Meant to live

Chapter 10

Amelia felt a warm presense as sunshine peaked through the window. She saw tears run down Daphine's face.

"What's the matter?"

"You can't go. You're not ready yet, not for a long time. Mama and Papa said so."

"What are you talking about?"

"Name her after Mama. She always had a beautiful name."

"What?"

Daphine only placed her hand on Amelia's stomach and smiled. Amelia opened her mouth to speak as Dalphine turn to the window in a panic. She grabbed Amelia's shoulders and shook her out of bed. Ameila's head was splitting with pain as she sat up.

"Ameila! You need to help him!"

"What?"

"Daniel is here, he's gonna put a bullet in his head and then he's comin' for you."

"Where is Thomas?"

Her eyes shot to the gun on the table. She steadied herself on her feet and grabbed the gun as she tried to hurry down the stairs. She walked as fast as her weak body would allow. Thomas stopped and sat on the porch facing the gallows as the Sheriff held on to the lever.

"Any last words?"

"Those whores are in Hell were they belonged."

"May God have mercy on your soul."

A shot rang from the crowd as a red stream of blood poured from the Sheriff's chest. Screams filled the air. The Sheriff's body fell forward as he dragged the lever down with him. Noah and Rickwall feel through the floor and dangled from the ropes as their necks snapped.

People ran from the town square as Daniel turned and pointed his gun at Thomas' head. Amelia weakly stumbled out of the bar as Thomas backed away from Daniel.

"Afternoon Deputy."

Daniel looked weary and messy as he took a step closer to Thomas.

"Daniel. I thought you ran."

"No, sir. I only came to finish what I started."

Amelia braced herself against a beam on the porch and listened.

"Yes. So you shoot me, then what?"

"I didn't really think that far Deputy. I thought I'd just keep it simple. Take you to your room. Fornicate with your half dead whore-wife. Shoot her then shoot you, seeing as how you got no weapon."

"Just let her live, she didn't do anything."

"I have to. See, I was the one that killed her sister and I knew she'd come for me. Everyone was always so scared of Rickwall, they just assumed it was him. I didn't recognize her when she dressed like a whore, like her sister."

Amelia covered her mouth with her hand as she heard Daniel. She checked the loaded gun and waited for them to get closer, praying that Daniel was a patient man. She hadn't fired a gun in years. She knew her shot would have to count.

She heard Thomas' feet backing away on the steps of the porch. She looked into the reflections in the window, waiting for them to get closer. She crept around the thick wooden beam and braced herself as soon as she saw Daniel. Amelia fired the gun before Daniel could react and shot him in the forehead as his dead body slumped to the porch.

Thomas only saw the hand that shot from the beam as Amelia gasped. She didn't know she held her breath the whole time. He jumped into the street and scooped Amelia into his arms as she kissed his forehead. She giggled as she handed him his gun.

"You forgot this."

"Sorry about that. You missed all the fun."

"It's okay, Cowboy. Help me up."

Thomas grabbed her hand as she pushed herself to her feet. She reached down to Daniel's body, seeing the silver chain of Daphine's necklace dangling from his pocket. Thomas toyed with the chain as he took it from her and chained it around her neck. Thomas took in a sharp breath as he picked up Amelia and held her close.

"Now what, Deputy?"

"Stop callin' me Deputy."