C.G. Faulkner

Tom stood and cautiously walked over to where the thief lay. He kicked the Colt away from the dirty, lifeless fingers and muttered, __ou made me waste a perfectly good breakfast, you manure-headed son of a bitch_

The twenty hooves of the horses slowed their relentless cadence on the damp ground as they approached the town. A sudden cloudburst had only just ended, and steaming snorts emitted from the winded mounts. From behind the edge of the bizarre leather mask that covered half of the leader__ face, a small smile of recognition curled on his chapped lips.

You know I won__ take a chance with your lives_ Ethan replied. __ou__e the future of the Fortner family._ He smiled and took her hand in his. __ike I said, don__ worry_before you know it you__l have Jeff back and you can tell him he__ going to be a father!

The back barn door opened, and in walked a vision in a billowing green dress. As she led in her mare, Mr. McBride__ voice faded away as Tom__ total attention turned to the girl. About twenty-one or two, Tom guessed. Not too tall, nor short. Beautiful heart-shaped face decorated with rosy cheeks and light freckles. Long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail. Perfectly set green eyes. Full-bosomed and hourglass shaped. Breathtaking.

Now, if you don__ know __onnie Blue Flag_, then __ixie_ will do nicely_ Tom began, cocking the pistol. Jesse stared, mouth agape at the carnage in the room. __OW PLAY!_ Tom exploded.

I__ prefer __onnie Blue Flag_, if you take requests_ Tom had turned and rested his elbows on the bar. His hand was inches from the Colt. These were the men he was looking for.

I think the best way I can put it,_ Tom summarized, __as what I was once told that a Confederate prisoner said to his Union captor. The Yank said: __hy do you fight us so hard, Reb?_, and his prisoner replied: __ecause you are here, Yank_.

Clinton leaned in close, breath stinking. ____ a well-compensated lawman, Reb. Let__ leave it at that. You__l never prove anything else._ __ou__e no lawman. You are a whore,_ Tom growled.

It looks like you__l be dying in Hellfire after all, Captain!_ Slaughter shouted. __ust like your family in that Georgia shack did. Ha! Oh yes, I heard their screams inside! It was music to my ears!_ Tom shouted back across the flames. __hether you die by my hands today or not, you__l be the one in Hell, with your twin Lucifer, you MURDERING BASTARD!

Slaughter personified to him every evil of this war. It would never end for Tom until he had dealt with Slaughter. His chance had been delayed last night. The next time he encountered the Colonel, he__ kill him.