The townspeople gathered around the podium as train tycoon Latham Cole made his announcement.
"Today, ladies and gentlemen, is the day of one of America's biggest triumphs; connecting America from east to west!" Applauding came from everyone. "And on top of that," Cole added, "we all shall witness the hanging of the young and beautiful yet notorious Blake for her crimes of robbery and murder. And rest assured, outlaw Butch Cavendish will be caught as well." More applause. Cole made his thanks and steps down from the podium.
One of Cole's fellow businessmen came up to him and said, "Well done, Cole, sir! Now are you sure that Blake child won't get away? She's a sneaky one."
"Yes sir, Mr. Johnson. She'll meet her demise today for sure."
Unbeknownst to either of them, an albino golden eagle watches over them and flies off towards to oncoming train just a few miles ahead.
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Texas Ranger Daniel Reid looks outside his window and sees the buffalo herd moving out of the train's way. He chuckles at the creatures, half of him feeling sorry for them for God knows what reason, the other half amused by the creatures. "What's so funny?" asks the woman in front of him. He turns his attention towards her and replies, "Oh. Well, those buffaloes. They're mysterious things, aren't they?" The woman nods back. "I've never really seen those kind before," she adds. Dan nods in agreement and chuckles.
But he sets his mind back to the prison cart, carrying two criminals ready to hanged for their own crimes. Dan looks back out, and he could have sworn he saw a large white bird fly swiftly past the car. He shakes it off and reads his pamphlet
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The only sound that fills the train car was the clacking of the new railway. Of course more cars were attached along with the prison cart that held a teen-aged girl, probably not much older than 15, dressed in black except for her creme colored button up shirt and scarf, her hair was short and beige with one half of it covering her icy blue eye, the other half exposing her maroon colored eye. Her black hat shaded her face. Another outlaw, around mid thirties and scraggly looking, was right next to her. The outlaw takes quick split second glances at the teenager. Something about her made him feel uneasy. She knows that he is watching her but doesn't acknowledge it.
Both turn to hear the door open and see the warden with another round of booze. The warden comes up to her and stops and says, "Lookin' awlf'lly too purtteh ta be hangin'. But it don' matte' now." Blake just looks up with a smirk and rolls her eyes. He, the warden, gave her a disgusted look and said, "Them ol' Rangers'll wipe tha' damn smirk off yer face once yous in tha' noose!" and gave her a little kick. This didn't faze her. She looks back at his partner shuffling a deck of cards. She notes that he had been doing that for ten minutes now. "Ya gettin' bored over there~?" she asks sarcastically with her grin. "Why don'cha shut yer mouth, missy?!" barks the warden's partner. Blake just nods, eyes on him as he makes his way back to the crate table.
At the precise moment, when both had their backs turned, she reaches for the floor board and quietly fiddles with a nail, making her index finger and thumb bleed. As she does so, she sings a death tune:
"~O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Well what is this that I can't see
With ice cold hands takin' hold of me
Well I am death, none can excel
I'll open the door to heaven or hell
Whoa, death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me another day,~"
She lifts the board. Under it was a knife. The other outlaw notices the movement and watches bug-eyed.
"~The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
I'll fix your feet til you cant walk
I'll lock your jaw til you cant talk
I'll close your eyes so you can't see
This very air, come and go with me
I'm death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To draw up the flesh off of the frame
Dirt and worm both have a claim~"
Blake puts a finger to her lips as she makes the coldest of cold smiles. He shudders as he put the pieces together of her cold plan of escape.
She continues with the cold song of death.
"~O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a-movin upon my soul
Oh, death how you're treatin' me
You've close my eyes so I can't see
Well you're hurtin' my body
You make me cold~"
The men admit, however, that the song was sung so beautifully by such a cold hearted, blood thirsty girl. The tune of it can send chills down their spines.
"~You run my life right outta my soul
Oh death please consider my age
Please don't take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hand
Oh the young, the rich or poor
Hunger like me you know
No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
O, death
O, death
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year~"
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A gang rides up by a cliff. There are supposed to be six of them; one being a bird; the other their boss, awaiting her execution. An Italian man in his early to mid fifties opens up a pocket watch and checks the time. Her train was arriving to the station just in time.
"Well! Just on-a time!"
The Italian man closes his pocket watch.
"Wh-what're we w-w-waitin' fo'?! L-Let's go!" says a scuzzy New England outlaw
An African American man chuckles.
