Across the Barren Landscape: Across the Barren Landscape, #1

By Pete Clark

Barren Landscape is just one town, but it defines an entire region. Follow an eclectic mix of characters as they navigate the towns and deserts of New Mexico en route to a mysterious game, whose prize strikes the imagination of the hard men and women of the land. A series of non-sequential, linked stories that tell the tales and fate of hired guns, quick draw artists, cutthroat businessmen, and simple townspeople.

Contains five interconnected short stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: October Leaves
• Release date: Mar 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781502290502

Book preview

Also by Pete Clark

Midnight Riders

Tales from Midnight’s Graveyard

Backward Compatible

1.

Killing Dirty

I felt my hip crunch like the hard, packed earth beneath the horse’s feet. I was getting old; sure as shit, folks. But if this little plan of mine worked out, I’d be on my way to spending the rest of my days surrounded by cool water, large drinks, and massively breasted women named Mandy or Jeannette.

My trusty horse Fido trotted slowly toward the worn out sign that welcomed visitors to the seldom-traveled town of Barren Landscape. There wasn’t much doubt that the name of the town did little to improve tourism. But that suited me fine. After all, I was here for business. I reached down and jingled the bag of coins at my good hip. Giving the bag of money a rub down always set me at ease. Speaking of security, my Colt .45 rested on my opposite hip. There is nothing like the weight of a gun to make a man feel at home. Even in such a filthy town as this.

I passed beneath the sign, where there was no one to greet me.

How unsophisticated. I spit a thick glob of phlegm onto the wall of one of the nearby establishments. No harm done. The outer buildings were as empty as my bank account. But that was about to change.

I thought that maybe everyone had packed up and left. However, as I passed the giant red silo at the center of town, I noticed the welcoming committee. Two men, hardening in the sun, stood side by side, facing out at me. Each man carried what appeared to be one of a set of matching Winchester rifles. I approached slowly. Couldn’t be too careful. Heat and guns make for a dangerous combo. The man on the left held up his hand. I pulled gently on Fido’s reins, bringing him to a stop.

You part of the game, heh?

I am indeed.

You got the invite? He asked his second question as he scratched loose a chunk of flesh from beneath his whitening beard.

Certainly I do. I reached slowly beneath my vest to get at said invite.

Hey now, said the other guard. He flicked the lever on his rifle in a blink and pointed the weapon at my chest. Let’s have no sudden moves now.

Easy, Buchman. Now drop your hand on out that vest, fella. You don’t need to show just yet and my friend here gets a bit antsy.

Yeah. That’s right Ted, said Buchman. We already had to kill one trespasser today. He grinned. A thin line of spit and chew leaked out of the left side of his mouth. It hung there wavering, before snapping loose and settling in the dust by his spurless boots.

Now don’t pay any attention to that talk. Ted glanced toward Buchman. Shut the hell up, the look said. It was easy to tell that good ole Buchy didn’t like that look, but he shut up just the same. You got ya buy-in money?

I do.

All right then. What’s your name?

Jack Hemmingway.

Well, I just might have heard of that name, said Buchman.

Quiet down, would ya, Buch, Ted interrupted.

Buchman looked like he was damn ready to fire at his partner after that. However, he was able to curb his growing anger, despite the heat.

You’re on the list, said Ted. Just ride on over to that building marked Cadaver’s Bar.

Sounds promising, I said. Take it easy, Buchy. I nudged Fido and we headed to the pleasant little spot called Cadaver’s Bar. I tied Fido; much to my surprise, he was the only horse. I headed through the requisite bat-wing doors and into the bar.

Dimly lit would be an understatement. I couldn’t spot too many places for light to crawl in even if it had wanted to. Light wanted no part of a place like this. A thin haze of sun pushed in through the doors behind me as well as from a pair of high windows located on each side of the fine drinking locale. However, there was such a mass of smoke from cigarettes and who could say what else that the air looked like twilight in boiling water. Ahead, at the bar, stood two men. One may have been the bartender as he was pouring the other a drink, although he seemed a bit well-dressed for such work. The other was carrying a rifle. There was a lot of that going on. The armed man sauntered on over to where I was standing. How he didn’t trip, I have no idea. He emerged from the smog and spoke.

You in on the game?

I am.

Let’s see your invite. The request was accompanied by the aiming of his rifle at my genitalia.

I reached slowly into my vest and took out the invite. Which wasn’t easy to get, I might add. He gave it a hefty stare before looking up. Got ya buy-in?

I handed over my bag o’ coins. He poured it all out onto the bar and counted it. Hey, Shell, it’s all here and he’s got his invite. What are we going to do?

In the corner of the bar was a table. I knew something was up when I saw six chairs and six guys already sitting in them. One of them had a seventh guy handcuffed to his arm, who was crumpled uncomfortably between the chairs and the table. The eighth man, whom I originally thought to be the bartender and was apparently Shell, came walking over.

Well, Shell started. His foul breath, like whiskey and out-house, misted into my face. We got a little problem here.

What sort of problem? My good humor was about at an end.

Well, as ya prolly know, I set up this little tourney for six players. A single prize to be given to the winner of one randomly selected hand during play. The prize...

Yeah, I know. A map. Directions to the gold. That sort of deal. I think we all get that. My anger was about to get me in deep. Ted and Buchman had just entered the bar. Hired muscle on the scene. Better play it soft. Anyway... I took a breath so all could see how calm I was. Or so I hoped. "It was really tough to earn this invite as I’m sure you well know. And the entry fee is awful steep. So how is it that you gave out an extra seat?"

Well, I didn’t exactly. You see-