The Man That He Once Was, Part Iii

...With that he kicked his horse in the flanks and charged towards Thompson and the men, not expecting it, two of them went down before they realized he was no longer Friend. Now it was just Thompson and Stomping Bird who returned fire as he charged their way. He felt two bullets hit, but he did not fall, he bulled his tired horse into the fray! Stomping Bird appeared suddenly in front of him, anders fired at him without respite, their horses collided and he was thrown clear, then landed hard upon his right side. Bleeding from wounds, his ribs broken, he turned over and saw Black Thompson seated on his horse, wounded in one arm, but in the other held his Smith & Wesson. “Damn fool I was to ever trust a mad man,” the thug snarled as he gazed on down. “You shoot up my men, and for that act I’m leaving your body to rot on this ground!” Anders just smiled at his former partner, said,”Go ahead and use that big gun. Better I die the man I once was, then live as the monster I’ve become.” Thompson took aim, Anders jolted his wrist, sliding out a two-barrel Derringer, gunshots rang out across the prairie, an echoing report of their fire. Thompson slumped low, pitched off his mount, two slugs gone straight through his head, Anders struggled hard to catch his breath, his chest home to a new piece of lead. His vision was fading, but he swore he saw, standing a short way away in the grass, his dear sweet Rosa, smiling so gently... he could feel the pain started to pass. He closed his eyes, felt her gentle touch, and felt no fear that moment because for all of his sins he’d meet his maker having died as the man he once was.