behind him and hugged his leg. The man turned and patted her head. He told her to take care of her mother and to be mindful of her as well. The little girl said “yes sir” with her angelic voice. The woman stopped the man as he started to turn. Sh just looked at him and kissed him on the lips. She then drew back and said to be careful. The man placed his hand on her face and told her to not worry. The man told Robert and Issac he just had to get his horse from the barn.

Issac looked at him and told him to hurry. The man walked over to the barn and opened the door. He walked over and started to prepare his horse. When he noticed something strange. The horses tail was bloody. It looked as a paint brush would if you were to dip it in paint. He went to the back of the horse just watching the tail. He started to reach for it and touch the blood when Robert shouted to him. “Would you hurry up! We need to be going!” the man took his eyes off the tail to look at Robert. When he turned back the blood was gone.

The man just looked at the tail strangely. Were last nights events still playing tricks on his mind? he thought to himself. He took a deep breath and saddled up his horse. He mounted his horse and rode it out to the men. “What was you doing in there?” asked Robert. The man did not want to say anything and simply told the men he was having trouble with the horse. The man spur his horse a bit and made it jump. He sealed his lie by pulling the rain and telling the horse easy.

Robert and Issac told the man to keep his horse under control. He nodded and told them that he would. The men then rode off into the forest. They had many a days ride ahead of them. The man could still hear his wife’s words in his head. The warning of how could they trust the men just stuck with him. He was unsure why it did though. The man rode behind Robert and Issac. He wanted to keep an eye on them. He had no choice in trusting the men. For now they had his trust. But he was not going to fully give them it.

The men rode for many hours. The sun soon started to set on the horizon. The man grew a bit nervous. He did not know what might happen when the sun went down. The past few nights had been filled with terror for some reason. He was not sure if they were just bad dreams or something worse. Issac turned and looked at the man. Issac told the man that they were going to stop and make camp for the night. The man did not like this idea. Just the thought of being in the middle of nowhere with two men he did not fully know.

The worse part was that if his dreams were indeed real. He was completely exposed to what ever horrors he was to face.

Chapter Four

The men stopped next to a small steam. They tied their horses to a couple of small trees that sat next to the stream. Robert built a small fire with some woods shavings he had brought. Issac unfolded a blanket and laid it on the ground close to the fire. The man still unsure of Robert and Issac placed his small sack to a tree that sat a few feet away. “You’re going to get a chill sleeping over there.” said Robert. The man responded with “No. I’ll be fine.” Robert shrugged as he placed a log on the fire and said simply “okay.”

Robert and Issac laid on their blankets and went to sleep. The mans eyes darted around. He looked every where that the fire light touched. Three hours passed and the man still had not fallen asleep. The fire was dying out as the dragged on. With it the man grew more and more tired. His eyes felt more and more heavy as he laid his head on his sack and took a small blanket out to keep warm. The last thing the man saw was the night sky. The green and purple hue that flowed above him with the blue and white light of the stars above.

The man fell fast asleep. The sun soon started to rise and the man was kicked in his leg. Issac stood above him as he raised his head. “Get up. We got to get back on the trail.” Issac said holding his blanket over his shoulders. The man sat up and stretched and started to pop his neck when it hit him. He realized that he had just had the first night of peace in three days. As the man sat and thought he started to smile. After all he had seen the past few nights it was nothing more then nightmares.

The man smiled and stood up. He pulled his blanket off of himself and rolled it up. The man then stuffed it back into his sack and mounted his horse. Robert was dragging his feet getting in the saddle. He kicked some dirt on the ashes of the fire and mounted his horse. “What’s wrong with him?” asked the man to Issac. Issac looked at him and told him that Robert has not slept well in years. The man asked why and Issac told him that it was because during the civil war he was a scout for the union.

That even today twelve years later. He still has a hard time sleeping. That he always expects to get his throat cut by a confederate. The man just looked at Robert with sympathy. He had never seen the horrors of war; but could only imagine what Robert had seen and done. The men were soon back on the trail. The men had at least one more days ride ahead of them. The trail was going to take them through a small mountain pass. There were other ways they could go but the pass was the quickest.

It would be cold hard ride up the mountain. But it was only four days before the weeks end. The man told Robert and Issac that they would need to ride all night to make it on time. Robert still a bit groggy from his night looked to the man. rubbing his chin he told the man that they should reach their destination by night fall. The man asked if he was sure. Issac looked over his shoulder and told the man that the pass cut hours off of the journey. The man had never taken the pass that the men wanted to take.

But if it got him home faster and helped him pay his debt then he was for it. The men soon reached the base of the mountains. A small narrow horse path was going up its side. Robert rode the path first. The man followed and Issac brought up the rear. It took them a good half hour to reach the midway point on the mountain. The men stopped their horses to give them a brake before continuing on. It would take another hour to reach the top.

