I do not own the movie Young Guns or any of it's actors or copyrights.
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Ember peeked over the mound she was hiding behind. From this level she could see Chavez hiding in the brush on the other side of the trail. Charley and Steve were on their horses not far from him but they were hidden farther back. Billy and Dick were somewhere on the other side of them with their horses, but Ember couldn't see them. Doc, Ember, and McCloskey had left their horses with Charley and Steve while they hid.
She looked over at Doc, who was beside her. He was loading his gun to make sure he had enough ammo. McCloskey was on the other side of him but he was just staring at the river they were next to. Ember shivered and looked back over the mound at Chavez. His head was turned towards the road but in the direction coming from town.
Chavez looked back at Ember and put his finger to his lips, for silence, then motioned for her to get back behind the mound. Ember nodded then did as she was told. Not even a minute after she did she heard the soft thuds of horses coming up the road. Ember held her breath as she heard the people stop in the clearing they were hiding near. "Shit" she heard a man say. Ember peeked over the mound and saw Andy Morton and Paul Baker on the trail. Morton was kneeling on the ground holding a piece of horseshit in his hand. "What's wrong?" Baker asked, confused. "No I mean I found some. Horseshit. They come out from the Sierra Bonitas just this morning. Horses been grazing wild. Pretty good don't ya think, Baker" Morton replied.
Chavez slid out of his hiding place silently. He twirled his knife and then put it to Morton's throat. Then the rest of the Regulators jumped up from their places with their guns up and loaded. "Not that good." Chavez commented. Ember had to fight back a laugh. "Buenos dias, shitheads." Dick said to the two men.
Baker looked like he was going for his gun but thought differently of it. Ember walked forward and took Baker's weapons from him then stepped back next to Doc. "You don't understand, Dick, by killing Henry Hill, you all started a war." Baker said. Dick narrowed his eyes, "By killing Mr. Tunstall, you all started the damn war, Baker!" Dick replied. Chavez let go of Morton and went to stand beside Steve and Charley. "Just the same we're talking fifty, sixty men against your what six or seven and one girl." Morton said looking Ember up and down. "We're with the ring Dick." he finished.
Billy came up to Morton and walked around him in a circle "We're gonna bury you, you can believe that." Billy said. "Quiet, Bonney. We're taking you to jail, no killing." Dick said. "Objection your honor." Billy said to Dick, "These boys are going to the grave in the name of John Tunstall." "I said quiet, Billy, I don't need that kind of talk. Law don't talk like that." Dick said trying to control Billy. "Yeah, well law don't kill innocent merchants, now do it?" Steve said arguing on Billy's side. "Shut up, dirt face" Doc said to Steve.
Ember looked around nervously, her guns still held but no longer pointed at anyone. "This can't end well." she thought. "Take these sons of bitches to Capitan Mountain and blow their brains out. What do you say Steve!" Billy yelled excitedly. Steve nodded as well. "Billy, hush" Ember scolded him. "Hey, Billy, easy." McCloskey said stepping in front of Billy, "Dick, I don't think we should go by way of south road." McCloskey continued. Dick looked at him confused, "Why's that?" he asked. "Well, I think Murphy will be watching the trail ends with ambushes, I think we should go straight through to Lincoln." he explained.
McCloskey looked over towards Billy and somehow Billy figured out he was looking at Morton. "Hey I saw that." Billy said to McCloskey. "What, what'd see, what'd see?" Charley asked anxiously. "He knows what I saw." Billy said, now pointing his gun at McCloskey. Ember slid closer to Doc as McCloskey started backing up running into Doc, "What are you talking about?" McCloskey asked. "Where's the ambush McCloskey, in Lincoln? You're trying to steer us away from Capitan, so you're men, MURPHY'S MEN, can jump us in Lincoln!" Billy accused.
