The
Trio
By: Balto5670
This story and its corresponding plotline are © 2007 Balto5670. The characters Balto, Jenna, Steele, Kaltag, Nikki, and Star are © 1995 Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The character Kira is © 2007 Kira~Ice Blooded Pack. The character Kale McGovern, Frederic Thesher, Bill Inago, Samuel McMahn, and any others are © 2007 Balto5670. The lyrics to Wanted Dead Or Alive are © Bon Jovi.
The Trio is a complete work of fiction. Any relations to any events or persons are completely coincidental.
This fanfiction is rated PG-13 for violence, gore, adult language, the consumption of alcohol, and some sexual situations.
Chapter 1
The only sounds the three dogs could hear were the thundering of hooves beneath them as they rode across the vast
“That’s our next target, I reckon!” the black and white husky shouted to his friends, lowering the jet-black bandana from in front of his muzzle, revealing a smirk on his face.
“Yep, time for the trio to strike again!” the wolfdog said, grinning as the town came closer and closer. He snapped the reigns on his horse and shot ahead of the other two, laughing as he did.
“Hey! Oh no you don’t Balto!” the black and white dog said, giving chase to Balto.
“I dare ya Kale! Try and catch me!” Balto shouted back.
“You’re on! C’mon Kaltag, let’s get ‘im!” Kale said to the tan husky, getting a nod in response and the other two shot forward after their friend in playful sport.
It took the three dogs all of five minutes to ride up to the town. Above the gate into the town was a sign that read:
Welcome to the town of
The three dogs grinned and rode their horses through the town, tipping their hats casually to everyone they passed. The townsfolk smiled to them and nodded back, unaware of their intentions. Kale looked at the dressing of everyone, noticing that many of the men carried gun holsters with their revolvers tucked inside.
So with a population of roughly 50, that’d probably mean about 30 guns, plus however many sheriffs and deputies could mean a bit of difficulty for us… But not with the trio of my own… Kale thought to himself and grinned as he stared down at the two holsters on his hips and the one on the side of his torso: three revolvers in all.
Balto had also mentally noted the number of civilians, just in case a fight did break out. He glanced down at his twin revolvers, then over to Kaltag’s singe gun, then Kale’s triple set. He smirked, knowing the three of them could take down most of the town if they were in the right place at the right time.
The trio rode up to the saloon and dismounted, tying their horses to the stile outside and walking up to the front doors. Beside them was a wanted poster. Kale glanced at it and chuckled slightly, patting Balto on his arm to get his attention.
“Hey Balto, Kaltag, get a look at this!” Kale said, smiling at the poster, tearing it of the wall and handing it to Balto. It read:
Wanted: Balto McLane, Kaltag Lorden, and Kale McGovern
Dead or Alive
$500 per dog
These dogs have committed crimes across the states of
Beneath the words were three pictures, a sketch of each outlaw. Balto scoffed and handed it to Kaltag, who gave the same reaction.
“Well, they got your face pretty good, Kale!” Kaltag said, handing it back to the husky, “You’d better watch out! With a picture that good, you’re bound to have everyone after you!”
“That would depend, Kal…” Kale retorted, a sly grin on his face, “If by ‘everyone,’ you mean every girl in the state of
Kale laughed when Kaltag tried to hit him on the head. Balto snickered and stepped inside the saloon, followed by his friends. The establishment was completely vacant aside from a couple of dogs sitting at a table at the far wall, talking amongst themselves and sipping drinks. The trio walked up and each took stools at the bar.
“Barkeep! Three beers!” Balto called down to the Great Dane behind the bar. The dog took out three amber bottles, pulled the tops off, and slid them down the polished wood surface to the three outlaws. Balto raised his drink and grinned.
“To the trio that’s still got their rep goin’!” Balto said and Kaltag and Kale joined him, raising their beers as well. The three then tilted their drinks back and took a long swig of the cool liquid, certain that absolutely nothing could stop them. Nothing.
As soon as their bottles were empty, Balto pulled out a few coins and paid the bartender before the three stood up and walked outside again. Leaving their horses tied up, the trio made their way through town, examining every building and getting a mental map of the place. Once they had that down, they found the gun store and walked inside.
Like every other gun store they’d ever been in, various guns lined the walls and counters around the shop. Immediately, Kale went over to the revolvers and began looking at them with interest. Balto and Kaltag wandered about the store, looking at everything they had. Just then, the shop owner, a German Shepherd of about 25 came out from the back room and smiled at the three.
“Hello fellas!” he greeted cheerfully, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“No thanks…” Balto said, “We’ll let you know if we need anyth-”
“Hey, guys! Check this out!” Kale called over to them, holding up a shiny silver revolver, beaming at it, “Ah, this is excellent!” The shop owner smiled and pointed to the pistol.
“That’s the new model of the Colt Peacemaker,” he explained with pride, “Probably the best pistol out there.”
“May I see how it handles?” Kale asked, getting a nod from the owner who led him outside and around to the back of the shop where a target was set up, “Alright baby, let’s see what you can do…”
Kale twirled the revolver around his index finger a few times before tossing it up in the air and catching in inside the trigger-guard and twirling it again with his left hand in a smooth motion. He tossed the gun over his shoulder and caught it in his right hand, brining it back forward and opening the chamber. He pulled out a bullet from his bandolier and loaded it in one of the slots, closing it and smirking. Kale then went back to his fancy twirling, tossing it back and forth before grabbing it in his right hand, raising it, pulling back the hammer, and firing in one smooth, fluid motion. The gun went off and the bullet struck the center of the target, receiving a satisfactory grin from Kale.
“Damn! I love this gun!” he exclaimed, handing it back to the shop owner who promptly began cleaning it off as the two walked back into the store, “Do you have a set of three?”
“Nope, sorry. Only have two for sale, but I do have three. They’re fifty dollars a pistol, by the way…” the Shepherd explained.
“You have three, but only two are for sale? Why’s that?” Kale asked, pulling out five twenty-dollar bills.
“Someone reserved one…” the Shepherd explained, taking the money and putting it the register.
“Reserved one? Who reserved the third one?”
As if by magic, the door opened and another black and white husky walked inside, dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, a gold star pinned to his shirt. He had the same coat and eyes of Kale, but was built bulkier than most dogs. The dog took a quick look at the three newcomers and scoffed slightly. He walked up to the counter and pushed Kale out of the way.
“I put a down-payment on one of those new Colt pistols…” the dog said, “It’s under the name of Sheriff Steele…”
The Shepherd nodded and walked around to the back room once more. Steele tipped his hat back a bit and turned around, staring at Balto. He chuckled darkly and walked up to him.
“You look familiar, half-breed…” Steele said insultingly, “Do I know you from somewhere? Maybe I saw your family out on the prairie!”
Steele laughed to himself and Balto’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Steele. The wolfdog’s hands balled up into fists as he seriously considered decking the husky right there and then. Kaltag shook his head ‘no’ and Balto let his hands relax again.
“Hey, leave ‘im alone…” Kale said defensively, “He didn’t do anything to you…”
Steele then turned on Kale. He slowly advanced on the husky and looked him over. He grabbed him by his white shirt and pulled him up into the air easily. Kale gave no reaction, even as his feet were lifted off the ground.
“You may look like me, boy… But that doesn’t mean I’ll like you…” Steele growled softly, “Learn to stay out of matters that don’t involve you and you’ll be just fine…”
Steele dropped Kale back to the floor and the husky went back to the counter. The German Shepherd came back around with three polished wood boxed and placed them on the counter. He handed one to Steele and the sheriff looked inside, smiling at the revolver inside. He motioned to the other two boxes.
“Who’re they for?” he inquired, staring down at the boxes on the counter. The Shepherd pointed to Kale and Steele cocked a brow in interest.
“Huh… Well, not only do you have some good looks boy, but you’ve got good taste in guns…” he said, “I still don’t see why you protected that half-breed… Ah, maybe you’ll learn…”
Steele took his box and walked toward the door. As he passed Kale, Kale gave the sheriff a fake friendly smile. Once the husky had left the store, Kale groaned in disgust and turned back to Balto.
“Bastard…” he muttered, “Not only is he full of himself, but he took the third gun…”
Balto and Kaltag laughed as Kale walked to the counter and picked up his new guns. He pulled two out of their holsters and tucked one in the waistband of his jeans. He then grinned at Kaltag and tossed him one of his old ones. Kaltag gave his friend a look of confusion.
“It’s all yours, Kal,” Kale said, placing his new revolvers in their holsters, “You were the only one of us with less than two pistols, so now you’ve got two!”
“Thanks Kale…” Kaltag replied, smiling at him with gratification, “This’ll help me in gunfights!”
Kale gave his friend a thumbs-up sign before walking outside again with Balto and Kaltag, back into the bright sunlight.
The three outlaws and friends spent the rest of the day loitering and milling about the town, just to see what Silent Spring had to offer them. They laughed at jokes one another told and stories they all suspected were fakes- and they all turned out to be fake. Time seemed to fly and before they knew it, it was night and they were back in the saloon, sitting at the bar.
“Thank you,” Balto said to the barkeeper who’d just handed them three keys for rental rooms above the saloon, paying the dog before turning back and looking at the crowd who’d just gathered in the saloon.
“So many people come at night…” Kaltag stated, taking a drink of his beer, “It’s simply incredible, it’s unbelievable, it’s stunning, it’s-”
“Kal, do we need to hit you?” Balto asked, looking at the tan husky. Kaltag shook his head and the two took a long drink of their drinks.
Meanwhile, Kale sat in silence, his knife out and holding a single bullet in his hand. His eyes were narrowed to a steel-like gaze that hardly blinked and stayed locked on the sole bullet in his hand. Using his knife, he scratched a target’s name into the side of the bullet:
Steele.
“Whatcha doin’ Kale?” Balto asked, snatching the bullet and looking at the engraving and chuckling, “You’re not seriously planning on killing the sheriff, are you?”
“Wouldn’t you want to, ‘half-breed’?” Kale asked, taking the bullet back while quoting Steele as he continued to perfect his engraving, “He seriously pisses me off… Jerk… I’d so love to put this round through him, but I can wait…”
“True… True…” Balto replied, taking another swig of alcohol.
“He’s the most malicious, the most self-centered, the most undignified-” Kaltag stated, beginning to ramble on until Balto hit him in his arm.
“We get the point, Kaltag…” the wolfdog replied.
“But I was just-”
“We get the point, Kaltag,” Balto repeated, giving him a look that told him to stop. Kaltag went back to surveying the crowd and drinking his beer.
A minute later, Kale grinned and stowed his knife. He held up the bronze bullet and stared at it with satisfaction. Steele’s name carved into the side made his grin widen as he replaced it in a special pouch on his bandolier, downing the rest of his drink before pulling out a rag and wiping off his revolvers.
Just then, the front doors opened and a female husky walked into the saloon and took a seat at the bar. She wore jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt. She had a radiant coat of a red back and white front. Her arms and hands were white and Balto reasoned that her legs were white as well. Her red hair fell down to her shoulders and she had a red bandana tied around her neck. Balto’s mouth dropped open and Kale looked at him in confusion.
“Hey, Balto. You alright? Hello? Hey, Balt, you still with us?” he asked, pointing into the wolfdog’s eyes and pointing in the direction he was staring, spotting the husky as well, “OH!!! Now I see!”
“What is it?” Kaltag asked Kale, turning to look at the dog his friend motioned to, “Whoa! She’s a real beauty! Nice spotting Balto!”
Balto remained silent, completely transfixed by the female. As the barkeeper walked by, Balto grabbed the dog’s arm and motioned to the girl.
“Hey, who is that over at the bar? The red and white husky?” asked Balto, unable to take his eyes off of her. The Great Dane followed Balto’s directions to the female and nodded as he recognized her.
“Oh, that there’s Miss Jenna McMahn,” he explained to the wolfdog, “She’s the most beautiful girl you’ll find for miles around. She’s got the eyes of most men ‘round here, even the sheriff!”
“Whoa, hold on. Sheriff Steele?” Kale asked seriously, growling softly as the barkeeper nodded and walked away.
“Jenna… Jenna McMahn…” Balto repeated, almost as if he was in a daze or trance.
“Hate to break it to ya Balto, but there’s a little red flag going up… She’s off-limits unless you wanna end up on the gallows…” Kale answered, replacing his revolvers.
“I’m gonna go talk to her,” Balto said, getting up and beginning his approach toward her.
“Good luck pal!” Kaltag shouted after him before looking to Kale, “He’s gonna get burned, isn’t he?”
“Oh ya…” Kale replied, placing his feet up on a nearby unoccupied chair, “Hope he comes back with his pride, at least…”
Balto took a deep breath to prepare himself as he reached Jenna and sat down beside her. He cleared his throat and tipped his hat to her.
“Evening, miss…” Balto said politely to Jenna, Jenna looked at him and smiled warmly to the newcomer.
“Good evening sir,” Jenna replied, turning to get a better look at him, “I don’t think I’ve seen you around town before. Did you just arrive at Silent Spring recently?”
“Uh, yeah, I just arrived with my friends…” Balto said, grinning inwardly at his cunning slip past the truth, “We’re travelers. We’ve been from many different towns… What about you?”
“I’ve lived here my whole life…” Jenna answered cheerfully, “I work for the gun store every other day… I had today off though, so I’ll be working again tomorrow. So, do you like it here, Mr.- er, I’m sorry…”
“Oh, the name’s Balto,” he answered, “And yes, I’m enjoying my time here, Miss…” Jenna smiled and held out her hand.
“Jenna McMahn,” Jenna replied, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Balto.” Balto smirked and shook her hand back.
“Call me Balto,” he said, “The locals seem very friendly… Except for that sheriff… something’s not right with him…”
“Oh, that’s Steele… Yeah, he got the position because he was the most experienced gunfighter in the town…” Jenna explained to Balto, “He’s not exactly the friendliest dog in town… and his friends are the deputies and they’re not much better…”
“Doesn’t sound too good…” Balto responded, glancing back at his friends to see worried looks on their faces. He followed their gaze to the door and closed his eyes in frustration.
Standing at the sliding doors at the entrance were three dogs. Leading them was none other than Sheriff Steele. He spotted Jenna and Balto and growled softly, motioning to his deputies and leading them over to Balto. He smirked at the wolfdog and chuckled darkly.
“You still hanging around, eh wolfdog?” Steele asked patronizingly, “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your friends?”
“Maybe,” Balto retorted, “Who’re your pals?”
“This is Star, and this is Nikki- and they’re the deputies of Silent Spring…” Steele corrected, glaring at Balto, “Now are you gonna get up or do I have to make you move?”
No sooner had Steele said those words than Kaltag and Kale rose to their feet and walked up to the small group by the bar. Each dog had a look of disdain on their face for the sheriff and his deputies as they came to their friend’s defense.
“What’s going on here?” Kale asked angrily, “Steele, can’t you leave ‘im alone for a single moment?” Steele scoffed and turned to face Kale.
“I thought you would’ve learned sooner, boy… Guess I was wrong…” Steele replied and grabbed Kale’s shirt, tossing him to the wooden floor.
Kale growled and got to his feet again. He exchanged glares with Steele and pulled out his marked bullet. He grinned slightly, his eyes still narrowed in anger as he held the bullet up.
“You seem like the type who enjoys a challenge Steele… Am I right?” Kale asked vindictively. Steele laughed slightly and nodded slowly.
“Sure, what challenge is this then?”
Kale pulled out one of his two new revolvers and loaded the single bullet into the chamber. He spun it and then pulled out his other revolver. He stared at the two completely identical matching pistols, then up at Steele.
“Do you know which gun has the bullet in it?” Kale asked the sheriff, receiving yet another scoff from the husky.
“Of course, I just saw you load it!” Steele replied in a matter-of-factly tone, pointing to the pistol in his right hand, “It’s in this one.”
Kale’s grin widened and Balto and Kaltag smirked, knowing this trick all too well. The husky then tossed both revolvers into the air, stunning Steele, Nikki, Star, Jenna, and all the on-lookers. He caught each one in the opposite hand, then continued juggling them back and forth between each hand, then began twirling them back and forth and tossing them over his shoulder and catching them. After several minutes, Kale held out both to Steele and chuckled.
“Now which one has the bullet in it?” he asked sinisterly. Steele’s brow became wet with his sweat as he looked at the two similar pistols. After a few minutes, he pointed to the gun in Kale’s left hand. Kale pulled the hammer back on the left pistol and aimed it at Steele’s head.
“W-what are you doing? Are you insane?!?!” Steele asked in a scared voice, backing up a bit.
“Let’s see if you were right, Sheriff!” Kale said and pulled the trigger.
The sound of the hammer hitting the empty chamber with a click sounded through the silent saloon. Steele sighed heavily with relief and returned to his relaxed posture. He glared at the trio before motioning to Nikki and Star and walking out of the saloon. After a few moments, activity resumed like it previously had.
“Heh, idiot…” Kale said, smirking at Balto, Kaltag, and Jenna as he opened both chambers to show they were both empty, “I took the bullet out during one of the twists. He had nothing to be afraid of!”
“Did you see the look on his face?” Balto asked, bursting into laughter, “Priceless!”
“It was the most amusing, the most entertaining, the most humorous-” Kaltag said, but stopped when Balto shot him a quick glance that told him to shut up.
“How did you do that?” Jenna asked Kale, “The twirling and juggling, I mean.” Kale grinned and put his twin revolvers back in their holsters, pulling out the tagged bullet from within his sleeve and replacing it in the pouch.
“I taught myself that… Ask Balto. I’ve been with him for years, from when I started just learning those tricks to now, when I’ve mastered them,” Kale answered. Balto nodded and smiled at Jenna.
“That’s really interesting! I have a friend in town you should meet!” Jenna said, smiling at the trio before getting up, “Well, I’d better be getting home before my Dad worries about me. Nice to meet you Balto and friends!”
Balto tipped his hat once more to Jenna and Kaltag and Kale nodded to her. Once she walked out, Balto sighed softly, a grin on his face. Kale saw this and smirked, chuckling to himself.
“Well, is the famous Balto McLane losing his mind or something else?” Kale asked, glancing at him.
“Damn… And I thought I was a thief, but she’s stolen-” Balto began.
“I swear, you say ‘She’s stolen my heart’ and I’ll shoot you through the leg… You’re an outlaw, not Shakespeare’s Romeo…” Kale stated suddenly. Balto chuckled and shook his head.
