Chapter One: Welcome to the New Wild West
The highwayman rides quickly through the forest on his black stallion, not daring to look behind him even to see if the police are still on his tail. He knows they are when he starts hearing shots being fired, and he knows they are directed at him. He pulls his gun from his holster and turns around briefly to shoot. One of the officers falls off his horse and the highwayman turns back around and keeps riding.
He quickly veers off around a corner and rides as fast as he can. Before long, he can only hear the sound of Scruffy's hooves against the dirt as they gallop through the trees. The highwayman pulls on his horse's reigns to slow him down and they exit the forest at a slow trot. The highwayman spots buildings in the distance and he rides Scruffy to the outskirts of the town before jumping down and leading him through the street.
He looks at the buildings as he passes them and tips his hat at passersby until finally he arrives at the town saloon. He ties Scruffy to a post outside, near a water trough so he doesn't get dehydrated, and walks inside. He walks up to the bar and draws attention from the nearest barmaid.
"Hello ma'am, I'll have a glass of your strongest scotch," he says. The barmaid glowers at him and does as she's told. The highwayman puts his money on the counter as the barmaid slams his drink down in front of him. "What's your problem, princess?" The barmaid glares at him.
"I know your type," she tells him. "Your worn out clothes tell me you either don't have many others or you haven't been able to change in a while. You have that disgusting smirk on your face like you've just evaded the authorities, and the fact that you left me a pretty big tip proves you've just stolen from someone. You're a highwayman, and I don't really like to deal with highwaymen."
"Listen, lady…" he begins.
"It's Courtney to you," she snaps. "Though I'd rather it if you didn't speak to me at all."
"Courtney, huh? My name's Duncan," he introduces.
"I don't really care," Courtney says. At that moment a tall ginger-haired man comes into the saloon at Courtney rushes up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a big kiss on his lips. The man is wearing a sheriff's badge and Duncan rolls his eyes.
"Of course she's with a man of the law," he mutters. The ginger-haired man walks back to the bar, his arm around Courtney's waist.
"I'll have the usual," he tells her with a wink as he sits down at the bar next to Duncan. Courtney wastes no time getting her boyfriend's drink, and he turns to Duncan and looks him up and down. "New clothes?" he asks, and he laughs at his own joke. Duncan sneers at the man.
"You're real funny," he says sarcastically. He checks Courtney out as she makes her boyfriend's drink. "What did it take you to get a girl like that?"
"A clean suit and a real job," the ginger-haired man replies. "You've got no shot." Courtney brings her boyfriend his drink. He downs it and wipes his mouth, turning to Courtney. "Wanna get out of here?" Courtney smiles and nods.
"Gwen, I'm going out with Scott, you're in charge!" she calls to the other barmaid. Gwen nods and starts to clean the bar with a cloth, looking dreamily after Courtney and Scott. Duncan notices this and raises his eyebrows questioningly.
"Him or her?" he asks. Gwen looks at him in surprise.
"Excuse me?"
"Well she's pretty hot and he's really… not. So I'm guessing it's her?" he guesses. Gwen stares at him in horror. "What? I'm not judging."
"No! It's nothing like that," she says. Duncan looks at her disdainfully.
"Uh-huh, then what is it?"
"She's so lucky to have found someone she loves," Gwen sighs. Duncan rolls his eyes.
"She doesn't love him," Duncan says confidently. Gwen raises an eyebrow at him.
"You can't possibly know that," she says. Duncan shrugs.
"Sure I can. She's just in it for the benefits." This time it's Gwen's turn to roll her eyes.
"You're just saying that because you'd like to screw her but can't because she's in a relationship," she says in disgust. Duncan smirks.
"Maybe, yeah," he admits. "Do you think she'll go for it?"
"Ugh, you're disgusting." Duncan shrugs again.
"At least I'm being honest," he says. He finishes the last of his drink and licks his lips. "Can you point me in the direction of the hotel?" Gwen gladly tells him where it is, happy to have him leave the saloon, and he heads out.
As he unties Scruffy from the post, Duncan notices Courtney and Scott across the road, having lunch together. He rolls his eyes as Courtney touches Scott's arm flirtatiously and laughs as if he's told a hilarious joke. Duncan pulls on Scruffy's reigns and leads him to the hotel.
As he reaches the hotel, however, he notices the people in the town scurrying around, quickly sweeping the front of their shops and hurrying off the streets. Duncan looks around to see what all the fuss is about, and notices an expensive-looking black carriage drawn by two beautiful golden horses. The carriage stops out the front of the shop across the street, and the driver jumps down from his seat to open the door. He holds his hand out for the person inside and a voluptuous dark-skinned girl steps out wearing an incredibly fancy outfit.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" a man beside Duncan says. Duncan looks at the man, who is staring at the rich girl who just stepped out from the carriage. The man sighs dreamily. He's wearing a straw hat and fraying clothes. He must be a farmer, Duncan thinks.
