“So, this is it, is it Bill?” Kale asked calmly, “You’ve killed my friends, so now what? You gonna kill me too? You might as well. You’ve already got their blood on your hands…” Bill growled softly and trained his pistol on Kale’s torso.

“I’m willing to shoot you Kale, and I will unless you surrender and come with me now!” Bill said sternly, “Now just put your hands in the air and walk forward… I don’t want to have to kill you as well, Kale…” Kale smirked and looked away.

“No, I don’t think I will, Bill… Thanks for the offer though…” Kale said slyly, looking back at his friend, “I’ve got nothing left, so why not gamble with the only thing I have left?” Bill pulled the hammer back on his pistol and glared at Kale, his hand shaking slightly.

“You don’t think I’ll pull this trigger?!”

“I don’t think you’ll pull that trigger…”

“I did it to them!” Bill nearly shouted, looking at Balto and Kaltag, “What makes you think I won’t kill you as well?!”

“Because they weren’t your best friend for sixteen years, Bill…” Kale snapped back, “I know you… You’re an exemplary shot and a remarkable sheriff, but you wouldn’t shoot me, not me… Not an old friend…”

“Don’t- tempt me, Kale!” Bill growled out.

“Bill, I know you wouldn’t do this… You’re not that kind of person…” Kale said, putting on a fake-pleading voice, but it sounded so real, “Please, just put the gun down and let me go… We were friends, remember?”

Bill slowly lowered the barrel of his pistol to the wood floor. Kale grinned slightly and took a few steps forward. He opened his muzzle to say something, but Bill’s eyes got a sudden gleam in them. His glare returned and he raised his revolver again, pulling the trigger and putting a round into Kale’s chest. The husky grunted and stumbled backwards, slamming into the wall of the saloon. He looked up at Bill with a shocked look on his face as the sheriff advanced on him, pulling the trigger again and sending another bullet into Kale’s stomach. Kale groaned and slid down the wall until he was in a sitting position, a trail of his blood smeared down the wooden wall.

“You were right Kale… We were friends…” Bill said, pointing his pistol at Kale’s head and pulling the hammer back, “But you betrayed that friendship when you left the law…”

And Bill pulled the trigger one last time.

Kale blinked a few times and saw himself staring up the barrel of Bill’s pistol. He thought at first the gunshot had been a threat or a blank, but something was wrong. Everything was gray and dull, no colors existed anymore except for himself. He then felt someone tap his shoulder and glanced into the smiling face of Balto.

“Balto? What the Hell? I saw you- you and Kaltag are dead!” Kale exclaimed. Balto laughed softly.

“So are you, Kale…” Balto explained, “Stand up, look behind you…” Kale gave Balto a confused look before quickly rising to his feet and looking back at the bloody corpse of himself.

“Oh God… Oh my God…” Kale muttered, obviously in complete shock and stupor.

“I know… Hard to believe, huh?” Balto asked, with another soft chuckle as Kaltag walked up to Kale.

“So, how do we get outta here?” Kale asked, looking around the gray world, “How do we move onto Heaven or wherever we go?”

Balto was about to say he didn’t know when a bright light filled their vision. A large gateway of light had appeared and through it, two figures approached them. Once the light had died down, the trio could clearly see who the figures were.

“Jenna!” Balto cried out, taking the scarlet and cream husky in his arms.

“Oh my- Kira!” Kale shouted happily, running up to her and embracing the black wolfdog tightly.

“Hey, easy boys! It’s great to see you too!” Jenna responded with a soft chuckle, hugging Balto back.

“Yeah, we missed you guys too…” Kira added, wrapping her arms around Kale’s neck. The two couples kissed happily before parting slowly.

“So, are you two here to bring us to Heaven?” Balto asked, looking back to the gateway.

“Yep! It’s time to go now boys… You ready to go?” Jenna asked, holding her hand out to Balto, “C’mon, it’s alright. It’s great, you’ll love it there!”

“You sure?” Kale asked, looking at Jenna, “What’s it like in there?”

“You’ll really like it, Kale…” Kira said softly, kissing his cheek gently, “Just trust me, alright?” Kale smiled and kissed her back.

“Alright Kira… Come on guys, let’s go…” Kale said, everyone smiling widely now that they were reunited once more, for eternity. As the five walked into the gateway of light, the trio of outlaws began to sing one last fading verse into the silent air.

I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive.

The End