Red Coburn's Return, Part Ii
...Gretta was still stunned, couldn’t react
as the two men sat down to the game,
especially since Elden’s skill with cards
had won him a great deal of fame.
The cards went out and Elden smiled,
throwing down a quartet of nines.
Red just grinned and showed his hand:
four kings of the red and black kind.
Elden lurched back, pulling his gun,
saying,”You will not take her away!
I shot you once to claim my prize,
I got no qualms doing it again—”
He shook where he stood, grabbing his heart,
his gun clattering down to the floor.
he collapsed in a heap near the table,
lying motionless on the floor-boards.
Not a single bullet had been fired,
Red remained there, cool in his seat,
then slowly got up, walked to Gretta,
and said said her,”My dear, I am so sorry.
“I made you two promises long years ago,
To be with you and your safety to keep.
I’m afraid that I failed at the first,
But the second promise I mean to keep.”
He gazed deeply into her sad eyes,
and gently caressed her sweet face,
then kissed her madly in front of all,
twas a kiss to last her through old age.
Then he drew back, gave a small smile,
sighed deeply and drank in her sight,
then slowly vanished before their eyes,
returning back to that long night…
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