© Starbright 2001
Prologue
The woman sank to her knees in front of the creek, burying her face into the stagnant water. Grateful for the partial relief. It didn't taste good, not by any means. But for the time being it was all she had. It was what was holding her alive. And being alive meant she still held a chance, for that she was grateful.
Reluctantly moving away to let the horse drink she remain looking into the horizon. The heat making the air shiver, like it had so many times back home. Back home where everything had been different. Back home where she had had a loving husband a beautiful children. Back home where she belonged.
And then it had all been taken away from her. One false move and everything was swept from underneath her feet. If she had only known what lay before her then, at that moment. She would have done things differently, she knew that now. But not back then.
But I have returned, yes I have. And you will all regret what you did to me. Killing my husband, taking my children away from me. I'll have you all pay dearly. I will take everything away from you, just wait and see.
Bitterly she turned to watch the trail that lead to the town. How many times had she dreamed about this day, the day she would ride in and claim her own. She was almost there now, a day's ride - maybe less if she found watering holes on the way and she was able to push harder. Two at the most. Right now the two days seemed like an eternity. Comparing to the ten years she had been waiting for this to happen they were nothing. But this close to her goal the tension grew, and the need for revenge and restitution had never been greater. It is high time you get your own and I get mine.
Instinctively she pulled out the old photograph of the homestead. Not very unlike her own homestead, a place she both loved and hated. A place where her husband had been killed and her children had been taken away from her. She wondered what it looked like now, so many years had passed. The children were almost grown now, her baby would be eleven this August. A young lady. A young lady she had never had the opportunity to get to know. And her son, what would he be like now? Would he resemble his father as much as he did when he was just a little boy? Would he have his smile? She just didn't know. She didn't even have a picture of them, just memories that graped a hole in her heart. All she had was this old photograph of a house and a barn she had never seen. The only indication of where she would find her children, the only object of sentimental value that she was able to link to her children. All thanks to the good people of Sweetwater, the sanctimonious lot of them. But now they would all pay. Tucking the treasure back into her pocket she smiled, she was so close now. She had the names and the places to destroy all mapped out in her mind. There were a lot of sins the townspeople had to pay, all the seven deadly ones and then some.
Mounting the horse she groaned at the heat, it was breathtaking. The air so still it scorched her exposed skin, no breeze to alleviate the harsh dryness. For a moment she found it difficult to breathe, the air burning in her lungs. For a moment she contemplated giving it all up. Then she smiled to herself. The draught would help her, she had never thought about it that way. It was giving her more opportunities and creating new possibilities. She'd burn her revenge throughout town, they would all feel it. Just like she felt the heat right now. They would all feel the heat of her burning hate for the men and women in Sweetwater. And they would not have a clue to what struck them, harshly and unforgiving.
Pulling her hat down lower over her face she adjusted the men's clothing slightly, loosening the collar and wiping her hands on the coarse material of her pants. The bandana was adjusted to cover her face from both the heat and possible recognition. Just in case. Then she smiled ruefully and turned the horse towards the doomed town. It wouldn't be long now.
To be continued
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