The Cool, Roan Rider, Part I

He trotted up to Hamlin’s Bar, stopping in for a quick drink. He sat a tall, blue roan Mustang, with a hide like darkest ink. He paced into the noisy saloon, amidst gamblers, drunks, and whores, walked up to the simple bar, and ordered whiskey, nothing more. The burning shot was warming after a cold night on the tail. Barkeep tried to sell him another, but he tried to no avail. Rider found himself musing about stopping in a town like this, leaving behind the endless hunt, getting out of the prairie winds. He thought about a warm bed, about cafes with bacon and coffee, but as he did the old rage surged and the thoughts all came to nothing. In his mind came strangled cries, the choking smoke and flames, the dark cackle of evil men, echoed through his brain… With that he got on up to leave, but a figure blocked his way. A youngish man, vaguely familiar, though why, he could not say. The man growled and he said: “I’ve seen you once before. I watched you kill my brother Nick, back east in Pellan’s Forge.” The rider cocked his head and said: “You must be young Jack Burnside. I suppose you want revenge, so let’s go take this outside.” Jack nodded and they walked, the young man’s eyes enraged. To the street, the men went, the town watching as they paced. They stood off, then Jack’s hand flew down for his gun, but the Rider was a bolt of light, and the draw quickly won... CONCLUDES IN PART II.