Chapter 13, Part Three

No Honor Ch 13 Pt. 3: The Chase

They heard us before they saw us, and Jonas was wary o' the trouble, but he wasn't done with the wagon just yet. He hopped in it, then stood up with a small trunk, and then another. He dumped the prizes... opium pipes... onta tha ground.

We was less than a hunnerd yards away then, and we was closin' in fast. They did they best ta trample, on all o' those pipes, and then they mounted and took off. Jonas was in front, and his friends was behind 'im, ta either side. So the chase began, and already, I felt foam, wettin' the coat o' my horse.

I slowed 'im down a bit, so as not ta run 'im dead, and about then is when I heard the first shots... Carter and his helpers rode off to tha left, away from the shootin' hand, o' Jonas's gunman. Then he aimed at me, so I hugged the horse. I reckon 'is shot was high, but it missed, in any case.

I took out my Colt, but Carter was faster. He shot the man in the spine and the rider fell back, limp against the animal's rear. Without anyone ta guide 'im, the horse trailed off a ways, with the dead man's hands bein' whipped, by 'is tail. As we rode past, I saw that the horse was buckin 'im off.

Next was more shots, come from the man ta Jonas's right. I turned my stallion, ta run directly behind 'im, and he saw this. He tried to twist 'imself more, to get a better shot. He fired again, and I swear I felt that bullet knick the brim o' my hat... right above my ear. I fired back, in anger, and I hit 'is left shoulder.

He dropped the gun and reached for the wound. Shortly after, he passed out, and he started leanin' left, and then farther left...  If he secured that saddle hisself, he did a poor job; it swung under the mare he was ridin', and it took him with it. What happened to his head, when it met the ground, and those hooves....

It was just terrible. It made me regret shootin 'im, to be honest. Fortunately... if you can call it that, the horse got tripped up, and it fell upright, landing on top of 'im. I can't think of a worse way ta die.

Jonas looked behind 'im, and saw that he was alone. He spurred, and then hugged his horse... archin' 'is back some, just like a jockey. That animal flew... As gone as our horses was, from just catchin' up to 'em awl, I didn't see how we could get 'im.

Carter said, "Cow Hand!", and that mystery man, that one I know somehow, he took off after Jonas. The rest of us slowed down, to a stop, and that cowboy swung 'is rope, round and round, over 'is head.

I said, " What is he playin' at? He's not gonna get Jonas off that horse."

Carter said, "Just watch 'im... He's good."

Mystery said, "C'mon Norm".

Farther they went, and that rope kept swingin' and swingin'. Jonas was huggin' that stallion close, and again, I saw no way fer that cowboy ta rope 'im... Well, that not what he did. Instead, he roped the stallion's front legs.

He musta held on, tight to 'is saddle. When that rope pulled taught, the stallion went down on 'is right flank, and the cowboy and his mare followed suit. Jonas flew off and rolled, then came to a stop. After a beat, none of 'em was movin'.

Mystery said, "Shit... He better be alright".

He took off, towards the scene, and we followed.

The cowboy was lucky. At the last moment, he was pulled clear of his horse. That mare though, had broken a front leg, during tha fall... and we had ta put 'er down. Jonas's stallion was upset, but 'e wasn't injured, and then there was Jonas hisself.

He was movin like a small boat, in rough waters. He'd tilt a bit to tha right, and then back left, and then right again. Then he started pushin' off with 'is feet, like he was tryin' ta get away. The bad news fer him was, that he moved an inch at a time.

His little hat flew off durin' the fall, so you could see 'is hair was def'nitely thinnin' out, and red. His face wasn't so red as that, but he was flushed, with pain and anger. Mostly anger... and he did let those words fly.

"You fucking bloody morons! Are you fucking insane? I'll kill you dead as turkeys!..

"Fuckin 'ell!"

Carter said, "Wayne, this here is Mister, Richard, "Rx" Jonas...

"Good evenin' Rex. Why don't you come and have a late supper with us?"

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