"Alright. Let's move!"
The rogue gang rides out towards the train.
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Dan continues reading his pamphlet. He really didn't heed no mind to the other passengers in the same car as him. He manages to shake off the sight of the white bird. Dan looks at his pocket watch and notes that they should be arriving to the station on time.
But then again, maybe not.
From the corner of his eye, Dan could now swear that there is a silhouette of a man. And on top of the car. The sound of footsteps made the passengers look up, and that included Dan.
The door opened.
"I hope y'all don' have anythin' impor'ant comin' inta town today!" All heads turn to see two thugs at the door. One had a high Scottish accent and brownish-auburn hair parting from his forehead. He only wore a black vest barely tinted with green and dark jeans. The other was the scuzzy New England-er. He had a long nose and high cheek bones. His grin showed he has a missing tooth. His clothing consisted of a dark grey vest and white shirt along with jeans.
Dan suddenly realized what was going on.
This was a train robbery!
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"Stretch break, boss!" Blake announced. The warden rolled his eyes and unlocked her. "Ya got five minutes, lady! And dis is your last one before ya go!" Blake nodded and muttered, "Right~." As Blake stretched out her back, the other outlaw tried to throw some pieces of wood at the warden and warn him. He even tried whispering to him. Not much luck.
Two minutes passed.
At his third go, he gets the warden's attention. The outlaw signs that Blake had a knife in her coat and was going to kill them.
The warden shakily grabs his gun, but Blake was too fast for him, and took him down. She draws her knife, covers his mouth with her free hand and slits his throat. Blood spurts everywhere and on her face. The warden's partner is shaken by the sudden scene and tries to take his gun; once again, Blake was too fast as she draws her own gun and shoots him.
Blake smiles grimly and turns to the outlaw, his hands in the air, pleading for mercy. "Normally, I would spare ya~," she says slyly, "but then again, I don't leave any survivors. And when I mean any-" she shoots him in the head, dead right on the spot. "-I mean no one!"
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"C'mon! Anyone gonna speak up?" Nobody could say a word as the thug duo went up and down the aisle.
Women were holding onto their children tightly. Elders saying their final prayers. But Dan; Dan wanted to stand up and defend the passengers. He was a Texas Ranger after all. He stands and says, "What could you possibly want that's so damn valuable on this train!? There's nothin'!"
The scuzzy looking thug laughs at Dan for his obliviousness. "V-Valuable? Y-You mean our b-boss?"
'Boss?' Dan thought to himself. "Who are ya talkin' about?"
That's when a scream and gunfire rang from the prison car. All turned their heads. The thugs laughed and exclaimed, "That was Blake, now wasn' it?"
'Blake?...' "Blake!"
Without much thought, Dan ran out and to the prison cart. 'How did she get out?! I thought they knew better!' Dan thought to himself. He found the car door, but it was a little too heavy to open. However, the peephole was ajar, and saw the girl with the other prisoner. He really couldn't hear her but he could make out this: "Normally, I would spare ya~... But then again, I don't leave any survivors. And when I mean any-" she shot and killed the other prisoner. "-I mean no one!"
With all his strength, Dan pried the door open and got in. "Texas Justice Department!" Dan exclaimed. Blake gave him a cold stare and pointed the gun at him. "Oh. Just another ranger, eh~?"
Dan's heart was racing, and he didn't know why.
"Sucks for you, do'en't it~?"
What did she mean?
"Blake! Put the gun down. Now!" Dan ordered. Blake coldly giggled at his order and said, "What would be the point of a stand off, dear Ranger~?"
"Blake. There will be no stand off if you can just cooperate with me. You're gonna be hangin' soon."
"Oh~. I don't think so, my dear Ranger~."
They both felt the train pick up speed as Dan went down but Blake held her ground. "Looks like my boys did their job~."
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Blake locks shackle on Dan's ankle and smiles coldly. "Well, well~! Looks like the tables've turned, Ranger~. I'll be sure that you be safe with those on." Blake backs away from Dan and laughs at his current place. "Oh, yeah. You'll be secure alright~."
The door slides open and her horse was waiting for her along with her gang and the white bird. "Be seein' ya in Hell, Ranger~!" she jumps right on the saddle and was out of sight. Only their cheers could be heard now.
The most notorious female criminal was on the loose. And Dan had to get out. And find her.