~~~~~

At a crossroad in life, Johnny stood one day,
Deciding which of two paths would be the right way.
One continued on from the trail he knew so well--
Danger and excitement lay down that broad road to hell.

Drinking and gambling would fill up each night,
Or he could dazzle some girl 'til the dawns early light.
With no boundaries to hold him and no rules to obey,
He could do as he pleased, for he'd have the say.

When his pockets where empty, he'd have it made;
As Johnny Madrid, he could rely on his trade.
A fast gun for hire and one of the best,
He was sure to be needed somewhere in the West.

Then he heard a soft voice in the back of his head
Saying, "Before you reach thirty, you will be dead;
And not even a ripple will you leave behind.
You're walking away from the best life you'll find."

Could it be that his brother had told him the truth,
And he had been on the wrong road since his youth?
Was there a life far better than he'd had in the past
And something of value that always would last?

Still, hadn't he tried following that other path
And gained nothing more that his father's wrath?
That trail leading upward was narrow and winding,
And the responsibilities were much too binding.

His old man was demanding and unwilling to bend;
Not one inch of give, on that he could depend.
He'd have to work hard 'til the end of each day,
And there'd be little time left for him to play.

Yet, was it the confines of all that accountability
That drove him to seek a life that was free;
Or was it the uncertainty and fear that he would fail,
As the son of Murdoch Lancer down that unknown trail?

Madrid or Lancer, which way should he choose;
Gunman or rancher, did one have more to lose?
One road meant loneliness and life on the roam;
The other promised family and even a home.

All he had to do was saddle his horse and ride,
Face up to his old man, and eat a little pride.
With a promise to do better and each command to obey,
Surely Murdoch would have compassion and not turn him away.

It wouldn't be easy, this new life to live;
But if he was lucky and his all he did give,
He might find in time that all was worthwhile
To earn his father's approval and a loving smile.

Lancer or Madrid, there really was no comparison;
When measuring the outcome was finally done,
Madrid had no future, no hope he could see.
There was only one choice; Lancer he'd be.

"It might be too late to make that your choice.
Your father may not want you," argued a nagging voice.
"And what about that watch that Murdoch gave you;
When he finds out you sold it, what will he do?"

"I could get it back, and he never would know,"
Reasoned Johnny in return with his head sunken low
Before he was reminded there was more to the mess;
He'd forgotten all about his good buddy, Wes.

Then fate took a hand and altered his course
For Wes was struck down by the hooves of a horse.
Sad at the loss and a bit worried too,
Johnny did the only thing left to do.

He redeemed the watch that he earlier had sold
And saddled his horse that was the color of gold.
Then eyes on the future, he set out on the road
That would lead him home to his father's abode.

Once he had passed beneath the archway of stone,
Which bore the Lancer name that now was his own,
He knew in his mind that he'd never again stray
From the narrow confines of Heaven's highway.

~~~~~