Cowboys & Ghosts

18. Life After Death

Daisy was wide awake later that night. The campfire had died down. It was around midnight. The moon shining through the trees. It was cold, but it wasn't why Daisy was shivering. It was the rising urge to leave, and the last thing she wanted was to remain in captivity. As quietly as possible, she stood up and looked over. Slim and his men were fast asleep in their makeshift beds. "Dollar," whispered Daisy. "We've got to go." It took her just a few minutes to ready her horse, who tip toed out of the campsite. His rider didn't look back, but she was fighting the urge to do so. Once she thought she was far enough away, she heard the mistakable sound of an outlaw yelling, "The girl has escaped!" Daisy spurred and her horse galloped through and out of the forest. The moonlight was guiding her on her way. The night wind simultaneously blew through her hair, as she rode along the way, losing her hat in the process. "Don't let her get away!" She heard Slim shout. The old man and his gang were now pursuing her on horseback. Daisy spurred again, this time Dollar ran faster. More than one horse had pounding hooves echoing through the dark of the night and the top hillside of the Arkansas mountains. Daisy turned the reins, prompting her horse to go right. They were now nearing a cliff side, but she didn't stop. That was when it hit her. If she was attempting suicide, this meant the ghost riders were her chance, not meant to be her last, which was her escape. That was the one last chance she was willing to make in mortal life. Now, she was riding on the edge of the cliff. She slipped a piece of paper into a safe place in her saddle, before saying, "Dollar, return to Batesville. Goodbye." She let go of the reins, her feet out of the stirrups, and with one hand, she held onto the saddle horn, waiting for the opportune moment. She closed her eyes and breathed. Finally, she jumped. Slim and his men had stopped their horses on the edge, and with horrifying sight, they all watched her falling into the abyss. She was free falling, her back towards the incoming ground, and her life flashed before her eyes. Then, nothing.

"Father," said Korte. "Another rider walks among us." Dead Skull stood, his shadow hovering over Daisy, who lay there dead. Then, she groaned and moved. Now immortal, she stood, looking into the eyes of God. She was dead, but alive to the ghost riders. Her blonde hair was down in a straightening line, with a different hat on. Her clothes were all the same. "Daisy?" Came Rafael Prescott's shocked voice. She looked over to him and without hesitation, she ran over to him and embraced him. "This is better than having to be chased my whole life," she said. "I can't be without you, Rafael." Now, she was here. Immortal and among others, like Rafael. In the clouds. No, the heavens. "Death was the only choice you had," said Korte. "When it came to the ones who chased you down. They were planning to kill you themselves." But Daisy had no idea of what her former 'uncle's' plan had been the entire time. "So," she said. "What happens now?"
"You ride with us," Dead Skull replied. "Across these endless skies, but before one goes away, it's one last time to see that they had what once belonged to them. It's living without you."