A Stolen Moment

I travel along the rode to County

Headed there with the jails new bounty

They kept mumbling about injun spirits

I smile, still disturbed by Chechi's visits

It made for a peaceful ride

But all that silence made it hard to hide

From my thoughts that wished to over run

About the town, mostly Rue and 3Gun

I couldn't believe

when into the jail 

she came walking in

I stood up and looked down

Wondering if I were dreamin'

She reached up and touched my face.

The line of my jaw she did trace.

"Justice has a plan for you.

You have to take his place at the County Seat

His maker he is about to meet."

"Justice is going to perish?"

"Yes, and he wants you to be the new sheriff."

"No, Rue not again.

I don't want to leave."

"It's out of your hands

I believe."

3Gun said, walked in with a box.

In it the marshal's badge

He pulled a rusty star from his desk.

"Sorry only one I have."

3Gun pinned it to my chest.

Swore me in and all the rest.

"I'll give you a moment or two

Do me a favor, go easy on him, Rue."

Rue just smiled in that secretive way.

I knew I wasn't going to enjoy this day.

But then to my surprise

I'd seen a new light in her eyes.

She took my hand

Led me to her horse

Climb on up

I joined her of course.

We rode awhile

Not sure where we were headed

But something told me

I would not regret it.

We dismount

The way she looks at me

My heart skips count

"Ruechari...?"

She puts a finger to my lips

Causing it to stay zipped

She leans up real close

And suddenly I froze.

Her lips replace her finger

On her lips mine did linger

I breathe out an audible sigh

"Is this your way of saying good-bye?"

She puts my hand on her heart

Causing my own to start.

"Rue what does all this mean?"

She closed the distance in between.

"You ask too many questions."

She says to me.

"Life is about a moment

won't you agree?"

"I couldn't possibly agree more."

She laid a blanket

On the desert floor

She took me to a secret place

Where all time and worry could be erased.

I don't know what the fates hold in store

But I can't say I care anymore.

When I woke, she was gone.

Sixstar gives me a nuzzle

Ready to take me home.

"Your owner is certainly a puzzle."

I go to the stables

To put Sixstar away

I hear a cough behind me

"Petra? You got something to say?"

"You're going to County.

May with you I ride?"

"Sure Petra, just make sure

to the back of the wagon

your horse is tied."

I pull up at the grave sight

To view a sea of black.

I give Rue a kiss on the cheek.

And promise to come back.

Petra was there waiting

I climb up into the seat

Not knowing if I'll be gone

For a day, a month or a week.

I now look down at the woman

asleep on my shoulder

I pull up her blanket

As the air has gotten colder.

Petra wakes and looks at me

"I fell asleep. So sorry."

I look down at her and smile.

"No worries Petra, 

get some rest

we'll be in County in a short while."