For Better Or Worse Chapter 27

"Woody?"  Jessie asked sleepily.  "What do you think it's like to die?"

This question caught him off guard and it was a time before he replied.  "I think that, when you die, you are finally granted happiness."

Jessie looked at him strangely.  "What do you mean?"

Woody sighed.  "Look at how our lives have been.  Everything we've been put through.  I think that life is...our test.  And death is our reward.  If you've lived a good life, then death is kind to you, gives you a chance to be happy, with no interruptions."

_{-For Better Or Worse, Chapter 25}
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Galloping and neighing was heard in the distance.

Neither Woody nor Jessie budged.


*******


"What in tarnation has gotten into this crazy horse!"  Doc Hamm exclaimed as Bullseye galloped frantically toward Woody and Jessie.

"Bullseye!  You're gonna tip the carriage!  You gotta slow down."  Buzz shouted so the horse would hear him.

Bullseye huffed, then slowed his pace ever so slightly.  One wheel of the carriage hit a rock and the entire wagon slowly began to tip.

"Whoa!"  Buzz screamed as he jumped from the carriage and landed in a run to stop it from falling.

Bullseye skidded to a stop and Buzz managed to get the carriage back on all four wheels.

Buzz walked up to Bullseye.  "Look, I know you're worried, I am too, but we ain't gonna be no good to 'em without a carriage to get them back to town, will we?"

Bullseye hung his head.  Buzz patted his muzzle.

"Let's get there quick...but not too quick.  Okay?"

Bullseye nodded.  Then they were off again.


*******


Lotso strutted into town, with Chunk and Twitch at his side.  All three had wide grins on their faces.

They were oblivious to the hidden man watching them from the buildings.

"What now, boss?"  Chunk asked.

"Well, now that I got that insolent sheriff,"  He spat the word, "and his gal outta the way, I can finally set my plan into motion.  We need to call a meeting."

"How're we gonna get the news to everyone in time?  I mean, once you set off that dynamite..."  Twitch questioned.

Lottso smiled.  "That's the easy part.  Follow me boys."

The man watching them narrowed his eyes as he stealthily continued to follow them.

As they entered The Saloon, the townsfolk greeted them.  Lotso worked his way to the bar and sat down.

"Hello, Mr. Mayor!"  Bo greeted him over the music.  "What can I get ya?"

"Oh, any ol' drink'll do."  He replied warmly with a grin.

She smiled back and fixed his drink.

"Say, Bo?  Have you seen the sheriff yet today?"  He asked with a wicked smile.

"Hmm...can't say that I have.  He's been actin' rather odd lately.  I've heard rumors that he's having troubles with his gal,"  Bo lowered her voice to a whisper, as she sat his drink down.  "I heard that she got together with another man."
 
"Oh my.  That's not good at all."  Lotso replied, looking truly concerned as he took a sip from his drink.

"I heard that the 'other man' was the ex-sheriff."  Bo said.

"Ex-sheriff?"  He almost spat out his drink.

"Yeah.  Buzz Lightyear.  Oh, there's this whole story!  See, one day the sheriff came back to town to find two uncooperative prisoners..."

"That's nice, dear."  Lotso said waving her off.   "Now tell me more about this ex-sheriff...Where is he now?"

"Oh, he left town a while ago...after the incident with Woody's gal."  Bo told him conspiratorially.

"So, he doesn't live here anymore?"  Lotso asked, just to be sure.

"Nope.  It really is a shame.  He was a good man.  Handsome, too."  She said as she shook her head.

Lotso let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Hey, Bo?  Could you do somethin' for me?"  He asked after a time.

"O'course, sir.  What do ya need?"

"I need to have a town meeting later on today, and I was hopin' that you'd help me spread the word."

"You got it, sir.  You can count on me."  Bo said with a smile.

"Oh, I know I can."  Lotso replied with a grin.


*******


Buzz saw something in the distance.  Some rocks.  He took a closer look.

Not rocks.  Bodies.

"Doc!  I see 'em!"  he shouted as he gestured toward them.

Hamm squinted as he tried to look.  "Well, I'll be...Hurry Bullseye!"  He shouted.

Bullseye happily obliged.

Vultures were beginning to circle.  Woody and Jessie didn't notice.  They didn't even open their eyes.

Bullseye skidded to a stop when they got close enough to Woody and Jessie.

Hamm and Buzz jumped off the carriage before it stopped.

"Woody!  Jessie!"  They shouted.

Jessie was snuggled into Woody's embrace.  They looked like they were sleeping.  Neither one moved.

Hamm and Buzz knelt down next to them.

"It doesn't look like they're breathin'!"  Buzz shouted frantically.

Hamm observed the condition both were in.  Jessie had a severe wound on her arm, and although it didn't look recent, it was still bleeding.  Then there was the rock crushing Woody's leg.

"Doc!  Do something!"  Buzz shouted, breaking Hamm's concentration.

Doc frowned as he realized they may be too late.

Bullseye was neighing and huffing as Buzz became hysterical.

"We gotta get that rock off of him!  And we have to do something to fix her arm!"  Buzz shouted frantically as he got to his feet.

Hamm slowly stood and placed a hand on Buzz's shoulder.  Buzz's eyes narrowed as he looked at the old man.

"Son, I don't want ya gettin' yer hopes up too high...We'll do our best, but..."

Buzz shook free of the doctor's hand.  "Of course my hopes are high, because we are going to save them.  I'm not going to let them die."

Hamm sighed.  "That isn't our choice."

Tears began to form in Buzz's eyes.  "We still have to try."

Hamm nodded as they planned their next move.