Short Story / The Lone Rider (Analysis)
The Lone Rider
Javier Del Riego
The sun rose and so did the man from his dreamless sleep. He gets up from his make-shift bed. Had he been less tired he would have given it the attention it deserved.
“Woof” barked his dog that had just woken up. “ Good morning boy. I am still groggy but breakfast will be soon.” This is what he would have said but he only looked at the dog and it understood every unspoken word. He remembers it as if I where just a few days ago instead of a couple of months.
*
The young man rode into the crowded town on his horse, his guns clearly shone as the sun reflected off the golden pieces which where exposed. He stuck out like a sore thumb. His clothing was full of dirt, sand, and other such things. His hat covered a majority of his face but every glance he took revealed his ever vigilant and observing green eyes. He dismounted his trusty horse and left it in front of the inn. “I wont be long, boy.” Said his dry and rough voice. He entered the inn through the swinging doors and every one in the room noticed his presence, it struck fear, in those who disobeyed the law, and respect, in those who were innocent and had nothing to fear. The man had two revolvers. They had a important significance in the man’s life. He was trained by the best ranger in his town and he graduated first in his class. Were he was from this was a feat that had to go rewarded. His father gave him the two firearms and the shells that went along with them. The barrel was itself was enough to show its power but the .45 bullet it chambered was an added bonus the man enjoyed. Too many times had he been outnumbered and the immense whole in his fallen opponent scared off the other inexperienced fighters. The man walked to the bar and ordered a drink. Every criminal took several glances at the man and told themselves to relax when they saw that he did not carry a badge but something in their minds kept telling them to flee out of the inn. The man drank his drink and asked for another. All of the criminals acted the same way, all save one little group. This particular group was with a posse of four outlaws who had been wanted for quite some time but no one had the courage to arrest. This group differed from the others because while the others simply glanced at the man this group stared at him with a stare that showed neither fear nor respect. The stared showed a challenge if not that then a dare. It knew what the man was here for. It knew the purpose of his arrival. It knew this and still it dared the man to do his duty, his deed, his sworn oath.
The leader of the posse reached in his bag and pulled out some tobacco and began to smoke. With every inhale the man took it revealed more and more of his facial details. His left cheek revealed a terrible laceration, several weeks old. His eyes were a dark brown which revealed his terrible deeds of malice and criminal doings. His beard was shaven off buy a out of shaped razor and his clothing would describe him as an dirty farmer riding into town to trade some of his goods. His hat was old and worn and his jacket was just about the same. His fellows played a game of poker while their leader stared at the man. The man finished his drink when he said “ Is that Tommy “the ‘riff killer” Rodriguez?”. The bartender bowed his head and said in barely a whisper “ yes it is and don’t you go causin’ any trouble in my bar you understand me boy. Or I’ll shit kick ye’ to jail and to the noose if I got’s to.” The man looked at the bartender square in the eye and the bartender moved back slowly. “ If you so much as think of threatening me again I’ll blow a whole in yer’ gut six inches wide and force you to watch your insides get covered with dirt you understand me old timer? Now if you want to live to see your next birthday you’ll respect me and let me do my business my own way. Got it?”
The bartender flinched when then man grabbed him by his shirt and said “ How much for the drinks old timer?” the bartender replied scared stiff “O-o-on th- th- the house s-s-sir.”
“Thanks” the man said as he let go of the terrified bartender. As the man approached the group of outlaws sitting in the table the wooden floor of inn creaked with every step he took. “ Hey Tommy, lets cut to the chase. You know who I am and I know who you are. You know what I have to do and I know what you have done. You know my profession and you damn well know I aint no sheriff.” “ Then, my dear enemy, what exactly are you?” replied the outlaw with out changing his expression or showing any caution towards the man. “ Heh I have been called a gunslinger, a renegade, a bounty hunter, and a ranger. I respond to any of those titles. So you pick but I can add another name for you if you like. I think executioner sounds just right for doesn’t it?” said the man raising his face which in turn rose his hat revealing his face. It showed a dry mildly dehydrated face with two scars one on his left cheek and the other was a vertical slice that started a little before his brow went straight down and miraculously did not hurt his eye and ended right at the beginning of cheek. His green eyes where dull but their gaze fixed on the leader of the gang. His gaze was one of magical powers. In his village he was born with a blessing from the gods. He was granted the gift of “the sight”. This gift gave the man a power to see a glimpse of the near future. Another part of this gift shows itself when the man analyzes an object or place time itself slows down allowing the man to see every detail his heart desires. Although the power slows down time for the man to analyze his surroundings it all happens within a fraction of a second. His eyes now saw the battle that would take place between him and this group of outlaws and their leader. The man smiled and said “ enjoy your drink Tom, for it might be your last.” As he stated this he turned and began to walk away when Tom said to him “ Seeing as how it is your funeral Ranger, how is it that you wish for me and my group to … dispose, yes that’s it, dispose you?”
