The Gunfighter and The Lady
"Royal Flush! Wilde wins the pot." The bobcat dealer calls out while collecting the cards. Nick meanwhile collecta the cash in the middle of the poker table. The only other mammal there, a medium sized coyote, glares at him with a sneer curling his lip.
"Much appreciated. Now if you'll excuse me. As much as I would love to continue playing, you don't seem tohave anything left to lose." Nick pulls out a large bill and places it back on the table. "Have a nightcap on me."
"I don't know how you did it, but you wont get away with cheating me Wilde." The coyote stands, baring his fangs.
"My good Sir, I never cheat. You're just easy to read." With that he turns and leaves the fuming coyote behind. Said cpyote can do nothing but watch, considering the establishment has a strict no weapons policy.
Nick heads up to the room he has rented for the night. Once inside he locks the door and plops down onto the surprisingly soft bed. Sighing, he makes himself more comfortable and settles in for a quick nap.
Morning sees Nick miles away from any form of civilization. He travels for three days, sleeping on the open ground with only the stars above him. Running low on provisions, Nick is pleased to stumble across a town. He pauses when he reads the towns name.
"Bunnyburrow? Wonderful." Sighing in resignation, he trudges into town.
"Judith, Dan Leaps is here. Are you ready?" Bonnie calls, knocking gently on the door.
"Yes Mother." Judy opens her door and walks out in a pale yellow dress with a cream colored bow arround her slim waist, accentuating it. Quickly grabing her starw sun hat before closing the door and following her mother through the burrow. "Must I really go on this outing?"
"Judith, your father is just trying to find you a good match. If you do not like him then you do not have to go with him again. Just give him a chance." Bonnie places her paw on Judiths cheek, rubbing it affectionately.
"I will try, but if he is anything like the others it is not going to work out." She smiles ruefully at her mother.
"I understand, however I expect you to behave appropriately. Also your brother James will be your chaperone between here and town. So do not return without him." She points her finger authoritatively at her daughter.
"Yes Mother." They hug before Bonnie shoos her into the foyer.
"I'm working with my father to become his deputy and the sheriff once he retires." The dusty brown buck boasts.
"Fascinating, and how is that going?" Judy struggles to remain interested as Dan talks her ear off.
"My father says that he should be able to deputize me in the next month or two. At which point I will be able to start my own family." He stops and pulls her close to him. Much to her discomfort. "Would you be willing to be part of that family?"
"Excuse me!? This is our first time in each other's company. I am not prepared to make a decision like that right now." Judy pulls out of his hold.
"But my brothers'..." Dan is shocked at her refusal.
"I am not some easy to seduce doe. Do not assume anything about me." She turns to leave and find her brother.
"Judith wait! Do not walk away from me, I'm not done talking to you." Dan grabs her arm forcing her to stop.
"Let go! I have nothing more to say to you." She tires to pull her arm away but he just tightens his grip.
"Your father is already in negotiations with mine. This was only a formality." He gives her a rough shake.
"We will see about that." She pulls her arm away finally. Scanning for her brother, Judy spots something else. "What is your father doing."
Turning, Dan sees what she is talking about. "Just some predator scum."
"Do not bad mouth someone you know nothing about. The only 'scum' I see is you." Judy leaves Dan stunned and walks over to the sheriff. "Sheriff Leaps, what seems to be the problem?"
"Stay out of this Miss Hopps." The larger version of Dan states wothout looking away from the red fox infront of him.
"I just want to buy provisions. I have the money to pay." The fox turns his pleading green eyes to the grey bunny doe.
"Money stolen from some helpless prey no doubt." The sheriff doesn't even try to hide his contempt.
"Sheriff, that is inappropriate. You cannot prove that he stole anything. If he can pay for the provisions then we should allow him to." Putting her paws on her hips and staring down the sheriff.
"I don't want a fox anywhere near my kits." The red todd pins his ears back at the way the sheriff says the word 'fox'.
"So be it. If you wont help him, I will." She grabs the foxs' paw and drags him off in the direction of her family's burrow. Completely forgetting about her brother.
"Miss you don't need to do this." He slows his pace forcing Judy to either slow down or release his paw. She does bother.
"Someone needs to show the Tri-Burrows how to treat other mammals. Unless you do not wish for my help?" She peaks over her shoulder with her ears down.
"No, No! I appreciate your help very much. I just hope this does not cause you any trouble." His ears purk forward in alarm.
"I will be in more trouble for yelling at the sheriffs son, no mater how much he deserved it." At this Nick stops walking making Judy stop as well.
"The sheriffs son?" Emerald green eyes look into pools of lush purple.
"It...It is personal." She looks down at her feet.
"My apologies. I did not mean to pry." They stand in awkward silence for a minute. "I'm Nicholas Wilde." He extends his paw out for her to shake.
"Oh! I am Judith Hopps." She takes his paw in hers and shakes it. Nicholas bends over to her hight and presses his lips gently to her knuckles.
"Judith, thank you for rescuing me from the sheriff." Straightening up, Nicholas smiles roguishly at her. Judith looks up at him speachless for a few seconds before snaping out of it.
"You are welcome. Shall we get you those provisions?" She gives him a shy smile while turning back towards home.
"Lead the way." His longer legs allow him to catch up to her in two quick steps.