Busted Gulch vol 10

Last Call for Justice (Ruechari)

Last Call for Justice

I saw Lorne walking my way.

This is going to be one hell of a day.

"Mayor, I'm grateful you happened along.

Can you help him down? I'm not that strong."

"Of course, Ruechari.

If the stubborn goat will let me."

This caused me to chuckle

And the pain then caused me to buckle.

But Lorne was there. He wouldn't let me fall.

"This isn't good, this isn't good at all.

Jump on up, Ruechari.

I'll get on the other side to keep him steady."

Ruechari took the reins

Gently, I was off again.

"What the hell happened out there?"

"Aww," I joked, "Didn't know you'd care?"

"All jokes aside. Swallow that damn pride."

"The wagon wheel shattered.

A large splinter hit the horse,

It threw me off and left me battered.

I still did my job of course.

I took out the bandits one by one.

The rest, well... what's done is done."

I can tell he didn't like the sound of that

But that was the end of our chitchat

Ruechari arrived at Doc's

I knew it mattered little,

I was destined for a pine box.

I coughed and up came some blood.

It tasted like copper and desert mud.

"Jesus, Justice," Lorne pulled out his bandana

wiping my mouth dry.

"How bad?" he asked Doc.

"I'm afraid, he's gonna die."

Lorne immediately looked panicked at Rue

"Is there nothing even you can do?"

"What I could offer he wouldn't want."

"He's looking terribly gaunt."

"Won't you at least give it a try?"

I shook my head no.

"I'm afraid, Lorne you must let me go."

Ruechari patted Lorne on the shoulder

Then said to me,

"There's a better life waiting for you

just beyond the boulder."

"Thank you, Ruechari.

I need someone to take my place

Until they find someone to fill the space."

"You're thinking of Billy?"

I nodded, it was eerie 

how she could read me.

"I'll see that it's done.

I'll go now to 3Gun."

She left me there with only Lorne.

Who looked at me rather torn.

"What can I say my old friend...

I don't wish this to be the end."

"I'm afraid the choice is out of your hands.

You gotta go whenever the Lord demands."

I had a coughing fit that left me weak.

Rendering it hard to speak.

Lorne wiped the blood away.

"I won't leave. I promise by your side I'll stay."

_________

Justice slipped away through the night.

His already ashen face turned ghostly white.

Lorne pulled the sheet over his face.

Myna tapped his shoulder and they embraced.