Horror short:
His spurs clanked along the boards as he walked up to Sheriff Billy. “Sheriff, you care if I bum a smoke?” Billy could see the fresh dirt on the ranch hand’s chaps. He liked Logan; he was a good kid. “Sure thing, I just rolled them this s’mornin. Here you are.” Logan grabbed the cigarette and put it in his mouth. He struck a match along the banister of the jailhouse.
As he blew out the smoke he spoke again. “We ran into that old Comanche today.” Billy sat back in his porch chair and tilted back his hat while he crossed his legs. “Yeah, what did Ole Cuerno want?” Billy asked. Cuerno was an old Comanche when Billy first started his deputization. He was amazed that he was still alive, now that Billy was the sheriff of his small town. Lots of time had passed. Logan leaned against the banister. “Nothing, he was telling stories again. He said watch yourself young vaquero or death will find you.” Logan let out a little chuckle as he said the line. “He said, death rides a black horse.”
He took one last puff of the cigarette and snuffed it out under his boot. “Well stay away from black horses I guess.” Bill coughed into his hand. “I will, thank god we ride pintos.” Logan looked out into the street as herds of cattle started moseying down the street. “I guess that’s my cue. Have a good day sheriff.” Logan jumped over the banister. Stepped his foot into the stirrup and swung up onto his horse. “Take care boy!” Billy waved.
Billy pulled his jacket up higher around his neck. The desert evenings got chilly on his ride home from town. The sun was just starting to begin its descent to call it a night. Billy was getting old, his hands felt rough against the reins. Hell if his horse bucked he’d probably just lay there and die. The thought made him chuckle. He felt really uneasy tonight however. Time will do that.
Was something watching him? Billy set his hand on his horse’s rump and looked behind him down the road. Nothing. “Jesus Billy, being a sheriff’s getting old. Pull yourself together.” He muttered. The dusk light cast shadows down his path.
He finally pulled up to his cabin. The chimney smoke told him his wife had left food for him. He loved her beans and homemade biscuits. She’d be out helping the school kids with their reading until dark. Billy removed the saddle and reins and pushed his horse into the pasture. Something caught in the corner of his eye, was it a figure? He turned his head. Nothing, just the open field.
The sun halfway below the mountains started casting orange hues across the desert plateaus. I need sleep. Billy thought. He set the saddle on his porch and walked into his cabin.
The warmth of the cabin greeted him like a hug. The smell of fresh biscuits greeted his nose. Billy started to undue his gun belt but just as he grabbed the belt he heard it. Footsteps. The hair on the back of his neck raised.
The footsteps echoed outside his house like someone running. The boards outside his cabin creaked with each step. Billy turned and drew his pistol. The steps grew louder and louder. Then they stopped. Whoever it was was on the other side of the front door. He expected the door to swing open. “Who’s there!” Billy yelled. No response.
Then it screamed, a terribly loud scream. A haunting noise Billy had never heard in his life. The noise filled his cabin. Like the distorted screams of a woman, no a creature? Was it human? Billy was shaking. His ears were ringing. With the last bit of bravery he had he ripped the door open. Cocked the hammer of his pistol and pointed it forward. As the door swung open Billy was met with the cool evening breeze and, empty space.
His pistol hand quivered. He felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest. Billy’s hand shot to his jacket. He tried to undo the buttons as he fell to his knees. His ears started ringing again and a presence brought his gaze up. As he looked up, that’s when he saw it. Up on the horizon of the road.
Silhouetted by the final rays of the sun as it sank behind the mountains. Fear gripped Billy and he could feel cold sweat dripping down his back. There on the horizon reared a black horse.
Housed and Fed 