Bounties, Buddies, and Bandits Part 2

Today looks like just another normal day in the late spring season. Shift City can be considered a big town for the state of Kansas.

To the east of it, you’ll find a big prairie spanding across, lush woodlands to the south, hilly badlands further to the west, and a big river valleys up north.

I really like it here because it’s quite peaceful. It is my hometown after all.

“Leon, can you bring this to your father? I think he forgot.”

She said while holding a small bottle of ink.

“Sure thing mother!” I replied, as I grab the ink from her.

Without wasting too much time, I quickly went outside my house and head to the center of the town.

Walking down the main street, I was accompanied by the town atmosphere. Train horn in the distance, horses galloping, and sounds of harmonica that someone played.

I then arrived to the town’s bank and quickly went inside to meet my father. He’s a banker here.

“Father! Did you forget to bring these?” I said as I show him the ink.

“Ah! I did, thank you son. By the way, are you busy for today?”

“No. Why?”

“Mr. Bruce needed an extra hand, can you help him out?”

“Sure thing, why not!”

I quickly went outside of the bank. Weirdly enough, when I looked across the street, I saw a boy on the front porch of a saloon. A teenager just like me and from the looks of it, he seems to be around my age.

What’s weird was he stared at me rather intensely. However, there were no emotion behind those eyes at all. But I turned the other cheek, paid it no heed, and continue on.

Mr. Bruce’s ranch is located to the northeast, right on the outskirt of the town. As soon as I arrived there, I was greeted by a girl.

“There you are! What’s taking you so long Leon?”

She had both of her hands on her hips.

“Sorry about that, I had other chores to do,” I replied.

“I see. Well let’s go then, father’s already waiting.”

She’s none other than Mr. Bruce’s daughter. Her name is Anne, we been friends since we were kids. I believed that she’s around 14, making her only a year younger than me.

I was asked to fix some fences that are broken. Apparently someone drove their wagon into it because they were drunk.

After that, I shovelled and collect the cattles’ manures for composting. They would then sell those to the local farmers.

Despite finished dealing with that half an hour ago, my appetite is somehow still there as we took a break for midday meal. I initially planned to head home right after. Until...

“Leon! Are you busy after this?” asked Anne.

“Umm... Actually I ha—“

“So you’re not? Great!”

I was actually going to lie, but I guess she saw right through me.

“Can you take me to ride around for a bit?”

“Ok sure, why not.”

I took my horse and have her sat on the back. Riding around the prairies, she seemed to enjoy it so much, and I unknowingly enjoyed it too.

“Wait! Leon stop!”

I immediately pulled the harness and put the horse’s pace to a stop. Confused, I asked her a question.

“What is it?”

“I think I saw something in the tall grass over there.”

She said pointing, as she went down from the horse. I followed suit. As we got closer, it appears that what she saw was an animal.

I thought it was a rabbit at first, but I was wrong.

“That’s a coyote pup!”

“Is it? It looks adorable.”

After saying that, she petted and grabbed the pup. Surprised and concerned, I asked her a question.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“Huh? It might got separated with their parents, we should help it out!”

“No, we definitely don’t. Their den is probably nearby, you should put it down and leave here quick!”

“But, wh—“

She’s suddenly interrupted by barkings from ahead of us. A pair of coyotes yipped, barked, and stared us down angrily.

Anne’s face suddenly turn sour as she shivered in fear. I then instructed her on what to do in a calm voice.

“Anne, listen to me okay?”

“O-Okay!”

The coyotes approached us slowly.

“Put the pup down, after that, walk back slowly. And Whatever you do, don’t run!”

“A-Alright, I-I’ll do that.”

She then put the pup back down, and walked back slowly following my lead. One of the coyote then suddenly charged at us.

Ignoring my advice, she instinctively turned around and ran away screaming.

“Damn it, I said don’t run.”

Even though I said that, I also ran after her. Since I can run faster, I easily took her over. I’m hoping she can outrun it or that it’s just bluffing.

