Busted Gulch vol 6

That's Not a Knife! (baileygaines)

That's Not a Knife!

Lou let the man kiss her.

Buck felt his heart sink

But then Lou pulled away

And he didn't know what to think.

Lou reminded him of his promise

And asked him to go

There were guns all around,

Buck raised his hands, feeling the tension grow.

He threatened Shamus with the law,

But the man didn't care,

Making lewd jokes about Lou,

Insulting her even as she stood there.

Buck wanted to be sure he knew what to do,

But the art of subtlety had never been his thing.

While trying to get his instructions from Lou,

He alerted Shamus to Lou's saddlebag thing.

Now he'd done it, he'd ruined the day

Shamus would get the pack and send him away.

Buck backed away, determined this time.

"Their luck will run out and the luck will be mine."

Shamus's men followed him out to the street

Confident that they couldn't be beat.

Buck let them get close then pulled out a knife.

More than one, actually. The street was filled with strife.

They didn't know what hit them when Buck flung his blade,

The knives were just plain steel that he used in his trade.

Buck ducked a bullet or two, but his knives were a blur.

A few minutes later and not one man stirred.

Buck wiped off his knives, stuck them back where they belonged.

Felt a twinge of guilt for the men he had wronged.

He slung Lou's saddlebags over one shoulder

He needed to make a choice before the day got older.

"Do I leave Lou here? It just doesnae seem right.

But if I don't leave there'll be more men to fight."

Buck left the saloon and hid in an alley,

Knowing Shamus and his men wouldn't dally.

Would they try to find him? Or let him alone?

Buck slumped against a wall, suppressing a groan.

"What to do now? I guess just wait and see,

If Shamus will send his men after me."

In his confusion and haste, Buck forgot a few things.

His horse was still tied up outside in the street.

His arm was bleeding, but on a very small scale.

Hopefully the blood wasn't leaving a trail.