Sawyer’s Falls

Anthony E. Rotramel

Started: 10/15/06

Finished: 10/19/06

Pages: 64

Words: 11,866

Note: This story and it’s characters are © 2006 Anthony E. Rotramel. The characters Balto, Jenna, Steele, Nikkie, and Kaltag are © 1995 Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

All Rights Reserved.

Sawyer’s Falls is a work of fiction, any similarity to actual events, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Warning!

This fic is rated PG-13 for violence, sexual situations, the consumption of alcohol and mild language.

Reader’s discretion is advised!

© 2006 All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 1:

New Mexico, August 14th, 1888

The sun beat down hard on the desert outside the small town of Sawyer’s Falls, New Mexico. Against the horizon a small dust cloud could be seen coming toward the town.

A young boy was watching the dust cloud as it approached, and saw the shape of a man on a horse dissolve out of the dust.

He ran into the small building, whose porch he’d been sweeping, and told his father what was going on.

Word travels fast in a small town and soon many of the towns people had come out of their homes and businesses to see the newcomer.

As the young man entered the dusty streets of the small town the townspeople took him in.

He was a young dog of about twenty. Traces of husky were visable but the overwhelming attribute of the newcomer was a definite wolfish look.

Some of the townspeople shivered. Wolfdogs were known to be violent, and this one would probably be no different.

The young wolfdog rode his horse up to the city saloon and got off, tieing it up and walking toward the door.

He saw a weather beaten poster hanging on the outside of the saloon and he walked up next to it, tearing it from the wall.

It read:

Wanted!

Dead or Alive

William H. Balto A.K.A. Billy the Kid

$200

Underneath the few words of text was a grainy picture.

The young dog sighed in disgust.

“…can’t even get my picture right.” He thought, discarding the poster.

Suddenly, cries emanated from the saloon and a brown dog was hurled out of the door.

The dog scrambled to his feet and started running for the far end of town.

A black and white dog stepped out of the saloon and finished the beer in his hands. The young wolfdog noticed that a silver star gleamed on the dog’s vest. Then the dog pulled a long revolver from his waist. He pointed the gun at the retreating figure and pulled the trigger.

The brown dog spun in a circle and fell, unmoving to the dusty ground.

The young wolfdog pulled one of his matching peacemakers from their crossed holsters at his front, pulling back the hammer.

The black and white dog spun around, firing and blowing the pistol from Balto’s grasp.

A look of surprise crossed Balto’s face.

The black and white dog smiled and turned, walking away from the saloon.

Balto let out a sigh of relief as he thought about his close brush with death.

He knelt down and picked up his pistol, letting the hammer down and replaicing it in it’s holster.

He shook his head again and walked into the saloon.

The saloon was like every other the young wolfdog had been inside in his short life. It was smoke filled, a little less crowded than usual, but moderatly filled. A card game was going in the corner and Balto made a mental note to join it later. He could play quite a game of cards.

“…of course anyone can with a few extra aces.” Balto thought with a smile.

He walked over to the bar and tapped on it.

The bartender, an aging greatdane, walked over to him.

“What’s your pleasure sir?”

Balto smiled.

“A beer’s all.”

The barkeep nodded and produced an amber bottle, the top of which he pryed off. He placed the bottle on the counter and walked over to another customer.

Balto picked up the cool bottle and slowly pulled a bit of the chilled liquid down his throat.

He replaced the bottle and pulled a wrinkled cigarette from his vest pocket and produced a match, which he struck on the bar and held near the cigarette.

Then he froze.

The most beautiful girl he’d ever seen stood in the doorway to the saloon and was walking toward him.

He suddenly jumped and had to clench his teeth from howling in pain as the flame from the match burned his finger.

He shook the match out and threw it to the floor.

Then he turned his attention back to the female.

She was red furred with a white chest as well as arms and legs.

She wore a simple dress, Blue with a white lace top, which accented her marvalous figure. The girl also wore a bright red bandanna around her neck. Her coat was dark red and her face was a creamy white, as were her arms and, though he couldn’t see them for the dress, Balto suspected her legs probably were as well.

The girl must have seen him staring, for she walked over and sat beside him.

Balto, ever the gentleman, tipped his hat to her.

“Good day miss.”

The female smiled.

“Good morning sir.” She said.

It was silent for a while, as Balto smoked almost half of his cigarette.

“So… are you new here?” The female asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

Balto smiled. “Yeah, I’m new… just rode in a few days ago.”

The female smiled. “What brings you here Mr…”

She looked at him questioningly.

“Oh…” he said, finally catching her hint.

“The names Balto, William H. Balto. Billy to my friends.”

The female stuck out her hand.

“Jenna Thatcher.” She said.

“It’s a pleasure miss Thatcher.” Balto said.

“So, back to my question… what brings you here Mister Balto?”

Balto smiled. “Nothing in particular.” He said. “I live an uh… life on the road if you will.”

Jenna smiled.

“Well that’s a clever way to put it.” Balto thought.

Jenna’s gaze went to his belt.

“Oh, you’ve got a gun. You ever kill anyone Mister Balto?”

Balto smiled. “Yep, sure have sweetheart. Only in self defense of course.’

“…most of the time.” He thought to himself.

“Wow.” Jenna said. “I’ve never really talked to anyone who’s killed someone before.”

Balto smiled and took another drink of his beer.

“Well it’s nothing special sweetheart, just a few pounds of pressure, the click of a hammer and it’s over. It’s the thinkin’ afterward that will get you if you let it. You gotta not think about it.”

“That’s facinating.” Jenna said. “I always wondered what it felt like, to kill someone I mean.”

It was quiet for a moment.

“So,” Balto said, eager to keep the conversation going. “What’s with this town? I mean I’ve seen some crazy towns before, but I just saw a dog gunned down by a drunk Sheriff, who also shot my own pistol out of my hand as I drew, an amazing feat to say the least. I thought I was dead, but then he just smiled and walked off.”

Jenna sighed.

“That’s no Sheriff.” She said. “That was Steele, he’s a hired gun, a thug, no more.”

“Then why the badge?” Balto asked.

Jenna sighed again and looked up at him.

“You are new here, aren’t you?”

Balto looked blankly at her.

She sighed again and grabbed the beer on the counter, taking a swig of it.

Balto’s blank stare turned to one of disbelief.

Jenna sat the beer back on the bar and noticed Balto’s look.

“What?” She asked. “Never seen a woman drink before?”

Balto shook his head. “Not many do.”

“Well I do.” Jenna said.

She sighed again.

“Now, as I was saying… there is this dog that lives here named Baron Von Earl. He’s a German Shepard and is more of a criminal than the mayor he tries to act like.”

Jenna sighed.

“He has a bunch of hired guns who he then turns into deputies, and soon you’ve got “self defense” shootings happening all over the place.”

Jenna looked up at him.

“If you want to live long in this town, you’ll do as he says.”

“I don’t know about that.” Balto said. “I don’t like much bein’ told what to do.”

“Excuse me Mister Balto, but could I trouble you for the time?”

Balto pulled a silver pocket watch from his vest and flipped it open. “It’s ten past two.”

“Oh shoot.” Jenna said, jumping up. “I’m already ten minutes late opening the store. I’m gonna get it now.”

She paused.

“I’ve got to go Mister Balto. It was nice talking to you.”

With that she started to walk away.

Balto stood.

“Wait Miss Jenna.”

She stopped and turned.

“Where might a guy find you if’n he was