Wes didn't hesitate when a shotgun was suddenly pressed against his head—he reflexively cast a Disarming Charm.
In an instant, a surge of powerful magic burst forth from his wand. The person holding the shotgun was hit by an invisible force and flung violently across the room.
They slammed hard into the wall with a deep thud before collapsing to the floor in a heap.
The shotgun landed right at Wes's feet.
Expressionless, Wes kicked it hard out the door without a second thought.
"Don't move!"
He pointed his wand directly at the corner of the room.
"That wooden stick in your hand—is that a wand?"
A hoarse, elderly voice came from the shadows, tinged with suspicion and caution.
An old cowboy slowly struggled to his feet, brushing the dust from his worn-out clothes as he stood.
"You a wizard?" the cowboy asked, his tired eyes locking onto Wes with a heavy, weary gaze.
His scruffy, greying stubble and rugged features were cast in amber by the dim lighting, giving him a deeply weathered look.
From his appearance, it wasn't hard to imagine that he'd once been a dashing, charming man who turned heads in his youth.
"Where's the Contract of San Venganza?"
"Where did you hear about the Contract of San Venganza?"
The old cowboy's brow furrowed, his tone sharp with distrust.
"That's none of your concern, old man," Wes said firmly, not giving him a chance to ask further.
"I can't let someone I don't trust get their hands on that contract," the cowboy replied, his hand subtly inching toward the holster at his waist.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Wes wasn't in the mood to argue with the stubborn cowboy. The moment he noticed the movement, he shut it down without hesitation.
The cowboy was instantly frozen in place, stiff as a statue, unable to move a muscle.
Only his eyes remained mobile, and in them was a perfect mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Accio, Contract of San Venganza."
Wes cast a Summoning Charm.
Under the stunned gaze of the frozen cowboy, a rusty shovel began floating toward Wes as if pulled by an invisible hand.
He caught the shovel and examined it carefully.
Soon, he found what he was looking for. With practiced care, Wes pried open the handle of the shovel, revealing an aged, yellowed parchment scroll hidden inside.
"Quite the hiding spot," he muttered.
Pulling out a quill, Wes brought it close to the parchment to verify its authenticity.
The moment it approached, the quill gave off a soft, magical glow.
"This is it," Wes said with a satisfied smile, quickly stashing the Contract of San Venganza securely on his person.
Before leaving, he turned back toward the paralyzed cowboy and said, "The spell will wear off in half an hour. You're not as young as you used to be, so maybe take it easy with that temper."
Without waiting for a response, Wes got into the car, hit the gas, and disappeared down the road in a cloud of dust.
Half an hour later, the magic finally wore off.
With a thud, the old cowboy collapsed to the floor.
He groaned, clutching his aching back as he slowly got back up on trembling legs.
"Can't believe a young punk like that got the better of me," he muttered.
Still grumbling, he adjusted his cowboy hat, stepped outside, and bent down to retrieve his shotgun.
A sharp whistle echoed through the air.
"Whrrrrrhh—whrrrrrhh~~"
The sound of galloping hooves rapidly approached, and moments later, a tall, strong horse stopped beside him.
The cowboy—Carter—gently stroked the horse's head, as if speaking silently to a dear old friend.
"Getting smacked around and doing nothing about it? That's not how a cowboy does things."
A storm of fury burned in Carter's chest as he made up his mind. With a swift motion, he leapt onto his horse and shouted, "Let's ride!"
The horse reared up with an excited whinny, then galloped off in the direction Wes had gone.
Night quickly fell, like a great black curtain descending over the land.
Wes gradually brought the car to a stop.
The remote Texas wilderness at night was like a mysterious and serene masterpiece of nature.
Under the dim moonlight, the vast plains seemed even more boundless and desolate. Bushes and low shrubs looked like dark, silent shapes scattered across the land. Above, countless stars glittered like diamonds on a deep blue canopy.
In the distance, the mountain ranges loomed faintly, their silhouettes cast in shadow. Occasionally, a rabbit would dart through the grass, or the eerie cry of an owl would echo through the stillness.
The wilds of Texas carried a rugged, untamed majesty—and a tranquil beauty that stirred awe and reverence.
"Beautiful view," Wes murmured in appreciation.
He now had the Contract of San Venganza in his possession.
Wes decided to stop here to rest, eat something, and enjoy this rare moment of peace.
Jandy, ever the reliable helper, was as capable at setting up camp as he was at managing housework or assisting in magical experiments.
Before long, a warm campfire crackled, and a delicious meal was ready.
Wes sat comfortably, enjoying Jandy's thoughtful service.
"Clop—clop—clop-clop…"
The crisp sound of hooves suddenly broke the stillness of the night.
Wes instantly stood, alert—he could feel a hostile aura rapidly approaching.
A skeleton horse, engulfed in blazing flames, came thundering toward him, leaving trails of fire with every step.
Riding it was a flaming cowboy with a skull for a head.
As soon as Carter spotted Wes, he raised his shotgun and shouted,
"Got you now, wizard boy!"
"I didn't even hit you that hard, you stubborn old man," Wes muttered.
But this wasn't the time for backtalk—the cowboy clearly wanted revenge.
"Apparate!"
With lightning reflexes, Wes vanished and reappeared behind Carter.
"Expelliarmus!"
A powerful Disarming Charm shot from Wes's wand, sending Carter's shotgun flying.
Carter reacted just as quickly, drawing a revolver from his hip.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Three shots rang out, bullets whistling through the air.
"Protego Maxima!"
"Protego Maxima!"
"Protego Maxima!"
Three powerful shield charms burst forth.
The bullets struck the thick, sticky magical barriers and immediately slowed. After a sluggish flight through the air, they lost momentum and dropped harmlessly to the ground.
"Barrage!"
Wes never subscribed to turning the other cheek.
An eye for an eye—that was his creed.
Out here in Texas, there was no shortage of small stones.
With a flick of his wand, a cloud of pebbles transformed into deadly projectiles, firing like a storm of bullets at Carter and his flaming steed. The impact was devastating, sending both rider and horse crashing to the ground.
But Wes didn't dare lower his guard.
Flames burst even fiercer from Carter and his horse, their wounds healing with unnatural speed.
In mere seconds, they stood tall again—unfazed.
"Damn undead body," Wes grumbled.
He'd expected this, but it didn't make it any less annoying.
Undying enemies were always the worst kind to fight.
Carter calmly dusted himself off and adjusted his cowboy hat, his eyes gleaming with challenge.
"Your little tricks won't work on me, wizard."
°°°
A/N: Consider donating some stones, and your efforts will be rewarded.
100 Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter
200 Stones = +2 Bonus Chapter
300 Stones = +3 Bonus Chapter