The Wolf's Den was far from a peaceful place. Tammy was ready to tear Eli, Jess and everyone else involved in Raylan's rescue a new asshole. "Are you out of your fucking mind? Bringing him back here? Eli, bad enough you risked exposing our location, put our people's lives on the line and used bunch of our ammunition for this crazy bullshit! But then you bring him back here? After Jacob has worked on him? Folks ain't right in the head after what that man does. Having him here is dangerous! You shoulda left him to die! After they been in that room for that long...we've seen what it does to people. We can't trust him."
Eli was standing with arms crossed until finally he held up one hand "People told me I couldn't trust you. They were wrong...and so are you right now. We need him. And leaving someone like that ain't something we'd do. It's what they'd do and we're better than them. Otherwise what the hell are we fightin' em for?"
Grace was looking mad as all hell in the corner, hands close to her weapons, hearing someone make such suggestions about her friend wasn't sitting well but she waited to see if Eli was gonna handle his own crew before she let herself get in the middle.
They'd brought Raylan in 20 minutes before, still unconscious. After carrying him to a small room and laying him down on a cot, they'd done their best to make him comfortable. They'd cut his shirt off and cleaned him up some, covered in a layer of his own vomit when they'd found him, before Tammy showed up and started all this. They had at least took the debate into another room, let the guy rest, Boomer would keep watch over him. Jess had been the last one to leave the room, still staring down at the deputy with that strange look in her eyes. The huntress had her hands balled into tight fists beside Grace. Her temper was not as well capped as the sniper's apparently as she decided it was her turn to talk. "Why don't you fucking clamp your goddamn trap shut Tammy huh? When was the last time you did something around here besides bitch and moan?" Pointing one finger at the older woman as she marched in close.
It looked like a full on fight was going to break out between the women when everyone heard a noise that made them pause. A clatter coming from Raylan's room. Grace pushed off from the wall but before she could get through the door first Jess beat her to it. Eli was right, something was up with that girl. Grace noted that Tammy moved one hand to the Sig holstered on her belt and made a mental promise to gut the woman if she drew it.
When the group entered the room they found Raylan standing shirtless, jerry can of water in his hands and chugging from it. Once he'd guzzled all his stomach could hold he dumped the rest over his head and shook like a dog. Dropping the empty container with a bang he looked over at the group and wiped his face with his hands. "Thanks...for pullin' me outta there"
When Raylan had first found himself coming to he thought he was still in the hands of the cult or stuck in one of his nightmares. But seeing a WhiteTails flag on the wall and having Boomer suddenly appear to lick his face was enough proof that this was real and it was safe. He'd then been hit by the realization that his head felt like a jackahmmer was going inside with a skid of bricks sitting on his forehead. His throat was dry as a gravel road and and he was hungry beyond belief. And what a god awful taste in his mouth. So naturally when he saw the jerry can he'd grabbed it.
Grace grabbed a towel off the shelf and tossed it to him "Like I said, we need you to keep Joseph's blood pressure up". She let herself have a sigh of relief, it looked like her friend was still in one piece mentally. "But Jess is the one ya need to thank. Then Eli. She brought me here and convinced these boys it was worth going out to save your scruffy hide"
Jess broke eye contact as if she suddenly found the cracks in the concrete floor particularly interesting. Raylan gave her a smile and nodded "Thanks a bunch. I know folks probably weren't too pleased about that."
The young woman nodded a bit "Yeah...sure. Don't get your dumb ass caught again cause I ain't puttin' my neck out a second time."
Raylan chuckled at that and turned to face Eli. Holding out his hand with a grin "Guess we both already know each other's names. Still good to finally meet ya when I got my wits about me"
The militia leader grasped the younger man's hand in a firm grip "Agreed. Heard a lot bout your work. Seems you been tearing the peggies a whole new one. Think ya can get back in the saddle and keep doing it?"
"Well first, I need to put somethin' in my stomach, feels like it's been empty for days." Raylan noted as he toweled his face and hair
With a nod Eli waved for them to follow. Bringing the group into the kitchen area of his underground base he found some leftovers and tossed em on a plate "That's probably the case. When Jacob tries to haze someone he starves em, weakens the mind and body. More easily bent and broke that way. Sorry I ain't got nothin better handy at the moment"
Not minding the simple cold dish of scraps one bit, Raylan scarfed down every bite in a matter of moments like it was a hot meal back at the Eagle."So what the hell happened while Jacob was playing with my head like a set of tinker toys?"
