A/N Been awhile hasn't if folks...Anyway let's get on with it. First of all the story so far has been relatively light hearted. This chapter is not, it's borderline dark. Rest assured the entire story will not always be this dark folks alrighty...Ok this is part one of the end of this arc hopefully you'll come back for part two. Thanks to Zaratan for being a beta and for all you readers. I never thought this story would be so successful.
Oh and this is the longest thing I've ever written on this site, take that for what it's worth.
April 1857
Twelve year old Tobias Coover sat alone on top of Vacie Hill as he looked over the surrounding plains. He found that he was getting a newfound appreciation for the beauty of this territory. The trees gave the land a sort of grace and the deep lakes had a sense of dignity about them. It was a far contrast from Albany where he was born.
He never wanted to leave Massachusetts, leave his friends, leave his home, but his father and mother would have none of it. They were in Kansas to do God's work "To see that the territory of Nebraska and Kansas, is the sworn heritage of freedom, that it shall never be reduced to slavery."
That's what they said but he never really understood it, Kansas as he would reluctantly come to see over the past five years was a beautiful place. And wasn't God the creator of all things beautiful? At least that's what his mother said. If that was the case then Kansas was already God's land.
"What's that I smell on ya Tobias?" He turned to see his brother Rooster clamber up the hill. His real name was Jonah but everyone called him Rooster because of the way he loved to chase chickens. "It smells like skunk, ya ought to take a bath before you stand upwind to me." His little brother teased.
"You don't smell like no prairie flower yourself" Tobias countered
"I been looking eva-where for ya. Did ya run off to town again?"
When he wasn't fishing or hunting Tobias frequently ventured into town and wasted time at the saloon, although his mother had forbidden him from going (it wasn't like he was drinking or anything) he was there whenever he got free time. The men there had taken a liking (at the saloon he was known as that Coover boy) to him and they always enjoyed his company.
"Nah I was here all the time thinking about things,"
In the saloon the men would raise their fists in the air and explain how no man would push them around. They pounded their fists against the bar and argued about a "man's rights" and what a "man was entitled to" and how "a man should be able to make a living any way he pleased and no one should have the right to say otherwise." Then they would curse and bellow about the indignities of life. Tobias watched and listened with fascination. But today at the saloon he heard a rather disturbing conversation involving a good friend of his Sally Baird.
"What were ya thinking about?"
"I don't know……stuff…." His thoughts fell back to a biblical story that had captured his attention for most of the day. The story of Samson killing a thousand men with the jaw bone of a donkey "you reckon you can kill a man with the jaw of a jackass?"
Rooster thought about it for a moment "I reckon why not? Ma says David killed a giant with a stone."
He was right if you could kill a giant with a stone why couldn't you kill man with a bone?"
Rooster squinted as he looked up into the sky "Ma wants you to come home and do some work"
"Ah" Tobias rolled his eyes and picked himself off the ground. The two brothers at first strolled silently down the hill making headway towards the house.
"There's a scuttlebutt in town about a school being built. People say they might hire a teacher."
"So ya was in town ya liar."
Tobias ignored his brother's comment and continued "I reckon going to a school ain't going to be so bad."
Rooster smiled "I know why you want to go school. So you can see Sally eva-damn day"
"What if ma heard you cussing like that?" Rooster apologized but Tobias could care less. His thoughts ran from the church sermons to what he had heard about Sally in the saloon.
"You hear the rumors about that young Baird gal."
"What her Pa did to her…..well it's the worst thing I can think of a man doing."
He hadn't seen Sally in days, what could he have possibly done to her? Beat her? He knew about that already. He never really liked Sally's father, he would always look at Tobias with mean, angry eyes.
Sally had told him horror stories of beatings and how when in the "mood" he would pull his mother into the back room. That's how it was most nights; she would hear dog-like grunts through the thin walls but never a sound from her mother.
If he had done anything mean to Sally…….
A kind of rage washed over him. It was instant and without reason. For a second he was almost out of control, he was caught in a web of cold anger that was a beyond anything he had ever felt before.
And then it was gone.
"Are you ok Tobias?" Rooster asked.
"Yes I'm fine" Tobias didn't say another word until their house came into view. The house was built slightly askew, a window carved in each wall. There was no glass in the windows and the only way to let in fresh air was to lift up a heavy wooden shutter. As they neared the house they could hear the faint voice of their mother singing, she often sang whilst pulling weeds
"We cross the prairie as of old, the fathers crossed the sea. To make the West, as they the East, the homestead of the free, we go to rear a wall of men, on freedom's southern line, and plant beside the Cotton tree. The rugged northern pine, we're flowing from our native hills. As our free rivers flow, the blessing of our mother land. Is on us as we go, we go to plant the common school. On distant prairie swells, and give the Sabbaths of the wilds. The music of her bells, up bearing, like the ark of God; the Bible in our van, we go to test the truth of God, against the fraud of man."
She stopped singing when she saw them approach "Goodness Tobias you weren't down in town again was you."
"No ma I was just----" Before he could explain himself the sound of arguing interrupted their conversation.
"What's that?" asked Tobias.
His mother looked towards the backyard with a worried look on her face "Your father is entertaining visitors."
"I'm not going to tell you again Coover this is my land and I want you off it!"
David Coover stood his ground against his three accusers. Two of them stood up close to him attempting to intimidate him with their presence but he would have none of it. The third man stood a few feet behind them a jug of rye in his hand. Every few seconds he took a swig of the jug and stared coldly at David through his blood red eyes.
"Your land? You reckon you can mark off the land you want, drive a stake down with your name on it, and go back home to Missouri. You've got no title and no claim to his land because it does not comply with the law." He said firmly.
"This man may have not complied with the law, but he has a revolver and a bowie knife, and on the border these stand for law and right"
"Sir are you threatening me?" David asked.
"I'm tired of you free soiling bastards stealing our land and telling another man how he should make himself a living. You have no right!"
"My friend the way you make a living is an abomination to God. And I swear by all that is good in liberty and God, Kansas will not be tainted by---
David Coover never saw it coming; the third man stepped up and smashed the jug of rye across his head. The jug broke apart and parts of it stuck to his head
"Pa" Rooster gasped as he turned the corner of the house. There he saw his father lying in a pool of blood.
"Goddammit Zeb have you gone loco? Look what you've gone and done!"
The one called Zeb turned his sights on the rest of the Coover family "We can't leave any witnesses"
"Now hold on Zeb---
"BOYS GET IN THE HOUSE" their mother screamed as she finally returned from the shock of seeing her husband killed. She turned and pushed them forward. There was a booming noise and Tobias watched as his mother took a signal step forward and collapsed. She had been shot in the back.
"Ma!" Rooster's cry pulled Tobias from his paralysis. He grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him towards the house "Come on!'
"Git the rest of em Jackson!"
"No Jackson, they're just children!"
"Shut up Paul! We have no choice everything's all gone to hell!"
Half scared to the death Tobias led his little brother into the house ad made a beeline for his parent's bedroom, as the man argued outside.
"They gonna kill us Tobias, just like they did to Ma and Pa!"
Tobias responded to his brother's distress with a tight squeeze on his arm, then he charged forward to a chest of drawers that belonged to his late father. He pulled a revolver from the drawers just as someone burst into the room.
"Tobias!"
With a newfound strength and clarity he never knew he had Tobias turned his weapon on the surprised man, cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger, and suddenly there was a new hole next to the man's nose.
"No Jackson, there's been enough killing today!" Paul yelled from the doorway of the house. As Paul stepped in a slug hit him in the chest and sent him sprawling outside.
From a distance Zeb heard the gunshot and witnessed Paul fall into the dirt. Fearing an unknown but armed person in the house Zeb wasted no time running for his horse. He mounted it quickly and was about to ride off when he felt the urge to look back.
He turned to see the eldest Coover boy standing there, his brother by his side, a look of deadly determination that sent shivers through Zeb's body on the boy's face. Zeb didn't even hear the gunshot but he felt the bullet clip his ear, causing him to scream out in pain. Not wanting to give the boy another shot, Zeb dug his heels into his horse and rode off in a flash.
Tobias and his brother watched silently as their father's killer made his escape, when the silence was suddenly broken by a whooping cough. Paul struggled mightily to get to his feet. Blood leaked past his lips and splattered on the floor.
Click
Paul slowly pulled himself up to his knees and stared at the end of a barrel. "No please," Paul looked into the boy's eyes as he took aim and knew instantly he was a gone goslin.
"I….."
Tobias pulled the trigger as his rage hit its peak. Paul now with part of his face blown off fell over backwards.
"You did it Tobias" Rooster dropped to his own knees and cried "You did it"
Tobias felt his rage diminish and then he felt nothing, nothing at all. He walked over to his brother and gathered him to his feet. They watched as Zeb became a dot in the distance, his horse kicking up dust as they disappeared under the horizon.
Tobias glanced down at the revolver in his hand. It would be the last time he would miss a target for years to come.
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Santa Fe: Six years later
Reverend Brookdale solemnly knelt before a statue of Jesus on the crucifix. Tears formed in his eyes as he muttered under his breath. "My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good…..
Brookdale stopped when he heard the doors of the church squeak open. The howling desert wind outside screeched like a banshee. The door closed as instantly as it had opened. But the silence of the church was disrupted by heavy boots on the wood floor.
"Been a long time since I was in a doxology works" said an amused voice from the back of the church.
Brookdale whimpered but he did not turn towards the guest. He continued on with his prayer, as the sounds of the boots came ever closer.
