Deals
The lightning was sharp, it forked across the angry sky. Thunder rumbled
deep and loud. Clouds rushed around above,bumping into each other,like bad dancers.
It was nearly nightfall. The storm had come up suddenly.
Johnny stood frozen for a moment in time. How many times had he
repeated this action? He could no longer remember. He stood there facing another
man with a gun, and a reputation. Who wonted to add a Madrid notch to his gun. The
man stood, tense, he nibbled his lower lip as he waited. He was a tall dark haired man
in his late twenties. He had ice blue eyes, that seemed to match the mans
personality. His slicker was held back over his left hip. Leaving his gun free.

The man who wonted to be only a Lancer stood. His fingers of his left hand
twitched, and rubbed his thumb. The only movement from him. He looked bored to
those who watched. But inside where he hid his feelings, there was the truth. No
one knew how he really felt when he faced down a man. Even his so called friends.
He had knots in his stomach, slight nausea. He wished he could be just Lancer. That
Madrid hadn't been born.

Outside he was cool, relaxed. Cocky even. He had a temper, it got him into a
lot of trouble, that without his gun,he might have not survived. He had that walk
that spoke confidence in himself,his ability. He had once believed that he had to live
for today only. He'd had nothing to call his own. Now he did.

The man looked at him, hearing the crowds mumbles. His eyes gave him away.
He drew and so did Johnny. The man was fast. He grabbed his head, as blood oozed
out between his fingers. His eyes getting glassy, as his sight started to fade,and his
knees to buckle, he saw Madrid grab his stomach. He would have smiled except he
was dead

Johnny grabbed his stomach, He had a hole in it, the bullet had gone in and
gone out his side. He saw the blood on his fingers. It spreading on his shirt. He
looked at the other man for a moment, in slow motion he moved to Barranca. He
pulled himself into the saddle. Turning his horse towards home. He didn't hear the
crowd who were settling the bets made. He rode on as the rain began to fall. Bright
light and lightning struck the spot where Johnny had stood,moments before.
He rode on home. The rain running down his head and into his face. He was
soaked to the skin. Red spotted Barrancas' neck. The horse moved on,his rider not
fully aware of his surroundings. A man stepped in front of the horse. At the sudden
stop the rider looked up. There stood a man, tall,pale and strange eyes. He was dry.
He moved to Johnnys side.
"Madrid, I heard you wonted to change the past. I can do that.For a price."
Johnny wiped at the rain in his face. He looked into the eyes, that were brown, no
blue,no they were green, or was it yellow? They kept changing colors, couldn't be he
thought.
"Get outta my way mister. I have to get home." He grimace
"Listen to me. Your thoughts were, I wish I could be just Lancer,that Madrid
had never been born. Isn't that right boy?"
"How do you know, what I was thinking? How come you aint wet?"The man
looked down at himself. Smiled.
"Well how about that. I will make a bargain with you. For a price, I'll give you
what you wont. It will be as though Johnny Lancer was always just that. No
Madrid,no hired gun. You will have grown up at home, with your brother and father.
Johnny thought I am more hurt than I thought. I'm seeing things. Well he
could agree, it was only in his feverish head. "Okay, mister. I would like to be
Lancer, and never Madrid. To live the life I should have had."
The man reached up and touched Johnny on the arm. Suddenly the sky was
spinning, and the ground was moving. He fell from his horse. He lay in the mud. Rain
pelting him, thunder rumbled in his ears. Lightning flashed before his eyes. But he
didn't know. He was out cold. Barranca stood by her owner,her reins dragging the ground. She nudged him, he lay motionless. They were alone.


