Savior with a Bullet

It was astonishing, captivating, what played out before his eyes; full of awe. He dared not to blink afraid of missing a fraction of the action that seemed to reach down and touch his soul filling him with unlikely hope. It played out like shadow puppets in the iris’s of his eyes and it was clear what he witnessed was unworldly. He found himself unworthy of laying eyes upon such an idol but too enthralled to bow his head in submission. The way he moved with such grace, like a ballet dancer across a grand stage, the intensity in his eyes of piercing focus, as if the eyes of god was passing judgment upon these sinners, he was ready to kneel in gratitude for this merciful gift. Through the chorus of gunfire, cracking wood and shattered glass, the groans and cries of death as bodies fell to the ground, the hungry desert eagerly soaking in the blood, it all seemed to happen so fast. In the end he stood there in the middle of town and fifteen cowboys laid dead. He hardly heaved a breath, eerily calm as he loaded his gun blindly never pulling his patrolling gaze from the corners, rooftops, windows and doorways in case another were to throw his foolish hat into the fight; none emerged. The sun rested high, its heat bearing down, dusk a couple hours away and a certain troublesome future looming ahead.

The sheriff and his deputy returned to the jailhouse; the sheriff beside himself in astonishment and his deputy tending to himself in a mirror. “Did you see that?” the sheriff muttered as he paced the room. “Did you see that! I mean god damn that was amazin’. Dear lord forgive me.” he said pressing his hands together looking up trying to quickly rectify using the lords name in vain.

“It was somethin’.” said the deputy in a monotoned response as he fiddled with his hair.

“Somethin’? is that all you got to say after witnessing something so… amazin’?” he said in shock.

“It was somethin’.” he answered his tone unwavering.

“How’s your hair? Is it good? It didn’t get nicked while staring out that window?” he snapped offended by his nonchalant attitude towards what had just happened.

“I didn’t see you out there lending that stranger a hand facing down a barrage of bullets.”

“I was there. I saw everything up close just outside that door. I even had a few strays wiz by me. It was harrowin’.”

“I don’t recall hearin’ any bullets hittin’ this here jailhouse.” he said looking over at the sheriff finding him ‘dancing’ around the middle of the room. The sheriff maneuvered around bending his knees with his gun drawn waving it around.

“How did he do it? It was like all he had to do was just point the gun in any general direction and just pull the trigger and he was hittin’ someone.” The sheriff dives and roll on the floor trying to recreate what he saw as he rises to his feet pretend to fire his gun in two different directions in front of him before aiming the gun under his arm and blindly firing the gun. The gun fire startled both of them as well as the prisoner in the cell hiding beneath his bunk as the bullet burrowed in the wall in which the mirror was post. The deputy gasped as he gently patted his hair rushing over to the mirror.

“Dear lord have mercy!” shouted the frantic deputy as he checked himself in the mirror.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean ta. I didn’t nick your hair did I?”

“No, thank god.” he said with a heavy sigh of relief.

“It’s a sign.”

“What is? That you didn’t shoot my hair off just now?” he said as he began refixing his hair to a pre-gun attack state.

“No, the stranger riding into town; it’s a sign. God is finally answering our prayers. Those Cowboys have been riding into to town doin’ whatever they damn well please for to goddamn long. Dear lord forgive me.” he said pressing his hands together before continuing. “This town has suffered for far too long with no one to protect it and its people.”

“It had us.”

“Ha, don’t be ridiculous. We’re just two people.” he scoffed.

“He’s just one.”

“No, he’s not like us; he’s nothing like us. He was sent here by God to save this town from those damn Cowboys. We need to go speak to him; ask him to stay and help defend the town. I saw him head into the saloon down at the end of the street at the center of town after the shootout.”

“So, your stalking him now?”

“Stalkin’? You make it sound as if I’m obsessed with this god-like gunslinger.”

“You seem like you are. It seems that maybe your just eager to meet him. Hearing you speak about him, maybe too eager.”

“Deputy this is strictly business. I merely admire the man’s gunslinging prowess. This town comes first. I’ll do anything for this town. You and I both know this isn’t the end of it. Word will get back and they will return in great numbers; he will return. This town will be at their mercy after what that stranger has done and we both know that there is no mercy to be had.”

“What makes you think that he will stay? He’s a stranger. Why would he want to put his life on the line for this town?”

“He’ll say yes, because he was sent by God to save this town.”

