Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Bulldog peered through the blue and white plaid curtains adorning the windows of his cabin living room. In the bright haze of the late morning, he could see a helicopter hovering high above his house. A shimmer of glass down the hill caught his eye, and he saw a black SUV climbing the steep road to his humble abode.

Bulldog watched patiently as the vehicle slowed to turn the sharp corners and rocky terrain. “Some people just don’t know when to quit,” Bulldog muttered with anticipation, “Three…two…one!” 

When nothing happened, Bulldog frowned slightly and crouched a bit higher on the couch.

“I said, ONE!” Bulldog snapped, and suddenly a flash and a bang permeated the air and the hill shook with the force of the blast. The SUV was gone. “I could have sworn I put that landmine farther down the hill,” mused Bulldog.

Directly after the blast, the helicopter opened fire on the cabin. Bulldog hit the ground as bullets poured into the cabin walls. They sounded like hail pounding on a tin roof in an ice storm. Bulldog pulled himself across the floor. “I just paid for this place, you rascals!” yelled Bulldog furiously.  

Somehow, amidst the onslaught of lead, he found his way to the back door.  As he swung it open with all his might, he saw Ted propel himself out of the corral already in full gallop. The magnificent horse leapt over a fence and was now zig zagging across the yard dodging bullets with every step, determined to make it to the cabin for his master. Good old Ted, thought Bulldog with pride, I taught him well.    

When Ted finally reached Bulldog, he paused for a mere second as Bulldog mounted him in one giant leap and they bolted out into the scorching Wyoming desert. The helicopter had no troubling tracking the two heroes; there was nothing but open desert for miles around them, and Bulldog couldn’t spot a single place to hide. He would either have to outrun these guys, or outsmart them.

The chase went on for miles and miles. Ted persevered as always, barely loosing speed as the hours passed, but even Bulldog was beginning to wane.   

After what seemed like an eternity of nothingness, Bulldog spotted a lone cactus in the middle of the vast, red desert. He slowed Ted down, dismounted his resilient steed, and reluctantly raised a white flag in the air.  Ted neighed and exhaled heavily as the helicopter slowed and lowered itself to the ground where he and Bulldog stood wearily.  

As the copter’s blades came to a complete halt, an eerie silence fell upon the desert. The snap of an opening door broke out into the air and seemed to be absorbed instantly by the heat and the emptiness. Out of the flying machine stepped a man dressed in black with and eyepatch and a scar across his forehead. Bulldog was the first to speak, “Well, I’ll be! Amil Drakar. How’s your brother? Busy, I’m sure. He’s probably downright buried!”  

“SWINE!” interrupted Amil, wielding a chrome plated Magnum .45, “You killed my brother, the General, months ago. But now, you’re out of luck, you crass canine.  I will avenge my beloved brother! This belonged to the General himself you know,” declared Amil, looking down at the gun, “How poetic that I use it to kill you.” 

Bulldog gazed around at the dust and dirt and dryness of the desert. He couldn’t resist the pun, “So it looks like I am going to get my just deserts, am I?”  

“Yes. Deserts…clever,” chuckled Amil with a guffaw and a nod toward his henchmen.

While they were giggling, Bulldog flicked a switch on the back of the cactus revealing a rocket launcher.  Amil dropped the .45 and his eyes widened.

Bulldog raised two respectful fingers to his brow and recited, “Always be prepared.” 

He pulled the trigger, and a moment later Amil and his helicopter were a just a bright light burning in the Wyoming dusk.  

Bulldog walked over to a stunned Ted, patted him on the head and smiled, “And you thought I didn’t have a plan.”

Idea from: Bulldog White

Written By: Scott White

Edited By: Jordan McMillian