Chapter 4

It was about 1 o'clock... The sun was hanging over them now... And Matt had just about enough of Tom McLanden. They'd been on the road all morning long... The cool spring air was turning into a humid smog.

"This is great Dillon. I love spending this time with you. We get to listen to the birds, watch the trees sway with the wind, talk-"

Matt snapped around, "If you don't shut that trap of yours... I'm going to do it for you! And I promise it want be just a temporary fix... It will be a permanent solution. Now shut up and sit there on that horse."

"Oh Marshal, I dont mean no harm... I'm just-"

"I mean it McLanden!' Matt said through clinched teeth.

"Alright, alright," testing his luck, Tom bit once more, "I bet you never tell that red-headed harlot to keep her trap shut. Do ya?" He laughed, throwing his head back.

As he straightened back up, Matt introduced Tom's mouth to his fist. Knocking him off the horse and knocking the breath out of him. Matt grunted with satisfaction. Matt climbed down off Buck and made his way around to the prisoner. McLanden was coughing. Trying to get up, which is hard to do with your arms handcuffed behind your back.

Matt propped his arm on the butt of the horse and looked down, "Ground gets harder as you get older, doesn't it?" Laughing as he walked around to pick him up.

"This isn't funny Dillon! You could've broke my arm or leg... Or even my neck!"

Matt looked confused, "Tom, I don't know if you realize this or not, but you have been sentenced to death... Not a slap on the hand, and no jail time isn't an option. One way or another your neck will snap today... Either by the gallows, a freak accident, or with my bare hands. So again I'm not asking you, I'm telling you that if you do not just sit and enjoy the rest of your life while you can... It's going to end sooner than planned."

Reality was starting to sink in for Tom. He had been on the run for so long and had gotten away with so much... This didn't seem real... He was in denial ... Slowly, the true was setting in. He knew today would be his last.

"Not one word." Matt ordered.

"Not one word." Tom repeated with a defeated voice.

Matt climbed back on Buck. Asserting authority, he said, "Good."

Making it the last word said...

TBC