At long last, Logan thought as he made it out the woods. His legs turned to jelly when he realised how far his camp was. He thought he wanted everything to end. Yet he needed to go on, even if energy was no where to be found.
The wind was brushing against his face as he fought hard to walk. He knew he fought hard for everything, nothing came free in life, even if it was presented for free. Everything came with a price and he had learnt that the hard way.
He was following the path, seeing the tree that had been struck by lightning and he knew his camp was near. He let out a single breath when seeing the entrance to his camp. The bushes waved as he limped past and struggled to get his makeshift bed. But as he barely arrived, his hand went to his holster, yet he let out a sigh when his hand reached for nothing. He had lost his pride as his eyes drifted to sleep.
Logan looked at his brother as disappoint was his only thought. He hated that his brother’s attitude had always ruined his plans. Why couldn’t his brother stick to the plan, he thought. His eye remained on his brother and Logan could see his brother’s heart and it was black.
Suddenly his brother came floating towards him. Logan followed. They both argued their point as stuff suddenly smashed around them. Their faces had become two tomatoes but Logan wanted peace, yet he could not reach it.
The fury of the brothers came to a sudden stop. Logan was glad for it, yet his sulking face did not show it. His brother’s didn’t either as he moved in closer and whispered in his ear, “you’re nothing to me. The plans that you say will always work, never do. Do they? And that’s because you’re a failure and always will be.”
Logan wanted to shout back, wanted scream back but his silence was all they heard. Yet, His brother had no problem. “I’m done with you and your grumpy ass. You’re never get in my way again. I will be rich. Rich and without you!”
He flew out the door and Logan swiftly replied, “good riddance!” Yet Logan didn’t feel the same as his words. He wanted…
The hazy sky suddenly appeared in his eyesight. He sighed as the smoggy sky became clearer and he realised his dreams had gotten the better of him. He was tired of sleep.
His legs had a sharp shooting pain when he walked to his belongings. He didn’t have a lot but he knew he needed a gun as a Schofield revolver touched his hand. Logan pulled it out of its hiding place and showed it off. The metal shined as rain dropped onto the pure white grip. He fancied the pistol but never liked using it because he didn’t own it and the one who did, left a long time ago, so he savoured the revolver. The revolver felt heavy in his hand as he aimed at the opposing town, knowing his next action.
The saloon was beginning to feel like home, knowing he could die there happy, yet his need for money wouldn’t let that happen. His throat instantly gulped the next shot and he thought about how close he really came to death. Luck was his only friend, yet he didn’t feel lucky, just a feeling of despair that would never leave, he swore. He thought it would be easy if death did come, with money and dread disappearing, he could rest. His despair remained as he tried to numb it with the harsh drink.
Was it becoming harder, he thought? He thought he was too old to get rich being a gunslinger. But he didn’t feel it, didn’t feel different. Yet the only thing that was different… was the things around him. The law which had increased to where you would see a couple in every town. The people were nicer. The banks and trains were far too protected to rob alone. He thought the world was leaving him behind as he continued to gulp his harsh and tasteless drink.
Logan’s facial features were all facing downwards, thinking calamitous thoughts as all he could do was drink the moonshine, wishing he wasn’t able to finish the drink, but every solution ended with the saloon. Nothing was working, he thought.
Suddenly, he felt a hand touch his shoulder and his heartrate spiked like an engine starting. He geared himself to turn around while he seen his ghostly face in the reflection of the glass. Yet he didn’t have time to turn around. The stranger came aside him, asking the bartender for a drink and politely introduced himself to Logan. He named himself Clay and Logan’s heart made less vibrations. Logan thought Clay seemed to offer no harm but only kindship. So, he embraced the encounter and replied with an open chest.
Clay downed his drink, asked for another and spoke, “I’m glad ya doing good. But I feel like you’re not telling the truth. Am I right, bronco?” Clay, who wiped his hair to the side for the third time already, didn’t even give Logan time to reply when he whispered, “I reckon you ain’t familiar with theses here parts. There’s a gang that roam around here, well… a few but there’s one that has controlled this town for long.” Clay stopped speaking as the bartender gave him his drink and continued as soon as he left to serve someone else. “But they’ve lost all control in little time and no one knows it, except me.”
Logan quickly interjected, “I ain’t taking no gang out!”
“That’s not the important part.” Clay leaned further in and spoke softly, “the gang has left one of the hideouts unguarded compared to the rest and I heard there is a lot of cash.” Logan’s eyes lit up as Clay continued to confidently converse, “it’s the perfect chance to get rich. And we all wish for that. Before you give me an answer, come see me in the alleyway next to the gun store. I’ll be waiting.”
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He watched him leave as the door didn’t stop flapping as he went through. Sweat poured, nerves surged and his heart raced: Logan wanted it to be truth like it was his last hope. But he couldn’t trust him, his mind just wouldn’t let him.
Yet, he needed it, needed it more than ever; life hadn’t been so tough with everything against him, including himself.
Logan downed his insufferable drink, stood up and decided that nothing mattered except for getting rich or die trying. He pushed the doors open and they slammed against the wall. He felt the wind hit his hair as he made to the alleyway where Clay was standing.
