The Gun-Hand's Revenge, Part Iii

III. Another week had passed with little change, when Meredith came up and said to him: “I would like to get out of town for a bit, let’s go picnic in Abnerson’s Canyon. “I used to go there with Samuel, it’s such a pretty, peaceful place to be.” Reno said,”Let me just run one quick errand, then I’ll go ride out with you happily!” When he got back they saddled up their mounts, and made a leisurely ride to the west, to a small, slot canyon, red rock that curved, thirty-foot walls with good shade for rest. Meredith grinned, said,”The spots up ahead,” then they rounded a very sharp bend, and Reno found himself staring on to a half-dozen dirty and well-armed men. Meredith’s smile grew into a leer, as the lead thug glared down at his prey. “Here he is,”she said,”another rich Williams, for whom his family gladly will pay!” Reno just sighed, said,”So that’s how it was, you just wanted Samuel for the cash?” “Yes,”said the leader,”But the damned fool made the mistake of trying to fight back.” Then Reno laughed loud, much to their surprise, said,”My father disowned me years ago! You wouldn’t had seen a dime on ransom, I just wanted all of you fools to know. “And if you intend now to shoot me dead, then best look up to the canyon rim.” The thugs all did, and saw a dozen men, staring back down at them with faces grim. Each of them wore an agency badge, and carried a repeating carbine, “Telegrammed for some support last week, when I figured ‘sweet’ Meredith was lying. “It wasn’t fear that came to her pretty face, when I brought back your friend Maddox’s corpse, it was sheer shock that I was still alive, so then Meredith, as a matter of course, “brought me out here to this desolate place, where you all were awaiting as well, not knowing I’d heard from all the townsfolk, that it was right here poor Samuel fell. “So this morning I told my partners here to follow our trail when we left the town, and when they reached the canyon, to set themselves up above where they’d claim the high ground. “Now if you want to ride back quietly, then you may finish this day alive, but push me right now, and I tell you plain, I’ll enjoyed watching all you bastards die.” A heavy silence fell over the group, then the leader’s hands went for his gun, Reno was quicker, shot him in the head, then hot fire rained down on everyone…