Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Old West or Rent. All I own are my original characters, the horses and plot. The rest belongs to the respected owners. 'Nuff said.
Italics are flashbacks and thoughts.
A/N: I got this idea when I saw Cowboys & Aliens recently with friends. Also, Joanne's name has been changed to Johannah.
A/N 2: The horses:
Scarlett - Angel's horse. Strawberry roan Quarter Horse. Stands 15.2 hands at the withers. Mare/10 years old.
Blac Knight - Benny's horse. Pure black Quarter Horse. Stands 16.5 hands at the withers. Stallion/4 years old.
Major - Mark's horse. Slate gray Quarter Horse. Stands about 14.2 hands at the withers. Stallion/2 years old.
Ragtime - Roger's horse. Brown and white paint with bald face. Stands 15.5 hands at the withers. Mare/5 years old.
Starlight & Pepper - Thomas' horses. Starlight is a tan Mustang and her foal, Pepper, is a dark gray Mustang/Quarter Horse. Starlight stands 15.2 hands at the withers. Pepper stands 5.2 hands at the withers. Starlight - mare/6 years old. Pepper - colt/4 months old.
Summary: AU: Life in the old west was tough, especially for one living in the tiny town of Dirty Armpit, AZ. Rated high T for violence, sex and language and because I'm paranoid.
Genre: Romance/Western
Rating: T
CHAPTER ONE
Thomas Collins rose out of bed, cursing that damn rooster's crow. He put on his breeches, vest and jacket over his long johns. Scratching his head, he wondered where in the blazes his boots were. He found them on the other side of the bed and put them on. He then exited the house in which he lived and headed to the barn where his horses lived. He saw two of his friends already with their horses.
"Mornin'." Tom greeted the men, tipping his lucky ten-gallon hat to them. They greeted him back and turned back to their horses. Tom walked down the aisle of stalls until he reached the one that held his horses. His Mustang mare, Starlight, was eating, while her foal, a handsome gray colt named Pepper, slept.
"Mornin' little lady." Tom greeted Starlight. She didn't look up from her hay until Tom entered the stall. "Easy, lovely." Tom soothed as he ran his hands up and down her body. He had caught a very pregnant Starlight three months ago and she still didn't trust him completely. Pepper, however, loved and trusted Tom.
"Tom, hurry and saddle yer horse. The bank's been robbed!" One of Tom's friends exclaimed, throwing Starlight's tack over the stall door. Tom didn't let Starlight finish her breakfast or say goodbye to her foal. He tacked her up as fast as he could, led her out of the stall, mounted her and heeled her into a gallop.
The last sound Tom heard was the ear-splitting whinnying of Pepper, searching for his mother.
At the Three Boots Saloon, April, one of the four barmaids, was arriving for work. She was the least prettiest of the four that worked at the saloon, but she didn't care. She was also the youngest – eighteen years of age. She had flaming red hair, blue eyes and sass. She lived alone, which she liked.
"Mornin'." April greeted Tom the sheriff as he entered the saloon. She knew everyone and everything in the town of Dirty Armpit, Arizona. Well, she should – the population was now sixty-six.
"Sarsaparilla, please." Tom told April, leaning his head on his elbow. April nodded and went to work fixing the drink.
"You seen Mark today?" April questioned. Mark was her fiancée who worked on a cattle ranch.
"Not today." Tom's typical answer.
"Okay." April smiled and handed Tom his drink. He took two long swallows, paid for his drink and exited the saloon. April sighed and wiped up where Tom's drink was when three men stumbled into the saloon. April gulped and hung onto the edge of the bar. This was a disadvantage of working alone – drunks.
"We don't serve your kind. Now git!" April told the three men as confidently as she could.
"What if we don't git?" one of the men slurred.
"I'll call the sheriff." April threatened. Suddenly, one of the men reached across the bar and cupped April's mouth.
"Not if I cut out yer tongue, ugly." The man whispered in April's face. He then let go of her face and exited the saloon. April took in a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself before the next customer came. In the meantime, she washed glasses, dusted off tables and made sure the water pitcher was full. Even though the men loved the alcohol, some drank water. Sometimes, but not often, the men customers would bring their families.
Finally, it was time for April to leave and the next girl – the prettiest one – Mimi – to work. Mimi had fled Mexico when she was two. She was nineteen years of age and was friendly to everyone, even the drunks.