Chapter 28

No Honor; Chapter 28: Lasso

Danca's strong as an ox. Jonas said though, that if the bullet woulda struck left, insteada right, it would 'ave pierced the Indian's heart, and that would've been that. As it was, he was damn lucky that blonde... Lori, her name was, spent that time stoppin' that bleedin'. Mr. Larson, however, was not so lucky.

It was ta be expected; slugs was goin' every which way, an' he wasn't capable, o' movin very far. One o' them bullets, that came through those walls, hit tha top of 'is right foot. Another hit 'em left side, right where tha chest meets tha shoulder. Given that the momentum, of them bullets was halted somewhat, the wounds weren't fatal in themselves, but the blood loss was just too much.

At my insistence, Roy was givin' a proper burial. I figured, that if he hadn't paid 'is dues by then, he would in tha next life. Norman was buried a few hours later, and lauded as a hero. Mitchell pulled through tha proceedings honorably; knowin' that he wasn't the cause o' Norm's death, was at least some help.

He did break down cryin' though, when it was done. You might think that, knowin' what I know about Mitchell, I'd be uneasy about embracin 'im... I never gave it a second thought... When a man needs help like that you do it, without question.

"It's alright", I said. "He's with 'is father now."

Durin' my last night at tha hotel, I heard a few shots. I wasn't su'prised. The Station will never change. Knowin I was leavin', gave me my best night's sleep in years.

The bar keys went ta Dave, everythang else I own, was packed up wit me. I said my goodbyes ta him, Sheldon, Cole, James, Sal, Mildred, Lori and Gina tha brave... And also ta Dancer, who we left in their care.

Millie told me Percy did 'isself in. I guess Wally wasn't the only one died, from that craving. It's up ta Mitchell now, ta decide what ta do with that powder we took... Do you toss it down a pit, hopin' they overcome it, or do you give it to those still crippled, by that need?

Last I talked to 'im, he said he didn't know.

At The Stable, I got a pleasant su'prise. The white mare that ran off, eventually showed up there, and I got my shotgun back. When they asked me if I wanted ta purchase that horse, I politely declined. I bought Jonas's stallion instead... little mistake they made there.

Ridin' out of The Station, fer the last time, I was disappointed that I didn't get ta see Carter. I should've known better; he didn't let me get very far. Both him and Shadow had seen better days; she had some clay, coverin' them cuts she got at Millie's, and Moon was a bruised up, one-eyed pirate,

"Howdy", I said. "Comin' up ta say goodbye?"

"Maybe", he said. "You finish yer business?"

"I did... And you?"

He lit up a smoke, then 'e nodded. "Marco's gone... He ain't among the dead, and 'e shore as shit ain't here."

I said, "That don't su'prise me. His chance at... holdin' on here's past, but... if e's out there, and I was Carter Moon? I'd sleep with one eye open."

He smiled, winked with that swollen eye, and then he blew smoke away from me. "Duly noted."

I said, "What about Donny? Any luck there?"

Carter said, "He cleaned out, where he was livin' at. I kept an eye on the place, ta be sure, and I even asked people to have 'im see me, for what's due ta him... But it seems like he decided ta move on."

I shook my head. "Fuckin' stupid- you know why he left?"

He nodded.

I said, "That's fuckin' ridiculous-he did the right thang!"

Carter shrugged. "That's life, Wayne... Y'know... With some people, what's right and wrong don't matter, and there ain't no changin' that."

As much as I hated it, I figure Donny didn't have too much choice. Once you labeled by people, as bein' somethin', you that fer all time, an... It woulda just been too hard, ta try an' do business, with that on ya.

Carter said, "So... Where we headed?"

I looked at 'im. "Where am I headed?... Texas... Texas, ta start at least."

Carter puffed on his smoke. "Mm-hmmm."

I said, "Why? Where you headed?"

He said, "Well, I had a talk with Ms. Hattley... about that man that killed her Emily...

"It seems... That he most likely fled, in a... southernly direction."

A little smile.

"Okay...", I said.

"That bein' the case", he said, "I was hopin' you'd allow me ta escort ya... to yer next destination."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Did I really want this man, hangin' around? Fer someone that was lookin' ta start fresh, and git away from that kinda danger, havin' Carter Moon shadow you, was like ridin' cross-country, with pockets fulla gold. I mean... yer just askin' for it.

I sighed, and rubbed the tension out my temples, as best I could.

I said, "You know what?... You kin go where you like... I'm goin' ta Texas."

He got a good laugh, at that.

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The End  -  @ChannelSeals