The guest started to whistle but a second later he broke into singing "If you get there before I do, comin' for to carry me home. Tell all my friends I'm comin' too, comin' for to carry me home."
Brookdale shut his eyes and quickly recited another prayer.
"Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home; swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home."
Even with his eyes shut Reverend Brookdale could tell that the guest had stopped right besides him. Losing the battle against his curiosity, the preacher overcame his fear and glanced up at the young man standing next to him.
The young man stared up at the statue with apt fascination. He grinned "Have ya heard about Bull Run? I reckon about over a thousand men must have died that day. Folks are saying the war is only going to get worse. O Lord where is your sweet justice."
The auburn haired youngster couldn't have been more than more than eighteen. He looked down as if seeing Brookdale for the first time "Back when I was a youngin…well I suppose most would still call me a youngin" he chuckled "my pastor would preach on and on about a vengeful God but my ma, she'd teach me and my brother about a forgiving and kind God…which leads to my question Reverend….which one was watching over us on that day six years ago?"
Brookdale gulped "I've made my peace with myself and the Lord."
A look of surprise came over the young man's face "have you now father…or should I say Zeb" Zeb winced it had been years since he heard such a name.
"Six years, its been a long winding trail but its finally over…. I've found ya" Tobias chirped happily.
"I've heard about you….I heard about the things you've done as you've been on my trail."
"Well" Tobias said "I don't want to brag but I've become mighty handy with a pistol since we last left off."
"Tobias Coover rumors in the wind say you've become a ruthless gunfighter, the fastest gun in Kansas I hear."
"Well how good I am is just a matter of opinion, some say I'm chain lightning on the draw, some say I ain't nothing special" He clucked "well I'll be, I'm the one doing all the jawing around here. What about you Zeb, how's your life been?"
"I curse myself each day for creating a monster like you"
Tobias laughed heartily "you've still got sand I'll give you that. Come on now Zeb, see what happened between us was just a test of my fortitude but I reckon you're not far from wrong….You put a chip in me Zeb…a chip that's been eating at me since I was twelve. But you didn't create me Zeb, who I am today, I always was."
"Child do you not see the devil has taken a hold of your soul."
"If I ain't scared of God why would I be scared of the devil Zeb? If that made a lick of sense than I didn't catch it"
"What of your parents? Is this how you want them to see you?"
"Tobias grabbed the Reverend forcefully by the chin "Don't you bring them up, you have no right to talk about them!"
"It hurts doesn't, deep down it still hurts. This shows above all that there is still hope for you! You're a lamb who has gone astray"
Tobias struck Zeb across the face sending him reeling to the floor. Zeb attempted to crawl away but Tobias chased him down like a predator on the plains. He kicked Zeb in the chest before snatching the reformed murderer by the hair and pulled him up to his feet.
Zeb coughed, specks of red formed on his mouth "It….never had to come to this"
"Yes it did" Tobais breathed heavily "I like it Zeb, back then I liked blowing your pards to hell and I've liked everything I've done since."
"It's my fault. My evil has given birth to more…for that I'm sorry…I'm truly sorry."
Tobias lowered his sleeve and a dull dagger fell into his open palm. The blade glinted from the little sunlight in the church before Tobias buried it in the belly of the Reverend.
"You think I'm evil….well one day we'll both sort out or moral obligations in hell. For now" he leaned into Zeb's ear "It's best you make peace with your maker." He drew out the blade and plunged it in again.
Zeb opened his mouth to scream but all that came out was a wet stickiness from the back of his throat. Pain seized him like never before.
"Feel free to die anytime you want" Tobias merrily continued to surgically plunge the dagger in over and over "I won't mind"
"I….forgive…..you…..my…son…please….try…to….for---" Zeb went limp onto Tobias' shoulder. Tobias pulled out the blade and wiped it clean.
"Well that just takes the rag off the bush, turning the cheek till the very end. At least he practices what he preachers."
"Goddang! When Tobia kills someone he kills em right!" Rooster whooped as he entered the church "Why couldn't you save me a piece brother?"
Tobias smiled gleefully as his brother approached "I guess that's it then." Rooster said a moment later.
Tobias looked into his brother's eyes and there he saw a question. A question that needed to be answered, now that the vengeance trail had finally ended was it over?
Tobias reached out and tapped his brother on the shoulder and answered without any words, the simple gesture was enough. It said "no brother this wasn't the end in fact this was just the beginning."
"Grab any valuables you can and then burn this place down."
A flash of excitement gave of Rooster; he let out a loud whistle and four other outlaws burst into the church whooping and hollering. Tobias nonchalantly strolled down the pews as his gang pillaged the church, when he caught sight of a figure in the corner of his eye,
"I thought I told you to stay outside." Tobias said to the young woman who stood waiting by the doorway. She stood alone her hands folded behind her back.
"I wanted to be here" she was a pretty, fair haired young girl with delicate features.
"I didn't want you to se---" She interrupted him by grabbing him arm with one hand "I wanted to be here."
Tobias silently brushed her hair away from he face.
She shivered "your hands are cold"
"Is that right?"
"I found this…." She removed her other hand from behind her back and handed him a hat, a flat crowned hat jet black like the midnight sky. "I think it would look good on you."
Tobias took the hat, inspected it and then placed it on his head "It's a might big, but I reckon I can grow into it."
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Present day:
Tobias lifted a glass of whiskey into the air "To all us products of the environment… here's to doing what we have to do to survive in this cold world!"
Loud cheering and random gunfire erupted from the celebrating outlaws and bounced off the canyon walls.
Sweet Sally turned her eye away from the flickering fire the outlaws surrounded to Tobias Coover. The more she came to know him, the more she talked to him, the more she saw of him. The more certain she was that he was evil. He killed or would kill anyone for the slightest provocation. When the deed was done he'd smile or laugh but she knew he got no sadistic joy from the act nor did he regret it. Killing a man to Tobias was no more different than killing a bug or any other dessert critter. He killed as casually as most folks do when they eat a meal or put on clothes.
That day, when his parents died, something changed in Tobias, or maybe something was erased then replaced. Yes Tobias was an evil man… yet… she couldn't deny that she loved him.
Yes she loved him. She probably loved him since they were young. Her love grew even more after… after the incident with her father. The image of her father loomed over her in her mind's eye. She waved her hand as if to brush the image out of her mind, he would never bother her again, Tobias had taken care of that. Tobias had taken care of her all these years, she was glad when he called for her after all these months apart. Lord knows that she couldn't bear any more time away from him.
She watched as he bowed out to his audience and walked off by himself away from the rowdy crowd.
Tobias sauntered past the group of cabins used by the outlaws and through a narrow path in the canyon into another clearing where he could be alone. He shut his eyes and found that surprisingly his thoughts went out to his brother.
He sighed when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Loose stones scattered under the boots of the mysterious would be assailant.
Tobias smiled to himself there was no reason to sneak up on man if you didn't want to do no harm. His right hand moved to his gun belt. The stranger moved steadily closer, he didn't hear the click of a hammer so apparently Tobias was about to get a knife in the back.
He'd give the man two more steps before…the sound of gunfire kicked Tobias into high alert. He spun around instinctively ready to take a hit and fire upon his……He stopped himself a second from pulling the trigger when he saw the body of his attacker drop to the ground. That's when Sweet Sally stepped out of the shadows brandishing a small derringer. She stepped over the wounded outlaws body, aimed her weapon at his head, and fired again.
"Well now," Tobias holstered his gun, "you sure are a frightful critter when your dander is up."
"He's been trying to kill you for days, apparently you killed his pa in a shootout a few years back."
Tobias chuckled. "That story is older than the Bible… where did you get this info anyway?"
"Men say allot of things in bed," she replied.
"Why Sal, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were fooling around on me."
She turned away from the body and pressed closer to Tobias. "I heard it from some of the other girls and besides, even if I did, it wouldn't be the same for me with anyone else. It never will" Tobias forcefully pulled her by the waist closer to himself. "You thinking about your brother?"
"Sometimes you scare me Sally…let me ask you a question hun, what do you see when you look at me?"
"I see a strong leader, a man with the courage to do whatever he pleases, whenever he pleases and however he pleases. You're not like the rest of them out there Tobias you're better, a prince among trash"
She ran her fingers across his face before she peeled of his jacket and began to unbutton his shirt. His mouth suddenly on hers working as his hand moved none too gently over her body
Tobias had a vast emptiness about in him she thought. And he may never truly love her as much as she loved him but they were bound to each other whether by love or passion or the chip they both carried inside.
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Ron reentered the Club Banana Saloon and was happy to see that it had an even more festive atmosphere now than it did before he had walked out. A pretty woman had taken the stage and started a song about a past love. Her voice was full and sweet, a voice one would not easily tire of.
A slightly buzzed Silias met him at the door. "Ron, where have ya been?"
"Outhouse calling," Ron answered.
"Well," Silias wrapped his arms around Ron's shoulder, "Come on over and play a few rounds." He started to lead Ron away.
Ron struggled for a bit. "But….I….Kim..."
"Yea she's a rip snorting type of female alright, but you keep at and you'll have a brand on her in no time… but let me warn you about something… the black widda ain't the only female critter that makes meals out of their fellas. Now come on, the others are a waiting."
"Ah sure." Ron reluctantly allowed himself to be led away.
"Hey boys, look what the cat dragged." Silias crowed to the rest of crew. They greeted Ron with a quick cheer, as they sat around a large poker table.