"He had you and a bunch of others all down at the old Grandview Hotel. Turned it into his little hazing camp" Eli said as he opened a canteen and took sips from it. "We got a bunch of others out of the cages outside. Sent em along with some of my men to help hold the lumber mill."
After another fork full of leftovers went down, Raylan paused to wipe his mouth for a moment "Get much gear and supplies from the place?"
Grace shook her head "We didn't get much of a chance. Soon as we moved in on the place, Jacob sets the hotel on fire and beats it outta there on a bike."
"So he's going with a scorched earth policy" Raylan grunted between bites.
Wheaty had been hanging out in the corner till now, glad to keep his head down while the fight was on. Hearing that though he piped up "Scorched earth?".
Eli nodded at the young recruit "It was a idea pioneered mostly by the ruskies. Whenever you retreat you burn down all you leave behind, forests, farms, crops, towns, supplies. Leave nothing for your enemy to claim but scorched earth. If you can't win nobody does. Used by the Stalin's and Hitler's boys alot in world war 2."
"And just Jacob's style" Grace huffed.
The room was quiet for a moment before Raylan asked the question everyone knew was coming "What about those others he had in the room with me?"
With a deep sigh Eli crossed his arms "None of em made it. Whatever kind of cocktail of bliss and something else Jacob was shooting in you fellas, it's lethal more often than not. We were all shocked you pulled through"
"Speak for yourself" Grace said with a smirk
Once Raylan was finished eating he set the plate and fork down "Thanks again for the chow and pullin' me outta there when ya did. Now, who's got my gear?" Grace smiled and grabbed his gunbelt off the table and tossed it to him. Raylan nodded his thanks and buckled it back where it belonged. Once it was sitting comfy he slid the pistol out, checking it over for being clean, loaded and ready. Satisfied he holstered the .45 again. "Now as for the Peggies. I'm running damn low on ammo and explosives, so I'm gonna make a ride over to Dutch's bunker. Will help to clear my head a bit anyway. Then we go at em. I'll bring back what I can for you folks as well." Finding a few more of his things he looked about "Which way's the door and where abouts are we?"
Grace hooked a thumb down the hall that led to the trapdoor out and then walked to the map and pointed her finger at the side of one mountain "Right here".
Dressing as he walked down the hall Raylan made it to the trapdoor leading out and stepped into the sunshine. Holding his hand over his eyes for a moment he let himself adjust "ahhh fuck" shaking his head he looked about and spotted Ace along with several other horses inside a rope pen under a couple of pine trees. Boomer barked happily and licked Raylan's hand a few times. Scratching the dog's ear, the deputy chuckled and began gathering up his saddle and gear.
Jess came out of the bunker and watched the man as he greeted his horse and gave the stallion a quick brush. He tacked up the horse quickly and was swinging himself into the saddle when she finally came up and spoke to him "You're really just gonna ride off on your own like this? Not even taking Grace or...somebody with you?"
Swinging up into the saddle, Raylan adjusted his hat "I ain't goin' alone. I got three good pals with me" Patting Ace on the neck and then the the butt of his pistol, he whistled for Boomer "Hyah" and set his horse off into a lope down the hill and into the pine trees, the dog following hot on his heels.
Jess clenched her fists for a moment before turning back around in a huff. What the hell? Did he think he was some kinda Hercules, gonna go it alone? Certainly needed her help before when Jacob had him. And why did he make her so goddamn mad? Why did she even care? Looking off to one side she saw Grace had decided to come out and get some fresh air to.
The woman was sitting with her legs folded, a cloth spread out on ground before her, tearing apart her rifle for a cleaning. Jess came over and sat down beside her on the grass. After a couple minutes of silence, the sniper finally spoke first "Something on your mind?"
The woman chewed her lip for a moment and rubbed her thumb along the knee of her jeans "Why? Why do you let him take the lead? You're older and you had more years in the army than he did. So why aren't you calling the shots?"