As I get closer to my horse, I looked back and found two things are apparent. The coyote wasn’t bluffing and she couldn’t outrun it. She then tripped and fell down due to panic.

“LEON!”

“No. ANNE!”

I turned and ran the other way. However, it doesn’t seem I’ll make it in time. Just when I’m about to give up, a gunshot were heard. Followed by the coyote’s lifeless body tumbling down.

“You’re ok?” I asked.

“I’m fine.”

As I looked to my right, I knew who shot it. It was the boy I saw earlier.

“You two alright?”

His eyes were emotionless just like before, making me doubt if he actually concerned or not.

“Yeah we’re okay, it’s all thanks to you.”

“By the way, what’s your name?” I asked.

“You can just call me Marsh.”

“I’m Anne.”

“I’m Leon, nice to meet you.”

And that’s how I met this erratic person.

All three of us quickly became friends. We continued to spend time together for the rest of the day.

On the next day, when we were sitting on the riverside, I asked him something.

“About yesterday... wouldn’t a warning shot would be enough to scare it away?”

“It was determined to chase her down. So it’s either her or the coyote.”

“From now on all three of us will become best buddies!” she shouted from across the river.

“Is it normal for her to be this loud?”

I then laughed.

“Yep. We’ll be counting on you buddy!.”

I known him for about a week now, so I tried to know more.

“Why did you came to this town in the first place?”

“My uncle said he got some business to do.”

“So you’re not gonna stay here for long?” she asked, while picking some wild flower.

“That’s right.”

“But we’ll stay forever as buddies right?”

“Sure thing, why not!” I said.

“Whatever you say.”

I then sighed as I laid down on the grass.

“I wish my father would take me on one of his business trips sometime.”

“Oh yeah? What’s his job?”

“He’s a banker.”

Sitting on the rock, he smirked. I think this is the first time I saw him smile.

“I see. Then, can I ask you something?”

What comes after are a bunch of specific questions.

I didn’t think much of it as I thought he was just curious. So I answered it as a way of thanking him since I haven’t paid him for what he did.

But I was wrong. One fateful night, when I came to the bank to check on my father as we wondered on why he’s not home yet, I was greeted by a frightening sight.

Two man and a woman who had their faces covered were there, I instantly knew they were bandits

All of the employees were already dead, except for my dad who was threatened with a knife.

“Be cooperative or you’ll end up dead!”

Said the man with a black and brown hat threatening him. The door closed behind me as a mufled voice spoke to me.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I turned and found a knife was up to my face. I instinctively back away as my body hit the wall behind me.

Despite half of his face is covered with a bandana, those emotionless eyes gave it away.

“Marsh?”

He frowned as he clicked his tongue.

“Damn, he knew you?” asked the woman.

“What’s taking C so long to get here? Didn’t K was supposed to do it?”

“The last time K drove a wagon, he crashed into a fence. So I had him do a much more important job,” said the man with a hat.

“And that is?” asked the woman.

“To occupy the sheriff for a bit. Though that was M’s idea. Well, I guess it’s no use calling you with initial anymore. So Marsh, what are you going to do with that kid?”

He then lowered his bandana.

“It could go either way.”

“Marsh, you’re part of these outlaws?” I asked as I gulped in fear.

“So what if I am?”

“You were lying this whole time?”

“...”

He didn’t answer me. Again, no emotion behind those eyes.

“C is here, let’s go!” said the woman.

All three of them went outside with their loot, leaving Marsh, me, and my dad behind. Marsh then walked back slowly.

“Everything ends here. Hope you’re not dumb enough to chase after me.”

Enraged, I charged at him. But he easily kicked me back, slamming me back to the wall. A knife was then thrown and landed to the left of my head.

He put his bandana back and ran outside.

“You’re okay son?”

“Yeah I’m okay.”

I lied, there’s no way I’m okay after seeing what went down and betrayed like that. Those eyes, I will remember them.