Rattlers Romance

It was another scorching day in the town of Dirt; the local saloon was filled with critters trying to cool themselves off with a shot of cactus juice. Across the street in the tailor shop Sofia sat behind the counter sowing the final touches on a dress. It was days like these that made Sofia remember her childhood, the days where she used to play with her good friend Jacob Rattler. The two were like peas in a pod, wherever Sofia went Jacob was sure to follow. She had had strong feelings for him when they were teenagers, he was such a strong looking snake with eyes like shone a deep gold like the sunset. Sofia peered up at the old wooden ceiling trying to recall the moment their friendship had ended. The memory refused to surface, the harder she tried to force out into the open the more it buried itself deeper into her subconscious. 'How many years has it been since I last saw his face' Sofia pondered to herself.

The sound of the store door opening startled her, "Hello there Sofia, just wonderin' if yer all finished with ma new outfit?" croaked Cordillera, the toad that worked in the saloon across the street. "Almost done Cord, so how are things in the Saloon? Any fights break out yet?" Sofia chuckled to herself, there were two things that were a given in the town of Dirt; one Rango always started trouble accidentally and two there was always some sort of fight in the saloon. Cordillera looked at Sofia and gave a boring huff.

"There aint' no fight in the saloon today, its too gosh darn hot for many of that horsing around". Sofia raised an inquisitive scale, "really well that's a first,"

"I know, aint' nothing interestin' been happenin' in the saloon on a count of the heat".

"Well cheer up Cordillera, I just finished the final touches on your dress." Sofia bit off the piece of thread that attracted the needle to the dress.

"There what do you think?" Cordillera shifted her eyes away from the floorboards and fixed them on the garment she had ordered. Her eyes widened in excitement, the dress was beautiful. The red and gold silk mimicked the sunset and the white lace around the bosom complimented the toads skin tone.

"Oh ma word, I do believe this is the most beautiful garment I ever did see! You have quite a talent there missy!" Cordillera winked and rustled through her pouch for the water she owed.

"There ye'are two and a half quarts." The toad placed the vials of water gingerly into the snake's coils. Sofia smiled and placed the dress in a small paper bag before handing it over to Cordillera. They said their good-byes and the toad left the store, once again leaving Sofia to drift back to those summer days spent with her childhood friend.

It had been six months since Sofia had slithered into Dirt and she had already made several friends. The closest were Priscilla, who just wondered in and out of the shop when she pleased, Beans, whom she had became real close too, and Rango, whom she considered like a younger cousin. She got along with all the towns folk, except for Angelique. The tart of a fox had made her life rather unpleasant since she moved to Dirt. Always walking into the shop and commenting on the clothes and the lack of fashion that was in them. Angelique was the only one who got under Sofia's scaled and really caused her great frustration. However due to the extreme heat, Angelique had no come into the shop which caused Sofia great happiness.

Another ring of at the door caused Sofia to wake from her daydream, she glanced over the counter to see Pricilla nearly on the brink of collapse.

" Goodness Pricilla, what on earth! Here have some water!" Sofia pushed the tall glass across the counter towards the panting girl. Pricilla grabbed the glass and took several giant gulps before placing it back on the counter.

"Sofia I came to warn you, Rattlesnake Jake is coming to town. You better be carful, he's a mean varmint and he'll hurt you if he gets the chance! " Sofia smiled at the young child.

"Now Pricilla what makes you think that I would be in any immediate danger if Rattlesnake Jake were coming to town?" Sofia said softly while she poured another glass of water for her parched friend and slid a stool over for the girl to sit. The youngster climbed up onto the stool and made her self comfortable.

"Well you ARE a pretty girl-rattler…" the young girl roller her eyes up at the female snake. Sofia was taken aback by the girl's forwardness, for a few moments she just looked at the child. Then threw her head back and began to let out a huge laugh.

