Chapter Thirteen

"Everything ready?" Gaston asked.

"There are two men in the front and one at the back." Dobkin asked, hoping to please Gaston. "Scotty's riding up to patrol the ridge." When Gaston didn't answer, he went on. "Now, Mr. Myers, the men were wondering the man who kills Fitzherbert, the £200 in gold, the reward you posted."

Gaston sloppily chewed on his food. "Who asked you about it?"

"Clayton."

"Have Clayton guard the front porch." Gaston answered, propping his feet onto his table. "Tell him to wear my coat and hat."

xxx

"Myers. He's around the back." Dobkin said to one of the other men.

"What the hell is he doing?" The man asked as more gunshots echoed in the distance.

"Emptying his revolver. He wants it freshly loaded for the night." Dobkin said as he placed his hat onto his head. Everyone knew Fitzherbert would be coming back. They just had to prepare for him.

"Do you think he's losing his cabbage?" The man asked, referring to Gaston.

xxx

As Gaston fired another shot, a rifle echoed in the distance. He stopped, furrowing his eyes to see against the blazing hot sun. Some of his men rushed to his side as horses neighed not too far off.

"Maybe Scotty's got Fitzherbert." Dobkin said.

Gaston scoffed silently. Eugene Fitzherbert was getting on his nerves. Well, it would end tonight.

xxx

Night was beginning to fall. Men were taking their hiding places for the night, ready for when Eugene would come down from the hills to attack them. They knew he was the best sharp shooter so they had to have great hiding spots.

Suddenly, a horse came bolting to the ranch. It had a saddle strapped to its back and seemed to know where to head. Dobkins rushed out to the horse, recognizing it as Scotty's horse.

Other men gathered around as Dobkins began to read from the note stuck on the saddle. "'Anyone can leave safely before dawn except Gaston. Most cordially, Eugene Fitzherbert.'"

Gaston snatched the paper out of his hands and began to crumple it. "He must think I'm stupid. This just means he's going to try and spring something on us during the night." He said, his face a light shade of red. "All right. Nobody sleeps." He declared.

He began to walk away, but paused in front of Clayton. "Give me that." He growled, yanking off the hat. Clayton rushed to pull off the jacket as well.

xxx

Dawn began to rise and everyone was exhausted. They continued to yawn and blink heir eyes. They could hardly keep their heads upright, let alone sort out their thoughts. Gaston walked out onto the front porch, seeing the morning light hit Clayton, who was passed out.

He rushed to get a bucket of cold water and splashed it onto Clayton's body. He bolted awake, now soaking wet. "Stay awake." Gaston demanded.

xxx

The sun was now high in the sky and they hadn't seen Eugene yet.

"Gaston!" Dobkin shouted, rushing across the yard. "Mr. Myers!"

Gaston came out from his bidding place, but was still in shelter. "They're gone." Dobkin lightly panted.

"What?" Gaston scoffed.

"Three men ran off last night. Jidabin, Frodo--"

"Why the hell didn't you stop them?" Gaston asked, narrowing his eyes in anger. Suddenly, two men let out loud groans of pain as they dropped to the ground.

Instead of mourning their loses, everyone bolted to the ground, hiding behind a wagon. They loaded their weapons, ready to fire at any moment. "Where is he?" Gaston asked.

"He's got to be way up there, near the cutting." Dobkin said, pointing towards the mountains.

Gaston sighed and glanced over his shoulder. "So much for Clayton's reward." He said, looking at his dead body. He looked back up at the mountain. "That bastard's been sitting up in the rocks all morning just waiting for two idiots to line up in his sights."

Dobkin looked over, watching a plan form in Gaston's head. "All right." Gaston grumbled. "We'll do the last thing Fitzherbert expects."

xxx

Four men took off the mountain on their horses. Three of them took the front, prepared to fight Eugene head on. They had Varian, who had the least experience, take the mountain from the back. They couldn't risk losing Eugene and having him run off.

The three men came to a stop, seeing the pile of ash left behind some thick bushes. "He's cleared out. Let's get back to the station." One of them spoke.

They turned their horses around, ready to tell Gaston the news. But when they got lower on the mountain, they were met face to face with Eugene. They grinned as he flipped his horse around.

He wasn't prepared for company.

He took off on the front of the mountain, the three men chasing after him.