Bo took his eyes away from his cards. "Well since you've turned down your first gift," Claire Annette, who was now sitting on Bo's lap, smiled before waving at Ron, "we thought it was time to give you your other gifts"
"How'd you guys know it was my birthday anyhow?"
"A certain redhead spilled the beans. Go on now Antonio." Antonio unceremoniously handed Ron a brown sack.
Ron reached into the sack and pulled out the first item. "Huh, a shaving kit? Thank you, uh, but I don't shave."
"Is that right?" Antonio rubbed his hands across his stubbly face. "You don't mind if I borrow that do ya?"
Ron chuckled. "Heh sure" He handed Antonio the kit. Then he reached back into the sack and pulled an overly large leather belt with a large metal buckle, that was probably made for a man twice his size. It may have been the ugliest thing he'd ever seen.
"Alright guys thanks a lot." Ron sighed as he placed the belt back in the sack. "Now if you'll excuse me."
"Now hold on." said Stanley "Why don't you play a few hands with us? Who knows, we may never get a chance to play together again."
Ron thought about the significance of the comment to everyone in this corner of the saloon.
"You are familiar with the game of poker aren't you?"
Ron inhaled and exhaled. "Well sometimes I think I do, and sometimes I reckon I don't." He laughed before finding himself a seat at the table.
"Alright, let's celebrate with a drink!"
Everyone in the table whirled around in surprise and shock to see old man Lunsford standing besides Ron.
"And what are we celebrating toothless?" asked Billy.
"Hellsfire sonny, when you get to be my age you celebrate every time you open your eyes in the morning."
Kim couldn't help but frown a bit when she saw Ron take a seat at the poker table instead of returning to the bar. There was so much more she wanted to discuss with him about his past.
"Now if there's one thing I've learned in my short time on this earth is that if you let a dog roam he'll find his way home."
Kim turned to Monique. "Who should I let roam?"
Before Monique could reply, Lunsford stumbled over to the bar. "Ma'am, we need us some conversation fluid… two rounds of whisky should be enough."
Kim gave him a hard stare.
"Goodness I'm as dry as a dessert. I hope the whisky here is good."
"Pffft…Old timer we've got whiskey here harder than….ere" Monique stopped when she when glanced back at Kim, "….diamonds," she said eventually.
Lunsford finally took notice of the look Kim was giving him. "What's the matter ma'am, are you angry that your favorite blond sparrow hasn't returned to his nest?"
She ignored his comment. "Ron ordered whiskey?"
"Actually, he ordered a strawberry brandy, but I'm not going to hold that against him." The old man laughed before turning towards the stage. "That chanteuse up there has more range than a Texan."
Monique ordered one of the saloon girls to carry the drinks to the table with Lunsford in tow.. "He's following that gal back like a hungry calf after its momma," she commented.
Kim watched as Ron studied his cards with a ridiculous grin on his face. She grinned herself, something about his smile was infectious. He had told her such a tragic story yet here he was minutes later with a smile on his face. She stared at him for a second and wondered if she had any right to pry into his life. You don't go prodding into a man's past unless he brings it up his own self. Really, he wasn't obligated to tell her anything yet he did. If she was patient, then he might just open up to her completely.
There was something weird about this Ron Cooley. He moved around with an aloof personal power and confidence, yet at times she noticed that he had a sort of wariness about him, like he was carrying a great weight.
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"You know, I'm starting to see why whiskey is so popular." Ron hiccuped. "I... mean it burns your throat like something fierce, it actually tastes like fire, and you can't feel your breath for the first five minutes. But after a while you just feel warm and happy…"
"Well if you were having so much fun why'd you ask me to leave?" Ron leaned on her shoulder as she half carried him out of the door of the saloon.
"I have had my fun…." He lifted a bag of coins he had won from the tables. "But because of the whiskey I was forgetting how to lose."
"What?"
"Besides," he said as Kim angled them towards their horses, "…besides I'd rather spend the rest of the night with you anyhow."
"I mean," he said quickly after she gave him a curious look, "I'd rather spend time with you...talking and such"
"Oh… thanks." She mounted her horse. "Oh boy here comes the Reverend."
Ron looked up to see Middlewood's own fire and brimstone preacher make his way towards them.
"Good evening Reverend Garber," Kim greeted him.
He ignored her and went straight for him. "Young man, liquor is a corrupter of men, and a path to the devil"
"Oh don't worry about me Rabb….Fath….Reverend," Ron started unaware that the preacher could smell the alcohol on his breath, "I don't drink, but I've got something for you." He handed over the sack of coins. "This is for the church."
"Why… thank you," said the speechless Pastor. He continued to admonish Ron with praise for another ten minutes before finally walking off.
"That Reverend is a good man," Ron said
"Well I never thought of you as being a philanthropist."
"Actually I'm a republican… well my father was a republican so I guess that makes me a republican."
"I don't think that's how the party system works."
"Wait a minute," Ron said suddenly "I ain't riding next to that animal."
Kim patted El Diablo on the neck. "Why not?"
"He tried to kill me!"
"I see drinking makes you more cracked than usual. You've already ridden next to him today and he hasn't done anything mean."
"Mean? That's not meanness I see in his eyes. That's treachery."
"Just get on the dang horse."
"Alright quit your hollering… just let me… get up here…" With a few grunts Ron slowly and gradually mounted his horse. "Is it me or did my horse get taller?" He said as they started moving down the road.
"You know, I'm not against charity but you could have put that money in the bank, saved it up for that ranch you're dreaming about."
"I've come to realize that people like me don't deserve such good living," he said solemnly.
"I don't know….yes you're a tad lazy," she teased, "and you might not have enough brains to grease a skillet……"
"Ah if you're trying to cheer me up you're better off just shooting me."
"…..But I'm sure if you put some effort into it, you'll have a ranch before you know it. Reach for the sky and you can play with the stars. That's what my grandmother always told me."
"Hmmm..." was the only reply she got back.
"Speaking of playing with the sky…" Kim said when they were a few minutes outside of town, "the moon looks big enough to touch tonight."
Ron glanced up at the looming globe illuminating the sky. "You should see the moon in Texas….everything's bigger in Texas…..This reminds me of a night I spent in Louisiana watching the moon flowers bloom….they only bloom at night you know."
"You've been to Louisiana?" She asked curiously.
"Heck I've been mostly everywhere from here to Mexico. Now you haven't felt heat until you've been in a Mexican desert. It's hot as heck down there for nine months out of the year and then it really starts heating up."
"What were you doing in Mexico?"
"What?" Ron said getting caught off guard. "I was doing a favor for a friend of mind, helping help him out."
"You insist on being mysterious about this?"
"It's my right to be mysterious…it says so in the Constitution."
"Fine then…. I do have to say I envy your seeing the rest of the States like you have. I plan to do so myself."
"Well I'm sure Mister Possible has the money to take your family on all kinds of trips if you ask him kindly enough."
"I don't think my family would be interested on the kind of traveling I'm talking about."
"What do you mean?"
"While I love living in Middlewood, sometimes I feel bored. I…. well, I feel that there is adventure ahead of me and I'm just putting in my time waiting for it to happen."
"Adventure, the few gals I've met of your "comfortable lifestyle" see what you do everyday as adventure enough. I knew of a friend of mine who got divorced because his wife couldn't handle his way of life…"
"Way of life?" she interrupted.
"Uh….he moved around a lot for various…..social….political….reasons. The point is she married a banker, he gave her everything she needed right at home and she never had to leave the house…"
"Well sounds like she wanted exactly what I'm trying to avoid….boredom."
"Boredom?" He slapped his knee and laughed "You sound just like an outlaw."
"You don't need to break the law to have adventures."
"KP you're a smart pretty gal who happens to come from a good, decent family. You'll find a good husband quicker than I can spit on the floor. You're set for life…you don't need adventure!"
"You're right I don't need it…but I want it," she said simply. "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam."
"Come again?"
"That's Latin, it means "I'll either find a way or I'll make one"
"The world isn't as peachy keen as you think. There are some places where the sun don't even shine!"
"I know that… but I'm of the opinion that there's more beauty and good in the world than dark and evil."
Ron smiled. "Kimberly Ann Possible, I can safely say you are purely original."
"I'm just being myself, there's no law against that."
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Seth rubbed his sore chaffed wrists "thanks for removing the irons Marshal, I've never been too partial to bracelets myself."
"Don't think I'm being too merciful here, you do one wrong move and I won't think twice about putting a bullet in your head an leaving you to the wolves."
"Right, right I hear you." He tossed a piece of wood into the fire. Under the watchful eye of his captor Seth Beechum relaxed and rolled himself a cigarette.
"Let me ask you something, what made you become an outlaw anyway? Were you just jealous of the rich folk, or did your daddy beat you a little too hard?"
Seth laughed. "What makes a man become an outlaw? Please, all it takes is for a man to jerk iron recklessly once and he may be dodging tin stars for life. For me, I didn't take to schooling much… I wasn't fond of the labor world… and I didn't want to nursemaid a bunch of smelly cows for a living… but mostly, I wanted to live my life the way I please. We outlaws see the fork in the road and we go straight."
"Fun huh? Killing innocent civilians and robbing is your idea of fun?"
"Now robbing banks is fun but I never killed no one that didn't drag iron at me first…. When me and Scarecrow were riding together, we never killed anyone you or anyone else would call innocent. The people we did shoot or mostly the people Scarecrow shot; the world is a better place without them. Thing is, we shot more at the sky and windows than people and that's the god honest truth." Seth leaned back as if remembering something fondly. "We had class, like Frank and Jesse James up in Kentucky."
"Class, is that why you joined that murdering weasel Rooster Coover's gang?"