"Billy, what are you talking about? McCloskey's with us, he's a Regulator." Dick told Billy. "Yeah, but he used to ride with Murphy, that's what I'm talking about." Billy replied angrily to Dick. "That was a long tome ago" Dick argued. "HE'S A SPY!" Billy yelled. "He's been with us, we made a pact. Right McCloskey?" Dick questioned. McCloskey looked up at Dick nervously then looked back at Billy, "Right. Jesus, Billy. Come on." he said holding out his hand. Billy stared at it for a moment. Morton tried to move closer to Steve and Charley but they pointed their guns back at him and he backed off. Billy sighed and put away his gun "Ah, shit. I'm sorry, McCloskey." Billy said gripping McCloskey's hand. McCloskey exhaled "It's alright. We're all upset about John-" McCloskey answered but Billy cut him off. "Sorry I didn't sniff you out sooner you goddamned traitor." he said pulling out his gun.
"BILLY!" Dick yelled but it was too late. Billy pulled the trigger and a bullet went through McCloskey's skull splattering his brains out the back of his head. The blood and organs covered Doc and Ember who were still standing behind McCloskey. Blood sprayed over their faces. Doc got the solid matter on his hat while Ember got her face and hands completely covered in the crimson liquid. Ember stepped away from McCloskey. Billy shot him again and the body went tumbling into the river.
After that everything around Ember happened so fast. Baker and Morton started to turn their horses around. Ember also saw Baker go for a gun he had hidden but she lifted her gun and fired without even thinking. Baker slumped forward, but kept riding. Chavez took out his knife and threw it professionally at Baker, catching him in the chest. Baker fell off his horse, dead. Morton tried to run but Doc shot him but he kept on running though, "Get that son of a bitch!" he yelled. Steve aimed and fired, killing Morton.
Billy chuckled, "Court adjourned." she said. "Moron! You're out of line you son of a bitch" he said. "Richard he was right! McCloskey was acting strange." Doc said in Billy's defense. Ember watched as Chavez retrieved his knife from Baker's body then she looked down at her blood stained hands. The crimson liquid seemed to be everywhere. On her hands, her clothes. She even thought she feel it in her hair. She heard parts of the conversation before her but she never paid any attention. "Ok everybody! Skin up the river. Now!" Dick yelled.
Chavez came towards her and touched her shoulder. She looked up at him, her hands still held out palm side up. She felt frozen in place. Chavez put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her with him towards their horses. Charley came towards them and Chavez threw him Kana's reins. Then Chavez climbed up onto his horse then gripped Ember around her waist and placed her in front of him on the saddle.
Chavez spurred his horse forwards and followed behind the group. Ember still had her bloody hands out on front of her, staring at them. Chavez took one hand off the reins and wiped her hands clean with his hands. Most of the blood came off but the stain lingered. Ember laid back and leaned into his chest, trying to come out of shock. Killing someone didn't bother her, it was the just the blood of someone they had trusted all over her that unnerved her. Chavez slipped and arm around her waist for comfort as they rode on.
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When Chavez and Ember rode up to the gang Charley stood up and went to help Ember down. Ember gladly accepted and she let him pull her down. Doc walked over to her and took her by the shoulders and sat her down by the fire. The blood from his face was already gone and he handed her a wet cloth. Ember took it and started washing her face vigorously. Doc touched her arm softly, making her stop, "Easy or you'll rub your skin raw." he said. Ember smiled apologetically and then began to start wiping her hands now.
Billy passed Doc a newspaper and Dick began to prepare dinner. Doc started reading the paper, something about Billy. Ember stared at the blood on the towel. Her face felt clean but it also still felt bloody. Chavez walked over to her without saying thing and took the rag from her. He gently rubbed the cloth over the side of her face. He pulled away the cloth and Ember saw a little blood left over from where she had missed some. "Thanks." she whispered. Chavez nodded and touched her hand softly then he got up and walked off.
