Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own any of the main characters just the weird ones.
AN: Thanks again CalGal for helping out it's amazing what telling me five little words can create! And many thanks to you too Momma Apple (snerk) for your help!
The Night Of The Kangaroo Court
He walked into the plush train he shared with his partner, glad to finally be home after an extended assignment. He had never felt so tired in his life. He tossed his hat onto the desk and checked for any messages. Seeing nothing that required immediate attention, he hung his rain soaked cloak on the coat rack and sank onto the settee.
Stretching and popping the muscles in his back he yawned and thought about preparing something to eat when the lights flickered. Now who would want to try and break into a train out here in the middle of nowhere, he thought as he retrieved his gun from the chair by the door.
Turning the lights down, he crept over to the door separating the parlor from the rest of the car. He hit a hidden switch, turning off one of the outside lights, a signal to his partner that there was trouble. Several shadows appeared in the frosted glass of the door. He flattened himself against the wall and waited for them to enter the room.
Slowly the door pushed inward and the figures entered the room. He quietly waited until they were all in the room and the door had closed. Then he pulled the hammer back on his pistol. The figures froze at the sound. He turned the lights back up and spoke in a low and menacing tone.
"Something I can help you with, gentlemen?" the Secret Service Agent glared as he leveled his pistol at them.
"This here train yours?" one of them asked.
"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. That all depends on who's asking."
"Seems to me there's more of us doing the asking than there is of you. I'd be answering my friend if I were you," another of the men said.
"This is my train and mine alone. Now, suppose you tell me what it is you want," the agent was quickly losing his patience.
"Money, and by the looks of it mister, you got plenty."
The agent stared at them all, taking in their appearance. The one who did most of the talking and seemed to be the ringleader, wore somewhat fashionable clothes, which were neat and clean. The man next to him wasn't nearly as fastidious about his looks. He was wearing clothes that had definitely seen better days and probably had not seen a laundry in over a month.
The last member of the trio fell somewhere in between. While not quite the fashion plate his companion was his clothing was fairly clean and although somewhat threadbare they were well kempt. The agent sized them up and realized he probably could not take them all on, at least not in these tight quarters.
"Take what you want and leave," he growled as he waved his gun at them.
"Oh we will, Mister…startin with that there gun you be holdin," Joe motioned with his gun. The agent weighed his options, knowing he was outnumbered he sighed and handed over his weapon.
"Uh…not that…it's attached to the desk," he said as the youngest one tried to take the model cannon from the desk.
"Sit down in that chair," the well-dressed one told him, the agent complied.
"Joe, tie him to the chair," he tossed some rope to him.
"Sure thing, Will." So I have two names to start with, the agent thought.
Joe proceeded to tie the agent tightly to the chair, laughing when the agent winced. They brought out large cloth bags and began to stuff items into them. The agent was grateful they had allowed him to place the chair, as he carefully inched his right foot over to the lever hidden in the carpet. He slowly turned the cannon until it was pointed at the youngest man who was busy empting a cabinet.
Don't let him push down on that shelf, he thought, watching the young thief lean in to reach something in the back. He leans on that and they find out what's hidden there I won't stand a snowball's chance. He cringed when he saw the map slowly begin its descent toward the sideboard below it. God, don't let me hit him all I want to do is scare him, the agent thought since at this angle he was unable to aim the cannon accurately. Knowing he was out of options, he tapped the button and the cannon fired.
"Seth!" Joe shouted as he saw his brother grab at his back as he slid to the floor.
Will turned at the sound of the shot and rushed to his brother's aid. They gently lowered him to the floor where Will removed his topcoat and made a pillow and put it under Seth's head.
"Will, it hurts something awful," Seth cried trying to breathe.
"Just relax, little brother, I'll take care of you," Will spoke softly.
"Will, take care of my horse and tell Ma…tell her I…"Seth closed his eyes and his head fell to the side and he breathed no more.
Will hung his head as he gently placed his hand on his brother's chest. Joe looked to Will, not sure what to do now. Finally, Will sighed and looked at the agent, nothing but pure hatred flowing from his eyes along with the tears. He reached over to the coat rack and pulled the agents cloak from it and covered his brother with it. Slowly he lifted his head and regarded the agent with icy eyes.
