Storm to the Past: A Time Travel Western by Dennis Gager

shot. Go ahead. Right here. Liam stuck his chin out and closed his eyes.
    Owen said, “Don’t do it, Nate.” 
    “So, you’re a coward just like your friend. I guess there ain’t no real men left in this town.”
    Nate through a right cross at Liam hitting him as hard as he could. Liam took a step back, turned his head, rubbed his jaw and laughed.
    “That all you got? You’re in for a world of hurt, little man.”
    Liam hit Nate’s bruised ribs. Nate gasped for air and leaned over in pain. Liam hit him with a jab and a right cross sending Nate to the ground.
    Nate tried to get up, but his ribs were killing him. Owen stepped in and said, “Stop! Liam, he’s had enough.”
    Liam grabbed Owen by his collar and tossed him aside.
    Nate lying on the ground spitting blood said, “Liam, don’t touch him. Your fight is with me.”
    Nate forces himself to get to his feet.
    “Now that’s more like it,” sneered Liam.
    Nate took a swing at Liam, but Liam sidestepped and elbowed him in the side. Then he grabbed Nate’s hair and kneed him in the gut, hit him with an uppercut sending Nate sailing to the ground again. He stood over Nate laughing.
    “Get up,” yelled Liam. “I ain’t even broke a sweat yet.”
    Adam returned and saw Liam standing over Nate, laughing.
    “Enough, Liam,” he said. “I’m the one you want.”
    “Don’t worry, Sheriff, as soon as I’m done here I’ll be right with you.”
    “You’re done now. I’m waiting.”
    Liam took a swing at Adam, but he blocked it and hit Liam with a left cross and followed it up with two body shots to the ribs which left Liam gasping for air. Then Adam kneed Liam in the face, knocking him to the ground. No one had ever knocked Liam down before.
    “What’s the matter, Liam? Does it hurt to breath? See what happens when you mess with someone who isn’t hurt or afraid of you.”
    Owen helped Nate to his feet.
    Liam got slowly to his feet, then charged Adam, tackling him. He started throwing punches left and right at Adam’s head. Adam blocked most of them with his arms, then he caught Liam’s wrist and jerked hard to the side throwing him off balance. Adam quickly jumped on Liam and threw a flurry of punches to Liam’s face.
    Liam was stunned by the barrage of punches. He grabbed a handful of dirt, throwing it in Adam’s eyes. This blinded Adam for a second, giving Liam time to recover.
    Adam wiped the dirt from his eyes in time to see Liam trying to kick him. He blocked Liam’s kick and punched him with a left cross. Liam went staggered back a few steps. Everyone at the dance had gathered around to witness the fight.
    Liam looked around and saw everyone was watching and he was losing this fight. He needed to do something quick to swing the tide his way. He reached behind him and pulled a knife.
    Nate yelled, “Adam! Watch out!” Adam saw the knife and jumped back. The blade narrowly missing him. Adam grabbed Liam’s wrist when he lunged again. Adam twisted the knife from of Liam’s hand. Adam hit him with a flurry of punches to the body and head and Liam went down hard.  Adam got on top of him and punched him until Liam passed out.
    Jeffrey and Victor were waiting like Liam had told them to, in case he got in trouble. When they saw Liam losing the fight, dove into Adam, knocking him off Liam. Jeffrey grabbed Adam from behind holding his arms, while Victor unleashed a brutal attack on Adam’s body.  Nate stepped in, grabbed Victor spinning him around.
    “You were the ones who attacked me last night,” Nate said.
    “And I’m gonna finish that little job right now,” shouted Victor.
    Victor grab Nate by the shoulder and head butted him. Nate fell to the ground.
    Adam recovering from the attack heard Victor admit he was the one who attacked Nate, it lit a fire inside. He broke loose from Jeffrey’s grip and hit him, sending him flying backwards into the wagon and hitting his head knocking him out.
    Adam lounged into Victor knocking him off his