I turned and looked at your husband. "Johnny," I said as I pulled my pistols and checked that they were alright."I ain't got time to guard you right now, I am going after Holmes. I need you to do something for me." I could see the fear in his eyes, but I had no choice. Time was running out.
"Uh, I ain't no good to nobody Marshal." He replied looking away. I reached out and slapped him hard.
"God Damn it Cardwell! Pull yourself together!" I shouted. "People are dying here and I need your help!" That seemed to get his attention. "I don't know what's happening out there or where Holmes is and I have got to find out! By the sounds of it, there is fighting all over town." I reached out and grabbed one of the rifles and handed it to him. "Take this and go home. Prissy and my," I barely caught myself, "...and the boy are there. Go to them, and shoot anyone that tries to come in the house!" He looked confused so I slapped him again. "Do understand me you son of a bitch?!?"
He took the rifle and turned. "Yeah, I understand." he said as he ran out the door. I took a deep breath and tried to push everything out of my head. I holstered both my pistols and grabbed one of the Winchester rifles. I picked up my hat and pulled it tight over my head. With one look back at Fingers, I stepped out into the street.
As soon as I did I heard a shot and the dirt next to my right boot exploded. I looked up and saw a shape on the roof in front of me. I brought up the rifle as I heard a second shot from my left. I pulled the trigger and heard the man on the roof scream as I jumped to my right and rolled behind the water trough. The water splashed from a third shot as I came up and put two shots from the rifle into a man across the street standing behind a post. As he fell back I heard the thud of the body from the roof hit the street. I didn't hear the shot that hit me. I just felt the bullet slam through my waist and spin me to the ground. I rolled back behind the trough for cover. "Whoo Hoo!" I heard a man yell. "I got the son of a whore!" I surely did!" I quickly looked down and saw the bullet had passed right through my side. I reached for my pistols as I heard running footsteps. A big bearded face appeared over the top of the trough with a wild smile showing a gap of missing teeth. The smile quickly dissappeared as he saw my pistols pointed strait at him. The he dissapeared as I pulled both triggers.
I stood up and looked around. A quiet seemed to have fallen over the town. Then I heard shouts and gunfire from down the street. I took off at a run.
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