Moving On Chapter 14 Within an hour, the eight men were on their way out of New Orleans. "I can't believe that Welsh gave you up," groused JD. He was angry on Vin's behalf. Vin gave a slight shrug. "I guess he was just doing what he thought was best." JD just grunted in reply. "So, you and Brad are comin' back to Four Corners with us?" Buck ventured to ask Ezra. "We will be accompanying you most of the way. We thought it would be wise in case there's trouble," Ezra answered. THE NEXT AFTERNOON "When are we going to make our move?" Ratch asked Dopper. Dopper looked at his five men and answered, "In a few minutes. We have to take them before they reach Four Corners. Before they get so close that the gunshots are heard. Now, quit askin' questions and do what the hell I tell ya!" Ratch and the other four men nodded their heads in understanding. The eight men were about an hour away from Four Corners when Chris stopped his horse, causing the others to rein up as well. "What is it, Brother Chris?" asked Josiah. Chris looked around the rocky landscape. There was nothing but dirt, rocks, and high rock cliffs. Narrowing his eyes, he answered, "I don't know. I feel like someone's watching us." Just as he said that, a bullet tore through the air right next to his head. "DUCK!" he shouted. There was nowhere to hide, so all the men could do was try to stay low and fight their way out. Pulling their guns, all eight men started looking for a target to fire at. Using his spyglass, Vin spotted one of the shooters. "Son of a bitch!" he hissed. "It's that marshal. Dopper," he called out to the other seven men. They were all spread apart, hoping to make less easy targets. "Shit!" cursed Brad. Another bullet tore threw the air, almost hitting Ezra, but they could still not see Dopper to fire. Vin could see him but he couldn't get a clear shot. Standing up, Dopper yelled out to them, "THE ONLY ONE WE WANT IS VIN TANNER. SEND HIM TO US AND THE REST OF YOU CAN BE ON YOUR WAY! WHAT DO YOU SAY? DO WE HAVE A DEAL?" "NO WAY IN HELL!" Chris immediately yelled back. He knew that even if they did give Vin to the man and his deputies, which they wouldn't, that Dopper would not let them go. Even if he was a man of the law. Money, especially five hundred dollars, had a way of changin' a man. "ALRIGHT, LARABEE. HAVE IT YOUR WAY!" With that said, Dopper and his five men opened fire. The eight men returned it, Vin having the best aim because of his rifle. Vin hit one of Dopper's deputies in the right leg, causing him to fall. Vin, none of them, wanted to kill a marshal or his deputies. They were going to have to figure something out! Another deputy went down, with shots to his right and left arms, thanks to Brad's amazing aim. "Oomph!" Chris heard grunted close to him. Turning to look, he saw Vin lying on his side, curled up with his hands clutched to his right side. "Vin? VIN!" he called as he ran to him, dodging bullets and returning fire. Another grunt and curse was heard as Brad went down, his gun dropping from his hand and hitting the dusty ground. He fell to the ground, on his stomach, a spot from his upper back bleeding. Ezra ran to his side. "Brad!" Ezra saw Brad's eyes open, but bright with pain. Knowing better than to move his friend, he pressed his left hand to the wound, trying to staunch the blood. He turned his attention back to the gunfight, while feeling Brad's blood leaking through his fingers. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner Brad and Vin would get help. He just hoped that his two friends would make it that long. Return to Moving On
Moving On
Chapter 14
Within an hour, the eight men were on their way out of New Orleans. "I can't believe that Welsh gave you up," groused JD. He was angry on Vin's behalf.
Vin gave a slight shrug. "I guess he was just doing what he thought was best." JD just grunted in reply.
"So, you and Brad are comin' back to Four Corners with us?" Buck ventured to ask Ezra.
"We will be accompanying you most of the way. We thought it would be wise in case there's trouble," Ezra answered.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON
"When are we going to make our move?" Ratch asked Dopper.
Dopper looked at his five men and answered, "In a few minutes. We have to take them before they reach Four Corners. Before they get so close that the gunshots are heard. Now, quit askin' questions and do what the hell I tell ya!" Ratch and the other four men nodded their heads in understanding.
The eight men were about an hour away from Four Corners when Chris stopped his horse, causing the others to rein up as well. "What is it, Brother Chris?" asked Josiah.
Chris looked around the rocky landscape. There was nothing but dirt, rocks, and high rock cliffs. Narrowing his eyes, he answered, "I don't know. I feel like someone's watching us." Just as he said that, a bullet tore through the air right next to his head. "DUCK!" he shouted.
There was nowhere to hide, so all the men could do was try to stay low and fight their way out. Pulling their guns, all eight men started looking for a target to fire at.
Using his spyglass, Vin spotted one of the shooters. "Son of a bitch!" he hissed. "It's that marshal. Dopper," he called out to the other seven men. They were all spread apart, hoping to make less easy targets.
"Shit!" cursed Brad. Another bullet tore threw the air, almost hitting Ezra, but they could still not see Dopper to fire. Vin could see him but he couldn't get a clear shot.
Standing up, Dopper yelled out to them, "THE ONLY ONE WE WANT IS VIN TANNER. SEND HIM TO US AND THE REST OF YOU CAN BE ON YOUR WAY! WHAT DO YOU SAY? DO WE HAVE A DEAL?"
"NO WAY IN HELL!" Chris immediately yelled back. He knew that even if they did give Vin to the man and his deputies, which they wouldn't, that Dopper would not let them go. Even if he was a man of the law. Money, especially five hundred dollars, had a way of changin' a man.
"ALRIGHT, LARABEE. HAVE IT YOUR WAY!" With that said, Dopper and his five men opened fire. The eight men returned it, Vin having the best aim because of his rifle. Vin hit one of Dopper's deputies in the right leg, causing him to fall. Vin, none of them, wanted to kill a marshal or his deputies. They were going to have to figure something out!
Another deputy went down, with shots to his right and left arms, thanks to Brad's amazing aim.
"Oomph!" Chris heard grunted close to him. Turning to look, he saw Vin lying on his side, curled up with his hands clutched to his right side.
"Vin? VIN!" he called as he ran to him, dodging bullets and returning fire.
Another grunt and curse was heard as Brad went down, his gun dropping from his hand and hitting the dusty ground. He fell to the ground, on his stomach, a spot from his upper back bleeding. Ezra ran to his side. "Brad!" Ezra saw Brad's eyes open, but bright with pain. Knowing better than to move his friend, he pressed his left hand to the wound, trying to staunch the blood. He turned his attention back to the gunfight, while feeling Brad's blood leaking through his fingers. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner Brad and Vin would get help. He just hoped that his two friends would make it that long.
Return to Moving On