We rode into the village for a second time in days. Formation kept like before. From what I could spot from a distance, it was empty which made me relieved. When we stopped our horses, we looked around. Colonel told me to check the box we had left and I climbed down off of my horse. I was expecting it to be empty, but went ahead and walked over to it. Inside it was full of sand and I dusted my gloved hands off.

"My instructions couldn't have been more explicit." Murmured the colonel.

"You were very explicit, colonel." I said, climbing back onto my horse. Maybe we would just continue on riding since there was no one left to threaten with death.

"And yet, for some reason, my orders were not carried out." He sat straighter in his saddle, "I have shot my own men, for less!" he growled. His voice echoed on the bare rock formation. I flinched a little at his words, knowing what he did to deserters.

I was surprised to see someone stand up on the roof of one of the adobe houses with a rifle in hand. While the colonel talked to him, I noticed six more people appear in different areas around us. I began to grow nervous. These weren't Indians or darkies. Well one was a darkie. Had the people in this village rode out for help in that short amount of time? How many guns were there now?

The colonel turned to me and lowered his voice. "Shoot them down, captain."

Hell, I want to get out of this alive. Taking a deep breath, I made sure not to reach for my gun first. That would get me killed real quick, "Company! Fire!"

The hired men all went down for cover when I gave the order. Bullets flew as the fight began. I pulled out my own gun to defend the colonel. From what I saw in all the chaos, some of the men were shooting at fake people, made from straw with faces and clothes on. Our men fell around us from the well-placed shots of our enemies. I kept myself out of the thick of it, trying to just survive. Indians then came out with bows and arrows, dropping a few other of the men. When one of the soldiers looked around to escape in all the chaos, Colonel Anderson cursed him before shooting him dead. I tried to stop him, but I was too late. Suggesting a retreat, I was relieved when he called to sound the alarm that we were to draw back. A net was drawn over the only way out and some of the horses came to an abrupt halt, throwing off their riders.

The colonel was yelling for them to cut it down. I looked over my shoulder and noticed our vulnerable position as more of our men were killed. When the net was cut down and removed, we rode out quickly with the trumpet blaring.

When we stopped for, the colonel was pissing angry.

"We should go back. Kill them all." Darcy said from beside the entrance of the tent. I looked back at him as if he were crazy. Now was not the time to be seeking revenge and risk more lives. It made me wonder about the company I keep.

"We ride back tomorrow. Get them when their guard is down." Anderson said finally. "Ezra, get the men ready."

I gave a shard nod, "Yes sir."

Walking back out, I saw some of the men hunched over campfires. They looked like hollowed versions of themselves. Years of the war and then continue on that ride with a man on a suicide mission for revenge. Sighing, I informed some men what was to happen and told them to tell the others.

Dropping down on my bedroll, I wondered if this was to be the last fight. It sure seemed like it. The problem was whether or not I was going to stick around to see its end. Hell, I wanted to ride out now, but that'd be asking to be hunted down for the rest of my life by those that did survive. Those men who fought for the Indians and darkies, I wondered at their story. Why they had signed on for something they probably wouldn't get much out of. Maybe, I allowed myself to fantasize, they were doing it because it was the right thing to do. Of course I knew that the colonel and his beef with these Seminole people was screaming wrongfulness. It made me realize that my cowardliness for survival was also wrong. Why should I fight with these mean and their hatred of half the race and preventing them from having their freedom?

These thoughts floated in my head till the early morning hours. Mounting our horses again, we moved back to the village. This time, the colonel opted not to go into the village like before, but to make use of the cannon. It was set up on a high rock face, aimed down towards the unsuspecting villagers. A knot formed in my stomach as I heard the order given and the cannon fired down, hitting the cliff face on the other side. People scrambled for safety, women and children screaming. Darcy gave the command to swing it around and fire again, this time it landed near the homes. Anderson ordered for the elevation to be dropped and another cannon ball was fired. Stepping up to the colonel, I tried to talk him out of all of this.

"Colonel, with a place like this and no real fortification. Is it necessary to waste our ammunition here?"

"Waste?" The colonel grabbed me roughly by the arm and turned me to look at the dead members of our group that had been tossed here the night before. "Men who survived the battles of Shiloh and Bull Run. Finer sons of the south and they die here." The colonel pushed me away, "I'll wipe this place off the face of the earth. I'll fire rocks if I have to. Fire!"

Another shot was fired and continued to go on. The colonel eventually grew tired from standing and went into the pitched tent. Waiting a few minutes to try and figure out what was best to say that would get through to him and not get me killed, I walked in.

He was undoing the brace he had on his leg and checking the infection that was growing around his knee. I did my best to keep my eyes from looking at it. He was drinking from the bottle again, and I caught a glimpse of the label. Laudanum. Taking off my hat, I dusted it off a bit in thought.

"I didn't go to West Point." I began, "Really I'm like the rest of the soldiers with no real rank—"

"Well you're captain now, so speak captain." Slurred the injured man.

So much for my truthful approach.

"I was thinking that if allow them the chance of surrendering then we could potentially save ammunition."

"We thank you for your advice, captain," he said, clearly not appreciating it at all, "just keep firing."

"Colonel, they're poor defenseless people." I said, thinking about the women and children, hell even the old people.

"They're hard killers, Standish, those men. Not soldiers."

"And maybe we're just underestimating them, sir."

"Keep firing." Growled Anderson.

I knew I couldn't push my luck and moved back out of the tent. Deciding not to stay and watch, but take a half a dozen men with me to keep watch from any surprise attack.