The man took out his canteen and took a small drink. The water was just as cold as the air. The man looked at Robert and Issac. They were putting on heaver coats and a blanket. The man didn’t know that they would be going some where cold. He had only brought a blanket. The man looked around and thought about what he could do to keep warm. He saw some tall grass growing close to where they had stopped. The man being the farmer that he was. Knew that he could use some of the grass to keep warm.

He grabbed a few hand fulls of the grass and stuffed it down his shirt. It was an old trick to keep warm but it was an effective one. The man then took his blanket out and wrapped himself tightly in it. “You about ready?” asked Robert. The man looked at him and told him that he was ready. Still stuffing his shirt with a handful of grass. The grass was itchy but already started to keep him warm. The man mounted his horse and readjusted his blanket. With spur to the horses side he soon started up the mountain with Robert and Issac.

After an hour of ridding now knee deep snow. The men could feel the air getting thin. Robert turned and told Issac and the man that they will reach the top in just a few more feet. The man was shivering in the cold mountain air. He was happy that his grass idea had worked slightly. It had helped him make it this far. He knew it should not take but and hour to go down the other side of the mountain. After all going down hill is faster then going up. The men reached the top of the mountain and could only see a thin layer of clouds covering the land below. Issac pointed his to a small black dot at the bottom of the mountain.

“There’s the town.” he said cocking his head to the man. “We should be there in two more hours.” The man nodded with a determined look on his face. He was so close to his destination yet so far. The men started down the mountain side. As they got closer to the bottom of the mountain the man felt more heat. He was still shivering and his teeth were still chattering. The men soon made it to the bottom and the man shook the snow off his blanket. He opened his shirt and pulled the grass out of it.

He took his shirt off and let the sun beam down on his bare skin. He could feel the heat right away as the light touched him. Robert and Issac took their coats and blankets off. They placed them back into their bags and kept ridding. The man shook what little cold still remained and put his shirt back on. After ridding another hour and a half the men reached the town. They had made better time then what Issac had predicted. The town was alive with people. A large brick building sat in the center of the town.

It had a clock that faced the men as they rode in from the west. A small tax office sat to the right of the brick building. Robert leaned his head back to the man. “There’s our goal.” He said. The man was happy to have made it. He would now have the money to save his home. To save his family. The men rode up to the building and tied their horses to the hitching post that sat in front. Robert and Issac told the man that they will only be a few minutes and that he could go have a drink at a saloon next door.

The man wanted something to warm him up some more. He walked to the saloon as Robert and Issac entered the office building. The man looked around as he walked in. The saloon was even more alive then the town it seemed. A man played the piano and saloon girls walked to all the tables. A few men were playing a game of pharaoh in the back corner. The man walked over to the bar. A woman walked up to him and asked him if he would like a drink.

The man looked at some bottles that sat behind the woman. He asked for just an ice cold beer. The woman looked at the man with a heavy sigh through her nose and told him that they were still waiting on the ice boy to come. The man with a slight smile said “Well give me a whisky.” The woman smiled at the man and gave him a shot glass full of the fire water. .

After he finished he paid the woman with a bank note he had and left the saloon. As he walked to the office next door the men were gone. Robert and Issac stood out side smoking. “Did you get your whistle wet?” Robert asked while taking a puff on his cigar. The man smirked and nodded. Issac looked at the man and said “Lets go get that money.” Before the man could take a step to the bank Robert placed his hand on the mans chest and told him to untie the horses. The man raised his eye brows and just shook his head in a sorta nod. As he walked away to get the horses Robert looked at Issac.

Issac nodded and pulled a hankie from his shirt pocket. He tied it around his moth and chin. Robert did the same with the hankie that was around his neck. The men ran into the bank with their revolvers in hand. The man was to preoccupied with one of the horses that was kinda spooked. After a moment of calming the horse a gun shot rang out. The man turned with his hand on his revolver. At that time Robert and Issac ran out of the bank with two bags of money. “What the Hell are you two doing!?” The man shouted. Robert looked at the man and shouted “No time to talk! Get on your horse!”

As Issac and Robert mounted their horses a banker came out with a double barrel shotgun. He pointed at the man and with a split second reaction the man drew his revolver and fired. The banker fell back as a bullet ripped through his stomach. The mans jaw opened slowly as he realized what had just happened. “Get on your damn Horse!” Issac shouted to the man. The man took a deep breath and jumped on his horse. And the men rode out of town hard and fast. A few towns people ran to the bank to see what was happening. A woman screamed as she saw the body of the dead banker on the ground. Still holding his stomach as it bled. The man could hear the scream as they rode out of town.

