Just outside the small
west Texas town of El Paso lived an old man. He lived on a small piece of land
with his grandson. Rumor had it that he was once the fastest gun in the west.
Some even said he had been a Texas Ranger, and when asked he would only smile
and walk away.
He never had much to say but with a closer look you could see that in years
past he had let his fists do the talking for him. The
old man enjoyed watching the sunset with his grandson, they were both content
in their own little world.
Word spread through
El Paso that Black Heart was coming to town. Now Black Heart was a notorious
gunfighter that killed just to add to the notches on his gun. Nobody knew where
he came from they only knew that death followed him where ever he traveled.
He had a price on his head but nobody had been quick enough to collect it.
The dreaded day came when the killer rode into town. The Sheriff in El Paso knew that he was no match for Black Heart so he went out to the old man's farm to ask for his help. The old man listened as the Sheriff explained how Black Heart's list would grow if the old man didn't help.
When the Sheriff finished
the old man slowly stood up and walked into the back room of his house with
a look in his eyes that the Sheriff and the grandson had never seen. When the
old man returned he was wearing a black felt hat and a black trail duster with
a shiny Texas Ranger badge pinned to it. He pulled the duster back out of the
way where two Colt Peacemakers with pearl grips were slung low. His gun belt
was black with silver conchas. The old Ranger walked past the Sheriff and the
boy who sat speechless.
The Ranger mounted up
and rode to town. As he rode in, the time piece in his pocket was showing high
noon. The streets were quiet and all the shops were closed. The only sound that
could be heard was the coming from the saloon. The Ranger could hear Black Heart's
evil laugh over the breaking glass and gun shots.
The Ranger dismounted
and called for Black Heart to come out. The noise stopped and it became deathly
quiet. The saloon doors flew open and Black Heart walked out, he spit on the
side walk and then stepped into the dusty street. He was breathing heavy and
death was in his eyes. The Sheriff rode up and dismounted. He started out to
stand with the old Ranger. The Ranger told him to stay where he was. The Ranger
then told Black Heart that he was going to have to leave El Paso. Black Heart
laughed and told the Ranger that the Ranger's blood would flow in the streets
before he left town.
With that, the Ranger
pulled the brim of his hat down and said," I hoped you weren't going to
say that." The killer took a long hard look at the Ranger and then made
his move.
Before Black Heart could clear leather the Ranger was firing both Peacemakers,
each round finding it's mark. When the smoke and dust cleared the Sheriff ran
out to check Black Heart.
The killer's reign of terror was finally over and El Paso was again safe.
The Sheriff looked up
at the Ranger and shook his head. The Ranger unstrapped his gun belt and let
it drop in the street. With tears streaming down his face he took off the Ranger
badge and rode slowly out of town. The Sheriff's attention was then captured
by an old dog eared photograph sticking out of Black Heart's pocket.
The picture was that
of the old Ranger taken years ago.
On the back of the picture was this single word...Dad.
Det. Sgt. D.J. Rogers
Cleburne, Tx. P. D. SWAT