Just a few changes to the background. Colton grew up with Ned in the Rocky's but they lived in Dodge with Sadie during the winter months. Therefore he views Sadie as a mother figure. Other changes will be unveiled in later chapters, so be patient.
Colton White's fingertips brushed the railing of the Morning Star, his ears picking out the faint sound of Ned White talking to Sadie Jennings in the cabin. He allowed a slight grin to appear on his tanned and bristly face as he remembered all that the Dodge City whore had done for him and Ned over the years of their acquaintance. The woman had been something of a surrogate mother him as he had grown from the little child he'd been when they first met, and he would go to her with problems he couldn't take to Ned. Colton's memories faded back into the real world as he sensed something very wrong about a person who was approaching.
"A glorious bounty, my son." The man was not particularly tall, but he was well built. While he wore the vestige of a preacher, there was a great amount of dirt under his nails, his hair and beard were greasy and unkempt, and there were traces of some dark substance that flecked the greatcoat he wore.
"Truly the Lord has blessed you as a talented marksman." His voice was rough and unpleasant to the ear, and Colton could see bits of the mans last meal in his teeth. But despite his misgivings he still answered politely as possible, just as Sadie had taught him.
"I do alright, preacher." He responded. The Reverend patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll rest easy tonight knowing one so capable as you is among us." It was just then that Ned and Sadie came out of the cabin. Sadie gave Ned a quick kiss before walking up toward the front of the boat. The preacher glanced back and forth between Colton and Ned for a moment before bowing slightly.
"Good day to you, sirs." He said before walking past them and following Sadie. Colton watched the mans back for a moment before turning to Ned.
"If that's a man of the cloth then I'm the king of Siam." Ned nodded in agreement.
"Keep an eye on him, I'm gonna have a word with the pilot." Colton glanced at Ned for a moment before following the reverend. He reached the railing of the upper deck and glanced down at where Sadie was standing, talking with the preacher. He turned to the stairs and had taken only a few steps when he heard a slap, then running footsteps which he quickly identified as belonging to Sadie. Then he heard the preachers voice as he broke into and run and charged down the stairs.
"Thy will be done!" He reached the bottom step just in time to see the preacher throw the tomahawk in his hand. Time seemed to slow down as Colton watched the small ax tumble end over end until it embedded itself with a sickening crunch in the back of Sadie's head.
"NOW!" the preachers voice sparked a barrage of gunfire from the shore. Anyone foolish enough to be directly on deck in the first volley was cut down by the wave of lead. Colton managed to duck behind the stairs just in time. But after that things happened far too fast. He barely heard Ned's voice telling him to get up to the upper deck. But surprisingly, his mind cleared quickly. He raced up the stairs to get to the upper deck and sprinted to Ned's position.
"Son, we gotta find Sadie and get outta here." Colton pulled Ned back down.
"It's too late, that preacher killed her. Son of a bitch is leading the attack." Ned sank down to the deck at the news. The sight of Ned reduced to this tore at Coltons heart.
"Son, listen close cause there ain't much time. I've done my best to try and raise you right, but all your life I been lying to you." Colton flinched as the steamer shuddered beneath their feet. Ned stumbled slightly. "The boilers are gonna blow." He seized Coltons hand and pushed something into it. "Take this, it's a token to the Alhambra, a cathouse in Dodge City. Go there and ask for Jenny." Colton grabbed Ned elbow.
"I ain't leaving ya Pa!"
"God dammit it that's what I'm trying to tell ya." Ned grasped Colton's shirt front, get right in his face. "I ain't yer father, now GO!" With that Ned shoved Colton over the side of the steamer. Colton came up gasping for air. Looking up at the steamer he could see the sparks that would spell the steamers end.
"Pa, jump!" No response came as the boilers exploded, sending the nameplate of the Morning Star crashing down on Coltons head. Blackness engulfed him, and he knew no more.
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