“It’s been ages and you still owe me two hundred dollars. I have threatened and threatened but you still won’t pay up. What shall I do with you Oswaldo, kill you?” Gallagher said and sighed deeply. As the chief protector of Bear creek, his attention was called to the murder of two college students and the several cases of Animals getting mauled to death. He had decided to pay a courtesy visit to the partially deaf man who did what no mam had dared to do in the whole of Bear Creek.
” Gallagher my son. Welcome” said Oswaldo as he smiled and brandished his mouth. He was one of the oldest man in the town and since he had no family in Texas, he survived fully on the donations of the towns coalition who paid him a weekly stipends for feeding and upkeep.
” Damn! You old man. Who is your son. I’m son to man. I can see you have finally got deaf heh?” He said as stood gazing at the olds man’s bull that was as lean as bull dog and not very much taller than it. Even Durban stood looking at the black Cattle which had white patches over it. Since its owner didn’t farm, it did nothing but eat the green Grasses in the lawn and occasionally paused to gaze at Both Durban and Gallagher and it made it difficult for them to tell who it was actually staring because it’s black eyes had a severe squint. It masticated with a pool of saliva it’s mouth and bellowed at the slightest provocation, like the exhaust of an old tractor.
” Holy Crap boss this is what should be called a bull dog. It’s so damn scary I dream of nightmares when I set eyes on it.” Said Durban and spat on the floor before taking his eyes of it.
” Oswaldo why don’t you eat this dog and let it rest in peace!” He shouted loud enough to score the old man a hearing.
” It’s not a Dog. Adonis here is a bull with a stunted birth. I have had it for more than thirty years and I don’t plan to eat it. He’s a good friend.” Said Oswaldo and Cackled at the brim of his energy after seeing the face made by Durban.
” When I’m not sure if Adonis is older than you Gallagher. I’m so sure that he is Older than this little fellow over here. He is an Old boy and has seen Many others come and go. The world don’t give him the respect he deserves.” Said Oswaldo and walked to his Bull.
” The respect this piece of shit deserves is to be cut on a tray of pepper and getting it fried out of its misery in damn deep frier!” Said Durban as he waved his head in fury.
” He’s to old to be eaten.” Said Oswald and held on tight to his old bull which had only one horn. The other one was just absent.
” Well keep giving comfort to yourself. We have brothers that can eat you as well just to think you are eighty three…”
” I’m ninety two.” Oswald said, interrupting Gallagher.
” Oh that old! Is that why you have refused to pay me my two hundred Dollars? What did you do what that money! ” He called out so loud that the whole neighborhood could here him.
” I used it to get drugs and good food for myself.” Said Oswaldo as both him as bull felt tired and sat on the floor.
” The community pays you. I don’t take taxes from you. What else did you need money for. You told me you were going to me in double folds when you got your pension. You lied to me.” Gallagher said as he gazed at the old bull and wondered if it could even make a dozen sticks of steak.
” I will pay you soon. I promise you. The government would pay me lot’s of money soon and I will pay you in two folds.” Said Oswaldo and rested his tired back over that of his bull.
” Business is Business. I plan on starting a bank and you as my first customer is defaulting till date. That’s how you all kill the dreams young minds in state and when you die, you go up there and start talking shit.” Said Gallagher as took some more gaze at the bull. ” Durban!”
“I’m sorry Oswaldo, business has been bad for the Boss and your Bull over here would go a long way in keeping the stomach warm.” Said Durban as he walked to the tired Duo.
” My Son! Don’t take Adonis from me. It’s been thirty years together.” He pointed out as he turned to grab the confused looking animal. Durban grabbed the bull by its surviving horn and towed it. Not minding the old man that cried out as he struggled to get a hold of his bull.
” Please my son. Let it be.” He cried out.
” Damn it old man. My father is dead.” Said Durban as he towed the lean bull away from its owner. It’s bellowing and mooing didn’t stop Durban from pulling it out of the lawn.
” I will pay for him. Give him back his Cattle.” Said a deep voice of caution.
” Dakota.” Whispered Gallagher and turned to ascertain his guess . He was fully convinced it was her.
” Get back his bull to him Durban! ” She said with a vicious scowl as and threw two hundred dollars at Gallagher.
” Are you satisfied now. Taking money from an old man. How pathetic.” She said and watched the old man scampering towards her in gratitude.
” My daughter. Your days shall be long. Favor shall never leave you. The lord shall always bless you.” Cried Oswaldo as his kissed her feet.
” Amen Father. Get up and take your Bull. You don’t owe them any more.” She said with her flat tone of indifference. Had Gallagher not known she was from an Orphanage, he was going to guess the man was really her father. He stood still waiting for the Drama to unfold and eventually the old Man took his bull and led it the backyard.
” Well oh well. Is that a way to stare at your one and only.” Dakota said and walked up to Gallagher.
” What do you want Dakota. Have that bastard now given the whole of my territory to you?” He asked in a vicious tenor while he kept on gazing at her every movement.
