This is a continuing story, if you would like to read the from the beginning, the letter A : Aces and Eights But... each letter/story stands alone as well. Enjoy:)
Introductions
The soft snap and pop of hay woke Ben from the first good
rest he was able to get in weeks. As the rest of his senses woke, he heard the
horses shift restless in their stalls. There was a scent in the thickened air.
His eyes opened wide, not air, smoke. It was smoke and the
scent was hay on fire. Ben jumped to his feet kicking the feet of his men. “Up,
up. The barn’s on fire.”
Ben and the men scrambled as the smoke stung their eyes. The
flames were starting to spread downward from the loft. Ben opened the stalls
and pulled the animals outside.
He lead a large quarter horse out by the bridle, the air had
started to thicken. It was harder to breathe but Ben turned back to make sure
everyone and every creature were safe.
Ben met Charlie coming out with their horses. He shouted to
him over the roar of the flames. “Is that all?”
Charlie nodded as he coughed and slapped the gray mare on
the hindquarters to send her from the blaze. “Dawson
is comin with the last one.”
He started to turn and join Ben when a figure stepped out of
the shadows by the barn. “Ben, look out.”
Ben heard the warning and reached for the gun at his hip but
it was too late. There was pain suddenly at the base of his skull. The flames
started to sway and grow dark as he heard Charlie’s muffled voice call his name
again. Then his face was in the dirt before darkness swallowed him.
**
Sound came back to him first. Voices seeping into the dark
to bring him back to consciousness.
Ben tried to sit up and reach to rub the back of his head.
His arms wouldn’t lift, they were tied as were his legs. That brought back
memory of the barn, the fire, being knocked out. He snapped fully awake and
searched the room with his eyes.
A well-dressed man sat in a chair with one leg tucked
beneath him. Two others flanked him, Ben caught the sight of a badge as one
turned and looked his way. Pinkertons.
Ben growled as he jerked at the ropes in an attempt to break free.
The man in the expensive suit reminded Ben of a snake as he
uncoiled from the chair to walk over. “Mr. Mason, glad you’re finally able to
join us. I had the thought Mr. Crandle had cracked your thick skull.”
Ben glared they knew who he was. “You have me at a
disadvantage, who the hell are you?”
Fancy suit sipped his port and offered his hand. With a
sarcastic laugh, he drew it back. “My apologies, you are a bit too tied up for
proper introductions. I’ve become acquainted with you, Mr. Mason. Or do you
prefer Lieutenant Mason.”
He set the glass on the fireplace mantle and crossed his
arms as he leaned a shoulder against it. “Oh yes, I investigated who the man
that is so bent on attacking my trains.”
The rope cut into Ben’s wrists as he twisted them in his
struggle to be free. “Hammond .”
The look he gave Ben was cold. “Hammond Rail is the only
line you have stricken. Why would you target my family? Because you have become
a warmonger, you need to sate your hunger for violence?”
Ben’s rage consumed him, his voice low as his eyes narrowed
on the fool in his fancy suit. “I do hunger for blood. Your blood. You murdered
my wife and son, countless others so you can strut in your expensive suit.”
Ben tried to lunge forward at Hammond .
Being bound he only rocked forward on the chair’s legs and his feet.
Ben struggled against the ropes as Hammond
picked up his coat and walked to the door. The wealthy railroad tycoon grinned,
he had Ben Mason right were he wanted him. “It was good that we were introduced
this evening, you are going to hang in the dawn’s early light, Mr. Mason. I
think I should give you some time alone to make your restitutions with God. I
look forward to watching you swing.”
The moment the door closed behind Hammond
and his dogs Ben started to look around. He was in the rancher’s house. Ben
knew they needed a safe place to sleep for a bit. They paid a rancher to stay
in his barn for the night. Question was did he betray the outlaws or were they
spotted somehow on the road?
Ben’s money was on betrayal, the rancher got his payback
with a burnt barn. Either way the object of Ben’s vengeance was just on the
other side of that door. He began to work on a way to escape so he could rip
out Hammond ’s heart.
Hi there, I'm visiting from the A to Z challenge circuit. *waves*
ReplyDeleteFirst off - I love your blog header...
Gladiator is one of the 6 movies that made an impression on me! (I'm not a movie fanatic...)
You have some interesting characters above...
I have to say that something about the first two paragraphs reminded me of Steinbeck's novella, Of Mice And Men.... I think the reference to horses, hay, the fire...
Enjoy the rest of your A to Zee experience.