Chapter 3: Riders in the Dust
As the sun dipped lower, both camps prepared to leave.
Then the sound came.
Gunfire.
Real gunfire.
Not practice shots.
Three rapid cracks echoed from the northern ridge.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Every conversation stopped instantly.
The two rival leaders exchanged only a single glance.
No words were needed.
Both knew exactly what it meant.
Bandits.
A frightened ranch hand burst over the hill on horseback, his horse lathered with sweat.
"They're attacking Miller Ranch!" he gasped.
"Nearly twenty riders!"
"Women and children are still trapped inside!"
Every cowboy instinctively reached for his revolver.
Even Ethan.
The rivalry vanished as if it had never existed.
The older leader swung onto his horse.
"We settle our differences another day."
He looked toward the opposing camp.
"Today..."
"We ride together."
Within seconds, twenty-four horses thundered across the desert side by side.
The same men who had nearly killed each other an hour earlier now formed one long line beneath the blazing sky.
Dust exploded behind them.
The bandits never expected two rival gangs to arrive as one.
The battle was fierce.
Bullets shattered wagon wheels.
Horses screamed.
Smoke drifted through the ranch.
But every cowboy fought beside the man who had been his enemy only moments before.
During the chaos, Ethan spotted a masked outlaw aiming a rifle directly at the leader who had kicked him into the cactus.
Without thinking, Ethan spurred his horse forward.
"LOOK OUT!"
BANG!
Ethan fired first.
The outlaw's rifle flew from his hands.
The leader turned, surprised.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
May you like
No words.
Only respect.