At that moment his heart sank with what he had done. The men soon reached the mountain pass that they had taken earlier. They slowed their horses and started up the mountain. “I didn’t think you had it in you.....” Robert said to the man. “I sure am glad we included you into this.” The man got a glare in his eyes and looked at the men. The man said with a stern voice that he was tricked. That he thought he was just coming to help them get an inheritance. Issac looked back at the man and told him They hired him to guard them and the money. That they inherited it from the bank. The man shouted at that point “I didn’t join you to kill an innocent man!” Robert and Issac stopped their horses and looked back at the man.

Robert gave him a look that a parent gives a child when they misbehave. “You will get paid....” Robert said. “You can save your farm and your kid. You don’t need to tell anyone what happened. If you do We will make sure your the one that gets hung.” The man sat in silence on his horse. Robert and Issac turned back around and started to ride again. The men reached the mountain peak at night fall. They could not stop for they didn’t know if a posse would be after them. They rode on through the night. The cold air of the mountain felt more heavy to the man.

It was as if eyes were watching him in the dark. The men made it to the base of the mountain. “We better let the horses rest.” Issac said. Robert sighed and agreed with him. They made their way to a small forest that sat on a hill side close to the pass. The men went deep into the forest area to keep a low profile from anyone that might be looking for them. A small amount of moon light coming through the trees was the only light they had. Robert took out a knife from his boot and dug a hole about a foot into the ground. He put a few small sticks and some dry leaves in the hole and made a very small fire. The fire didn’t even come out of the hole it was so small.

It gave just enough light for Issac to open the bags of money. Bank notes pored from the bags in his lap. He began to count. Almost one thousand dollars worth of notes were totaled. He took a couple hundred and tossed it to the man who sat against a tree. Issac told him that was enough for him to keep his farm. Robert then took another fifty and tossed it to him. “That is for watching our backs.” The man looked at the money. He thought that he could never take money for what he just done. But at that moment the image of his wife and daughter flashed in his mind. He then picked up the money and stared at it.

“We better put out the fire and get some rest.” Robert said putting his money into a small bag. Issac rolled his money and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. Robert took his hat and put it over the hole. Smoke rolled from the edge of his hat. After a few seconds the glow of the fire died. Robert picked his hat up and fanned it. He then placed it off to his side and laid back. Issac laid back and placed his hands on his stomach. The man just leaned against the tree. Looking at the money.

Chapter Five

As the night drug on the man could not sleep. He stayed awake thinking of what to do. Out of fear for his life he slowly stood and walked to his horse. He untied his horse from the small tree that it was tied to. The man slowly walked with his horse to the valley outside of the forest. The moon light lit the valley as if it was day time. He could see the dirt road that lay before him clearly. The man mounted his horse and started riding home. Thoughts of how he could live with what he had done ran through his head. The man grew more depressed as he thought about the events. He kept trying to justify his actions with the thought of his family.

The man just hung his head looking at the money he had been paid. At that moment a light shined on him. The man looked up to see four men on horse back holding torches. The stood in the road ahead of him looking right at him. The man tucked the money into his pants pocket. He rode right up to the men. As he got closer he could see the silver shine of a sheriff badge on one of the men’s chest. The man swallowed as he stopped his horse in front of the group.

“My name is Sheriff Adkins....” the man with the badge said. “My deputies and I are looking for three men. They robbed a bank in my town in the next valley. Have you seen anything?” The man just sat on his horse thinking of what to say. “Well?” the sheriff said. The man looked at the sheriff and said yes. Without even thinking he blurted out that he knew where the men were. The sheriff looked to his right at one of his deputies and then back to the man. The sheriff asked where they were. The man had already said he knew where they were. he could not lie at this point. But he could save his own self with a small lie. He told them that the men were in the woods at the base of the mountain.

The sheriff looked of into the distance. He could see a black mass at the base of the mountain. As he focused on the mass he could make out that it was a forest. “That one there?” the sheriff asked. The man looked back and then nodded. The sheriff told his men to go to the forest and weed the robbers out. As the deputies rode to the forest the sheriff looked at the man and thank him. Told him to ride hard out of there for things might get bad. The sheriff then joined his deputies in ridding to the forest. The man knew that Robert and Issac would point him out if they were caught. The man spur his horse and whistled. The horse started running on the dirt road.

As he got further away from the mountain and forest the faint sound of gun fire hung in the air. The man dared not to look back at what was happening. He just raced down the road. After several hours of hard ridding the man made it to the town outside of his farm. The sun was raising on the edge of town. As the man slowed his horse he looked at the bank. It was not yet open which in a way made the man feel good. The thought of using the blood money he had to pay off his debt made his stomach turn. The man looked across the street at the saloon. He thought to himself that a drink might help his nerve.