Seth shrugged. "Wasn't my idea to ride with them… but then again, I won't deny I enjoyed the money I got from joining that gang….." He lowered his voice and looked down at the ground. "Rooster did take things too far once in awhile but we were still part of something… and no matter what, you don't betray your gang or other outlaws."
"There's a code among outlaws?" Will scoffed.
"Maybe not but there's a code among men though…."
Will, shook his head. "Well, you better change your ways and go straight."
"Can't do that friend, once you've done the things I've done the world won't let you go straight. I tried to tell Stoppable that……Besides, I'm going to live according to my lights, and I'm not going to apologize for that… anyways, I'm tired of the past, let's dig into the future. If you're thinking about catching Scarecrow, I hope you're good with that weapon there."
Will's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, a regular shootist is he?"
"Quick as snake, twice as deadly… course, he's only really deadly when he puts his mind to it… that might be the best advantage you've got actually…"
"What's that?"
'That advantage is that he's not out to kill you… if he was, well than it would be a different situation."
"Sounds good," Will said approvingly. "That's a mighty fine stepping stone for me until I get to Tobias Coover…."
"I thought Tobias was dead."
"Nah, he's alive, he and Payton Dawson run the gang Angles Caidos."
"Angles Caidos, they're nothing but a myth! There's no such gang with as much power as people say they have."
"Oh, they exist and I'm going to bring them down." He settled against a tree. "And that's when my legend will begin."
A few feet away, Jenkins, Betty, and Veronica lay quietly in the confinement of their sleeping bags. Veronica was just about to doze off when she heard snickering in the darkness.
"Missus Director, is that you?"
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you hon…. I'm just laughing at that boy… he's as arrogant as the day is long." She laughed.
"I can sense his dedication to the job though. I've never seen someone take so much pride in their work."
If she could see in the dark, she would have seen the smile on Betty's face. "It's something about the Director's. We…me and Barney, never expected Will to feel the same. Barney was a lawman, his father was a lawman, and his grandfather was a lawman. It just runs in the family. Barney was just as arrogant at first, he used to say all the time that the name Director meant law, it meant justice. Will, well, he just seemed to pick up on this universal law."
"Four generations of lawmen, that's quite a history."
"A history to be proud off," Betty agreed.
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Four years ago:
Timothy Murdoch took a sip from his canteen and let out a satisfied gasp. A strong rough wind whipped around his face as he settled in his wooden chair, a pile of stones collected on the side of the chair.
"Ok, the man on the right is carrying a Smith and Wesson revolver, but his holster is hitched too high, his feet are far apart. The man in the center has a Russian, his holster resting on the front part of his leg. Man on the left has a Peacemaker holster hung midway a little to the rear. His feet parallel to his shoulders. Who's shooting first?"
Ron's face strained from thought "the guy on the right?" he guessed.
Murdoch nonchalantly picked a smooth flat stone from the pile and whipped it at Ron's head. It struck him in the center of the forehead causing him to cry out on pain.
""You're wrong!" he collected another stone. "Guess again."
"The one on the left with the Peacemaker," Ron cried.
"Why?" Murdoch asked. He flicked the stone up and down in his palm.
"Because… because the holster being hung midway means he knows the best angle the holster has to be for the best angle and advantage. Which means he practices a lot, which means he's a better shooter than both of them, which means he's the better shooter than the rest," Ron replied quickly.
"Good, now who's the second most dangerous?"
The guy with the Smith and Wesson has his holster too high which will cost him a few seconds while drawing, but the same can be said about the feller with the Russian who has his holster on his front leg… but Smith and Wesson has his feet too far apart which means his shot will be a little off …so
"The one with the Russian," Ron answered.
"Great." Murdoch flipped the stone in the air. Ron watched as it sailed into the air and fall back to the earth.
He drew once it landed and aimed at a few bottles lined up on a fence in the distance. He fired three shots and three of the six bottles exploded.
Damn still not good enough Murdoch can shoot a pimple off a cow's as--
"You're getting better," Murdoch said suddenly before taking another sip from his canteen.
Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah I reckon…."
"But," Murdoch cut him off, "shooting a bottle is not the same as shooting a man." Murdoch climbed out of his chair. "Imagine a man coming back from the war, he comes home to find all his property stolen by carpetbaggers. He's got no place to go, he becomes an outlaw, he wants your money, he attacks you. Can you shoot him? ….How about the farmer who's suffered through a drought, he can't feed his family. He needs your money, he attacks you… can you shoot him? What about the man who lost his ranch to the bank he's mad at the world. Your jacket and your food are the only thing standing in the way of his survival.
"What do you mean?" Ron stammered as Murdoch approached him."
"I'm saying, going on a vengeance trail for these outlaws means you're not just going to run into the purely evil, you're going to run into desperate men as well and they're going to want to kill you."
He used his free hand to grab Ron by his collar. "It's easy to kill a man who makes a living out of killing. But it ain't easy to kill a man who wants to feed his family. He will kill you, will you kill him?"
Ron had never seen Murdoch this angry for along time. It was only the fact that he had known this man for a few years that kept him from running off. "I….I…"
"I'm telling you, to be a gunman you need cold blood. And I've seen you these past few years and you don't have it son. Too be honest, if Lucifer came to earth, I don't think you'd have the gall to shoot him. Cold blood makes you a soldier boy, cold as ice. You're to young and green to understand the consequences of a man"
"I made a promise at those graves and I aims to keep it," Ron muttered to him.
"Ask yourself boy, even if you can get through this physically, can you get through it mentally? Killing changes a man don't let anyone tell you different. It makes you an outsider."
"Show the world the warmth of your smile."
"What?"
"My mother used to tell me when I got hurt to try and smile no matter how much it hurts. "The warmth of a smile will always keep you warm." It took me awhile to remember that but that's how I'll deal with things for now on with a smile on my face…..no matter how much it hurts."
Murdoch stared at Ron for awhile and chuckled. "A smile huh?" He let Ron's collar go. "Alright then." He walked back to his seat and threw another pebble into the air.
Ron corrected his stance as he waited for the pebble to drop. Once it landed on the ground he fired. This time the bottles didn't explode. Instead, he managed to break off the bottle necks.
Murdoch whistled before taking another drink. "There's potential in you yet boy."
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The sun still hadn't risen when Ron glanced outside the bunkhouse window. He could tell it would be a bleak morning, probably gray and sunless. Today, he would ride for James Possible and then when it was all over, he would keep riding. He yawned, a full night's sleep and he was still tired. Most of the bunkhouse had already gotten up and they probably wanted something to eat.
Ron looked at his holster that lay on his bed. Today, those guns would save lives and end them at the same time. They would save his life or he'd die. Life was funny like that.
He picked up the gun belt with shaking hands, he willed them to stop "Shaking hands are against the rules…Shaking hands can't shoot straight" he told himself.
Wordlessly Ron strapped on his holster and walked out of the bunkhouse. He didn't get far before he heard a familiar voice.
"You don't need to rush so. I've already started breakfast."
Ron turned to Anne. "That's really kind of you Missus P."
"It's the least I could do" she said
"Don't worry about it ma'am, Mister P will be back home safe and sound in two shakes of a deer's tail. I promise"
"I've come to think," she began, "that I have no right to ask such a thing from you."
"Of course you do… you've all been so kind to me. It's the least I can do."
"No… you should look out for yourself, it'd be wrong to ask you to look out for James with your own life in danger."
With sudden quickness Ron's gun was in his hand. He twirled it forward and then he twirled it backwards. He moved his arm high while twirling then he moved his arm low. He gave it a final twirl and it slid neatly into his holster.
"Don't worry about me none…I keep my promises. Mister P will return safely."
"That was quite a display of skill," Anne said. "You say James will return safely but what about you?"
"I'm not coming back ma'am, that is to say I'm leaving after this is done."
"Why?"
"I like it here Missus P but I sure don't belong here. Trouble seems to follow me around and I'm feeling restless. And everyone knows there are two cures for restlessness, liquor and a new range, and since last night confirmed that I ain't much of a drinker……"
"What about Kim? I thought you were friends….Aren't you going to say goodbye to her?"
"Speaking of that…." he said changing the subject, "what will you tell her when she wakes up."
"You're right, she will probably ask about you……...and the rest. I'll just tell her that James and the boys went out to recount the herd a second time and they needed your help."
"Look….. I'd…. appreciate it if you could say goodbye for me," he stated, "as a personal favor. Tell her that….just tell her goodbye."
Anne walked over to Ron and grabbed him by the hands. "Leave or stay, its your decision, but I will say again that you're always welcome here. There's still much about you that we don't know… but what I do know is that the only one who has a right to judge others is the Almighty, no one else." She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Goodbye Ronald."
For a second time she walked off, leaving him alone. She's says that now but….. Ron started towards the barn thinking that no matter how she felt about him later, the world needed more people like Anne Possible.
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The cowboys of the Circle C ranch had ridden for more than forty minutes when the sun came up over the horizon; James Possible rode along a foot ahead of the others, the other eight held back to give him privacy. It would be another couple of hours before they reached the halfway point to Avery's ranch where they would meet up with Chick Moore's group.
"By God," said Bo, "Yesterday went by so quick, it seems like it was just today."
"Tell me about it," muttered Stanly. The others agreed with their sentiments. "Hey Antonio, what happened to that filly you were sparking up last night?"
"Ah, she went off with the fellar who was playing the piano."
Bo shook his head "That's how it always is with gunmen and musicians. They get all the women."
