Dry River had been one of those typical Wild West towns a few years before. But now, it was becoming a respectable place. Law and order were beginning to take hold. Sure, there were still the occasional brawl and the Blue Goose Saloon could get a little rowdy at times, but by and large the town was becoming a nice place to live.

Red had been one of those young characters who had been in his share of trouble. Nothing serious, just the usual things that young men at that time got into. Like many men at that time, Red usually carried his gun with him. It was more of a habit than necessity. But he was adapting well to the changes that came about as the town shed its rough wild west image. Besides, Red had married Sue, a quiet girl, who was a mature influence in his life. They were devoted to each other as they planned their lives together.

Not that Red didn't still enjoy dropping by the saloon every once in a while. He and a few friends would sometimes meet to play cards or just to have a beer. But after a couple hours, Red would decide it was enough, and then he would go home to Sue.

It was on one of those nights when the stranger came in. Red and a couple friends were into a hand of poker. They were gambling a few dollars, not any great amount, when the stranger sat down with them. To be polite, they asked him to join them. The next hand they dealt him in. The stranger won that hand, and everyone just sort of joked about beginner's luck and that sort of thing.

Several more hands later, the stranger was still winning just about every time. Red and the others were hanging in there, hoping for a chance to recoup their losses. It was then Red saw the stranger slip the ace of spades from under his palm.

"Hey, this guy is cheating", Red exclaimed. The others saw it too. The stranger stood up, as did Red and some of the others. Both Red and the stranger reached for their guns and drew. Red fired, and saw that he hit the stranger. Beyond that Red did not remember what else happened that night. He just knew that he had to get out of there.

Red's next recollection was he was on the road headed west out of town. It was morning, and he only remembered pulling the trigger and seeing the bullet hit the stranger. Mixed feelings ran through his mind. What of Sue? What could he do? Maybe he could get out of the area and send for Sue later to start anew somewhere else? He figured the sheriff was looking for him and he had to get away.

A day on the trail headed west, a night spent under a large pine tree, then back on the road again. It was late afternoon when Red stopped along the road on Rockman Peak. Here was a good place to camp for the night. It was far enough from town that he felt safe from capture, and once over the peak, he would make good time downhill tomorrow.

Red built a fire, fixed his meal, and was just starting to eat when he was startled to see a man approach along the road. The man was about 30 years older than Red, his appearance was ragged. As he approached closer, Red could see the man could almost pass for himself, as he might look as an old man.

"Howdy", said the stranger as he walked up to camp.

"C'mon in and set a spell", Red replied. This was the first human Red had seen since he left town, and he figured news of the shooting hadn't spread that soon. Besides there was something familiar about this man.

Sharing the meal and some idle chat passed the time for them. The traveler talked of things past. He said he was on his final journey, returning home to Dry River. Red talked of Sue and his devotion to her, but never mentioned the incident which brought him here. Red noticed a scar on the old man's chest. Probably an old bullet wound, but when asked about it, the old man just said that subject was best left alone. Soon the sun was setting, the campfire was dying and the two spread out their bedrolls for the night.

Next morning, Red awoke to fresh coffee and breakfast prepared for him by the traveler. The man had gotten up earlier, fixed breakfast for them, and gathered his things to continue his journey to Dry River.

"We all return home", was the final thing the man said to Red as he started east on the road. Hearing that rather cryptic statement, Red looked up. The man was nowhere to be seen. Peering down the road, all Red could see were trees and the trail. Like a ghost, the man had vanished.

Red sat there a long while thinking. Now he had time to reflect. He had always done the right thing before. He had always faced trouble when it came at him. He was not even really sure what had happened at the saloon.

Besides he missed Sue. Oh, how he missed Sue. He felt his need to be there for her. How could he do that if he was running away? So with these thoughts in mind, and following the lead of the traveler, Red began the longest trek in his life, the two day trip back to Dry River and home.

Two days later, Red was nearing Dry River. He passed a couple people along the road near town and they acted as though they didn't see him. Maybe he wasn't a wanted man after all, he thought. Going by the school, children were playing and not one of them even looked up. Things were going on much as usual. Had it all not been as bad as he thought?

About a mile from home, Red again began playing over in his mind the things that went on that night. The hand of poker. The stranger. The gunfire. But now things were becoming clear. He remembered his bullet striking the card cheating stranger. And the second shot.

Now just a few yards from his home, he noticed Sue. She was setting on the porch, wearing her long black dress. Red is running faster now. He called out to her, but she did not hear him. That second shot. Red remembered now. The searing pain as it pierced his heart. The sight of his lifeless body on the floor of the saloon that night. The urgency that his spirit get away from there to avoid that scene of death.

And now he was home with Sue. The lifeless apparition that was Red would take its place in the house, where he could watch over and protect her as she grew old mourning her loss.