Tales from the West

Chapter 2: Blaze Robbins

The silence roars through the desert, but this time, a horse was coming around to disrupt it. Through the mountains, its galloping echoed, in a seemingly inexhaustible barrage of steps sounding like thunder. This black and white creature warned everyone not only of its coming, but of the arrival of its menacing rider, the one and only Blaze Robbins.

His hat rumbles in the back of his head, as the string that holds it to Robbins' neck holds on for dear life to keep itself together. A bandana covers his freshly shaved beard, as his hair sways with the breeze. He holds onto his horse's reins tightly, hoping to find a job to do in the miles and miles of land that are set all around him and his horse's feet.

Suddenly, a large town appears on the horizon, with fenced cattle marking its entrance. Seeing this, Blaze hit his spurs on the horse, making it go faster. Its thunderous movement alerted all that an outlaw was arriving, setting fear into the hearts of some, though this wasn't at all his intention. As he got closer, many more gathered, until they had him face front, horse and all. 

He got off of his horse, checking it to see if the spurs had hurt it; fortunately, they hadn't. After doing so, he turned to the crowd and spoke loudly.

"Alright, I'm not here to hurt you, or demand money. Well, I am here for money, but I'm not stealing it for you. If anybody got some bounties or something for me to do, tell me right now, or I'll reconsider the stealing part."

All those in the crowd began muttering, trying to think of something that the man could do.

"Are we gonna have to do an auction or something?"

He walked around, hoping to hear from someone, but the silence remained.

"C'mon, fellas... Hey, you," he said, pointing at a random mustached man. "Anything you need me to do right now?"

The mustached man was taken aback by his sudden acknowledgment. "Uh... Well.... Um..."

"Uh, well, um, pick quick, buddy, I don't think I'll have all day for this shit."

"I DO!", screamed a woman from afar, with great deals of emotion. Slowly the crowd parted to reveal an old, crazy-looking woman with a paper in hand, flying as she ran.

Blaze Robbins walked a bit to receive her, but she was already there.

"My husband, my dear husband, Darryl Wilkins III, he tried to stop a robbery, but he got kidnapped by the robbers!"

"Now that's what I'm talking about! What you think about that, mustached man?"

"Uh..." Utter confusion from that man, indeed.

"Oh, please, could you help me? Please, I'll pay anything just to see him again."

"Well, I'm not trying to take all of your life savings so... How much do you have?"

"I have $5000 if that's enough."

Many gasps from the crowd could be heard, some sharing the expression that Blaze had on his face at the moment.

"Okay, I guess $500 would be a fair share. Again, I don't want to-"

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Old Mrs. Wilkins hugged Blaze profusely, which made him feel awkward, but he still put on a good face knowing he'd get paid well.