"Who are you?" Duncan demands.
"Oh, sorry," the man says, looking at Duncan for the first time. "My name's Harold. I came in to town to sell my produce, and boy am I glad I did it now. I get to see the glorious Leshawna." He lets out another dreamy sigh. Duncan rolls his eyes and turns back to the carriage. The so-called 'Leshawna' screws up her nose in disgust and turns to the driver. She says something to him and walks around the carriage to the store they arrived in front of.
I could easily steal from her now, Duncan thinks. Or I could bide my time and steal far more from her. He decides the latter is a better option and he heads across the street to see what information he can find out.
"Where are you going?" Harold asks worriedly as Duncan crosses the street. He ignores Harold and walks into the shop, which turns out to be a hat store. Duncan looks around at the extravagant range on display and walks around the poorly set out store, getting the occasional feather in his mouth and having to duck to avoid some of the brims.
He finds Leshawna at the counter, talking to a short blonde woman who seems to be the only one remaining calm in the presence of the rich beauty. Duncan hides behind a rack and pretends to be looking at a large blue hat.
"I told you I wanted a red hat! This is not red!" Leshawna complains.
"No, it's orange," the shopkeeper replies calmly. "It suits your aura much better." Leshawna frowns.
"But I don't want an orange hat, it won't match my red dress!"
"Then perhaps get another dress?" the shopkeeper suggests. Leshawna huffs and folds her arms. "I haven't made you a red hat, so you can either take the orange one, find another that you'd prefer, or leave my store empty-handed." Leshawna considers her options and rolls her eyes.
"Fine, I'll take the orange one," she concedes. The shopkeeper boxes up the hat and Leshawna pays her and leaves with the box.
"Thank you, please come again soon!" the shopkeeper says kindly after Leshawna. She puts this money in her till. "Can I help you?" Duncan peers around from the rack he's behind.
"Me?" he asks.
"Something troubles you," she says. "Money? Health? A woman, perhaps?" the shopkeeper asks. Duncan steps up to the counter so he can see her properly. She has pointed ears and kind eyes. She looks him up and down. "Certainly not health, but I think yes to the other two. You certainly aren't here for a hat." She continues to look at him and he raises an eyebrow curiously at her.
"Actually, I…" he begins, but the shopkeeper cuts him off.
"No, no! Let me figure it out," she tells him. "You're a highwayman, that much is clear. But you want more than money. You're lonely. You want… a rich wife?" Duncan rolls his eyes.
"Okay, that's enough," he snaps. "Who was that woman?"
"Leshawna Hatchet, the richest girl in town," the shopkeeper replies. "I've told her plenty of times to not wear red, but she doesn't listen. I can see a wedding in her future. Perhaps you…"
"Absolutely not!" Duncan cuts her off. "Where does she live? What's her significance?"
"She lives right on the edge of town, with her father. He owns an oil mine." She smiles at him and he nods once, deep in thought.
"Thank you, Miss…?"
"Please, call me Dawn."
"Right. Thank you, Dawn." Duncan exits the shop and checks his pocket watch. It reads 2 o'clock. He looks down the street to see Courtney kiss Scott goodbye and head back to the saloon. Scott watches her leave and walks up the street in the direction of Duncan. He passes Duncan without a glance and stops outside the hat shop. He removes his hat, takes a deep breath and walks inside. Duncan ignores this strange moment and walks back across the street where Scruffy and Harold are waiting for him.
"What are you still doing here?" Duncan demands of Harold.
"I didn't want anyone to steal your horse," Harold replies. "Plus I wanted to see how things went with the fair Leshawna."
"I didn't speak to 'the fair Leshawna'," Duncan says shortly. "I spoke to the hat seller. What is she, anyway? Some weird psychic thing?" Harold shrugs.
"No one's really sure, we all just kind of leave her alone to do her own thing." He frowns in thought. "Except the sheriff, who seems to go in there twice a week." Duncan perks up at this.
"That Scott guy?" he asks. Harold nods.
"Courtney must have a lot of hats." He hands Duncan Scruffy's reigns back and tips his hat. "It was a pleasure to meet you, sir. I expect we'll be seeing each other in future." He walks off with an empty sack slung over his shoulder. Duncan eyes the hat shop suspiciously, thinking about Scott, before tying up his horse and entering the hotel.