Drabbles
DRABBLE - a story exactly
100 words in
length.
Submissions are
always welcome!
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Drabbles
DRABBLE - a story exactly
100 words in
length.
Submissions are
always welcome!
|
|
|
What Was Your Name, Again? - A drabble by Tirya 3/12/98JD stared after the tall, lank stranger who was walking away with the prize money. "I've never seen anyone draw that fast in my life!"
The lone gunman counted the bills before looking over at Chris and Buck with pale blue eyes and a friendly smile.
"Nice shooting," he called.
"Same to you," Chris replied. He couldn't help the twinge of admiration - the stranger had outdrawn him, plain and simple. With a smile and a nod, the stranger walked away.
When he was gone, Buck looked at Chris and frowned. "What the hell kind of a name is 'Trinity', anyway?"
The Good, the Bad, and the Naked - a drabble by Calamity Jane, inspired by a day spent at her mother's home daycare center 3/12/98It was high noon in Four Corners. The silence was shattered as a toddler came running into the street STARKE naked.
"Why is that child BUCK naked?" Mary Travis asked me.
"He was answering the call of nature, but now he's all DUNNE." I suggested.
The little feller looked at me with PERLy eyes and an inVINsible smile.
"You think you're tough stuff." I challenged. "You're NATHAN but a goofy boy!"
His stare said, "I'll beat you from here to CHRIStmas."
"You gonna come quietly?"
Nope. He turned tail and ran, bawling "WAAAAAHHHHH!" I mounted my appoloosa and rode away.
Last Dance - a drabble by Kerry 3/13/98Mary opened the music box for the first time in several years. The waltz played as it always had. She swayed to its melody, going back to a time when she danced with her husband to its tune.
As she reminisced, the image of her husband slowly faded, replaced by a tall, lean, blond stranger dressed in black, whose green eyes held grief, remorse, and promise all at the same time. She felt the cool touch of her hand in his, a slight pressure where his body met hers... She smiled, pleased that she hadn't given the music box away.
Jack Of All Trades - a drabble by Cara 3/12/98"In other words," Josiah responded calmly, "you've hit rock bottom."
"One does not base his fate on a knowledge of geology," Ezra stated forwardly and lounged back in his chair.
The cards on the table, the whiskey in Ezra's hand, and the slight smile on his face. Josiah wondered what it all meant. And when he wondered he didn't always bother to ask. He only played his own, sipped his own, and reveled in his own.
"I still have my money. Maybe nothing else, but I still have the money."
"In other words," Josiah responded calmly, "you've hit rock bottom."
Speculation - a drabble by Sue 3/16/98Ezra sat alone in the dim, smoky saloon, idly flipping his deck of cards. Without effort, he was able to pick out the ace of spades. A solitary symbol, alone against a sea of white. Himself?
He smiled, amused at his introspection. He had always been the Ace, holding sway by himself. Attached to no one.
Was that changing now?
He reshuffled, sought out the Ace with thoughtless confidence, plucked out a card.
The seven of spades.
His expression grew thoughtful as he contemplated the card before him. Then he returned it to the pack, continued to shuffle, eyes distant.
Nightmare - a drabble by Carol 3/16/98"Ma-rines, we are leav-ing!!" he bellowed, hefting his weapon as they backed down the corridor.
The fire, the smoke, the screams, the goddamned freaking bugs.
Another appeared out of nowhere and they fired. Human and alien screams and the spray of acid.
They were in the transport, almost free, but before he could shut the door alien limbs, incredibly strong, began wrenching it open.
"Eat this!" A rifle blast.
"Ripley, go, go, GO!!"
Chris Larabee awoke with a start from the nightmare, shaking his head to dispel the image.
Silently he resolved to never mix Mexican food with whiskey again.
Typical...... - a drabble by April 3/16/98JD stood outside the saloon, scanning the town for trouble. It was only early morning, and he could already tell it would be a boring day.
By the hotel, a girl with dark, curly hair smiled in his direction and began walking towards him.
His heart raced. Quickly, he tried to think of something brilliant to say.
He started to approach her...
She walked right past him, and into the waiting arms of a smiling Buck.
Buck and the girl walked away, but not before Buck said: "Give it up", and laughed.
JD stood outside the saloon, scanning the town......
They're Out There - a drabble by Queen Jubes 3/17/98A lone figure on a white stallion surveyed his surroundings. A curious figure in the sky drew his attention. Looking closer, he saw that it was a flying white saucer-like object. He rubbed his eyes and looked again at the sky. The saucer had disappeared.
Buck cursed under his breath. "And I thought J.D. was the one with imagination!"
