A Cowboy Lost in Time

Chapter 3. An Unknown Land

An Unknown Land

As I look up from the dead stranger's body the landscape overwhelms me, to my wonder I didn't see to be home anymore. I seemed to be standing in what the most thought of when they think about the wild west, surrounded in a dessert with some shrubbery here and there and all surrounded by big rock formations. "I...I...What even is this?!" I yelled out loud "Where are the buildings?! Where is the fence?! Where is Martin?! Jill?!" I continued yelling out loud. "This isn't going to help anyone" I thought to myself. I looked down at myself, I was only wearing a white T-shirt and my cargo pants and my military boots. I walked back towards the stranger's dead body "How the roles have turned huh?" I whispered to myself smiling a little bit and although it was no matter to smile about, I couldn't help it. I immediately went for his bandolier and his holster, I checked how much ammunition I had left, "Four out of six, I can work with that" I whispered to myself again and put the revolver safely at my side I continued to unbutton his checkered shirt and put it on, it was soaked with blood but that will probably just dry.

I take one last look at the Stanger who is still severely bleeding before I make an effort to get on his horse. This was the first time riding a horse on my own, last time I actually rode a horse I was about 7 years old and my mother was holding me the whole time because she was too scared I'd fall. That little memory made me smile a little bit, I tried to get on the big spotted horse... After 6 unsuccessful tries and a couple of kicks in the horse's side I finally got in the saddle, and there I was sitting...and absolutely not knowing what to do so I had to think of something so I started yelling "GO!" and "YEEHAH" and after a while I came to the conclusion that I should've maybe grabbed the reigns. So, I grabbed the reigns and took a big swing and the horse immediately started galloping and I had to hold on to my hat because it almost fell off.

So, there I was in a new total panic of not knowing how to stop this beast, I was thinking I might just had to jump off or something. But then on the horizon I saw a wooden building appear, and another one...and another one! It seemed to be a town nearing on the horizon, and I started pulling the reigns hoping the horse would head towards the town and after a while the town was getting close and still there was the problem of me not knowing how to stop such a majestic beast. I started pulling the reigns as hard as I could towards me and started yelling "HOOO" and to my wonder it actually worked! The horse started to slow down and to my relief I saw something that resembles a bar. The second I galloped into town I could feel all the heads turning towards me, the horse came to a full stop when nearing a post so I tried to get off looking as subtle as possible everything seemed to be going smoothly until I feel my left foot getting caught behind something, and a fall follows *POOF* as I felt my face hitting the dirt first and the other halve of my body follows. I hear laughing all around me "Yeah, real smooth...real smooth" I sighed laying in the dust. A middle-aged woman started rushing towards me "Sir! Are you alright? You made quite the tumble!" she asked shocked "Yeah I'm used to it" I tried to say as happy as possible "Are you new in town?" She asked I tried to look up to see her face, but I couldn't much because the setting sun was shining in my face "Sir?" she asked again "Oh yeah, I you could say that." I responded, she reached out a hand, after she helped me up she asked: "You look like somebody who can carry some weight could you help me with my crates?" and she pointed towards a wagon filled with crates and other farming goods "Sure, you helped me after all" I said smiling. And after a little while we were done carrying all the goods into the general store "What's your name anyway stranger?" she asked "Hawke, Garrett Hawke." I answered, "Oh well howdy Hawke, the name is Lara Foster, but you can Just call me Lara" she replied, "So how much do I owe you for this favor Hawke?" she continued "Oh that won't be necessary missus Foster, you helped me, so I had to return the favor." I laughed "Well at least let me buy you a drink!" She chuckled "Just follow me the bar is this way!" She said joyfully. She held the door open for me whilst we were entering the bar and from the corner of my eye I saw a familiar figure so, I turned my head and couldn't believe my eyes...