Western Flower | ✅

Chapter 1 - The Prodigal Son Returns

As the man stood on his porch leaning against the post, he gazed at the landscape before him, whilst sipping from the cup of coffee in his hand. The landscape was that of a ranch, not a large ranch but a very respectful size still. The man on the porch was middle-aged. Late 40's with long grey hair and a slightly overgrown beard, tall with a solid build and a rugged face and features that had been sculptured by years of being exposed to the elements. He had obviously led a difficult life.

The man's gaze was broken as in the distance he heard a bird calling, grabbing his attention. The familiar shrill of a cry echoed around him. After a moment the man turned and limped inside with haste. While the man went inside a horse started to approach from the distance, as it did the call from the bird became louder until the sound stopped and the horse and rider were about 100 yards from the log cabin that the older man had just gone into.

The horse was almost jet black, from it's mane to its coat and tail. It was tall and large, as was the young man who was sitting astride the steed. The young man must have been early 20's and looked very much like a native American, except for the clothes that made him look less native. He had long dark hair, dark brown eyes and a wild dark beard and weather-beaten features that made him look older than he was. He was handsome in a rough around the edges kind of way.

As the man dismounted and hitched his horse he stood up straight, as he did his height and size were even more apparent. He was well over six and a half feet and just as wide, almost like an ox and no doubt as strong as one. He looked around with an inquisitive nature, pressed his cupped hands to his mouth, made a bird call and hesitated. After pausing for a moment he took a couple of steps towards the direction of the house and again made the bird call, after a slight pause the young man started to move in the direction of the house again.

As the younger man took another step towards the house there was a gunshot. A bullet flew past his head by an inch or two which caused him to stop in his tracks, his horse that was hitched gave a short startled cry and stomped it's hoof angrily. The man looked around in anticipation as if he was expecting a follow-up.

"Pa?" came a shout from the young man, his voice was deep and commanding although given what had just occurred there was an uncertainty to his voice. For a moment there was no response at all, with that he drew his revolver and cocked the hammer. He heard movement from inside the house and cautiously raised his revolver, brought his head down in line with the sight but as the door open he holstered his firearm.

"Well son, I see my aim is still as good as it ever was." smiled the older man as he walked back on to the porch.

With that, the older man limped towards the younger man with a smile that turned to laughter, the younger man who was moving towards him with more pace was doing the same, as they got in range they embraced with a hug.

"It's good to see you again Pa, did you miss on purpose?" asked the young man.

"Bill, I don't miss. Anyway if I did miss we wouldn't be talking. Sorry if I scared Coal, he's a damn good horse I know you wouldn't want to lose him" smiled the older man.

The older man was Silas Roberts, Bill's father. Bill and Coal had been near inseparable ever since Bill had been a young boy and helped raise Coal from a foal shortly after he was born, there was such a bond between man and beast it was almost as if they understood each other.

"You'll be sick of the sight of me soon old man," said Bill jokingly.

"That's alright, there's plenty of work to be done on the ranch and even more when that's done" replied Silas with a smirk.

With that Silas put his arm around Bill and lead him inside the house. Once inside they walked through to an open area near the back on the house that looked like the kitchen, Bill sat down and Silas brought over a plate of food and a cup of coffee, black and strong and handed it to Bill.