The man simply smiled “ We shall fight outside. I think this place is messy enough as it is. I think adding you and your groups blood to the floor will be most unnecessary. Besides blood is so much easier to get rid of when it is mixed with sand.” The man chuckled and finished by saying “ Enjoy the drink Tom. It’s on me.” the man approached the shivering bartender and paid his debt as well as another drink for his target. “ Meet you outside. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
The air outside was dry and hot with a rare breeze every now and then. The man checked the town clock and it showed 1:58. He sighed and some part of him relaxed. He had made it before the bells tolled. “now let’s hope these idiots make it on time” he thought to himself. He felt the wooden handles his two revolvers. He was somewhat tired but he ignored it. “Mind over body” is what his father always told him and he did so whenever he could. He tried to relax and focus on what would come ahead but something kept pecking at the back of his mind. Something wasn’t right. He knew he was out numbered and even though he saw the group members he knew something was out of place. He then realized what it was. Not one of them had a rifle. All had revolvers. They knew he was coming but who could have told them. There were at least 3 people he told about his journey and none of them were present in the town. He paused and thought it over when he was interrupted by the man and his group. “ Well, well, well, look who is still here boys. If it ain’t the big bad gun slinging desperado” his group laughed out loud along with him. “ My duty involves you Tom, and you alone.” He paused and turned towards the Tom’s body guards. “I warn you now and I only warn once. Leave now you foolish man slaves of an idiot and you will live to see another day. However if you draw you guns towards me I assure you that as you draw you pistols you shall be drawing your last breath.” Tom laughed out loud and was sort of shocked when he saw he was alone in his laughter. “Surely foolish Ranger you can’t possibly think that one man can kill six healthy men with pistols as accurate and as powerful as yours” said Tom seeking the aide of his men who were now having second thoughts about this whole situation. But now the man spoke and his tone was that of a father scolding a child, calm yet gravely serious. “ You have spoken falsely on many things. For one thing you are six here but I assure you that your men will run scared when they see the size of a tremendous whole which I assure you, you shall see with your own very eyes. Secondly you are in no way healthy you have been drinking alcohol even when you have been told that I was coming for you. Thirdly I can and do think that I can kill all six of you before you even think about thinking for reaching for your pistol. Lastly no firearm on this planet or any other is stronger or more accurate than mine. You have been warned. Your last breath draws nearer as we speak. CHOOSE NOW LIVE OR DIE AND CHOOSE CAREFULLY FOR IT MIGHT BE THE LAST THING YOU DO ON THIS DEAR EARTH!”
-Tong, the bell tolled
“Your time in this life runs short. At 12 o’ clock I will walk away with either 4 bodies on the floor dead or one and I assure you I WILL walk away unharmed.” the ranger said. The guards eyed the road out of town and one of them made a loud gulp. Unfortunately Tom took note of this drew his gun and blasted a whole in the poor fools head 2 inches wide yelling “You dumbass coward. How dare you try to leave me”
-Tong- the bell struck again. The party of four now looked at the Ranger and the famous circular motion began. The Ranger moved his hands and griped his dual wooden grip revolvers. The wood was smooth and his hands were strong and steady.
-Tong- The time was close. The Ranger knew this and so did Tom. The circle went up a pace faster than before but he Ranger’s mind stayed as it had always been, steady, calm, and focused. He did not need to use The Gift but an example must be made. He thought, better yet, he knew some fools would join in to help this group marked for death either through blackmail, bribery, or some foolish debt they need to repay. “Ha. Fools their reasons will be different but their death will remain the same.” the Ranger thought to himself. the final moments left he used to prepare The Gift.
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