The Evil Twin, Part Ii

II. It was brutal chance he’d found Paul’s ranch house, and killed the two cowboys who had stayed behind, he and his two men took turns with Ella, left a note saying they’d ‘enjoyed his new bride.’ Ella was alive, brother mind shattered, and Paul filled with a justifiable rage, he was a young man, fired with passion, the kind that few can control at that age. But Sheriff White saw that anger that was there, and said,”Now Paul, the older days have passed. I know you want to go and kill them dead, but if you do that, you will breath your last. “Yesterday you rode under color of law, and shots you took would have been excused. but killing folks without a fair trial is plain murder, I’d have to come for you. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I’ve worked too hard to tame this country. See too your wife, but don’t see to revenge, otherwise you’ll have to answer to me.” Harmon, of course, didn’t know what to do, he was a drunk, and not prone to clear thought, so he just did what he usually did, sent to the saloon, where whiskey was sought. He had been drinking for half an hour when to his shock his brother Paul came in. he said not a word, just sat at a table, and with cold, dead eyes, commenced to drinking. His presence ruined Harmon’s entire night, since worry now dominated his mind. Paul didn’t drink, had never touched the stuff, and was succumbing to it no time. Half the bar watched Paul slump low in his chair, finally, Harmon went and helped him up, even managed to get him to the saddle, which, with a drunk man, can be rather tough. Harmon led them home, leading Paul’s old horse, and dragged his brother in too a big bed, lay him besides a very numb Ella, then walked back to his room on tired legs. He woke up the next morning, his head pounding, to the prodding of Ella’s thin left arm, she cried out to him, “It’s Paul, oh, he’s gone! and I fear he may beheaded for harm!” Harmon understood when he saw Paul’s gun gone, and found his blue paint missing from the shed. He knew then that Paul had gone for revenge, Harmon tried to track, but the trail was dead. He searched on his brother’s aging, old horse, but couldn’t cover much ground on that stead, when he came back he found Paul on the porch, from his bloody shirt knew he’d done the deed. Paul was a wreck, just sat clutching his gun, just looking you’d know his mind was quite hurt, Harmon led him in, got him back to his bed, knowing things were about to get much worse. CONTINUES...