A Country Boy Can Survive

Chapter 7~ "Don't Mess With A Georgia Boy."

Jason's pov

I struggle to get back home in this unbearable heat and my intolerable dehydration. I grit my teeth and force myself to take a step forward. "I-I'm comin'." I choke out, weakly. I shakily fall to my knees unable to go on. I see a dark figure in the distance. I struggle to get my pistol out but as I raise it to shoot, everything fades to black.

*later*

I wake up to the sound of talking. "You shouldn't have brought him here! He's got two guns! He could be a robber!" They're talking about me! Whoever it was saved my life. I move the wet rag that was on my forehead. I feel so much better. But where are my pistols?!

Rachel's pov

I hear shuffling around in the room with the stranger. My sister Sierra is freaked out instantly. "I couldn't leave him. He'd have died!" I gasp. I hear a crash and walk back in the room. The cowboy had fallen to the ground. I help him up. "Th-Thank you.... So much." He chokes out. I smile and help him sit back down. "I-I have.... To get to.... Macon." He mumbles, turning his head from side to side. "You can't go anywhere with sun stroke, sir." His eyes open. "I-I.... They need me!" He strugglingly sits up.

Jason's pov

My whole body burns in pain. "What's your name?" "J-Jason." I try to say. What is wrong with me?! "What.... Happened to me? Why..... Can't I do anything?" "You had bad hyperthermia. And not to mention sun stroke." I finally force my eyes open and hold her hand. "Thank you.... For saving me.... I.... I hope I wasn't too much of a problem." She smiles. "You weren't. You should be well enough by tomorrow." I shakily sit up when she hands me a bottled water. "What's your name?" I ask her, guzzling it down. She smiles. "Rachel. And that's my sister Sierra. Where do you come from mister?" "Macon of Georgia. I'm the sheriff.... Well I was the sheriff." I say sighing. "What happened?" I don't wanna go into it. I just shake my head. Hopefully they'll be okay til I can leave tomorrow.

*the next day*

She was right. I'm fine today. "You're pretty smart about sun stroke and stuff." She laughs. "Proud doctor at your service. Here if you wanna make it back to Macon without overheatin' again, you should take this." She says, handing me a few water bottles and a rag. "What's the rag for?" "Drench it with water and tie it around your head. It should keep you cool." I shake her hand. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me." "No problem." I get back to walking.

*hours later*

I reach the outskirts of town. I see the fresh grave dug for Rodney and now I regret shooting him. I can't let my anger get the better of me. He was semi a friend. A glint shines in my face. I shield my face confused. Wait! My sheriff badge! I grab it and stare at it for a long time. "Macon's gettin' what it needs now." I whisper, attaching it to my vest and walking into town.

Miranda's pov

Jack unlocks the jail cell he forced me into. He pulls me by my hair out to the main room and shoves all the stuff off of Jason's desk. Tears soak my face as he forces me onto the desk. "JACK!!!!" I hear Jason yell. I'm shocked. Jack's frozen. "JACK I'M CALLIN' YOU OUT!! COME OUT YOU COWARD!" Whoa! He grabs my arm and drags me out, half undressed.

Jason's pov

My eyes go wide seeing my girl halfway undressed! "I am givin' ya one chance to leave Macon peacefully before I lay down the law on your ass!" I yell furious. He just laughs and throws her to the ground. Then walks into the middle of the street, exactly 20 paces away from me. A shoot out. The wind blows dust up. I fix my cowboy hat and spit on the ground. My hands centimeters from my pistols. He glares at me with the rage of a beaten tiger. My hand twitches near my gun. Draw! I snatch my pistols out of my holsters as he does the same but I'm faster and shot the man in the gut. He falls on his back bleeding. I walk over, the only sound is my boots and spurrs. I stand over him. "I warned you to leave. I warned you not to fuck with me. You should've listened to me! You touched my girl!" He grips tight to the bullet wound in his stomach painfully. I smile. "Don't mess with a Georgia boy." I whisper, shooting him in the head.