” You rude boy. Don’t talk bad about our friends like this would you?” She said in charming tone, that was slow and honeyed.
” Answer me bitch! You are no longer my woman and Dubois is no longer my friend. Do you know what the two of you have in common?” He asked, squeezing his face as he did so.
” Power perhaps my love.” She honeyed again and slithered to his back while he stood rotund like a Statue.
” Power my arse. Durban tell her.” Said Gallagher with fury in his tone.
” Ingrates. The two bastards are ingrate my boss.” Said Durban as he gazed at Dakota with so much rage.
” Well oh well, I’m i? … Really” She chuckled softly and gently eloped Gallagher in a warm hug from behind. He didn’t fight her charms he just stood there servicing the moments as it’s unfolded.
” Oh Dalling, you know I’m not rapacious. I wouldn’t hurt you.” Said Dakota and placed the side of her head on his back.
” What do you want? Have your new man sent you to assassinate me. Tell them I can’t die.” He said and fought hard to shrug her off but just couldn’t. It was all the warmth and petting he needed at such a trying time and Uriel was giving it to him. ” When have you been ever able to break loose from my charm. Not then when you hated me and not now when you have a penchant over me.” She said in a honeyed tone and spanked his chest.
” Master!” Durban cringed and pulled out a dagger. While he waited on orders to skewer the overconfident colleague.
” Don’t step on my toes Durban. Stay out of our affairs or I shall have your head on fork for dinner. Drunk Urchin.” She said are bending her head to side, so he could her face clearly.
” You bitch. Your charms Don’t work on me. All I need is a signal from the boss to detach that ingrate skull of yours from your body.” said Durban and spat on the floor, while he gazed keenly at her every move.
” Let it sleep Durban. It’s going to take more than a heart of gold kill me. She can’t even hurt a damn fly.” He said and it caused her grip over him to loosen.
” Damn you Gallagher. I’m not that soft and I can have both of your heads with me in the twinkle of an eye…”
” Then have it my dear what are you waiting for. If you have come to apologize for your sins upon the servant of Uriel, then fine I agree I miss and I forgive and we can a ride home and tap it all night like an earthquake. If that’s not the case then say whatever it is that have brought you and get lost bitch.” He said and finally walked out of her warm enclave.
” You will die a thousand times waiting for an apology from my mouth you fucking bastard.” She said as she got caught up in emotions and work.
” Pretentious bitch. I know you still love. So damn what if screwed your friend. She was my friend to. Maximus has screwed you and so have Dubois and so have the many boys in his..”
” Shut up! How dare you.” She said, landing a jaw wrecking slap which he would have dodged easily but chose to feel her palms. His reaction wished he had gone for the first decision.
” Who thought you still hit so hard.” He said and majestically took some steps away from her conformity before speaking again. ” Angry huh? They’ve all tapped you hard but I still want you. Why do still hate me for tapping your our friend.” Said Gallagher and was glad he had moved away from her. She had sent forth another slap that missed his mouth by the whiskers.
” It’s because I loved you. You bastard. You broke my black heart to shatters and you hurt me more by refusing to apologize knowing well you hurt me real bad.” Thundered Dakota as she fought hard to keep her emotions at Bay.
” The servant of Uriel doesn’t apologize to Anyone. Not when I was Alexandria and not when I’m Gallagher. Swallow your pride you ingrate and come back to my side.” He said, in a subtle fury as he gazed at her motions with much Keenness.
” Then forget me. I hated you and I still do. I’m here on an Errand, from my man and your lord, Dubois. We could talk here or we could talk somewhere private.” She said in fury as she palpitated . Durban went sober, he could see the intentions in her heart and wished his boss had just apologized and moved on.
” Tell them to shove their offer down their arse. Durban let’s go.” Said Gallagher and began to walk away, leaving a raging Dakota all alone to herself.
” You bastard come back here! Don’t you ever walk out on a lady like me.” She called out, lancing through the lawn and driving her heels against the back of Gallagher who was sent crashing to the floor and scampered up as quickly as he can. Durban made to attack with his dagger but was signaled to halt by his boss who was still in shock to how she was able to move so fast and hit so hard.
” My goodness. What have you been eating and how are you moving so fast. What have those bastards been feeding you.” Said Gallagher as he rubbed off the pain from his back.
” Non of your business. I found my self when you left me In the mud. Now let’s have that talk. I convinced them that I was going to convince you. If I didn’t have regards for the old times, I wouldn’t be here.” She said and walked up to him.
” I see. Well let’s here what they have to say. Tell me, I’m all ears.” He said and clutched his hands in a fist to avoid another surprise.
” The walls have ears. Let’s go the tavern.” She said and walked to his bike, threw her boots over it and brought her pants to seat on it.”
” Bitch!” He whispered, ” Durban, let’s go.” He added and walked to his bike, had one thorough gaze at his passenger, who was looking gothic from head to toe, and finally climbed onto the bike and zoomed off. While Durban followed.