Swiftcurrent Creek cowpoke

the man caught at his nape. colt made himself boneless though landed hard when he was tossed. a grunt; something felt like it had been pulled till it tore.
but when sadey went down, colt was blinded by fury and was on his feet in a heartbeat. perhaps it was borne of possession, perhaps of loyalty, perhaps of self-hated; whatever it was, it was gasoline upon the fire of his adrenaline. they'd both been gut-wounded before. and they'd always managed to drag themselves off and live another day.
"move off, red!" colt shouted to the fireball who flared around hotfoot. 
SWITCH!
it was the art of violent ballroom. you went with your strengths. the man in front of him could kill red with a blow. but she was smaller than he. matched with sadey against the other bastard, they were equal. alone it was only a matter of time before he caught the the promising young rogue.
he lunged, then snapped back and feinted toward hotfoot. if successful, if the giant did not catch him, he would strike the man broadside with mauling force for the sin of marring redbird.
his chest hurt with the force of pulling air.