“We’ll attack tonight,” Oliver instructed. “We’ll take everything and leave nobody alive.”
“Sounds great,” one of the men said as the others cheered excitedly.
Oliver smiled at their enthusiasm. “The ranch isn’t far from the saloon. We’ll grab dinner and some drinks and then get to business.”
Blade’s anger flared, and he was just about to step out of hiding and shoot them all down right then and there when a part of the old wooden cabin’s roof fell in. The noise was loud, and it sent a dust cloud up into the air.
“I think that’s our sign to get out of here,” Oliver said with a chuckle as he took off. The rest of the men followed after him, leaving Blade rushing back to Dakota.
“Are you okay?” Dakota asked, holding Africa’s reins out to Blade.
He grabbed them and hoisted himself onto Africa in one swift movement. “Yeah. They’re planning on raiding a ranch, but they’re going to the saloon first.”
Blade and Dakota followed the bandits back into town, but they kept a good distance since they knew where they were heading. Once they entered the town, they pulled down their masks and slowed their pace, not wanting to draw any attention to themselves.
Dakota turned to Blade as the bandits made their way into the saloon. “Now what?”
The situation wasn’t ideal, but Blade couldn’t go to the local sheriff for help. He doubted that the sheriff would believe him since Oliver was a local and he wasn’t. Even if the sheriff believed him, it would mean leaving without getting revenge. Blade refused to do that. There was only one option.
“I have to stop them. If I attack while they’re in the saloon, I can catch them off guard.”
Dakota sucked in her breath. “You sure about this?”
“Yes, but I think you should sit this one out. It’ll be safer.”
“No.” Dakota pulled her neckerchief over her mouth and nose. “If you’re going in there, I’m going to have your back.”
Blade considered arguing, but there was no point. She had made her decision and was now standing across the road from the saloon with her mask on. They had to act quickly.
“All right,” he stated, pulling up his mask. “In and out. We can’t waste any time, or we risk getting caught.”
Together, they crossed the road, leaving Africa and Riot tied to a hitching post, and entered the saloon. Blade stepped through the door and raised his Winchester. “Everybody, get out!”
Men scrambled to their feet, knocking over tables and chairs as they tried to escape. The women working there screamed and ran for the door. Blade and Dakota didn’t stop anybody from leaving; they were only there for Oliver and his men. Oliver had gotten up and was flanked by the bandits.
Blade pointed his rifle at the closest bandit, ignoring the chaos all around them, and pulled the trigger. His aim was true. The .44 slug hit the man in the center of his chest, sending him flying back from the impact.
“Put down your weapon!” a man yelled, and from the corner of his eye, Blade saw him moving toward him. It wasn’t one of the bandits, but he had a pistol in his hand. The man probably thought he was doing a good deed, and Blade didn’t want to hurt an innocent bystander.
“I’ve got you,” Dakota said as she rushed past him in the direction of the man.
Only a split second had passed, and people were still scurrying in all directions. Oliver was now closer, and so were the rest of the bandits. They were trying to get away, justlike all the other men, not having figured out that Blade and Dakota were there to end them. Blade really wanted to shoot Oliver, but some of the bandits were closer.
He aimed his rifle at the closest one and was just about to pull the trigger when he got bumped by somebody running past. Regaining his balance, Blade shot off a round, hitting his target in the abdomen. A loud moan that could be heard over the panic escaped his mouth.
Blade glanced to his side, wanting to make sure that Dakota was all right. In the time it took Blade to shoot the second bandit, she had disarmed the man and pinned him to the ground.
With the second bandit taken care of, Oliver and the rest of his gang realized that they were being targeted and had drawn their weapons. A slug flew past Blade, lodging itself in the bar counter. Blade ducked behind a table, holstered his rifle, and drew his Colt Rainmaker.
From between the legs of the table, he could see one of the bandits running toward him. Not having to concentrate to make such an easy shot, Blade sent a .32 slug into the man’s kneecap. He fell back, lining himself up perfectly for Blade’s next shot, which landed right between his eyes.
“I’ve got him!” one of the bandits yelled, closing in on Blade.
The man had his pistol pointed at Blade and was only a few feet away. Knowing he needed to stop the man from getting off a round, Blade aimed for his hand and pulled the trigger. At such a close distance, the slug hit with enormous force, sending the bandit’s pistol flying, along with some of his fingers. He cried out in pain, reaching for his injured hand with his whole one. Blade took the opportunity and ended him with a slug to the chest.
Blade had killed three of the bandits in no time at all, but he had to hurry. With all the commotion, the law would show up soon, and they couldn’t afford to get caught. Blade looked over his shoulder. Dakota had her gun pointed at the man she had disarmed and was yelling at him to leave the saloon. One of the bandits was rushing at her. Acting on instinct and without hesitation, Blade lifted his Colt and pulled the trigger. The slug hit the bandit in the back, right between his shoulders. The man toppled forward and hit the ground with a loud thud.
Jumping to his feet, Blade scanned the saloon for Oliver and the other remaining bandit. Oliver was pushing people out of the way, trying to get away, while the last bandit had taken cover behind an overturned table.
