Let us do something, while we have the chance, partner.
Still don't own Chuck.
"That is all her."
-Chuck episode 3.17
A/N In 'Chuck vs the Roundup' Chuck and Sarah went on a modern day roundup and cattle drive. There were two reviewers wondering what Chuck would be like in a Western. I thought that might be fun. This story takes Chuck and Sarah back to 1870, and Chuck's birthday. In 1870, Los Angeles was breaking out of the cow town mold and getting ready to transform. The railroads, oil and the upcoming Industrial revolution were just around the corner.
Chuck is a little OC in that I could not imagine someone his age that would not have been in the Civil War. Also, Chuck in this story is likely closer to Chuck at the end of Season 3. And of course the Intersect, I tried to be a little creative…
Well Partner, time for the story.
Chapter 1—the Golden Angel
It was near sundown. The trail was getting smaller. The rider began to think this was a rabbit trail not a path that would lead home. He made the top of the small ridge and stopped. He heard it approaching. He knew by the sound that it was no more than a quarter mile away. He had at least a chance, 'It has to get better.' But it was dark too quickly.
She yelled, "Stop! Stop this thing!" It was barely loud enough to be heard over the six horses pulling as fast as they could. But she got his attention. She had seen the rider fall from his horse as they rounded the bend. She wasn't going to let someone as noble as him, 'Wait where did that come from?' She smiled as the stage began to slow.
The stagecoach driver pulled back on the reins when he heard her. He knew she was important. The Governor had seen her off and held her hand when she got on the stagecoach. She would get his royal treatment. He only hoped that she would sufficiently compensate him. At least that was the story his Indian friend gave him all the time. Then he remembered, his friend kept saying that he was from India but not an Indian. His mind drifted, 'How could you ever trust someone like that?' He came out of the thought as the horses stopped.
The rider felt them exploring his chest and holding his arms. His eyes were closed to the pain. It felt like the trenches of Petersburg were closing in on him again. The mud, the dirt, the pain were all back. Then he finally felt some relief. A cool hand had gone over his face. He only managed to open his eyes for a second. The light, the gold, the sparkle, he smiled and mumbled, "Angel," as he fell back asleep.
She blushed. She could not remember really feeling that way since before attending Vasser. None of it since had been real. Her face grew sad. She remembered that Graham had shown her how to master it. She could win her way to any man's heart. No one had really had hers. But the man before her made her blush at just a word. She hurriedly finished wiping his face.
The stagecoach driver was down with her. "Don't worry Miss Walker. We can get him into town. There are a couple of new doctors there. They should be able to take care of him." Even after she wiped his face, the month old beard, the blood, bruises, and swelling made him unrecognizable. The stagecoach driver did not make the connection.
"That sounds fine, Mister Barnes. But let's finish checking him. He has blood all over. We need to find out if he is still bleeding and stop it." She was in her command mode and she expected the directions to be followed. Barnes was not reaching for the rider's shirt, so she started undoing the buttons.
The man in black came up beside them, "No need to do that Miss. Jeff, go get my saddlebags. I'll take care of him."
Jeff looked up, "Sure Marshal. Anything you say." Jeff backed away and went back to the stagecoach.
The Marshal carefully unbuttoned the rider's shirt and began to check for any rapid bleeding. He heard her gasp at the sight, "Miss, why don't you wait in the stage. I don't think this will be something you'd want to see."
"It's not about seeing, Marshal. It's about helping him. I have seen enough bullet holes and broken bones to know this is different. Now either, start cleaning his wounds, or move and I'll do it," she was definitely getting upset. The rider was bruised and bloody over his chest and arms. She could see old scars among the new. Two old wounds from bullets and at least one long scar were apparent.
Jeff was back with the saddlebags. He heard the exchange. After giving the bags to the Marshal, he stepped back. He wanted to see if the great Marshal John Casey had met his match.
Casey pulled the bags away from Jeff and opened them. He set the medical kit on the ground next to the rider. Casey used alcohol to clean the wounds off. He began to roll the rider over and got some help from the girl. They propped him up and she took the cloth to clean off his back. Casey noticed she was softer than he had been, but she got the job done. She put her coat under the rider as they laid him back down. Then she used a mix of water and alcohol to rinse out his hair. It was matted with blood and she want to make sure they got everything.
She said, "We need to get those pants off. There are some bloody spots there too."
"Look Miss," Casey began.
