Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 30.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

"Why are you here in this town, Lily, at that saloon? Why are you messing with Solitaire and his ilk?"

"Because you didn't finish your job, Dove. You can't cut out only part of the cancer and hope for a cure. Solitaire used to be rather fond of large groups, you could say."

Dove wrinkled his brow, trying to place Solitaire with what Lily was telling him.

"He was a Shadow Rider, Dove! He's his own thing now, but he is what he is, just the same."

The reality of his past finding him after all this time, the shadows he wanted to forget, suddenly gave him a great sense of purpose. His foggy mind cleared and he knew what he was to do.

"We killed all of them."

"You killed all of them but one: Solitaire. Garnet was trying to hide in the barn and he shot her. Shot her but didn't kill her. Took her horse, watched her try to get to safety, bleeding, into the pasture where the others lay, and shot her again. He's the one you let get away."

Rage was one thing, the uncontrollable emotion that knocked things about and did damage to all the surface areas but missed the core. Dove was way past rage.

Dove had one thing on his mind, and one thing only. And it would take two guns to finish it, like it used to.

"Why is Solitaire after Bliss Lomax's land? She has no connection to the massacre."

Lily shook her head. "Why do you think they were after the Burning Hills? It's always about gold, Dove. Always."

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