The Reckoning of Rodrigo

Dusk had settled on the ranch as the sun was going down. the house was a beautiful two story white that glared in the remaining light.
"Johnny! A voice shouted from the front door. No response was heard.
"Johnny, dinner is on the table, get your behind in here before the rest of the kin eats it all!"
Down past the grass and cows, past where the chickens roamed their coop, there was little Johnny Pierce. Johnny cleaned the dirt and sweat from his closing down by the watering hole. He finished as quickly as possible and began to run back as his stomach grumbled uncontrollably.
"Pa's going to be enraged." He thought to himself as three loud gunshots ran out into the evening air. Johnny froze immediately. Commotion began as he sneaked his way behind the chicken coop.
"Come on amigos! Search the area for any others." A voice shouted as Johnny gasped and watched the horses galloping his way. Frozen in fear he did the best thing that he could think of and hid underneath the coop. The horses galloped by, startling the birds and causing Johnny to let out a small yelp. One man stopped quickly, turned around, and stepped off of his horse. The spurs clanked loudly against the hard ground as Johnny watched the black boots wide eyed from his field of vision. The man stopped in front of Johnny's hiding spot, glaring around.
"Alright. It's clear here, let's head back." After the long pause, the man headed back to his horse, and the house.

Hours Later

Johnny awoke under the coop, the night time sky covering the landscape in darkness. He slowly pulled himself out and sneaked towards the house. Lifting himself towards one of the back windows, hes saw the men. Rugged looking, evil men, sleeping in the beds that once belonged to his beloved family. As he gazed forth, Johnny saw blood. Trails of it leading out of the door. He collapsed from the window as quietly as possible, uncontrollably weeping for his loss.

He was a smart boy, and strong, just the way his father had raised him. Heading to the front of the house, he found the horses of the gang tied up. Quietly moving towards them, a grumble was heard, followed by the loud smack of a dropped bottle. He froze in place, awaiting the man to fall back to sleep. Ever so silently, Johnny unhitched one of the horses, trotting away silently and swearing reckoning on the men who wronged him.

10 Years Later

Beautiful tones rang out slowly in the air as a tumbleweed passed by. A man with a guitar stood, his black cowboy hat covering everything except the long black hair draped over his shoulders. The man lifted the hat, revealing a grown Johnny Pierce.
"You're a damn liar and a cheat!" A voice rang out as shots fired into the afternoon air. Johnny immediately rushed inside of the saloon, kicking in the bat wing doors. A tall fair haired man quickly holstered his gun and adorned a tanned cowboy hat. He stared at Johnny.
"Why I thought that you would never show, my friend!"
"What happened this time, Cain?" Johnny questioned, while he gazed down at the two cadavers.
"Just a little misunderstanding. A misunderstanding in which we should most likely ride far, far away." Johnny looked at Cain, blood began to drip down his arm.
"Jesus, Cain. We've got to get you to a doctor."
"Like I said, my friend, just a simple misunderstanding." Cain fell to the ground, knocking over barstools and his table.
"Apparently cards are a life of death game now-a-days, Johnny." The doors flung open once more as three men entered, shotguns drawn. Johnny stood for what seemed like an eternity staring, hand next to holster.

A single shot fired, and the front gunman fell backwards, knocking the other two back.
"I'm not dead yet. What do you say we take a ride, ole Johnny boy?" Cain limped to his feet and the two busted through the doors. Johnny busted the guitar over one of the men as Cain shot the other one in his shooting hand. Johnny unhitched the horse nearby and the two hopped aboard.
"I'm plenty sure that our spell in this town is complete." Can spoke as four more armed men ran up, pistols firing.
"YA!" Johnny whipped the reins as the horse galloped away, bullets blazing closely towards the two men.

