The Outlaw's Angel, Part I

Burke Bowden rode slowly through the piney hills outside the mining town of Tillico. Hiding himself there in the Montana woods where decent folks would rarely go. He had good reason for being out there alone. The bastard Banks Grisby had driven him here all over a woman, it would appear. Burke had made the mistake of loving the black-haired beauty, Aurelia ‘Aura’ Mahr, Who worked down at Grisby’s Continental, so was no whore, but tended the bar, quite ‘scandalous,’ leaving decent folk alarmed. But Grisby had an eye for the young lady and would not lose her to a cow-punching ‘thief.’ So Gribsy had claimed that young Burke had cleaned out his till late one sleepy night. He had Sherriff Spahn deep in his pocket and both came looking for a fight, putting poor Burke Bowden to flight. Complete surprised, he’d barely ridden out ahead of a barrage of gunshots and shouts. Now all the country thought Burke an outlaw, he lived in caves like a damned wild beast. He had little money, and no kin to speak up, he felt like a cougar that had been treed. But has had good reason not to flee. Aurelia had said she was his evermore, since her treated her as a lady, not as a whore. Two nights after his expulsion from town, he rode back in looking to resolve the issue before him, however he must, so on the Continental he went to call. To bring the fight to all those involved. But as he rode up, just part midnight a scream leapt out, a woman in fright! He raced into the hotel’s back kitchen, saw Grisby slowly advancing on her. “You wanna keep workin’, this is the cost!” the bastard said, backing her in a corner, the lust in his eyes a true horror. Burke then bellowed out,”You back away now!” Grisby, caught off guard, quickly turned abound. Finding Burke there, Grisby went for his colt, seething with anger and seeing dark red. Burke went for his, but Aura grabbed a pan and slammed it into Grisby’s head. He hit the ground, already dead. Neither could speak, Grisby was no more, then up went a shout, a man’s angry roar. Frozen in place, both caught unsuspecting, a gunshot rang out, striking close. It just missed Burke, going an inch wide Burying itself deep into a wall post. Burke fired instinctively at his foe. A cry went up, and to their chagrin, Sherriff Spahn fell forth, his stomach clutching... CONCLUDES IN PART TWO.