A Ripple In Time - Chapter One

Setting: Justin is driving down a desserted highway in the middle of the Valley of the Gods, NM or AZ area.

Damn bitch. I can't believe I was supposed to marry her in two days. Fuck what the hell was I thinking. Shit. Now what (sputtering sounds coming from the engine along with a very promenent cloud of white smoke). This is all I need. Middle of bumb-fucking-nowhere and my car dies. Great. God, I really hate my life. Well, I guess I better start walking, wasn't there a gas station a few miles back? Better get moving while it's still light out. I really don't want to be out here when it gets dark.

(He walks in the direction he just came from for about 3 miles. He comes to this old, run-down looking gas station. There is this VERY old looking man sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. He walks past the old man and into the station.)

"Hello? Any body here?"

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," comes the response from somewhere in the back of the building.

Man, this place is old. They still have full service and everything. Why is everything so dusty?

"Hi, can I help you," a very elderly woman asks?

"Yeah. Uh-hmm. Yes ma'am. My car broke down a few miles down the road and I was wondering if there was anyway I could use your phone to call and get it towed to a service station."

"Well, son. We don't have a phone but Harold over there can tow it here and fix it for you."

"Harold?"

"Yes, he's sitting right out front. Guess you didn't see him when you came in."

"Oh, you mean the old man in the rocking chair?"

(The lady gave him a strange look and then smiled.) "Yep, that would be Harold. HAROLD, could you take this young man back to his car and tow it back here for him? He said it broke down about 3 miles down the road."

(Harold just nods his head and turns to go to the tow truck. Justin hot on his heels.)

"So what ya doin in these parts? Ya don't look like ya live round here."

"No, I was just pissed at my girlfriend and got in my car and just drove. Then the damn thing broke down and now I'm here telling you my sad story."

"So what did she do to make you so mad? If you don't mind me asking?"

"I caught in bed with another person. I don't think I would have minded but it was another woman. I just couldn't take that so I left."

(They drive the rest of the way in silence. They pick up Justin's car and head back to the station.)

"How long do you think it will take for the repairs on my car?" ,p> "Oh, I don't think it will take more than a couple of hours. Why don't you go for a little walk? I wouldn't go to far. Strange things have been known to happen around here at night. Here take this with you."

"Thanks."

What the hell I am I supposed to do with this. Its just an old piece of metal. (Puts it in his pocket) Now what? I guess I'll walk over to those rocks over there and look around. Maybe I can take a small nap while I'm waiting.

(He wanders over to an outcropping of rocks and climbs up on top. While he is lying on them a small little dust storm blows around him. He sits up and looks around.)

"Where did the station go? Oh, great now your talking to yourself. Not only is your girlfriend having an affair with another woman, your losing your mind. Where's the padded truck? Ok, nobody's here to hear me anyway, just well talk it out."

(He gets up and walks back and forth a little ways and still doesn't see the service station. As he is turning to go sit back on the rocks he sees a figure coming towards him. The figure gets larger and larger until it is finally large enough to make out just exactly what it is.)

"Oh, shit. What the hell is that? Thank God, it's a person. Who though. Ok, this can't be that bad. How many people still ride horses in this day and age. Hello? Can you help me? I seem to be lost?"

"I'd say your lost. Do you have any idea who's property your on?"

"Um, no."

"Well, unless you want to die you better get your ass of this property and quick. The Richardson Gang don't mess around. Where you from anyway? I wouldn't be caught hangin around in that outfit in town if I were you. You might be mistaken for the town drunk or something."

Man, this guy is hot. Those eyes, they are the strangest blue I have ever seen. I could get lost in there. Ok, better pay attention to what he's saying.

"Anyway, I could give you a ride back to town if you'd like. I'd really hate to see someone as cute as yourself get killed by the meanest bunch of outlaws this side of Purgatory. Come on get up here."

(Justin climbs up behind the man and they ride back to "town" in silence. As they approach the town the people are all running around like scarred chickens.)

"You there. What's goin' on? Why is everybody leaving town?" the stranger asks a man on the street.

"Sheriff, is that you?" the man asks.

"Yea, Chris. What's goin on?"

"Well, the Richardson Gang was here last week and said if anyone was still here tomorrow they were going to kill them all. I guess with you up in Carson City they figured they could run all over the people in this town. They've been terrorizing the people of this good town since you left. They're gonna hang anybody still here at noon tomorrow."

"Shit. I knew something like this was going to happen if I left town. Guess I better get to my office and break out the artillery. Who we got to help us out?"

"Well, there's me, Joe, and Doc. Who's the fella with ya there sheriff. You think he might help out."

"Huh. Oh this greenhorn? I found him out in the desert. On Richardson's property no less. Figured I'd bring him with me now instead of having to try and figure out who he was later on. Can you shoot kid?"

"Yeah. I guess. Haven't had to do alot of it where I come from."

"Good. Chris can you find him some decent clothes to wear and meet me in my office? You might want to get Joe and the Doc too."

"Sure thing. I'll be right there."

(They rode down the street and stopped in front of the town jail. Justin finally realized that he not only was lost but somehow he had gone back in time. He was in the wild west and didn't have a clue where he was or who the man he was with was. All he knew was the man was gorgeous and a US Marshall.)