"Go saddle a horse for our friend here. He's coming with us," the agent swallowed hard.
"Look, can't we come to some sort of understanding here? I was only trying to protect my belongings…you can't fault me for that," the agent tried to reason with them.
Will lunged at him and grabbed his shirt in his hands. He roughly shook the man, his glare as intense as the anger radiating from him.
"Seth was just a boy. Barely 17, you shot him like he was a dog."
"I was just…" Will slapped the agent snapping his head back and to the side.
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say. You will have your say at your trial." Joe returned and told Will he had a horse saddled.
Trial? Just what is he talking about? He goes to the sheriff with this they'll never charge me with anything, the agent thought confused.
They carried Seth's body out to his horse, leaving the agent securely tied to the chair. He looked around frantically, trying to find a way to leave a message for his partner. Seeing a bag on the desk he grabbed it with his teeth and managed to tuck it into his shirt. When they loosen my ropes maybe I can make a break for it, the agent thought as he heard them enter the train again. Joe and Will came back into the parlor car and Will picked up the bags of loot. He leveled his gun at the agent.
"Joe, untie him then tie his hands in front of him." Joe approached the agent and began to untie him.
The agent waited until both hands were free. He gently rubbed his wrists to restore circulation. Joe motioned for him to put his hands in front of him. The agent complied, skillfully putting Joe between himself and Will. As Joe bent to tie his wrists, the agent brought his hands up, knocking Joe into Will who stumbled and dropped the loot to catch his brother.
The agent seized the opportunity and ran for the door, not caring that it was pouring down rain. He opened the door and stepped out onto the platform. Before he could jump off he heard a loud crack followed by a stinging sensation on his back. Not bothering to stop the agent turned to leave the platform when he heard the crack again. This time the whip caught him around the throat. Will pulled back hard on the whip, drawing the agent back inside the train. The agent fell to the carpet, rain and blood soaking the carpet in a puddle.
"That, sir, was not a wise choice to make. Try that again and I'll kill you."
"Joe, tie him up good and tight."
"Can't I grab a jacket?" the agent asked his voice husky from the whip.
"What's the matter afraid of a little water?" Will shook his head no to his brother.
Joe tied the agent's hands and led him out to his waiting horse. The agent was roughly shoved toward the horse and ordered to mount. He pulled himself into the saddle, the rain biting into the lash on his back. He grasped the reins and waited for them. Joe took the lead with Will bringing up the rear, his gun trained on the man in the middle.
WWWWWWWWWW
He crested the hill and pulled his steed to a halt. There were lights on in the parlor car and only one light was on outside. That meant only one thing…trouble. He prodded his horse on toward the train, entering through the secret entrance, gun drawn. He emerged from the fireplace and looked around. He saw the ransacked room and the ropes. Then his eyes landed on the blood on the carpet by the sideboard. He looked around and found the other wet red stain on the carpet by the door.
He knelt down and inspected it. Still fresh, he thought. He quickly made an inspection of the rest of the train and not finding his partner he returned to the parlor car where he sat heavily on the settee. What happened here? Does that blood belong to you, partner or to whoever did this? His concern for his partner grew. Where the hell are you, Artie?
WWWWWWWWWW
They rode half the night before reaching what Artie could only hope was their destination. He was shivering from the cold rain and wind. Several ramshackle buildings in various states of disrepair were clustered in the middle of a barren field. A few bushes grew near the buildings. They stopped by what appeared to be a barn and Will and Joe dismounted. Will roughly pulled Artie from his saddle and drug him inside the barn.
Will pulled him over to one of the stalls and tied him to the railing, arms spread out. Artie just glared. Will helped Joe with the horses and they took Seth's body and they left the barn. Will had to break the news to their mother. It was only a few short minutes before Artie heard the screams of a tormented mother. Artie hung his head in sadness.
He hadn't meant to kill the boy just keep him from discovering things he shouldn't. I have a feeling these people won't see things in the same light, Artie sighed, it was going to be a long night.