“Let me get this straight. So, your saying God started a conflict to save us from?” he said confused by the notion as he pulled himself away from the mirror and walked over to the sheriff staring out the window on the hotel down the street.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

The border town has suffered being isolated out in the desert away from cavalry aide. Only a few lawmen over this time have tried to stand up for the town losing their lives; all family to the sheriff. Being a lawman was a family tradition. It was in his blood. He was raised in the world of the lawman and he learned a lot. Don’t count on help. You are merely a figurehead and at the mercy of the cowboys and most importantly you’ll be dead before long; something he is looking to change. One thing he will not do is run away. He’s not as much a coward than he is incompetent or foolish. He dreams of making his family proud by becoming the hero the town needs and putting an end to it being an outpost for the outlaw.

The two of them made their way to the hotel down the street; the sheriff struggling to shake away the nerves. Just before he step through the door he stopped. “What’s wrong?” asked the deputy. The sheriff shook his body all over.

“Give me a moment.” he took a couple of deep breaths trying to compose himself. The deputy just looked at him and shook his head as he left him behind. “Hey, what? I’m just preparin’ myself.” he quickly followed.

“Howdy Sheriff.”

“Hey Sheriff.” hollered random people in the saloon. The sheriff acknowledged everyone as he approached the bar.

“Hey Sheriff. That was some shootout we had earlier. In all my years I’ve never seen nothin’ like that before.” said the barkeep.

“I know it was amazin’ just simply amazin’.” he said with utmost giddiness. Just before he could go on the Deputy was quick to cut in.

“As much as we would love to talk about what happened we have important matters to tend to.” said the deputy as the sheriff cleared his throat and collected himself.”

“Uh, that’s right, uh , is this stranger staying in a room in this here saloon?”

“Yes Sheriff. I must say it’s quite excitin’ having such a man staying in this here establishment. I must say it’s a privilege.”

“See I’m not the only one.” He told the deputy under his breath.

“What’s this man’s name?”

“I dare not say. I’d hate to give out information on a man so skilled with a gun. If you’d wish to know I suggest you go ask him yourself.”

“We’ll do that. What room is he staying in?”

“The third from the top of the steps. Do be mindful. I know you’re the law around here but he doesn’t seem the type that likes to be disturbed.”

“Has he been, you know, rewarded for his deeds this afternoon.”

“Oh yes Sheriff. Mary has already obliged him. She was quite happy to; going in and especially coming out.” The deputy cleared his throat.

“That’s a bit more information than necessary. We’ll be on our way.”

“Did you hear that? This guy just gets more amazin’ by the minute.”

They climbed the stairs as everyone in the saloon looked on while they tried to carry on with their conversations and games. The sheriff pumped his fists in the air with excitement. They stood before the door as the sheriff reached for the door knob hastily; he is quickly cut off by his deputy.

“What are you doing?”

“What?”

“You’re just going to barge in? You heard what the barkeep said. He doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

“He didn’t say that exactly.”

“Nonetheless, don’t you think you should knock first and announce yourself before you go in.”

“Your right; manners. HA, where is my head at.” they chuckled as the sheriff gave a couple of quick raps on the door before barging in. “Howdy stranger.”

“Chinga tu madré!” the stranger shouted as he fumbled his gun in his hand.

“Chinga tu madre to you too. I want to be respectful of his culture. What is that like Mexican for hello?” he muttered to his deputy.

“I think that’s hola.”

“Really? Then what does chinga to madre mean?” the deputy shrugs in response.

“Don’t you people announce yourselves before entering a room?” the deputy nudged the sheriff.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupted you workin’ on your guns there. I saw you in the shootout earlier.”

“So what, are you here to arrest me?”

“What? Know I want to come and meet you and thank you for taking out those goddamn Cowboys. Dear lord forgive me.” said the sheriff pressing his hands together as he rushed over and put out his hand. The stranger looked at him and then his outstretched hand.

“I never had a Sheriff thank me for killing fifteen people before.” the sheriff slowly retracted his hand awkwardly, spurned by the rejection of a handshake, as he stepped back to give him some space.

“Well now you have. What’s your name stranger.” the stranger looked at the two of them; the stoic dapper deputy by the door and the awkward sheriff with a goofy look on his face. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of them; reluctantly he answered.

“Jesús.” the sheriff turned to his deputy.

“Jesús?”

“Jesus.” said the sheriff with a giddiness, feet dancing and big smile on his face. “It’s a sign. I told you.” he muttered under his breath.

“May I ask your name sheriff.”

“Oh, Sheriff. Sheriff Sheriff. It’s a family name. You can say being Sheriff is sort of a family business. This here is Deputy.”

“That’s it?” the stranger was perplexed.

“I need be known by no other name.” answered Deputy.

“Peculiar. Well if you don’t mind I need to get back to tending my guns.”

“Well don’t mind us we’ll leave you be.” he said turning to the door as the deputy quickly reminded him about the purpose of this meeting. “Another thing I wanted to ask, how do you do what you do? It’s like you just pull the trigger and the bullets just find their targets; like magic.”

“It’s just god given.”