“Yeah, you’re probably right… C’mon, let’s get some rest… Tomorrow, we’ll scope out the bank…” Balto said in a hushed tone and walked toward the stairs, his partners following behind him.
However, all the way up to his room, all Balto could think about was the beautiful Jenna McMahn.
Chapter 2
The very moment the dawn sun came over the eastern horizon, Balto was up and dressed. He was more than eager to go and see Jenna again and he’d be damned if he was stopped. As he silently snuck out of his room and walked down into the saloon and outside onto the porch, a very familiar voice stopped him.
“Where are you off to so quickly?”
Balto gasped and spun around, instinctively drawing and raising his revolver. He realized the dog that was leaning against the wall he was aiming at was Kale. The husky smirked and continued drawing something on his sketch pad.
“Kale, I almost shot you dead right there and then…” Balto said with a sigh of relief as he re-holstered his pistol, “What’re you doin’ up so early?”
“What’re you doin’ up so early?” he returned, giving the wolfdog a witty smile.
“I was… gonna go look around the town…” Balto lied, turning and walking down the steps of the porch.
“It’s not open yet…” Kale shouted after him. Balto stopped and turned back to face Kale.
“What’re you talking about?”
“The gun store; it’s not open yet,” Kale answered, walking down to him, “I know you were goin’ there to see Miss Jenna. Don’t even try to lie to me, Balt.”
Balto laughed weakly and smiled sheepishly at Kale. He shook his head slowly and sighed dejectedly.
“No, I wasn’t going to go see Jenna!” Balto replied, blatantly lying, “I need to pick up some more ammo for my pistols and our guns back at the house! Sheesh, I think I can handle myself around a girl!”
“Really? Because yesterday you were head-over-heels for her…” Kale responded suspiciously, “Well, if you say you have everything under control, I trust ya…”
Kale walked over to his horse and replaced his sketch pad and pencil in one of the large pouches on the side of the saddle. He turned back to Balto and smirked at him.
“Take care, partner…” he replied before turning and walking back into the saloon.
Balto was about to walk down the road but wondered what Kale had been drawing. Walking up to his friend’s horse, he pulled out the sketch pad and opened it to the last page with drawings on it. It was a detailed map of the entire town of Silent Spring, including the fastest way to get out of the town from the bank and from the saloon. The wolfdog sighed and returned the pad to its home.
Walking down the dusty streets of Silent Spring, Balto eventually found himself standing in front of the gun store. He pulled out his pewter pocket watch and checked the time. It had just turned 7 AM. Not a minute had passed before Balto heard the latch on the front door open and the store opened.
Grinning to himself, Balto replaced his pocket watch and quickly trotted up the front steps of the porch and up to the door. He straightened out the collar on his blue cotton shirt and took a deep breath before placing his hand on the doorknob and pulling it open. Stepping into the familiar gun store, Balto looked around and saw no one. He took a few steps forward and grinned when he heard a voice from the back room.
“I’ll be with you in a moment!” came the sweet voice of Jenna.
Balto felt his heart flutter slightly as he walked over to the display shelf where the revolvers were kept. He grabbed three boxed the size of a matchbox, each one filled with pistol bullets and brought them up to the counter and waited, turning to look over the weapons. It wasn’t long before Jenna came around and smiled at the customer who was facing the guns.
“Hello sir! See any gun you fancy?” she asked, not realizing it was Balto until he turned around, “Oh hey, it’s you! Balto, right?” The gray-brown wolfdog smirked and chuckled softly.
“Yep, you got me Miss McMahn!” he replied, handing her the three boxes, “And no thanks. Just need these here bullets, is all.”
“Sure thing! They’re a dollar a box,” Jenna said and took the three bills held in Balto’s hand, “Thank you sir!” Balto laughed softly and smiled at Jenna.
“Please, call me Balto.”
“Then you call me Jenna, deal?” Jenna asked, getting another smirk from Balto.
“Deal…” Balto replied and picked up the boxes of ammo, “So, Jenna, how old are you?” Jenna gave Balto a strange, almost irritated look.
“Excuse me?”
“Well, my friends and I were debating this after you left last night and I’d say you were 22… Am I close?” Balto asked and Jenna smiled, pushing a lock of her long red hair out from in front of her eyes.
“You’re right on the mark, Balto. I’m 22 alright,” she answered and turned around, organizing some boxes in the cabinet behind the counter, “So, I take it you shoot often? Have you ever shot anyone before?”
“Yep, sure have,” Balto answered, “In self-defense though, of course… How ‘bout you? You shoot?” Jenna nodded quickly, surprising Balto.
“Yep! My Dad taught me how to shoot when I was 18. After a year of practice, I became really good at it!” Jenna said, smiling at herself.
“Ah… Well alright Jenna, how ‘bout a little challenge then?” Balto offered, grinning slyly, “How ‘bout you take me on in a shooting contest? First one to smash their bottles in the lowest amount of rounds wins… You up to it?”
“What, do you think I just started shooting yesterday? You’re on!” Jenna replied challengingly, “Meet me around the back of the store in fifteen minutes and I’ll show you what I can do!”
Balto smirked and walked out of the store, walking down the little alleyway at the side. He arrived at the shooting range where Kale had practiced before and pulled out one of his matching revolvers. He twirled it on his index finger as he waited for Jenna. After fifteen minutes passed, Jenna came walking out with a crate and set it down beside Balto. Inside were many empty glass bottles. She pulled two out and set them up on the stand roughly thirty feet away from them.
“You ready, Balto?” Jenna asked playfully, pulling out her revolver and loading six bullets into it, “Let’s see what you can do… You all loaded up?”
Balto smirked and answered by pointing his pistol up in the air and pulling the trigger. The gun fired and the shot echoed through the quiet town.
“Yep… Now, tell me when to go…” he said, replacing the single bullet he’d fired off. Jenna cocked her pistol and grinned.
“GO!!!” she called out and raised her gun. Balto did the exact same thing and both bottles exploded into shards in one shot simultaneously. Balto and Jenna exchanged impressed looks.
“Alright, let’s see how you do with two bottles…” Jenna said, setting up four bottles, “Go!”
Once more, two bottles shattered, then two more in near-perfect unison. Jenna set up three and Balto held his pistol sideways. As soon as Jenna gave the signal, he fired, then again, and again, using the muzzle-jump to target the next one. The next three hours just blew by as the two dogs shot bottle after bottle, pulling off several fancy tricks every so often.
“You’re pretty good Balto!” Jenna complimented, reloading her pistol, “Now, one more round…”
Jenna set up the last two bottles and grinned. Just as she was about to give the signal to fire, two gunshots were heard behind them. The bullets ricocheted off the fence surrounding the shooting range and smashed the two glass bottles. Balto growled and turned around to tell the intruder to get lost until he saw Steele, holding his new peacemaker.
“Well, well… What’s wrong with this picture?” he asked in a mocking tone, “Jenna, didn’t your daddy ever tell you not to play with wolves? They’re dangerous, ya know…”
“Look here Steele, I know you have something against me, so just leave us alone and everything will be fine…” Balto said, glaring at the sheriff.
“I don’t think you understand the way things work around here, half-breed…” the sheriff replied maliciously, taking slow, steady strides toward his enemy, “I’m the law… What I say goes… So when I say ‘get lost,’ you get lost, no questions asked, understand?”
Balto glared at Steele with a fiery hatred before turning and walking off. He exchanged one final glance with Jenna before he walked out of sight. Steele smirked and scoffed at the vanishing figure of the wolfdog. He turned back to Jenna and re-holstered his revolver.
“Why’d you go and do that Steele? He hasn’t done anything wrong!” Jenna protested, but sighed dejectedly when the sheriff merely laughed.
“Jen, part of my job as sheriff is to protect the town from possible threats… All I need to know is that mutt is part wolf to know he’s dangerous…” Steele casually explained, “Plus his friend almost killed me last night if I hadn’t been so lucky…”
“Even if you picked the other gun you still wouldn’t have gotten shot! It was all just a trick; a mind game!” Jenna stated, irritated with the dog before her, “His friend unloaded his pistol during one of his stunts. Neither of them were loaded!”
Steele had an expression mixed of anger, confusion, and surprise. After a moment, he sighed and dropped his arms to his side. He looked down at his boots for a moment, then back up into Jenna’s amber eyes.
“Look, I have no vendetta against any of that half-breed’s friends- yet… But I’m keeping my eyes on them… I know they’ll do something wrong eventually…” Steele said darkly.
Jenna sighed heavily and walked back into the gun shop from the back door- only to find Balto at the counter, a sly smirk on his face. She smirked back and walked up to him.
“Miss me?” he asked playfully.
“Yeah, while you were gone for all of three minutes…” Jenna replied, hearing the door open and seeing a pitch-black wolfdog walk in, “Hey Kira! How’re you today?”
Kira walked up to the counter and smiled at her friend. In contrast to her black coat, she wore a white linen shirt and jeans, like everyone else did. Her eyes were a bright orange and although wolf was visible on her, she seemed more like a Sarloos Wolf Hound than anything else. She looked at Balto and then back to Jenna.
“Is this the guy you said I have to meet?” she asked Jenna, “The one who can do all those tricks with his pistols?” Balto thought, then realized she was speaking of Kale.
“No, I’m not him,” Balto replied, smiling back, “But I know who you’re looking for. You’re looking for-” Before Balto could finish, the door opened and that very person walked inside, dressed in his usual white shirt and jeans.
“Kale!” Balto said enthusiastically as Kale walked up to him, “I have someone who wants to meet you!”
“Look here Balt, if you think you can distract me from you lying to me, then you’re wrong! You told me you weren’t gonna come he-” Kale started, but stopped when he saw Kira, “Um, hello… Who’s this?”
“This is the friend I said you should meet!” Jenna said cheerfully to Kale, “This is my friend Kira. Kira, this is Balto’s friend, um, I’m sorry, I don’t know your name…”
“Kale… Kale McGovern…” he said, tipping his hat to Kira.
“Kira Thesher…” Kira replied, smiling warmly at Kale, “Jenna says you can do some pretty neat tricks with your pistols. Is that true?”
“Yep, every word of it!” Kale said, smiling in self satisfaction, “Wanna see?”
Kira nodded and Kale pulled out two of his revolvers. He spun both of them around on his index fingers a few times before tossing one up in the air and catching it behind his back, spinning it around behind him while still spinning the one in front of him. He tossed the one behind him over his shoulder and traded hands with the guns, still twirling them expertly. After a few more moments, he began to juggle them back and forth while spinning them, grinning as he focused on his tricks and stunts.
Kale then decided to get a little fancier and nodded to Balto. The wolfdog walked behind his friend and pulled Kale’s third pistol out of his back holster. He walked back to the counter and whistled, tossing the revolver to Kale. The husky gracefully caught it and added it to his juggling trick, now tossing three in the air, over his shoulder, and from hand to hand. Kira and Jenna watched in amazement as Kale finished up by tossing one of his revolvers high into the air and quickly re-holstering his older one before catching his two new peacemakers, twirling them, and re-holstering them at his sides, a grin on his face.
“Wow! That was really impressive Kale!” Kira said, taking a few steps closer to him, “How’d you learn to do that?” Kale shrugged and grinned at Kira.
“I taught myself to do the twirling… After that, I just experimented with what I could do with a pistol until eventually, I got this…” he answered, pulling out one revolver, twirling and tossing it before re-holstering it, “After that, I just practiced until I got it down pat…”
“Well, aren’t you talented?” Kira asked playfully, pulling off Kale’s hat and shoving it in his face and laughing. Kale replaced his hat on his head and laughed as well.
“So, what brought you to Silent Spring?” Kira asked sweetly. Kale’s face flushed and he glanced nervously at Balto. The wolfdog just gave him a shrug and leaned against the counter. Great… What do I say? “Well, my friends and I are wanted outlaws and we’re here to rob the bank?” he thought to himself as he swallowed slightly.
“We’re just passing through… Temporary visit… We’re travelers…” Kale said, lying fairly well. Fortunately, Kira bought into it.
“Wow… I bet you’ve seen many different towns, huh?” Kira asked with interest.
“Yeah, we’ve been all throughout the states of
“Do you have a house nearby?” Kira asked, obviously interested in their lifestyle.
“More or less…” Kale responded, “It’s about a two or three hour ride from here, so I suppose you could say so…”
Kale smiled at Kira, getting a strange sort-of feeling he’d never experienced before. He thought for a moment, desperate to start up a conversation again. After a moment of awkward silence, Kale opened his mouth to speak again.
“Um, hey Kira? Would you maybe like to go for a walk around town?” he asked a little sheepishly, “I’d like to get to know you and the town a little better.”
“Sure thing Kale!” Kira answered enthusiastically, “Come on!”
Kale was a little surprised when Kira simply grabbed his arm and led him toward the door. He cast a quick glance back at Balto, who was silently snickering to himself as he mouthed the words’ Good luck.’ Kale smirked back as he was dragged out of the store and out of view. Balto chuckled and turned back to Jenna.
“So Jenna, who was that other dog who was working here yesterday?” he asked casually.
“Oh, that was my friend Samuel. He and I alternate shifts here at the shop by days,” Jenna answered, “We’ve been friends since we were kids… He always wanted to run this shop and he was given it when his father died… I got employed to help him out- and to bring in a little extra money.”
Balto nodded understandingly. All thoughts of robbing the town of Silent Spring was erased from his mind with every second he spent with Jenna. Everything was silent for a few moments before Jenna finally spoke up again.
“Kira seems to like your friend Kale…” she said with a soft smile.
“And Kale seems to like her as well,” Balto stated, smiling back at Jenna.
“Say Balto… If it’s alright with you, would you like to come to my house for dinner?” Jenna offered sweetly. Balto smiled and nodded vigorously to her.
“You bet Jen! I’d love to come over for dinner sometime!” Balto accepted quickly, getting a soft laugh from Jenna.
“Great! I’ll see you at 7:30 then? Is that good for you?” Jenna asked.
“Yep! 7:30 it is!” Balto responded, opening the door, “So long, Jenna!”
With that, Balto left as one happy wolfdog.
Later that day, just as the sun was setting and the moon was rising, Kale and Kira walked down the dusty streets, talking and laughing. For once in his life, the young outlaw wore a smile created out of a joy, but not a joy from materialistic items or a victory over a battle. He was smiling out of affection.
“You know Kira, you’re the first girl I’ve spent this much time with…” Kale stated, “And I’m very happy about it…”
“I’m happy for you, Kale… You seem like a really nice guy…” Kira replied sweetly, “I really enjoy spending time with you… I’m glad I met you…”
Kale felt his heart flutter slightly inside his chest and knew precisely what was happening to him. He was falling in love. The two walked until they came to a house set just near the outskirts of Silent Spring; Kira’s house. Kale walked Kira up to the door and smiled warmly at her.
“I’d like you to have this, Kira,” Kale said, handing her his third pistol, “Just a little gift to remember me by… And don’t bother telling me you can’t accept it, because I insist you keep it…” Kira smiled and held the revolver tightly.
“Thanks Kale… I won’t ever lose it…” she promised, smiling warmly.
“Well, I hope you had a great day, Kira…” the love-struck husky said softly, staring into Kira’s orange eyes.
“I did Kale… Thanks…” she replied in the same soft tone. There was a moment of silence as the two stared back into one another’s eyes before the front door opened and an older jet-black wolfdog stood in the doorway, staring at the two of them.
“Kira, sweetheart, you’re home,” the wolfdog said in a friendly voice, “Who’s this young man?”
“Daddy, this is Kale McGovern. He’s just come into town with his friends,” Kira explained with a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Kale said and held out his hand to Kira’s father.
“The pleasure’s all mine, kiddo…” he replied, shaking Kale’s hand firmly, “The name’s Frederic Thesher, and any friend of my daughter’s is a friend of mine! Kale McGovern- that name sound familiar…” Kale immediately felt a twinge of fear strike him.
“Um, I don’t know why my name would sound familiar, but I’m new around here… Maybe another dog with a similar name to mine?” Kale suggested, hoping he didn’t put 2 and 2 together.
“Yeah, probably. It’s nice to meet you son,” Frederic said in a neutral tone, turning to Kira, “Kira, come on inside! Kale, you come in too! Sit down for a bit, have a drink.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thesher,” Kale said almost automatically as Kira stepped inside, following behind her.
Kale took a seat in the living room and Kira took a seat beside him. Frederic walked over to a liquor cabinet and opened it up, pulling out an aged amber bottle and turning to Kale.
“Would you like a drink, Kale?” he offered.
“Oh, no thanks…” Kale responded, somewhat unnerved by being in the presence of Kira’s father.
“Alright, suit yourself,” Frederic responded, pulling out a single glass and filling it halfway with a bronze liquid before replacing the bottle and taking his drink to an armchair opposite of the two dogs, “So Kale, where do you come from?”
“Well I was born and raised in the town of
“A hobby of yours, is that?”
“More of a profession…”
Frederic was silent for a moment as he attempted to think of what Kale meant. After a moment of thought, he came up with nothing. He decided to give up thinking about it and let it lie. After all, it probably means nothing serious… Probably just merchants or traders…
“Daddy, you should see some of the tricks Kale can do with his pistols!” Kira said excitedly, “He’s really talented!”
“Oh really?” Frederic asked, chuckling at the embarrassed look Kale got, “Well what can you do? I’d love to see these tricks!”
Kale stood up and pulled out one of his revolvers, twirling it around on his trigger finger several times before tossing it back and forth between hands while twirling it, then tossing it back and forth over his shoulder. He then pulled out his second one and repeated the spinning tricks with dual pistols out. He then moved onto his juggling routine, catching both of them expertly every time. After his performance, he stowed his guns and sat down again. Frederic laughed and applauded Kale.
“Well done!” he said, obviously impressed, “That was fantastic! Have you ever shot anyone before?”
“Yeah… I have…” Kale said, failing to mention why he’d shot all those dogs, pulling out a pocket watch and checking the time, “I’m sorry, but I really should be getting back now… My friends will be wondering where I am…”
“Alright Kale, I trust I’ll be seeing you around sometime…” Frederic said, standing and shaking the husky’s hand farewell. Kale nodded to Frederic and walked to the front door. No sooner had he stepped out the front door, when he heard Kira call to him.