Ember felt a hint of a blush rise to her cheeks but she shook it away. She looked up when Doc read something about John Kinney coming after them. "Oh great, John Kinney." Charley groaned. "Well who's Kinney?" Billy asked. Doc looked at the paper for a moment then answered "Says here he's an ex soldier who suffered an injury and is now a bounty hunter." he said. "Well what does that mean?" Steve asked. Charley sighed "It means he can whoop some ass." he replied.
Ember chuckled under her breath and went to take over making the soup Dick that Dick had started. "Hey, Doc, can you come here for a minute" Dick asked from along the trail. "Yeah" Doc answered and gave the paper to Charley. Ember went back to looking at the soup. She heard Dick and Doc discussing something about which way to go. Then she heard someone come up the hill. She looked up and saw Chavez with something in his hat. Ember gave him a questioning look but didn't say anything.
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Chavez sat at the head of the circle with his face painted black and white, to look like a skull. Ember had been completely confused when he had brought her the paint and asked her to paint his face.
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"You want me to do what?" Ember asked as Chavez placed two cups in front of her. One with black paint and one with white. "I need your help with a tradition of my people." Chavez replied. Ember shook her head, "Yeah, I got that part but why do you want me to paint your face like a skull?" she asked. Chavez looked her in they eyes, "I need it to journey into the spirit world without being harmed." he said. She sighed, "Same with the drink?" she said looking at his face to design the mask. Chavez nodded. "Alright. Do me a favor though look at my future or whatever while your there. Maybe I'll get lucky and have a nice future." she laughed as she picked up the paint cups.
She dipped her fingers in the black paint "Close your eyes." she told him gently. Chavez obeyed and Ember painted around both of his eyes and nose. Chavez smiled at her request. Then she picked up a damp cloth and wiped off the black paint and then started with the white paint around the black. Ember thought she felt a flash of heat under her hand but she ignored it. "Did you make this?" she asked. Chavez smiled "Yes" he replied. "You're very good." she said smiling. She cleaned her hand off again the got the black paint out again. She then proceeded to out line the white with the color.
"Almost done." she said while rubbing in the last of the black on the right of Chavez's chin. "There!" she announced pulling back. Chavez reached up and felt his face, he could feel the paint but not actually see it. Ember laughed then took his hand in hers. "Here. This is black." she told him, guiding his hand to where the black was painted and then to the white. She frowned deeply. "Darn it, I missed a spot." she said as she pulled out the white paint again. She took the tip of her pointer finger and put it in the paint and then went over Chavez's lips again. She coated them evenly then when she was satisfied she pulled back. "There. Perfect." she whispered as the tip of her finger tingled. The two stared at each other until Chavez got up and went to the fire.
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Ember listened as Chavez spoke about how he would find their way on the spirit road. Then he took a drink out of the tin cup. "Oh Christ, Chavez, that's all we need is some more of your red ass Navajo mambo-jahambo we're running out of time here, Chavez." Chavez hissed for him to be quiet then passed Ember the cup. Ember took it and took a nice gulp. She cleared her throat a little. The mixture tasted both sweet and bitter and it tasted earthly to her. She handed it to Billy who took a sip . "Is that any good?" Charley asked him. Billy answered by coughing a little. "Chavez, what is that?" he asked. "Peyote" Chavez answered simply.
Ember looked up suddenly and tapped Chavez on the shoulder, "Is this a good idea?" she whispered so as to not alarm the others. Chavez gave her a small smile from behind the paint, "Probably not." he whispered back. The cup got passed around the circle and everyone took a drink, except for Dick. "And now the fun begins." Ember thought.
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Ember watched as Charley moved around saying "This is great." over and over. Doc was talking about butterflies and flowers. Billy was throwing his gun and dropping it somewhere only to find it and do it all over again. Steve was running around screaming something about a chicken and shooting off his gun. Dick was watching Steve closely to make sure he didn't shoot anyone. And Chavez was on a cliff meditating. Ember smiled as she watched him. He had been up there for nearly two hours.
