Cora led Sarge to a small shack-like building, seperated down the middle by a curtain, a cot on each side, and one chest in the center. "'ere we are."
"So this is the prize y'all seized?" Red asked the excited gang members around him as he stood in front of a shape covered by a sheet. "Yes sir, and we think you will like it very much! Remove the tarp!" exclaimed one. The tarp was yanked off, revealing a large cannon. "This beauty we got from a raid on an army outpost. Fires about a 16-pound shell, is designed for speed, and best of all, it's one of d'em breach loaders. And we've got plenty of ammo." Red studied the cannon, "We shall test it tonight, on the closest unraided ranch!"
The cannon was indeed very easy to move, they were barely hindered as they drew the cannon to a ridge overlooking the poor ranchhouse that was its target. "Load the explosive round!" Red called, and an explosive shell was slammed in. "Ready…aim!…FIRE!" *BANG* the cannon fired without a hitch. In the distance, the ranchhouse exploded, and in a few seconds, the BOOM of the explosion reached them. Satisfied, they loaded up and headed back to base.
Sets his coat on the ground and lays on the cot, "I saw we head down to Armadillo tomorrow and see if the sheriffs want anyone dead." Then, he heard a loud 'BOOM' in the distance, "What the hay!" He hoped up, grabbing his gun, but not bothering with his coat or hat. "I'll be right back."
"I'm coming with you. That sounded like it came from Pa's house." Cora hopped up, leaving her coat as well. She was unarmed, but determined to go.
As the two looked at the ruins of the ranchhouse, a slow melody drifted over to them. Very quiet and hard to hear, as it was far off in the distance. The melody seemed to flow perfectly with the situation they found themselves in. (Meanwhile…) Red Glory had ordered that the Song of Tears and Blood be played as the camp wound down for the night in honor of those that they had killed that day. Though the song itself was not loud, the power behind seemed to grant it the ability to be hear over great distances. Whenever Tears and Blood was played, it was a good sign to those that lived in fear of Red's gang, as it meant they would not attack for awhile.
Tears sprang in Cora's eyes, the quiet melody making the feeling of this almost unbearable. In a small outburst, Cora started rummaging through the still burning wood to try and find her father.
Sarge tore through the rubble to eventually find the bloody old man. He pulled him out and set him in the grass, then checked his breathing and his heart rate. "Nothing..." He said, shaking his head.
"You seem rather unphased by this..." He says, grabbing a shovel from the rubble and walking over to a clear spot to start digging.
The song picked up as it reached it's climax. The rising crescendos and falling desendos and a carefully chosen set of notes made this the most powerful portion of the song, and the only part that can be heard clearer all the way to Armadillo. As the song ended, a small tear went down Red's face. His song always did this to him, no matter what he had just done.
As the song in the background ended, Sarge muttered, "One day, Glory... One day..." He lowered the body into the grave and begins to shovel the dirt back in.
"Last time I checked, he didn't have a cannon." Sarge said, finishing shoveling the dirt, "If I know the bastard right, he was probably testing it out on innocents."
Cora practically spat her words. "I'll make 'em pay..." She lifted a stone, and placed it over her father's grave, then another, and another, until stones surrounded it.
