"We're gonna give you a fair trial, followed by a first class hanging."

Silverado - Sheriff Cobb

Orihime had been getting ready for what promised to be a very busy night in the saloon when her boss and friend Rangiku Matsumoto knocked softly on her open door. The auburn haired girl whirled around and clutched her chest in fright.

"Rangiku, you startled me. I didn't think you were coming back till tomorrow."

The saloon owner and madam leaned casually against the rough grain of the open door to the room Orihime shared with Sally and two other girls, and crossed her arms over her ample breasts.

"I got in early. I hear you had some trouble while I was gone." Orihime bit her lip and turned away. She should have known someone would tell Rangiku what had happened while she was gone. She hadn't wanted to keep it a secret, not really, but Rangiku was protective of all her girls and she already had not made a secret of the fact that she loathed Mayor Aizen.

If she wasn't more careful Aizen would try to force her out. The only reason he hadn't yet was because Rangiku's saloon was very popular amongst the locals. She considered the older woman the closest thing to a mother she had ever known, granted she was unconventional, but she had never forced any of her girls to do anything they hadn't wanted to do.

Orihime had become a whore out of necessity. She had come west with her brother to try to escape the overcrowding and poverty in the eastern cities. They had established a small homestead on the outskirts of Rukongia, but when her brother had come down with a fever she had been unable to manage the small farm and take care of him.

She was smart but she had few skills and work for women on the frontier was not plentiful. She had approached Rangiku and asked her for a job. The saloon keeper hadn't liked it, but she had grimly allowed her to work for her.

The first time she took a customer to her bed he had stunk of old whiskey and trail dust. He hadn't been gentle either, rutting her like a dog in heat, effectively destroying her innocence. Rangiku had held her and soothed her like a small child when she found her crying in the cellar. She hadn't said anything, but the next day she handed Orihime her wages and told her gently that she wasn't cut out for this line of work.

She had almost broken down again but she held herself together and told Rangiku about her brother and how she may not be cut out for it, but she didn't have any other options. The saloon keeper had reluctantly kept her on, but her brother never got better.

And then Aizen's men had come and claimed her and her brother's small farm was rangeland and they were squatting. She had found her brother's body two days after the men had put a bullet between his eyes. He was still hog tied to the kitchen chair.

Rangiku's saloon became her permanent home after that and Rangiku had a soft spot for the orphaned girl.

"It worked itself out, so don't do anything foolish Rangiku." The saloon keeper smirked.

"I am never foolish, except when I get into a few glasses of good whiskey. 'Sides seems like I don't have to kill that rat bastard Mayuri after all. Ishida beat me to it."

"You know about that too, huh," Orihime replied weakly. Rangiku had to fight not to laugh.

"Honey, there isn't much that goes on here that I don't know about. Speaking of which, I also hear you went to visit him in that shit hole we call a jail."

Orihime blushed and studied her reflection in the small vanity mirror near her bed.

"I wanted to know why he did it. After all, it's not like I have any honor left to defend."

The causal smirk instantly fell from the saloon keeper's lips. She frowned, walked forward, and gently caught the younger girl's chin in her hand, forcing her to meet her gaze.

"Now hush and you listen to me Orihime Inoue. We may not be the most respectable women in town and God knows this life ain't the easiest, but just because you spread your legs to survive does not mean you don't have any honor. I know many supposedly respectable ladies that aren't half as gracious or half as kind as you. You may be a whore but you're a good person, never forget that."

One of her rare smiles curved her lips. "You sound like Uryuu."

Rangiku's smirk returned. "Uryuu huh, always knew I liked that boy. Him and his brother have always been real respectful of my girls."

"His brother?" She asked. She didn't know he had a brother.

"Yeah, you know him, his name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I have tried to take the boy on a spin once or twice but he always refuses. I think he's hung up on that Kuckiki girl, although he would probably cut his own tongue out before admitting it. Shame, I could teach him a thing or two."

"Mr. Kurosaki is Uryuu's brother? How? I thought they were only friends."

"Ichigo and Uryuu where adopted by the Hamiltons. Edward Hamilton had that horse ranch at the boarder of the Dakota Territory. When him and Edith passed on three years ago the boys inherited the ranch. That's about the time they started coming through here every few months, started supplying horses to the Kuchiki ranch."

"Wonder if Mr. Kurosaki knows how much trouble his brother is in?"

Rangiku frowned. "Josiah Smith, the clerk at the telegraph office, confided in me that he sent a telegram to Karakura as soon as they threw Ishida in jail. He owes those boys for savin' his hide from bandits last March and figured that would be a good way to repay them. I've no doubt that Ichigo knows Uryuu's scheduled to swing as soon as the itinerate judge comes through to make it all appear legal."

