Rotten Roots

A Rotten Root

The fire crackled alongside the man, his hat perched loosely upon his head and it covered his optics as he dreamt. He dawned a dull, dirty duster coat and some old weathered jeans which were held up by a belt. The racing river ran softly downstream beside the man and his campsite the sun-scorched earth and rocks adorned the area. Eventually, the man arose yawning and scratching the stubble upon his chin. Picking up the peacemaker revolver and holstering it then he reached for the Winchester repeater on his side promptly shouldering the gun. Then the man reached for a newspaper scrap. And he rubbed the part of the article with his name on it, Alonzo. Rising, the sun seared, noiselessly as it rose higher on the circumference of the globe. Alonzo began walking up the hillside watching his footing as not to slip, once he reached the summit he walked down the muddy road. The sycamores sang their ritualistic cry by creaking, appeasing the winds current force. The river that he had slept beside only hours earlier still ran alongside him although it had spiked off before it currently ran with him.

Chapter 2

Eventually, Alonzo was greeted by the sickly sweet town of multiple cattle animals, he had barely gotten into the town when he heard whispers and his name. Alonzo turned subtly, and without hiding the pride of hearing his name from some stranger, his subtle glance turned into a full fletched stare. The stranger was inquisitive towards Alonzo, perspectively not verbally of course as the silence was still held. until

"You 'ave a look about you like you ain't proud of your actions boy," The stranger echoed mockingly,

"It's Jackson, not boy maybe show some respect" Alonzo replied with a smile upon his lips.

"why should I show respect to some two-bit outlaw who thinks he is a rough and tumble gunslinger"

Alonzo had enough of the abuse and he retired his hand to the handle of his pistol that sat on his side, the unarmed man had shuffled off when Alonzo mantled his hand upon his gun. He then he walked off towards a store. Once inside he scanned the shelves for a pack of cigarettes, he then reached to a pack of red rockets, picking it up and buying it at the counter his eyes picked up on something shining, a bracelet that was encrusted with diamonds and rubies. The valuable item sat on a shelf that he couldn't reach without being caught so he left it, for now. Alonzo left the store and sat upon a bench which adorned the wall and floor outside the store. Thoughts meandered through the complex turns of his brain, Alonzo had no time to think before he heard choking from behind the store that he was sat in front of. Mainstreet seemed to bustle drowning out the sound. Alonzo could still hear the noise for a moment as he stood up and looked around the corner. Rounding one corner and approaching the next, he saw two people, one woman one man. Alonzo analyzed what was happening before him. The man was holding the woman up against a wooden pillar, he was whispering something incoherent to her. Alonzo had caught the eye of the woman but not the man as his back was faced to Alonzo. She was signaling for help with her unusual eye movement. Alonzo spat something on the ground a vile mix of mucus and phlegm. This caught the mans attention and he turned swiftly.

"you can get hung for rape friend."

"Get lost! this ain't your business!"

"Well you're certainly right there"

"Leave or I'll kill her, and then I'll kill you!"

"Kill her, and for all, I care you can try me to"

The mysterious man pulled his knife out and stabbed the, now crying,

woman in the neck three times and left her twitching on the ground...

Alonzo was shocked and showed it slightly, but then he resumed his calm status.

"Well I prefer it this way"

Alonzo stepped forward pushing his arm out of the way and producing a swift punch to the man's face. The stranger retaliated by head-butting Alonzo giving him a black eye. Alonzo stepped back and the man lunged with his knife. Alonzo stood there not flinching and grabbed the man by the neck and arm. Alonzo pushed him back into the wall. Once the man regained his balance he pulled his gun and shot Alonzo clear through his chest, (the opposite side to the heart) Alonzo stepped back, With no remorse, he leaped upon the man beating him with his iron-like fists. The gunshot had attracted many people, including the sheriff. Alonzo had hit the gun form the stranger's hand and had killed the man, he had beaten him till the blood left his face. Alonzo was soon being wrestled off the man by the sheriff.