Texas, 1889
Over a steep rocky hill, sitting alone, aloof in the silent valley the old dilapidated chapel sat. Witness to wild cowboy shootouts, the perils of gold-crazed explorers, and some breathtaking sunsets, it was in the eyes of many a place of historical heritage. Before it used to be the old cemetery servicing the entirety of the steeldowns county. However, when the desecrating of gold-digging grave robbers became too much to bear, the place was shut down and most of the tombs relocated. Now the chapel sat alone, with the yard empty and ramshackle, and accompanied only by the shining light of the giant moon of the dessert, and the occasional howling of a lone coyote. The privilege position of the chapel allowed it a perfect overlook of the rio bravo, and the Mexican side. And up north, ahead in the distance, passing the immense dessert of cacti and tumbleweed, the old town known as Castlerock extended far, right below the giant red boulder the town was named after.
This however was an afternoon like no other. As the sun set far in the sandy horizon, the peace of the old and quiet valley was disturbed by the thundering galloping of horses, followed by an occasional gunshot. A group of outlaws were being chased by the sheriff and his officers, who did not spare bullets when it came to a horse chase. The outlaws were heading for the chapel, trying to get the advantage of altitude, and the privilege of an eagle view, the outlaws knew that making the run for Mexico was suicide, as the sheriff’s horses were faster, and they were almost about to catch up, so using the only advantage they had, they had decided the best was to quarter themselves in the old chapel, and fight from there.
One of the outlaws, a scrawny and bony hick, sped his horse up to catch up to the leader of the caravan, who was riding fast, and in the middle of the shots, and the loud galloping began striking conversation.
“How we doing’ chuck?” -He asked.
“Well, you know just out here having me some hog-killing time as you can tell.” -He answered ironically.
“We gonna cross over to “Los Mexicos.”?” -He asked again with a persistent tone.
“Heck no boy! You fixing to get us killed? Or worse yet, caught! Nah, we gonna get our pretty little selves up there to that church, and fight these yacky laws like Kilkenny cats. Plus, we ain’t ones to coward away from a half-way decent brush.” -The leader answered assuredly.
“Nohow! That’s absurd! We outmanned!” -He protested.
“Well I’ll take my chances, so far I don’t hear no better plan, so we doing it.”
“We’ll be cornering ourselves up there, with no escape! What if your plan don’t work!?” -The scrawny man asked worriedly.
“Then this whole thing is gonna be fat in the fire! What’s wrong Miss Nancy you scared?” -The leader joked.
“Oh man this whole thing is balls!” -The scrawny man exclaimed one last time, as they continued to ride the horses to up to the top of the hill.
The outlaws were four in total. After them, there were the sheriff and his three marshals plus five more officers from the neighboring county. The gang led by the now infamous train-robber turned murderer Chuck mad dog Grady, had been given the honorary title of the most dangerous gang of robbers in the whole of Texas. All of them wanted in six different counties, with rewards on their lives as high as five-thousand dollars each. They had all gained an almost legendary and superstitious reputation, they seemed invincible, impossible to catch, and there plenty of both bounty hunters, and officers of the court that wanted a piece on such high rewards. But mad dog wasn’t gonna go down so easy, not knowing they had nothing to lose, and he rather die in action than hung on a tree.
When the gang got to the top of the hill, they were quick to dismount, and began shooting back at the officers who tried to take cover behind old forsaken tombstones, rocks, or anything they could find. In the midst of the gunfight, some of the horses fled in panic, others remained there loyally giving cover to their thieving masters. As fate will have it, mad dog noticed a lonesome and terrified woman, hiding behind a solitary tombstone, the woman was ducked, trying to avoid the flying of bullets. Without hesitation, or the slightest show of compassion, or honor, mad dog grabbed her arm, and yanking it forced her to stand up. He forced her to stand in front of him, and placed his revolver on her head, now seeing as though the mad dog had a human shield, the officers were more reluctant to keep firing, so the sheriff began to negotiate:
“Mr. Gravy, you have nowhere to go! You folks are surrounded! Now let’s not make this any more messier than it needs to get, let the young lady go, and turn yourself in!” -The sheriff commanded.
“Now exactly what is the difference if I surrender than if you people kill me here and now? in the end is all the same. Now I don’t know about you very honorable people, but I rather not die hanging out there as you all watch me. I rather die fighting, or who know? Maybe fight my way outta this one!” -Chuck answered defiantly.
“Stop putting innocent lives in danger, and we will take you and your bunch in alive!” -The Sheriff said
“Fine sheriff you touched my heart. We’ll surrender!” Chuck answered.
“Really?” -The sheriff asked naively.
“Sure, come here and get me!” -He said again while clenching harder to the girl, who at this point was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
“He’s lyin’ like a rug that damn crook, don’t you buy into his bluff.” -One of the marshals advised the sheriff.
“Now, how do I know that you’re not just gonna blow my brains out if I go over there to apprehend you?” -The sheriff asked.
“Boy you all sure are a dumb lot, aren’t you?” -Chuck asked defiantly. –“Well, you folks go ahead make yourselves comfortable out here, ‘cause we’re going inside. Plus, I hear is pretty cozy out here at night, with the coyotes and all.” -He concluded before dragging the lady inside the chapel, as he was escorted by the rest of the gang.
