His heart rate rose as his hand slowly moved down his side. His son’s laugh echoed through his head, he thought of his wife’s touch and goose bumps began to appear on his arms. Just a split second could take all that away from him. His pale alabaster skin was highlighted next to the darkness of the night. Before anymore haunting thoughts crossed his mind he drew his gun and fired once, twice, three times. He looked up as his opponents body dropped to the ground in silence. As all respected cowboys do he ignolleged his recently deceased adversary but tipping the brim of his hat, and continued to walking away.
One scream sounded as Michael walked away. “You fucking bastard!” a woman cried as she cuddled the fallen man’s body. This didn’t affect Michael at all. He didn’t care. No one ever dared say anything to Michael, he was feared, he was scary. Not many challenged the self proclaimed “best in the world”, but the one’s who did majority of the time ended up like our friend here. Dead as a doornail.
In Michael’s eye’s he was the savior of the town, he took care of all of the trouble. He was the “good guy” just with a terrible attitude and a quick draw. After the incident in the middle of town Michael decided to make his way home, to his lovely wife Sarah and their darling son Morgan. Michael had a crud contentious. He never thought twice about any of the men he killed. There was always a good reason for their deaths. They “popped” their mouth off at him or raised their hand to him, after they disrespected him it was only right for them to die. He wasn’t a violent man he just stood up for what he believed in.
“Where have you been, it is half pass 10!” Sarah screamed. “
You where suppose to be home 3 hours ago!” “Honey, I had to take care of some business.” Michael said as he gave Sarah a specific look. She knew what that look meant. “I cant even look at you anymore Michael, your terrible!” Michael knew Sarah didn’t like his way of life but it was the only life he knew.
“Daddy!” Morgan shouted as he ran to his father. “I missed you Daddy.” “My little lone ranger, I missed you as well!” “Morgan why are you up, I put you to bed almost a hour ago.” Sarah added. “He’s fine Sarah!” Michael grumbled. “Come on Morgan ill take you to bed.” As Michael was walking up the stairs a knock on the door sounded. Walking to the door Sarah took her time. As she opened the large red door a man was standing less than a foot from her. “Sarah, where’s Michael? I must talk to him!” Said the man.
“Up the stairs and to the left, first door on the right.” As the man walked up the stairs he could hear Sarah crying. He looked over and saw her dabbing her eyes with her apron. So many things ran through the mans mind. Had Michael beat her? Had he cheated on Sarah? As the man made his way up the stairs he met Michael turning the corner. “Michael, they know its you they know you’re the one that killed Doc.” Michael’s heart dropped, He had never known this feeling. It was the feeling of remorse. He knew what he had done to his family.
“Michael you have to leave, they’ll hang you if you don’t!” “Don’t talk so loud, I don’t want Morgan to hear!” Michael demanded. Scared to death Michael made his was down the stairs to confront Sarah. “Baby, I have to leave.” Sarah didn’t understand. This had never happened before, Michael had never gotten caught. “Baby, I’m sorry.” Michael added. “Just go..” Sarah said as tears started to gather in her eyes. “What am I suppose to tell Morgan, Michael?” “Oh I’m sorry your dad’s not here Morgan he’s on the run because he’s a murderer.” Michael began to cry. “Not to be rude but we do need to leave.” the man said. With a tear rolling down his cheek Michael stepped out the door. “I love you Sarah, I always will. I’m sorry.”
The large red door slammed behind the men as the mounted their horses to ride away into the darkness. Neither one of the men knew where they where going they just knew they had to get away from Silver Town. Michael’s heart broke as he rode away from his family and he knew he wouldn’t be whole until he was reunited with them.
“How did you know that they are after me?” Michael questioned the man. “Its all over the south side of town.” The man replied. “I couldn’t just let you be oblivious to the whole situation, I wouldn’t let you just be a sitting duck waiting for someone to come and kill you. Especially in front of your family. I wont allow it.” “Thank you sir.” Michael said as he began to gather himself.
All that night Michael thought of the family that he had left behind. That wasn’t the type of person Michael was, he loved his family more than anything. “You don’t think they’ll harm Sarah and Morgan do you?” Michael cried. “Anything to get the man they want, there are some horrible ruthless people in that town.” The man answered.
As soon as the man had answered Michael had already turned his horse around headed back the way they had came. He was going home to protect his family. “THEY’RE ONLY TRYING TO GET TO YOU!” the man howled. The best in the world didn’t care, that was his family in harms way. He would go to the end of the earth for them.
After riding for several hours Michael began to think maybe this was all just a dream. Maybe this was just a horrible nightmare and then he began to relies there was no way in hell that this was a dream. It was just too real. Michael arrived at the house with only seconds to spare, he could see the mob of people approaching his house with pitch forks and torches. “Stop! Stop I’m right here! Don’t harm my family. Please!” Michael begged. The crowd began to yell and scream. “You murderer!” “You horrible excuse for a human being!” Those words didn’t faze Michael he was just focused on protecting his wife and son. “Take me, take me.” As those dreaded words released their self from Michael’s mouth, Sarah stepped out onto the porch with her hand over her mouth. “Baby, I told you I love you and I always will but I’m doing this for you and Morgan. I would rather let him know his father went down with honor than running like a coward.” Michael shouted.
Sarah was left speechless, “I love you too, I’m sorry for blaming you for everything Michael. I took all my anger out on you, and I never would have if id know it would be one of the last times I would hear your wonderful voice. I love you.” The crowd was left silent. Not a word was spoken. Michael turned to his wife, kissed her, and began to make his way down to the crowd. The crowd parted and allowed Michael to walk on his own. He led the mob back into town as he surrenderd himself to the sheriff. “Do what you will with me, but do not touch my family or so help me God you will pay.” The sheriff nodded with his promise that neither Sarah or Morgan would be harmed. “This was a very noble thing you did Michael.” the sheriff mumbled.
Michael was due to be hung the next morning. He didn’t sleep, he didn’t eat, he just waited for the sun to rise. He wanted to be able to have a calm and easy thought to interupt the madness of the previous night. The Sheriff opened the jail cell and escorted Michael to Gallows. A odd thing Michael began to do as he was making his way to the horrid place of death was he began to count his foot steps. Twenty one, twenty two, twenty three. All the way up to seventy four. It took seventy four steps to arrive at his fate.
He stood there as the man in black began to slide the rough rope around his neck. The man in black began to read Michael’s charges to the crowd. Michael didn’t listen, all he listened to was the voice he remembered of his son and wife. He man in black rolled up the paper that he had previously read sat in on the ground, moved his hand to his side, took a deep breath and pulled the lever that was Michael’s only support.
Michael’s lifeless body hung there, as the last bit of air left his lungs. Sarah and Morgan did not attend the hanging. Sarah wanted her and her son to remember Michael as the wonderful father and husband he was. Michael was a splendid man, he just made poor decisions that in the long run, he was forced to pay for.