Grace gave the other woman a side glance before returning her eyes to the firing pin she was checking "Neither of us is really ordering the other around. We're partners in this. Same as when we used to hunt coyotes and such like you and I did. But yeah I suppose I let him take the lead on this. And if I had to give a reason it's because he chose to lead while I chose to go it alone at first. When shit hit the fan I didn't try to link up with anyone else, didn't try to start some resistance. I was just living like a wildcat in the hills, hunting peggies and picking off ones here and there. Not Raylan, his first goal was to help people, band folks together. That's why he's the front man." Chuckling a bit she looked at Jess again "and for the record, I was in the Army, Raylan was a Marine, big difference. Surprised you don't know him much yourself, you were in high school at the same time and lived close to each other"
"I don't recall ever meeting him. Guess we just didn't cross paths.|" Thinking on what Grace had said for a minute before she asked her next question "So how long you known him? You said you two used to hunt together?"
Still cleaning all the parts of her rifle, Grace would answer here and there "Over 10 years now, since he was a little squirt. In some ways he'll always be that kid to me and I can hardly believe the man he grew up to be. Used to come around the range a lot and dad thought I should spend some time with him. I'd had my issues being social even when I was young and after a couple tours I was getting even worse. I guess dad figured spending time teaching someone younger a skill would be good for me. He was right. Kid already knew how to shoot but I took a rough tool and worked it down to a fine edge you could say. He listened, didn't try to pretend he knew more than he did. A good student. He started to work on ranches when he was young. I was already making side cash shooting varmints for people, coyotes who ate livestock, gophers who dug holes in fields. So we partnered up. Least till he took off to enlist. Then I ran into you down at Peaches and you know rest from there"
Grace wasn't the best at reading people but she followed a hunch that the girl wanted to know more and went on. "He was always a little wild, but a good kid. Always stuck up for anybody who needed help and didn't like bullies. Huh, guess that's still the case. We bumped into each other once over seas. Still had that same big grin on his face. Even then I heard he was a real devil dog in a fight from some of the men. Then few months back, his folks they...had an accident. Kid came home. Saw that they were buried right and found himself a job as a deputy. Didn't exactly get to rest before all this started"
Jess's words were hissed through her teeth. "None of us had it easy around here since those fuckers showed up. You included"
Grace took a deep breath as she finished putting her rifle back together. "You're right about that. But I found by working with Raylan and helping people, it helped me with losing my dad a whole lot more than just killing assholes. Same could go for you? Was killing the Cook all you hoped it would be? Or did you feel better helping get Raylan and those other people out?"
Jess stood and knocked the dust off herself "I told you, I don't feel nothin'" she said before stalking off. Close by she had cut the branches on one tree and wrapped them to make handles. Taking off her bow, quiver and jacket she jumped up and grabbed onto them. She began doing pull ups. She always felt it was best to train and focus her mind when she was frustrated. It took longer this time.
Back up the hill, Grace finished putting away her cleaning kit. As she watched Jess working up a sweat she smirked to herself. She thought back before her mother had passed years ago, how her and Grace's father had often butted heads and driven each other up the wall. With a smile on her lips she slung her rifle. She began to head further up the hill where she could keep watch, humming an old Glen Campbell tune to herself.
One day, little girl, the sadness will leave your face
As soon as you've won you're fight to get justice done
Some days little girl you'll wonder what life's about
But other's have known few battles are won alone
So, you'll look around to find
Someone who's kind, someone who is fearless like you
The pain of it will ease a bit
When you find a man with true grit
One day you will rise and you won't believe your eyes
You'll wake up and see
A world that is fine and free
Though summer seems far away
You will find the sun one day
Though summer seems far away
But you'll find the sun one day
...
Raylan rode in peace, letting the forest relax him. When he was younger, anytime stress had gotten him down, a good hack through the woods was always the best cure. The smell of the trees, the birds songs, the steady rocking rhythm of the saddle. Like therapy without the couch. During his years in the service he'd always tried to find some stable he could rent a horse from on his down time. But he'd never found a finer mount than Ace. It would have been nice to leave the saddle behind, ride bareback and feel the animals muscles work but he was going to need the saddle if he was bringing more gear back. He wasn't looking to engage the enemy right now so sticking to the timber worked easy enough. Boomer trotted alongside the stallion, just a happy dog. Happy to be outside, happy his master was back and ok. Just, happy.
The steel on the horse tack clanked and leather squeaked, hooves clopped across the forest floor, the big quarter horse snorted and nickered. God how he'd missed this, even with all the riding he'd been doing for the past days he'd never had time to stop and enjoy it. But after those days with Jacob monkeying in his head, the deputy wanted to focus on the ride. It was a good distance back to Dutch's island so he was able to just ride along and soak it all in. With every passing mile he felt himself grow more relaxed and like his usual self again.