“Kale! Wait!” Kira called out to him, walking out onto the porch behind him.
“Yeah?” Kale asked, turning around only to see Kira place her hands on his shoulders and gently kiss him. After a moment, they parted and Kira smiled sweetly at him.
“Goodnight Kale…” she said softly and sweetly.
“Goodnight, Kira… Sweet dreams…” Kale responded in a soft whisper.
He watched Kira walk back inside before walking down the steps and back toward the saloon, a large smile on his face. Along the way through the town, he passed Balto and tipped his hat to his friend, not really caring where he was going to. Walking back into the crowded saloon, Kale walked up to his room- only to find the door was open a crack.
Kale stared cautiously at the door for a moment before pulling out one of his new pacemakers and pulling back the hammer. He placed a hand on the door and pushed it open slowly and silently. His eyes scanned the dark room as he stepped inside, pistol leveled, ready to shoot at anything. As soon as he got to the oil lamp on the nightstand, he sighed and lowered the hammer down on his revolver- only to be grabbed around the neck.
Kale gasped slightly as he was jerked backwards and the door was closed. His pistol fell from his hand and clattered to the wooden floor. The grip around his neck tightened and Kale began to choke as a sinister voice whispered into his ear.
“Ya know, you’re pretty slippery… I’ve been trying to catch you all day, but you kept getting out of my sight…” came a hushed whisper from the voice of Steele, “But now I’ve got you… and you’re gonna tell me why you and your pals are really in town…”
Kale grunted as he tried to squirm away from Steele’s grip. After a few moments of struggling, Kale elbowed the evil husky in his stomach, gaining his freedom and diving for his pistol. He rolled onto his back and pointed his gun at Steele as his enemy regained his composure, a shocked look on his face. Kale smirked, pulled the hammer back, and pulled the trigger.
Click!
His pistol was empty. Kale gritted his teeth as he remembered unloading it to show off his tricks to take some weight off the guns to make it a little bit easier and he’d never reloaded them. Steele walked over to Kale as the husky stowed his empty pistol and felt a hand grab his shirt. He was lifted off the floor and into the air, staring down into the face of the sheriff. Steele hit Kale in the side of his face before tossing him to the bed.
As Kale got up, he dashed for the door- only to feel something hard smash against his head and he collapsed to the floor. He rolled onto his back, his vision badly blurred. Around him, shards of glass lay strewn across the wood-paneled floor and knew Steele had hit him with the wall mirror. As Steele approached the downed husky, Kale lay weak on the ground.
Steele smirked and scoffed as he picked Kale up again, this time by the throat and tightened his grip forcefully around the dog’s neck. Kale gasped and choked as he flailed about in the sheriff’s strong grip. His already blurred vision began to spin and his head was pounding. Steele laughed with evil triumph as Kale’s body relaxed and went limp, his vision going black as he passed out.
Balto arrived promptly at Jenna’s house just as the time turned 7:30. He knocked on the door and straightened out his leather jacket just before the door opened and Jenna smiled at him.
“Hey Balto! You’re right on time! Come in!” Jenna said, opening the door for him. Balto tipped his hat to her and stepped inside, looking around the nicely-furnished house.
“Wow… You have a nice home here, Jenna…” Balto complimented, slowly striding through the rooms, admiring everything.
“Thanks… It’s a shame you couldn’t meet my Dad tonight though…” she replied, catching Balto’s attention.
“Wait, your Dad’s not here?” he asked.
“Nope, he’s out of town on business errands…” Jenna answered, then froze suddenly, “Oh shoot, I’ve left the stove on!”
Jenna quickly walked through the room and into an adjacent one. Balto slowly followed her around and into a dining room. In another room to the left was the kitchen, where Jenna was. Balto took off his leather jacket and placed it on the back of his chair before sitting down in it. Jenna then came out with a basket of sliced bread and set it down on the circular dining table.
“I hope you like stew, because I made my special recipe tonight!” Jenna said proudly, going back into the kitchen and bringing out a pot filled with a delicious-smelling stew.
“It smells absolutely heavenly, Jen…” Balto replied as he sniffed the air.
“Thanks Balto,” replied Jenna, spooning out the stew into two bowls and handing one to Balto before sitting down and taking her own bowl, “I hope you like it.” Balto took a spoonful, then another, and another.
“Mmm, it’s delicious Jenna!” Balto said ecstatically, “You’re an excellent cook!” Jenna smiled and blushed.
“Thanks…” she said sheepishly.
Once their meal was finished, Balto checked the clock on the wall and saw the time was 8:15 PM. Jenna smiled and led Balto around to the living room at the front of the house. She sat down on a couch and patted the seat beside her. The young wolfdog got the hint and sat down beside the beautiful husky.
“Balto?”
“Yeah Jenna?” Balto asked softly, looking at her as she looked at him.
“I know this may seem sudden, especially since we’ve only known each other for a day…”
Yes? Balto thought.
“But I really like being with you…”
Yeeesss…
“And, I think I’m falling in love with you…”
YES!!!
“… but I can’t… If I do, Steele may hurt you- and I don’t want you to get hurt…”
Damn…
“Jenna, don’t worry about me and Steele… I can take care of myself… Just do whatever you feel is right and what your heart tells you to do…” Balto replied, holding Jenna close to him, “Now don’t you go worrying about me or Kale or Kaltag… We can handle ourselves… Trust me…” Jenna placed a hand on Balto’s chest and nodded.
“Alright… I trust you, Balto… Just promise me you’ll be careful… Steele’s been known to be very cruel…” Jenna said softly. Balto was silent for a moment before speaking only two words.
“I promise…”
The two dogs sat there cuddling for the next few minutes. The silence was calming and everything seemed perfect. Balto pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time once more. 8:30 PM. Balto sighed and looked back at Jenna.
“I’d better go before my friends wonder where I am…” Balto stated, “Goodnight Jenna…”
Balto was about to get up until he leaned forward and kissed Jenna. The two remained locked in their kiss for several moments until Balto slowly pulled back. He then realized what he’d done and opened his mouth to apologize, but was silenced when Jenna kissed him back. Minutes later, the two had finished kissing and they both smiled happily.
“Alright, now I should go…” he said, grinning at Jenna, “Goodnight Jenna…”
Balto stood up and walked toward the door. He pulled it open and walked out into the dark town. Jenna watched from the window as Balto walked into the street and then toward the saloon. Balto arrived at the saloon to see it packed, like it had been the night before. He went upstairs and knocked on the door to Kale’s room.
“Kale, you in there?” Balto asked, getting no response, “Kale, pal, say something. Are you in there?”
Still nothing. Balto growled softly and twisted the doorknob- and the door opened. The wolfdog’s face took an expression of concern as he opened the door and stepped inside. The room was messed up: the bed had been shifted, the mirror had been shattered all across the floor, and Kale was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it…” Balto muttered, running to Kaltag’s room and banging on the door, “Kaltag! Open this damn door! Kale’s in trouble!”
In a dimly-lit room in the Sheriff’s Office, an angry husky sat in a chair, his hands tied behind his back. As the wooden door opened and the sheriff stepped inside with Nikki and Star, the husky growled fiercely and struggled against his bindings. Steele laughed and stepped up to the tied-up dog, the dim light from the over-hanging oil lamp casting an illuminated orange glow across the small room.
“Well well, look who’s finally awake… Did you have a nice nap Kale?” Steele asked tauntingly.
“Damn you to Hell, Steele…” Kale muttered, “I’ll get you for this…”
“We’ll see about that…” Steele replied, cracking his knuckles, “Now, tell me, why are you, your friend, and that wolfdog here in Silent Spring?”
“Go jump off a cliff…”
Kale grunted softly as Steele punched the husky right across the side of his muzzle. He groaned and shook his head, glaring at Steele.
“Again: why are you here?”
“To annoy you…”
Once more, Kale was hit. He groaned again and tried to get up to fight Steele, but was retained by his bindings. Sighing dejectedly, he relaxed in his seat again. Steele punched him twice more before hitting the dog in his stomach. Kale coughed, spitting a bit of blood up onto the wood floor.
“One- last- time…” Steele growled angrily, glaring right into Kale’s eyes, “Why are you in Silent Spring?”
“You really wanna know?” Kale asked in a hushed whisper, “Come closer…”
Steele leaned in so he could hear Kale. The husky smirked and rammed his head against the sheriff’s, knocking him backward and to the floor. Kale shook his head to clear the slight daze and stood up, chair still attached to his arms. As Nikki pulled out a knife and lunged at him, Kale moved to the side and the deputy ended up slicing the ropes around Kale’s wrists. Now free, he grabbed the chair and kicked Nikki to the floor. As Steele rose to his feet, Kale threw the chair at him, hitting the sheriff in the chest and knocking him against the wall.
Kale thought fast and ran for his bandolier on the wall. Grabbing it and strapping it on, he kicked the door down and began to run down the hallway, loading each one of his pistols as he went. Halfway down the hall, he saw two more dogs, each one wearing a silver star of a deputy badge. Gritting his teeth, Kale took a sharp left down an adjacent hall and ran as fast as he could. The two deputies behind him drew their pistols and shot at the outlaw as Kale ran for the window at the end of the hallway, leaping through it and into the cold night air.
Balto and Kaltag arrived at the Sheriff’s Office a few minutes prior to Kale’s daring escape. The two had a pistol in each hand, ready to fire. They surveyed the two-floor office before nodding to one another. Just as they prepared to run to the door and bust in, a window on the second floor smashed outward and a familiar looking husky landed on the dusty ground, rolling a few times before stopping and scrambling to his feet.
“Kale!” Balto exclaimed, running up to his friend, “What happened?”
“Well, the sheriff’s a psychopath, his deputies are homicidal, and I’ve been beaten close to death. What do you think happened?” he asked sarcastically.
Just then, the dust around them was kicked up as a few shots hit the ground. In the window above, the two deputies who had been following Kale were firing at them. Balto raised his pistols and fired off a shot from each one, smirking as he watched one of the dogs go down.
“C’mon, we’d better beat it!” Kaltag said.
However, they never got the chance. The front door to the Sheriff’s Office opened up at eight more deputies came out, cocking their guns and aiming at the three outlaws. Balto managed to kill one more before a shot knocked his pistols out of his hands. The trio grouped together, each one growling in frustration. There was no way out.
“Freeze you three! You’re all under arrest for the assault of the sheriff of Silent Spring and the murder of two deputies!” one of them said. Just then, Steele walked out and glared at the three.
“End of the line, half-breed and friends… You messed with the wrong dog…” he shouted, giving a hand signal and the deputies surrounded the three, “Now, surrender or be shot down now…”
Balto, Kale, and Kaltag exchanged glanced before finally lowering the hammers on their guns and dropping them to the ground. They raised their hands above their heads, looks of disbelief on their faces. Steele smirked as they were cuffed and led back into the office and thrown into three separate cells.
“You’ll be tried before a court tomorrow and then- you’ll be hanged…” Steele stated, chuckling at Balto’s look of anger, “Enjoy the very last night of your lives, you outlaws… Sleep tight…”
With that, Steele let out a laugh of evil triumph and walked away, leaving the three captured outlaws with his eight deputies.
The next morning, Kira woke up, a smile on her face. All last night, the only thing she could think about was Kale. She dreamed about him, imagining every adventure he’d been on and what the future might hold. She got up and got dressed before heading downstairs and spotting her father in the kitchen, reading the newspaper. She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, smiling happily.
“Morning Dad!” she greeted cheerfully, grabbing an apple and taking a bite out of it. Frederic chuckled slightly and smiled at his daughter.
“Good morning sweetheart!” he replied warmly, going back to the newspaper, “I’m gonna have to be off soon.” Kira cocked her head slightly.
“Off to where?” she asked with interest, continuing to eat her apple.
“To the trial today… Apparently, these three guys tried to kill the sheriff and managed to kill two deputies before they got nabbed…” Frederic explained, reading it from the newspaper. Kira suddenly lost her happiness and her face went dead serious.
“What three guys? What were their names?” Kira asked quickly.
“Doesn’t say…” Frederic replied, shrugging slightly, “But the trial’s in fifteen minutes… It’s open to everyone…”
“Does that mean I can come?” asked Kira, still very nervous.
“Sure, I don’t see why not… But I thought you weren’t interested in trials?”
“I’m not,” Kira answered, “But I have a very bad feeling about this one…”
Fifteen minutes simply flew by. The courthouse was soon filled with the occupants of Silent Spring. Kira saw Jenna sitting near the front and sat down beside her friend. The two exchanged a nervous look and Kira knew she probably feared the same thing.
“Do… Do you think it’s them?” Kira asked fretfully, clasping her hands together as they waited.
“I’m not sure…” Jenna asked, her voice filled with just as much worry, “But I’m praying it’s not them…”
Just then, the judge took to his stand and the doors opened. In walked Sheriff Steele, his deputies, and the three outlaws, bound in handcuffs. Everyone muttered silently amongst themselves. Jenna and Kira gasped in fear. They had been right.
The three prisoners were handcuffed to chairs at a table before the judge and the court. The jury sat off to the side, staring at the three accused convicts. Balto had a blank, neutral expression, Kale simply smirked, and Kaltag glanced around somewhat nervously. The judge banged his gavel and a silence fell across the courtroom. The judge turned to Steele and nodded to him.
“Present the case, sheriff,” the dog stated as the husky rose to his feet and stood before the court in the center of the courtroom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your Honor, I present to you the three dogs that came into our town to deliberately cause us harm,” Steele began, pacing back and forth slowly, “They observed our daily activity and then what did they do? They made a move on the law-enforcers of Silent Spring. Last night, one of them broke into my office while me and my deputies were inside and made an attempt to kill us. He then jumped out a window and sought help from his two partners here. They then murdered two deputies before we were able to bring them to justice. Here they are now: Mr. Balto McLane, Mr. Kale McGovern, and Mr. Kaltag Lorden.”
Kale scoffed and shook his head. He leaned back in his head, arms folded across his chest. He had a look of amused disbelief on his face as he lowered the brim of his hat over his icy-blue eyes. Steele glared and him and chuckled softly.
“I’d like to call Kale to the stand!” he declared. Kale refused to move even a muscle. Steele waited a minute before speaking again. “Kale, get to the stand!” Kale lifted the brim again and smirked at Steele.
“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you over your blatant lies,” Kale retorted, “Besides, it’s kinda hard to ‘take the stand’ when you’re handcuffed to a chair!”
A few people in the audience chuckled, but were silenced by an angry glare from the sheriff. He let Kale up, brought him to the stand, and handcuffed him once more. Steele then sighed softly, now a little more relaxed that the dog was where he wanted him to be.
“Alright… Kale, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Steele asked. Kale merely shrugged and the husky continued, “Now then, is it true that you were in my office last night?”
“Well yes, but-” Kale began, but was cut off by Steele’s next question.
“And is it true that you did, in fact, inflict harm to several of my deputies, including myself?” Kale opened his mouth to speak, but Steele continued, “And did you not assist your friends in the murder of two deputies of Silent Spring?”
Kale went to speak, but sighed and leaned back in his chair. He smirked slightly, holding back a chuckle at the sheriff who was oblivious to the outlaw’s lack of interest as he continued his interrogation.
“So is it not true that you did, in fact, break several laws, including assault of several law-enforcers and the murder of two of them?” Steele finished, turning back to Kale and staring into his eyes fiercely. Kale casually glanced around the courtroom before returning his gaze to Steele.
“Oh, were you done? Sorry… See, I thought the points of trials were to ask questions and get answers on what happened, not have crooked sheriffs bark questions at you every two seconds…” Kale remarked wittily, “Can I answer now or are you going to cut me off again, Sheriff?”
Steele growled, but low enough so only Kale could hear him. “Answer-the-questions…” he snarled softly, his eyes burning with anger.
“Yes to all of them, but the only reason I did any of them was because you kidnapped me!” Kale snapped back. The courtroom was once more filled with low murmurs. Steele, however, kept his cool and turned around.
“So you’re trying to blame me for your own crimes? How desperate can one dog be?” he asked, getting Kale mad.
“Why you crooked, slimy excuse for a sheriff!” he shouted, going to lunge for Steele, but was restrained by his steel bindings to the chair. After a moment of struggling, he sighed dejectedly and sat down.
“One last question…” Steele stated, turning back to Kale, “Is it true you attempted to murder me before in a deadly ‘game’ of yours?” Balto and Kaltag went pale. They knew that that part was true. Kale simply stared at Steele and said,
“Can I go back to my chair now?” Steele growled once more and let Kale up so the dog could walk back to his seat and sit down. Steele then looked back to the others and pointed to Balto.
“You, Mr. McLane. I call you to the stand!” Steele barked out demandingly.
“Here we go…” Balto murmured and waited until Steele let him up to take the seat at the stand.
“Balto McLane, is it true that you murdered two deputies right before the entire force of Silent Spring?” Balto scoffed slightly at Steele’s accurate inquiry.
“Are you gonna keep interrupting me like you did to Kale?” Balto asked, receiving a similar fierce growl like Kale had.
“Just answer the question!” Steele ordered, banging his fist against the stand, “Did you murder two of my deputies?”
“Objection!” Jenna shouted angrily, rising to her feet, “Balto is kind and sweet and would never harm anyone!” Balto quickly glanced up and smiled at Jenna, not knowing she had been here.
“Ms. McMahn, please sit down,” the judge said calmly and watched Jenna sit before turning to Steele, “Please continue, sheriff…”
“Oh really?” Steele asked slyly, “Bring in the bodies!” Just then, the doors to the courtroom opened up and two of his deputies carried the bodies of their fallen friends inside, holding them in a standing position for the court. Two bullet wounds had hit either dog, causing immediate death. Steele walked over to a table with the three outlaws’ bandoliers on it and took out Balto’s pistols, opening the chamber to show the two chambers with scorch marks around them.
“You can inspect the other dogs’ guns, but only Balto’s has fired two shots recently,” he explained, determined to convict the trio, “The bullet types match with the ones in Balto’s gun currently and at an inspection of the gunshot marks on his pistol, one can tell by the scent it still carries that they were fired within 24 hours.”
“Objection!” Jenna declared defensively, standing up swiftly, “Balto had been firing his gun with me at some targets yesterday. That’s why his gun is like that!”
Ms. McMahn, please take your seat!” the judge said and Jenna sat down.
