Wow, it feels like i'm just sneezing these chapters out :D! I don't know why, but it feels like the story is writing itself, i think this will be my finest creation yet ^^!
Oh, and if anyone is wondering: the Rattlesnakes will soon appear ;), not in this chapter, but soon... Very soon... And i also want to apologize if Woodrow's describtion of the Rattlesnakes were messed up... I've read through my last chapter and i hardly understood what it said myself :o... Don't worry, i'll try to rewrite that part as soon as possible ^^
Anyway, enjoy! And thank you for your awesome reviews :D, they are really helping me to keep my motivation up ;)

*** Chapter Four ; The Stranger In Black ***

Woodrow Call and his posse got offered to stay a couple of days in Dirt. To rest and restock on equipment. But Woodrow declined.

However, he would come with them to restock and to get new runners, as their were getting worn out. They didn't have time to rest, since the Rattlesnakes already had a big lead.

So they joined with Rango, Priscilla, Wounded Bird and Ergil back to the town of Dirt. On the way there, Rango took a closer look at the black clad wanderer who had followed them. He didn't say much about himself, he didn't say much at all! What he had told Woodrow and the others, were that he was just a nobody, seeking his fortune on the open prairie, and he wanted to come with them and punish the wrong doers for what he did to the girl. It was hard to see his face, since he wore a black hat that covered most of his face and he wore a dark scarf pretty high up, so it was impossible to sort out any facial features. He was wearing mostly black, and a dark red and brown poncho. And ofcourse he rode a black roadrunner. The epithome of mystery. But the only thing Rango could see that might give some hints about who he was, was a long, thin, olive green lizardstail and finlike crests on his head and tail. He was some sort of lizard? Rango gave up guessing after a while.

The first thing they did when entering the town, was throwing Bad Bill and his gang in the prisoncells. Bad Bill clenched the bars and growled silently as he followed sheriff Rango with his eyes. Why did those Diego City guys have to show up? Just when Bill were about to do what he has dreamed about for three years: to end Rangos miserable life. But noo, a posse from a town far, far away conveniently strolled past by and just had to meddle in their business. Bill snorted. No sweat. He was going to get out of here within a few days, he could just think of a new strategy and lure the blockhead into a new trap, and to be honest: it really wasn't that hard!

"Cute lil' town ya've got here..." Augustus said and watched as Samuel and three others went to pick out eight new runners, six for each one in the posse and two to carry the equipment. "We heard you've dealt with Rattlesnake-Jake in the past?"
"Yeah, apparently our last mayor hired Jake whenever he needed someone to do the dirtywork" Rango said and crossed his arms, taking the "badass sheriff" stance.
"So, you really are that One-Bullet-Rango fella, raight?" Augustus turned to Rango and one of the corners of his lips turned up. Rango lost the stance.
"Eh? W-what did you say?" Rango stuttered. Augustus laughed.
"Ya didn't know? The sheriff of Dirt, aka One-Bullet-Rango. Known for taking care of his business with one single bullet! Heard ya killed a hawk with one bullet. And not to mention the Jenkins brothers!" Augustus said and gave Rango a nudge in the ribs with his elbow.
"Oh, yeah.. Um, well the Jenkins brothers!.. I.." Rango slurred. Augustus laughed again and walked away to help Woodrow to strap the equipment on the roadrunners. Priscilla giggled at Rango, who gave her a faked butthurt look.
Suddenly Rango felt someone watching him. He looked around and noticed the lizard in black. When he saw that Rango noticed him, he came walking towards him. Rango felt uneasy in the mysterious reptilians presence. He didn't like this guy, there was something... Odd, about him...

"So, you claim to have killed the Jenkins brothers with one bullet, huh?" He asked, with one hand on the hip. Rango were stunned and unable to respond immediatly. This was the first time he had heard the stranger talk. His voice was lighter than Rango had imagined and he sounded very young. Yet, his voice had a cold sting in it, which sent chills down Rangos spine.
"Oh well, will you look at that! I think my runner is trying to get loose!" Rango said to skip the subject and started to walk up to Excelsior, who were dozing off in the downgoing sun. "I'll be right back! Hey, Excelsior! Heel! Stay!"

"Then you wouldn't mind me asking, Rango..." The lizard in black continued. Rango stopped and were standing still, with his back against the stranger. "How exactly did ya do it?"
Rango put on his pokerface and turned around. He put on a huge, reasurring grin "I am glad you asked, my friend! You better listen up, because this is where it gets..." He started to say, but where interrupted by the stranger; Who, quick as lightning, had unsheathed a long, thin dagger from his belt and pressed it against Rangos throat.

"... complicated..." Rango squeaked.
"Listen, ya big, lopsided nincampoop. If ya keep lying to people like that, ya'll get hurt one day. I know who it really was who killed the Jenkins brothers..." The stranger in black hissed. Suddenly they heard a click from a gun turned around to see Priscilla aiming one of her six-shooters at the lizard in black.

"Nothin' personal, stranger. But nobody threatens our sheriff. Nobody..." Priscilla said with a low voice and kept her gaze focused on the stranger. The stranger looked surprised at first, but then he smiled. He turned to Rango again.

"You're lucky little missy here came to save ya... She's got more guts than you!" The stranger mocked and withdrew his weapon and put it back in his belt. Rango swallowed nervously.
"T-then, who do you say killed them Jenkins brothers?" Rango said and rubbed his throat. The stranger didn't answer, his smile just grew wider and then he left. Rango sighed and turned to Priscilla.
"Thanks, little sister..." Rango said and nodded to her.
"Don't mention it, sheriff... Ever" Priscilla said and returned her gun to its holster and went back inside the sheriffs office.
Rango looked down on the ground. He felt ashamed. The stranger were right, even a mousegirl had more guts than him... Perhaps, he didn't fit as the sheriff of Dirt after all?
"Sheriff Rango!" He heard Woodrow call for him and he turned to face the sheriff from Diego City. Woodrow came to thank him for his and the towns hospitality.
"Sure! No problem, we're just happy to help out!" Rango said and shoved his tumbs in his belt and started rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Oh, and if you should recieve any news on those darn rattlesnakes, could you kindly inform us about it?" Woodrow asked and swinged himself up on the back of a longlegged, brownish runner.
"We'll sure do, sheriff." Promised Rango. The two sheriffs shook hands before one of the left with his posse. Rango stayed and watched as the posse grew smaller and smaller in the far.
Rango smiled, content with himself. He didn't care if that snotty stranger thought he was wimpy. After all, he helped saving a whole town, he met the Spirit of the West, got acknowledged by someone who was probably ten times as known, and feared, as him and most importantly: he found out who he really was. He had found his true call, out here in a small town called Dirt. And no one could change that!

And there ya go: chapter four! I had quite the trouble finding out a name for this chapter, but since the cliché lizard in black clothes is pretty active, i figured i'd name it after him ^^...
And if you read the MLP fic too, you'll know that from now on, i'll publish every new Rango chapter on Thursdays, while MLP will be out on Tuesdays :D!.. Or, at least i'll try to follow the deadlines ^^"... I'm pretty bad at those things...
Anyway, next chapter is out on next thursday (hopefully), see ya then :D!

Delilah OUT!