The Legend of Hackberry Hill

An outlaw steals the shotgun of the sheriff he murdered. Big mistake.

Written for the 30 Days of Fright writing challenge, Day 28.

The clouds was red at sunset when the Tanner gang shot Sheriff Hunter. I saw the first of the evening stars shine in his eye as I knelt to close it. The other one was just a hole in his head. They didn't need to use so many bullets.

It all began when Ethan Trent, who was a cousin of theirs, or some such, had more whisky in him than sense, and sat down with Lucky Phil Horwood for a game of poker. Now Phil, he sometimes let you win, so you’d think you'd got a chance of winning more ‘n a couple o’ bucks. I'm pretty sure he counted the cards.

Well, on the second round, Ethan got a royal flush—and all the money on the table. A smart man woulda quit there, but Ethan wasn't known for having brains. He bought a bottle of Ol’ Snakehead, put it in the middle of the table, and put down everything he had for the next round. Desmond Proctor folded. Shotgun Sally Hareton had three of a kind—all fives. And she grinned like all o’ her birthdays had come at once. Ethan, he got hisself a full house; three eights and two jacks. He rocked back in his chair like he'd be going home that night with all the money. But Lucky Phil spread out his cards like a lady's fan and put them down on top. Three nines and two kings. And he reached out to take the money. Ethan stood up and declared he was cheating. Phil went for his gun but Ethan was faster and shot him right in the heart. Then he swept up all the money and walked right out o’ there leaving Phil lying there on the floor.

When Sheriff Hunter heard about it, he made enquiries, found Ethan Trent at another saloon, and invited him to return to Hackberry Hill to ‘discuss the matter further.’ When they arrived, he arrested him and sent him for trial at Woodward, where Judge Helmsworth sentenced him to hang.

A few weeks afterwards, the Tanner gang arrived—all seven of ‘em. James Tanner, the second oldest, found Sheriff Hunter coming out of the barbers and shot him in the shoulder. The bullet went on right inside the barbershop and made a hole in the mirror. The sheriff staggered like a drunken man. Then Stephen, the oldest, shot him in the leg. Each of the other five took a shot at him. Each hit sent him one way or another, as if he was dancing. It was Benny Hicks who shot him in the eye, and put an end to him. James walked over, took the Sheriff's gunbelt—and his horse—and rode away, neat as you please.

Well the Sheriff had a Remington Lee 1879 repeater. It was his pride and joy, and it was in his office. James Tanner stopped in at the Sheriff's office and stole it away.

With no law in Hackberry Hill, the Tanner gang thought they could do what they liked. Turns out they liked robbin’ stuff and takin’ women, then dumpin’ them out in the plains when they was finished.

Well, the townsfolk got together and paid a bounty Hunter called Horace Evans, who was kin to the sheriff, to hunt ‘em down and bring ‘em to justice.

Horace went looking for them, and by various means brought some o’ them to Woodward. The rest were shot. He arranged an ambush with some local farmers, and caught Benny Hicks, Pedro Alvarez, and Sam Trent. They were took to jail in a wagon.

Billy Tanner was shot while trying to steal someone's horse.

The remaining three were, at this point, gettin’ worried that they'd soon have their necks in a noose, so they tried to hunt the hunter. They set up an ambush in the valley by the river, where Horace and his party would have to cross to get to the high plains homestead where they lived.

Thomas Tanner was on one side, Stephen on the other, and James in the middle.

Horace rode his horse into the water.

Them Tanner boys raised their guns.

Horace came out the other side.

They pulled their triggers.

Click.

Nothing happened. They tried again. Nothing.

Thomas lifted the gun to look into the barrel. It took the top of his head right off. He wasn't even touching the trigger.

Stephen raised his gun to shoot Horace, but when Thomas shot hisself, his horse reared up. He fell off and broke his neck.

James had the Remington. He pointed it at Horace and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

Horace shot back, knocking him off the horse. He dismounted and ran towards him.

James picked up the gun and pulled the trigger. It didn't even click. He pulled it a few times but nothing happened.

Horace shot him dead. He went to the body and picked up the shotgun. There was nothing wrong with it. He fired a shot into the air. It worked perfectly.

Horace was the sheriff after that, and I was his deputy. And that shotgun went everywhere with him.

Featured in the Top In Fiction recap June 28th — August 1st 2025.

Monthly Recap Live! #7 in 2025