Chapter 6, Part One

No Honor Ch. 6 Pt. 1: Lightning;

The way I heard it, there was four of 'em, all together. They drank, and waited for the rest o' the patrons to leave, which turned out to be around half past one. Once they were sure that there was no stragglers, roamin' about nearby, they tightened their gun belts and went straight to my place.

The rain had stopped, sometime before eleven. Shadow was tied up to the rail, near the southeast corner o' the house, so they knew that Carter was inside. Now, being in no ways idiots, these men removed their spurs, and then they picked the lock and entered the front door.

Carter had been advertisin' his position upstairs for some time, so I'm sure they didn't bother with the bottom floor. Once they found the staircase, they went on up, with guns drawn and cocked in front of 'em. Now, this is a matter of debate, about how silently they approached. No one knows, but I'll say this, as far as creaking boards, there were none to.my knowledge.

I built that house years after the bar, and it was well built. It settles, like every house settles, but there's nothin' they woulda stepped on, that woulda given themselves away. In any case, they made it to the guest room without a hitch. Two of 'em led the way inside, and the other two were near behind.

When they stepped in, they found nobody home, and I imagine they were confused fer a bit. I also like to think, that one o' them caught sight of the bed, and how awkwardly it was placed, against the wall. See, his eyes woulda went from there, to the farthest bed post, and then to the rope tied to it. By the time he followed the rope's length, through  the winda, Carter woulda swung up, wit' his gun raised.

Moon's pistol fired four times. One bullet struck a man in the shoulder. He might have survived that one, but his partner behind him was so scared, that he squeezed his trigger too early, and shot him in the back o' the skull. The second man up front was shot in the neck. He was probably dead, before he fell and tripped up the man behind 'im, who was turnin' to flee.

That one got hisself up though, and he bolted. Moon tried to catch him, with the last two in his revolver, but he was shootin' inta pitch black, and the man was quick; he went out into the hall, and down the steps, smearin' his buddy's blood against the walls.

The one that shot his friend, recovered from his mistake. Moon saw him raise his gun, and before the barrel fired, he was on his way down the rope. This was on account o' Percy Lambert, the barber that lives across from the house's west side.

Mr. Lambert also saw Moon sprint around, to the east side of the place, and he noted the "peculiar way" in which Carter moved. The albino was still limpin' a bit, no doubt due to that hip. His right leg, however, had the stride of two, well enough, and Percy said he was fast.

Out came the runner, wit' his blood-spattered boots. He saw the rope was unmanned, and he guessed, correctly, that Carter went east to the horse. He followed, quick as a rabbit, and when he got there that horse was not happy. Percy heard the animal neighing, and he saw 'er  hooves, darting out from the corner.

The runner reeled back in defense, and Carter was on 'im. There was no shot fired and the man didn't scream, so I reckon, that whatever blade the spook had, went right into the man's lungs. Anyways, just as his legs start to go out from under 'im, Mr. Friendly Fire runs out.

He sees the pair, turns and fires, and Carter puts his buddy between them. Imagine the look on his face!

Cussin, red, an' hot with anger, the last man of the party started reloadin' his pistol. Moon inched forward, still holding that dead man in front of 'im, and as he advanced, the killer retreated, right into the spurs they had left there...

He fell over, howlin' in pain.

The gun got loose, during his stumble, but it wasn't far out of reach. Carter was right there, in front of 'im though, with a fresh sixer on 'is belt. There was some brief words exchanged, but possibly because o' the drink, whatever was said didn't stop the man, from going for his gun.

He got it, Moon drew quick, and the man turned right into a bullet.

---------------------------------