Later That Evening

Cain awoke in a drunken daze as he fell straight out of bed, groaning. Johnny stepped inside as the sunset lit up the room.
"Please be a dear and turn that light off. This hangover is a doozy." Cain sat up, examining the bandages on his shoulder.
"She said you're lucky the bullet passed straight through. You might be deader than a door nail otherwise."
"She you say? What heavenly angel are we referring to, might I ask?"
"Jennifer Sweet," a voice said from the shadows, "and you are lucky to be alive, Chad." She stepped out into the light and Cain focused on her.
"Why an angel indeed. Gorgeous green eyes, strawberry blond hair, and you may not call me Chad. That is my former name. You shall call me Cain, sweetie." Jenny marched up to Cain and ripped off the bandages to inspect the wound, as Cain groaned.
"A few more days and you'll be back on top, and again Mr.Cain, the name is Jenny. Call me sweetie again, and we'll make sure the bullet stays in this time." Cain smirked.
"Well, I do adore the attitude, Jenny. Johnny, you may have found us a demon dressed as an angel." Cain attempted to stand and fell to the ground. The two lifted him back into bed.
"Whatever she may be, Cain, this woman saved you from bleeding out." Johnny spoke.
"And you're reputation exceeds itself, Mr.Cain. It's not very humbling to see that a once greatly admired sheriff has succumbed to the bottle, and not the law."
"I do digress... Ms? Mrs?" Cain raised an eyebrow, awaiting an answer.
"Ms. Sweet."
"Ms. Jenny Sweet. Is there no man who has taken your hand?" Jenny smirked as she covered Cain with a blanket.
"I see you get straight to the point. There is only one man worth it, if you must know."
"Is it that God fellow that they are always preaching about?" Jenny shook her head and laughed.
"No sir, if you could meet him, I would introduce you. Unfortunately he's heading some of our cattle right now. He showed up about the same as you two, a few years back. He was beat and bloody. My father took him in," She looked at the ground, "before his passing. Anyway, he's been here every since." Cain grabbed his flask off of the table.
"Do tell. Why would he leave such a beautiful woman all by herself on such a big ranch?"
"Cain, that's enough snooping." Johnny said from his seat. Jenny simply smiled and pressed firmly into Cain's wound.
"Mr. Cain, I am more than capable of handling myself, and if you believe that you are the only person with an accurate trigger finger, then take a look at your own shoulder." Cain let out a relieved sigh as Jenny lifted off of the wound, and took a swig of the flask.
"Well played, angel. Very well played." Johnny stood up and gave Cain a pat on the leg.
"Get some rest, Cain. We've still got a search to return to." Jenny and Johnny shut the door as the moonlight hit Cain's face.
"And what is it we will find at the end of this rainbow, Johnny boy?"

The Next Day

A gunshot rang out in the dawn breeze as Johnny ran outside, pistols drawn.
"Hola, amigo! Where is the beautiful proprietor of this ranch?" The man asked from horseback, lowing his gun.
"I'm right here, Dynamite." Jenny shot at the ground with her double barrel, startling the horse.
"Whoa horsey! Hahaha, you crazy bitch! Rodrigo should have your head. I'm delivering a message. Give us what is ours, or we kill you, we kill everyone here. Then we find your prometido, and we kill him slowly! Careful how long you wait. Vamos!" Dynamite rode off as Johnny approached Jenny.
"What was he talking about?"
"Johnny, this isn't a fight of yours, this is something I must take care of myself." Jenny lowered her gun.
"With all due respect, ma'am, his threat was to kill all of us. I think that clearly involves us. Now your best bet is to have us aroun-..." Johnny was suddenly cut off by a voice in the distance.
"And besides, angel, I am a sheriff, after all!" Cain stumbled out of the door with his pistol and flask.
"An ex-sheriff Cain. Your law won't matter here." Jenny walked inside and put away the shotgun as Cain followed her, continuing to stumble.
"No, Ms. Jenny, but the way it seems, no law will matter here." Jenny dropped her head and sighed.
"Fine then, gentlemen. Have a seat and I will explain everything." The three sat down, and Jenny continued.
"This began about three years ago. My father and I cam across my, now, fiance and nursed him back to health. In debt to us, and needing the help around the ranch, we decided it would be best for him to stay. The thing was - he was in possession of something." Cain lifted the flask to his mouth.
"Well, my dear, a possession worth killing over should be nothing less than gold." Cain laughed. Jenny stared straight at him as his laugh faded.
"Oh me, oh my. I think I may have struck a nerve."
"Quiet, Cain. Jenny, how did they find you?" Johnny sat up in his seat, intrigued.
"How do you think? The same as both of you. Shear damn luck. They saw Taylor one day and have been bothering us every since. They murdered my father." Johnny stood up out of his seat. His face went pale and his heart skipped a beat.
"They saw who, ma'am?"
"My fiance, Taylor... Are you okay, Johnny?" Cain stood up and lit up a cigar.
"Dear Jenny, I do believe you are the one to strike a nerve this time." Johnny walked over and gazed outside the window.
"I'm looking for the people who murdered my family. Ten years and the search continues. Mr. Jenny, Taylor was the name of my brother." Shocked, Jenny lowered her head, then looked up at him as Cain continued pacing and smoking his cigar.
"How many family members?" Johnny looked back at Jenny.
"Three. My brother, Taylor. My sister, Amber. And, my father, Robert."
"I'm so sorry Johnny. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. A lot of people have the name Taylor." Cain let out a smoke ring and slowly turned to Jenny.
"If I may ask, angel, what is Mr. Taylor's last name?" Jenny stared right back at him.
"It's... Smith. Taylor Smith." Johnny shook his head and snatched the flask from Cain. He lifted the bottle and took a giant swig.
"What about the men who want the gold?" Jenny stood up next to Johnny.
"There are four of them. They've overtaken law in several areas, been around for years. They've collected so much from thievery that they basically have an army of paid off mercenaries. They're unstoppable." Cain grabbed the bottle away from Johnny and took a hefty drink himself.
"Unstoppable is one thing, my dear, unkillable is another." Johnny turned to Jenny.
"Do you know their names?"
"They have the leader, Rodrigo Vasques. The man has been taking from others for himself from day one." Cain smirked and puffed his cigar.
"Doesn't play well with others, I see."
"Not really. He cares about nothing, except for one thing."
"And what is that thing?" Johnny asked.
"His brother, Armando. He isn't the gunslinger type, but he runs the insides of the operation. Does the paperwork, whatever the hired guns can't do."
"So he has family also?" Johnny snarled.
"Yes, Mr.Pierce, but let us not forget our docility." Cain spoke as he blew out another smoke ring. Johnny nodded as Jenny continued.
"Well there is also Isabel Cabrera. She's been known as-..."
"Instant Kill Izzy." Cain interrupted.
"I take it you've heard of her then. The last one has been there since Rodrigo. That was the man earlier today, Tito Manuelo. Everyone calls him Dynamite, in recognition of his short fuse. The two practically grew up together." Cain laughed.
"Kind of like us, huh Johnny boy?" Johnny chuckled and pulled out his gun.
"This is what it is going to come down to. More blood will be shed before it's all over. Is everyone ready?" Both Cain and Jenny nodded in agreement. Cain smirked.
"Let's have a drink. To life and all of it's wonderful generosities. Such as this delectable whiskey that we see before us." Cain said as he filled three cups. They clanked glasses together.
"Cain, are you sure you're up for this fight?" Johnny asked. Cain glared at his shoulder, and took his shot.
"Never felt more alive, Johnny boy." Johnny and Jenny hit glasses and took their shots.