"Oh you are too precious, don't worry about me kiddo I can take care of myself." The snake said nudging the sweating glass of water closer to the youngster. Pricilla looked up once more at Sofia and sighed; of course Sofia would be safe, she's a snake after all, smiling to herself she lifted the glass to her lips. Just as the rim of the glass grassed her lips, a bloodcurdling cry came from outside the store.

"Aieeeeee, its Rattlesnake Jake! Some one get the sheriff!" a town's person yelled. Pricilla leapt of her stool and made her way to the door only to be blocked my Sofia's long body.

"You stay here and don't you go out side sweetie. I'm going to go and see then rattler for myself." And with that statement, Sofia slithered out the door and slammed it shut before Pricilla could say a word. Out side was total pandemonium, critters rushing in and out of buildings trying to keep close to doors and windows so see what was going on, but to be safe if anything happened. Sofia slowly slithered out onto the street and saw the creature that was causing all of the panic. He was meaning looking all right, dark brown scales, gun belts that were strapped around his upper body and the hat that hid his eyes and his gun tail. Sofia gulped and slowly slithered backwards towards her store, but the larger snakes tail and lower body blocked her path.

"Well, well, well what do we have here? Hello littl' darlin'" he said in a low hiss which caused a cold shiver to crawls up Sofia's spin. She tilted her head downwards at dusty ground but was immediately brought back up towards Jake's face.

"I like it when people look into my eyes." He growled out and flicked is tongue towards her.

"Don't you dare touch me with that filthy thing you despicable creature" Sofia spat out in an angry hiss. Jake simply gave her a dark smirk and pulled her closer in.

"Let me see thoughts eyes of yours," he hissed in her ear as he forced her head up with his gun-tail. Sofia's eyes met his and she immediately recognized him, he was the boy she grew up with, the same golden eyes she has known as a child but now they were stained with reds and oranges.

"J-J-Jacob? Jacob Rattler?" Sofia whispered huskily, Jake's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Without delay he released her from his coils and took several slithers back, looking her over top to bottom. 'She's has grown up I almost didn't recognize her. Gotten more beautiful, hell much more beautiful then I remember. Slender body, soft brown scales, small-wedged head, and her eyes! Like two giant pools of soft warm chocolate.'

"It's me Sofia, Sofia Silverback, remember from Hisspen Gulch? We grew up together, our homes were right beside each other…" the sound of her voice broke Jake's concentration.

" Ya I remember, I also remember leaving that god for saken hell pit as fast as possible. Weren't nothin' but nobodies in that town." Jake said in a dark chuckle while he slithered closer to her, "But you have gotten more pretty since the last I saw you. Yer all grown up now…" he whispered to her, causing her to jerk away and let out an aggressive hiss.

"No need to get testy darlin' am just 'ere to see yer sheriff…"

" He isn't in right now, so why don't you leave." Sofia shifted her body so that she was in between the towns people and Jake. She reared up into a striking position and glared down at Jake.

"I don't come into town and leave empty handed." He sneered and approached her boldly, which jeered another aggressive hiss from her curled lips, this time she showed off her razor sharp fangs.

"Well I'm afraid this time you are… now get going before I sink my fangs into your back!"

"You wouldn't"

"Do you want to find out" once again she hissed but this time she struck, missing Jake's side by inches. Jake swerved out of the way and looked back at Sofia, his heart almost skipping a beat, almost. The sun was at her back causing her facial features to become softer and make her look even more attractive. Jake peered at her from behind the rim of his hat and slowly slithered towards her, stopping just within whispering distance.

"I'll leave this time, but next time I'll be leavin' with somethin' more valuable," he said in a very seductive voice, which caused something warm to stir inside Sofia's heart. And as fast as he came, Rattlesnake Jake was gone, dispreading back into the desert. With a heavy sigh of relief, Sofia uncoiled her body and slowly relaxed onto the hot soil. The town's people also sighed in relief and rushed over to thank Sofia for driving away the bandit. Sofia accepted their thanks, but all the while looking out of the corner of her eye, she knew that this wasn't the last time she was going to see Rattlesnake Jake.