Turning his horse around, Buck galloped off towards Four Corners, the town he was beginning to think of as his home. His back turned to the horizon, he failed to notice the white object that rose above the mountains, sunward bound.
Do You Know The Movie? - a drabble by Kerry 3/18/98Chris Larabee swore. It was so damn hot that he had even tried using his hat as a fan. The deep red of the sunset was a fire in the sky. It reminded him of that night in Tombstone. Why he had agreed to take the ride was beyond him, but Mary's parcel, securely strapped to his saddle, needed to be delivered. His horse stepped gingerly along the rim of the canyon, sending rocks crashing down the side of the abyss. Alien landscape met his view in the dim light, jade shadows played in his peripheral vision. He kept moving.
"I Don't Even Know Her Name" - a drabble by Queen Jubes 3/18/98Vin opened his eyes to see a woman standing across from him in a bridal gown. "You sure you wanna go through with this?" Josiah asked him, keeping his voice low.
"With what?"
"With your wedding!" Josiah looked at Vin as if he had suddenly gone crazy.
"WHAT!?!" Vin reached out a shaking hand and lifted the veil only to find a toothless old woman grinning at him. He yelped and ran for the door as if his life depended on it.
Josiah looked after him, bewildered by Vin's sudden change. Buck sauntered up to Josiah, "Told ya he's drunk!"
A Young Man's Fancy - a drabble by Sue 3/18/98The Four Corners Spring Dance was about to start as Ezra sat on the stoop of the dance hall smoking a cigar. Buck ambled up.
"So didja teach JD to dance?" he inquired.
"Indeed I did," Ezra smiled, clearly pleased with himself. "Young Casey should be most impressed."
At that moment two horses came thundering down the street. The pair watched as JD and Casey, whooping and laughing, tore past them and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
"Unless they decide they don't wanna dance," Buck drawled. Ezra just stared after them.
"That boy had better not want a refund."
Under A Hot Mexican Sun - a drabble by Roguexmn55 3/19/98On his knees, under the cruel hot Mexican sun
Chris stared defiantly at his tormentors.
Though beaten and bloody,
His spirit wasn't broken.
He would not give in - they would never win!He was strong yet he felt fear in his heart,
Where were his men, so brave and true?
How had the Mexicans stolen him away?
He wondered if he'd live or die with only the hot Mexican sun to mark his passing?Suddenly six guns blazed red hot
They didn't stop 'til all his tormentors lay dead
******************************************************** Chris woke up, covered in sweat and safe in his bed!
Twenty Paces - a drabble by coffeycake 3/19/98He caught and held the stare of smokey eyes defiant and full of confidence; half hidden behind veiled lids. His own eyes culled the barroom. Hitching a shoulder he shifted his balance, priming his body for battle. He spared a cursory look for the crowd gathered there, sizing it up. He weighed his options; it was fifty fifty either way. He narrowed his eyes. Which one would it be?
No one made a move.
The man directly across from Chris moved impatiently, having grown tired of the older man's stalling.
"Come now, Mr. Larabee," Ezra drawled. "See, raise or fold?"
Games - a drabble by Kristen 3/22/98Ezra looked at the cards in his hand. The solitary ace of spades, an enigma to all but himself. He quickly tossed two cards on the table, eyeing the young man in front of him.
JD grinned triumphantly, flashing a full house in front of Ezra. He knew when he had a good hand; playing with the gambler had taught him that.
Ezra drew two more cards and winced. Sighing, he slowly drew his cards together and tossed them on the table, ace high. JD reached for the money in the center, but Ezra smiled, unfolding the cards: royal flush.
An Ode - a drabble by Nutmeg 3/24/98Ode To The Magnificent Seven
You keep us watching every Saturday night,
Brightening our days with your wonderful light.
To Chris The leader who settles the score,
To Josiah The preacher making us pray for more.
To Buck The scoundrel who adores ladies in every way,
To Ezra The gambler who loves a good pay.
To JD The greenhorn that makes us grin,
To The excellent marksman and hunter called Vin.
To The sweet smiling healer, Nathan's our man,
If they won't do it no one can.
Hat's up to you,
For all the wonderful and Magnificent deeds you do!
Queen of Hearts - a drabble by PandaBear 3/26/98Katherine walked over to the table where the lone figure with the red coat sat. She took the chair opposite him and politely asked for the deck of cards he held. He gave her a wry grin and asked, "What do you have in mind Ma'am?"
"Your future," was her only reply.
The man with the gold tooth laughed at the beautiful creature seated opposite him as he handed her the deck of cards. She turned the top card over revealing the queen of hearts. She smiled and nodded towards the stairs.
