Over The Hill

Over the Hill

Author

Will Welton

Smashwords Edition

Copyright by Smashwords

ISBN:

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents either is products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental unless other wise noted.

Introduction

This is a collection of shot stories which I have written from time to time. Some of the stories were written as far back as in the late 1970’s until the present time.

I have had several of them published in the Army Times Europe and in local German News papers when I was stationed in Europe. From time to time when we were on maneuvers there were times of shutdown waiting on the upper officers to determine what they wanted us to do next. It could be from half an hour to five hours so I would write on a note pad.

Other short stories I wrote setting around watching my grand children and great grand children playing and trying to keep them out of trouble. A few times when I was hospitalized or just had time on my hands.

I do hope that you will find that you like a few of them for no one can like all of them. I have wrote more short stories that are not in this book but attached to others. Thank you for reading the stories.

Over The Hill

Three of them came into the store while one held the horse reins for the others. Two of them walked to where the hand guns were in the glass case. Shelton grinned at the old man behind the counter that was wearing an apron.

Old man you put all of your money on the counter and there won’t be any trouble. Shelton said with a chuckle.

The old man replied, You men don’t want to rob me. It might not be healthy for you.

Shelton chuckled and one of the men over at the gun case laughed and said, Old man you ain’t got any choice but to hand the money over. He took out his pistol and knocked the top glass with it causing the top glass to break. He then reached in and took the pearl handle fancy gun out and after looking at it put it behind his belt.

Shelton had drawn his pistol and waved it at the old man. The old man being kind of stooped bent over and reached under the counter. He brought from there a cigar box and set it on the counter top.

We want the rest of it for we know you keep it in a locked box under there. Shelton told the old man.

The old man knew Shelton by name but the other two he had seen several times at the store buying tobacco or crackers and a pickle. At times they had looked around or bought some small amount of things. He bent over again and brought out the metal box that was about two foot by two foot and set it on the counter.

The key old man and open the box.

The old man took the key from behind the tobacco display setting on a shelf behind the counter and inserted it into the key hole. He then turned the key and lifted the box lid. He knew that Shelton would probably kill him if he hesitated any longer. Or one of the other two might since they were now in front to eh counter.

Shelton scooped the two bags containing the gold and silver coins along with the paper money out of the box. When he had the paper money stuck inside his shirt and held the two bags in his left hand he told the old man, Now Pops you just stand there and don’t reach for any pistol or rifle or we will put lead into you and burn the store.

The two men walked over to the door and faced the old man when Shelton went out the door. They waited briefly before turning and running across the porch and down the stairs to their horses.

The old man knew by the sound they were heading towards Maybe that was ten miles away near the state line of Kansas. He took off his apron and walked over to the long guns standing on a shelf on the back wall. Taking down the shotgun which happened to only have a fifteen inch barrel he loaded it with 00 buckshot from the shells on the back counter. He laid it on the counter near him and reaching under the counter he brought out a Russian Smith and Wesson .38 that held eight shells.

He knew the gun was fully loaded and he tucked it behind his belt. Walking to the back room of the store he opened an old steamer trunk. Inside he moved the carefully folded clothes and took from beneath them a leather pistol belt that held two pistols. Strapping the belt on he settled the right pistol that faced to the rear and then the left pistol that was facing forward so it could be pulled with either hand.

Taking his hat from the pegs near the door he settled it on his head. The hat had a ten inch brim and it would shade his eyes from any direct sun light. Pulling on the long riding coat, which was now too large for him, he checked the pockets as he walked towards the front of the store. He knew that the two pistols from the trunk were loaded for he put new shells into them after he cleaned them once a month.

Picking up the double barreled shotgun and stuffing the extra six shells into his left hand coat pocket, he then walked out to the porch and down to the livery across the street. As he came to the livery he hollered, Jason how about saddling me that strawberry roan of mine?

The old man stood there and waited for Jason, the livery owner, to bring the horse out. Since he kept his bedroll tied on the back of the saddle for when taking a rid you might just happen to need it. He stuffed the shotgun into the bed roll and rechecks the cinch before mounting. Jason how about if you would keep an eye on the store for me. You might help out anyone that needs the help.

Why you dressed to kill Taylor? Jason asked and then he spit out his tobacco juice.

That bunch that just rode out stolen two guns and robbed me of every bit of money in the store. The old man said as he mounted the horse. He was getting stiff so he had trouble getting on the horse. He then touched the horse in the ribs with his boot heels and the horse stepped out at a good pace.

There was still the smell of dust for the wind was just barley blowing a breeze. The horse went into a trot mode of travel as he had been trained to do. The horse was getting old and the old man knew that horses might live to be over twenty years and Jumpup was nearing that age. If there was a longer fide then to Maybe he would need to get another horse.

Ridding into town at a slow walk Taylor saw the two paint horses that had been in front of the store tied at the salon. The reason he knew they were them men was that one of the paint horses was a black and the other was a red. That combination was hard to find together at one time.

He turned Jumpup so he would go behind the stores and up to the back of the saloon. When he got there Taylor dismounted stiffly, dropped the reins, and walked over to the two out houses. After checking out the outhouses and finding them empty he went back to the horse and pulled the shotgun from the bedroll.

He cocked both of the hammers back and pulled the gun from behind the belt. Walking through the back screen door for the main door was open to let a breeze come through the saloon to reduce the heat he walked to the inter door of the store room.

Through the door he could see all four of the men setting at a table with money and poker chips on the table top. He walked over and stopped ten feet from the table and Shelton looked up.

What the hell you want old man? Shelton asked with a go to hell look on his face.

All of you keep your hands on the table top and insight of me. The first one to not do what I tell them is going to get all of you killed. He paused to let that sink in for all of the men had frozen in place because the shotgun was pointed at the table and could devastate all of them. Now Shelton you stand up and put your gun belt on the table. If you get froggy and pull iron all of you get the buck shot and then I’ll finish up with the pistol.

Shelton slowly got to his feet and slowly dropped his gun belt on the table. Also my money had better b e on the table or I sill start searching each of your dead bodies. Now back up to the wall and turn facing it."

Shelton did as he was told for he figured the craze old fool would let loose with the shotgun. The Taylor said, "Put your hands on the wall and keep them there then you take two steps back.

What the hell do you think you’re doing old man? Your so far over the hill you might shoot somebody. Taylor grinned and the one facing him knew the old man was dangerous. For Shelton’s smart remark he got his hat blown on the wall with the hand gun the old man had. However Shelton did as told. They could see his legs tremble.

"Now starting with the one with your back to me you do the same thing. The man with his back to him got to his feet and put his hand toward the front of his pants. He then unbuckled the gun belt and dropped it on the table. It went like that and soon all four men were standing pushing on the wall.

"Burt would you be so kind as to count the money on the table for me. I want fifteen hundred sixty dollars for the cash they took and forty for the pistol and glass on my case. Taylor said as he moved some to not have the table in the way if the shotgun went off.

Burt came around the bar with a small cloth bag in his hands and moved over to the table. He then counted out the requested money, dropped it in the sack and drew the string top closed. He set it on the edge of the table and went back to the bar.

Old man you let me strap my gun on and you put down that shotgun. I’ll kill you because I know I’m faster than you.

Taylor walked over to the table and set the shotgun down beside of the bag of money. He was facing Shelton and he replied, The other three of you stand as you are. Shelton turn around and strap the gun on for this town needs to have a funeral with the epitaph saying, Shelton was faster than the old man.