“But he undoubtedly cleaned it off, did he not?” Steele asked, a hint of malice in his voice, “Also, Kale did, in fact, break into my office and try to murder us all…”
“Like Hell I did!” Kale shouted, trying to stand again and falling back to his chair.
“Kale wouldn’t do a thing like that!” Kira called out, standing up once more, “He’s innocent, I know he is!” Kale’s ears perked up when he heard Kira’s voice and turned around to stare happily at her, overjoyed at her presence.
“Ms. Thesher and Ms. McMahn, one more interruption and I’ll have to have you removed from my courtroom! We’re trying to conduct a trial!” the judge exclaimed, looking back to the sheriff, giving him the signal to continue.
“Some trial this is! The only word you trust is to a sheriff who’s had a grudge against these three since they first arrived!” Jenna shouted, rising to stand beside her friend, “This is biased against Balto, Kale, and Kaltag! It’s like you’re just trying to kill them!”
“That’s the final straw… Sheriff, would you mind having two of your deputies escort Ms. McMahn and Ms. Thesher out of the room?”
“Certainly,” Steele replied, turning to his team leaning against the far wall, “You heard the judge! Watch them outside.”
Two of his deputies nodded to Steele and walked over to the two young dogs. Taking them by the arms, they led the struggling females out toward the doors leading to the lobby of the courthouse. Balto and Kale growled angrily and fought against their bindings.
“Get the Hell off of them!” Balto shouted, fighting a losing battle with his handcuffs.
“I swear I’ll tear you apart, you bastards!” Kale shouted after them, still fighting with every ounce of strength in his body, “Argh, Son of a bitch! I hate handcuffs!”
Jenna and Kira tried to struggle away from the two deputies, but they were easily overpowered by the dogs holding them. They cast a quick glance back at the three convicts before the doors were closed and they were gone. Kale growled angrily and settled down, a fierce, deadly glare on his face. Balto had a look that could strike a dog dead at glance. Once all was still, the judge sighed heavily.
“Let the trial continue…” he said slowly, banging his gavel once.
Chapter 3
Jenna and Kira sat out in the lobby with bated breath. Every so often, they could hear the muffled sounds of the audience of the courtroom get riled up a bit, but then it immediately went silent. Everything was way too silent and still for comfort. They couldn’t bear to think that inside, the dogs they cared about were being put on trial for crimes they believed they were innocent of.
After half an hour of heated debate and argument, the doors to the courtroom finally opened and Balto, Kale, and Kaltag were led out, still handcuffed with the force of Silent Spring pushing them along. The two girls exchanged nervous glances and looked up at the trio with worry. Balto gave Jenna a blank look, Kale simply stared at the ground in disgust, and Kaltag was stone-silent. Jenna and Kira stood up, walking over to Frederic Thesher.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Kira asked in a scared tone, “What did the court decide on?” Frederic heaved a sigh and stared at Kira.
“Kira, sweetheart,” he began slowly, “I know you liked that boy, Kale, but-”
“What did they decide on?” she nearly shouted, becoming more and more worried by the second. Frederic merely shook his head with regret.
“I’m sorry dear… But all three were convicted of double murder and conspiracy…” he answered, “They were sentenced to death by hanging tomorrow at dawn…”
Kira gasped sharply and nearly fell backward. She took a few uneasy steps back and covered her mouth in terror. Jenna looked like she was about to burst into tears as she clutched her shirt. Both couldn’t believe what they were hearing. After another moment, the two looked utterly distraught and left without another word, walking through the streets of Silent Spring until they got to their homes.
Kira immediately ran up the stairs of her house and into her bedroom. She leapt onto her bed and covered her face into her pillow, sobbing softly to herself. A few minutes later, the door opened and a familiar voice sounded.
“Kira?” It was her father. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry… I know you must be so hurt… But it’ll be alright…” Frederic sat down on the edge of Kira’s bed and gently placed a hand on her back. She glanced up at him, bright orange eyes shimmering with crystalline tears.
“How can you say that Dad? Three innocent dogs are going to be hanged!” Kira exclaimed, falling back into her pillow. Frederic sighed and pulled out a piece of paper, placing it beside Kira. Kira snatched it up and looked at it, then looked up at her father in utter disbelief.
“Maybe they weren’t as innocent as you though…” he replied softly, shaking his head slowly. Kira still couldn’t believe what was in her hands. The paper read:
Wanted: Balto McLane, Kaltag Lorden, and Kale McGovern
Dead or Alive
$500 per dog
These dogs have committed crimes across the states of
Below it were sketches of the dogs that had come into town a few days ago. Kira only began weeping once more. Frederic knew he could do nothing more in an attempt to console his daughter. Sighing dejectedly, he rose to his feet and walked out of her room, closing the door behind him. Kira looked up one more time, tracing a finger across the image of a smirking Kale.
I can’t just give up… she thought to herself, I can’t just let them die… I don’t care if he’s an outlaw or not, I love him and I won’t let Steele hang him unjustly… Kira rose from her bed and walked over to her dresser. She pulled open one of the drawers and rifled through the clothes inside. She pulled out a set of black cloth clothes and laid them out on her bed. She then pulled open another drawer and pulled out the revolver Kale had given her.
“Don’t worry fellas… Jenna and I’ll get you out…” Kira whispered to no one. She sighed softly, closing her eyes as she clutched the gun to her chest. She could almost feel Kale’s presence with her, standing beside her. Her resolve strong, she tossed the pistol to her bed and ran out of her house, determined to formulate her plan with Jenna.
Jenna had been doing the exact same thing Kira had a few minutes ago. She lay sprawled out on her bed, crying into her pillows. She couldn’t believe that Balto, the dog she was falling in love with, was going to be hanged unjustly. Why? Why did this have to happen? She thought mournfully, not looking up from her tear-stained pillow.
A sudden knock at the front door made Jenna jump, a little startled. She took a deep breath to regain her composure and wiped her amber eyes clear of any tears before walking downstairs. She pulled the front door open to see a breathless Kira before her.
“Kira! What is it?” Jenna asked, looking outside, “Did you just run all the way here from your house?”
“No time…” Kira replied, catching her breath and handing Jenna the wanted poster, “Look at this… Quickly…” Jenna took the piece of paper from her friend and looked it over, gasping sharply and stumbling backward as if she’d just been hit.
“No… It can’t be…” Jenna whispered to herself, staring at the sketch of Balto, “He’s… He’s an outlaw?” Kira only nodded slowly.
“Yeah, all three of them are…” she replied, “But I don’t care! I like Kale… I think I may even love him… I can’t let them hang him, even if he did break the law many times.”
“But what can we do?” Jenna asked, “If we try to rescue them, we could be caught and hanged as well… And if we did succeed, what would we do?” Kira’s arms dropped to her sides and she shook her head, orange eyes filled with confusion.
“I… I don’t know, Jen…” Kira muttered softly, a fire in her eyes, “But I don’t care. I can’t let them kill them!” The two were silent for a moment before Kira spoke again.
“I have a plan, but we’d have to do it tonight if he hope to save Balto, Kale, and Kaltag…” Kira explained, staring at Jenna, “Jenna, we’ve been friends since we were kids and we’ve always helped each other out… Will you help me now?” Jenna slowly smiled and grinned at Kira.
“What do you have in mind?” Jenna asked seriously.
The local jail was adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office. It remained dead silent, even as night fell across the small town. Inside, the eight deputies, including Nikki and Star, sat around a table playing a game of Poker. Three of the four jail cells were occupied, each one holding one of the trio of outlaws. Kaltag was lying back on the bed in his cell, staring up at the ceiling. Balto and Kale sat back-to-back against the wall separating their cells, staring at the walls.
“Did you ever imagine it would end like this?” Balto asked his friends.
“Naw…” Kaltag answered calmly, “I always thought we’d get shot for something silly, like getting spotted as we walked out of a bar…”
“Nope…” Kale responded, “I always thought we’d go down guns blazing… Or so I hoped…” Balto chuckled weakly and looked at the wall against his back, able to see Kale in his mind’s eye.
“I think I’d prefer to die fighting that to walk up to a platform and let a rope break my neck…” Balto stated, tipping the brim of his hat over his eyes. Kale sighed softly and closed his eyes.
“What’s your biggest regret…” he asked softly, “Besides dying?”
“Besides dying?” Kaltag asked, “Probably that our greatest adventure is over and it just barely began…”
“That I won’t be able to see Jenna again…” Balto said softly, “That I won’t be able to talk to her, to hold her, to be with her anymore… That I won’t be able to say…”
“That I’m about to lose Kira… I hardly knew her and I’m going to be gone…” Kale replied, “I never had a chance to tell her what I wanted to tell her…”
“I love you…” Balto and Kale said at the same time, finishing their sentences. Kaltag rolled his eyes and shifted slightly.
“Oh please…” he whispered softly, “God, if I’m gonna die tomorrow, just strike me down now and spare me their lovey-dovey rambling…”
“Hey, quiet down over there!” Nikki shouted over to the convicts.
“You wanna come in here and make me?” Balto snapped back, lifting his hat up and giving Nikki a deadly glare. Nikki immediately shut up and went back to his game. Balto scoffed tauntingly and lowered his hat again. Kale then began to sing softly.
It’s all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems were wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I’d ride all night just to get back home
I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Balto then joined in with Kale.
Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it’s not for days
And the people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you’re all alone all you do is think
I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
The final two verses, all three outlaws and friends joined in, singing proudly.
I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, cause I might not make it back
I been everywhere, still I’m standing tall
I’ve seen a million faces an I’ve rocked them all
I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
I’m a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
“Fellas, if tonight be our last night, I just want to say, it’s been a great honor and pleasure to fight beside you two…” Kale said, lowering his hat’s brim over his blue eyes, “I can’t imagine what life would’ve been like without you two…”
“Same to you, Kale… I love you guys like brothers… You were like family to me and if I have to die, then I’d gladly die beside you two…” Kaltag said, closing his eyes slowly.
“Amen… I know I was often looked up to as the leader of us, but I wanted to say that you were all equal to me, even if you didn’t feel like you were…” Balto said softly, “Goodnight boys… We had fun… Only a miracle could save us now…”
With that final sentiment, Balto, Kale, and Kaltag fell asleep for the last night of their lives. The eight deputies continued playing for another half an hour before Steele came walking in. The eight dogs stopped and stared at their sheriff, wondering why he was here. He motioned to Nikki and Star.
“C’mon, we need to go get the gallows ready for tomorrow…” Steele said darkly, grinning maliciously.
Nikki and Star stood up and followed Steele out and into the night. Outside, two figures dressed in black watched as the three dogs walked away before silently sneaking around to the front and hiding beside the door. One knocked on the door and the other drew a pistol, crouching in wait.
“Damn it, who could that be at this time?” one of the deputies asked, slamming his cards on the table and rising to his feet, walking toward the door.
The second the door opened, the armed figure grabbed the dog and held his hands behind his back. The deputy whimpered in fear as he was restrained and the barrel of a pistol was pressed against his forehead.
“Don’t make a sound or else you’re dead…” the hidden dog whispered, pulling the hammer of the pistol back, “I’d hate for the town to have a funeral tomorrow…”
“Open the door. Do it slowly…” the other figure commanded. The deputy obeyed and the three of them slowly slipped inside.
“Who was there, Joe?” one of the dogs at the table asked, quickly standing when he saw the other two dogs, “Who’re you two?”
“Nobody move or he’s dead!” the one holding Bill shouted, the other figure pulling out their own pistol and pointing it at the seven deputies.
“All of you, get out now!” the dog ordered, “Unless you want your friend’s blood on your hands!” None of the deputies moved until the figure fired a shot at the ceiling. “Out now!”
The deputies didn’t need to be told twice. The quickly ran out the Jailhouse without a second thought. The figure holding the deputy knocked him out while the other grabbed the keys and led the way to the cells in the back. They stared at the three sleeping outlaws, smiling at one another. The one with the keys took one off the ring and walked to the cell Kale was in while the other went to Balto’s. They both unlocked the cells and silently slipped inside, kneeling in front of the two dogs on the floor. The dog lifted the hat up on Kale and stared into the sleeping husky’s face, leaning forward until their lips met.
“Kira…” Kale whispered in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes to see the face of, “Kira! What the hell are you doing here?!”
“Rescuing you, silly!” Kira explained, grinning at him, “Jenna and I are here to bust you guys out!”
“Kira, you’re an angel…” Kale replied, kissing her quickly before rising to his feet, “Let’s get out of here!”
Jenna smiled as she watched Balto sleep. The young outlaw seemed so calm when he was deep in slumber. She gently stroked his cheek before kissing him slowly. Balto’s gold-brown eyes slowly fluttered open and he saw the crimson and cream colored husky before him.
“Jenna?” he asked softly, “Is that you? Why are you here?”
“I’m here with Kira… We’re getting you and your friends out of here as soon as possible…” she said, “We couldn’t bear to watch you guys die… Now hurry, let’s go.”
Balto stood up and took the key to Kaltag’s cell. He walked out and smiled as he saw Kale grabbing their bandoliers. Balto opened the door and roused Kaltag, leading the tan husky out of his cell as Kale handed them their weapons. The trio quickly loaded their pistols and turned toward the front door just as the deputies were coming back in.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” one asked. Kale was the first to react, drawing one of his revolvers with lightning-fast speed, pulling the hammer back, and firing in one motion as he raised it. Kira was the second, killing the other dog who had entered. The two dogs dropped dead and their colleagues began to enter. Kira’s face went pale as she realized what she’d done, looking at the smoking gun in her hands.
“Ah jeez, didn’t mean to do that,” Kale said, motioning toward the back door, “Nice shot Kira… C’mon, let’s go!”
The five dogs ran to the back door. Kira grabbed the handle and rattled it only to find it locked. She growled softly and turned to Jenna.
“Jen, do you still have the ke-” Kira started asking, but stopped when Kale simply kicked the door down, “Ok, that works too…”
“Let’s get moving!” Balto shouted, letting the other four leave before firing off three shots down the hall to get their pursuers to back off a bit. He then followed them outside as Kaltag and Kale untied five of the deputies’ horses.
“Balto, we still need to grab out stuff from our horses,” Kale stated, “Kaltag and I can get the stuff. Lead Jenna and Kira back to our house, ok?”
“Right,” Balto said, mounting one of the horses and waiting for everyone else to get ready before turning to the girls, “Alright ladies, follow me!”
Balto spurred his horse toward the gates of town, leading Jenna and Kira out into the arid desert. Kale and Kaltag rode off toward the saloon. Once they arrived, they left the newly captured horses and took their old ones, hitching Balto’s horse to the saddle of Kaltag’s.
“Alright Kal, let’s get outta here!” Kale said urgently just as a few shots ripped the air near them. Down the road, two deputies began to take aim again. Kale and Kaltag fired at them, missing a couple of times before their bullets found their marks.
The two dogs dropped to the dusty ground and the outlaws smirked. They then spurred their horses and rode toward the gates of Silent Spring. A group of deputies ran out into the streets behind them and noticed the two retreating dogs. They raised their pistols and fired a hailstorm of rounds after them. Kale laughed as the bullets missed every shot- until one struck him in the shoulder.
Kale groaned as a sharp pain ran through his left shoulder and sparked through his whole body. He almost fell off of his horse, but he held the reigns tightly and pulled himself back into the proper riding position. Blood trailed down his back, staining his white shirt a deep red, but he kept on riding beside Kaltag out into the cold, dark desert night.
“Steele’s not gonna be happy about this…” Nikki muttered, watching the two figures fade off into the night.
It took Balto, Jenna, and Kira exactly two hours to ride south of Silent Spring to reach their house deep in a valley. A river ran nearby it and soft grass and trees grew in the valley. Above, the stars shone brightly in the pitch-black sky. Balto sat on the porch, Jenna beside him with her head on his shoulder. Kira was standing out on the grass, looking up the north pass into the valley, orange eyes scanning for the other two dogs.
“Kira, relax… I’m sure Kale and Kaltag are fine…” Jenna said, trying to reassure her friend.
“Don’t worry. I know Kale. He’s skilled at what he does, I’m positive he’s still alive!” Balto stated, giving the black wolfdog a warm smile. Kira only glanced back at them before looking back toward the north.
Just then, two figures could be seen riding toward them. Kira gasped and smiled widely. As the two riders got closer, they became more distinguishable and were none other than Kaltag and Kale. Kira watched as the two outlaws rode up to the house and dismounted, Kale groaning in pain as he clutched his left shoulder, stumbling forward before falling to the ground.
“Kale!” Balto and Kira shouted up, everyone running up around him. Balto inspected his wound and shook his head.
“Damn it Kale, what the hell did you do?” Balto asked, looking at the front of Kale and pulling off his friend’s shirt, “Luckily for you, the bullet only pierced muscle and went straight through…”
“So I’m bleeding out and you say I’m lucky?” Kale asked, gritting his teeth, “All I need is iodine and a bandage…”
“I’ll get it,” Kira said quickly, dashing into the house. Balto smirked as he watched Kira disappear, and then looked back to Kale.
“You’re lucky to have Kira…” Balto said, pulling out his canteen and pouring out the water onto the bullet wound to clear it of blood. Kale winced slightly as the water washed the red viscous liquid away from his injury.
“Yeah… I know, Balto…” he replied softly. Kira came back out with an amber bottle and a roll of linen bandages. Balto took them and pulled the top off of the bottle.
“This is really gonna hurt, Kale…” Balto explained, pouring the iodine on the wound. Kale cried out in pain and spasmed slightly on the ground as a sharp pain tore through his body. Balto then quickly wrapped up the wound in bandages and tied it securely to prevent anymore profuse bleeding. “How the hell did you go two hours with that wound, Kale?”
“Barely… But I did it…” Kale answered, grinning weakly and chuckled softly, “I’m strong that way… Better not do that again though, huh?”
“No… It’s only 9PM though… You should get something to eat then get to bed…” Balto said, getting a nod from Kale.
“Sounds good to me… Help me up, would ya pal?” he asked and Balto helped him to his feet. Kale smiled weakly and walked up the porch and into the house. Kira followed him into the house, worried about him.
“Well, I think we should all turn in,” Kaltag suggested, “Today’s been the most eventful, the most fast-paced, the most dangerous-” Balto bopped Kaltag on his head and shut the husky up.