Diablo's

The doors flew open at the saloon. The sound of spurs against the wood. A man with black boots stepped in, followed by three others. They formed up at a table.
"Move." Said the man in black boots. A man stood from the table.
"And just who the hell do you think you are?" He snarled. The man in the black boots smirked.
"I'm Rodrigo. Your worst nightmare if you do not move." The man at the table opened his coat.
"Maybe this proves otherwise. Maybe it proves that I'm your worst nightmare." Rodrigo lifted a hand and came down with a hard slap to the man's face, causing him to hit the ground. The woman behind Rodrigo grabbed the downed man and quickly shot him in the face before holstering her pistol once more.
"Would anyone else like to bargain? Threat? No? then we shall have a seat!" Rodrigo sat down as the waitress arrived.
"Izzy, Rodrigo, Armando. The usual?" The men nodded as she darted off to get the drinks. A few other men gathered around to move the carcass out of the bar.
"Rodrigo, can't we work in a more civilized manner? Do we always have to turn to violence?" Armando pleaded as he took a shot. Rodrigo pushed his brother playfully, knocking off his glasses.
"Armando, you take life too seriously, too cowardly. Live in the moment, and take what you can from who you can, hermano." Armando picked up his glasses and nodded to his brother.
"I wonder where Tito is?" Izzy said just before the bar doors swung open once more. Tito walked in smirking and rubbing the sweat from his bald head before sitting down. The waitress quickly ran up.
"What do you need Tito?" He laughed, slamming his own bottle of liquor on the table.
"You don't serve my kind of booze here, beautiful."
"Did everything go as planned?" Rodrigo stared at Tito as he gulped on the bottle and threw it behind him.
"Si, amigo. The gears are turning as they say." They clanked glasses and took shots.

