The Final Battle

   Quickly Lou and Jimmy dismounted and prepared for the inevitable shoot out. Slapping his beautiful palomino on the rump, Jimmy sent it trotting to the sidelines and out of immediate danger. Lou raised her gun in the direction they heard the riders coming from and waited. Presently, their enemies couldn't be seen, but she had a feeling that was about to change. Then nothing. In fact, things had grown real quite. An eerie feeling over came the riders as they began to looked all around the area.

   "Jimmy!" Lou exclaimed suddenly. Before Jimmy knew it a shot rang out, and Lou was tackling him to the ground. He heard her cry out in pain as the bullet hit her. The outlaws tried to take advantage of the situation, but with Jimmy's reflexes and out of control temper working together, two of them were shot dead the instant they came into sight. Then another shot rang out, and Jimmy turned to see the last gang member coming up from behind fall dead. The shot he heard had come from Lou's gun.

   "Lou, are you all right?" Jimmy asked urgently as he knelt beside her. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her.

   "Yeah," Lou replied, trying to hide her pain. "It just grazed me."

   "Let me see," Jimmy demanded. He wanted to make sure she was being honest about the severity of her wound.

   There was an awkwardness between them as he examined, cleaned, and wrapped her wound. Luckily, it was just a nick on the side. If she had died saving him, Jimmy would've hated himself until his dying day. "Why does she have to be so daring?" He wondered to himself. She was too brave for her own good.

   "You know Jimmy," Lou began as she place her hand on the side of his face. "I haven't thanked you yet."

   "Thank me?" Jimmy questioned. Why would she still want to thank the reason she got shot?

   "For saving me earlier," she reminded him gently. Before Jimmy could argue, Lou kissed him, and kept kissing him. It was one of the bravest things she had ever done in her opinion. Finally she broke the kiss and looked into her companion's lovely brown eyes.

   "You're welcome," Jimmy replied bashfully. "Lou?"

   "Huh?"

   "Did I thank you for saving me earlier?" Jimmy asked softly. A trace of mischief was hidden in his words.

   "Not that I recall," she answered, feeling butterflies flutter in her stomach. "Now kiss me," she thought eagerly to herself.

   "Oh. Well, thanks," Jimmy replied with a grin. Lou's face reflected the surprise she felt.

   "Jim-" Before she could finish, Jimmy pulled her close and kissed her.

   "I guess we should be on our way soon," Jimmy suggested after their kiss ended.

   "Yeah," Lou said lovingly. Fort Kearney was expecting their mail. Little did the army know they were about to receive more than they were anticipating- like three dead outlaws!

   The riders started to prepare for their journey to Fort Kearney, which would be less than a half day's ride once they hit the main trail. If the riders headed in the direction from which the outlaws came, they could probably follow the path the men had blazed. That path would lead them back to the main trail for sure. First however, Jimmy and Lou had to get the deceased strapped across their animals backs. Two of the bandits would have to share a horse. Lou was taking Lightning back!

   Once the outlaws were securely tied on, Jimmy tied one of the horses behind his. Then he tied the other one behind Lightning. The army could take the time to give the men a burial. In fact, the army would probably have to come back for the other gang members that had been killed during the first battle. Jimmy doubted the other gang members had the courtesy to do it. Although, the thought of having to ride with the dead wasn't thrilling, the riders didn't have the equipment to bury the men. Even though the men were criminals, they deserved a decent burial. It was the army's obligation, in the riders' opinions.

   As they began their quest to find the main trail, Jimmy turned and looked at his companion. "You know Lou," Jimmy began as he watched her reach down and pet Lightning's neck. "We make an exceptional team."

   "You've just now figured that out?" Lou threw back teasingly.

   "Why does that phrase sound so familiar?" Jimmy interrogated. Although at one point Jimmy considered this trip to be an all out disaster, there were parts of it he enjoyed very much. Kissing Lou for one. Everything had worked out all right in the end. Lou had gotten Lightning back, and they had grown even closer! Life was funny.

Life's Little Ironies

Four Weeks Later.....

   "Senator, this letter came for you today," his secretary announced as she handed him the letter and left the room. As he read the letter the Senator took a brief moment to grieve for his brother. It seems his baby brother was killed in the line of duty a few days ago. How very ironic it was for a person to die after just receiving an inheritance from a deceased relative. Well, that's what the army life brings a man. Certain death. "Guess the good really do die young," the Senator exclaimed in extreme amusement.

   The note Senator O'Reilly received brought more good news to him. See, although his gang had failed to get what he wanted when he wanted it, the Senator was still going to get the money. Being the only kin his brother had left, the inheritance now became rightfully his. His brother had never had a will drawn up, so no one could prevent the Senator from claiming it. Even better, the gang he had sent after the riders were all dead, and no one suspected Senator O'Reilly had anything to do with it! Just common thieves is what everyone thought. Life was grand. Truly grand.

   Oh come on. The good guys can't always win ;)