"Ain't that the truth" John agreed. "What did you expect? Did you see the way most of the gals there were looking at him. Women never want a man as badly as when they see other women want him, that just a fact of life."
"I still say gunmen get the most women then any other profession. Musician probably comes second."
"I don't see it, what are they attracted to? The killing?" Billy asked.
Although Ron had never himself enjoyed the perks of being a gunman, he had seen many who had. So he had found the conversation amusing.
"Nah it's that devil may care attitude they carry…."Look at me, I'm a bad man, I don't care whether I live or die." Hell, I'll tell you something, even if a man wasn't a gunman. If he had that bad-man attitude about him he'd still be the bull of the woods."
"And I'll tell you what gives a man that attitude," Bo spat on the ground. "It's all related to pecker size."
"What?" Kip laughed.
"I'm telling you, when a man is confident about himself, that's what gives him that attitude and the gals sense it in him. They can feel it."
"Well that's a might shallow way of judging a man's worth," said Billy.
They all stared at him.
"I'm just saying," He said before turning his attention away from the group. Bo and Stanley chuckled to themselves.
Pecker size? Ron thought to himself Oh well I've heard stranger explanations for the way females act
Without warning, Silias broke into song. "There's blood on the saddle and blood on the ground, and a great big puddle of blood all around; A cowboy lay in it all covered with gore. And he never will ride any broncos no more."
"Dammit Silias," yelled John, "pipe down, your voice is attracting buzzards. You sound like a dying calf."
"Hey fellas," they turned to Billy, "do we… do we have to kill em… can't we just rough them up a little and then turn them loose?"
They turned away from him and suddenly everyone looked straight ahead. A moment later, John, the foreman, spoke up. "Where there's cattle, they'll always be rustling. We can't show any weakness or we'll be seen as easy targets. We've got to make an object lesson out of these men. The ones who don't get shot will probably get hung. I guaran-damn-tee you some people are going to die today.
They continued to ride on when the sound of a signal gunshot broke the silence. They all looked back to see Ron reloading his gun.
"What are you wasting ammo for you imbecile?" John shouted.
"It's be for good luck," Ron said. "Besides, don't you know once you squeeze the first shot out, it's easier to keep firing until it's empty."
The cowboys glanced at each other before one by one they fired into the air, creating an eight man salute.
A moment later, Silias resumed his song. "Oh, pity the cowboy all gory and red, a bronco fell on him and bashed in his head. There was blood on the saddle and blood on the ground, a great big puddle of blood all around."
This time, no one interrupted him.
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Later that afternoon
Kim looked back and forth between all the saloon girls. "I fail to see the attraction that these girls hold."
Monique chuckled. "The way I see it, most men are often intimidated by the "decent" women who lay down the law before they an even get a chance to talk. So they find themselves much more comfortable with these ladies who allowed them to be who they were." She smiled "So hun, where's your blond friend?"
"The whole brand went out to count our cattle heads. They probably won't be back for a long while….."
If she was right, than a second recount would probably confirm the missing cattle, then her father would have no choice then to confront Avery and his brand.
"So I thought I'd come to town and do some shopping, and maybe stop by and say hello."
"Thanks darling, the conversation around here," she looked at Lunsford, who sat in the barstool next to Kim asleep, his face planted firmly on the bar, "has been a bit lacking."
Kim shook her head. "Looks like he had one drink to many"
"And then he had five more" Monique sighed
"Well the Rockwaller's store has a new split skirt I've had my eye on. It's a little… provocative but it's perfect for riding."
"Good afternoon ladies," said Sheriff Barkin. Automatically, he caught the brim of his hat between his two fingers and drew it off.
"Afternoon Sheriff," the both greeted him.
"Miss Alexander, if you don't mind, I'll have a glance of wine. Usually I don't drink so early but I've reason to celebrate, seems our town is set to build a courthouse."
"Fantastic, a place isn't a real town unless it has a law wrangler or two," exclaimed Lunsford.
"You're awake?" Monique asked as she poured Barkin a drink.
"Yes I am...just in time to celebrate with the sheriff here. I'll have a glass of wine myself."
Barkin toasted to the town's success when Virgil Duval, Cray Shaw, and Curly Thomas walked in through the door.
"Oh boy, here comes trouble" said Lunsford with his lips on the wine glass. "For the past few days, Virgil's been on the peck."
Virgil spotted Barkin and smiled.
"Trouble?" Monique asked. She glanced at Kim who nodded in agreement. "Huh, Sheriff, the Club Banana has established a new rule. No weapons will be allowed in the building."
"Well howdy Sheriff been keeping the termites away from your leg?" Virgil said and his compatriots laughed.
Barkin eyed their weapons. "Boys, I'm afraid say I've just been informed that weapons aren't allowed in this saloon."
"I ain't giving up my gun."
"Shut up Curly," Virgil barked at him before returning to Barkin. "Are you serious?"
"Yes I am, I was elected to keep the peace, I don't play at it. Miss Alexander owns this property and she makes the rules."
Virgil locked eyes with Monique "You see this is what happens when you give these people too much free reign. They start getting too uppity for their own good."
Monique bristled.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Barkin asked.
"Nothin," Virgil sneered. "Alright Sheriff we'll follow the rules."
Monique kept her eyes on Virgil. "There's a closet in the back sheriff, they can put their guns there."
"Alright, follow me." Barkin led Virgil and the rest to the back of the saloon.
Kim watched them closely as they moved to the back. Then she turned to Monique. "I'm sorry about all that."
Monique smiled. "Don't worry about it girl… things may have changed greatly in the past twenty years…..but they haven't changed as much as you'd like to hope. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back" She then slinked away.
Kim sadly watched her leave but she also took the opportunity to head for the exit. Once on the street, she started to search the town for a familiar face.
"Come one come all try the new chicken wire… this spool of wires keeps the chickens in, but keeps the coyotes, dogs and wolves out! The latest of Wade Load's famous inventions… hey Ki-" Before Wade could finish she snatched up his box of invention with one arm and used her free hand to drag him down the street.
"Hey what the heck?" he cried.
"No time, we need some place quiet to talk."
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Back at the saloon Barkin took a seat next at Lunsford at the bar. "You were right Lunsford, these boys are trouble, real trouble," he whispered to him.
Lunsford looked up from his drink. "Do tell."
"I just got a wire back from Bartlesville, Avery did lose his ranch in a poker game to a man named Lily the devil, a notorious card shark and rumored member of Angles Caidos."
"Tarnation, so how did he get his ranch back?"
"I reckon my good friend Avery made a deal with the Devil. He must be using his ranch as a front for rustlers."
"Good lord… Avery has over twenty five hands…you can't possibly bring them all in by yourself."
"You're right, I'd probably need help from the James and Chick at the least…." He sighed. "Middlewood was such a peaceful town."
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The ride took a few more hours after meeting with Chick Moore's group at the halfway mark, the riders where now twenty one men deep. When the reached the Bar B only four of Avery's hands were there to greet them when they arrived.
"And what's this all about," one of the hands said with a cold smile on his face.
Ron studied the four. The man who had spoken up had a well oiled holster, to give the pistol a smoother motion when drawing. So far, he was the most dangerous one.
Chick Moore and James Possible stepped out to the front of the group. Ron casually stepped up behind James.
James sighed. "We've checked these fine animals of yours and it's strange how many different brands you've got on some of them. Do you happen to have bills of sale from their former owners?"
The men laughed and some of them stepped away from each other until they were all six feet apart. "I can't say we do."
"That's bad," Chick said. "Without proof, you can't blame a man for jumping to conclusions."
"Are you calling us rustlers?" The outlaws tensed and studied the cowboys with interest. A second later, Avery Bronson stepped into view obviously drunk and belligerent. "What's going on here?"
"I'm wondering the same thing," said Chick.
James looked down at the ground for a moment and then finally made eye contact with Avery.
"You're rustling Avery, we know it."
"How dare you show up to my spread and spew such nonsense!"
"We've seen the cows with our own eyes… some of them ours," Chick stated.
Avery glanced at the rustlers then he looked past Chick to James. "Your cows were taken?"
"Yes, I've counted it myself. Some of my heads are missing and there was a trail leading back to your spread."
Avery looked bewildered but then regained his composure. "Alright… just let me handle it and I promise none of this will ever happen again."
"You're right, it won't" said Chick.
The rustlers tensed again. Ron slowly eased in front of James Possible. Astonishment came to Avery's face. "I give you my word."
Chick shook his head. "It's not enough. You know the range law as well as we do."
Avery chuckled. "You can't be….over a bunch of cows?"
"Those cows are how we put food in our family's mouths; it's how we make a living"
"Hold it right there," said the vocal rustler with a dark scowl as Ron took a step forward. "You take another step forward and we'll tell everyone who you are."
Ron completely blocked Mister Possible from any good shooting angles. "That's fine with me, tell them who I am." He hooked his thumbs in his belt creating a look of casual indifference.
The three other three rustlers visibly tensed but the talkative one actually eased forward. He was looking for a fight, he'd make the first move and the others would follow.
"You think you're better than us. You're just as stained as we are."
Ron smiled politely at him and took a deep breath Cold as ice. "If you feel lucky, than please go ahead and roll the dice."
This brought a grin to the rustlers face and he went for his gun. With that Ron's right hand flashed down and up, moving so fast it was a blur. It was in his holster one moment and in another it was in his hand. The gun boomed like thunder and slug tore into the head rustler's neck, he staggered back with a look of shock on his face.