“Yeah, sounds like a plan, Kal…” Balto said, placing an arm around Jenna’s shoulders, “we could all do with a good rest… Then tomorrow, we can talk things over…”
The three dogs then walked into the house of the outlaws. Kale had already gone into the kitchen and was busily munching on an apple. He finished it quickly and walked up the stairs, Kira following behind him.
“We have two spare rooms, you can have one Kira and Jenna can have the other…” Kale said, showing her to one of the guestrooms, “Sleep well, Kira… I’ll see you in the morning…”
“Goodnight, handsome…” Kira whispered, kissing him gently before walking into her room and closing the door. Kale smiled widely and walked into his room, pulling off his jeans, hat, and bandolier, hanging it on a post of his bed, cocking his pistol before re-holstering it and settling down and laying his head on his pillow. In a matter of minutes, Kale was deep in sleep, Kira asleep in her room just down the hall.
Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag walked upstairs. Balto led Jenna to her room as Kaltag went into his room and shut the door.
“Goodnight Jenna… Pleasant dreams…” Balto said softly, kissing Jenna’s cheek gently. Jenna wrapped her arms around Balto and kissed him passionately.
“Goodnight, Balto… I love you…” she whispered back. Balto’s heart skipped a beat as she said that, returning her kiss.
“I love you too, Jen…” Balto whispered. Jenna let him go and walked into her room. Balto smiled and sighed happily before walking into his room, pulling his clothes off, and doing the same trick Kale had done with his pistols. He closed his eyes and tipped the brim of his hat down before finally going to sleep.
The next morning, the usually peaceful town of
“How could you let them get away?” one enraged dog asked.
“I thought you said you had them secured and under control!” another one shouted furiously.
“People, calm down!” Steele shouted loudly so they could hear him, “Listen, we’re following as many leads as we can to find those three outlaws, but your insults really aren’t helping! Please, if you have any information on these three, step forward to us and tell us. You can also talk to us in privacy if you prefer that, but we need all the leads we can get. Thank you.”
With that, Steele motioned for his remaining five deputies and they walked back to his office. All the way, the chastising shouts of the citizens of Silent Spring resonated behind him. Steele forcefully shoved the door open and stepped inside, Nikki locking it once everyone was inside.
“How the hell could this happen?!” Steele asked angrily, “Those three were safely locked up and now they’re loose and they’ve taken two girls, I’m under fire, and they’re probably laughing their damn heads off at me!”
“Um… Steele? Sir?” one of the deputies, the one who’d been knocked out, spoke up, “I… I might be able to tell you how they got out…” Steele shot him a rage-filled glare.
“How?” he demanded, ice-blue eyes filled with fury, “How did those bastards get out?”
“W-well, last night, I was jumped by two dogs… I couldn’t get a clear look at them though…” he explained, “They put a gun to my head and led me back in here… They demanded that everyone get out and then they knocked me out… They probably let them out…” Steele stared at the deputy for a moment before chuckling almost insanely and pulling out his revolver, cocking it and aiming it at the dog’s head.
“So the reason they’re free was because you were careless?!” Steele shouted.
“N-no sir! I-it wasn’t my f-fault!” the deputy stammered and fell backward to the floor, “I-I’m sorry!”
“You should be…” Steele muttered, pulling the trigger on the empty pistol, “Now get up…” The deputy had broken out into a nervous sweat as he uneasily got to his feet, his friends helping him up.
“Boss, what are we going to do?” Nikki asked.
“Yeah! We have nothing!” Star chimed in, “No leads, no clues, nothing!”
Steele was about to answer when a knock at the door stopped him. He growled softly and made his way to the door. He glanced through the window and saw Frederic Thesher. Knowing he wouldn’t harass him, Steele opened the door and let the husky in.
“What is this about, Mr. Thesher?” Steele asked neutrally, masking his anger and frustration.
“I… I think I might have some information as to where those three are…” Frederic said, looking around at everyone, “Please, if I give it to you, will you get my daughter back? She was one of the girls who were taken!”
“Calm down, Mr. Thesher… We’ll get them both back and bring those three outlaws to justice…” Steele replied coolly, giving his deputies an eager look, “Now, what info might you have for us?” Frederic looked at Steele before saying,
“I know where they live… I know where their hide-out is located…” A malicious grin slowly inched its way across Steele’s maw as he stared excitedly at Frederic. The evil husky then said, in a cool, dark tone,
“Go on…”
Jenna’s amber eyes slowly fluttered open as the morning sunlight began its course through the sky and streamed through her window. She stretched and got up, quickly getting dressed before walking out into the upstairs hallway. She walked to Kira’s door and knocked twice.
“Kira? You up yet?” Jenna asked softly, getting no response, “Kira? Are you in there?”
From downstairs, Jenna heard a soft laugh. It was Kira. Walking downstairs, the red and white husky followed the noise and a delicious smell into the kitchen at the back of the house. Inside the kitchen, Balto and Kaltag were sitting around a large circular table, Kale was at the stove cooking and Kira was beside him, arms wrapped around him and a large smile on her face.
“Hey Jen! Mornin’!” Balto said brightly, “Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yeah… Thanks Balto…” Jenna replied with a smile, taking a seat at the table.
“Jenna! This is the best idea I think I’ve ever had!” Kira exclaimed happily, squeezing Kale tightly as she held him. The black and white husky winced slightly and looked at Kira.
“Watch my shoulder please…” he said calmly, chuckling softly as Kira immediately let go of him, “Hope you’re hungry Jenna. I’m making pancakes and eggs!”
“Kale’s easily our best cook!” Kaltag said, “He’s the best, the greatest, the most incredible-” Once more, he was shut up as Balto hit him on his forehead.
“Alright guys, breakfast’s ready!” Kale called back to them, placing the food on five plates and carefully carrying them to the table, “Dig in!”
The room was silent as everyone feasted on Kale’s deliciously-prepared meal. Kale smirked at the look of utter amazement on Jenna’s and Kira’s faces.
“This is fantastic!” Jenna complimented, smiling widely as she finished up.
“See?” Kaltag stated, “Kale’s the best, the greatest, the most incredible-” And Kaltag was hit on the head once more.
“Jenna, Kira, I’d just like to thank you on behalf of all three of us for saving our lives…” Balto said, giving them a small smile, “If it weren’t for your bravery, we’d be dangling from the gallows right now… Thank you…”
“Yes… Thank you so much Jenna, Kira…” Kale said right after Balto, smiling widely to the two females.
“You two are the most heroic, the bravest, the most phenomenal-” Kaltag rambled on until this time both Balto and Kale hit him.
“It was nothing really… We just had to do it…” Jenna answered softly.
“We couldn’t let you three die… You may be outlaws, but we love you… and Kaltag’s your friend so he got the same deal…” Kira said, grinning playfully.
“Hey!” Kaltag cried out, suddenly realizing what she had meant. The other four burst into laughter.
“C’mon Kal, it’s just a joke!” Balto said, patting the tan husky on his back, “By the way, Kale, how long do you reckon we have to stay here until we’re discovered? About a few weeks, right?” Kale choked on the water he’d been drinking at the time, spitting up a bit, coughing and sputtering.
“Kale, what is it?” Jenna asked. Kale and Kira exchanged nervous glances.
“He wouldn’t… Would he?” Kale asked Kira nervously.
“To get me back? He’d do anything…” Kira replied, a worried look on her face.
“Son of a bitch…” Kale muttered, covering his eyes and shaking his head, “This is just damn perfect…”
“What, Kale?” Balto asked seriously, “What did you do?” Kale sighed heavily and shook his head again.
“Please don’t get too mad at me Balto… He was just so inquisitive and I wanted to make a good impression, seeing as I wanted to be with Kira, and-” Kale said, getting an irritated look from Balto.
“Who the hell are you talking about Kale?” Balto asked in a near shout, “Who did you want to make a good impression on?”
“Kira’s father…” Kale admitted, bowing his head, “I kinda told him where we were…”
“Oh Kale, you didn’t!” Kaltag moaned, rolling his eyes. Balto covered his eyes and muttered a few profanities under his breath.
“Look, I’m sorry! I just wanted him to like me!” Kale protested, “I didn’t think things would actually come to this!”
“Alright, let’s plan this out…” Balto said calmly, “They’ll probably gather up other forces and supplies before heading down here- not to mention the two hour ride… So they should be here tomorrow morning… That gives up all day to prepare.”
“We can load all the guns and set up traps,” Kale suggested, “The weapons are still under the stairs…”
“Alright, let’s do that…” Balto agreed, “Kale, make sure we have caches all over the house, ammo and guns fully loaded.”
Kale nodded and quickly rose to his feet. He walked down the front hallway until he came to a door in the side of the stairs. Pulling it open, he stepped into a room illuminated by an oil lamp. Crates lined the walls and guns and boxes of ammo were strewn about on the crates and on the shelves on the walls. Kale began loading the many various rifles and distributing in corners of rooms and near windows.
Balto and Kaltag grabbed some wooden planks, nails, and hammers and began to board up the back door. Kale placed boxes of pistol and rifle ammo next to the rifles, making sure they all had a good look-out spot for the oncoming fight. He then went back to the kitchen and helped his friends board up the back door. Jenna and Kira simply watched, unsure of what to do.
“There… That should do…” Balto said, tossing his hammer to the table and inspecting the back door, “No one will be able to kick that down…”
“Now all we have to do is wait…” Kale stated, looking back toward the front of the house.
Back in the town of
“Attention, citizens of Silent Spring,” Steele began, “I’d like to thank you all for coming. First off, I’d like to inform you that we have confirmed the location of the outlaws’ hide-out. We know exactly where they are…”
Steele paused for a moment to let that information sink in. A few murmurs ran through the townsfolk. Obviously they hadn’t expected the sheriff to find out so soon, seeing as it was already only just turning 1PM.
“I’d now like to call for any volunteers to assist me and my deputies in bringing these criminals to justice and rescuing the two hostages: Jenna McMahn and Kira Thesher,” Steele declared, looking around at everyone, “Is there anyone here who would like to volunteer in this mission?”
Amazingly enough, about half the men of Silent Spring stood up. Steele was a little surprised by the amount; he’d only expected a few volunteers. Grinning widely, he carried on.
“Excellent! All those who are volunteering shall need to bring their own weapons and horses. Ammo will be provided however,” Steele informed them, “As soon as we’re all prepared to move out, meet in front of my office. Meeting dismissed.”
Steele, Nikki, and Star walked outside, looking around at the men walking home to prepare. The sheriff smirked, knowing they easily had them outnumbered. He was about to turn for his office when a crimson and cream male husky approached him.
“Excuse me, but did you say Jenna McMahn was kidnapped by these three outlaws?” he asked coolly.
“Yes I did sir…” Steele replied, “Are you gonna help us out then?”
“Yes… But only if we can rescue my daughter successfully…” the dog said, grinning widely, “The name’s Samuel McMahn and I’m more than ready to bring a few outlaws to the dust…”
Nightfall seemed to arrive all too quickly. As the clock struck 8, Steele looked over his forces. An army of roughly 30 dogs strong… We should have the upper-hand in this fight… the sheriff thought wickedly to himself, I’m gonna enjoy smoking those three…
“Alright men!” Steele called out to them, “It’s a two hour ride south of here! We should arrive at 10PM, but we won’t attack until dawn. We’ll catch them by surprise just as the sun comes up. Remember, these dogs assaulted our fair town and kidnapped two innocents. Show them no mercy once the shooting starts!”
The many various breeds of armed dogs shouted out. Amongst the men were his five remaining deputies and Frederic Thesher and Samuel McMahn. Steele grinned evilly and raised his fist in the air.
“To the south we ride! Move out!” he shouted, spurring his horse and leading the small force out of the town and south toward the valley, his eyes burning with a cruel, evil fire.
Kira slowly walked outside and into the cool night air. She sighed softly, fearing the sunrise tomorrow. She knew what it would bring and what it would take with it. She slowly closed her orange eyes and shivered with fear and worry. Suddenly, the soft strumming of a guitar reached her ears and she looked around.
“Hello?” Kira called out into the darkness, stepping off the porch and looking around.
“Hello beautiful,” came the voice of Kale from above. Kira gasped softly and turned around, grinning at the young husky sitting on the roof with a guitar.
“Why are you on the roof playing a guitar?” she asked, “Or better yet, how did you get on the roof with a guitar?”
“Magic,” Kale replied, grinning slyly, then chuckling at the look Kira gave him, “Alright, I climbed up from my bedroom window. You wanna join me?”
Kira smirked and walked back into the house. A few minutes later, Kale heard his bedroom window open and heard someone climbing up onto the roof. He glanced and saw the black wolfdog he loved so much. He grinned at her and turned back to his guitar, strumming it lightly. Kira walked over and sat beside him.
“So what are you playing?” Kira asked, intrigued by his music. Kale shrugged slightly and continued playing.
“Just a song Balto, Kaltag, and I came up with…” he answered, “We just started making up the lyrics and music after we saw our first wanted poster of us…”
I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
I’m a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive.
Kale grinned at Kira as he finished the verse. She smiled back, then slapped him across the face. Kale was, of course, surprised and shook his head to clear the slight daze in his mind.
“What the hell was that for?” he asked, staring back at her.
“For not telling me you were an outlaw,” Kira answered, then kissed him gently, “And that’s for welcoming Jenna and I into your house…”
“No problem Kira… But if you keep slapping me, I dunno how long that welcome will last…” Kale responded, grinning playfully. Kira giggled slightly and playfully pushed him sideways.
“So have you gotten captured before? I mean, before Silent Spring?” Kira asked.
“Nope. Never. We were the most elusive outlaws to try and follow, let alone capture!” Kale said, smirking inwardly. Kira gave him a smirk.
“Then why did you get captured at Silent Spring?” she inquired. Kale blushed slightly and chuckled.
“Two reasons: One, the sheriff’s as crooked as they come…” Kale answered, getting another chuckle out of Kira, “Two, I fell in love…” Kira slowly dropped her smile and stared into Kale’s icy-blue eyes. “I love you, Kira…”
“I love you too, Kale…” Kira replied. Kale set his guitar off to the side and took Kira in his arms, leaning closer until their muzzles touched and their lips met. The two kissed passionately for a few minutes before finally pulling apart. A second later, the two were kissing again, lying across the roof as their lips locked once more. After roughly fifteen minutes, they pulled apart again and grinned at one another, Kira gently fingering his black bandanna.
“Well, I’d better get to bed…” Kale said, sitting upright, “Gonna be an eventful day tomorrow…”
“Kale, wait!” Kira called after him as he began to walk back toward the side of his house his window was on, “Do me a favor please? If my Dad comes, please don’t kill him… Please…”
“Sure thing, Kira… I won’t kill your Daddy…” Kale replied, giving her a warm, loving smile before climbing back down into his bedroom and shutting the window. Kira walked to the same side and slipped into the open window of her bedroom.
Downstairs, Balto and Jenna sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. The two stared into the orangey-red glow of the fire, putting them in a near trance. Jenna had changed into a white cotton robe for relaxing as she cuddled up to Balto. Kaltag roamed about the house, checking to make sure everything was set up for tomorrow. After that, he walked upstairs and into his bedroom. Jenna looked up at Balto and kissed his cheek.
“You know what, Balto? I don’t care what my father says or thinks anymore…” Jenna whispered, “I love you Balto, and nothing’s going to change that…”
“I love you too, Jenna…” Balto responded, gently stroking her cheek, then her red bandanna, “Your bandanna goes really well with your fur… Like Kale’s does…”
“Why don’t you wear a bandanna?” Jenna asked softly, “I’m sure you’d look even tougher than you do now…”
“Nah, bandanna’s and I never really got along well…” Balto answered, chuckling softly before looking back down at Jenna, “But is that what you really wanna talk about right now?” Jenna laughed and shook her head.
“No, I’d rather not talk at all… I’d rather just do this…” Jenna stated and kissed Balto, the two sharing their love. The couple stayed locked in their romantic moment for several minutes before they finally parted and Balto stood up.
“Well, I’d better hit the hay…” said Balto, “Big day tomorrow, you know… G’night, Jenna…” Balto kissed her hand politely before walking up the stairs and into his room. He slipped out of his clothes and placed his bandolier on the post of his bed before climbing in and covering his eyes with his hat. He heard someone enter and lifted his hat, spotting Jenna.
“Jenna? What is it?” Balto asked, wondering if something was wrong, but soon got the idea when she closed the door and climbed up onto the bed beside him. She kissed Balto gently and sighed softly.
“I love you Balto… So much…” Jenna whispered, “And if tonight is the last night I have with you, then I want to make it last…” Balto kissed Jenna back and pulled her into the bed, rolling so he was on top of her. Jenna slowly undid her robe, lying in nothing but her scarlet and cream coat. The young wolfdog leaned down and kissed Jenna once more, slowly losing himself in his passion.
Kale lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, barely awake. He was just about to fall into slumber when he heard the door to his bedroom open and instinctively raised his revolver to the intruder- only to sigh and lower the hammer when he saw Kira.
“Kira, you just scared the hell out of me…” Kale replied, taking a deep breath to calm down, “What brings you here?” Kira shut and locked his door, giving him a sly grin as she let her lavender sleeping robe fall to the wood floor. Kale suddenly understood and merely uttered a stunned, “Oh.”
Kira chuckled softly and walked over to Kale’s bed. She slowly climbed up onto his belly as he sat up on his elbows, his ice-like eyes locked with her bright orange eyes. The two lovers leaned forward until they got their wish and kissed once again.
“I love you Kale, and since I don’t know what tomorrow will hold, I wanted to prove it to you before it was too late…” Kira said in a hushed whisper. Kale kissed her passionately again, holding her close to his body.
“Kira… After all I’ve ever been through, dodging bullets, running from the law, dropping dogs like flies, I can safely say this is the most exciting moment of my life…” Kale replied in the same tone Kira had.
Kira grinned and giggled softly, running a hand across Kale’s face. The two dogs kissed once more before Kale grabbed Kira’s shoulders and reversed their positions. Both of them had a sly look on their faces and in their eyes, passion burning like a fire in Kale. Kissing Kira once more, Kale fell into his love and desires.
Out of the five, only Kaltag got much sleep that night.
