CHAPTER 24
Matthew jumped at the sound of the first gunshot. Then he heard another shot that quickly followed, and then three more quickly timed shots. He had reflexively jumped to a standing position to get a better view, even though there was no way of being able to see anything from where he was.
He stood there debating what to do. Were those the gunshots of Chet or Jack, or were they gunshots from both of them. Was it over? Who had won?
Another shot rang out telling him that it wasn’t over yet. He wanted desperately to investigate, but he also didn’t want to cause any problems. Suddenly he heard two more shots that sounded different from the earlier gun. A barrage of two different gun sounds played through the air, and he understood that the previous shots were from one person. Whoever had been shot at was now returning fire.
He could stand it no longer. He had to at least get into a position where he could observe what was going on. Instead of taking the route that Chet had last taken, Matthew chose to make his way along Chet’s first path.
Chet had landed hard on the ground, grinding his face through the pebbles. Blood rose to the surface from the rash that had been formed on his forehead and cheek around his left eye. Across his chest there was burn mark of the bullet that had cut across the skin, but was not serious. All in all, he was no worse for the wear.
He wasted no time or movements or sounds. He put his back against the rocks and soundlessly reloaded his gun. He raised himself up and peeked through the bushes to get a bead on his enemy. But Jack was gone.
Chet cast his one good eye about looking for movement and he saw nothing. After a minute of looking he was about to reposition himself, when he saw Jack move. Jack had moved down to a bush that was closer to Chet, and was now making another move in the same direction and he saw that Jack had a gun in one hand and another in its holster.
Chet didn’t make a move. He assumed that Jack must have thought that Jack’s last bullet hit its mark, and he was cautiously coming to confirm it. Otherwise, Chet reasoned, Jack would have patiently waited as he did before. The best thing to do now was to let Jack get closer. Then, when he was on the way from one concealment to another, Chet could make his move.
Jack stepped out from behind a shrub and was beginning to dart to the next one when a gunshot rang out. Jack’s hand felt his gun get hit as it flew out of his hand, causing him to reflexively jerk his hand back to his chest. This also put his forward movment in check.
Chet had been aiming for Jack’s chest, and he was surprised to see the branch from the shrub he was shooting through jump. Chet had accidentally shot through a branch, which changed the path of his bullet. Chet was further amazed to see the gun fly from Jack’s hand. It was not Chet’s target. He knew that a shot like that could not be planned, but, nonetheless, Chet hit it, out of nothing but shear luck.
Chet was about to trigger off another shot, but he held his finger in check when he saw Jack stop in his tracks. Instead he called out, “Jack, I got you dead to rights. You take a step, and you’ll be just as dead as a rock.”
Jack didn’t move.
“Keep those hands right up by your pretty little face. I’d hate to see you get some kind of twitch in your hand. That’d make me want to deliver three little holes in your chest faster ‘an you could sneeze.”
Chet waited for half a moment to be sure that Jack was subdued, or at least was obeying for the time being. Chet slowly stood to his full height and stepped back from the rocks. His lower half of his body was still behind the rocks and bush, but his chest and head were now in sight of Jack. Chet wasn’t ready to entirely leave this position from behind the rocks just yet, so he gave his next instructions from this vantage.
“Now I’m goin’ to be tellin’ you a few things, and if you are of the mind that you want to see that sunset, then you got to do just as I say.
“You still have a gun strapped to your side there. Before you even blink, I want you to listen to every word I say, and then I want you to do it. But you wait till the tellin’s done. You start too soon, I’ll just end this little conversation real quick like.”
Chet paused for a couple of seconds before continuing. “Now then, real slow like, and I mean slow like a turtle just wakin’ up from its winter sleep, I want you to take your left hand, and reach down to your right side. Using just your first finger and thumb, pull that gun from its resting spot, and then extend your arm all the way out in front of you and drop it on the ground.
“Now then, do you got all that?”
Jack hesitated and then slowly nodded his head.
“Don’t forget, just the first finger and the thumb. Any other fingers try to get in the game, and I’ll end the game.”
Very slowly Jack began to lower his left hand, moving it exaggeratingly slow, but that was okay for Chet. He knew that Jack could move like lighting, so he kept his eye on Jacks right hand while his own trigger finger was ready to move.
Just then a movement caught his eye. It was down by the base of the rocks he was standing behind. A snake slithered its way out from beneath the rocks and was moving in Chet’s direction. Irrationally he jumped back, picking his feet up high and wildly.