Ron spun on his heel to the east with his colt perfectly centered; he aimed at the next nearest rustler who was far too slow. He had not even pulled his gun out of the holster before Ron fired a second time. Then Ron reversed direction by swinging to the right, slapped the hammer of the colt while squeezing the trigger. He struck another rustler down in the chest knocking him backwards.
Finally Ron's fourth shot in as many seconds caught the last rustler in the temple. Then the first rustler who was still clutching his neck fell over backwards.
Ron exhaled and a wisp of white escaped from his lips as he released the spent cartridges from his gun and swiftly reloaded.
"You killed them!"
"That was our initial intention sir… if I hadn't, they might have killed you." He told his employer.
"How?" cried Bo. "I never saw a man draw and fire so fast in my life. Four men… before anyone of them fired a shot."
"I guess they caught a bad case of the way too slows. It spreads like wild fire this time of year."
"I can't believe…." Avery stammered and suddenly everyone's attention was back on him. He looked at Chick and James, his eyes pleading. "You can't."
Chick stepped forward he glanced at a nearby tree. "I'm sorry Avery, you brought this on your self."
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Creyer Creek was a typical small town that was built on the crossroads leading to bigger towns. They did a lot of business, selling to the constant flow of settlers entering or leaving Texas and heading into the territories. This was where the legendary Sheriff Ken Towers had settled after more than a two life times of civil duty.
Walking into the lobby of the town's main hotel, Will Du paused to admire the quaint little place. It was nowhere near as fancy as the hotels in Austin or San Antonio but it sill had a homey feel to it. Betty, Veronica, Jenkins and Seth, whose hands now wore manacles connected by chromium plate chain about a foot long, followed him up to the front desk. Dropping his saddlebag loudly on the counter, Will smiled at the clerk. "Afternoon sir. Deputy Marshal Will Du, I was wondering if you got anything open on the top floor."
"Hold it right there," Ken Towers barked as he entered the hotel.
Ken Towers was a big man. He stood over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and arms that could squeeze the life out of a bear. He had brown hair with dark eyes that seemed to lock on whoever he was talking to.
"Mister Towers….I mean Sheriff Towers…:" Will rushed over to the officer. "It's a pleasure to meet your sir….my fat….Marshal Director had told me so much about you. You are a legend in my book sir."
Towers shook Will's hand but his face remained a chisel of marble. Two of his deputies made their way into the hotel.
"Nice to meet you son, your pa was a good man. I was proud to ride with him. And I must congratulate you on the capture of Seth Beechum. He's wanted around these parts, so if you don't mind I'll take him in. I've got a cell waiting with his name on it."
Will looked back at Seth. "I've got the situation under control."
Towers ignored Will and signaled for his deputies to grab Seth.
"Hey, there's no need for that… In fact I could use your help, Mister Beechum here has some vital information for me and I'm escorting him to….."
Towers roughly brushed past Will almost knocking him to the side.
"Grab him and let's go," he told his deputies.
They took Seth by the arm. "Hey, the deal is off if I go to jail," Seth protested.
Will stepped in front of the sheriff. "Mister Towers please, with Seth's help I may have the means to take down Tobias Coover and Angles Caidos. I know you can see the importance of……"
"Tobias Coover is dead and Angles Caidos is just a fairy tale."
Will's eyes widened. "A man of your stature can't possibly believe…..I mean, you of all people, outlaws are more organized than ever…prominent politicians being assassinated, people being scared off their home by "unknown" assailants."
"There are and there will always be bad elements in this country and you'd be crazy to think you can fix it all that's just the reality of the situation."
He pushed past Will again as the deputies pulled a struggling Seth away by the arms. Betty Director tried to step in between Ken and the exit. "Mister Towers, as a good friend of my late husband, I implore you to stop this… Seth Beechum is our only lead in a very important investigation."
He side stepped her. "And I implore you ma'am to let me do my job. When I see a wanted man, I have to bring him in."
Without thinking Will grabbed the sheriff by the arm. "How can a man who Barney Director considered a partner be so blind? I know for a fact… I'd bet my life that Tobias Coover is still alive and his gang very much exists, you have to trust me…"
"Why? Because you're Barney's boy? That don't mean nothing no to me son," Towers growled as he pulled his arm away.
"For the sake of justice…."
Towers stepped up to Will so that the very spittle from his mouth would make contact with his face. "What do you know about justice boy? I once spent weeks out there in the plains alone tracking dangerous Apaches after they've raided whole towns. I've seen men hung, men tortured, women violated, whole families killed. Things that just five years ago were still giving you nightmares, that had that you crawling into your ma's bed. Yet I've still went on ignoring my own safety, always fighting the odds just to keep the peace. Son, you are a hundred years too early to talk to me about justice."
Towers turned to walk away. Will licked his lips and his body shook involuntary. "Naw you're not blind," he took a step forward, "you're working with them."
"Will!" Betty shouted.
Ken Towers stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face Will. "What?"
Will nodded as if to confirm his own convictions. "One thing Barney taught me was how to read a man and to trust my instincts… and my instincts are telling me that either Tobias has you buffaloed or you're in cahoots with him."
Towers sniffed, his hand reached for his gun belt. He removed it and handed it to his deputy. 'Take off your belt," he told Will.
"What?"
"I'm the head tin around here, I say take off your belt," Towers repeated.
Will unbuckled his belt and placed it on the counter. The sheriff walked over to the counter lifted the gun belt and tossed it to his other deputy. "Alright, repeat what you just said to me."
Will, straightened. "I said that…" To Will it was as if the sun had exploded. He clutched at his face as he stumbled backwards onto the counter.
"Will!" someone shouted.
He grimaced from the pain and wiped the blood from his lips. It didn't take long for him to put two and two together to realize he had been punched.
Betty started to move towards him but Will signaled for her to stop. He wiped his mouth again and stood up straight.
"Will," Betty said with a cautious tone, "this isn't a boxing match with rules. I don't think this is a situation you're ready for…"
He ignored her and he rushed at the Sheriff, which turned out to be a big mistake. Towers blocked his first attack and before Will could react, he hit him twice with a left and a right, knocking Will to the floor. Will, tried to get up to his feet only to get a boot fastened on his throat.
"Coming around my town, making wild accusations, are you trying to ruin my reputation with the good folk around here with such nonsense?"
Will had trouble getting air down his windpipe. He clawed at the Sheriff's foot, hoping to pry it off his neck.
"I'm the law here boy, I want you to say it." He leaned in harder and Will's vision started to blur.
Click
Betty pointed her pistol at the sheriff, forcing the deputies to point their guns at her. "If you go any further, I won't hesitate," she said.
Towers smiled and noticeably relieved the pressure on Will's neck but not by much. "Say it!"
Will coughed. "You're the law."
"What's my name?"
"Ken Towers!" Will wheezed. "Ken Towers is the law"
Towers removed his foot. "Marshal Wil Du my ass, they'll let any snot nosed green horn wear a badge these days." With that Towers and his deputies escorted Seth out of the door, not before handing Jenkins Will's gear.
Veronica rushed to Will's side. "Are you ok?"
He sat up, wheezing, the sides of his face felt like wood. But he was still playing over what just happened in his mind.
"Let me help you up."
Will angrily pushed her away. He picked himself off the floor, found his hat, and wordlessly staggered to the exit.
"Will," Betty said solemnly but she got no response as he pushed his way through the front doors of the hotel.
"Should we go after him?" Barnaby asked.
"I believe we should."
"No," Betty said before Veronica could move. "We need to let him work it out alone for now."
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"Apparently the rest headed south. If we follow their trail, we should catch up to them," Willis Durant said to his boss.
Chick nodded. "It's going to get ugly now," he said as he stared at three men, horses ropes around their neck, Avery Bronson and two other young rustlers who had been found hiding out in the barn.
"You can't do this! You have no right!" cried one of the rustlers.
"Every man over six years old knows that rustling is a hanging offence!" John shouted at him.
All the attention was now on the rustlers, the men had momentarily forgotten about Ron's amazing display of gun skill. Ron himself was watching Mister Possible, who was now making his way up to Avery's horse.
"Why'd you do it Avery, the money? I could have lent you the money if you had just asked. We were friends weren't we?"
Avery smirked as he stared off into the horizon, as if he was seeing the sky for the first time. "I always imagined me and Belle sitting on the porch, grey haired, sitting in our rocking chairs….watching the sun go down. I remembered the look in her eyes when we first moved in. God she loved this ranch, she loved this land." Avery's voice had no emotion in it, his face expressionless.
"The condemned are always granted a last request. Do you have one Avery?"
Avery blinked once then turned to James. "Don't look at me with those pitiful eyes. Go home James, go home to your family." And that was all, Avery turned back to the horizon.
James silently walked away and took his place next to Chick Moore. "I'm ready when you are"
Chick nodded to Willis who started towards the horses.
"No please," cried the youngest rustler. "I've got a family back in Tennessee, I just wanted to have some fun, see the world outside my home, I never wanted to get mixed up with this bunch."
The second rustler cursed every man there with every string of obscenities he could muster as Willis took position behind the three horses.
"No please mister, I don't want to die!"
"No one ever does my boy… no one ever does." Willis elevated his rifle and fired into the air and the horses were off.
Ron flinched as the horses swept out from under the rustlers.
"Lord God," a hand breathed as the bodies tapped danced in the air as they gasped and gurgled making inhuman noises.
Ron tried to take his eyes off the grisly scene, but he found that he was frozen in place. As the men grew weaker, their movements suddenly became sluggish. Someone somewhere could be heard throwing up.
