A fellow came up and scowled at me
darkly, I want you to know, he
said, I've taken out a "Bounty
On A Barkley."
I glanced at him with disdain, to me he was "The Man From
Nowhere," and I said Barkley's tough,
he's not gonna care.
My hunters have "Forty Rifles," and they ride on fresh mounts,
they're willing to pay "The Price
Of Victory," capturing their prey, to them is all that counts.
I said, you can chase him to "The Top Of The Stairs" and "Down
Shadow Street," but you won't
bring Barkley down, he'll stay on his feet.
He has a great bond with his kin, they share strong "Brother
Love," and you won't catch him
alone, no more than you would a dove.
In that case, the fellow said, pulling from his pocket a large
map, I believe it's time for me to set for
him "The Velvet Trap."
Oh no, I thought, for the first time fearing for Barkley's life,
and I said a short prayer that they
wouldn't use "Caeser's Wife."
What's he done, I asked, being a "Ladykiller" is surely not his
game?, no, he cheated me at poker,
and took "The Boots With My Father's Name."
Well, I said, you can chase him, but you won't get close enough to
take his measure, catching
Barkley will be like searching for a "Lost Treasure."
Tell him we'll see him on "Danger Road", and we'll wait for a
"Hunter's Moon," Tell Barkley for me,
we'll catch up to him real soon.
I left the man there, and ran for my steed, and on "The Long Ride"
to the ranch, I spurred my
horse to greater speed.
When I reached the ranch I saw Nick Barkley, his brothers at his
side, I dismounted and ran to tell
him why he must now fear for his hide.
I reached him and said, there's a bounty on your head, and I saw
his two brothers were watching
me with dread.
The younger one said, Boy Howdy, Nick, I told you to stop taunting
and baiting, now you'll
spend the rest of your life knowing "A Noose Is Waiting."
The other one said, Brother Nick, to stay here you mustn't dare,
I'll help all I can, but for now,
you'll have to be "A Stranger Everywhere."
Nick stood there, his hands on his hips, and I noticed the big
grin that now split his lips.
"Leave, huh? Is that a fact? I won't cause I know how to save the
day, I'm one of "The Good
Thieves," and I'll give the boots back. Heck, they don't fit me
anyway.
|
