Klaus story ‘with a twist’ takes third place in contest

Editor’s note:  Claudia Klaus was the third place winner in the 2010 first ever Friends of the Library short story contest. Residents had to be age 16 and over to enter. The stories, 750 words in length, had to take place in the city of Maricopa. They were judged on originality, creativity, entertainment value and the ‘wow’ factor.

Untitled (but with a twist)

As the sun rose above the Sierra Estrella Mountains on a chilly winter morning, they rode into Maricopa, five horsemen dressed in black with justice on their minds and vengeance in their hearts. These weren’t soft city men, looking to their own comfort; these men were as tough as the small desert town they called home, shaped by the wind and the sun.  They lived by a law that was greater than men:  the law of right; the law of the West. The neighboring spread had something that was theirs, and they were going to take it back.  Justice would be served that day.
    
They didn’t speak as they approached the boundary between the two properties. No words were needed; they shared one thought: set what was wrong to right. Someday, their names would be spoken with reverence by the town’s folk. Legends, born of the desert.  They couldn’t see their prize, not yet. It was hidden from sight, but they could hear the restless movements of doggies nearby. The doggies were the key to their plan. 

“Wyatt, are you ready?” one of the cowboys asked.

Wyatt nodded, his face grim with determination. “Yeah, I’ll go in just like we planned. You guys will need to be ready to cover me when I come back. That’s when I’ll really need you. We’re going to have to be quick about this. We’ve only got one shot.”  The other riders nodded. They would do what was needed to be done. They had to.

Two of the riders moved off to the south. They would create a distraction, drawing attention away from Wyatt as he went over the rise to the property to the west. Their job was crucial. If Wyatt was spotted too early, he wouldn’t have time to get back to the safety of his own spread before the guards on the other side caught him. The remaining two riders stayed by Wyatt’s side.

“Are you sure about this?” one asked. It could cause some major trouble if we’re found out.” 

“There’s no other choice. If we don’t do this now, we may not get another chance,” Wyatt replied.

“I could go instead.” 

Wyatt put his hand on his friends shoulder. “I appreciate that, but this is my spread; it’s my job to get this done.”

Wyatt’s companion nodded, “Just so you know, I’ve got your back.” The three remaining horsemen could hear their companions starting their task. The doggies were really restless now. Their cries could be heard echoing into the cold desert air.

Wyatt prepared to make his move. “Ready?” he asked his companions. 

“Boys!” a woman’s voice yelled, “you get off of that wall right this minute!” 

“Mom,” Wyatt wailed, “our ball went into Mr. Rankkin’s yard. We need to get it back.”

“Not by climbing over his fence, you don’t. Now get down from that wall; you’re driving his dogs crazy.  I can’t stand all that barking. If you keep teasing them like that,
one is liable to bite you, and serves you right, too. When Mr. Rankkin gets home from work you can go to his front door and politely ask him if you can have your ball back.”

“But Mom, last time he told us that the next time our ball landed in his yard, he was going to keep it!”

“Then maybe you should be more careful about hitting it over there, but you are not climbing over that wall with those dogs back there. Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Five little heads hung down dejectedly. Mom stood guard in the doorway, hands on her hips, making sure the five boys moved away from the block wall.   

“Well, now what do we do?” one little boy asked, twirling the broom that moments before had been his trusty steed. “Mr. Rankkin will never let us have the ball back, and we don’t have another one.”

The boys stood silently for a moment, swinging the brooms and branches they were going to use to distract the dogs while Wyatt dashed across the open expanse of yard next door.

“I guess we could go to my house and play with the X-Box,” a second one offered.  “My brother isn’t home yet to hog it.”

The others agreed, and the newly excited boys exited the back yard, heading down the street of the neighborhood.

Five horsemen moved off into the desert. Justice would have to wait for another day . . .or at least, on this day, until after dinner.

Claudia Klaus

Photo by Joyce Hollis