Ezra knew that he had met his match.
Dinner - a drabble by coffeycake 3/29/98Chris Larabee looked up from under his dark hat and approached the woman standing in the doorway of the hotel.
He canted his head slightly, acknowledging her, a wicked glint in his green eyes.
"Miss Cynthia, if I might have a word with you?" he inquired.
"Why certainly, Mr. Larabee; and which word would that be?" she smiled.
"Dinner," he proposed, indicating his table.
"And after that?" she asked, accepting the chair he offered.
"After that I will have run out of words," he quipped.
"And if I gave you another, which would you suggest?" she posed.
"Upstairs," he grinned.
The Return - a drabble by Sorsha, as a follow up to The Rescue. 3/30/98Arriving safely back in town, the riders dismounted in front of the saloon. A gasp of dismay from Ezra drew the attention of his friends. He was standing on the boardwalk staring incredulously at his legs. The insides of his pant legs were covered with dirt and gray horse hair. "I shall have to effect a change of attire before joining you for refreshments," he said, then addressed Santana, " I will never understand why you insist on riding without a saddle." Santana glanced toward her horse with the Indian blanket instead of a saddle, then grinned at Ezra, "You're welcome."
It's... - a drabble by Kerry 3/31/98Sweat dripping into his eyes, Nathan cursed his luck at the difficulty of the situation. He had attended very few births, and this baby was overdue. He feared complications.
He wished he had something more to give the mother to ease the pain. At least Mary Travis was there, her presence some small comfort.
He spoke soothingly, urging the mother to push. At last there was progress. A final contraction and Nathan held the baby in his arms, gently wiping the small body dry.
The mare nickered and Nathan grinned. "It's a colt, son..."
Billy's eyes shone bright with excitement.
A Slow Night a drabble by - Aldaj 4/4/98Chris Larabee tried not to laugh. His quiet smirking soon erupted into a giant laugh. Five men at the table began to smile, and then soon six of the seven at the table were rolling with laughter.
People in the saloon turned and stared, surprised to see these famously tough and rugged men laughing like children.
The seventh man at the table wasn't laughing.
"Come on, guys! Stop!!"
This just made the six laugh even harder.
Buck stared at the men. I've never been turned down before, and she had to do it in front of them?!
The Joke - a drabble by PandaBear 4/6/98Ezra withdrew his silver flask from the pocket of his red jacket.
"Ezra, are you going to drink or play cards?" Buck asked.
"Mister Wilmington, I can do both," he replied.
J.D. looked expectantly at Ezra.
"J.D. what are you looking at?" Ezra asked.
"Nothing," J.D. replied, turning away and smiling.
Ezra was about to tip his flask when J.D. and Buck both burst out laughing.
"What is so funny?" Ezra asked.
J.D. and Buck just smiled.
Ezra finally took a swig and a shocked look overcame him.
"Milk! You switched my whiskey to milk?"
J.D. and Buck just laughed.
Trouble - a drabble by PandaBear 4/15/98Vin spurred his horse, urging it to go faster. He heard the screams coming from his right. The screams sounded like J.D.'s, but he could not tell if they were screams of joy or terror. He was about to find out.
He slowed his horse, dismounted and cautiously approached a stream to see exactly what was occurring.
He stopped when he saw J.D. in the water and Casey standing on the bank holding J.D.'s clothes. This is a spot the kid was going to have to get out of himself.
Vin returned to his horse, mounted, and rode off quietly.
The Posse - a drabble by Zarina 4/22/98Outside the Clarion, seven horses saddled, packed for a long ride.
Mary watches, worried.CHRIS: "We have a situation."
VIN: "Bad?"
BUCK: "Must be, pard."
EZRA: "Impossible odds?"
NATHAN: "We gonna survive?"
JD: "Where we going?"
JOSIAH: "To Hell if we can't win this."
EZRA: "Who are the victims? The helpless, the poor?"
BUCK: "Women?"
CHRIS: "Us. We're dead unless something's done."
VIN: "Got a plan?"
BUCK: "Where'll we find 'em?"
JOSIAH: "America's Gomorrah -- New York City."
VIN: "Who we hunting?"Mary hands out posters. "Good Luck, gentlemen."
They mount up, JD last. "Hey, what kind of name is...Moonves?"
Dreams Come True - a drabble by Barbara 4/23/98Jessica was the new girl in Four Corners. J.D. took one look and fell in love. Jessica also fell in love with J.D.. This was the first time J.D. fell in love, so he didn't know what to do. He went to Chris for advice.
"Chris, I don't know what to do?" J.D. asked.