She had known what Peyote was and had experienced it only once before this time. Last time was just like this. She had barely been affected at all. She would see colors brighter and hear a bit sharper but that was about it. Ember tensed as a shot from Steve's gun hit not a foot beside her in the dirt. She slowly started moving away. She looked and saw Chavez with his arms down now and he looked like he was done meditating.
Ember started making her way up the tall hill like structure. Once she got up there she sat down on a boulder to rest. Peyote also made her a little weak. Chavez was sitting cross legged in the dirt with a hand over his mouth and staring into the distance. She could already tell the peyote was wearing off. Not all the way, but mostly. "Are you going to sit up here all day, Migisi." she asked laughing. Chavez turned around, surprised that she was sitting there. "You shouldn't sneak up on people in the spirit world." he said standing up and walking towards her. Ember laughed, "Last time I checked this wasn't the spirit world." she said. Ember saw now that Chavez didn't have on his shirt. She could feel a blush coming but she managed to fight it back. Chavez picked up his shirt and put it of then sat down next to her on the rock and he looked utterly drained. "So, have any visions or whatever they're called." she asked smiling.
Chavez smiled a little then looked back out at the sky line. "I believe we should head west." he said. "West?" Ember asked. Chavez smiled and looked back at her, "I'm not completely sure if that is what they wants or if the spirits want something else of me." he said putting his head in his hands. "Maybe it will become clearer when you are out of the spirit world." she said, placing a hand on his back. Chavez looked back up at her, "Maybe you are right." he said.
They sat there for a few minutes in silence then Ember spoke, "So, did the spirits say anything else?" she said, catching herself smiling, "You know something about your future?" Chavez turned and looked at her fully in the eyes now. "I had a vision that showed me married." he said calmly. Ember tilted her head a bit, "Really? Wow, maybe I should try and get onto the spirit path sometime." she joked, "But anyways, was she pretty?" she asked. Ember was looking back now in the same way not breaking the connection. Chavez nodded, "More beautiful then a waterfall untouched by man." he said quietly. "Wow. That is pretty. Go on." Ember said carefully. "She is strong, stronger than most men in spirit. Her heart is pure. She is loving." he told her. "She sounds amazing, Chavez." she told him, a pang of jealousy welling in her stomach but she pushed it away. "She's wild like a mustang and graceful like a cat. She may never be tamed even if she is married." he said. They were so close to each other that they were only half an inch away. Ember smiled as she looked away, almost regretting she asked now. Chavez leaned in towards her now, "The best part is," he whispered "she's part Cherokee. And sitting within my reach".
Ember turned towards him again. "Are you lying?" she whispered back. Chavez closed the space between them and kissed her full on the mouth. Ember took her hand and tangled it in his hair, deepening the kiss. Chavez smiled against her lips as he put an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
They were interrupted by Dick yelling, "Regulators! Saddle up!". Steve yelled from down below. The two untangled themselves and Chavez helped her down the hill. "Did that just happen?" she thought. When they got down Ember thought she could still feel he had a little peyote left in him. He jumped cleanly off the ground and onto his horse, screaming a battle cry, like an Navajo warrior would do. Ember laughed and climbed onto Kana. She looked and saw Billy get on his horse backwards. Steve stated talking to his horse, "Hey, Dog, did you see the size of that chicken?" he said, then his gun went off. "Godless heathens" Dick mumbled, coming up beside Ember. Ember giggled and Dick looked at her. "Is that white on your lip?" he asked, curiously. Ember wiped a quick hand across her mouth and shook her head then spurred Kana forward after Chavez.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the reservation, Ember kept as close to Chavez, who was leading the group, as she could. The people all had weapons of some sort. They didn't look like they were going to attack but she wasn't taking any chances. Charley was singing in the back and Billy was still riding backwards. "Hey, Chavez, how come they ain't killing us?" Charley asked. "My question exactly." Ember thought. "Because were in the spirit world asshole, they can't see us." Steve answered. Ember groaned, "This is going to be a long trip." she thought.
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