Solomon Grimm, an Introduction

My name is Solomon Grimm, I am an Outlaw hunted by both men, and things only Satan could imagine. And this is how it happened.

    The sun settled deep into the horizon as dust stirred in small eddies kicked up by dry winds across the wastelands. It just wasn’t my day. God damned Brass badged a******s chased me into the Arizona Dessert and there wasn’t enough time to loop around back to my two bit shack. There goes my chance to hide. The Jackles will be out soon. And not the nice little dog like kinds either. The Big and Bad kind. Tall suckers what looked like they gone and crawled up out of some sacred Indian burial grounds. Windigo i think is what the redskins call em. Tall and slim with leather like skin stretched over raw bone, glaring yellow eyes and teeth colored dirt brown, sharp and prickly. I been on the wrong end of a Jackle plenty of time and i can tell you that it hurts. worse then having your pecker tared and feathered. I been ducking them ever since i got caught up in this mess ten years ago. Still remember it clear as day.
    It was a hot night out, sticky kind of hot. I woke up in a fine sweat when nature called me. So i got up an headed to the outhouse for me some private time. I remember the moon, it was big. Bigger then it had any right to be but that wasn’t the first thing i noticed. Damn thing was tinged red. Never saw that before in my life. It got my hackles up right proper and i had a feeling like a stone in my gut that something wasn't right. The air was still and the normal sounds one hears at night where gone, no crickets or coyotes or nothing. Dead silent.
    There was a cracking sound somewhere out there, something big working its way through the brush. I knew the land fairly well and as such i also happened to know that we didn't have any large critters around and whatever this thing was, it was big. Well the need for a piss went right out my body and i did what any sane man would do, i ran for the house where i knew ol’ Clementine was, my trusty six gun. A right pretty Colt what was  a gift to me from my younger brother who had passed on a few years back. In my haste to get back i didn't see it in time.
    Oh this critter was big alright; and silent to boot. Damn thing came round like a ghost. I felt a steel grip on my boot, felt like someone slapped a ball and chain on me and i went down. I wasn't no match for this thing. Hell, couldn't even see it. I did my right best to fight back but i was out classed and out gunned. Punching and kicking didn’t do a damn thing to it.
    There was an awful stinging in my shoulder. I reached round and grabbed this thing maw with my hands and tried to pry the devil off of me but all it did was start to thrash and toss me around like a rag doll. I was saved by my wife Martha that night, god rest her soul. She wasn’t much of a shot but when i heard Clementine call out that thing jerked off of me and took off into the night.
    My wife got me cleaned up and the bite didn’t look to bad so we didn't think there was need of the Doctor right then. Oh we made plans to go see him later in the week when we went to town to sell the new foal. If I could have know what would of happened the next night i would have swallowed sweet Clementine and been done with it. By morning my skin was hot enough to fix an egg on. I was bed ridden and having terrible fever dreams, the bed its self was soaked through with sweat and piss and i smelled right awful. I keep seeing thing behind my eyes. Things no man should ever have to see. I cant right tell you about because words just don't have the power to do it justice, suffice to say they where terrible things. The devils own nightmares.
    Wasn’t till night fell when it all went to hell in  hand basket. My fever had just broke and i was feeling a mite better when my veins lit up on fire and a terrible hunger overcame me. I couldn't think, my head was to clouded and i needed to eat, to drink. I attacked the first thing i saw my dear Martha. She came in with a fresh blanket for me and i lunged dead on. Bit right into her, my nail raking her skin and pulling her hair to get a better shot at her neck. Now i didn’t know what i was doing. Honest i didn't, but i still see it every time i close my eyes. Her wide, fearful eyes and the gurgling sound she made when i ripper her throat out with my own teeth. I didn’t know, and i didn't know to care. I was hungry, so i ate. and i was thirsty, so i drank.
    Must be that we missed a outing with a friend or something because it was a moment to late when the sheriff stuck his head in the door. He was quick on his feet when he clubbed me with the butt of his gun. It knocked me out cold. I woke up several hours later in cuffs behind the irons. The sheriff was there sitting in his chair with his hat in his lap and his gun on the desk. “Do you know what you did Solomon?” He asked me. I had no words for him and just shook my head.
    “You murdered your Wife Solomon.” My head shot right up and i all but yelled through those bars. “What are you talking about Sheriff? That's beyond sanity to say that to a man!”
    “Its the truth Solomon,” He said. “I walked in on it and had to beat you in the head to get you off. i tried to get the Doc there but by the time her showed she was gone. God providence that Cathy and John sent me to check up on you two when you didn't show for their dinner. Otherwise there would be one more lunatic out and around my town, endangering my people. Your gonna hang Solomon.” The words done gone and dried up in my mouth. Couldn’t speak worth a lick. I stood and turned to lay my head against the wall. Then anger and disbelief welled up in me and in a fit of rage i hit the wall as hard as i could. Imagine my surprise when it fell away like it was made of paper. I stared at it in shock before i heard the click of a hammer. I turned around and there was the Sheriff gun in hand and aimed dead between my eyes.
    The Shot rang out and i dived, right through the bars and into the Sheriff. He sprawled out and lost his gun. I hit him as gentle as i could still keeping that wall in mind. knocked him out cold. I took his gun and ran. Been running ever since.