As if on cue, and Indian was coming around the corner, having climbed up the back way. Damnit if Darcy didn't get on my nerves, he even was smug about killing him. The rest of the men were pointing their guns down where the Indian had come from. Walking around with the sergeant, I found the hired men all standing there, having just finished climbing up the side of the cliff.

"I suggest you surrender, or you could die where you stand." I said, hoping the men would do the right thing. Hell what was the right thing anymore.

We took the prisoners back with us and the colonel came out of his tent. He talked about battle in Shiloh where they were attacked and he was left for dead. I listened, having already heard the story before, but figured he was just repeating it so our prisoners could hear. I watched as each of the men were handcuffed. The darkie struggling the most, no doubt familiar with the feeling up being in chains. When he finished reliving the nightmares that plagued him, he declared that we would raise our flag over their land before killing our prisoners.

I walked along as preparations were being made. The prisoners were made to walk in a line as we led them into position for execution.

I half listened to their conversation and was surprised at seeing a youngster among them. He was dressed in clothes almost in similar fashion like the ones I used to wear. Most likely from the east compared to his companions. They were entertaining to listen to, compared to the somber people I was forced to ride with for years.

When the colonel and the rest of the men went to set up to raise the flag down below, I walked by the prisoners, pretending to check that everything was in order. After years of doing what I thought was right because of fear, I decided not to let that govern my life anymore. Most who knew me in the group, weren't aware of the number of weapons I kept on my person. The one up my sleeve for example. I had been making notes of the hired men and how they each fought. One of them, the guy in black, was stealthily pulling his hand through the handcuff. It looked incredibly painful and pretended not to notice so as not to draw attention to what he was doing. Stopping in front of the man who wore a buckskin with his hands casually folded in his lap with his legs stretched out, I prayed this wouldn't come to bite me later. I triggered the release of my derringer and seven pairs of eyes looked at me and then the gun. Kicking up dust as well as kicking the man's foot, I dropped the little gun at his feet.

"Move your legs from my walk way." I said.

He pulled them towards himself as well as the gun. All-the-while looking up at me. I couldn't do more than that for now. Turning my back to him felt nerve wrecking and I walked back up next to Darcy and the cannon.

"They'll be raising the flag soon."

"Well I wouldn't want to miss that." I said and then drew my Remington and pointed it at Darcy. "Nobody move or he's dead."

The rest of the seven men watched in confusion. Hell I was confused as to what I was doing.

There were eight of them against me and hopefully the man in the buckskin who would help back me up.

"The hell are you doing, Standish."

"Surviving. That and leaving." I said.

"You'll only get one shot off before we take you."

"Then how about I take all of you." I said, pointing my gun at the powder keg next to the cannon.

"That's empty." Darcy chuckled.

I didn't have a chance before the rest of the men were aiming their guns at me. Hell, if I survived this, I was going to drink a lot for having to deal with all of this rebelling.

"Drop it." Darcy ordered. I sighed and dropped my gun. Stealing a glance towards the prisoners, I noticed that the soldier guarding them had his back turned to them.

The drums began to play down below. I smiled.

"Made a mistake trying to turn on us."

"You're right, I should've done it sooner." I pulled out my colt and shot Darcy in the chest. The man in black had managed to slip his hand out of his chains and grabbed the guard. I shot another man while I heard two more shots fired from behind me. The man in black ad took the guards gun and the man in the buckskin had shot another man. The ones we didn't shoot were put into chains. When the short-lived action was over, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. That actually went better than I thought. I pulled out the keys and tossed it to the blond man in black. I retrieved their gun belts and began handing them out. After a few seconds of unchaining the others, the blond man stood up suddenly and looked me right in the eye.

"You're out numbered, three to one. Now I can help. I know his methods."

"Why should we let you?"

"Because I want what you want. For this all to stop."

"Is that why you turned on your friends?" asked the darkie.

"I'm tired of living like this. You take out Anderson and the rest will gladly walk away. Sergeant Darcy, well I got tired of him blowing his foul breath at me."

"Just so you know," said the man in black, "you try and flip sides again and I'll shoot you myself."

I tipped my hat in a salute and walked away.

They had me at the cannon up top. When a group of soldiers rode up, most likely to check what was going on, I stopped them and had them surrender. It helped a little with seeing several bodies on the ground. I lit the fuse with a cigar that I was happily smoking, saved for when I was finally to return home. I sent the flag and those around it flying. I gave my last salute to it with a grin, smoke streaming out of the side of my mouth. The seven men down there began firing and I made my way down to assist. I watched as several bullets hit the colonel but he still stayed on his horse. Just making it to the ground level, I watched as the green horned young man broke cover and tried to shoot Anderson. Another one of the men stepped in front, just in time to get hit with the colonel's sword. When another one of the seven went to recover their fallen comrade, he was shot in his side, trying to shield him. The darkie ran out and instead of trying to shoot the colonel, he used a knife and stabbed him deep in his upper thigh. Anderson was thrown off his horse but he pushed himself to his feet. I decided it was time to end things. I shot him in his hand, trying to get him to stop on his own. He turned to me in surprise.

"This has to stop, sir."

"Standish. After all I've done for you." Grunted Anderson.

I pulled the hammer back, not wanting to take the final shot but would if necessary.

"You're nothing but a coward." Sneered Anderson, raising his gun towards me.

Before he could level it at me, I heard a shot fired and the colonel fell to the ground. This time, not getting up. I turned to the man in blond before moving to check the body.

"He's actually dead." I said, almost not believing it myself.

The rest of the soldiers dispersed, making their way back to their homes where they hadn't been in years. Now what was in store for me?