Wade: A short story

The west was hard for most men: The rugged terrain and hot sun blazing down without mercy; but not for wade, he was just hard, plain hard to the core. Wade never cared about nothing; no family, no women , and no cause. Wade was never one to join anything or give a damn about company, he liked being alone and he loved the trail. He loved a good cup of black coffee over a fire and piece of salt covered jerky. Wade loved his pipe, and a good drink of whiskey and he didn`t mind makin his livin killin men.

He was on his way to Yuma to find some dude that was in the way of some cattle baron`s waterin hole. What did he give damn about cattle or expanding the west; but hell ,there was money in it for wade in the form of getting rid of problems. He laid down that night, drank his last sup of wiskey, and put his pipe out; tomorrow was gonna be a long ride.

The next mornin wade loaded up his pack horse lit his pipe and hit the trail. Wade had killed some 13 men as best folks could remember, and this one had a good price on his head. The cattle baron told wade he`d pay $5000 to see this man dead; $2500 up front and the other half when the job was done. Hell ,Wade could retire after this one.

Wade rode in to the outskirts of Yuma that evenin, he wasn`t much for bein seen, he kinda liked layin low in a new town with a job that needed doin; his kinda work didn`t need no extra attention. Wade spent the next two days scoutin out the dudes place; learnin his habits and lookin for his chance to take care a things. Wade noticed the dude went out to the back side of the barn every morning about 6am. It looked to wade like a grave site from where he was watchin but he couldn`t quite tell. Wade decide to make his move the next morning, he`d be awaitin for the dude just behind the barn in an old brush pile.

Wade was fast as lighnin with his colt and always liked to give the man he was killin a chance to draw. Wade told a feller one time it kinda made things right in his mind after it was done. The one thing on this job that was dif`rnt was this was a family man and Wade was more use t`a killin trail bums, gunfighters, an cowboys. Wade didn`t much care tho cuz this one was payin enough to let him retire.

Wade saw the dude comin out to the grave site bout quarter ta six that morning; he waited till the dude got bout 20 paces from the grave and wade jumped out, stood up straight, and looked him dead in the eye. The dude froze, lookin damn scared and said “ can I help ya mister?” Wade answered back and said “ sorry to tell ya friend, your in the way a progress and I gotta get ya outta the way”. The dude stood and looked at wade for what seemed like hours; he knew he had to draw, but all he could think of was his young son.

What wade didn`t know was that he lost his wife a few weeks back when the baron sent out some cowboys to take care of business; seems one of the men made a mistake and shot the dudes wife instead. They`er boy was all the dude had left ta live fur. Now here he was ……starring straight down the barrel of colt 45 and no chance a getting out of it without a fight.

BANG!!………the sound of a gun blazed through the early morning air……..and suddenly Wade tilted over and fell to the ground. The dude stood shocked and froze in his tracks; who…what….suddenly he heard a voice say: “ paw….are you ok?” The dude swung around and there was his boy standin there with a Winchester lowered down. They ran to each other and dropped the iron they both held, they embraced, it was over, the stranger was dead.

I been a sheriff in Yuma for 20 years all told. I seen a lot a bad men come and go. I aint never heard a Wade before he come through, but I learnt his story from others who knew him. The one thing an outlaw with a fast gun better never under-estimate in these parts; is the love of a family, the love between father and a son. That young boy took down one of the meanest SOB`s these parts has ever known, love knows no fear and love will stand up to all things. love will rule the day.