The man tied his horse on the hitching post and went in. The bartender was just setting the chairs on the ground from on top of the tables. He looked at the man and said “Your in here earlier then normal.” The man just nodded his head at the bartender. He walked over and sat down at the bar. He reached into his pocket to get money when he touched the money that he had stole. The man stopped and just starred at the bar. With a sigh he reached into his other pocket by his revolver and pulled out the last true dollar he had. The man placed the bill on the bar and asked for two shots of whiskey. The bartender poured him the shots and took the dollar. The man grabbed the first shot and just thought to himself.

What could he do at this point? Should he just spend the money on his home? Should he just turn himself in and explain the situation? The man gulped down the shot and cringed his face as it went down. He started to think more on the matter. If he turned himself in they will hang him for murder. Then the bank would take his home. The what would become of his wife and daughter? She would grow up without a home and a father. His wife would be publicly shamed for what he had done. The man gulped down the other shot. At that point he knew he had to be there for his family. He had to be there for his daughter.

The man stood and thanked the bartender for the drinks. He stepped outside and looked over to the bank. About that time the bank manager was unlocking the front door and walking in. The man with a determined look on his face started walking across the street. He walked into the bank and took off his hat. The bank manger looked at him and said in his ever so heavy accent “Good to see you again sir. How can I help you?” The man walked over to him and said “Sir. I have the money for my home. I want to pay it off.” The manager raised his eyebrows and said “Oh. Well then.....Let me get the record of your home.” The manager walked over to a small safe that sat behind the counter.

He bent over and turned the tumbler. After opening the door he flipped through some papers that were inside until he found a blue embroiderer paper. “Here is your deed....” the manager said as he stood up right. “And now I need the money.” The man handed him the money that he had stole. The manager counted it in front of the man. The man stared at his deed. The goal of his hardship was now in his hands. It no longer matters what had happened. He could now provide a good home for his daughter. At that time the manager had finished counting and told the man that he just needed his signature on a couple papers to complete the transaction.

The man looked up at the manager and smiled ever so slightly. He was glad to hear those words. After finishing the paper work the man stepped out into the street. The town was now more alive with people then when he had arrived. He took his deed and folded it. He stuffed it into his pocket and walked over to his horse. The man felt a bit of relief come over him. He untied his horse and rode out of town. He had to ride back through the wooded path to his farm. After a fifteen minute ride he started to smell smoke. The man stopped his horse. The smell was not that of a normal fire. it was as if a large amount of wood was burning.

The man sat and thought for only a moment. When a bad feeling came over him. he started ridding hard to his home. As he drew ever closer the sight of smoke and flame came over the tree line. The man started to panic as the thought of his wife and daughters safety came to mind. As he entered the clearing of his farm his house and barn was in flame. There in his front yard was Issac. He was looking right at the man. The man dismounted his horse and looked at Issac. “Where is my family?” the man asked. Issac looked at the man with a smile and said “You gave us up. Robert was killed. I got away. You were no where to be found. I knew where you lived though.” The man asked again in a demanding voice “Where is my family?!”

At that moment a scream came from the burning house. Them man went pale as his eyes widened. He looked at the house and then back to Issac. Issac smiled and chuckled a bit. The man ran to the house. Before he could even set foot in it a beam collapsed the house. The whole house came down with a roar. The man dropped to his knees as tears filled his eyes. He just stared at his home. Issac looked at the man and said “You f@#*ed with the wrong person.” The man then got an angered look on his face. He spun around and fell onto his back. Pulling his revolver and shooting Issac in the head.

Issac fell back to the ground. As the man sat up a group of men came out of the forest. It was Sheriff Adkins and his deputies. They had seen everything that had just happened between Issac and the man. The man became afraid and stood to his feet. As the sheriff got closer he shouted out “Sir! You are under arrest for murder!” The man panicked and ran to his horse. The sheriff and his deputies started to fire at the man. The man leaped onto his horse and rode away into the forest. As he rode the scream of his wife echoed in his ears.

His face cringed in anger, regret, fear, and disappear . Tears filled his eyes as his horse galloped. The man soon came out of the forest. He rode kept ridding harder and faster. Crying as if he were a child. The man rode for what seemed like eternity. Until he eventually came to the edge of a desert. He stopped his horse and looked out at the vast nothingness. He tried to think of what to do. But the only thought was that of his daughter and wife.

They had just been taken from him and he now had nothing. The man at that moment let out a cry. All his emotions spilled out of him in that single shout. All his sorrow poured from him. He was now a man with nothing. He looked at the desert. The heat waves coming from its sand. The man started ridding his horse into the desert.

The End