A New Destiny

And So It Begins

Carob Bob knelt at the edge of the cliff high above the desert.

In the distance, he could see two riders heading off to the setting sun.

"Reaper," Bob spat.

"I was wondering how long before you came back on my trail."

He stood up and walked back to where his horse was tied to a tree.

"Is she with him?" a woman's voice asked softly.

Bob nodded.

"She is."

He quickly untied the horse and jumped into the saddle.

"You have to get her away from him, Bob. You know he will just use her to get to you and then he will do to her what he did to me."

Bob looked down at the woman standing a few feet away.

She was dressed in a simple flowered dress, with an apron covering it.

Her long brown hair was up in a bun and held by a large pin.

Her blue eyes looked tired and her smile faded.

But she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever known.

"I will not let him take her too," Bob assured her.

"He has taken enough from me as it is."

"I love you Bob."

The words stuck in his throat, as tears filled his eyes.

He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.

When they were clear, he saw that he was alone.

"I love you too, Bonnie."

He kicked the horse in the haunches and turned it toward the setting sun.

He knew he would have to ride hard to catch up with Reaper and Ruechari.

As he disappeared over a small crest, the woman appeared again by the tree.

"Save her, Bob," her voice whispered on the wind.

"Save our daughter."

~~~~~~~~~~

Miles away, the Reaper suddenly stopped his horse.

He glanced quickly at Ruechari, as she disappeared into the semi-darkness.

He would catch up with her soon.

Right now, something else was on the wind.

A voice.

A voice from his past.

He pulled a half smoked cigar from his pocket and lit a match on his chin stubble.

The light from the match seemed to light up the whole area, and as if by magic, he could see a rider in the light.

It was Carob Bob.

The Reaper drew heavy on the cigar and smiled.

"So it begins."

(Bill Temple)