Week 4 Story: The Preacher in the Wild West
Back when the west was still wild and the buffalo still roamed free, there was a town in Montana that had become the place to come to. People from the east heard of their terrific shops, meat markets, hotels, and saloons. What was even better was all the farmland that was available just outside of the town. The lands were flat and wide and had many streams flowing. This made this are great for raising crops. For many years people flocked to this town. Everyone worked together to help one another and this created a town that did not only thrive economically but also just felt safe. That was, until one day someone showed up to town.
One day in the middle of July the infamous bandit Joel rode into town. Some of the citizens knew his face immediately and packed up their things and fled. Others that weren't so lucky welcomed him as a new guest. Joel had been known for going town to town in the west, pillaging and taking everything from thriving towns. It was early in the days of the west. Sheriffs and marshals had not been implemented at this time. Joel was also smart about the towns that he decided to ride up on though too. He knew what towns were vulnerable by the way they treated and looked at one another. He knew right as he trod into this town that these people would fight back but instead would be fearful for their lives and do as he pleased. Joel rode up to the saloon and after hitching his black horse to the post out front, walked inside. Right as he walked through the double handing doors of the bar he pulled his pistol from his side as quick as lightening and shot the bartender between the eyes. Everyone struck by disbelief became froze. Joel asked in a low rumbling voice, "Well, look y'alls bare maid decided to clock out early. Can someone fetch me a drink?" Still in disbelief everyone just stood and sat where they were. When no one moved Joel pointed his pistol to a man in the back and shot him right in the chest. "How 'bout that drink now folks?", he said. This time a man sitting at the bar leaped behind and with shaking hands poured a glass of whiskey for the bandit. Joel holstered his weapon and walked up to the bar with a crooked smile on his face. Sitting down to drink his whiskey his eye caught a woman holding the man he shot in the corner. She was mighty beautiful and he took her and went to stay in the hotel next door.
That same night, fate had it that a man that had been wondering about in forest of the Canada had made his way down to Montana. He quietly stepped into town and made his way to the saloon. He had, had a long journey and needed something to drink. No, not the drink you may be thinking because this man wore a white collar around his neck. Yes, he was a preacher. The man that had served Joel at the bar was still there when the preacher entered. The preacher man could see the distress in everyone's faces and asked what troubled their souls. The man told the preacher what had happened that day. As this was being told to the preacher, he began to think. "Well", the preacher said, "Let me pray about these things tonight and tomorrow I would like to meet this Joel".
The next day the preacher made his way to the hotel where he knew that Joel was staying at and asked for his room. He went up to talk to Joel and see what kind of demons this man must have in his heart to do such horrible acts. He knocked on the door of the room and was confronted by Joel swinging open the door. The preacher could see a whimpering lady in the back. Joel said "What you
want preacher?" The preacher told him, "Sir I am here on behalf of God to ask you to leave this town now. If you do not do this, well I'm afraid you might find your spot in hell today". Joel did not take kindly to this and tried to punch the preacher in the face. Instead the preacher ducked to miss it and then challenged the bandit to a duel. This was comical to Joel because he was the quickest shot in the west. The two went down to the street where they paced back 20 steps then stared one another in the eyes. Joel went for his gun first, trying to jump the gun. The preacher was quick though. He seemed to glow like fire as if the Holy Spirit of God came about him and he drew a gleaming gold pistol from underneath his sheepskin clothing. He fired and shot the bandit between the eyes before he could fully lift his gun to aim. The town had been rid of the bandit Joel for good and preacher went back to check on the now widowed woman.
Authors Notes
This story came from the final battle of Rama and Ravana. Obviously it is very different but I used ideas from that story along with stories throughout the Ramayana. For instance I used the idea that the preacher had been out in the woods traveling much like Rama did. He battled against a foe that stole a wife away from her husband. There was an end battle where the hero used a celestial weapon to defeat his foe like Rama in Ravana's Death. This story can also be found in my portfolio so please go leave comments on my page so I can rework the story and make it better!
Bibliography
Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), and the verse portion comes from Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899)
One day in the middle of July the infamous bandit Joel rode into town. Some of the citizens knew his face immediately and packed up their things and fled. Others that weren't so lucky welcomed him as a new guest. Joel had been known for going town to town in the west, pillaging and taking everything from thriving towns. It was early in the days of the west. Sheriffs and marshals had not been implemented at this time. Joel was also smart about the towns that he decided to ride up on though too. He knew what towns were vulnerable by the way they treated and looked at one another. He knew right as he trod into this town that these people would fight back but instead would be fearful for their lives and do as he pleased. Joel rode up to the saloon and after hitching his black horse to the post out front, walked inside. Right as he walked through the double handing doors of the bar he pulled his pistol from his side as quick as lightening and shot the bartender between the eyes. Everyone struck by disbelief became froze. Joel asked in a low rumbling voice, "Well, look y'alls bare maid decided to clock out early. Can someone fetch me a drink?" Still in disbelief everyone just stood and sat where they were. When no one moved Joel pointed his pistol to a man in the back and shot him right in the chest. "How 'bout that drink now folks?", he said. This time a man sitting at the bar leaped behind and with shaking hands poured a glass of whiskey for the bandit. Joel holstered his weapon and walked up to the bar with a crooked smile on his face. Sitting down to drink his whiskey his eye caught a woman holding the man he shot in the corner. She was mighty beautiful and he took her and went to stay in the hotel next door.
That same night, fate had it that a man that had been wondering about in forest of the Canada had made his way down to Montana. He quietly stepped into town and made his way to the saloon. He had, had a long journey and needed something to drink. No, not the drink you may be thinking because this man wore a white collar around his neck. Yes, he was a preacher. The man that had served Joel at the bar was still there when the preacher entered. The preacher man could see the distress in everyone's faces and asked what troubled their souls. The man told the preacher what had happened that day. As this was being told to the preacher, he began to think. "Well", the preacher said, "Let me pray about these things tonight and tomorrow I would like to meet this Joel".
The next day the preacher made his way to the hotel where he knew that Joel was staying at and asked for his room. He went up to talk to Joel and see what kind of demons this man must have in his heart to do such horrible acts. He knocked on the door of the room and was confronted by Joel swinging open the door. The preacher could see a whimpering lady in the back. Joel said "What you
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| Preacher with his bible and pistol |
Authors Notes
This story came from the final battle of Rama and Ravana. Obviously it is very different but I used ideas from that story along with stories throughout the Ramayana. For instance I used the idea that the preacher had been out in the woods traveling much like Rama did. He battled against a foe that stole a wife away from her husband. There was an end battle where the hero used a celestial weapon to defeat his foe like Rama in Ravana's Death. This story can also be found in my portfolio so please go leave comments on my page so I can rework the story and make it better!
Bibliography
Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), and the verse portion comes from Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899)
ReplyDeleteHey Kasey! I really enjoyed this story and I think that the western influence is so cool and it make the story so interesting to read! As I mentioned in my long comment, I really like that you took the influences around you and used it as inspiration in your stories. I am excited to read more of your work, I hope that you write a few more with this western influence!