“Alright you boys make sure to barricade any entrance, windows, or anywhere they could use to come through here.” -Chuck commanded his gang as he threw the girl on to the floor.
“That doggone bottom-feeding sheriff thinks we gon’ surrender! But what do we say to people like that boys?! -Chuck said waiting for a response.
“You can kiss Chuck’s hairy ass!” -Everyone said at unison.
“Doggone right!” -He concluded.
“Damn them all!” -The scrawny outlaw yelled enthusiastically not awakening any passion in his peers, and making it all awkward.
“Bill you’re a dude! This is the rough frontier, people are gonna shoot at you, get over it.! And where are your manners anyways? Don’t you see we have a lady with us? Don’t cuss.” -Chuck said in response to the scrawny outlaw’s enthusiastic remark.
“Speaking of which, does anybody know who this greaser is?” -Chuck asked the bunch as he referred to the poor Mexican lady who was still on the ground sobbing.
“What’s your name woman?” said one of the tallest outlaws as he put his revolver on the already panicking woman’s head.
“Now, now Tom, you ain’t gonna do shit, so put your gun away, besides we wouldn’t want such prettiness to go to waste like that would we?” Chuck dared his partners in crime.
“So, what is your name young lady?” -Chuck asked in a whispering tone of voice as he got on one knee and lean forward towards the terrified woman”
“Señor por favor no me lastime!” -The young lady said between sobs and tears.
“Ah, crap!” -Everyone replied at unison.
“Ted, I reckon you’re the only one here who speaks Mexican right?” -Chuck asked annoyed.
“I don’t speak it, all I know is: Buenos dias, and Buenos nachos!” -Ted who was the fattest of the outlaws replied.
“Ted you’re a tard!” -Chuck continued. “It’s pronounced niches. But I reckon that you at least can understand what she is saying.”
“Yeah I can try.” -Ted replied nervously.
“Asked her what she was doin’ out here.” Chuck commanded.
“What were you doing out here?” -Ted repeated obediently.
“Goddamnit Ted, in Spanish!” -Chuck said annoyedly.
“I told you I don’t speak no beaner!” -Ted replied angrily
“It’s ok Señor I can understand you…” The woman said with a now calmer tone of voice, as Chuck and the rest seemed startled to hear her talking in English.
“I was visiting the tomb of my husband.” -She concluded.
“Bullshit, this cemetery is abandoned, there are no tombs left here, they were all moved to the chapel by the Oxhill pass.” -Chuck replied.
“Not my husband, we didn’t have money to move him, so his the only one left here.” -She replied with the sad melancholic eyes of a true widow.
“Alright well my condolences ma’am. I reckon this all might seem… ugly. You may have to forgive my friends they’re not alright in the upper story, as I’m sure you had already notice. But I give you my word…”
“Esperanza.” -She replied.
“I give you my word Esperanza, that if you cooperate, everything is gonna be alright, and me and my fine crew will let you go as soon as all of this is over.” -Chuck reassured her.
“And what is the value of your word, mad dog?” -She asked daringly, which threw Chuck off a bit. So, he simply stood up, and walk away to inspect the barricading of the windows. He walked up to Bill, who was uselessly standing guard in front of a semi-barricaded window.
“What she said?” -Bill asked.
“Not much. But I don’t know why, I feel like I know her from some place else, I just can’t remember where from though.”
“Listen boss, if it’s alright with you and all, given that we may not come out of this one alive, do you mind if I get a moment with the lady. I mean we can take turns if you like, you can even go first if that’s…” -Bill proposed.
“Christ Bill! If I ever had the misfortune of seeing you unshucked, I’ll die from all the vomiting.” -Chuck replied with disgust on his face.
“So, it’s that a no?” -Bill insisted, as chuck simply walked away.
Suddenly, loud screams, and gunshots were heard outside, it was already dusk, and the sheriff and his marshals were still outside. As the gunshots were heard, most of the outlaws ducked, and unholstered their pistols. However, it didn’t take long for them to notice that the officers were not shooting at the chapel, it seemed as if they were shooting at each other. In the midst of screams, and laments of agony, some kind of battle ensued outside of the chapel, oblivious, and with limited visibility, the outlaws remained still as the world seemed to be ending outside those four walls. Then, complete silence, they could hear as some of the men seemed to be running away screaming in terror.
“What the hell was that boss?” -Ted asked. But he was met with a loud shsss even by Esperanza herself, who was now sitting on a corner.
“What was they shooting at?” -Bill asked.
“Not us!” -Chuck replied.
“You think they just trying to fool us, maybe to lure us out, make us believe that they’re gone, and we’re safe just to catch us once we come out? -Tom speculated.
“Now that is the more sense you have ever made in your entire life Tom.” Chuck replied. – “So why don’t you go check?”
“Me?” -Tom asked flustered.
“Yeah you!” -Chuck replied.
“I’m a big ol' target, they’ll see me. Send Bill instead, he’s sneakier, and less important.” -He retorted.
“Tom stop arguing with me and get your ass out there!” -Chuck commanded.
Then Tom after gulping loudly, and arming himself with courage, began to hesitantly walked towards the barricaded door. He moved the old broken piano that they have used to block the entrance, and then opened the door timidly. He slowly peeked outside, and right away closed it, and put his head back inside.
“What is it? what did you see?” -Bill asked nervously.
“I’m not sure.” Tom replied.
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