Gaston smirked from his front porch, watching the scene unfold. He glanced at the rest of the men waiting on the porch with him. "Get up there." He nodded. Dobkin and the rest of them took off to their horses, ready to fight to the death.

Eugene took his horse down steep hills, hopping the men couldn't keep up. He had to lose them fast. His very survival depended on it. Eyeing the next steep, he took it, his own horse hardly able to stay upright.

The men blindly followed Eugene, not knowing the drop was larger than expected. One of the men screamed, his horse unable to stay balance. He tipped to the ground, getting trampled on by the other horses.

Eugene took a sharp turn, then paused to see if they were still following him.

Two of the men still were.

He took off, going down a path he had planned the night before. He took his gun and wacked it against a wobbly branch. It snapped, setting off a trap. A rope drew a tight line and the men weren't able to see it. They ran full force into it, the rope hitting their guts and knocking them off.

Hearing them fall onto the hard ground. Eugene hopped off his horse and aimed his gun. The men jumped forward, hoping to grab their weapons, but Eugene had shot them into nothingness.

"I'm hurt, Fitzherbert. I'll do you no harm." One man shouted, holding up his hands in surrender.

"You throw that hog leg away. Easy." Eugene demanded.

The man pulled out his gun out of his jacket. Instead of throwing it to the ground, he tossed it to his friend, who aimed to kill Eugene.

But he was too slow.

Eugene quickly fired, killing him instead.

The man who had claimed he was hurt, stared at Eugene wide eyed. What was going to happen to him now?

"On your feet." Eugene said. The man trembled, following his orders. Suddenly, shots ricocheted just above their heads. They both ducked, looking around.

Eugene ran for a large boulder, taking cover. The other man rushed forward, grabbing the gun from his dead friend's hand. He aimed at Eugene, but was also too slow. The shot knocked him backwards, signaling he was dead.

Eugene laid low and reloaded his gun. Now who did he have to deal with?

He aimed down the mountain, seeing Dobkin and one other man hiding behind a pile of rocks. He fired, causing them to bolt for cover. "Jesus!" Dobkin swore. Eugene laid flat as they fired up at him. He took off his hat, trying to think of a way out of this mess.

"Brophy, get around on the side there." Dobkin commanded. "Make it harder for him. I'll cover you."

"This rock's covering me fine." Brophy argued. He didn't want to be the one to move and get in Eugene's line of fire. That was like a suicide mission.

Dobkin loaded his gun and aimed it to Brophy's head. "Move, you gutless bloody wonder." He threatened under his voice.

Brophy groaned and took off to his new place. Eugene and Dobkin continued firing at each other, not getting anywhere. The only thing they were doing was wasting ammo. "Close in on him!" Dobkin shouted to Brophy.

Eugene glanced over, watching Brophy quickly make his way up the mountain, hiding behind a new set of rocks closer.

Eugene had to do something quick. He had two people to aim at and limited bullets. What was he going to do? Suddenly, something caught his eye. One of his traps. He aimed at the rope, praying that he'd get it on the first shot.

The rope snapped in half and a log began to tumble down the mountain. Dobkin watched in horror as it rolled closer and closer. "Brophy!" He shouted, but he was too late. He was smashed by the log and rolled down with it. There was no doubt that he was dead.

Eugene took a deep breath and rose to his feet. He was putting himself out in the open. He aimed down at Dobkin, getting a better angle. He had to get him to get to Gaston. He fired, but just barely missed.

Eugene walked a bit closer, seeing Dobkin easier. "I can bounce the next one clean through you." Eugene said. "How brave are you?"

Seeing his options, Dobkin held up his gun. "I'm coming out."

Slowly, with his hands raised, Dobkin appeared in the open from behind his rocks.

"Well, that ain't real brave, but it is smart." Eugene said with a small smile. Suddenly, a burning pain grew on his thigh as a gun shot echoed. He fell on his back, looking at the bullet hole in his upper leg.

Dobkin grinned, jumping up and rushing forward.

Eugene groaned, rolling onto his side. He crawled forward, grabbing his gun. Suddenly, he was smacked in the head. His eyes were growing heavy as Varian stepped on his hands and loaded his gun. "I got him!" He shouted. "I got Fitzherbert!"

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Sorry for this late update!! I know it's been a while, but at least it's here now!