Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 39.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Solitaire was nowhere to be seen. It was nearly noon. Dove threw his pack on his saddle and began to think about leaving, riding down the street in the direction he first rode in, thinking again about that wrong turn and the life it stole from him.

And suddenly there was Solitaire, alone, his big bay snorting at the dust rising from the street. A low rumble from the distance told of a storm rolling in.

Dove expected no less from such a place at noon. This was the time and place if there ever was.

"Think you're leaving?" Solitaire called out, jerking his horse to a stand-still.

"Fool's gold. You're whole life's been about foolish things you thought were gold."

"I'm out nothin', Dove. Looks like a whole green valley opened up for me cattle." Solitaire laughed. "Maybe I was after the wrong color the whole time. Green is starting to look up in all this dust."

"You're the worst kind there is, Solitaire. You stand as if for the crowd when all along it's for you," Dove said. "You're a man pickin' the easiest path with the most people to line it with, only to desert them when you get in the lead."

"Get down off your horse and we'll settle this, Dove," Solitaire said, his eyes narrowing, the rumbling thunder growing louder. "Or maybe I should call you Two-Gun."

"One is all it will take for the likes of you."

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