The Next Morning

Horse trots were heard outside of the ranch in the morning, as the sunlight peaked over the horizon. A black silhouetted figure stepped down and took off his hat. Walking to the front door, he put his hand on the doorknob. A gun locked into place.
"Who's there stranger? You a Diablo?" Johnny showed his face through the window, pistole drawn, as Cain approached from behind with a locked shotgun.
"No. There are no Diablo's here. If there were, gentlemen, they wouldn't be walking straight into the front door." Just as he finished, Jenny opened the door, teary eyed, and wrapped her arms around him.
"Sweetheart! I've missed you so much - Diablo's, they came back a few days ago. Another warning, but no one was harmed this time. Thankfully."
"well why don't you introduce me to your friends, dear?" Cain put the shotgun over his shoulder nonchalantly, shrugged, and followed the others into the house.
"Have a seat boys, my name is Taylor, as I'm sure beautiful Jenny here has already told you." Taylor lit a cigar as Cain looked on.
"A fine cigar smoker? My kind of friend. I am -" Taylor interrupted himself.
"Chad Cain. Reputable ex-sheriff. Tell me, how did you lose the badge?" Cain rolled his eyes.
"Now you two peaches are perfect for one another. That old name Chad comes about again. That was my sheriff name. As of now, you may refer to me as Cain." Johnny smirked at Cain.
"Well as they say, Cain. Your reputation exceeds itself."
"Touche, Johnny boy," Cain raised a glass of whiskey and drank, "well if you must know... Mr. Smith. It seems my, how did they put it, lewd drunken acts were just too much for the town to bare. Overnight, Johnny and I left and never returned. I did, however, get to keep the guns. I thought of it as a fair trade." Cain drew and spun a pistol. Taylor looked over at Johnny.
"What did you say your name was again?" Johnny looked back intently.
"I didn't. It's Johnny... Johnny Pierce." Taylor stood up and grabbed Cain's drink, downing the glass.
"Now why is everyone always doing tha-..." Taylor cut off Cain with a simple statement.
"Johnny, I'm your brother. I'm Taylor Pierce." Johnny stood enraged and drew his gun.
"Now listen here, I don't know who in the hell you think you are, but how dare you make such allegations of my family!" Taylor threw the glass, shattering it.
"Oh come on Johnny. How else would I know you had a brother. No one has talked to me about you being here. Smith? A common man's name. If I fit in with the crowd, the lesser the chance they had of finding me." Cain, becoming impatient without his drink, grabbed the bottle in his hand.
"A lot of good it seemed to do. You involved your luscious bride-to-be in a suicide mission." Jenny got up and slapped Cain across the face before storming out. Taylor watched as she slammed the door.
"I've got to get her before her temper gets the best of her, I'll return boys."
Taylor began to walk out as Johnny grabbed his arm.
"Taylor, are these the ones? The ones that killed Pa and Amber?" Taylor looked at Johnny, his eyes told the story. He left in search of Jenny.
"It looks like we've found the end of our proverbial rainbow, Johnny boy. The pot of gold at the end doesn't seem to be a simple metaphor anymore." Cain said as Johnny took the bottle away from him for a drink. Cain shrugged in dismay.

That Evening

An explosion was heard as a ruckus began outside. Gunshots rang out in the air.
"The warnings are over, amigos. It's for blood this time!" A voice shouted. Jenny and Taylor ran out the back of the house as flames began to engulf it.

Johnny and Cain ran out the side, firing off a few rounds before meeting Taylor and Jenny in the back.
"Is everyone okay?" Johnny shouted over the flames and shots. Everyone nodded, and Jenny cocked the shotgun as Cain drew his secondary pistol and slung it to Taylor. A voice rang out again.
"Just give us what is ours. we promise to make your deaths short and painless!" Johnny plotted and sent Jenny to the left side of the house, as Taylor trucked right. Johnny and Cain nodded to each other.
"The last standing it may be, my friend." Cain said as the two strolled to the front of the house.
"I'll take it you are Rodrigo?" Johnny exclaimed. The Diablo's jumped off horseback, ember and flames burning behind them.
"Well, well. You must be little Johnny. Why we have been searching for you for years, what is it now, ten? You were lucky back then, young man." Rodrigo said as he stepped closer to Johnny. Tito cut in.
"Like a ghost, never in the same place for too long, right Pierce?" Johnny looked down at the black boots, those shiny spurs that haunted his memory. A piercing sound captivated through Johnny's head of those gunshots years ago. Cain looked up, as a spark and ember flew off of his cigar, joining the malicious act of fire behind them.
"Now I could shoot you, but we both know that we are missing the beautiful Jenny. I may not be the smartest man, but for some reason, I believe she's still here." Taylor sat behind a crate, lining up Dynamite in his sight. After wiping the sweat from his eyes, Tito noticed Taylor from afar.
"Watch it! There are more of them hidden!" Taylor shot, as Rodrigo and Tito jumped out of the way. The shrapnel hit a barrel of gunpowder, causing a second explosion that through Armando to the ground, unconscious. Johnny and Cain dove out of the way behind a nearby wagon.
"Here we are, old friend, let your reckoning begin!" Cain jumped up firing his pistols before taking cover once more. Isabel checked on Armando before sneaking off into the night time.
"You really are some crazy fools!" Rodrigo spouted off as he jumped up and fired off some shots.
"You took my life away, Rodrigo, and I plan to return the favor." Johnny shot a few rounds before ducking back down. Cain tapped him and pointed to the bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"Not now Cain! This is not the time!" Cain smirked and tossed the bottle into the air. Tito laughed manically as he fired off his double barrel. Cain whipped up, and in a moment of silence, shot the bottle exploding glass into millions of pieces. Tito looked up, affording a straight shot into his forehead courtesy of Cain. He sat back down next to Johnny.
"And to think, I always assumed that liquor would be the death of me." He laughed. Rodrigo looked over at Tito as he fell and became enraged. He yelled as he stood up, walking towards the wagon, shooting at it in a rage. Cain stood up, just in time to receive a bullet through the same shoulder. He fell to the ground as Johnny jumped up. The two began circling each other, guns in hand.
"Is this the moment you have waited for, Johnny? Huh!?"
"Just you and me now, Rodrigo." the two stopped their pacing. Rodrigo smiled at Johnny.
"On the count of tres, amigo." They both slowly eased the hammer of their guns back.

