Paco Valdez
You slowly get down from your horse, holding the stirrups in your hand as you make your way over to the man; your head hanging low.
"Wise move," the sheriff says.
"I didn't know she was so young, sheriff," you lie.
"It don' matter none how old she was. Fact is, you got the girl pregnant and ran off."
"I wha-?" You swallow hard. Pregnant? You were sure you had pulled out, but you had drank an awful lot that night.
"That's right," the sheriff says. "You're a father. And I expect you and her to get married right soon. You'll get a job here in town and you'll take care of your family like a man should."
"I, but-" You begin, attempting to talk your way out of it.
"Boy, you ain't got no choice."
With a resigned sigh you nod your head in acceptance. "Let me say goodbye to my friends," you say.
The sheriff concedes to this request and you walk over to Annie and Gus where they stand waiting by the horses.
"So this is goodbye?" Gus asks.
"You gotta get me out of here," You say to them, barely above a whisper. Gus shakes his head, Annie just laughs.
"You don' never give up," Annie says.
You attempt to convince them to help you, to take the sheriff down and charge out of town; but they won't go for it. At last you say your goodbyes and head back over to the sheriff.
He takes you immediately to his home wherein you become reacquainted with his daughter. She's still attractive, you think. At least that's a positive thing.
The next day you are wed.
Time passes slowly for you. You get a job as a farmhand and work long hours, making barely enough money to get by. Your life isn't terrible, but it's dreadfully boring. The excitement of your life of crime is gone and all you have is hard work and the family at home. The passionate evenings with your wife are a highlight, watching your child grow is another.
There are many nights that you stare up into the darkness and think about the days gone by, the adventures you've had. You've never considered yourself a family man, and you still aren't; really. But here you are with a family, tied down by a ball and chain.
You wonder sometimes, if you hadn't tangled with Valdez; would you be here today? Or would you be bathing in the riches you made taking out the bank in town?
There is no way to be certain.
"Wise move," the sheriff says.
"I didn't know she was so young, sheriff," you lie.
"It don' matter none how old she was. Fact is, you got the girl pregnant and ran off."
"I wha-?" You swallow hard. Pregnant? You were sure you had pulled out, but you had drank an awful lot that night.
"That's right," the sheriff says. "You're a father. And I expect you and her to get married right soon. You'll get a job here in town and you'll take care of your family like a man should."
"I, but-" You begin, attempting to talk your way out of it.
"Boy, you ain't got no choice."
With a resigned sigh you nod your head in acceptance. "Let me say goodbye to my friends," you say.
The sheriff concedes to this request and you walk over to Annie and Gus where they stand waiting by the horses.
"So this is goodbye?" Gus asks.
"You gotta get me out of here," You say to them, barely above a whisper. Gus shakes his head, Annie just laughs.
"You don' never give up," Annie says.
You attempt to convince them to help you, to take the sheriff down and charge out of town; but they won't go for it. At last you say your goodbyes and head back over to the sheriff.
He takes you immediately to his home wherein you become reacquainted with his daughter. She's still attractive, you think. At least that's a positive thing.
The next day you are wed.
Time passes slowly for you. You get a job as a farmhand and work long hours, making barely enough money to get by. Your life isn't terrible, but it's dreadfully boring. The excitement of your life of crime is gone and all you have is hard work and the family at home. The passionate evenings with your wife are a highlight, watching your child grow is another.
There are many nights that you stare up into the darkness and think about the days gone by, the adventures you've had. You've never considered yourself a family man, and you still aren't; really. But here you are with a family, tied down by a ball and chain.
You wonder sometimes, if you hadn't tangled with Valdez; would you be here today? Or would you be bathing in the riches you made taking out the bank in town?
There is no way to be certain.