The water level was down some from when Raylan had last been to the island. He knew a sandbar that ran under the surface and after testing it out, he found he was able to ride Ace across it from shore, going no deeper than the horse's belly. Once they reached the island, he dismounted and led the stallion along by the reins further inwards. Avoiding some of the traps Dutch had set they managed to arrive at the bunker's door and found the older man waiting for them with rifle in hand. "Saw ya comin' on my cameras. How ya doin' there lad? Heard Jacob had ahold of ya."
Hitching the horse's reins to a nearby tree, Raylan grunted "Yeah, lucky for my dumbass, your niece managed to rope the Whitetails into coming after me. I tell you what though, if I thought John was a sick puppy, then his brother's a goddamn mad dog. Fucker does some real possessed shit and seems to delight in every moment of it. Some kinda hardcore Darwinism". Going over events of the last few days as he followed the man down into the bunker.
Dutch had to chuckle at that last sentence "Big word for a redneck". Once they were back in the war room he dug out a couple beers, handing one over to the deputy. "So what can I do ya for?"
"Explosives and ammunition. I've been gettin' low on both and the militia don't have much of their own right now." Popping the top off of his beer, the young man took his cowboy hat and laid it upside down on the table. Just like his dad always taught him.
The grizzled vet nodded "Well ya know where it all is". Planting himself back in the swivel chair by his radio table, Dutch nursed his drink and watched as Raylan began hauling out crates, stuffing boxes of shells into his duffel bag. Once he'd grabbed enough he then pulled out the wooden crate containing the explosives. Sticks of dynamite and hand grenades filled up his saddlebags.
Pausing to take another swig of his beer he nodded to Dutch "Thanks again for all this. I'll try and see you get reimbursed by the department when this is all done."
"Don't sweat it." Dutch was quiet for a moment as they both drank in silence. "You seem a little off there jarhead. Somethin' eatin ya?"
Raylan had another few drinks of his beer, draining what was left. "That shit Jacob does, the drugs and conditioning. Really digs around inside your skull. Didn't help the skeazy fuck got someone to sell him my military file. Taunting me about things."
Sitting up a bit straighter in his chair, Dutch looked hard at the younger soldier's face "What kinda things?"
A wave of the hand and Raylan tried to get back to packing "Nothin' I ain't dealt with already".
"Don't bullshit me son" The man barked this time. "That dog won't hunt. Or are you forgetting that I been where you been and stood in those same boots. That shit don't go away when you discharge."
The two had a silent stand off for a minute before Raylan spoke "Gimme another beer if we're gettin' into this". Dutch nodded and pulled out two more bottles, tossing one into the air that Raylan deftly caught. Popping another cap off, Raylan took a gulp of the cold brew and sighed "Once I got overseas they put me in a new unit. You know how it is, sometimes they can pick out the ones that got a knack for the real dirty work. Well these boys were all long time in types, dead eyes and hard hearts. We called ourselves the people who answer when soldiers call 911. There was this one night. A mission into a mountain range. A particularly nasty group of enemies had been hiding around in there awhile. Striking out in random directions to terrorize local villages and towns. Punishing anyone who talked to the American's or didn't abide by their laws. Women going to school or not covering their heads. Anyone suspected of being gay, or practicing Christianity. And all that other horse shit. They'd use power tools, welding torches. Make families watch while they worked on the "offenders". Women, kids. They also liked to plant lots of IEDs. Some meant for us, others meant for the medical staff who'd come help the victims of first blast. Some wired to wrecked cars so the tow truck crew would take the hit."
"Then one day command say's they finally got a fix on where these boys are hidin' out. No one had to order us into this mission, we all wanted to tear a strip off these bastards. Time for some payback and justice. The terrorist outfit was being headed up by one real asshole, total sadist, him and the Seed's woulda got along well. Guy was one of the original deck of 52. Not a man in our unit didn't wanna bag him. But soon as we got lay of the land we all knew this could go bad. Narrow canyons surrounded by tall mountains. No way for air strike support, or gunships. Only a couple places a bird could touch down for an extraction. But we went in anyway. Then it all went to hell. We jumped em, thought we had the edge. Then it was like kicking a hornets nest. Fucker's came pouring outta every hole in the ground from all over. We tore em a new asshole but they just kept coming and they had us on all sides. By time we fought our way out we were beat up bad. Our first extraction attempt at LZ1 failed, we got shot up some more and the chopper was nearly brought down." Another few gulps of beer as Raylan saw it all playing out again in his mind's eye.
