DEAD-EYE DARLING
The sun had passed its noontime high and was starting to swing towards the western horizon. The town of Roswell was usually quiet, save for a train that steamed through a few times per week. Today, however, there was a feeling of entertainment in the air. The townsfolk had all braved the late afternoon sun to gather in the center of town. There was going to be a hanging.
Frank stood on the gallows, the noose slightly less than snug on his neck. The rope that bound his hands was tighter. No man ever started out in life intending to be hanged, and if he had the time to spare it would be prudent to think over the the things that had happened to get him into this position.
The sun was in his eyes. Frank squinted in the glare, barely able to see the crowd that had gathered to see him punished. If he was actually guilty, he might have taken solace in the fact that people actually cared enough to come see him. Instead, it was just disturbing.
“This man was tried for murder,” the local sheriff announced from his place to Frank’s left. “Death was the sentence given to the accused.”
“I have a name, you know,” Frank muttered. It seemed that no one heard him.
The town preacher approached from his right. “Have you made your peace with God?”
“As much as I can, I suppose.” Frank didn’t look at the man, still trying to see through the glare of the setting sun.
The minister did not want to delay things further and retreated to the edge of the platform, signaling that the accused was as ready as he was going to be. A hood could not be found, so Frank would not be surprised when the moment of execution came. He swallowed hard, what might be his last opportunity to do so before the rope went tight.
There was a faint sound of running hoofbeats, growing louder as they came closer. The crowd heard, but none of them wanted to miss the big moment. Every eye was on the sheriff as he reached for the lever that worked the gallows’ trap door.
Frank felt his feet begin to drop. His entire body went tense, just as the noose also tightened. He involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut. In the next instant a gunshot rang out, the bullet whizzing over his head and tugging at the noose.
There was a shout from the crowd and Frank landed hard in an upright position, the severed rope flopping down on him. He almost fell forward, as the saddle he had come to rest on was moving rapidly away from the gallows.
Frank opened his eyes. Every person who had come to see him hanged was staring in astonishment as he made his getaway. He could see them because he’d landed backwards in the saddle. Below, hooves continued to churn, carrying him away.
He wasn’t out of trouble yet, but the time it would take for the sheriff to mount a posse would give him a good head start.
“That was some very good timing, Rarity.” Frank turned his head, addressing his rescuer.
“Of course, darling,” replied the pony carrying him. She panted slightly with the effort of running, but managed to spare him a glance, winking one of her large blue eyes.
Frank continued to watch the back trail as Rarity charted a course for the scattered arroyos outside of town. Once in the maze of narrow canyons, it would be much more difficult to pursue the two of them.
All things considered, however, the misguided townsfolk were not actually the most dangerous thing that Frank and Rarity had to face. He asked, “Do you have the guns?”
Rarity snorted, but replied, “I do.”
Frank twisted his body, managing to right himself in the saddle. He spotted a pair of holsters hanging from the pommel and a rifle scabbard down one side. The saddle bags contained another pistol, its holster, and some supplies. Frank found a small penknife and began cutting at the ropes that tied his hands. As he got himself free, he grabbed the spare gun and belted it on.
The pace slowed somewhat as they dipped into the arroyos, the sand making the going tougher. Rarity was breathing hard by now, sweat and dust coating her flanks. “When I get home to Equestria, it’s going to take days at the spa before I’m clean again!”
Frank grunted, having heard too many similar complaints from the mare already. “Before that, we still have a job to do.”
Rarity sighed as she trotted along. “Yes, I haven’t forgotten. We need to find this criminal gang and make them give back what they took.”
Nodding, Frank agreed, “And this time, we’ll be ready.”