He walked down the dark alley. Clay, yet again, pushed his hair to the side and wiped the grease onto his trousers as Logan reached him. “You’ve made the right choice,” Clay said as he continued to show his cheeky grin.
Logan instantly replied, “we’ll see about that, cowpoke.”
“You will.” Clay showed him the building they were robbing as they turned a corner. Logan was surprised by its small size, derelict walls and how empty it felt. Surly no one was inside, he thought? He could barely trust the man, never mind killing with him. Logan had to know if it was safe.
They were both walking side by side towards the small building. Clay was calm compared to Logan who looked like he was on a knifes edge. He knew he wanted no part of it, yet his mind still couldn’t say no, even as Clay kept grinning at him.
As they arrived at the small, derelict building, Clay told him to stay away from the front windows as he started to walk around the back of the building. Logan slowly and worryingly followed him while checking behind his back on every footstep. His boots felt heavy as they continued around to the back of the building. And suddenly, Clay went around the corner as he reached the end of the outside wall. Logan could no longer see him, so he rashly ran around the corner.
Yet, to his surprise, no one but Clay was waiting for him. He let out a great sigh as Clay gave him a weird look; though, Logan didn’t blame him.
They were both at the back door, Clay stood confident and tall while telling him to follow his every move when they were inside the building. Logan quickly whispered, “have ya seen the inside?”
“Yes! I wouldn’t go in without knowing the layout. There should only be a couple of people protecting the leader, so be on the lookout.”
Logan blurted out words, “I thought you said no one was in here?” The man didn’t answer, only shrugged, “what do you mean you don’t know?” And yet again, Clay ignored him, opened the back door and went through it.
Logan was left standing, not knowing what to do and even his heart didn’t have an answer. He removed the sweat from his forehead, used the last ounce of courage and followed him through the door.
Nothing but money was on his mind as he made it inside. Clay was right in front of him, listening for any sound as Logan suggested moving further into the building and Clay reluctantly agreed. They both was moving at the same pace, trying to be silent; though, the creaking floor was making them sweat. The eagled eyed Clay was looking back at Logan when he whispered, “I’m gonna check upstairs, you check in that room to the left.” Logan nodded his head as clay whispered again, “I’ll meet you upstairs, good luck.”
Logan was quietly walking towards the room as he looked to his right and seen Clay go up the stairs. He didn’t like the idea of splitting up, yet it would make the looting quicker, he thought. He just hoped that he could trust him.
The room was empty and a sigh left his mouth as his stomach became less tensed. Yet his revolver stayed tightly in his palm and he was ready to use it. He continued to look around the room to see nothing, but when he looked to the bedside cabinet, he seen an outlandish shotgun and his eyes screamed at it. Dusty, tired and competent: the shotgun was like a gift from God.
Suddenly a bang came from upstairs which made Logan jump out of his skin, yet he steadied his composure and began to quietly but quickly jog upstairs. As He bravely moved up the stairs, he heard Clay shout from a room; though, he couldn’t hear what he was saying.
As he came closer to the room, he heard Clay say, “your time is up…” a bang was heard next and Logan rushed into the room, barging the door, yet as he did, he saw a stranger on the floor with a gaping hole in his head. Clay was standing above him, breathing like he had just ran a marathon.
Logan was questioning Clay’s sanity as he was grabbing the dead man’s gun. However, Clay may had done something crazy but his face was as calm as a flower in the summer. Logan asked himself did he plan this? Yet, Logan didn’t want to say anything, he just followed Clay’s lead.
After Clay pocketed the pistol, he opened a lockbox while ordering Logan to look out the window. He saw that he didn’t struggle with the lockbox as he was walking towards the front windows. His eyes were met with a couple of men walking towards the window he was looking out. The two men looked like they were a part of the gang so he quickly alerted Clay.
“Clay, we’ve…” Logan was interrupted by the loot that was in Clays possession. He couldn’t believe the money, gold and treasure that they had found; he had found his El Dorado. He found his voice, too, when he realised their loot was in jeopardy. “There are people coming, we’ve got to go,” he listened to Logan and put the loot in his sack while jogging to the door. Logan quickly followed.
They both made it out the back door without the two men knowing. Logan let out a sigh as Clay’s face stayed still. Logan told clay, who had stopped near the corner of the wall, to run to the horses that was near the bar.
He followed Clay towards the bar while running away from the building, yet as he looked back, the two men had seen them run from the house and was running after them. His pace increased as he told Clay.
They both made it to a horse and Logan wondered where the other horse, Clay promised, had gone to. Clay quickly jumped up on the horse as Logan readied himself to jump on to it too. Though, Clay ignored his desperate appeals for help and while saying, “good luck,” he laughed and began to ride off. Logan cried harder for help but he knew his back had been stabbed. So, before he got shot in the back too, he ran to an alleyway as the men gained on him.
Though, before he made it to the alleyway, a gunshot went off and Logan felt a small metal object hit his arm and he began stumbling towards the alleyway which was surround by small houses. He continued to stumble through the alleyway as people avoided their windows. His time was almost up as he thankfully turned another corner in the alleyway.
Yet, he dropped to his knees, cowering in pain. He could feel himself pass out as he waited for them to turn the corner. Before, he could wait for his death, a women opened the door and that was the last thing he saw before his hazy eyes closed.