Between Heartbeats

by Phyllis


Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

I can’t believe I let Jake talk me into this. Of all the hair-brained, stupid ideas, this one takes the cake. I told him I’d already scouted this town out; the peacekeepers here made the risks too great. But does he listen to me? Hell, no. Son of a bitch thinks he knows better, we can take on their seven guns with our five. Okay, four men and a half-wit, cause that’s what Lonnie is. And I told Jake that, don’t care of they are cousins.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Yeah, well. Serves ya right, you dumb, mule-headed son of whore. Ya’re laying in the dust, dead now. Same as all of us. Dead. Or dying. Might ‘a worked a deal with that fella’ in black. But nooo, you had to go and start shooting up the town. All ya did was wing that kid and piss the rest of ‘em off. Thought that mustached fella’ was gonna run straight in the bank and blow us to kingdom come and back.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Guess you figured that while he was distracted after the boy called ‘im back that it’d be a good time to make a run to the horses. But the longhaired one… you know…the one I warned ya about…the one that they say can shoot the fly as a buffalo’s ass at a hund’rd yards…he was ready. Hell, you probably never even felt that slug, did ya? Died too easy to my reckonin’.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Why don’t one of you fellas help me up? Ain’t right to leave a man lay in the dust. A nice jail cell’s got ta beat sprawled on the street in the noonday sun.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Hey, boy. Give me a hand up, would ya? What’s that look for? Damn son, turn around ‘fore ya toss yo’re breakfast on me. Yeah, mister, get that kid away from me. Ya think the whelp ain’t never seen a man bleed a’fore. Guess I’m bleeding. Don’t hurt. Must not be hurt that bad.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Hey, mister fancy pants. How ‘bout helping a fella out? I’d toss ya hand if you ‘s the one laying here. Yeah, you dust yourself off; smooth that fancy red coat out. Just ignore a man’s plea for a little human compassion. That’s it. Just walk off. Wouldn’t want ya to spoil them dil-e-cat hands on the likes of me.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Texan, ain’t ya? Yeah, heared you was a wanted man. Where you give off looking down yo’r nose at me? That the rifle you killed Jake and the others with?

Larabee. That’s you right? Dressed in black. Eyes as dead as Jake’s. No, that’s not true. Eyes ain’t dead, just hard. Hell, mister, that’s close enough. Don’t be squatting down next to me if ya ain’t plannin’ to help me up. I ain’t some piece of dirt to be stared at and studied. Who ya hollering at? Oh, the healer? Yeah, call ‘im over here. Bet he’ll give me a helping hand. Yeah, that’s right. You two can just walk away. The darkie can help me. Hmm, best watch my mouth. Don’t want to piss off a man that’ll be digging a bullet out ‘a my hide.

Thump-thump.

‘bout time you showed up. I could ‘a died waiting on ya. How’s it look, doc? Can ya fix me up? Who ya looking at? Oh, the preacher fella.

What? What’d cha say? No. no, don’t leave me. It ain’t that bad. Can’t you do something? Anything?

Thump-thump.

No, wait, preacher. What? But I ain’t Catholic.

Thump

Hell, preacher. I don’t wanna die.

Thump

Please

Thump

Ya don’t even know my name.

Thump

Virgil. Name’s Virgil

Thump

Virgil

What’s that, son?

Virgil

Virgil. I commend thee into the Lord’s hands now, Virgil.

Thu…