As the dust settled after the shocking gunshot, Jed rushed to Charlie 's side, his heart pounding like a war drum. He had dragged the boy to the relative safety of a nearby alley, away from the chaos and the noise. Charlie 's limp body lay sprawled on the dirt, the vibrant crimson of blood streaking his pale forehead. Jed dropped to his knees, his hands trembling as they hovered over the boy. For a moment, he couldn't bring himself to touch him. His chest tightened, his breath hitching in his throat.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak86qqHEqQ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMBLVaiYbR
"God damn it," he muttered, his voice raw. "No…not like this. Not now."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8k5SBTa18
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBSUaPrJgN
Tears welled in his eyes, and he squeezed them shut, biting down on the inside of his cheek until he tasted copper. Memories flooded his mind like a river breaking its dam.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q8Nkcq6Yb
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhLGSsQAqe
Jenny's face shimmered in his thoughts, pale but radiant as she cradled her newborn son. The baby had barely cried, his tiny hand curling instinctively around Jed's calloused finger.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZILJUCtTSB
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cp2QrNLNP
"Isn't he beautiful, Jed?" Jenny whispered, her voice fragile as glass. Her dark hair clung to her damp forehead, but her smile was steady.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGbRQe5BKe
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyk1lhDn0S
Jed nodded, his throat too tight to speak. He had never been one for sentiment, but holding that tiny life in his hands had shaken something loose in him. He finally croaked, "Yeah. He sure is. Looks like his pa."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jP3r5KNIR
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TpabPmjc6
Jenny's lips quirked into a bittersweet smile. "I was thinkin' of namin' him after his father."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MWn5aVW04
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKZ7wTRZFg
Jed shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the baby and then back at her. "That's a good idea, Jenny. A damn fine idea."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpCOPHJsPl
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TQwFBYdkr
Her smile faded as her strength ebbed, her breathing growing shallow. "Jed…promise me. Promise me you'll take care of him."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ31gM5u9c
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tVxbw8LNy
"Jenny, don't talk like that—"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U65cTn8pc
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy7oSIBcCC
"Promise me," she insisted, her voice trembling but resolute. "Raise him right. Keep him safe."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfSa94f8cw
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwhwhPJSND
Jed's jaw clenched, and he gave her the only answer he could. "I will. With my life, Jenny. You got my word."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVxeb5T3lo
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcwJvgeSwJ
Her eyes glistened as she reached up to touch his face. "Thank you, Jed. God bless you…"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XOPhCRHGA
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5PcKCJvcI
Her hand fell limp before she could finish, and Jed felt something inside him shatter. He had buried her behind the barn under the shade of the old oak tree, marking the grave with a simple wooden cross. He stood there for hours that day, cradling the baby she'd left behind.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ZKVHoTDM
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeC0TYhZTt
The memory shifted. Charlie was six, all wide eyes and gangly limbs, too curious for his own good. It was late one night when Jed was roused by a soft knock on his bedroom door. He swung his legs over the bed and opened it to find Charlie standing there, clutching a threadbare blanket.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0jaAF04d2
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC40nWLhxNe
"Uncle Jed," the boy whispered, his voice barely above a whimper. "Can I sleep in your bed?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS4641T8QR
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3UPXzfp8n
Jed raised an eyebrow, scratching his beard. "What for? Ain't you got a candle in your room?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrk2fQBHCI
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xAl77j7wU
"Yeah, but it's still scary," Charlie admitted, twisting the blanket nervously in his small hands.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoGDu55ehv
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKuIa38Jc4
Jed sighed, stepping aside. "Alright, alright. Get in here. Just don't go kickin' me in your sleep, ya hear?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7EmqZivH9
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiDF0dMu8E
Charlie grinned, climbing onto the bed and curling up beside him. "Thanks, Uncle Jed."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKeAvZO1xr
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCoHxAie11
Jed shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Don't thank me. You're still makin' the damn coffee in the mornin'."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjAyeVer5w
