Sometimes you sit and wonder why you do what you do for the small town you one day stumbled across
Sometimes you sit and wonder why you do what you do for the small town you now call home. You know that the pay isn't enough for what you are doing, but you greatly accept each duty that comes your way, whether it pays one penny or five dollars. Is it really worth getting shot at? Is it worth the feeling of hot bullets brushing by your skin, nicking your flesh as the ammunition ricochets towards you? You don't even hesitate to answer. It is very worth it.
Not only are you helping out the innocent bystanders in Four Corners, but you have made a wonderful circle of friends. You don't admit it out loud that you consider the six other men your buddies, but deep down it is implied. You trust each of them with your life, and wouldn't go into any form of battle without them. Each man in the gang contributes his own personal talent, from a quick draw from the right holster on your hip, to the pinpoint accuracy of a knife thrown at a far distance.
Nights get lonely as you wait patiently in hiding, scouting out renegade Indians and outlaws that are making a threat on Four Corners. You can't remember the last time you had a full night's sleep as exhaustion overtakes your mind. You dread the hot days where the sun seems so close to your backside that you could reach out and touch it with your fingertips.
The smooth grip of your Colt forty-five handgun gives you a sense of security. You say a silent prayer, hoping that the ride away from town will not be your last. An eerie feeling settles into the pit of your stomach and you hope your instincts won't fail you. One slip of a trigger or a wrong decision marks a bad day, and a bad day in this line of work means a comrade dies.
All of the negative feelings fade when you point your horse north and see Four Corners on the horizon. You see kids run free up and down the narrow, dusty streets. Their laughter floods your eardrums and you know what you are doing is worthwhile. You are an unsung hero. A local celebrity in a town full of average citizens wanting to make a better life for themselves.
The next time someone asks you if it is worth it, you nod your head, tip your hat brim and say, "I wouldn't have it any other way."