"So I volunteered to lead em off, let the rest of the unit get to LZ2 unnoticed and escape. Plan worked at first, I ambushed em, got em to start tailing me, laid a trap and ditched into the dark. Almost got away when I blunder into a bunch more. I take a couple hits and wind up in this mudwall shanty. 4 hours of standoff, waiting for em to come finish me off. You know what that kinda shit can do to the nerves" Raylan looked over at Dutch who gave a solemn nod.
"Finally when they moved in for the kill, I struck first. And I butchered those motherfuckers, taught em why they call us Devil Dogs. By time I was done, all my bullets were gone and I was down to hacking em up into meat with my blades. I was just about finished when I found this..cave. Bunch more were inside, they had the place lit with electric lights powered by a generator. Generator was kept next to the mouth of the cave cause of the fumes. So I killed it on my way in, plunging em all into darkness. I went in there and...well it got bad. Killed my way through the place. When I finally put the lights back on, lotta bodies, so much blood. I got extracted the next day. Guys who went back to look things over told me one of the people in the cave was that boss man we were after. So they pin a medal on me, and pat me on the back" Finished with his beer, Raylan put the bottle in a part case of empties by the corner.
Dutch mused on this, it may have been decades since Naim' but sometimes when it would visit in his sleep the worst memories were of those tunnels. Crawling through dirt passages with a flashlight and pistol. "Listen if ya ever need to talk I'm here. I ain't exactly no doctor or in touch with my sensitive side but sometimes you need someone who knows how you feel cause he's been there to."
"I'll keep it in mind" Raylan said as he made sure his bags were well packed, everything secure and well balanced. A thought crossed his mind and he decided to air it. "On another note, could you fill me in on Jess?"
If Dutch had been curious about Raylan's state before he was damn intrigued now "What do ya mean by fill ya in?
"Well I only know rumors about her really, saw her around the school a couple times but never talked. And barely known her a few days and they ain't been quiet days. Other than I now know the Cook was the man who killed her folks, I got nothing else." The deputy said with a shrug
Dutch tapped on finger on the table top before answering "Guess it started when she weren't but a little thing. My sister had her own smarts sometimes but she made a real dumbass move when she hooked up with this idiot who wound up marrying her in Vegas and fathering two kids together. Dipshit could never hold a job and was always chasing easy money. So he dragged the family clear across the country with him. By time Jess was 14 she'd been in 10 different school in 8 states. Her dad was either working or out drinking and her mom kinda shut down when she saw what her life had become after awhile. It didn't take long after that for Jess to start acting out, vandalism, fighting, skipping class, shoplifting, selling pot, and all manner of trouble. She was driven home in squad cars more than she walked back. Even set fire to one principal's car" Chuckling as he remembered all this.
"About the only person she'd ever respected was her Granny, my momma. Another Roosevelt prepper. So Jess stole enough cash from her folks to buy a bus ticket back here. She figured ole momma would let her hide out. Not quite the case. Momma made it damn clear that girl was gonna attend school and keep outta trouble if she was gonna live under that roof. And when Jess tried to get outta line, well that old woman was never one to spare the rod. Guess that girl just needed some discipline and care in her life cause she straightened up. Kept in school and out of jail, had a few fights but nothing serious. And she finally found a real role model. Momma was something of a badass herself, taught Jess all about how to be a real survivalist, how to live off the land, hunt, fish and grow things. She contacted Jess's folks and they were in no hurry to get her back. One less mouth to feed for them and less stress having to care for another kid. Things were good for a time. Then 8 years back Momma died. She left the place to Jess's family, with the condition that the cabin couldn't be sold. It was her way of trying to ground them back in Hope County, put a roof over their head so Jess would have a stable home. Seemed to work to. Her parents and brother moved in, dumbass of a father found an ok job, and they were getting by. Then it all went to hell the night he showed up" Dutch's fist clenching as he thought back on the loss of his sister. They'd never been too close but she was still family, losing her so soon after momma and in such a way took a toll.
Raylan listened to all this and rubbed his chin. He knew Jess hadn't had it easy but this was more than he could have guessed at. "Yeah, after that I never saw her again around town."