Chapter 4
Kale was woken the next morning by the bright orange dawn sun streaming through his curtains. He blinked a few times as everything began to come into perspective. He felt someone stir beside him and glanced down, smiling as his icy eyes fell upon the sleeping form of Kira, her head resting on his chest and her arm wrapped around him.
Memories of the night before came back to him and the young outlaw’s smile grew wider. He’d never experienced such a strong feeling like love before. It easily topped everything else. He then heard a horse whinny out front and sighed softly. He gently moved Kira so he wouldn’t wake her up and climbed out of bed, pulling on his pants. He walked to the window and pulled open the curtain, expecting to see Steele and a handful of dogs, but instead saw about 30 armed dogs, ready to fight.
Kale blinked several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things, his eyes widened with surprise. He closed the curtains again and stood there for a moment, still trying to grasp what he’d just seen. He opened the curtains again and saw a bunch of dogs leveling their rifles to his window.
“Shit!” Kale shouted and leapt to the floor as a hailstorm of bullet tore through the glass pane of his window. Kira quickly woke up and looked around, startled and confused.
“What’s going on?” she asked fearfully as Kale got up and ran round to the side of his bed.
“We’re under attack! Balto! Kaltag! Get ready!” Kale shouted, his voice echoing through the house as he pulled his shirt on and strapped on his bandolier. He grabbed his hat and quickly ran downstairs as Kira ran to her room to get dressed.
Balto’s eyes shot open as he heard the gunshots and Kale’s shouts. He jumped out of bed and was dressed in a flash, Jenna dashing into her room and following suit. Balto made sure his pistols were loaded as he headed downstairs, spotting Kale beside one window and Kaltag beside another, rifles in hand. Jenna and Kira came down the stairs a moment later and knelt beside the dogs they loved.
“Can you scope anyone out, Kale?” Balto asked, crouched beside Kaltag. Kale risked a glance out the window and nodded.
“Yeah… There’s Steele and his deputies… There’s Kira’s father…” Kale said, naming a few of them, “I can see the barkeeper… And it looks like that Shepherd from the gun store and about ¼ of the town…”
“Damn it… Figures, knowing our luck…” Kaltag said, shaking his head, “So, shall we fight now or wait to see if they have any demands?”
“First, we need to get Jenna and Kira to the back of the house so they won’t get hurt…” Balto stated, getting an angry look from both girls.
“What?!” they both cried out in unison.
“Look Kira, you’ll be safer if you’re not fighting…” Kale said calmly.
“I don’t care! I’m staying here and fighting!” Kira protested.
“This is no time for arguing! Now please just get to safety!”
“I’m not leaving you three out here without us!”
“Yeah, you are!”
“No I’m not!”
Outside, Steele smirked as he watched Kale’s window get shot to oblivion. He then looked to the lower floor, waiting to see his enemies. He pulled out his silver Peacemaker, checking to make sure it was loaded before looking back to the house. Samuel McMahn and Frederic Thesher rode up beside him, Samuel tapping the sheriff on his arm.
“Pardon us, but our daughters are in there…” Samuel explained, “Mind if we try to get them out before it gets messy?” Steele shrugged and nodded.
“Be my guest…” he said blandly, looking back to the house, “All I really want are those three outlaws, after all…”
Samuel looked over to Frederic and nodded. He then looked back to the house and shouted,
“Jenna! Jenna, dear, can you hear me? If so, please come to the window!”
“You too Kira!” Frederic shouted, “Let me know you’re alright and come to the window. I just want to talk.”
Back inside the house, the heated debate still hadn’t been resolved at all. If anything, it had gotten worse.
“Kira, listen to me, you saved my life, now let me save yours. Go to the back of the house!”
“No, I won’t! I’m going to fight beside you!” Kira snapped back.
“Jenna, please just listen to me for once and get to a safe place!” Balto argued.
“I’m not gonna leave you, Balto. Not now, not ever!” Jenna argued back.
Just then, the voices of Samuel and Frederic rang out. Jenna and Kira gasped softly, looking to Balto and Kale. Both of them nodded, clutching their rifles tightly. Both females moved so they were in view of the dogs outside.
“Oh thank God you’re alright!” Samuel shouted, “Now Jenna, come on out… That place is about to get shot straight to Hell, so quickly, come on! Get away from those vicious outlaws.”
“No!” Jenna called out, glaring fiercely, “Balto and his friends aren’t evil! And they didn’t kidnap us! I’m not going anywhere!”
“What? Jenna! I’m not asking anymore! Get out here right now!” Samuel ordered, glaring back at her.
“No Dad. I’m staying right here! I’m fighting on the side that my true love is on!” Jenna said, placing her hand on the butt of her revolver tucked in her jeans. She slowly pulled her pistol out and kept her glare on her face. Samuel growled angrily.
“Let me try…” Frederic said before shouting to Kira, “Kira sweetheart, why don’t you come outside? If you’re not being held against your will, just come out the door… You’ll be a lot safer than in there…”
“No father! I love Kale and I’m not going to leave his side!” Kira shouted defiantly, drawing her pistol as well. Frederic sighed heavily, knowing what they had to do.
“Sheriff, go ahead and open fire…” Frederic said, getting an approving nod from Samuel.
“With pleasure…” Steele replied, grinning evilly, “Prepare to fire on my mark! Ready… now!”
Bursts of gunfire tore through the lower floor windows just as Jenna and Kira moved out of the way. Kale gritted his teeth and looked to Balto, who had an irritated look on his face. The three outlaws exchanged looks before looking to Jenna and Kira.
“Alright Jenna, Kira, you two can stay, but be very, very careful. Understood?” Balto said, getting a nod from both dogs, “Alright, let’s show these bastards why this trio has yet to be beaten!”
Kale and Kaltag cheered before looking out the windows again. Kale popped out and fired off two shots from his rifle before ducking down again. His shots found their marks and two dogs dropped dead. Kaltag repeated this action, but only managed to kill one of his foes, the other shot missing. Steele growled angrily and fired at the house along with his men. Wood splintered and glass shattered underneath the hellfire of bullets shot at them.
“Damn it…” Kale muttered, “We’re severely outnumbered and out-gunned…”
“Just keep up the fight…” Balto said over the gunshots, firing at the dogs outside and felling another enemy, “We’ve had worse odds before!”
“To Hell with this!” Kale shouted, tossing his rifle to the ground and pulling out his twin revolvers. Grinning widely, he glanced out the destroyed window and rose, rapidly firing off every shot he had in his guns, dropping nine dogs before ducking down again as the air above him was ripped apart by more bullets. 12 down… Kale thought as he reloaded his pistols, That leaves 18 to take down…
“Nice shooting Kale!” Balto complimented, firing off the last few shots in his rifle and killing two more, grinding his teeth together as two bullets just missed his face, “Damn… They’re getting better at this…”
“We’ll see about that!” Kaltag said, emptying his rifle as well, missing a few times before finding his mark on a single dog. Kira fired two shots and missed, groaning with frustration. Jenna fired off a single bullet and hit one of the deputies. The dog clutched his throat and fell from his horse.
“Right… Time to play hard…” Steele muttered, pulling out a red stick from his bag and lighting a match. Kale looked out the window and gritted his teeth.
“Move away from the front…” Kale said calmly, getting up and casually walking toward the stairs, “Now!” Everyone quickly scrambled from the front as the porch exploded, shrapnel of wood flying through the windows they’d been at.
“They’re gonna push us back and try to get inside the front!” Balto said, motioning up the stairs, “Let’s get to the top floor and get them from there!”
All five dogs quickly made their way upstairs, Kale and Kira taking the spot in Kale’s bedroom while Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag hid in Balto’s room, both bedrooms at the front of the house. Kale smirked and took the two rifles he’d hidden in the corner of his room and tossed one to Kira.
“Well, here we go again!” he said, grinning from ear to ear, “I love it when things get like this! HEY STEELE! UP HERE!”
As the sheriff looked to the upper floor, Kale jumped up and fired three shots at the evil husky, missing but managing to hit one of the deputies in the chest and knocking him to the ground. Steele emptied his pistol trying to hit Kale, but missed as the outlaw took cover again.
“They’re on the top floor!” he shouted to his men, reloading his revolver, “Keep them distracted and we’ll move in…”
The rest of the dogs continued firing, most of them already dismounted and hiding behind trees and rocks. Samuel clutched his rifle close, loading more bullets into it, praying desperately that Jenna wouldn’t get hit. Frederic fired off the last two rounds in his rifle, propping it against the tree he was behind and pulling out his pistol, aiming it at Kale’s window. Balto and Kaltag sprung up and fired three shots each, half of them missing while the other half hit three of their enemies. Kale looked at Kira and winked at her before walking out of his room toward the storeroom under the stairs, grinning as he picked up a box and reached for his prize.
Steele motioned to one of his deputies, pointing to the front door. He then nodded to three other dogs from Silent Spring and the group of four began to advance on the front door. The three dogs hung back by the damaged porch as the deputy went for the door. No sooner had his hand touched the handle, than a massive gunshot filled the air. The deputy flew backward and rolled a few times before stopping, a huge hole in his chest. The other three dogs looked at one another and tried to run away, but another explosive shot sounded and two of the three fell.
Inside the house, standing right by the front door, Kale grinned as he opened his shotgun and reloaded it, replacing the two shells and locking the barrel back into place. He pumped it and calmly walked toward the window he’d been at before. He fired off both shots, killing another dog and wounding another, who Balto then finished off from above. Kale laughed and tossed the shotgun to the floor, walking back into the storeroom and grabbing a few sticks of TNT. He walked back into his room and lit a stick, tossing it out the window and watching as four more dogs blew up, leaving only Steele, Nikki, Star, Frederic, and Samuel. Frederic turned around to shoot, but Kale was faster and shot the red and white husky before he even knew who he was shooting at.
Frederic groaned and gripped his stomach. He removed his hand and a large red stain had formed on his blue shirt. He groaned once more before falling to the ground. Kira screamed and Kale quickly grabbed her and pulled them both to the ground as they were shot at again. Steele lit another stick of dynamite and tossed it at the house, blowing most of the front wall off. Kale picked a sobbing Kira and quickly led her round to where Balto, Kaltag, and Jenna were.
“We have to get out of here, now!” Kale said, “We’re running short of ammo and Steele’ll blow us to Hell before we can finish them all off! We have to retreat!”
“Where would we go then?” Balto asked, eyes narrowed as he fired a single shot at random, missing completely, “Where would we run to?”
“To River’s Edge!” Kale said, getting a shocked look from Balto, “I know, I know… But we have no choice! Unless you wanna die here and now, we have to go there…” Balto looked at Kaltag who nodded to him before sighing reluctantly.
“Alright… Let’s go…” Balto said, leading them downstairs, then noticing the back door was boarded up, “Great… Now what?”
“This,” Kale stated and lit another stick of TNT, tossing it at the back door, “Get back a bit!” The back door exploded and the five dogs ran through the smoke.
The five horses stood tied up to a stile out back. They untied their horses and began to ride out the south exit to the valley. Kale tossed yet another stick of dynamite behind them, using the smoke and dust it kicked up as a cover for them to flee. In a matter of minutes, the five were safely out of the valley and riding south to the town of
The ride down south to River’s Edge took a long eight hours. The five dogs entered, tired and in slight shock from their fierce battle. Kale gave a quick glance to Kira before looking at Balto and Kaltag.
“I still have connections here guys… I’ll be able to find shelter for Kira and me… Will you guys be alright?” he asked softly.
“Yeah, we’ll be alright…” Balto said and Kaltag nodded in agreement, “Take care pal…”
Kale turned down another road and led Kira away from Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag. The couple rode for a few minutes until they arrived at a decent sized two-floor house. Kale nodded to Kira and dismounted, slowly leading her up to the front door. He knocked twice on the door and waited. A moment later, the door opened and a pure-blood wolf opened the door, giving Kale a surprised look.
“Kale?! Kale McGovern?!” the wolf asked, staring at him for a few moments, “God, it’s been so long! You know I could have you arrested right here and now just for being in my sight!”
“Bill Inago, I know you should be shooting me right now, but please hear me out… I know you’re the sheriff of River’s Edge, but I need a favor…” Kale said calmly, “Bill, I’m in big trouble, and I mean BIG trouble…”
“I’ll say you’re in big trouble!” Bill exclaimed, “You’re wanted dead or alive in two states and you’ve got more posters of you out in towns than newspapers! What could you possibly have done now? Gotten her pregnant?!” Kale exchanged a look with Kira and she blushed slightly. “Oh Kale, you didn’t…”
“Look, things are different Bill! I know you think I’m a crooked, good-for-nothing outlaw and you’re probably right, but right now I need ask a huge favor of you…” Kale said, staring into his friend’s eyes, “I just need you to hide us for a few days, then I’ll be out of your life for good…” Bill sighed and shook his head.
“Look Kale, I can’t do that!” replied Bill, “I’d love to, but it’s against the law! We were friends and all, but-”
“But that’s just it! We were good friends… If that ever meant anything to you, please show me this one mercy…” Kale begged, a pleading look in his blue eyes, “Please…” Bill swallowed slightly and thought for a moment.
“Only for a few days… After that, I’ll be back to hunting you down…” he explained.
“Got it… Thank you so much, Bill…” Kale thanked, leading Kira inside his friend’s house. He remembered the layout of Bill’s house and took Kira upstairs to the guest bedroom, watching as she sat down on the bed and faced away from him. Kale sighed heavily and closed the door, sitting down beside her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Kira? Are you going to talk to me?”
“Why should I?” Kira asked, trembling again, “How could you, Kale? You promised me you wouldn’t kill my Dad and you did! You did! Now he’s gone… How could you?”
Kira began to sob once more, tears cutting through her midnight-black pelt from her sorrow-filled orange eyes. Kale wrapped his arms around her and held her close, slowly rocking back and forth with her. She buried her face in his chest, his shirt quickly turning wet underneath her endless tears.
“Shh, it’s okay Kira… It’s okay…” Kale whispered, “I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to… It just happened… I’m sorry… Please don’t cry…”
“Why?” Kira choked out between sobs, “Why did this have… have to happen?”
“Shh… Everything’s going to be alright, Kira… I’m here, you’re safe…” Kale whispered softly into her ears, “Nothing’s going to happen anymore… Not so long as I breathe… I promise…” Kira looked up at him and he gave her a warm smile. He gently wiped the tears from her face and kissed her gently. Kira threw her arms around the husky, and held him tightly.
“I love you, Kale… Thank you…” Kira whispered as Kale carefully lay her down on the bed, “So… what are we going to do now?”
“Just try to get some sleep for now… I’ll figure something out…” replied Kale in a hushed tone, gently stroking her cheek, “Get some rest… We’ll find a way out of this… I know we will…”
Kira gave Kale a small smile, her fiery-orange eyes beginning to close. As soon as they did, her breathing became heavier and she rolled onto her side. Kale sighed softly and stood up, looking into the mirror on the wall. He looked exactly the same like he always did: black hat and bandanna, usual outfit, but he felt different. He no longer had that wild look in his eyes. Instead, his eyes showed concern and- fear?
But what do I have to be afraid of? Kale thought as he walked downstairs and out into the fading afternoon, pulling on his leather jacket as he walked into the cooling air, Death? I have nothing to lose by dying… Suddenly, Kale stopped dead in his tracks. Kira. I’m afraid of losing Kira… he thought as he continued down the dusty road, destined for the inn.
Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag had gotten two rooms at the inn and were now sitting down in the saloon part of the old establishment. None of them spoke, minds still stuck in the battle that had occurred earlier on that day. They just quietly sipped at their drinks, unsure of what to say or think. After a moment, Balto sighed heavily and shook his head.
“Well, this is easily the worst situation we’ve ever been in, ‘ey Kaltag?” he asked, looking to the tan husky.
“Yeah…” Kaltag muttered softly, “It’s the worst, the most dreadful, the most horrible-” Kaltag stopped, expecting to be told to shut up or hit, but he wasn’t. He stared at Balto in surprise. “Hey, you actually didn’t hit me this time!”
“I’m really not in the mood for hitting you today, Kaltag…” Balto stated, taking another swig of his beer, “No offense or anything, but after this morning, today’s just been hectic for me…”
“Same here…” Jenna chimed in, “I don’t even know what the time is anymore or the date for that matter…” Balto pulled out his pocket watch and checked it.
“It’s about 5PM on July 30th…” Balto answered, replacing his pocket watch and finishing his drink just as Kale walked in and approached them, “Hey Kale… Where are you staying?”
“With the sheriff…” Kale responded, looking at the stunned looks on his friends, “no, I wasn’t arrested. The sheriff’s an old friend of mine… He gave me this small mercy… The moment we leave River’s Edge though, he’s gonna hunt us down now that he knows where we are…”
“Well, at least we’re safe here for a few days…” Balto stated, “Seeing as you’re pals with the sheriff and it is your home…”
“What?” Jenna said suddenly, making Kaltag cough up his drink, “This is where Kale’s from?” Balto realized what he’d said and mentally cursed himself.
“Sorry about that Kale…” the wolfdog apologized to his friend before looking to Jenna, “Well, seeing as you know already, might as well tell you… Yeah, this is Kale’s hometown… He doesn’t like to talk about it though…” Kale walked over to the bar and bought a bottle of beer before walking back to his friends’ table.
“Where’s Kira?” Kaltag asked, looking around. Kale sighed and took a long drink of his beer before saying,
“She’s back at the sheriff’s house… She fell asleep and I didn’t want to wake her…” Kale said, looking to Kaltag.
“You really love your girl, huh?” Balto asked, grinning at the young husky.
“Do you love your girl?” Kale asked, getting a nod from Balto, “Then that’s one thing we have in common…”
“Oh yeah? How much do you love her?” Balto asked, grinning playfully, “I’d die for Jenna…”
“Then that’s two things we have in common…” Kale answered, drinking some more of his beverage.
“Between you and me…” Balto said in a hushed tone, “I made love to my girl…” Kale grinned and whispered back,
“Three things in common…”
“So, how long do we have here before we have to get out of here?” Kaltag asked. Kale shrugged slightly.
“About four days, five days tops…” he answered, finishing his beer and setting the bottle down on the table, “Well, I’m going back to Bill’s house… Just ask around town for the sheriff’s home if you need me…”
Kale stood up and sighed softly, walking out the swinging doors and vanishing from sight. Balto shook his head and sighed.
