Born of Dust and Fire

uiet in the air that defied the quiet rhythm of his life. For years, Old Joe Harrington had drilled into him the sacred code: to eschew conflict was the highest offense agai

urrents without ever encounterin

nst a lashing rope_ Jack felt exposed, misunderstood. The mirth around him was unsettling, a peculiar blend of ridicule and pity. Though the intent behind it was not overt

o convey camaraderie and to buoy his spirits. But Jack recoiled as though stung by the touch of a serpent; his instincts, hon

mean no harm. See that tall man over there? He's riled to the quick_ and

lt, "Look here, partner, this is the man I said could nail the four dollars b

Best send him back to his ma before someone gets a chance to proper mess him

ough like the crack of a whip. "Stranger, I've still got somewhere around five hundred dollars in that c

ignore the sting of humiliation from the memory of that formidable rider who had dared to commandeer Bushy Fury. The mem

avado. "I ain't got time to guess what you're thinkin', stranger. And let me tell

g through the murmurs like a blade through soft leather. "You're plumb loco if you t

elf! If this feller wants to donate a little more to charity, let

llenge, interjected, "Make him give

ggestion, and soon the air was laden with a hu

lared, "You can see I'm not packing any shootin' irons," r

cs of a bygone era. The very air thrummed with the potential for violence, yet there was an unspoken reverence for the miracle that was about to unfold. One by one,

l. "Nice gun," he murmured, "but that barrel's

piece, bristled, "What d'you mean? I'v

passed it along, "I'm sorry, but a to

an's weapon was examined and swiftly returned. "Cylinder's too tight," Jack pronounced wit

udgment. Jack met his gaze with gentle surprise and explained quietly, "You see, a gun must be handled like a living creature_

"Ted," he grumbled to his friend Danny, who stood nearby, "what do you reckon he meant by

"I don't know. He seems queer_ di

graceful, almost balletic practice routine. He twirled the weapons, testing their actions, the sound of metal and the quiet click of the mechanisms a pr

arms steady and his smile enigmatic, as if sharing a private secret with the

ack replied, his voice

" Grinder pressed, unab

ight," came the

ook at my hand!" as he gestured toward the unyielding stilln

he cautioned, "I've got nearly everything I own staked on

_ a quartet of silver promises of fate and f

led the coins into the air. They spun in a rapid, dizzying danced_ a fleeting constellation of glinting orbs, each propelled high so that J

: one coin failed to reach its zenith, a faint "cling!" marking its defiant spiral away from the others. Two more shots blended almost in unison, sending two dollars streaking away in a blur of brilliance. As a final coin dipped perilo

e emerging as the first sound after the explosive

termined as they dove into the dust. Each chipped coin, marked with neat, round holes, promised to settle the matter of truth_ a truth that might make a fool of

ers, his movements measured and reverent. One man grasped his weapon carelessly in his haste, still entangled in the

ft murmur as he handed back each piece. "An

her in a glass case at home. One day, when my grandchildren are old e

haking his head with a wry sm

bserver now of the wild human danced unfolding before him. Suddenly, the air burst with a torrent of curses, exclamations, a

ice tinged with horror. "It wasn't hu

was a mere child! That's the closest I've come to an undeserved grave, and I've had my share of clo

d. "A woman might shoot at a target, but it takes a cold n

f guard, so he forgets himself. He handles a common six-gun

u're ready, and the rest of us will follow as I said. I'm l

edly down the road. "I'm not leaving

wpunchers. "Who's the girl

reply. "That's Ellie Ha

marked appreciatively. "She

graceful, almost balletic motion, she swayed with the sudden motion until her mount came to a abrupt halt_ the same abruptness that cou

r eyes shining with a lively, untamed spirit. "Shall I tie yo

in gentle refusal, her gaze lingered on Danny' handsome face_ a moment of silent, unspoken admiration that startled bot

edge of incredulity, "You told my father

nervously around the armed circle. His gaze fell on the imposing figures of Jim Case, Will Durov, and especiall

ct, it'd take a ten-man job to confiscate all these s

ng feat. "How did he come here?" she inquired sof

laugh, "he's all right. He just pulled one of t

began, only to pause and blush furious

th haunted and defined by his own promises. Surrounded by men armed not just with guns but with the weight of their own convictions, Jack stood a

" Ellie asked gently, shifting the foc

le," offered Ted Danny with a determined glint in h

lingered too long on his face, coloring his usually stoic demeanor. "Mis

of the Eastern school and the raw, instinctual spirit of the We

ccess in corralling the armed weapons, interjected, "Alright, stranger, if y

the arms were collected, stowed

f in a ritual of trust and grudging respect, he drew his guns and presented them to Danny. His eyes then shifted, lan

re moment of personal vexation. Meanwhile, Jack, ever the enigmatic figure, was swept into the welcoming chaos of the saloon by an influx of cowpunch