Orihime didn't feel comforted, the itinerate judge was due in town day after next. The crazy idea she'd had since she had visited Uryuu was starting to take root and form in her mind. Something must have shown on her face because Ragiku narrowed her ice blue eyes.

"You've got that look about you, the one that says you're about to do something that's gonna get you in trouble. You're thinking of bustin' that boy outta jail aren't you."

"I can't let him hang, Rangiku, I'm sorry. I know how much trouble this might cause you, but he is in there because of me and I won't let him die."

Orihime had expected the saloon keeper to object loudly and strongly to what she knew in her heart was the right and only thing to do. Instead a slow smile curved her lips and her eyes twinkled.

"Well then, if we are gonna plan a jail break we had best get started."


Rukia was in the barn wiping Sode no Shirayuki down and had just started brushing her soft gleaming coat when her brother Byakuya walked in. He was frowning at her as usually, and he had that gleam in his eyes that hinted he was annoyed with her. Not that her brother would ever come right out and say such a thing. He preferred to show his displeasure with her with studied apathy.

Byakuya wasn't really a bad brother, in fact Rukia was reasonable sure he cared for her as much as he would if she had been blood, but he was just so rigid when it came to his own personal code of family honor. As far as he was concerned she was a Kuchiki and she should behave as such.

She should not be in the barn, dressed as a man, and doing manual labor better suited to servants. Rukia sighed, feeling his dark eyes on her she turned to face him, but did not stop brushing her mare's coat.

"Renji told me you were shooting today." She blinked and nodded.

"Yes, you told me to learn, so I've been practicing."

"He also told me that you disobeyed my orders and participated in branding the new calves."

Rukia scowled, annoyed that Renji had tattled like a two year old and made a mental note to ream him out later. Much later she amended, preferably when Byakuya was preoccupied with something else and out of shouting range.

"Brother…" she started to say but he held up his hand, indicating that he did not want to hear excuses.

"Rukia…you can not keep participating in these unladylike activities. You are a Kuchiki and as such you need to start behaving in a manner becoming your station. I tell you this not to punish you, but to prepare you. I will not always be around to protect you and unfortunately the frontier is no place for an unattached female, even one with the noble Kuchiki name to protect her reputation."

She bowed her head, her neck flushing in shame. She had tried, truly she had, but she did not seem to be able to live up to the standard that Byakuya expected. It was quite simply, too high, and as honorable as she was she was only mortal.

"I understand, brother," she said. He studied her, sighed, and nodded once. He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but as always he stopped himself and said instead.

"Michael Thompson and his son Ezekiel will be joining us for dinner tonight. I will expect you to join us."

Rukia fought not to wince. Michael Thompson owned the Red Rock Ranch, the spread that border the northern boundary of Kuchiki land. There would only be one reason he and his son would be joining them for dinner. Her brother was taking Zeke's measure as a potential suitor.

"I'll be in, in a moment, brother." He nodded curtly and turned to leave her, but he paused just beyond the open barn doors.

"And Rukia?" She looked up again. "I will expect to see you dressed appropriately."

The sarcastic side of her wanted to curtsy in deference to what could only be a command, but she fought it and simply nodded. He nodded once more and disappeared from view.

She had to swallow the bile that rose in her throat and fought hard not to gag. Ezekiel Thompson was a lazy cuss who wouldn't know the ass end of a horse from the front. He was also mean as a snake to boot. Oh, he played the good little devoted rancher's son in front of other people but once their back was turned he turned into a bully. She remembered he use to pull her hair and push her into mud puddles at church when she had first come to live with Byakuya. At least he had until she finally got fed up with him and had given him a swift kick to the balls.

Her brother had not been very happy with her on the particular Sunday and he had made her copy lines till her hand had about fallen off. It had been worth it though to see Zeke's piggy eyes roll back into his head while he cupped his abused dick in his fat hands.

The memory brought a small smile to her lips as she bent down to work the brush over Sode no Shirayuki's flanks.

Her brother had to be insane if he thought she would look twice at Ezekiel. Not only was he bad tempered, but he was ugly. He had a pudgy, soft underbelly and his limp blond hair was always greasy, even if he had just washed it. She couldn't imagine what their wedding night would be like. The very thought of allowing him to put those sausage fingers anywhere on her body made her want to vomit.

She shuddered and commanded her brain to drift to something more pleasant and suddenly the completely unwanted image of another man flashed in her mind. Thoroughly annoyed now, she clutched the horse brush harder.

True this man was as far from the image of Ezekiel that she could get, but he was just as annoying. Ichigo Kurosaki, was lean, hard bodied, and had hands that could tempt an angel; and Rukia was no angel. Her pulse jumped every time he came to the Ranch to sell Byakuya horses.

It was too bad she hated him. Annoyed with herself she pushed thoughts of the orange haired idiot to the back of her mind and mentally prepared herself for battle.

Dinner was going to be hell tonight.