“You can’t help but feel sorry for poor Kale…” the young wolfdog said, “I mean, you know why Kaltag…”
“Why? What happened to him?” Jenna asked, looking inquisitively at Balto and Kaltag.
“Jenna, Kaltag and I became outlaws for the money and adventure…” Balto explained softly, “Kale became one because he wanted an adventure- and because he wanted to get as far away from this place as humanly possible…”
“Why would he want to do that?” Jenna asked, clearly not understanding, “Why would he want to get away from his hometown so desperately?”
“Because he’d had his heart broken before… A girl named
“Oh wow…” she said softly, “Poor guy… No wonder he doesn’t want to leave Kira alone for too long… He’s probably afraid of losing her as well…”
“Maybe…” Balto said, standing up, “Well, I’m gonna go to bed early today… After this morning, I could use an early night… a very early night…”
Balto walked up the stairs, shortly followed by Jenna and Kaltag. Kale returned back to Bill’s house just as the sun began to finish setting. He climbed the stairs and silently snuck into the guest bedroom, smiling at the sight of Kira, still fast asleep. He pulled his jacket off and tossed it onto a nearby chair before lying down next to Kira. He felt the beautiful wolfdog cuddle up close to him and smiled, slowly falling into a deep, deep slumber.
Three days were spent in the town of
But I suppose we have no other choice but to return… the wolfdog outlaw thought to himself, We only have a day or two left here before we’re dead… We’d be safer there rather than here… Kale kept mainly to himself all the time they were in River’s Edge. Jenna eventually told the story of Kale to Kira, getting the same reaction she had gotten. However, no matter how much they pitied Kale, none of them said anything to the husky.
Kale barely spoke and the times they did see him were wandering the streets, browsing goods, or getting drinks down at the saloon. Otherwise, it was like Kale didn’t exist anymore since they entered this particular town. The others could tell Kale was hurt just by coming back and were glad that they were leaving soon.
“It was very courageous and selfless of Kale to come here…” Kira said while walking through town with Jenna.
“Especially since it was him who suggested coming here in the first place…” Jenna said, smiling at Kira, “You know you’re really lucky to have him… He’s very kind, protective, and loyal…”
“You’re lucky you have Balto,” Kira pointed out, “He’s strong, brave, and smart…”
“But Kale’s all that as well,” Jenna stated.
“And Balto’s everything I said as well,” Kira replied, grinning slightly. Jenna smirked and both laughed slightly. Just then, a familiar voice rang out from the town square.
“Has anyone seen these dogs?” came the angry voice of Steele, “They’re wanted in the entire states of
“We’ve gotta warn the others…” Jenna said, Kira nodding in agreement. The two then turned and ran back toward the saloon.
In the saloon, the three outlaws sat at the bar, drinking in silence. Balto and Kaltag kept glancing at Kale before looking at one another. After a few more moments of utter silence, Balto opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by Kale.
“Look guys, I know you’re worried about me, but really; I’m fine!” Kale said, giving them a small smile, “Why would I be upset at anything? I’m glad I got my heart broken the first time around… It’s what got me to be an outlaw and that’s what got me to meet Kira.”
“That’s lookin’ on the bright side of things!” Balto exclaimed, smiling as he pat his friend on the back, “That’s the Kale I know! Glad to have you back, pal!”
“It just wasn’t the same when you were all silent-like, Kale!” Kaltag said happily, “Welcome back!”
“Feels good to be back guys…” Kale said, standing up and grabbing his bottle of beer, “C’mon, let’s go find the girls. We should start saddling up and moving back home soon.”
Balto and Kaltag finished up their drinks and began to follow Kale toward the door. As Kale was about to walk out, a figure came bolting in and crashed into Kale, sending the two to the floor. Kale shook his head and looked to see who he collided with.
“Kira?!” Kale asked in surprise, “What’s going on? What’s got you so scared all of a sudden, baby?” Just then, Jenna came running in as well.
“Guys, Steele’s here! He’s looking for you three! He’s asking around for you!” Jenna exclaimed nervously, “We’ve got to get out of here, and fast if we hope to make it out of here!”
“Alright, everyone back to your horses!” Balto said, “Meet up at the north gate in fifteen minutes! Hurry, go now!” Kale and Kira got to their feet and everyone ran outside into the hot sun.
“Hey, you three!” came the voice of Star just down the road, “Freeze!”
“Son of a bitch!” Kale shouted angrily, “When are they just gonna give up?!”
“This way! Quickly!” Balto called to the four, leading them down an alleyway, “Kale, you take Kira back to your horses and we’ll grab ours. Don’t worry about us, just go, and hurry up!”
Kale nodded and took Kira’s hand, leading her through the winding maze of alleys. Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag moved back out into the street, in plain view of Star. Star slowly took a few steps forward, about thirty feet between him and Balto. The two glared at one another and Jenna and Kaltag moved off to the side. The outlaw and deputy faced off against one another, hands ready to draw at any moment.
“Draw!” Star shouted and rapidly went for his revolver. However, Balto was faster and fired as Star was just pulling his pistol out. The dog cried out in pain and stumbled backward before falling face-first into the dust. Balto twirled his pistol a couple of times before re-holstering it and running over to his horse, mounting up and leading Jenna and Kaltag to the north gate of town.
Kale and Kira had just finished their arrival at Bill Inago’s house by the time Balto had taken Star down. The husky pulled the door open and ran upstairs to the guest bedroom. He and Kira quickly gathered up their stuff and ran downstairs, back outside, and to their horses, tied up just outside the house. As they finished packing up, Kale heard a voice behind them and the pulling back of a hammer on a gun.
“Don’t move, Kale McGovern…” Bill said. Kale turned around and stared at his friend, a gold star now pinned to the Shepherd’s shirt.
“Bill, you and I had a pact…” Kale said, giving his friend a neutral stare, “You get to hunt us down again once we leave town… We’re not out yet… So why are you holding a gun to me?”
“Because that other sheriff just got here, Steele I believe his name was…” Bill explained, “He’s here to arrest the lot of you… You and I had a deal, but you and Steele didn’t… I’m sorry, but I have to turn you two in…” Kale sighed and shook his head.
“Alright Bill, can I just give you something quickly?” Kale asked calmly, “I got a gift for you, for giving us such generous hospitality, I wanted to thank you…” Bill thought for a moment, then lowered his pistol slowly. Kale walked up to him and smiled warmly at his friend.
“Hold out your hand…” Kale said and watched as Bill held out his left hand. Kale then quickly smashed his bottle of beer over his friend’s head, dropping him like a ton of bricks. He grinned and chuckled.
“Sucker… That’s why you don’t double-cross Kale McGovern!” Kale shouted to the unconscious sheriff as he mounted up and rode north with Kira, toward the gate of River’s Edge. A moment later, they arrived and saw Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag.
“Great, you’re here!” Balto said, looking back at the town, “You ready to go, Kale?” Kale looked over the town of
“Yeah…” he answered softly, “Let’s get outta here… For good, this time…”
Balto nodded understandingly and spurred his horse. The five dogs then rode out of the town, northward bound for their home, or what was left of it. Steele knelt down beside the body of Star and growled angrily, staring up to the northern horizon with a bitter hatred.
“I will get you, wolfdog… I swear to God, I will get you…” Steele snarled, looking to Nikki, “Who’s the sheriff of this town and where does he live? I have a proposition for him…”
Chapter 5
The sun was just finishing its fall behind the western horizon and the moon was beginning to rise by the time the five dogs arrived back at the derelict, annihilated house that had sheltered them during the fighting. Their home had literally been destroyed, torn apart in many various areas. The five tied their horses around the front this time and inspected the damage.
The whole front wall of the first floor had been destroyed. The windows were shattered and the wood that still remained intact was splintered and shot-up terribly. The furniture that had been at the front of the house was either badly damaged or destroyed entirely. The railing of the stairs was beginning to give-way from the attacks it had sustained. The back of the house remained in fairly good condition aside from the hole Kale had blown through the back wall, but the front was nearly non-existent.
Balto simply stared in amazement at the house that had taken him and his friends a week or two to build, now falling apart. He sighed softly and shook his head in disdain. Kale chuckled softly, obviously not realizing how much Hell the building had been through. Kaltag simply stared in amazement.
“Well, I guess we’d better get to rebuilding it…” Balto said, looking at Kale and Kaltag, “We’ve still got all that spare lumber and nails around back…”
“I’ll go get it…” Kale said, patting Kaltag’s arm, “C’mon pal, help me out, will ya?” Kaltag nodded and followed Kale around to the back of the house to gather the supplies. Balto looked at Jenna and Kira, nodding toward the battle-scarred house.
“You two should try to get some sleep…” the wolfdog said coolly, “We’ll be up all night fixing this place up…”
Balto watched Kira walk into the house and chuckled softly as Jenna kissed him on his cheek before walking inside as well. A minute later, Kale and Kaltag came back, arms loaded with boxes of nails and wooden planks, hammers in hand. Balto grinned and pulled up his sleeves.
“Alright guys… Let’s get to work…”
It took the three outlaws most of the night merely patching up the front of the house and cleaning up the inside of the building. After they had finished that, they went back for more wood- only to find that there was no more. They’d done all the repairs they could, and even that wasn’t much. There were still two holes where the front door and back door should be and there were no more windows at all. By the time they set their hammers down, the dawn sky was beginning to turn a bright orange as the sun started its ascension above the East sky.
“Morning already?” Kale asked, yawning sleepily, “I hadn’t noticed…”
“Yeah right Kale…” Balto said with a smirk, “And that yawn had absolutely nothing to do with the fact you stayed up, working all night?”
“You bet!” Kale replied, grinning playfully, “All I need is some coffee and I’ll be fine…” Kale had just begun to walk inside when the sounds of a massive amount of hoof-beats sounded around the valley. Balto looked up the north pass to the valley and slowly pulled out his two revolvers.
“Kaltag… Get the girls up…” Balto said, still staring north as the tan husky bolted into the newly refurnished house.
Kale had just gotten out the small sack of coffee beans when he glanced out the window in the kitchen. He saw something and glanced up again to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him. His mouth slowly dropped open and he dropped the sack to the floor, stumbling backward as Kaltag ran upstairs.
“Baltooooo!” Kale shouted, dashing for the gun room.
All around the small house were dozens and dozens of armed dogs, from the north and the south.
A malicious smirk slowly inched its way onto the face of Steele as his cold, ice-blue eyes locked onto the slightly repaired house. This was to be the end and he knew that today, on this morning, one of these forces was to die: his small army or the five outlaws.
Steele looked to Nikki, his last remaining deputy, and giving him the approving nod. With that sole signal, the twenty more armed dogs began to ride toward the outlaws’ house. The sheriff’s eyes burned with an evil fire, determined to get his vengeance on all those who inhabited that establishment.
Bill Inago sat upon his brown horse, his green eyes seemingly unable to move away from the small house at the bottom of the lush valley. Only yesterday, he’d woken up to find the sheriff of Silent Spring there. He offered an alliance to bring the nefarious outlaws to justice and Bill readily accepted. Now he sat on the verge of battle, the calm before the storm.
Closing his eyes for a few moments, Bill mentally prepared himself for the battle. Memories of his childhood flashed before him. He could see himself and Kale, both much younger, perusing the streets of River’s Edge. Kale had always been a good friend to him, but then everything changed when he’d had his heart broken and those two outlaws came to town. After that day, those two outlaws became a trio and now Bill had to execute his former best friend in the name of justice.
“I’m sorry Kale…” Bill whispered into the wind, opening his eyes once more, “But the law is the law… No exceptions… No matter what…”
Bill felt himself shake a little at the thought of pulling the trigger on one of his previously close friends. However, it had to be done. It was just one of those unavoidable things. He motioned to the house and his fifteen men followed Steele’s example and rode up toward the house, ready to destroy everything they could.
“Damn it, how did this happen?” Balto asked angrily, standing in the doorway as Kale handed him a loaded rifle, “One moment no one and the next, we’ve got a freaking army on our front step!”
Kaltag returned down the stairs, shortly followed by a worried Jenna and a nervous Kira. Kale handed the three dogs rifles as well and took one for himself, pulling the shotgun sling across his shoulder, sticking a few sticks of dynamite into his bandolier as he stared at Steele’s army, then out the window at Bill’s.
“We’d have a better chance at getting away if we fight Steele instead of Bill…” Kale stated, “I’ve known Bill for a long time and I know he’s much better than Steele is… Let’s fight that bastard of a sheriff…”
“Right…” Balto said, nodding understandingly, “Time to take down one sheriff… Jenna, Kira, take to the upper floor and see if you can get any from up there…”
The two females quickly ran back up the stairs, leaving the trio of outlaws to the lower floor. The group grinned at one another and took their positions, Balto and Kaltag by windows and Kale by the front doorframe. They made sure their rifles were ready to fire and took careful aim.
“Gents… If we don’t live through this battle… I just want to say that it’s been an adventure and I regret absolutely nothing now…” Kale said, not taking his eyes away from Steele.
“Likewise, pal…” Balto said coolly, “I know it’s probably not the best time to say this, but I’m glad
“And there are no two dogs I’d rather fight and die beside than you guys…” Kaltag said, “You guys are the best, the most fantastic, the greatest friends I’ve ever had…”
“Amen…” Kale replied, taking aim at one of the advancing dogs and pulling the trigger, sending the dog flying off his horse. Balto and Kaltag repeated that action, killing two more dogs. The attackers swiftly dismounted and took cover, but not before Jenna and Kira took out two more.
The group of outlaws fired out another round each, hitting nothing but nature. The men Steele had assembled began to peer out, returning fire to the opposing side. The battle turned from one-sided to a fiery exchange of bullets. The air was torn apart by flying shots and the sounds of gunfire. Smoke took the place of most of the air. Steele himself fired off all six shots in his revolver, splintering the wood near Balto’s head. As the wolfdog came up to fire, a stray bullet scratched him across the side of his muzzle. Balto cried out slightly and fell back in surprise.
“Balto! You alright?” Kale asked, peering out and felling the dog that managed to hit his friend.
“Yeah… Yeah, I’m fine…” Balto answered back, returning to a crouching position, “Just a graze… I’m still alive!”
“Good… Didn’t want to lose ya to these bastards!” Kale said, grinning and firing again, hollering as he watched another enemy drop to the grass.
Steele growled furiously as he watched his dogs drop like flies to the five outlaws holed up inside the house. He glanced up at the second floor, grinning evilly as he saw Jenna and Kira. His mind began to formulate a plan as he reloaded his pistol. Around the back, Bill’s men fired at nothing but the house. One of his deputies approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Sheriff Inago, why aren’t we movin’ in?” he asked, confusion in his voice and eyes, “We could be slippin’ in around back while that other sheriff guy fights from the front.”
“Because I want that sheriff to lose… He’s much too arrogant for his own good…” Bill answered, chuckling at the even-more confused look his deputy got, “Look, he recruited us to help fight… We are- by keeping them around the front… That’s all we were told to do, so that’s all we will do…”
The deputy nodded slowly, continuing to fire at the empty back of the house. Around front, a few more of Steele’s men dropped under the fire of the outlaws. Kale laughed with glee as he watched them kill dog after dog after dog. A shot just barely missed his head, ripping the air next to the right side of his head. Kale gritted his teeth and quickly took better cover. Kaltag jumped up and received a bullet to his right shoulder. The tan husky cried out in pain and fell backwards, hitting the wooden floor.
“Kaltag!” Kale shouted, dropping his rifle and crawling underneath the hailstorm of bullets to get to his friend, “You alright pal?”
“Yeah, I’ll live… Just a bullet-wound…” Kaltag said, trying to sit up, but his right arm had gone dead and he couldn’t move it very well. Kale propped him up against the wall and took his rifle from him, popping up to fire twice, killing another dog.
“Just rest here… Don’t do anything foolish…” Kale said, moving back to the doorframe and pulling out his pistols, “HEY SHERIFF!! LOOKEE HERE!!”
Steele and Nikki both turned to look at Kale as he called out to the evil husky. Kale’s bullet missed Steele by an inch and struck Nikki right through his eye, killing the deputy instantly. Steele stared down at the bloody corpse that was once his best deputy. Growling with a burning fury and hatred, Steele lit a stick of TNT and tossed it at Kale.
“Shit!” the husky shouted and leapt out the way just as the doorframe exploded, sending wood flying everywhere.
“Kale!” Kira shouted out, not noticing him leap out of the way in the nick of time. She quickly ran downstairs, Jenna following behind her to try and get her to stop. As Kira ran through the smoke, she saw Kale lying face-down in the rubble. He slowly stirred and sat up, looking at her for a few moments.
“Kira? What the hell are you doing down here?!” he asked, irritated, “You’re in grave danger being down here! You could get killed!”
“I told you before, I’d rather die beside you than anyone else,” Kira replied calmly, “Now let’s finish this and get out of here!”
Kale grinned and stood up, crouching next to Kaltag, Kira crouched next to him. Balto looked out over the edge of the window and counted the number of enemies left. Seven dogs… Roughly seven dogs left… he thought to himself, popping up and firing three shots off, Six dogs now…
One of the very familiar dogs grinned as he glared at Balto. Take my daughter, will you? He thought bitterly to himself. Samuel turned and fired two shots at Balto, growling as he missed once again. He was determined to kill that wolfdog; he despised him for taking Jenna away. He turned once more to fire, ready to kill his enemy.
As Samuel turned around, Balto noticed him and raised his pistol first. Mentally praying Jenna would forgive him, Balto fired first, striking Samuel McMahn in his knee and sending the crimson and cream husky to the ground. The dog shouted loudly in pain and collapsed to the grass and lying still, no longer able to fight though still alive.
Jenna watched her father fall and sighed heavily with relief, thankful that he hadn’t been killed. Kale went to take a shot at the few remaining dogs opposing their escape and received a bullet across the side of his torso. He cried out as a sharp pain ripped through his abdomen and the husky fell to the ground. Kira went to help him up as another dust cloud was kicked up from one of Steele’s explosives.
“Kale! Are you alright?” she asked, picking the wounded husky up.
“Yes… Nothing to- argh- worry about, just…a little cut…” Kale answered, grinning determinedly as he sat up. A gunshot rang out and Kira winced, her face contorting with the pain as she fell forward onto the floor beside Kale. “KIRA!!!”