"Well the Fall Dance is coming up," Chris advised.
"Yes, I'll ask her!" J.D. said.
While this was going on, Jessica was dreaming about J.D., herself, and the dance.
Later that day, J.D. went to Jessica and asked her to the dance.
"Yes, J.D.!"Jessica answered.
Reflections - a drabble by PandaBear 4/24/98Mary closed her eyes as the sweet scent of lavendar penetrated the air. She slid further down into the hot water and let her mind wander.
Her first thoughts were of Stephen. His presence in her thoughts no longer haunted her. His killers had been found and justice was served. Only happy memories came now.
Next came Billy. He was beginning to grow into a fine young man. His nightmares were gone - replaced by dreams of his idol - Chris Larabee.
Mary's own thoughts turned to Chris. Would he ever know that he was her idol? Could she ever tell him?
Just Shoot Me... - a drabble by Kerry 4/28/98"Buck, it's gotta come out..."
Buck nodded, in obvious misery. He couldn't remember ever experiencing such pain. Every movement was agony.
Nathan addressed Vin and Ezra. "Hold 'im down, now," he instructed.
J.D., standing outside the room, heard Buck's agonized scream, and then nothing. Opening the door, he cautiously peered inside.
Nathan was grinning and holding up the tooth he had just extracted.
Buck was sitting up, pressing a wet cloth to his gumline.
Nathan winked at J.D. "Sure hope it was the right one..."
J.D., Vin and Ezra burst out laughing at the look of horror on Buck's face.
Friendship? - a drabble by Cindy, Lynn and Janet 5/11/98"Damn! Why do I have to do this??" JD groused.
"Oh shut up your whining and drop your pants, Boy!!" Buck commanded. "We wouldn't be in this fix if you hadn't fallen asleep, now would we?"
"Well 'we' wouldn't be in this fix if 'someone' could keep his pants on!" JD shot back, reluctantly handing over his pants.
"You were supposed to be on the lookout for anyone sneaking up on me, Boy!"
"How was I supposed to know you were gonna take so long!!" JD griped. "Do me a favor Buck; next time you go skinny-dipping, LEAVE ME OUT!!"
Hunter and Hunted - a drabble by Cindy, Lynn and Janet 5/11/98Josiah knelt beside the trail, reading the footprints embedded in the dirt. He'd been tracking his quarry since dawn, when Nathan alerted him to the jailbreak. He stood, squinting into the distance, sensing his prey nearby. Ahead there was a rustle in the sagebrush. He moved forward quietly, keeping low. He tracked his prey by sound, following his progress through the brush.
"Lord, if you are willing, don't let me return to town empty handed," he beseeched.
A single eye peered out at him. Josiah took aim and fired.
Collecting his prize, Josiah grinned at the turkey.
"Dinner is served!"
Dinner is Served - a drabble by Cindy, Lynn and Janet 5/12/98Chris threw his fork and plate onto the ground with a loud, disgusted clatter. "Damn! Beans again!! I could have sworn I had these twice already today!!"
"What's the matter, Chris? Don't like beans three meals a day?" Vin drawled.
"He is not alone, Mr. Tanner," Ezra intoned. "I, too, am desiring something other than beans, myself."
"Like maybe a steak the size of a plate?" Josiah offered.
"Well, for me, boys, I'll take a big fat slice of apple pie," Buck chimed in. "What about you, Chris? What do you fancy?"
"Pot roast sounds good to me," Chris grinned.
Amen - a drabble by Kerry 6/4/98"Son, put the gun down. Let's talk to God about the trouble you're in."
Unreasoning light blazed fiercely in the younger man's eyes.
"I'm saying words to God on your behalf, brother," the older man never took his eyes off his opponent.
The motion of their arms was blurred as they drew and fired simultaneously. One bullet harmlessly kicked up dirt. The other found its mark and a red stain blossomed on the younger man's shirt.
Josiah held his smoking gun at his side and shook his head.
"I can pray with 'em - pray for 'em - or pray over 'em."
Truth - a drabble by Kerry 6/5/98Buck saw Chris on the ridge, in conversation with a stranger. He urged his mount up the trail, joining them.
The stranger offered his hand and Chris gripped it, forearm to forearm. Tipping his hat in Buck's direction, the stranger pulled reins and guided his horse away from the two.
The man's final comments touched Chris deeply.
"It ain't the dyin' ... dyin's easy. *Livin's* the hard part ..."
Chris shook his head. The stranger's words truly echoed his own feelings.
Buck looked at Chris quizzically.
Chris shrugged. "He's looking for an old Indian and a squaw. Said his name was Wales..."