The Cowboy Rides For Christmas, Part Ii

For half an hour Dix had rode true when the canyon opened up wider. In front of him five stubbly men sat around a roaring fire. The leader Dixon recognized, as his sifted through Santa’s sack. He was an outlaw known far and wide by the name of Randsome Mack. Their eyes fastened upon him when he and his horse rode into sight, every one of the men had guns, they all looked ready for a fight. Dixon looked up to the skies, but he could not see a sleigh. He had left plenty of bits of scarf, had Santa somehow lost his way? He swallowed deep as Randsome rose, and glared deep with hateful eyes. “It seems we got us a trespasser. Boys, let’s put him down the mine—” But Dix spurred forward as he spoke, catching the bandits all off-guard. Before they could could drew, he scattered them and seized the sack with a strong arm. “Get him!”angry Randsome cried, as Dixon turned and dashed through. “I want that sack, I want it all! Run down that blasted fool!” The race was on through canyon walls, half covered in ice and snow. Dix was ahead by a good span, but could he get clear? He didn’t know. On he pounded, but his foes gained, not weighed down by Santa’s sack. If this kept up Dix knew that he would never made it back. But a ringing of bells sounded above, and a shadow raced on past. Santa’s sleigh soared above the gorge, his flight blew and icy blast! It slowed the bandits in pursuit, they ducked to cover their heads. Then Old Saint nick skimmed with snow, with the runners of his great sled. A wall of white tumbled on down, landing on the bandit’s far below. They shouted and sputtered, motionless, socked in by a mountain of snow! By the time the dug themselves out, Dixon and his horse were too far gone, out or sight and far beyond the reach of Randsome’s throng. When Dix cleared the rocky canyons and rode out into the cold parklands, he found Santa and his reindeer team pulled up by an aspen stand. When he approached, Santa laughed, and slung an arm around his back. “My boy I knew you would pull through. We got Christmas back on track!” CONCLUDES IN PART III.