The Peacemaker

Stars Shine Bright

The ride home from Valentine took twice as long as it should have as the young stallion kept fighting the lead rope. Once home, Liv put him in the pasture with the cows so that he would have room to run. In the sun, his beautiful amber coat shone, and his auburn mane and tail flew behind him as he ran. Everyone gathered around to watch him. "Wyatt why the heck did you buy a wild, untrained stallion," Sam asked.

"Because I asked him to," Liv replied. "He needs me and I need him." Ellie looked at Liv and then Wyatt. Liv could see concern on her face. Liv was still healing and could not afford to get hurt again. "I'll be fine Aunt Ellie. I won't be stupid and I'll take it slow."

Ellie nodded. "What's his name?"

"He doesn't have one. I was thinking Bourbon since Dad's horse is Whiskey." Liv spent the next several months training Bourbon and building his trust in humans. As their bond grew, they both healed. The darkness in Liv now had bright, shining stars in it. She would never be the same girl she was before. Now she was something new and strong. She would never let anyone take her happiness from her again.

Liv was seventeen now and ran with the gang on all of their missions. She was still their best shot. After all this time, the gang was wanted by the Pinkertons now. Luckily everyone was smart and had kept the Pinkertons from finding Carmody Dell. Liv loved being in a gang. Her father and his men had taught her everything they knew about surviving in this wild and cruel world. Her father told her all the time that this would be her gang one day. 

Liv smiled at all of these thoughts as she rode home from a solo mission her father had sent her on. Her father had found out that a young boy in his gang was planning on selling them out to the Pinkertons for a pretty hefty sum. It had been all to easy for Liv to catch up to him and dispose of him. Liv was almost home when she heard gunshots. Her stomach dropped as she realized they were coming from Carmody Dell.

Liv approached her home cautiously. She could see now that it was a band of Pinkertons that was attacking the gang. She gasped as she saw a few members of the gang lying dead. the gang was far outnumbered and Liv watched as the Pinkertons quickly rounded up who they could and killed the others. She desperately wanted to help them, but she knew that revealing herself now would result in her death and capture. Once Liv was sure that they were long gone, Liv came out and looked at the devastation around her. Two thirds of her father's gang lay dead at her feet. 

Wyatt was not among the dead bodies so he must have been captured. Liv continued to search the bodies to see who was alive and who was dead. She fell to her knees. Their in front of her was Ellie. Liv pulled Ellie's body to her. "Please Aunt Ellie don't be dead. Please wake up." Liv shook Ellie. She knew it was hopeless. She was gone. Liv sobbed. She sat their amongst the bodies alone and unsure of what to do.

Liv had been crying for hours when she felt a nudge on her shoulder. She looked up to see Bourbon. He had found a few of the other horses and had brought them home. Liv put everyone in the pasture and made sure they were groomed and fed. She started digging and was able to bury a few people before night fell. That night, Liv looked up at the stars. "I will get you back Dad. And I will make those Pinkertons pay for what they did to our family."

After finishing burying everyone, Liv tacked up Bourbon and headed out. She would track those men down and find her father if it was the last thing she did.