Uno.

Dos.

Rodrigo blew a fly off of his face as he simultaneously said "Tres" with Isabel. Two gunshots were heard as the two men stood in the night. Both looked each other in the eyes as Rodrigo smiled. He stumbled backwards, spurs, boots, and all. Falling to the ground with a blood trail to follow.

Johnny went to check on Cain when he saw Taylor. Shirt blood soaked, and body limp. Johnny ran, he ran as fast as he could. As he jumped over the crates, shots whizzed by his head. Isabel reloaded and lifted her gun once more. A single bullet ignited out of Johnny's gun, piercing her through the leg. She fell instantly, laughing and groaning in the pain. Johnny looked over at Taylor's body, and shook his head.
"I should kill you." He snarled at Isabel. She simply laughed.
"Then do it! Shoot me. Right between the eyes, amigo! You are nothing but a sniveling coward!" Johnny turned his back to her and walked towards Taylor.
"I can't kill a woman." Taking the opportunity, Isabel laughed, picking up her gun and aiming directly at the back of Johnny Pierce. A shot fired, and Johnny turned suddenly. Isabel fell limp, and Jenny approached out of the shadows.
"No, he can't, but I can." She dropped her gun and ran to the side of Taylor as she broke down in tears.

Embers and ash fell around the ranch that night, but not much sleep was to be had. Most of the night was spent picking up bodies and burying them. One most especially.

The Next Morning

Johnny, a stumbling Cain, and Jenny gathered at Taylor's fresh grave.
"Johnny, if there was one thing Taylor wanted, it was for me to be safe. I loved him, and I know he loved both of us," She sighed and wiped away the tears, "Would you care to stay and help rebuild the ranch?" Johnny nodded as Cain pulled out a flask.
"With all due respect, Mr Jenny, wherever Johnny goes, ole Chad Cain is sure to follow." He took a swig and bowed his head to the grave.
"A remarkable man, for all of his accomplishments." Digging into his coat, Cain took out his old badge, laying it on the tombstone.
"I think he deserves this much more than I ever did." Jenny reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper.
"Johnny, this is the last thing Taylor gave me. My father and him were the only two that knew about it. I would like you to have it. It will help with the rebuild, and far more." Johnny took the paper and unfolded it. It was the location of the buried gold. As Johnny took off his hat and wiped the sweat and tears away, he knew that the battle was simply just beginning. Dust flew up through the air, as the three showed their respect in the rise of the sunlight.

A Nearby Town

"One more shot, sir?" The bartender asked as Armando concentrated on his note.
"Yes sir, one more." He lowered his head, reading the note once more.

"Johnny Pierce -

You have taken something from me that can never be replaced. My brother, Rodrigo. While you made a life for yourself, he was all I had to depend on. I will make you suffer, I will make you bleed. Most of all, I will make you pray to whatever god you believe in. I may not be the best with a gun, but Mr. Pierce, do not forget that I am not alone.

Signed,
-Armando Vasques"

Armando folded the paper and threw back the shot. He put on his hat and walked outside the doors to a hot and sunny afternoon. Mounting his horse, he rode off. Into the sun, into the dust, but most importantly he rode towards revenge.