The Loner: Seven Days to Die (20 page)

“Why would I? There’s nothing for me there. I was thinking I might stay here in Gehenna. It seems like a nice town, even though it has a terrible name.”

“Names can be changed,” Kid Morgan said.

“Yes, but does that really make any difference in what a place is, or who a person is?”

“We can hope,” he said with a shrug. He put a hand on her shoulder, leaned closer to brush a kiss across her forehead, and turned back to his horses. “So long, Jillian,” he said over his shoulder.

She didn’t say anything else, or smile, or wave, but he felt her watching him as he rode away.

Dakota Pete walked out from the blacksmith shop as The Kid rode by. He said, “I wish you’d stick around for a while, Kid. Bonham’s gonna teach me blacksmithin’. I figure it’s time I had a trade besides law-breakin’.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” The Kid said with a smile. “I don’t think you’re really cut out to be an outlaw, Pete.”

“Where are you headin’?”

“That’s a good question. Maybe I’ll figure it out when I get there.”

Pete called, “So long!” as The Kid rode away. The Kid turned in the saddle and lifted a hand in farewell.

Would
he recognize his destination when he finally found it, if he ever did? Or was he doomed to wander endlessly, a solitary rider, a loner in search of the peace he might not ever find?

The Kid didn’t know. The only way to find out was to keep riding.

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