Okay folks, here's another story that I've been working on for awhile…hope you enjoy! Please read and review. Thanks!

Gunfighter Shock

Marshal Matt Dillon and his trusty deputy Festus Haggen rode out toward the old Dodge ghost town after the gang that had just robbed the bank in Dodge City. Festus expertly tracked the outlaws toward the old town, leaning over in the saddle as Ruth faithfully trotted along. Matt figured that the outlaws would ride straight through the old town as they made fast tracks to the border. Most outlaws wasted little time in their race to the freedom called Mexico, and he expected this time to be no different. Still, if there was one thing that he had learned in his years as a lawman, it was that it never hurt to be too cautious. As they neared the deserted town, Matt's eyes were everywhere, scanning the streets, the buildings, everything. He was only half-expecting an ambush, but became fully aware of one as a bullet screamed by the left side of his head and another kicked up the dust at his buckskin's feet. In an instant he and Festus were off their mounts and diving behind an old water trough that hadn't seen a horse's muzzle in years. They were on a cross-street, at the end of another street that T-ed into the one they rode in on. They had a clear line of sight down the street in front of them, but couldn't see where the shots had come from. Three more shots were fired at the duo, and Matt picked up on the positions of two gunmen. Slowly, Matt and Festus picked up the positions of the other gunmen. There seemed to be four in all, two on the street in front of them crouched behind old whiskey barrels. One was up in the balcony of a deserted hotel. Matt didn't have a clear line of fire to this one as the outlaw was fairly well sheltered by some old crates. The last outlaw was in an alley between an old saloon and general store, well sheltered by the saloon walls. More shots were fired, and Matt suddenly realized that they were pinned down, with seemingly no one else around for miles…