"Jesus," Bo muttered under his breath as the bodies eventually stopped moving.
"Well," Chick swallowed the lump in his throat, "do we bury them?"
James spat on the floor to get the taste out of his mouth. "Yeah… yeah we bury them."
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Felix's bad leg twinged with a pain as it was prone to do if after every nap, he spent a moment cursing his leg and then another massaging it with his right hand, He looked at the leg brace at the foot of the bed and sighed,. The brace always took a while to put on, he had to secure it tightly and position the straps correctly so at best it wouldn't chafe something awful. At worst his leg wouldn't hold up.
Satisfied that the brace was secure Felix propped himself against the wall and slowly stood up. He limped over to his clothes and began to dress himself. Content on how he appeared in the mirror over the washbasin he made his out the door of his hotel room.
Felix walked down the street stepping carefully on the old worn out boardwalk. The last thing he needed he thought, was another accident. He came into a café and went inside for a bite to eat.
"Good, god it is you." the cook blurted as Felix a took a seat "I saw you capture Tom Calhoun last year in Austin."
Felix nodded "yea that was me……I'd like some coffee if you don't mind."
Apparently his reputation as a bounty hunter was spreading. It was funny though for most of his life a profession in bounty hunting never crossed his mind, until the incident with scarecrow of course. The west seemed like a good place for a person to hide, but that wasn't really the case. People rarely traveled alone, travelers, settlers, outlaws had to deal with each other, for food, for clothing and shelter. The reality was people eventually talked.
So obviously the easiest way to fid an outlaw was to take the outlaw trail. Those who frequented the outlaw trail were outlaws and bounty hunters who were barely tolerated by the law. Seeing how it was absurd to be a one legged outlaw, a bounty hunter was his only choice,
For two years he had been searching for Scarecrow. This hunt was the only reason for him waking up in the morning. It wasn't as if he had anything else going on his life, he didn't have a job anymore (Who'd hire or marry a one-legged man with no worth) So he put his all into the bounty hunting, every bit of effort he could muster….and because of that he was now getting himself a name.
Scarecrow had taken away the only man who didn't look at him with pity or condescension and he would have his vengeance, but what would he do after that. Maybe he'd come back down to Dallas and get a job sweeping stores, cleaning stables.
"You look like a man who hasn't smiled for a while"
Felix turned to his waitress "There was a time when I was a cheerful sort but then again time was I had the use of both my legs."
"I bet you're here for the Baxter brothers."
"The Baxters are in town huh? They're wanted for robbery in Wyoming." Felix thought it over he didn't really need the money and the Baxter brothers to his knowledge had no relation to Scarecrow.
"I hate those dang brothers there always looking at me funny, got me scared to walk the streets sometimes."
Felix clucked and pushed back his chair "maybe I can help with that, where could I find the Baxters?"
He followed her eyes to the saloon across the street "Hey now it wouldn't be wise to take them alone" she warned.
"Don't worry ma'am, I'll be back later for my coffee."
Felix slowly limped onto the street, from any angle you looked at it, he appeared to be a less than imposing figure. As it was it seemed he was using all his energy just to walk. Felix entered the bar and suddenly all the talk died out and the room became quiet.
"Hell, that's Felix Renton" said a man with a usually loud voice.
The two outlaws at the back of the bar stopped their game of pool "well, well" one of the said "if it isn't limpy the bounty hunter" they laughed.
Felix shuffled over to the pool table "well boys how about I buy you one last drink before I bring you in."
"And how you going to do that cripple? They's two of us" One of them laughed as he lined up a shot.
Felix snatched up one of the cue balls from the table "I'll thank you not to call me a cripple amigo. And I don't care if there are five of you. You're still not getting past me"
The closest outlaw to him stepped forward; Felix noted their position, one across the table from him another just an arm's distance away.
The men sitting closest to the pool table began pushing their seats away from what they were sure would be gunplay.
"I've seen the dodgers on both of you, Davy and Ray Baxter; now I really don't feel like slinging lead at anyone tonight so let's do this peaceful-like."
"What if we don't want to go to jail?"
Felix sighed "I don't think you have a choice."
"You go to hell" Ray Baxter shouted as he reached for his pistol.
Felix quickly whipped the billiard ball at Ray and it connected squarely in the nose releasing a spray of crimson from his nostrils.
Davy cussed up a storm as he watched Ray Baxter clutched at his nose. Unfortunately he took his eyes off of Felix who snatched the outlaw's gun from his leather and used it to pop him in the head knocking him unconscious.
As Ray Baxter cried at the sight of his own blood, Felix managed to makes his was way across the table and laid him out with his brother's pistol.
Felix looked down at the two men on the floor. Yeah as far as outlawing goes the Baxters weren't that impressive, but money was money.
He sighed as he took a seat and once again began to massage his aching leg. Then he glanced at the speechless bar patrons "well can someone do me a personal favor and call the sheriff. Shame but my leg really starts acting up on these windy days."
XXXXXXXX
"Money's here in this envelope but I'll need you to sign a few papers first" the town deputy said as he handed Felix an envelope. Felix took the standard hour to sign the proper legal forms for bringing in the criminals.
Felix stepped out into the boardwalk feeling slightly content now that the Baxters had insured he had enough to stay on Scarecrow's trail for another couple of weeks, although he hadn't had a fresh lead for a couple of days now.
Just as he was thinking about his next move he a commotion down the street at the hotel. He curiously limped down towards the hotel just in time to see a two burly men hurl a third man into the street.
"We done told you already stop bothering the guests!" One of the men shouted as the other tossed a suitcase near the head of the man in the street. Then they both headed back into hotel.
The man in the street coughed up a cloud of dust as he climbed to his feet. He wore a brown suit with a string tie and funny looking flat hat. He reminded Felix of a New Orleans riverboat gambler.
"Damn ignorant roughnecks…I swear there's nothing but barbarians in this godforsaken part of the wor---" He stopped when he noticed Felix across the street. He pointed at him "wait a minute now, leg brace, obviously of Spanish decent, colts at the hip, I know you." He jumped at his suitcase and threw it open revealing a wealth of paper.
He ran through the loose pages like a mad man until he apparently found what he was looking. He looked at the paper than back at Felix "Yes you can't possibly be anyone else you're Felix Renton the bounty hunter! My good friend you are just the man I need to help me traverse this roughneck terrain."
"Uh sorry I'm not looking for work" Felix began to turn away
"Wait...w….." the man said "I can help you. You're searching for the Scarecrow too aren't you? That's your story right?"
Felix whirled towards him "I am...May I ask who you might be?"
The man puffed out his chest and smiled "Jimmy Blamhammer of Pennington Publishing, I'm a writer."
"A writer?"
"Yes sir I'm sure you've seen some of my early works Typhoon Nell and Old Ironsides in the Savage Lands or Aaron Lacy the Fire Marshal in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
"You write dime novels?"
"Or American contemporary classics as I like to call them" Jimmy exclaimed
"……….So what do you want with Scarecrow?"
"Ah ha if that isn't the question of the hour my good man! The outlaw known as Scarecrow has captured the hearts of young Americans as far as Philadelphia. And Pennington Publishing has hired me to get his story."
"You want to write a book about Scarecrow?" Felix asked incredulously
"Outlaw stories are big in the cities back east and this Scarecrow is the big shot of the month. Now I've got most of his story from the most "credible" sources of course, but I've yet to meet the man himself"
"What does this have to with me?" Felix asked.
"Mister, folks say this country is hell on horses an' women. Well, it's hell on tenderfeet, too. I'll never make it to Scarecrow without your help."
"Ah so why should I help you, most likely I can find him myself."
Jimmy grinned from ear to ear "Ah see this is where I'm sure fate has stepped in. Before I was rudely maltreated, I was the in the middle of a few inquires when a young woman approached me."
"And?"
"She didn't speak English, but I swear she was drawn to me because she heard name Scarecrow." He glanced back at the hotel "now if I take you to her do I have your word that you'll be my escort."
"Yes you have my word" Felix said aggressively "But you must know that I'm planning to weigh the Scarecrow down with lead don't you?"
"Even better!" Blamhammer exclaimed "tragedies sell like hotcakes…American hero captured in the tide of youthful rebellion, seeking freedom and adventure only to be gunned down in his prime….It's perfect!" He glanced back at the hotel "there she is!"
Felix pushed past Jimmy and moved quickly towards the Mexican woman who stepped out of the hotel "Hola senorita!" he called.
She turned "¿Quiere usted saber acerca de Espantapájaros?"
Felix nodded excitedly "Si…Si soy un amigo bueno de su, yo lo he estado buscando para siempre.!"
Jimmy pulled a pencil and a blank page from his suitcase from his suitcase and stumbled forward towards Felix and the woman.
"What is she saying? What's she saying?"
"A few months ago she used to work at a boarding house in Texas …." Felix said without taking his eyes of the girl "….there was a gunfight…..she's says the Scarecrow and his friends got ambushed by bandits in front of the building…..she and one of the other boarding girls got caught in the crossfire….and" Felix stopped ¿Está usted seguro?
"What? What happened?" Jimmy shouted.
"She says….that the Scarecrow tried to push the girl out of the way of the gunfire but unfortunately she got hit anyway…..although he had a bandanna over his face she saw his eyes above the …..he looked so sad she says……but then he stood in front of her as he and his friends finished off the bandits…..after that they rode out of town."
"How exciting, adventure, tragedy and intrigue, beautiful" Jimmy said as he took notes.
