THE RUSTED BILLIONAIRE GUN

chapter 3

Aceline got up right between dawn and took her gun belt and hat, she already had her jacket On, she made her way towards the door, her boot in hand, she needed to be careful not to wake him.

She had dropped a note of Apology and appreciation on the bed, she just thought it is wrong to involve him in whatever she is entangled with, he has done enough by hiding her, he wants her to leave anyways.

Aceline's next move is very dangerous to her and to the Mayor but she had to take her chances as soon as she could. If she could meet the Mayor and leave before daybreak, she is safe.

She grabbed her horse by its lead rope and started towards the town as silent as she could be. When she can now see the farmhouse is far enough, she got on her horse and rode at trotting speed into the dark.

She knocked silently on the Mayor's door and after a few seconds someone walked to the window with a barrel gun pointed out like he was waiting for her already.

“Who is there? Speak!” he shouted in fear

“Aceline” she spoke as low as she could so no one would hear and know she was there.

“Aceline?”

The gun went in and she heard his heavy footsteps hurriedly going for the door, she felt relaxed, at least someone still cares she is alive.

The door opened and she went in, to her surprise, the Mayor's family was up apart from the children.

“Aceline! We thought you were dead, I tried looking for you after I heard but I was too late, I recovered your father's body from the fire and your brother will be buried this morning.

The whole room was filled with silently sobbing people, Aceline controlled herself then spoke.

“Thank you, I appreciate your help but I advise you not to involve yourself too much so he won't come for you too, this town is hijacked and you should stay clear of his ways too” she was sobbing now. The Mayor's wife stood up and hugged her.

“Cry them out Aceline, You need to” she whispered

After awhile, she cleaned her eyes and asked

“Can I stay until they are buried? I want to be there”

“I would not advise you to do that, Don Paulo still has men looking for you around the town, they came in here yesterday evening and left when they could not find you so I advise you start your journey right away, I will take good care of the burial rites.”

He went in and came back almost immediately then handed her a bag. It was her Father's favorite.

“Your dad gave me this few months ago, he told me to give it to you and your brother Incase something bad Happens to him, he had petitioned Paulo and was afraid it won't end well, here is some cash too, go to your Aunt in Viva creeks” he opened the door for her.

Aceline waved the family goodbye and mounted her horse, Suddenly they heard a loud gunshot.

After Juan had gotten to Don Paulo’s house that evening she had lost Aceline, he could not summon courage to meet his Boss, he was afraid of what he could do to him for his incompetence, he was still lost in his thoughts when a maid came in and told him the Boss wants to see him after waiting for some minutes to compose his speech, he went.

“Where is the girl?” Don Paulo asked him calmly

“She got away don and I think she was hidden by a farmer at the outskirts of the town, the farmer did let us search his Farmhouse and barn but she was nowhere there, I believe he had hid her somewhere we could not reach” Juan was afraid, even he knew the Farmer's name, it doesn't count, what matters is he find her and It was not as if Don cares about a farmer except if he demands his head.

“Farmer? What is his name?”

“Marcus, he used to live with Richard Pickett, I heard he was his grandson” he answered

“Pickett Grandson?” Don Paulo asked again, now he was visibly shaken like he had seen a ghost.

“Do not go there anymore, Never mention that name anymore, Deploy men around the Judge house, I believe she'll come around”

Juan had some many questions in his mind but dare not ask his boss, Why was he triggered? What is with the Picketts? He had known Marcus as a Fool who chooses to escape reality and isolated himself after he was released from prison but now there is more to it, he does not know yet but he is ready to find out.

“Juan!” Someone had called him from the window. It was very early and it was still dark. He took his secondary pistol from under his pillow and asked who it was from the little window. It was one of the men he deployed to monitor the Mayor’s house.

“A woman with face covered was spotted at the Mayor's house, I think it is her” he said

“Go get the boss, let's get to work” he replied and pulled some clothes on then rushed out.

Aceline heard a gunshot as she was climbing her horse and saw men rushing on horses towards her from afar, she was shocked to know she has been spotted, it's barely morning, she rode away at full gait across the town, she was being followed immediately and she couldn't recognize anyone, they were at least five men, things were still in her favor as she was leading with a good distance until another team pulled up ahead from afar, she halted and made to turn left, there was another team, she turned right then realized she has been surrounded, they all caught up to her, she could see Don Paulo behind the team ahead in his white suit and hat, she raised her hands above her head.

“You thought you could get away from me?” Don Paulo said, he was riding to the center where she was.

“I never wanted to kill anyone, even your Father, he chosed his fate, I still have no intentions of killing you, you are going to be my bride this Saturday” he smirked

“I would rather die” she replied with anger

“Sieze her!” he ordered

Juan made a sign for one of the men to get her

“We are having a wedding this Saturday, get ready to drink!” Juan shouted into the silent morning

The men started laughing, but their laugh was cut short by the loud sound of a gun. In the blink of an eye the man who was assigned to hold Aceline was down on the sand, Dead!

“Secure the boss!” Juan screamed

They all took cover and Juan had dragged Aceline with him.

It was getting Brighter now, then a man in black pants and Jacket with brown hat strode towards the man he had shot, golden Winchester in hand. When he was a few meters from the body, he removed his hat and made a cross sign, then spoke.

“I hope I am not late for the party”

Don Paulo made a sign for the men to move out and they were struck by this man's appearance and his Golden rifle.