Chapter 2

Jack: Why are we slowing down?

Mr. Steve: The men we are about to face, they well-known outlaws.

Mr. Steve: Boy? Right there in the wagon, you’ll find a pair of Colts why don’t you buckle yourself up just in case things get out of hand

Jack: Sure

I said and went to the back where I went through the bags and at first, couldn’t find the guns when I heard the voices outside. Luckily enough I managed to find the two Colts, buckled myself up, and slowly and softly moved to the closed curtain behind Steve to peek. I was bare feet which helped me to move like a cat so no one could hear me. I opened the curtains slightly enough to see what was going on outside. Four men with dark suits and hats were talking to Steve.

Outlaw 1: My guess is, you heading for Utah that right old man?

Mr. Steve: You got that right

Outlaw 1: Dillon? What do you see on that God damned drawing? This that bounty hunter isn’t it?

Dillon: Er … not sure, I …. don’t …

Outlaw 1: Give me a reason to put a bullet in your ass is this the guy or not?

Dillon: Nah! I don’t think so

Outlaw 1: What’s your name, old man?

Mr. Steve: Robert

I understood why Steve was lying, but Dillon seemed unsure and it seemed like he is still studying the paper and the more he looks the more he gets sure of what he is seeing.

Outlaw 1: Well, go then old guy, hope you not lying

Steve greeted by touching his hat and nodded before the wagon started to move. When we were at a good distance I came out and joined Steve. Steve looked behind him and started to speed the horses up. I looked at him and he answered.

Steve: Now don’t let your guard down boy, these oaks will soon realize that I’m the bounty hunter and will pursue us

Jack: Did you do anything wrong to them?

Mr. Steve: Nope, I’m well known and bounty hunters are their nightmares we bounty hunters are the reason for them to end up behind bars or dead, if outlaws can find one bounty hunter they will kill him, that’s why I say I’m telling you to get yourself ready we not done yet, boy

My heart was pumping in my throat and scared as hell, the wagon was moving fast and I was praying the whole time cause I never have been in this type of situation before. But what surprised me more is just like Steve predicted these outlaws were racing behind us but far away. My head was hanging out and I saw them, I stuck my head back in with adrenaline pumping through my veins I informed Steve.

Jack: Big Steve!

I felt comfortable calling him Big Steve since he doesn’t want me to call him master, and from where I’m from it’s disrespectful to call an old man by his name, so he told me his nickname Big Steve, so I decided to call him that.

Jack: They’re right behind us

Big Steve: Take your carcass and make yourself useful show me what you're here for or they’ll turn us into baked beans and sausages!

I hesitated cause I never killed anyone and he saw the hesitation.

Stevie: You’re right! This is your first, so go on in!

He had to bark loud as he scold me so that I could act quickly so I did, I left his side and entered the wagon, I was nervous and looked out of place, he knew I was nervous and barked again.

Steve: In your left corner there’s a rifle!!!

I obeyed and looked to my left and asked myself, were I that hungry that I never saw that piece of a beast and went for it, prepared it, it was loaded so I went and lay in front of the back entrance of the wagon which is still closed, I prayed, simply because I was afraid of dying, when I finished I peeked through the wagons curtains which are closing the entrance, I opened it more to get a clear view of the four men in the distance. I aimed the way I was taught, little to know that among the four was a monster of long-range shooting. From where I was aiming I estimated it could be close to 1 km far out where I was aiming at. They shot a single shot first, I ducked, thought to myself JESUS. At that time the long-range shooter shot a single shot, I blew out the wind of fear from my mouth and aimed again. I didn’t care who I was aiming at so long as I get to shoot someone, I waited and shot. One of them fell off, now two kept on pursuing us while the third stayed behind with the wounded, a person could see the third was surprised cause he kept on looking back and forth. I took another shot and the second guy fell, the cowboy in front almost fell from his horse the way he ducked and he too stopped. I couldn’t believe it and with a smile, I jumped up excited and taken away by the situation. I rushed to the front and shouted with excitement

Jack: I stopped them!!!

Then I saw Big Steve in agony, blood was all over his white shirt. I didn’t know what to do I just grabbed the reins from Big Steve and had to steer the horses myself, I looked at him.

Jack: Hold on Big Steve, wish I was close by to a town or city !!!

Big Steve: St. George Town is just over … the hill

He coughed badly, made me imagine that the hill seemed so far, and tripped and swore the whole time, but eventually, we reached the hill. We took some time to ride over it but when we reached the top a clear view of St. George Town was seen. St. George Town was a huge town and still, everybody knew each other around there. The town was big enough to have its bank and sheriff. When we entered the main road, the road was busy and a loud mouth, a barber, Owen who saw us came running towards us shouting to everybody making a lot of people surround us. I stopped the wagon; people were swarming around us, and some were shouting cause Steve was bleeding. Everyone knew Steve and was concerned about him, at that time Steve was unconscious. A man came forward from the crowd, he was an asshole I remembered, his name was Raymond.

Raymond: How exactly did this happen, Negro? Are you the cause of this?

Jack: No sir

I knew I should have said more but so much tension around me that’s all I said until another asshole came, the town was filled with assholes so anyone who is about to speak now? He or she is an asshole. The man who came forward to join Raymond is Tim.

Tim: I don’t believe a word this man is saying for all I know is Big Steve went to buy a slave and just look what his slave did to him

Another woman came, scold them about the man dying, and shouted for help and they helped Steve and carried him away to a room, that was my guess cause I didn’t see where they were taking him. Some shook their heads and mumbled how they still blame me instead of helping Steve, but these assholes did not stop, more joined them. Another spoke his name was Roger.

Roger: You better stay here Negro, you ain’t going nowhere, for peet's sake Steve, riding alone with a Negro? Now, look at this native man all sad like he did nothing.

The sheriff came and he sounded like a person, but believe me, he too was an asshole and that’s why’s the town’s filled with assholes, after all, he is the law of the town.

Sheriff: Tim? Raymond? Gentlemen? Everybody present here, Big Steve is being treated by Marcie, Grace, and Pam, and from what I can see and she confirmed it, it seemed like old Steve got shot from behind, it’s not a close range shot so the only one who can tell us what happened here is this Negro here, so? Mr. Negro? You should pray and hope Big Steve gets by or else everything you say here will be on you, you hear me? So what exactly happened to Steve come on spill it out!

Jack: Sir? We were chased by four men, Big Steve …

Tim: Master!

Jack: Master Steve … said they are very dangerous outlaws and they were looking for him because he is a bounty hunter so we tried to flee away from them but they kept on pursuing us and they were shooting at us sir