Left my mark in these parts four years ago!

BURN THE BRAND DEEP

Gunshots kept coming my way, and my mount sidestepped a tree stump and jumped a deadfall log partly hidden in the long grass. I lowered myself along my horse’s neck as a second wave of hoof thunder broke through the brush coming toward me, the horse’s rider with a cocked rifle lifted to his shoulder.

There was only fifty yards between me and that solitary rider but that was enough. Coming toward me was none other than the mean-featured Sheriff Tom Gait. I recognized him the moment he recognized me. Then I said the first thing that came into my head, loud enough for even Him to hear from down here;

“Holy shit!”