The 10-Gallon Tale of Alburney Jones

Chapter 28: Punch Therapy

Nick observed from the fence as the Jones brothers engaged in a mock brawl. He watched as Alburney moved with practiced precision, demonstrating various combat techniques to Clint. His movements were fluid, his strikes powerful and precise, a testament of the old sheriff's training paying off.

"Come on, Clint! You gotta at least try to keep your guard up!" Nick shouted, his voice echoing off the wooden structures surrounding them.

Clint watched his little brother with a mixture of awe and fear. He knew he had a lot to make up for now that him and Alburney are reunited. Now, under Nick's watchful eye and protection, Clint had a chance to redeem himself. To prove that he was worthy of Alburney's forgiveness.

But Alburney was not in the mood to forgive. As the combat session progressed, Alburney's frustration began to simmer just beneath the surface. Memories of the betrayal started bubbling up, fueling his movements with a raw intensity that threatened to boil over. With each strike, Alburney seemed to be working out his anger and resentment, his eyes dark and brooding. His big brother struggled to dodge as he wailed on up.

Clint grunted as Alburney's fist connected with his shoulder, a grimace crossing his face.

"Come on, Clint. You can throw a better punch than that."

"I'm trying, damn it! You're just... too fast!" he retorted, his own fists raised, but his posture lacked confidence. The shame of their past weighed heavily on his shoulders, making it hard for him to focus.

"Too fast? Or you're just too scared?" Alburney snapped back, aggression boiling beneath the surface. He was a skilled fighter, his training evident in every calculated move. But with each jab he threw, the anger stemming from Clint's betrayal bubbled closer to the surface.

"Maybe you should have a beer. That'll make you fight better."

Nick, sensing the rising tension, kept an eye on the brothers. He knew that this was more than a training session—it was an emotional battleground where past grievances clashed with present realities. A confrontation long overdue. He saw Alburney's blows growing more aggressive. More punishing. He had to intervene before things got out of control.

"Alburney!"

Clint tried to throw a punch at Alburney, but his brother dodged it swiftly and elbowed his midsection. The impact sent Clint stumbling back, wheezing and clutching his abdomen. Alburney pressed on, relentless.

"Come on, Clint," he mocked. "Protect something for once."

Alburney continued to pound on his brother. His grunts, loud and primal. The sheriff tried calling him again, but Alburney was caught in the storm of his own rage. At one point, Alburney landed a sharp jab against Clint's side. While Clint clutched his ribs, Alburney leg sweeps him, sending him to ground. Then, with a sickening thud, Alburney kicked Clint hard, sending him crashing against the wooden fence. The posts splintered under the impact, making even Nick winced at the brutality of it.

"Get up!" Alburney shouted, the fury in his voice reaching a fever pitch. He moved in to press his boot against Clint's back, ready to deliver another punishing blow. "Bet you wish you never sold me now, huh?"

Nick's lasso wrapped around Alburney's neck and the deputy was pulled off of Clint and toward the sheriff.

"What're you doing?!" Alburney yelled as he struggled in Nick's rope.

"Get over here," Nick commanded through gritted teeth. "You know you're better than this."

"He sold me! He deserves it!"

"No, he doesn't. We had a deal, kid. I shelter your family if he finds a job."

"And it had to be this one?!"

"I didn't give it to him! He asked me!"

"WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE REFUSED!!"

"You don't get to tell me who I can and cannot hire." He points to his gold badge on his vest. "You wanna make them decisions, you earn this badge first! Until then, don't tell me what the hell I should do."

The challenge hung in the air. The tension between them threatened to explode. Alburney wanted to refute, but the intensity in Nick's authoritative glare silenced him. The fire in his eyes dimmed under the pressure. Nick saw the shift in Alburney's demeanor and softened his gaze. He could see the pain etched into Alburney's features. The hurt, the betrayal—it all bubbled to the surface, and for a fleeting moment, Nick saw the 18-year-old in Alburney. The one who had been sold to a life of bondage, forced to survive in an unknown land.

"Alburney," he began, his voice gentle yet firm. "I know you're upset. What he did to you was unforgivable, but beating him up is not gonna change what happened."

Alburney's resolve wavered, his shoulders sagging slightly as he processed Nick's words. He knew he was right. He shouldn't prioritize his personal vendetta against his brother over his duty to Dodge City. But the wounds ran too deep, the scars of betrayal still fresh and raw.

"I just want it to stop."

Nick placed a reassuring hand on Alburney's shoulder, a silent gesture of solidarity and support. "It'll take time. Just remember, you're a deputy now and everyone's counting on you. You can't protect everyone if you're busy fighting your brother."

Alburney met Nick's gaze, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes as he grappled with his inner turmoil. He glanced over to Clint still on the ground, gripping his chest and watching the exchange with a mixture of guilt and remorse. With a deep breath, he nodded silently, a silent vow to himself to rise above his past and focus on his present duty.

"Now, let's try it again. And go easy on him this time. Alright?"

Alburney over to Clint and held out his hand. Shaking, Clint grabbed his hand and Alburney pulled him off the ground. Nick stood by the fence and watched as the training resumed.

"You alright?"

"No."

"Don't worry, it gets easier. Trust me"

As they resumed their sparring, the atmosphere shifted, still charged but now tinged with a hint of forgiveness. Alburney's strikes were measured now. He moved more fluidly, focusing on technique rather than aggression. Clint, still tentative, began to respond with more confidence, a faint glimmer of the protective brother Alburney had longed for.

Nick stood back, arms crossed, a somber expression on his face. He couldn't help but see his own past through the brothers. Memories of training with his old partner flooded his mind. Days filled with camaraderie, laughter, and the thrill of training with Jack, only for it to be shattered by betrayal and violence. Jack had now became a shadow of the man Nick once knew, feared and hated by the very people he had once protected.

He shook his head, pushing thoughts of Cobra away. Not on my watch. He refuse let the bond between Alburney and Clint fracture like that. Unlike Cobra, they were worth saving and they have a chance to rebuild and to heal, and to protect Dodge City together.