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRdErsomWZ
Back in the present, Jed snapped back to the harsh reality of the alley. His chest heaved, and tears streamed freely down his weathered face. He let out a shaky breath, brushing a bloodied hand across Charlie 's brow.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpMfxAi9CL
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOChVDbHmj
"You ain't dyin' on me, kid," he growled, his voice breaking. "I made a promise, and I aim to keep it."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8LhN23OsC
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt2YJnFXV8
Finally, he pressed trembling fingers to Charlie 's neck, searching desperately for a pulse. Relief washed over him like a cold drink on a blistering day when he felt the faint but steady thrum of life. Charlie was alive—barely, but alive.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRsZ3g3n7f
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj3hpnfOAB
"You stubborn little bastard," Jed muttered, his voice gruff with emotion, his dark humor kicking in as tears streaked his weathered face. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, you hear? Or I'll wring your neck myself."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNro38H2cus
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡashIndmsKk
His hands worked with practiced care as he inspected the wound. The bullet had grazed the front of Charlie 's head, tearing through skin and leaving a nasty gash. Jed studied the angle of the injury, his cynical mind piecing together the chaotic sequence of events.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0CIgOsL7W
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW5I5P23xQ
Damn near too close, he thought grimly. The shot had struck at a glancing angle, sparing Charlie from a fatal blow by sheer luck—or providence, if one believed in such things.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiEsDZz1BZ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPwPGSXPrh
Jed's mind churned with details as he replayed the scene. George had been standing no more than 20 or 30 feet away when he fired. At that range, with a .44 caliber revolver, the odds of hitting Charlie squarely should've been high. The revolver had an effective range of around 75 yards, more than enough for a clean shot. Yet George's haste and nerves had ruined his aim, causing the bullet to skim past its mark.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxyCuGou0m
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxflrPi1iLv
"That close, and you still botched it, George," Jed muttered under his breath, half in relief, half in anger. "Good thing for Charlie you're as steady as a rattlesnake in a hailstorm."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDNoCKnDoh
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw2Gzr8Ygh
The .44 was a powerful weapon, designed to drop a man in one shot. A direct hit to the head should've been fatal, but the angle saved Charlie . Jed understood just how slim the margin of survival had been. The impact alone could've been enough to fracture his skull or worse, yet somehow it hadn't. The boy's luck—or stubbornness—had kept him alive.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yT9BDgowt
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE8FENWeTt
"Hell of a gamble you're playin', kid," Jed muttered, his hands steadying now as he pressed the cloth harder against the wound. "But you're still breathin', and that's what counts."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj3WO9Lb5V
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ99VZ2nvh
The wound bled heavily, but Jed could already see it wasn't as bad as it first looked. Charlie 's pulse was weak but steady. He let out a long breath, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus3Vp0ra9Y
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsYUemblpa
"You're tougher than you look, boy," Jed murmured, his voice softer now. "I'll give you that. Just don't go makin' a habit of testin' my heart like this."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINYr4oFL2e
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy121MxogRO
Jose groaned as he struggled on the ground, his leg twisted at an unnatural angle, blood pooling beneath him. He spat into the dirt and glared at George with a venom that could curdle milk. "Come out, you *goddamned coward,*" he snarled, his voice a mixture of pain and rage.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOL0UjuM3e
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLMB8tmA8g
George emerged from the shadows, walking with a deliberate, unhurried stride. He stopped a few feet from Jose and cocked his head, his cold, calculating eyes scanning the pathetic sight before him. "Still alive, I see," he said softly, his voice smooth and dripping with condescension. "I have to admit, I expected you to be… quieter by now."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc553Zf9lwo
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSwrMzJ6Ck
Jose smirked through the pain, his teeth red with blood. "Quiet? You don't know me, George. I don't shut up, not even for the devil himself."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp1N3mIci7
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd2ZVHBaXg
George chuckled, a low, unsettling sound. "Oh, I've come to know you well enough, Jose. Brash. Reckless. And, if I may say, entirely lacking in foresight. Look at you now—your leg's a mangled mess, your stomach's full of holes, and you're lying in the dirt. Tell me, how do you plan to crawl your way out of this one?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9YSQNQAmO