Jack saw Chet’s distraction and instantly dropped his right hand to his gun. In a flash it was out and he had fired two shots. Both shots found their mark. Chet’s gun fell to the ground as he fell to his back.
Matthew had made his way around the hillside. He was using all of his freshly learned skills in moving quietly as he moved behind a bush. From this vantage he could now investigate what was happening in the hollow before him. The first thing that caught his eye was the blue of Alice’s dress. An impulse to run to her rumbled through his whole being. Painfully he kept the desire in check.
He forced his eyes away from her and searched the area for the other two men. He saw the big back of the man who had stolen Alice crouched behind a rock not more than a hundred feet from him. Matthew’s hand made its way to the gun on his hip. He gripped the handle and slowly pulled it out.
His mind raced trying to remember what it was that Jack had said about shooting the gun as he raised it up and aimed it into the back of his enemy. But before he could pull the trigger, the man darted out from behind the rock and was making his way to a bush some thirty feet further to his left.
Matthew’s confidence of hitting his target diminished even more at this point. He looked on wondering how he could get to him. Then he thought, that maybe he should try to circle around and get Alice while Jack was distracted. This idea sounded like it was the best plan, and the one that he desperately wanted to implement.
Matthew thought of what Chet would want him to do. But, if he had done that, then he would still be sitting back behind the hill. Matthew was already pushing it by being here, and the absolute last thing he wanted to do was mess up Chet’s plans yet again. So Matthew decided that what he would do was just stay put and see how things unfolded.
Just then he saw that Jack was making a move from his latest position and a shot rang out. Matthew was amazed to see Jack’s gun jump from his hand and land a few feet away.
“Jack, I got you dead to rights,” he heard Chet say. “You take a step, and you’ll be just as dead as a rock.”
Matthew’s heart sprang as he realized it was finally over. Chet had overcome this rouge man. Matthew was about to show himself when he heard Chet speaking again. Matthew thought it was best for him to just stay out of the way for the time being while he watched on. Besides, Chet obviously was in control.
While he listened to Chet give his instructions to Jack, Matthew’s eyes darted back to Alice. He thought he could see through the bushes her dress move. Matthew figured that Jack must have tied her up, or else surely she would have made a run for freedom. This idea caused his blood to boil at the thought of his wife being bound.
With fire in his eyes he looked back down to the two men. Chet was now standing, his gun leveled on Jack who stood a mere twenty feet from Chet. Matthew longed to see Jack make a move. He wanted to see Chet pull the trigger on this man who had…
His thoughts were interrupted by seeing Chet suddenly jumping back. To his horror he watched helplessly as he saw Jack pull his gun and shoot Chet twice. He would have yelled out, but all the air in his lungs locked up as he watched Chet fall to his back.
Jack had not stood still. He had run around the rocks with his gun extended in front. He saw Chet lying on the ground clutching his shoulder, blood escaping from between his fingers. Both shots had entered his right shoulder within a half-inch of each other.
“Well, well,” said Jack with his gravely voice. “Looks like things got all turned around on you. Didn’t it.” A low laugh like the growl of animal emitted from Jack.
Chet said nothing as his eye focused in on the barrel of Jack’s gun. He could feel the final seconds of his life slipping by. There would be a flash, and it would be over.
“Now, I’ve been wondering,” said Jack. “Who in blazes are you?”
Chet didn’t say a word as Jack moved around him and kicked Chet’s gun out of reach.
“Come on, Pard, let’s be friends,” said Jack as he reholstered his own gun. “We’ll start by exchangin' names. I’m Jack Higgs. There you go, now you know me, and I want to be knowin' you. I want to know who it is that’s been chasing after me these past couple of days. So then, tell me, what’s your name?”
Seeing that Chet wasn’t answering, Jack stepped over, picked up his foot, and gave Chet a vicious kick with the heel of his boot to Chet’s crotch. Chet grunted in pain and rolled up in a ball, his air escaping his lungs.
“I hate to be impolite and all,” continued Jack, “but I’m asking you a question.” He kicked Chet again, this time in his back with the point of his boot.
Chet lay in the dirt; his teeth set while groans of pain escaped his mouth. But that was the only sound that came from him. He wasn’t going to give in even on this minor point.
“Well, when it all comes right down to it,” said Jack circling around Chet again, “I’m guessing it really doesn’t matter that much. I can kill you without knowing your name. But I am curious how you came to following after me so quick like. I had it figured that it would take a good day or so for anyone to head out after me, but there you were that same day.”
A voice spoke up from behind Jack, “It was me.”
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