Western Flower | ✅

Chapter 17 - Behold A Pale Horse

The posse was now over halfway to Cedar when they slowed their pace, they had made good progress in their journey in such little time but they did not want to exhaust their steeds. Whilst they had been galloping they had not talked, even if they had they would not have been able to hear one another at such speed, they had now slowed to a pace faster than a trot but slightly slower than a canter.

"So doc, do we know much of what happened or why?" Silas asked with great interest.

"I don't know much, all I know is that numerous people met with Abraham in his office and then after that, he instructed a large group of men to take control of the town, apparently he shouting something about gold and riches and such." Explained the doc.

"Looks like our suspicions are confirmed," Bill interjected. "That sumbitch played this town, then thought he could burn it down to hide his sneaky plot. Fucking snake."

"What do you mean?" Asked the doc confused. Silas, Bill and Rose then explained their theories and suspicions to the doc.

"That all makes sense now," remarked the doc. "After that duel, you had the man who you shot came to me for treatment that evening Bill. He and Ezra had been drinking together and Ezra let slip some details about a business deal. I just thought it was drunk rambling but now it all makes sense..."

"None of that matters now," replied Silas. "What does matter is putting a stop to this attack, it won't be easy, those hired thugs, the so-called disciples, they are extremely dangerous marksmen. We will have to be very wary."

"I reckon we will be ok, we got you and Bill," Rose said to Silas, eager to boost confidence and morale.

"I appreciate that darlin', but I'm not as young as I once was." Silas sighed remorsefully.

The group could now see the town of Cedar, there was smoke coming from a number of buildings that had been set on fire, the town looked almost unrecognisable. The group formed a line side by side and came to a halt. Roses eyes filled with tears as she looked at the smoke billowing for the town's skyline in the distance, the doc remained quiet whilst Bill and Silas looked at each other silently. In the distance, they could hear shouting and gunfire.

Bill moved off first and Silas followed with Rose and Doc in toe, they got a few hundred feet further and again came to a stop the three of them then turned to the doc, with that the reached into a bag attached to his saddle and pulled out a stick of dynamite.

"Light that sumbitch, I'm ready to dance with the devil," said Bill in a low tone, Coal was pacing side to side, he could sense the urgency facing them.

"Don't do anything rash boy," demanded Silas. "We got to wait for further instruction."

The doc lit the dynamite and threw it into the distance, after a few moments a horse came charging towards them. It was not the marshal but his loyal deputy Ira, the group were taken aback by the look on his face. His face was covered in blood and ash, his eyes were red and watery.

"What's the plan, Ira?" Silas asked. But he didn't answer, it was as if he had not heard Silas' voice.

"Ira, sweetie?" Rose tried this time to gain his attention, Ira then looked up to the group and managed to find his voice.

"They got Betty, those men." Ira struggled to get his words out. "I've had to listen to her screams, I tried to get to her but..." Ira hung his head and broke down. Rose covered her mouth with her hands in horror and Bill, Silas and the doc looked sympathetically at Ira. With that, the group made their way to the marshal's office. They were greeted by the marshal who looked exhausted.

"Looked like the cavalry has arrived," Lucas exclaimed.

"What's the plan? What are we dealing with?" Asked Silas.

"We have managed to kill two men, Edgar and one of Abraham's hired guns so that leaves us twelve against four, we have lost two men ourselves," Lucas stated.

"Any hostages that we know of?" Asked Bill.

"Only Betty and one other girl" There was a heavy look in the marshal's eyes as he said this.

"I have an idea," Bill stated. "It will hopefully get the women out of harm's way, then we can resolve this without any more innocents getting harmed."

"I trust you, Bill, just be careful you hear," Lucas said firmly.

With that Bill unarmed himself save for one revolver and made his way slowly on horseback towards Abraham Cohen's saloon, he and Coal became showered in ash from one of the burning buildings. As he approached the saloon half a dozen unfamiliar faces greeted Bill from the external balcony, followed by a familiar voice.

"Behold a pale horse," said Abraham in jest looking down on the ash-covered sight of Bill and Coal. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I am here for the women," replied Bill with his arms raised in a fashion that showed he came in peace.

"Unfortunately only the blonde bitch is available." Spat Abraham, Betty was thrown out on the balcony to him and he grabbed her, she could barely stand. Her face was bloodied and swollen from what Bill could see.

Without warning Abraham threw Betty over the balcony, Bill raced towards Betty who fell like a child's rag-doll. Bill just about caught her, as he held Betty in his arms he could see the anguish on her face. She'd sob if she could but the pain was too great even for that, her jaw looked broken and she could only grimace. As Bill looked at her he could hear the men above break out in roars of cold heartless laughter.

"Behold a pale horse!" Bill repeated, "and the name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed."

The group of men lead by Abraham now felt silent at Bill's words then retreated back inside the saloon. Bill headed back towards the marshal's office, as he approached he gently passed Betty to the doc. As Ira looked at Betty's face the emotion was too much he broke down in tears as he held her hand.

"I need to examine her and assess her injuries, Ira. Could you please go and fetch Pearl?" Asked the doc, it took Ira a moment to process the request.

Bill, Silas and Ira waited outside while the doc tended to Betty, the men sat in silence until Pearl and Rose exited the office. Rose was very pale and Pearl looked shaken, the doc came out.

"Doc, she ok?" Asked Ira

"Her injuries are extensive but she will be ok in time." The Doc replied sympathetically.

"They're monsters!" Rose cried.

"They're dead men walking..." exclaimed Bill.

Authors Note
I feel like some serious stuff is going to go down. I hope you liked the chapter if you did please don't forget to vote.