Vin Tanner sighed as he sat down at a saloon in Lawrence, Kansas. 'Will it ever end?,'he asked himself. He downed his shot of whiskey as he thought about the past couple of years.
He had been tracking a wanted man, and found that man dead. He took him in, to collect the bounty, and found out that it wasn't the right man. He'd been set up. The next thing Vin knew, he was wanted for murder. A five-hundred dollar bounty was on his head.
For the past couple of years, he'd been on the run. He didn't form any ties with people, always leaving before they got to find out who he was. He hadn't been able to sleep for two days, having to be on the lookout. Before he'd entered Lawrence, Kansas, he'd been chased by two bounty hunters. He'd tried to get away, but they kept tracking him down. They had caught him and planned to take him in. He'd had no choice, he'd had to kill them both.
He entered back in to the present. 'Too much thinkin',' he thought as he downed another shot of whiskey. He glanced around, taking in all of his surroundings, before he went upstairs to his room.
Five months later, he was a peacekeeper in a town called Four Corners with six other men. They all knew who he was, but acceppted it. He was with his fellow peacekeeper, Chris Larabee, when he heard his name.
"Vin! Vin Tanner!" Vin turned around and saw a man with his Colt revolver pointed at him.
"What is this about?," growled Chris.
"This man is wanted for murder. I intend to take him in and collect."
"You," Chris started.
"Chris, let me handle this, " Vin said. Chris nodded, but, silently, continued to glare at the man. "I'm not goin' in."
The man cocked his revolver and said, "My revolver says you are."
"No, " Vin said. He turned and started walking back to his horse, who was drinking out of the stream.
He heard Chris yell, "Vin!" Vin whirled around and ducked, narrowly missing a bullet. He, instinctively, fired his own weapon and hit the man in the chest. The man fell, jerking. After he quit spasiming, Chris checked for a pulse. "Dead, " he announced.
Vin sighed and lowered his weapon. "You had to, Vin, " said Chris.
Vin nodded and said, "I know. I just wish it would end. But, it won't until I find Eli Joe. He can clear everythi' up."
Chris nodded, "Let's get this man back to town. To the undertaker." Vin nodded and they loaded the man on to his horse, leading him to Four Corners.
Even though Vin had become friends with his fellow peacekeepers, he had no idea how long he wouldremain with them. He knew until he could find Eli Joe, he would remain a wanted man. Wanted, dead or alive.
I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back.
I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall.
I'm wanted, dead or alive.
(*Wanted, Dead or Alive-sung by Bon Jovi.* No copyright infringement intended)
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