"Please call me Sarah. I am Sarah Walker and I am not a little girl. So help me get those pants off," she began pulling at the belt.
"Well Sarah, Sarah Walker, I am Marshal John Casey. Call me Casey. Most who know me do. And you should at least look away while I determine whether he has appropriate cover," he smiled at her.
There was a small harrumph but she turned and looked at the stage.
Casey took the pants off and said, "Okay, Miss."
Sarah was glad that the rider did have some old long johns on. They were shredded and covered with blood. She pulled one of the knives from her vest and cut away at the long johns. She left enough to leave the rider covered and maintain decency in the Marshal's eyes. There were more cuts and bruises. Large whip marks covered the front and back of the legs.
"Well, that should do it for now," Sarah announced. "Do you have a clean set of clothes we could use? These are filthy." Sarah saw the hesitation, "Don't worry, I'll get them cleaned and back to you."
Casey knew he was going to see her again. He was being sent to Los Angeles to make a few arrests and to watch over a lady named Walker. It had to be her. He was cursing himself for not being thoughtful enough to introduce himself when he got on the stage at Placerita Canyon. But Carina had got to him again that morning and he was surprised he even spoke to Jeff. Casey pulled the clothes out, "Here, they should fit."
Sarah put the white shirt on the rider. She knew she would have to get a new shirt. The blood would stain the shirt over the next couple hours. But she was determined to get him back without more dirt on his wounds.
Casey helped get the pants on. He stood up and looked over at the horse. Casey was amazed at how the rider had ridden her without a saddle or reins. It showed that the rider was a true horseman. Casey knew the rider would want to keep that horse. Funny, he saw that the quarter horse had a double P as a brand. He did not remember that as a registered brand from these parts. He yelled over to Jeff, "Rope that horse and bring her along. I'll put this…gentleman in the stage."
Casey picked him up and took him over to the stage and put him in the front seat. Sarah took what was left of his clothes and gave them to Jeff to put in the back of the stage. She still used the rag to wipe her hands after giving him the clothes.
When they finally got started, Casey and Sarah sat opposite the rider. He was bouncing hard on the seat to the point that Sarah thought that he would surely get a head injury. She switched seats and propped his head on her lap. She kept her coat under his head as a pillow and used one hand to keep him on the seat.
About a dusty hour later, he roused. Opening his eyes he saw her again. She was still perfect. Seeing her blood stained coat around his head, he knew he had been the cause, "I'm sorry. Thank you."
She looked down at him. His eyes were what got her. They were so brown and deep. And they were smiling at her. She felt that blush come on again at the thoughts, "No problem. Anything else you need?"
He knew it was coming and it would be worse than anything he had been through. He had to have a way out. The date was set. There was no way around that. She had been planning this for too long. He knew exactly where. His Angel would have to be his savior again. He tried to clear his mouth. He knew he only had one shot at this. The clouds of sleep and the dizziness were coming back, "On the twenty-second please come to 707 North Main Street at Seven PM. Please." He did not want to sound whiney or something, but he did not know when he would wake up again or how he could find her. When she said yes, he snuggled his head into her and passed out.
Sarah was surprised. Her eyes were wide open. Looking at Casey she saw that he was either asleep or pretending to be. She could not believe that she had just agreed to something like that. She did not know this man or anything about him. She had a job to do and only a week to find the mystery man, her contact. She knew the contact was one of the twenty men handpicked by the President. She knew his real job had to be kept secret or their mission would fail. She was to meet him in two days at the post office. If that failed, she was to go there at every night for the rest of the week at exactly Seven PM. At least those were the written instructions. Verbally, her boss told her that if the man did not show up then he was probably dead. If that happened, she was to return to San Francisco and await further instructions. The road continued to rumble as her thoughts of the rider drifted. She smiled thinking how nice it would be to go out with him. The road was bumpy and the dust heavy, and she fell asleep.
Sarah woke in a start when the stage pulled to a halt in downtown Los Angeles. The door was opened and Casey was forceful. She had to get out of the stagecoach and turn the rider over to the others. The rider was being readied for transfer to a buckboard. They told her he would be taken to Doc Walters. Once she saw the he was securely in the buckboard, she went with Casey. Sarah planned on checking at the doctor's office as a part of her orders. She would simply check on the rider and try to find out more about him. So simple.
A/N Hope you enjoy. Please provide a review. Interested in whether I have or do portray Los Angeles correctly for 1870.