Western Minimalist

As the man got up, his wife rolled over in her sleep. He walked to the window and pulled back the curtain, looking towards the sun that had just peaked over to the horizon. The man pulled up his pants, buckled his belt and buttoned up his shirt, as he went back over to his wife and leaned over her, kissed her cheek and whispered
“I love you”.
“Bye John”
He recovered his gun from the night stand, and grabbed his hat as he walked out the door.
His breathe was visible on the crisp, cool air as he walked towards the stables. Entering, his horse responded by looking towards him, and watched him as he grabbed the saddle from the stand and laying it on his back, and buckles the rig tightly. The rancher led his horse from the stable and walked with him to the pasture gate, stroking his mane and between the ears to pass the time, muttering a prayer under his breath. He opened the gate and mounted his horse as he trotted inside the gated area. The cattle on the inside stirred and began filing out, as John called out to the herd shooing them from the corral. He followed the last one out and pushed them towards the grazing fields. He wiped the sweat from his head, patted his horse and trotted back to the ranch, to work on other tasks.

The sun was high and John begun repairs on the broken fence on his property, went to his shed for supplies and realized he was out of nails. He sighed and left for town.

He left the general store with a bag of nails in hand and approached his horse as he saw a friend enter the saloon, he looked towards his ranch and figured he’d have a drink. Entering the saloon, he took a seat at the end of the bar next to his friend , where he ordered a scotch, John ordering whiskey.

“Enjoying your Sunday?” John inquired.
“Yeah, just taking it slow, came out to get a gift for my wife” He replied, sipping his scotch.
“Give her my best regards” John tipped his hat, and drank the shot of his whiskey, his face crinkling at the bitter taste.

The two exchanged words for a good hour, when a drunk man stumbled to the edge of the bar. He barely caught himself on the corner as he stared deep into John’s eyes.
“You sunuva bitch!” The man shouted, heavy alcohol on his breathe. “You slept with my wife!”
“I don’t quite know what you’re talking about, I’m a Christian man, and I’m married” John said calmly, trying to ease the man.
“I don’t believe a thing you’re sayin’, you cheatin’ basterd!”
The drunk whipped out his gun and leveled it at John.
“God have mercy on you…” John sighed under his breath.
The stranger pulled the trigger.