Kale gently lay her down on the wood floor, just out of reach of the fighting. The jet-black wolfdog coughed softly and opened her orange eyes weakly, giving her love a small smile. Kale’s hand moved down her body until he felt a thick liquid on her stomach, just below her chest, and closed his eyes, feeling like throwing up. He didn’t have to look to know what he felt or what had happened. Kira had been shot.
“Oh God Kira… Why’d you have to help me out?” Kale asked in a soft whisper, “You’d still be alright if you didn’t… I told you not to try and help us if it got too dangerous…” Kira chuckled softly before groaning in agony. She winked at Kale and trembled slightly.
“People always do crazy things…… when they’re in love……” Kira replied weakly, her soft voice barely audible over the numerous gunshots.
“Oh Kira…” Kale whispered back, tears now streaming like two mighty rivers down his cheeks, “I should never have let you stay down here… I knew it was dangerous; this is all my fault!” Kira placed her hand gingerly over Kale’s lips, stopping him from speaking anymore.
“Kale… None of this is your fault… I’m glad I met you and I’m grateful for every moment we spent together…” she replied quietly, struggling to even breathe now as her profuse bleeding continued, “If I could do this all over… I wouldn’t change a thing… I- love you Kale…” Kale sniffled slightly and carefully took Kira in his arms, holding her closely as she gripped onto his shoulders.
“I love you too Kira… and I will forever…” Kale responded, kissing her passionately for what he knew would be the last time.
“I’ll see you again soon, Kale…” Kira whispered, her voice nothing more than that, “I’ll be waiting…”
Kira’s grip on his shoulders loosened gradually until it was nothing anymore. Her chest heaved inward as she exhaled for the last time in her life. Her bright orange eyes dimmed and her body went limp in Kale’s strong, loving arms. Trembling with sorrow, Kale simply stared at her for a moment before bursting into sobs of complete despair. For the second time in his life, Kale felt as if his heart had been ripped out and he’d been shot through the stomach. He gently lay the corpse of his lover on the floor before covering his face in his hands and wailing uncontrollably for a good ten minutes.
Balto heard Kale’s lamenting and glanced over at his friend, his eyes widening with shock and dimming with sadness and sympathy. His blood began to run cold, his mind wondering what Kale would do precisely in this predicament. Kale knelt there, sobbing and sobbing until he eventually got control again and sniffled, wiping away the tears from his face. His hand lay across Kira’s face as he closed her eyelids, looking up with a deadly, hate-fueled fire in his ice-blue eyes that made shivers run up even Balto’s spine.
Kale screamed out with an insatiable fury and lust for revenge, but his cry coming out more like a howl of rage. He grabbed his fallen rifle and reloaded it. He pulled the lever up then back in, getting it ready. He reloaded his pistols and pulled their hammers back, re-holstering them before checking to make sure his shotgun was ready for combat as well. Without thinking twice, he stepped out onto the porch once their was a lull in the fighting and faced off against the remaining dogs. As each one came out to shoot, Kale moved first, hitting one after the other with deadly accuracy, hardly missing except a few times.
Once his rifle was dry, Kale tossed it to the ground and began advancing toward the hiding dogs with his shotgun at the ready. One of Bill’s deputies who had disobeyed his orders ran around the side of the house, looking for the cause of the ruckus. He was shocked when he saw Kale and went to kill the husky, instead getting a shotgun slug right to the chest and flying backward. Kale turned back to his enemies, noting only three left. The two citizens exchanged nervous looks and went to run for their horses. Kale caught them in their dash and took them both down with one shotgun blast, growling angrily as he threw it to the ground and pulled out his twin peacemakers.
“STEELE!!!” Kale shouted, determined to finish the fight and avenge Kira, “COME OUT!!! SHOW YOURSELF!!!”
Steele gritted his teeth as he kept himself hidden behind the boulder he had chosen for cover. He glanced around at all the bodies, suddenly realizing that he was all alone now. Damn it! He thought angrily, sighing as he walked out into the open. He’d have to think of a plan, and fast!
“So, the brave Kale McGovern has decided to come out of hiding, hmm?” Steele asked patronizingly, “So where’s your girlfriend?” Kale snarled and shot the ground near Steele’s boots, kicking up some dust and startling the sheriff slightly.
“You just couldn’t leave us all alone, could you?!” Kale snapped back furiously, glaring at Steele with a fiery bloodlust in his eyes, “You just had to hunt us down from the moment you jumped me in my room! You had to put us on trial! You had to search for us down to River’s Edge and now you had to attack! Do you know what you’ve done?!”
“Ah, I get it…” Steele said with a cruel, wicked smirk as he tried to rile up the husky, “She’s dead, isn’t she? Well, she shouldn’t have decided to break an outlaw out of jail and runaway with him, should she?”
“She loved me!” Kale spat back furiously, shooting at Steele’s feet again, “And I loved her! Now because of you, she’s gone forever! How could you do that Steele?! Kira was sweet, young, and innocent!” Steele chuckled darkly and shook his head.
“So what? She’s gone and that’s it…” Steele replied in an uncaring tone, “And by the way, she deserved what she got for her actions…” Kale growled viciously, his eyes burning holes into Steele’s forehead.
“You bastard…” Kale snarled, holding up his pistol, “I know you, Steele… You enjoy challenges- I remember from the bar… What do you say to one final showdown?”
Steele smirked at Kale’s offer. It intrigued him greatly that a dog whose fighting side had such a huge advantage would simply throw it away for a fair one-on-one quick-draw match. He scoffed slightly and shook his head, almost not believing it at first. He looked back at the house and nodded slowly.
“Alright, but what’s a showdown without an audience?” Steele asked, waving to the house, “Bring your friends out… Don’t worry, there’s no trick this time… After all, what could I do?”
Kale hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly. He looked back to the war-torn house and motioned for the others to come out. The three looked to one another, then reluctantly walked out onto the porch and stood there, watching with interest. Kale glared back at Steele before walking up to him, the two standing back-to-back.
“Twenty paces…” Kale stated, nodding to Balto, “Balto, you count us off…” Kale and Steele walked forward as the grizzled gray-brown wolfdog counted off their paces. After the twenty pace mark, both huskies froze. Kale closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“For you, Kira…” Kale whispered and reopened his eyes, slowly turning around to face his enemy. Both dogs stared into one another’s eyes, tension filling the air around them. Time seemed to stand still for the sheriff and the outlaw, facing off against one another with the wind whipping around them. Steele grinned evilly, ready to put his plan into action.
“Draw!” Balto shouted loudly, mentally praying to God that Kale would win.
As soon as Balto called to begin, Kale’s hand gripped the wooden butt of his pistol, pulling it up and cocking it on one smooth, fluid motion. Steele moved at the same speed, both dogs leveling their guns on their targets at the same time. Then they pulled their triggers.
Two gunshots sounded through the still, silent air. Kale’s shot went off target by an inch. However, Kale wasn’t hit. Steele had never aimed at his opponent. Instead, his bullet had found its mark in the dog Steele was aiming at: Jenna. Jenna gasped and gripped her chest before falling forward to the wood.
“JENNA!!!” Balto screamed and dove beside her. Kaltag growled and knelt down beside his wolfdog friend. Kale growled angrily and aimed at Steele again. Steele grinned and pulled his trigger first.
Click! Steele’s gun was empty. The husky looked at his empty pistol in shock as Kale’s gun went off, sending Steele’s knee into a splash of red blood. Steele cried out in pain as his right knee gave out beneath him and he fell to the bloodstained ground. Kale then ran up to Steele, the sheriff trying to desperately reload, but wasn’t fast enough. Kale was on him in seconds and kicked his enemy’s revolver away from his hands.
Steele whimpered in fear as he tried to push himself away from the enraged husky towering over him. Kale growled and placed his boot on Steele’s chest, pushing back down to the ground and holding him there. He opened up his gun and let the remaining bullets drop out of the chambers, landing on Steele’s chest.
“See these, Steele?” Kale asked, his fury clear in his voice, “Any one of these bullets could have killed you, but they didn’t… No, I’m going to wait until it’s the right time to finish you off, now I suggest you stop your whimpering and just lie there!”
Steele whimpered once more and silenced himself. Kale glared and nodded approvingly. His icy stare then softened as he looked back to Balto, Kaltag, and the injured Jenna, knowing what was to come next. Balto had tears in his eyes as he held Jenna’s trembling hand.
“B-Balto?” she asked faintly, “D-Did Kale win? Did we get away?” Balto chuckled softly and nodded slowly.
“Yeah Jenna… Kale won…” Balto answered, his voice soft and weak, “We’re safe now… It’s over, it’s all over…” Jenna smiled slightly and coughed violently. Some of her blood splattered up onto her shirt as her coughing slowly ceased. She shook terribly again and swallowed hard as a pool of deep red blood formed beneath her. Balto could tell she was dying, but like Kale, he wasn’t ready to give her up.
“This last w-week was… amazing B-Balto…” Jenna managed to spit out, her breathing heavy and labored as she struggled to stay awake and alive, “Thank you….. For everything…..”
“C’mon Jen, don’t go!” Balto begged, fully crying now as he held her lovingly, “Please don’t die on me… Not now… Not after all we’ve been through…”
“I’ll be waiting for you, Balto…” Jenna whispered, her voice barely there as her strength began to fade away from her body, “I… love… you… Balto……” Balto leaned down toward Jenna and kissed her gently, feeling her last gasp of breath emit from her body as every muscle inside of her went limp. Balto slowly pulled back and stared down into her closed eyes, knowing they’d never open, nor would she breathe or move again. Balto howled with sadness, carefully lowering Jenna to the porch.
“I love you too, Jenna…” Balto whispered to her body, “I’ll be with you again soon… I promise…”
Now rising to his feet, Balto’s hands clenched tightly into fists as his sorrow was replaced by a white-hot anger toward the dog that had killed her. He walked toward Kale and Steele, pulling out his revolver and pulling the hammer back as he approached the two. Kaltag followed behind Balto and soon Steele was staring down the barrels of three pistols.
“Remember this Steele?” Kale asked, pulling out a bronze bullet and showing it to him, the sheriff’s name carved into the side, “I never miss with a named bullet… Never…” Kale loaded it into the chamber of his pistol and pulled the hammer back, pointing it back at the husky’s forehead.
“For Jenna…” Balto muttered.
“For Kira…” Kale said afterward.
“For us, the trio that can’t be stopped…” Balto, Kaltag, and Kale said in unison before pulling their triggers, the valley echoing with three synchronized gunshots. Steele’s head was lost to a spray of gore as the three friends took their revenge, once and for all. Balto and Kale then went back to the house, taking the bodies of their lovers outside as Kaltag grabbed a couple of shovels.
Bill had heard the final three gunshots and motioned to his men, leading them around to the front. The sight they saw before them surprised them all, including Bill. The three outlaws were merely standing there, digging up two graves. The bodies of the two females lay nearby. Bill gave the three a confused, yet sympathetic look. Kale looked up and locked eyes with Bill for a moment.
“Please Bill, I don’t care if you shoot us up to Hell after we’re done, but please just let us bury Kira and Jenna…” Kale asked in a pleading voice.
Bill nodded slowly, not able to deny such a natural right. It took the three dogs all of thirty minutes to dig the two graves before slowly and gently laying the two girls into them. Balto cried and Kale looked like he was on the verge of a break-down again. Even Kaltag had begun to cry slightly. Kale gently laid the pistol he’d given to Kira on her chest, climbing out and standing beside his friends.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to protect you, Kira…” Kale whispered softly, “I love you, and even death won’t stop that love…”
“Goodbye Jenna… I’m sorry… We shouldn’t have come out of hiding…” Balto said quietly, “I’ll be with you once more…”
The three outlaws then proceeded to bury their fallen allies and friends. Once they were done, Balto looked up at Bill and sighed softly.
“Well, are you gonna kill us now or arrest us?” the young wolfdog asked neutrally, “We’re all worth $500 either way, so it’s all up to you…” Bill sighed heavily and shook his head.
“I must be crazy to be doing this, but I know God would get me if I didn’t…” Bill said, looking at the three friends and outlaws, “Fellas, I’m not gonna do anything to you three… Watching how you just buried the two you cared about and then willingly giving yourselves up, I’m gonna let you go… You have a day’s head-start before I come after you guys again… Go on, get!”
Balto, Kale, and Kaltag exchanged looks before nodding to Bill. Kale gave his old friend a slight smile before they walked to their horses, untied them, and mounted up. Turning for the north exit, the three rode off into the noon light. Balto and Kale looked back one last time, tears welling up in their eyes once more as they rode off northward, not caring where they ended up.
The trio of utterly distraught and depressed outlaws rode into the town of
Dismounting, Balto, Kale, and Kaltag walked up the porch and were about to enter when a very familiar poster caught their eyes.
Wanted: Balto McLane, Kaltag Lorden, and Kale McGovern
Dead or Alive
$500 per dog
These dogs have committed crimes across the states of
This time however, the three didn’t bother to rip it off the wall or make witty comments to one another about it. They just walked into the sparsely occupied tavern and walked straight to the bar.
“Three beers…” Balto said blandly to the barkeeper, no trace of emotions on his face whatsoever. The dog opened three amber bottles and placed them in front of the dogs. The outlaws then took them to a circular table and sat down, staring at their drinks. They drank them slowly, reflecting on the previous day, when they’d lost pretty much everything.
“Guys, I never thought it would come to something like this…” Balto said suddenly, his brown and gold eyes showing the depth of the sorrow he was feeling.
“This is the saddest, the most upsetting, the most depressing-” Kaltag rambled on, slowly dying down after a moment and taking a long drink of his beer.
“Balto, Kaltag… I’m glad you guys came to River’s Edge when you did… I hate the situation we’re in now, but I loved the adventures…” Kale said softly, giving his friends a slight smile, “You guys gave me such thrills and skills, you guys gave me the life I wanted… Thanks to you two, I even managed to experience true love… no matter how short it was… Thanks guys… You’re true friends, even family to me…”
“Kale, it was a pleasure having you on board our little trio of outlaws…” Balto said, smiling as he pat his friend on the arm, “I couldn’t have asked for better friends that you and Kaltag… You two are great… Thanks for always being there for me…”
“These last few years have been the best of my life, all because of you two,” Kaltag said, smiling as well, “You guys are the greatest friends, the best pals, the most incredible buddies-” Balto went to hit Kaltag, who flinched, and Balto pulled back, all three of them laughing good-naturedly at one another. Balto raised up his amber bottle of beer and smiled widely to Kaltag and Kale, flashing his white teeth.
“Cheers fellas! To us, the greatest outlaws there ever were and ever will be!” Balto said, holding his bottle of alcohol above the center of the table.
“To us, the greatest friends, pals, buddies, amigos, and ‘brothers’ anyone will ever meet or know in their lifetime!” Kale said, holding his bottle up as well, returning Balto’s wide smile.
“To us, the greatest criminal trio that the history of the world will ever know!” Kaltag said, raising his beer as well, “Cheers!”
The three outlaws and best friends clinked their bottles together before downing them and slamming them against the wooden table. They laughed and stood up, feeling in much better spirits than before. While Balto and Kale still had holes where their hearts should be, they knew that moping wouldn’t get them anywhere, though they still felt like crying. Then, they all began to sing.
I’m a cowboy,
I’m wanted dead or alive
I’m a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive!
“C’mon, we’ve got a date with a woman and her name’s the National Bank of
“Balto McLane, Kaltag Landon, and Kale McGovern, stay right where you are!” came the stern voice of Bill Inago, “You three are under arrest for numerous crimes against the states of
Balto, Kale, and Kaltag looked to their left side. Standing just off the side of the porch to the saloon was Bill Inago and a couple of his deputies. Balto scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe they’d been caught so quickly.
“No…” Balto replied calmly, “No, I don’t think I will go with you…”
“That wasn’t an option. Come quietly or we’ll be forced to open fire on you three…” Bill repeated, taking a step closer, “Your call, Mr. McLane…”
“Go to Hell…” Balto snapped back coldly, looking to Kale and Kaltag, “C’mon, let’s get going…” The wolfdog went to walk off the porch and was pushed back by Bill. He gave the sheriff a cold, steely glare before scoffing again and shaking his head.
“Alright, we’ll play it your way…” Balto replied, letting his arms fall to his side. He then quickly went for his revolver, but Bill was steps ahead of him, shooting Balto in the forehead just as the outlaw was bring his pistol up. Balto dropped his gun and fell backward, dying immediately as his body hit the wooden floor.
Balto blinked several times, unsure of where he was. Every thing seemed dim and dark, light a cloud had passed in front of the sun, but the shading was everywhere! It was like a badly-lit real world. Sitting up, Balto groaned and shook his head to clear the daze, rubbing his head and looking around. He could see Kale, Kaltag, and Bill, but they all seemed monochromatic, almost ghost-like. He stood up and looked beneath him, gasping sharply as he saw his own body laying there, a bloody hole on his forehead.
“Oh God…” he muttered to himself, looking around at his friends, “I’m dead… I died… I’m dead!”
“You shot him! God damn it, you shot him!” Kaltag shouted, pulling out his pistol and diving over the railing of the side to take cover. But one again, Bill was faster and fired again, this shot hitting Kaltag right in his chest. The outlaw fell over the railing and lay on his back, slowly bleeding out as he stared up at the sky. Bill trained his aim on Kaltag’s head and pulled the trigger again, finishing the dog off.
Kaltag felt a sharp pain in his head- then nothing. Like a strange emptiness. He clenched his eyes tightly, then slowly reopened them. He saw the normal world, but everything was gray and monochromatic. He sat up and looked around, spotting only one thing in color and gasping.
“Balto?!” Kaltag asked in complete shock as he scrambled to his feet, “Where are we?” Balto looked at his friend and chuckled slightly.
“We’re dead, Kal… Look beneath you…” Balto explained, pointing to his friend’s feet. Kaltag glanced down and saw his own body.
“So this is death?” Kaltag asked again, looking around before walking up beside Balto, “It’s so bland, so colorless, so neutral-” Balto hit him on the head, then pointed to Kale.
“Only Kale’s left… Let’s see what happens now…” Balto said calmly, both dogs locking their gaze on their last living friend.
Kale simply stared blandly at Bill, showing no fear, no sorrow, no shock, nothing. No emotions whatsoever. He walked up to the post of the porch and leaned casually on it, staring at the sheriff of River’s Edge.
“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