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDvpSGy7AQ
Jose sneered, his voice dripping with defiance. "Plan? Who said anything about a plan? I'll get my revenge with or without this busted leg. Hell, take the other one too if you want. I'll drag myself to you and make sure you pay for every damn thing you've done."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwbuweTwew
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0SENlmQob
George sighed, shaking his head in mock pity. "Jose, you misunderstand. I'm not interested in taking your other leg. I'm merely pointing out that, in your current state, revenge is little more than a fantasy." He crouched down slightly, his tone shifting to something almost compassionate. "You know, if you'd used your brain instead of your temper, this might have gone differently. But now? You're just another loose end."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk90l2kalK
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsSa2IsJNg
Jose tried to push himself up, his hands trembling as he fought against his body's limits. His face twisted in pain, but he managed to spit at George's feet. "You talk too much, George. Just like your ants—always swarming, but never getting the job done."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffZRF1q1Zh
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg1nZgR5Uh
George straightened and aimed his revolver at Jose's head, his expression calm and unbothered. "Well, I suppose it's time to correct that, isn't it?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNJ9VBvXlQ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T9e0kQAT0
Before he could pull the trigger, a voice rang out from behind. "You always were a fancy talker, George."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpbxm6Rl6D
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz4ateTc3k
George froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned to see Jed stepping out of the shadows. The old man's revolver was already drawn, though it hung lazily at his side. His grizzled face bore a dark smirk, and his eyes glinted with cynical amusement.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AZY8PcoOn
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFiwWDMBGK
"Jed," George said, straightening himself. "What a surprise. Come to rescue this pitiful excuse for a man?" He gestured toward Jose with his free hand, his tone sharp with disdain.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFsl8XRKdf
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfl6V0HVKw
Jed snorted, his voice carrying a mocking edge. "Rescue? Hell no. Jose ain't worth the trouble. I just came to watch you squirm a bit."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Sq3PWYLz
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPPlE1ZIE5
"Is that so?" George's lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes remained cold. "You're always so quick to mock, Jed. But tell me, do you really think you stand a chance without your friends?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStVypSj0pl
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhisUWKdZw
"Friends?" Jed barked a laugh. "Listen here, George, I wouldn't piss on Jose if they were on fire. But you? You're worse than both of 'em combined, and that's saying something and Charlie is my fucking nephew you just shot."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXxOs56pku
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4WyYX6QoC
Jose, still on the ground, groaned and muttered, "Go to hell, Jed."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZac29wVcx
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGFbRPofbI
Jed ignored him, his focus locked on George. "You and me, no ants, no tricks. Let's settle this the old-fashioned way."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIFRvCbDKj
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKAcZwl7h3
George smirked, his demeanor calm and calculating. "And what makes you think you're any match for me, Jed? I've been perfecting my craft and my skills."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DmEbm3b9l
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0JeP4XN5f
Jed's smirk widened, though his eyes darkened. "You might've perfected your little tricks, but I survived the Civil War, George. I've stared death in the face more times than you've changed your shirt. And I ain't scared of some smug bastard who hides behind bugs."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyw7c9psly
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZqT8yR3vy
The air grew tense as the two men sized each other up, their words laced with venom and the promise of violence. Jose, lying in his own blood, managed a bitter laugh. "Kill each other, for all I care. Just make it quick. I've got better things to do than watch you two flap your jaws."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO5ehBa4Hx
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65lgud4qlf
Jed spared him a glance, his voice dry. "Shut up, Jose. You're lucky I don't shoot you myself."
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeIISyPy1a
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKstrr56Uj9
George smiled faintly, his confidence unwavering. "Well, Jed, shall we?"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhJ5JbxRN9
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzhORjsZhV
Jed raised his revolver slightly, his expression hardening. "Let's."
ns216.73.216.233da2
