21
Ataru's Bad Luck
The two men took Ataru completely by surprise. One minute he was riding along, his thoughts on Kaoru, and the next he was lying in the dirt with a bullet in his back.
Eyes closed, he fought off the blackness that hovered around him as he listened to the two bushwhackers close in on him. From their conversation, he could tell they were both drunk, and very pleased with their kill.
Only their quarry wasn't dead. Not yet.
He waited until he heard the creak of saddle leather, indicating they were dismounting to rifle his clothes, and then he rolled over, palmed his gun, and shot them both where they stood.
The exertion sent him tumbling into a deep, black void.
It was nearly night when he regained consciousness. His wound had stopped bleeding and he stood up slowly, his hand pressed to his back. Damn, but it hurt like sin.
Moving like an old man, he walked toward the two dead men and flipped them other. He recognized them both from the wanteds, two of the most sought-after men on this side of the territory, for a variety of crimes, mostly robbery and murder.
He swore under his breath as he grabbed hold of his horse's reins and tried to pull himself onto its back. Lying across the animal's neck, he urged the horse forward in the direction of Iyo, hoping he would make it to the town before he passed out again.
For the first time, it occurred to him that he might die. He wondered if Kaoru would care…