Johnny rode out that morning, feeling like he had it all, and he did. A
home, family, and a girl. What more could a young man wont. He watched out
for his brother, who was to join him, today they were going to break some
horses. He sat by a large oak tree, waiting. He sat whiddling a stick. He was
lost in thought. His knief slipped,slicing his finger. He looked down at the blood
welling up. He gave his finger a shake. Threw the stick away. Put his knief back
in its holder. His thoughts turned to the past.
Six year old Johnny, with his face dirty, and the knee of one leg of his
pants torn. His yellow shirt, with grass stains. He stood straight. Looked at the
bull. "Well mister bull. I am going to show you, how a cowboy rides a bull. "
The bull looked at him. It snorted, and tossed his head. " You don't snort at me,
mister bull." He put one leg through the fence, and a voice stopped him.
"Johnny, get away from there." He turned to see his brother. Scott stood
there. His blond hair combed. His jeans, and blue shirt clean. His face looked
freshly washed. Johnny smiled.
"Why? " Scott walked over. He turned to look at the bull. When he did,
Johnny scooped up a big handful of mud. He grinned.
"Oh Scott." His brother turned. Johnnys' hand flashed. Scott started
turning red. Mud covered his face and shirt. He looked down at himself. Then
turned to his brother. Who looked innocent as anything.
"Why, I am going to......" Before he could finish, Johnny was off running.
With his brother right behind him. Scott ran around the barn, and closed the
distance between them. Johnny was still laughing. He dodged around a
haybale. To the bunkhouse, and in and out of it. Down to the house. Every now
and then Johnny would turn and yell at his brother. Scott was getting tired of
chasing his brother. Johnny fell over a log. He was looking back when it
happened. Scott reached down and lifted his brother up by the collar. Johnny
tackled him.
They fell to the ground, rolling. Scott tried pinning his brother, who
squirmed out of it. Then he tried to pin Scott. His smaller frame, sitting on his
brother. Scott reached up and started tickling him. He began to laugh, and fell
to the side. Scott moved on top of him and pinned him down. Held his arms
over his head.
"Okay,little brother, now you can't get away. Give up?"
"NO! " He squirmed some more. "Hi...Pa." Scott let go and turned. Johnny
grabbed him, shoved him over. He was up and running. Scott got up,dusting
himself off.
"You just wait till I get you. No more nice guy." He took off running.
Later that afternoon after lunch, and a change of clothes. Johnny was
at the pen again. He looked at the bull. Now mister bull we are going to have
our ride. He put his leg through the fence,and started walking towards the bull.
The bull looked at him, like he was loco. He walked up to the bull. He took the
rope he had and put it over the bulls head. The bull still hadn't moved. Except
to stomp the ground. Johnny smiled and jumped up and onto the bulls back.
The bull looked around at the boy. His eyes wild and start running and bucking.
Johnny, laughed. A moment later he was flying through the air. He landed
hard. His face hitting the dirt. He heard the bull and a voice yelling. Hands
reached and grabbed him. Pulling him up. He was dragged to the fence and
pushed through. Scott sat down beside his brother. He was breathing hard. He
turned and looked at his brother. Johnnys'nose was bleeding. He had a busted
lip. Hands scatched up.
"Johnny, you dummy. You know Pa said to stay away from that bull. You
could have gotten killed."
"I could handle him. I'm a cowboy."He wiped his nose on the back of his
sleeve. Scott pulled out a handkerchief and wipped at his brothers lip,and nose.
He looked at the bull and then back at his brother. "You sure you didn't break
something?"
"I'm fine, you wont tell Pa will ya?"
"No, I wont, you know that."
"Thanks. Lets go see if we can sneak some cookies. Maria was baking
some earlier. Then I thought we could put some molasses in the bunks in the
bunkhouse. Stick the coffee pot to the table...."
"Little brother, you are really a little devil aren't you? If Pa catches you..."
"How would he know it was me?" Said Johnny with devilment on his face.
He came back to the present when Scott rode up. Johnny
grinned at his brother. Scott seemed worried about something. He quickly
found out what.
"Johnny old man Whithers has been hiring guns. He is determined to take
our land. Pa figures he will make a move soon. Maybe we should hire some
too. Johnny shook his head.
"I think we should let the law handle it. Whithers knows he cant win in
court. Beside we have a lot of hands. He probably just wonts us to be scared."
"Hes doing it. One of line shacks has been burnt, and two men,beaten.
Some of our cattle stampeded. We have men quitting."
" We will fight him if we have to. We can hire more men."
"Who wonts to go up again hired guns?" Johnny frowned.
"Well I aint giving up. I'll go get Whithers." Scott shook his head.
"You can't do that. You'd be gunned down. You aren't that good or fast
with a gun."
"Well I have to do something. " Scott took a deep breath. Turning,he
pushed his hat up.
"That hot head of yours is going to get you into trouble." Johnny turned
to ride away.
"Where you going?"
"To town" He rode off, Scott in persuit.
Later in town, Johnny and Scott were in the cantina. Both were
having a beer. When in walked Tom Whithers. Son of old man Whithers. Johnny
turned and looked the young man in the eye. Tom looked back at him, and
sneared. He had two men with him.
"Well if it aint the Lancers. I thought I smelled something when I came in.
It was two skunks. " Johnny started to take a swing at Tom,Scott grabbed him.
He shook his head no. both brothers turned back to their beers.
"Yeah mister Whithers, I'm surprised they are in here. They hide on that
ranch they stole. Afraid of us. Maybe we should tar and feather them. Like the
chickens they are. Or maybe its turkeys. Johnny turned, anger evident on his
face.
"Thats it! He made a move for his gun. He had it half out of holster when
the other two men fired. He felt a burning in his shoulder. He heard a moan from
beside him. He turned, catching Scott as he fell.
Johnny sat holding his brother in his arms. Scotts'chest was covered in
blood. Johnny felt his heart torn from his chest. His hand shaking he touched his
brother. "Scott." His voice cracking. He held him close, looking into his
face.Scotts bluegrey eyes looked up into his. They were filled with pain. He
could almost feel the pain of his brother. He reached up and touched his face.
"Johnny, I hate to leave you little brother." His voice like a soft breeze.
"No, Scott, you....can't...leave...me. Its all my fault. If I hadn't try to draw
on them, you...."
"Its not your fault. They were looking for trouble. You are no match for their
guns. " Johnny hugged his brother, his tears falling onto his brothers face. He
rocked him,back and forth.
Scott was gasping for breath, and pain came in waves. He gripped his
brothers hand. He tried to smile. Johnny wonted to die with him. Scott reached
out and touched his face,brushing the tears.
Johnny looked up at the ceiling. His face showing the agony that
gripped him. "Oh God, not my brother. Take me. Please." He cried. "If only I
was able to beat them. If I had their ability with a gun. You wouldn't be lying
here. I wish I was one of them.........
Johnny opened his eyes, to a hand on his cheek. The rain had
stopped and it was night. Scott leaned over him and pulled him,holding him
against him. Johnny smiled. His brother....he had gotten his wish.
"What are you smiling at Johnny? You're hurt pretty bad,boy.Got to get
you home."He pulled his brother up,supporting him. He helped him onto
Barranca, and mounted behind him. Strong arms held him up. Johnny was
never so glad to see his brother,as he was right then.
"Just happy to see you brother. You know something? I don't think being
Johnny Madrid is so bad after all." He said. Scott looked over his shoulder at
him, surprised at this revelation.
"You are?"
"Yeah, I am glad to be just who I am. "
"So am I little brother,so am I."

The end