Nodding at the comment, Dutch grunted. "Well when someone starts a rumor you were the one who killed your own folks, you don't feel too sociable. She basically started living like some feral beast in the woods. I tried to talk her into coming here and staying with me but she wouldn't have it. She became more and more isolated till years back she met Eli. She admires the man. She was never enough of a team player to really join up with his militia but she'll work with em."
"Whatever happened to her brother?" Picking his hat up off the table, Raylan gave it a few turns in his hands.
"Well guess he took the opposite path than Jess. Rather than face what happened he ran. But not before he sold Momma's house. Jess might have been able to dispute his claim in court but she had other things on her mind, like finding the Cook. So he sold the place, took the cash and moved to Denver, burying himself under a ten foot mountain of drugs and hookers. Cops called me up 2 years back and told me that he finally ODed. Neighbors called it in when they couldn't take the smell coming from his apartment. I found Jess and gave her the news. She didn't bat an eye.
This was getting more and more grim by the minute so Raylan decided to shift the subject. "I never knew much about those Whitetail boys, other than most folks saw em as a bunch of whacked out military wannabees."
Dutch had to laugh at that "Was a time that was about right. Back when it started up in 48, they were just the Hope County Militia. Buncha vets, just back from a war with Germany and Japan now being told they might have to fight Russia and the rest of the Reds. So they kept up the military training they'd been taught and passed it on to the local boys. Then Korea broke out and afterwards they had a whole new generation of fighting men with combat experience and a big beef with the commies. Same thing happened again after Naim'. When Red Dawn came out in 84, they figured they needed a cool nickname for their gang like the Wolverines had. They used the name of the mountains they trained in. By the 2000's most of the real vets were dropping like flys, old age and such and the whole thing was falling apart. Just a bunch of idiots who wanted an excuse to get out of the house on weekends, go drink beer and shoot squirrels with their pals."
"Then Eli comes along and whips em into shape, starts up some real training again. That's how he got to meet Jacob. Guy came out here and seemed to have no links to the cult at first, just another prepper and he had some followers. Eli and him actually hit it off, both preparing for the worst. Then the cult's grip tightened on the county and Jacob made it clear he was an enforcer. Eli wanted no part of this. Jacob offered a choice, hand over the Whitetails; their territory, hideouts, weapons and supplies and most of the all, the men, and Eli could leave in peace. Well as you can see Eli stayed and became the main aggressor up there. Now Jacob wants his head on a platter." Concluding his stories, Dutch watched as Raylan began packing up the last of his gear. "Oh one last thing, Mary was on the radio earlier, looking for you. Better answer, my rig will reach her from here"
Placing one palm on the table top, Raylan leaned over and dialed the mic to the correct channel and pushed in the button. "Mary? Come in Mary. this is Raylan". Some part of him actually felt a little tense calling her.
A minute or so ticked by before an answer came crackling through the static "Raylan? Is that you? Where you been?"
He took a minute to decide if he'd worry her with the details before stating "Been outta radio range, down in the valleys, making hell for Jacob. Dutch told me you were looking for me. What's up?"
Mary came back sounding relieved and exasperated "I swear everytime I think things can't get crazier they find a way. It's like the universe hears me. Two of our guys were North of town, not too far from the island actually and get this, a moose attacked them. I mean I know the rut is close but that is some weird shit. They shot at it, but only had some .223 rifles so no idea how good they hit it. Get this, they said it's fur was white and the fucking thing was drooling. Sounds like some kinda albino male that has rabies"
Raylan dropped his head and sighed before looking back up and keying his mic "It's worse than that. That's the kinda shit that happens to wolves when Jacob fucks with em using that bliss shit. He calls em Judges. I guess he's been trying it on others critters, like a moose apparently. I'll go ride out that way see if I can't track it down." Hanging up the mic he slung the duffel and saddle bags of gear onto his shoulders.
Dutch looked at his racks of weapons "You want something bigger than that 7.62? A wacked out moose will take some stopping power"
With a shake of his head, Raylan headed back out of the bunker "Naw I got dad's .338. It'll get the job done" Back outside he lashed the gear onto Ace's saddle and untied the big hunting rifle from the back. Working the bolt he chambered a round and put the safety on. Climbing back onto the stallion he turned the animal back towards the shore. Shortly after they crossed the sandbar back onto the mainland and headed out in search of this judge moose.
...
