Buck was old. It was time for his final ride into the sunset, and he knew it. He had called his family to his bedside. His wife had passed several winters ago, so it was just his son, Bill, and daughter, Amelia, that remained.

It was warm and sunny outside in this desert town, but Buck was under a blanket. A scratchy one, to match his calloused hands and stubble. His fever had drained his strength, and Bill helped him sit up on a throne of pillows. “Thank you, son,” he coughed and wheezed, “my strong Billy boy.” Buck managed a weak smile, but his eyes showed real joy.

“Pa, I’m a man now, don’t call me that,” Bill tried to brush it off, but his voice cracked and gave him away.

“Oh hush, you two,” said Amelia, ever the serious one, “can I get you anything, pa?”

“My sweet Amelia, I just want your company.” She began to cry. She didn’t want this.

“We can call the doctor-“ she sobbed.

“Darling girl, it’s my time,” he said it calmly, trying to soothe her, “you can’t fight fate-“ he had a coughing fit, and his handkerchief came away bloody, “- because you’ll always lose. I’ve called y’all here because I have to tell ya some things before I go.” He paused, to make sure they were listening.

“Yeah, pa?” asked Bill.

“My fortune. It’s buried beneath the floorboards in the saloon.”

“I knew it!” Amelia exclaimed, “you were an outlaw!”

“I was,” he admitted. A deathbed confession.

“There’s enough there for both of you to live a good life,” he smiled, “chase your dreams... I turned my life around, after I met your mother,” he smiled, remembering his beautiful Lucille, “I’m gonna see her soon...”

“Say hi to her for us,” Amelia instructed.

“We love you, pa.” choked Bill.

Buck slipped away, surrounded by love.

***

On the other side of town, Annie stirred. She’d fallen asleep outside- on guard. This noon heat made her drowsy. She meandered over to the well, and took a long, refreshing drink.

She’d had to join this band of thieves, as a lookout, to keep her landlord happy. Her work at the saloon wasn’t bringing in enough money and her husband had run off with a red-headed prostitute. That hadn’t made her sad. It just meant she didn’t have to worry about smothering him anymore- he loved to beat her blue after an evening at the bar.

Big Joe waltzed over to her. “Hey Annie,” he winked, “how’s it goin’?”

“All right,” she shrugged.

“Well it’s about to get better!”, his eyes sparkled, “you’re gonna go on an adventure! Tom and I were talkin-“

“In between kisses,” she teased.

“Hush!” He blushed, “someone might hear.”

Within a day Annie had been promoted from lookout to outlaw. She’d gotten her own horse, and finally left that house full of bad memories.

As she road into the sunset, she knew: this is just the beginning.