Fritz rode hard. He heard the war cries and gunfire. The fires slackened. He topped the rise and looked below. A scene of slaughter met his eyes.
The war party was brutally efficient. Men were shot from horseback by a variety of weapons, and finished at close quarters. Hand to hand combat was a Comanche specialty. Bodies were stripped of anything useful. Scalp knives ran red.
In the middle of a ring of twelve braves was a single man. He’d lost his hat, and the shock of white hair blew wildly in the breeze. He fired two pistols as rapidly as possible. The warriors were waiting for the kill.
“How do I say it?” Fritz thought. Hoping his pronunciation was good, he yelled out
“EI-YAH!!!”
The Comanche stopped firing, and stared at the rider coming in. Some recognized Fritz, and his Comanche name was spoken. The Albino looked at his savior.
Fritz dismounted, handing Buddy’s reins to the closest man. Looking to the Albino, he said one word…
“RELOAD.”
The Albino holstered one pistol, and ejected shells from the other. Fritz noted the rig he wore had two Slim Jims, with butts forward. At least they both had cross-draws.
“Who are you?”
Fritz popped the flap on his holster. “I’m an horse soldier. A First Sergeant. And now, you’re gonna pay for the soldiers you killed.”
The Albino dropped his Colt into the well-worn rig. “You think you can take me?” His voice was steady, but there was doubt in his eyes…or was it fear?
“Only one way to find out,” Fritz replied, twisting his right hand. His left lay at his beltline.
He saw movement, the Albino’s right hand going for a twist draw. Fritz pulled the flap with his right hand, drawing the short-barreled Colt with his left. Three inches of barrel cleared leather quicker than seven inches did. As soon as he was on target, Fritz pulled the trigger. The shot caught the Albino in the right shoulder, spinning him violently. His Colt flew away as he fell, blood spurting from his wound.
Fritz instinctively cocked the hammer as walked forward, ready for a second shot. None was needed.
His skin could get no whiter. The Albino spat through gritted teeth. “Bastard...you win. Take me in now.”
Fritz lowered the hammer and holstered his pistol.
“Take you in?” he asked. “I said you were gonna pay.” Fritz smiled. “I leave you to the paymasters.”
He looked to the warriors, pointed towards the supine man, and turned away.
The screams were incredible.