 Sheriff turned to Deputy hopping with giddiness. Deputy silently urged him to ask. “One last thing and we’ll leave you alone. How long you planning to stay in town?”

“I’m expectin’ to head out within the next couple of days. Don’t worry Sheriff I’ll be out of here soon enough.”

“Would you mind stayin’ awhile?”

“Why?” he said putting his guns down on the nearby table. “I’ve never had a lawman want me around.” he was puzzled by the request; quickly getting his attention.

“Those Cowboys always come around causing trouble hurtin’ people. This town needs protection.” Jesús looked at him confused.

“The town has the two of you.”

“We don’t have you. We need you.”

“I’m sorry. I must go.”

“Sorry? Why not? What do you have that is so important that you can’t lend a hand. Do you not realize what you have just unleashed on this town? After what happen this afternoon the cowboy’s will be coming back and in great numbers to kill the person responsible and if they don’t find him the town is sure to face the repercussions.

“I can’t! I shouldn’t have even drawn my gun today.”

“You talk as if it were a mistake. What you did was self-defense. They got what they asked for.”

“You don’t know me and what I’ve done. I swore to God that I would not fire my guns again if he would only allow me to find my way home. To see my family after so many years away doing not good things. I’ve broken that. Where does that leave me? Can you tell me?” Sheriff looked back at Deputy. He responded with a shrug.

“Then will you make yet another mistake? Will you not draw your guns one more time to save this town from the mistake you made in the first place? Will you not draw your guns to do good and help this town find peace? God has lead you here because this town needs you. The hope I see in their eyes is what you put there. Will you then rob them of that.”

“You really show no mercy Sheriff.”

“Sometimes I surprise myself. Well, at least there’ a first time for everythin’.”

“Okay Sheriff. I’ll stay and help you.” he said rising out of his chair and meeting Sheriff with an outstretched hand. He then took that hand with a firm pride as he smiled.

“I guess we got ourselves another deputy.” said Deputy as he walked forward and shook Jesús’s hand.

“By the authority of this badge I hereby deputize you.”

“Now, let’s get us some goddamn cowboys.” they all smiled as they all pressed their hands together in prayer and spoken in unison. “Dear lord forgive us.”

A day later, another scorcher, the buzzards circling high as the tension of death hung in the air calling them to feast. They followed the thunder of stampeding horses as they raced across the plains. Each one bearing a skilled rider with a mean demeanor that made many shiver in their boots across the border. The number of poor souls they carried with them was in the hundreds with many more pending. They were in business with death and business was good. They ride for pleasure and greed and today they rode for vengeance.

Deputy came barging into the jailhouse catching the sheriff off guard. “He was like that when I got here!” snapped Sheriff, clinging to his cup of joe, startled by the suddenness. Deputy looked to the jail and saw the prisoner laying on the floor.

“There’s no time. A group of around fifty men were spotted on horseback headed this way.” The sheriff got quiet as he slowly walked over to set his cup of joe down on the table.

“I-I’m not ready. Tell them I’m not ready.”

“It don’t work that way Sheriff. They’ll be here any minute. I’ve sent someone over to let Jesús know. There isn’t much time we need to get ready.”

Sheriff stood their contemplating his life and where it stood in that moment as Deputy hurried to the mirror and began fixing his hair. Sheriff walked over to the window and seemed to get lost in the thought that the time has come; that it just a few moments he could be dead. As much as he would like to say heroically he was ready there was no holding back the tears of fear in his eyes.

“Don’t worry Sheriff. I’ll take care of it.” They were startled by Jesús’s sudden appearance instantly grabbing their attention. “Once they’re gone I’ll be leaving. This town will need their Sheriff and Deputy. Just keep a look out and protect the people. It was good meeting you amigo.” with a tip of his sombrero and a sly smile.

The horses fiercely galloped into town. Everyone hurrying for cover. “Spread out. Find the gunslinger. Bring him to me. He’s mine.”

“I’m right here!”

“Well look what we have here a desperado.”

“I’m not one for talking. I got a family to get home to. You want me you got me. Why don’t we settle this like gentlemen. Me and you in a duel.”

“I heard about the show you put on the other day. It’s hard to believe. It’s surprising how far word can spread in a day. I would love to be the one who ended this god like gunslinger. Just think what people will say about me. Ha, it’ll be whatever I tell them.”

“What do you say, twenty paces?”

“Sounds good to me.” They proceeded to take their position as they ready themselves. “Don’t anyone interfere. He’s mine. You do I’ll kill ya.” The cowboy was amused by the calmness of the gunslinger. If it were any other circumstance he would try to recruit him. “Shall I do the honors?”

“By all means.”

“Draw!” he was as fast as they said, misfire, bang. He slowly collapsed to the ground.

“Goddamn…” muttered Sheriff.