Summary:  Hoss struggles to understand why a woman is gunned down on the streets of Virginia City. An expanded version of a Pinecone challenge.

Rated: T  WC  750

HOSS, NOD OR WINK

Ben and Adam were loading the wagon outside the general store. Actually it was Adam doing most of the loading while Ben was doing most of the talking, He was talking to the storekeeper and then to some of the other customers inside the store. He tried to keep the talk about the trial out of the conversation, but it was all his neighbors had on their minds. Hoss had come to town to help load supplies, but had left. “Now where has your brother gone off to?”

“To check on the widow Rodriguez.” Adam answered. “You know that he wanted to see her after Miller was acquitted of the murder charges. After the trial she swore she’ll kill him herself, remember?”

Ben remembered. He also remembered how fond Hoss was of Elena. She had been his friend for a long time before she was married. Elena was a true frontier woman. She was born and raised out west and wasn’t going to let this go. She couldn’t.

“I’m going to do some checking myself.” Ben stated as he went in search of his other son. Walking down the street and around the corner he occasionally gave a few greetings and nods, but he was focused on finding Hoss. Mrs. Rodriguez has lost her husband to a fast gun and Ben didn’t want Hoss to run into that gunman. As he turned the last corner on the way to her house, Ben saw Elena Rodriquez in the street facing the gunman. Hoss was moving quick enough to get between them to catch a bullet in his shoulder. He shirt ripped and the blood splattered his face, but Hoss kept moving. It was the second bullet that slowed the big man.

“You murdering bastard!” Elena cried as she held her gun and took aim. Miller didn’t hesitate in killing her. Hoss rolled over to get up, but Ben was already on the scene. Firing quickly he shot Miller knocking the gun from his hand and then went over to his son.

“Why Pa. Why?” Hoss said as he stood up.

Ben added, “Well son, a wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.”

Hoss looked over at his father, “I don’t understand it, Pa.” Ben reached over and put his arm around his largest son to hold him up. Hoss leaned his weight on his father and looked into his eyes. He was looking for an answer.

“It means that if someone isn’t willing to see, then you can’t make them. All you can do is try, and you did that. You did everything a reasonable man could do to help the widow, but she just wouldn’t get past her anger.”

“It don’t make no sense. She had everything to live for. She shouldn’t of gone after him. She’s” Hoss hesitated, tears formed in his eyes. “She was young and strong and could’ve still had a good life, Pa.”

“She could’ve made it if she’d wanted to,” Ben gently told Hoss, “but she didn’t. She wanted revenge.”

Adam walked over to his father and brother. He stood and listened carefully before adding, “The town won’t accept that Miller gunned down a woman in the street. He’ll hang now, Hoss. Her death ensured that justice would now be served for the death of her husband.”

Ben smiled at his oldest son. Hoss thought it through looking back and forth between his father and his brother. He bent down over Elena. He straightened her hair and wiped the dirt from her face. He moved his arms to pick her up, but Adam bent down next to him. “I’ll carry her home, you go with Pa to Doc Martin.” Adam carefully picked her up and walked behind his brother for a ways.  Ben and Hoss went arm-in-arm down the street. Adam didn’t follow, instead he carried the body of Elena Rodriquez over past the gathering crowd toward the undertaker. He was walking slowly and deliberately so that the crowd could see who had been gunned down in the street. As Adam walked away, a crowd formed around Duke Miller.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.