Forsaken Page #4

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went in the saloon for a drink.

Two men come up on me looking

for a fight, so I gave it to 'em.

Cut one of 'em up pretty bad,

outdrew on the other.

Told him to pick up his partner and get.

All I had to do was leave that town.

But I didn't.

I waited.

Daring 'em to come after me.

And sure enough...

when I walked outside those two

young men started firing on me.

Shot out my horse.

I drew my pistol. I fired back.

I killed them.

Killed them both.

In the middle of all of it

one of my shots went wide,

straight through a storefront window.

Woman came out screaming,

covered in blood.

First I thought I'd shot her.

Then her husband come out...

carrying a little boy.

I killed a boy, Pop.

He looked to be the same age as William.

He just lay there dead 'cause of what

I'd done. Just like William did.

William didn't die because of you.

You're not responsible for your brother...

You told me not to take him

down to the river.

I told both of you.

You were boys doing what boys do.

It was an accident.

Tragic, but an accident.

I often think about what my brother

would've grown up to be.

Now I can't stop thinking about

what that little boy from Norton

would've grown up to be.

The only thing I know

that's true in my heart

is that both of those boys would've

grown up to be a far cry better than me.

Pa, I'm so sorry for what I've become.

Charlie, Charlie.

Go on, stay inside.

Might I have a word with you, ma'am?

We have no business

that I know of, Mr. McCurdy.

That you know of.

Your husband and I have spoken

about him selling his farm.

Well, I'd be surprised if my husband

entertained such an idea.

Well, ma'am, if that surprises you,

you'll be dumbstruck to learn

he's agreed to the sale of the property.

I don't believe you.

Well, that's of little concern to me,

being as he's the title holder.

I want you off my land.

And you have every right to do so...

for another...

32 hours and 18 minutes.

And if we're still here?

Then I'd start looking for a black dress.

Let's go.

McCurdy wants our land.

You should be speaking with your husband.

I'm speaking to you.

Tom made a deal with McCurdy

and now he's changed his mind.

Mary Alice, you need to go home

and speak with your husband.

He's gonna get himself killed.

I don't want that for my boy.

You know why he's doing this.

To prove that he's as good as you are.

Mary Alice, I've seen this before

and it only ends one way.

You wanna save your family?

You take what McCurdy's offering

and you move away. You understand me?

You move away.

Excuse me, Mr. McCurdy?

Reverend's here. He wants a word with you.

Did he say what it's about?

- Tom Watson.

- I should've known. Show him in.

You're to leave the Watsons alone, James.

You sure do have

a repetitive nature, Samuel.

- I mean it.

- Mean what?

What are you gonna do if I don't?

Command the Lord to strike me

dead with a lightning bolt?

We were friends.

I'm asking you...

stop doing what you're doing

to Tom Watson.

Tom Watson shook my hand

and agreed to a deal.

- He's not going to leave.

- He will.

One way or another, he will.

You did what? No!

What are you...

what are you shaking your head at?

A damn fool, Frank.

You did the one thing that will bring

John Henry Clayton into this.

- Pa!

- In the back.

- How is he?

- I don't know yet.

Pa.

John Henry.

How is he?

Well, the blade missed any vital organs,

but he did lose a fair amount of blood.

- We'll know more in the morning.

- I wanna see him.

He's not conscious.

I just wanna sit with him.

Don't you even think

of leaving me, old man.

Not now.

Not after everything we've come through.

- I'll get the doc.

- No. Listen to me, son.

I have to tell you something.

I was wrong.

I was wrong about you,

and I was wrong about me.

That big fella,

I would've killed him if I could've.

I would've killed all of them.

You and me...

we are the same blood.

I'm filled with fear, John Henry.

- You're gonna be fine, Pop.

- No, no, not for me.

I'm fearful I'm gonna lose you.

I can see what's in your eyes.

- Then you know what I gotta do.

- You don't have to do anything.

But we both know I will.

I'll get the doc.

John Henry Clayton, you stop.

John Henry, please.

Please...

for me...

don't.

This ain't gonna end, Pa,

till someone ends it.

Not you. It doesn't have to be you.

It's time I did something right

in my life.

This is what I know how to do.

Mr. Parsons, is that a LeMat?

Yes, sir.

I... bought it off a fella

about a month ago.

She's a real beauty, ain't she?

Nine shots in a 10 gauge shotgun barrel.

And I can let you

have it for a fair price.

Or you can just borrow it.

I suspect you're the one

they call Little Ned?

That's right.

All you young 'uns who ain't willing to die

today, I suggest you unarm yourselves and get.

Stay where you are, boys.

Goddamn you.

F***!

Mouth getting dry, Frank?

You offering to buy me a drink?

John Henry.

Whatever happens next,

I want you to know I did not sanction

that cowardly act against your father.

Personally, I found their actions damnable

and deserving of the fate

you brought upon them.

Then you'll be leaving?

Can't do that.

No one hires a gunman

who runs from trouble.

You don't have to run, Dave. You can walk.

The terms of my employment

would not allow me to do that.

This here LeMat's mighty heavy.

Puts me at a disadvantage.

What would you suggest?

Would you be kind enough to let me go

back inside and retrieve myself a Colt?

Thank you.

My friend, you are no longer employed.

It would appear you are correct.

It's been a pleasure knowing you, Dave.

I'm all right, Pa.

It's not gonna take long for word to

get out on what happened here today.

Men from far and wide are gonna come looking

for me to make a name for themselves.

Don't go away.

I can't finish the field on my own.

The field's finished, Pa. I seeded it.

It'll take care of itself.

I gotta go.

You're not going for

another 10 years, are you?

No, I promise. See you soon, Pa.

Little is known of him after that.

Some say he drifted down to Coffeeville

where he was involved

in another altercation

a few years later.

But those accusations were never proven.

The common view was he moved

westward under a different name,

where he lived a life of quiet isolation.

What is known is that when

Mary Alice died a few years later,

he did not attend her funeral.

However, many say the following day,

a faded red ribbon was found

attached to her headstone.

Others in Fowler recounted stories

of seeing him throughout the years

up until his father's death,

at which time he came no more.

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