He'd been riding for some time, sending Boomer out to sniff around for any kind of trail. It hadn't taken long to find the attack sight, clawed up earth, busted trees and branches, shell casings. Damn, why did that psychopath have to go messing with even more animals than he already was. "Fucking prick, already had to go and get me thinking about all that other crap." grumbling as he rode on.
From off in the trees, Boomer let out a yip, a sign he was onto some fresh trail. As Raylan turned his mount to follow though he suddenly felt like his head was gonna split open. Dropping his reins he held onto the rifle with his one hand while the other rubbed at his forehead. "Goddamn it".
Cull the herd...kill...Weak...kill,kill,kill,...their weak...Cull the Herd!
"Ahhhh Fuck!" He cursed out loud as he rubbed the knuckles of his fist against his temple. Fucking voices. Where was this shit coming from. Oh god those screams again. "Shut up, shut up...SHUT UP!"
So caught up in the war within his own head, the deputy never heard what was coming for him until he found Ace being knocked out from underneath him as something let out a terrible bellow. Hitting the ground hard he had the wind knocked from his lungs and tried to regain his senses. Suddenly he found himself staring at something right out of a horror film.
The bull moose was white and gray, chunks of hair falling out in places, eyes glazed over and streams of foamy drool hanging from it's mouth. "Oh fuck" Raylan tried to find his dad's rifle but it was nowhere. The animal lowered it's head and aimed those massive antlers at Raylan for another charge. The young man had read accounts of people being charged by moose but reading it certainly didn't prepare you for the real thing. He barely rolled clear in time and still one of points tore the ankle of his pants and slashed open his skin "Fuck!" Grabbing the .45 from his belt he pumped a few bullets into the beast thought this seemed to do little to deter it.
Still trying to locate his rifle he managed to get to his feet and brace against a tree. The bull's next rush he was able to avoid by slipping behind the big oak's trunk. But this wouldn't work for long. The rabid animal pawed the ground for another charge when Boomer came rushing up from behind and bit the beast on it's back leg. The moose bellowed again and shook the dog free. When Raylan saw the animal turn to charge his dog fear hit his gut again "No Boomer, get outta there boy" Dumping another 8 rounds of pistol bullets into the moose's neck and body, trying to pierce that heavy skull and hit the brain. No good.
Stepping out away from the tree to make a bigger target of himself "Over here ya fucker, let the dog be!" he shot the moose again. Another deep bellow came from the beast as it turned to charge. But this time it's attack was cut off by two hooves slamming into it's face. Ace, loyal to the core had stuck around to defend his master and now lashed out with his back hooves. When they connected with the moose's mouth there was a loud crack and the animal's lower jaw hung loose, broken. Ace turned to rear up on his hind legs, swiping with both front hooves.
Pound for pound the stallion was a match for this forest creature but Raylan dreaded seeing what those antlers could do to his mount. Finally he spied the butt of his rifle poking out from under a bush. Grabbing the weapon he turned and shouldered it, firing a round right into the moose flank. Well a bullet in the ass got anyone's attention and the judge moose turned to face this attack. Barreling down on Raylan with antlers lowered. Raylan held his ground till he dived clear, this time landing on his back as the moose ran by. The animal was so close the barrel of the big gun almost poked it's ribs when Raylan fired. The 250 grain bullet punching through the animals body, collapsing both lungs before exiting the other side. Jets of blood sprayed from the animals nostrils and it stumbled. Raylan racked the bolt on the model 70 as the beast tried to face him again, twins streams of blood running from it's nose. Taking aim at the beast's heart he fired again and this time the moose fell on it's front knees.
Raylan was back on his own feet now and pumped the another slug into the animal. It fell on it's side and gave one last bellow before Raylan used the last round in his rifle to perform a coup de grace, shooting the moose in the brain. The horned beast finally lay still and Raylan felt like a tons of bricks had been dropped on him. Stumbling backwards he collapsed on his ass, back against the tree he'd used for cover. Boomer came over whining, licking at his master's face and pawing at him.
"I'm alright boy, I'm alright" rubbing the dog's ear. Ace came over as well, head lowered and sniffed at the man. His reins dragged along the ground. Raylan debated getting up and then said "fuck it" fishing out that other cigar Nick had given him he dug in his pocket till he found some matches. Cutting the end off his smoke he struck one of the waterproof matches and puffed the smoke into full light. Exhaling a cloud he simply laid there, tired and soar. "Let's take 5 fellas"