"That's not all" Felix said with slight treble in his voice "she says that night Scarecrow snuck back to town and offered to pay for the girl's funeral……He gave the head of the boarding house money to send to the girl's family." Felix thought about it, this wasn't the first time he heard of Scarecrow's supposedly altruistic activities. He found that he felt conflicted about said tales.
"AMAZING an outlaw with a heart of gold, it's compelling and endearing. It'll be my greatest book ever…I'll sell thousands!"
Felix ignored the giddy writer and returned to his conversations. Jimmy watched as the two conversed for what seemed like an eternity. Finally he saw a smile come to Felix's face.
"Gracias Senorita" Felix said eventually and the girl walked back into the hotel.
"What, what, what!"
Felix ran his hands across "Middlewood, Colorado"
"Middlewood, that's where he's at? Middlewood?"
"Come on we've got to prepare, we're leaving tonight…wait I need to buy some ammunition."
For a man with a less then perfect left leg Felix deftly blew past Jimmy and headed down the street.
"Hey hold on" Jimmy ran up to catch up to Felix "my you sure are in a rush, are you even sure you can beat the Scarecrow?"
"I know I can, and as I writer you should know it too"
"What?"
"In every yarn I've ever read the bad guys always die" Felix replied
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The scout raised his horse as he approached Dub Wilson "You're right Dub it was gunshots. I saw then burying some of our boys back at the spread. I saw it through my spy glass."
"Just as I thought….we're being tailed by a bunch of sheep being led by a lobo wolf."
Trip Conner spat on the ground "So what do we do now?"
"What we do best" Dub grinned "we dry gulch them…the way I see it sheep being led by a wolf deserve to be slaughtered.
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Chick Moore and James Possible rode abreast a few yards ahead of the rest of the pack as they slowly rode along in silence. Ron was surprised yet grateful that none of them had inquired him about his shooting. That would soon change he thought but right now the hangings were still they're minds. For most of these men it was the first time they had seen someone killed and in such a violent manner to boot. They had tasted blood for the first time and it made them sick
Suddenly James Possible stopped his horse and turned it around "I want to say something before things get….get worse……this isn't….this isn't what I hired you all for and if anyone wants to back out now they can. No one will forget how you tried to go after these criminals and if anything happens to me, Anne will gladly pay you what you're owed.
The cowhands didn't say a word as they glanced back and forth at each other. John was the first one to move he gigged his horse forward and tipped his hat to his employer as he rode past continuing on down the trail after Chick Moore. Then as if part of a parade the other hands followed suit, with Ron being the last one to pass by.
"I reckon you've got your answer Mister P"
James took a deep breath "I reckon I have…" he turned to Ron "how do you feel son, right now how do you feel?"
"Feel?" Ron looked down at the ground first then back at James, looking him straight in the eyes "I feel sick to my stomach." He gave a faint smile
"Yeah" James lifted his head to the setting sun in the horizon "Avery saw something out there in horizon. He couldn't keep his eyes off it till the very end….I don't know what it was, I probably never will." He turned his horse around "look here Ronald a man's past is his own business, maybe I am naïve for thinking the best of people, and I'm not going to pretend to know who you are, but you've been good to my family and you've been good to the brand. You're out here risking your neck, backing the play of a man you've recently met...That makes you a good man in my book and that's all I need."
James put his boots to his horse and rode forward leaving Ron behind speechless. He had never seen anything like it; these Possibles were a rare breed, especially the daughter. Ron took in the scenery as he continued to ride on. Speaking of Kim he found that these beautiful rolling hills were about as green as her eyes. He should know he looked her straight in eye when she looked at him and he couldn't help but like what he saw there, behind those pools of green.
"Whoa hold on….where did that come from?" He said aloud. Ron wondered about this as Kip broke into a verse of Sweet Adeline.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was quiet among the oaks and cottonwoods as the cowhands settled near a small stream. Some of the men dipped their handkerchiefs into the cool stream and used it to wipe their brow.
Bo and Stanly watched as Ron dismounted from his horse as it lowered its head into the stream for a drink. He patted it on the head and strolled aimlessly into the nearby wooded area.
"Quick as a reflex that boy, never seen anything like it" Bo said.
"No normal man has that kind of gunplay. That was the work of a professional gunman. What do you say John you're the foreman after all?"
John looked towards where Ron had dismounted and then at James Possible who was in the middle of a conversation with Chick Moore. "The big man seems to like him, and I reckon I've taken a shine to the boy. The way I see it he's a Circle C hand just like you and me."
Bo and Stanley nodded in agreement.
"It's just about dark, things will get harder for here on out" Chick Moore stated. James was about to reply when Ron's horse suddenly lifted its head from the water, nervously stamped a front hoof, grunted, and then strangely enough trotted into the area Ron had disappeared.
James was about to dismiss the strange occurrence when he noticed some movement in a nearby thicket.
"Jesus it's an ambush" he thought but before he could get a word out cackling outlaw leaped from the thicket, shot gun in hand, and fired. James heard the horrifying smack of the slug that slammed into Chick's chest. Chick Moore didn't shout in pain he was dead before he hit the ground.
Within seconds over two dozens guns blazed back and forth wit less than thirty feet between them breaking the peaceful tranquility of the land.
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The lighting of a sulfur match caught Ron's eye, he had wanted to be alone to get his thoughts together but it looked as if he wasn't going to get his wish.
"Dub Wilson this is a surprise."
Dub Wilson stepped from behind a tree and lit his cigarette "Set you off your feed didn't I?" He blew out a blast of smoke "Hey pard, been a long, long time."
Gunshots could be heard coming from the camp, "looks like the ball has already started." Dub drawled.
Ron took a half step back "whoa now," Dub grinned "don't go nowhere we've got business to settle you and me."
"I don't think so….Dub we don't really have to fight here…You can just walk away"
Dub shook his head "Walk away after you killed four of my pards… Now I can't do that"
It felt like there was a bale of cotton in his mouth "I wish I could believe you were actually fighting for your friends Dub. Than what you're doing here would have some meaning"
"I don't understand you Cooley….what kind of gunman are you? Don't you know you have a reputation to live up too?"
"Or live down too" Ron joked
"You're a disgrace" Dub spat "now I won't to see the real Scarecrow, show me who you really are. Pull on me."
"Why are you doing this?"
"You know why dammit, with your name under my belt. I'll be close to being known as the best."
"Ah! So that's how the land lays. Trust me you don't really want it….the reputation…..it's not worth it."
Dub stepped forward "Oh yes it is, I'll become a legend, they're going to write books about me someday. Now I'm tired of all this gum flapping…..draw!"
Ron inched backwards "if you want bullets to fly, you're going have to lead in this dance."
"You think I won't"
"I hope you won't. What I did to your friends...I had to protect Mister Possible and the others. This fight here is unnecessary."
"It's very necessary."
"One of us doesn't have to die today." Ron protested.
"We all die Scarecrow…some of us long before our time. You're going to prove this point."
The gunshots were getting worse, Ron had to get back to James "all right Dub I'll give you what you want. We'll go on three"
Dub licked his lips hungrily "One" Ron started.
"Two…you're going to be remembered Dub….every time I close my eyes and lay down to sleep I'll see your face."
"I hear you talking but you ain't made it to three"
Ron and Dub's hands inched towards their revolvers "Thr----" Abruptly Ron's horse came galloping into the clearing.
"What the hell?" Dub cried as Ron's horse reined up near him breaking up his concentration. He turned away from the horse to see Ron sprinting in the opposite direction.
"Damn you, you yella bastard!" Dub shouted after him
XXXXXX
Rustlers rose from their concealment on all sides. Two rushed from behind an oak only to be brought down by a blast of Bo's shotgun.
"Christ we're surrounded" Stanley yelled as he snapped a shot at another "John. John, where's the boss?"
John did not hear Stanley he had just seen Kip get hit in the back and he was in a terrible rage. He was firing his rifle as fast as he could at as many running shapes as he could. Billy was visibly shaken as he fired a shot that slammed into an outlaw's chest sending him backwards into the stream.
Bo shouted as he saw Silias go down in a spray of blood two bullets hitting him at once. Bo turned towards the murderers but he was brought down by another shot that grazed his head. All around him bodies continued to hit the ground.
James Possible reloaded his pistol with bullets whistling by his head he managed to fire five shots as quickly as he could, not even taking a moment to set his feet
"Look out" Ron shouted as an outlaw took aim at James. Ron tackled him to the ground just as the outlaw fired, missing them both completely. Ron rolled once he hit the ground, cocked and aimed at the outlaw who was more interested in him now then James. They fired at the same time, the outlaw's bullet grazed Ron by the cheek but Ron's bullet sent the outlaw writing in pain clutching his stomach.
"Let's go!" Ron grabbed James by the arm "come on!" He kept firing as James followed him towards the more wooden areas, where they could find cover. With his right Colt depleted Ron switched to his left, one shot connected with a rustler in the forehead, pivioting his hips he fired unloaded his next six shots onrushing rustlers.
Ron pulled James towards the trees as he attempted to reload his Colt. "Get behind the tress!" Ron pushed James forward when he suddenly tripped over a rock than size of an acorn, causing his gun to slip from his hand.
Crap what a time to get clumsy.
Just then a large shadow fell over him, Ron crawled frantically towards his gun when he felt someone grab him by the collar and pulled him up from the floor.
Ron looked into the eyes of an overly excited Shod Collins. "Hey Mister Gunman let's see how you fare without your tools."
Ron didn't even see the first blow land, it sent him reeling. Ron threw a punch at the large man but eh deflected the attack and smashed his fist into Ron's stomach forcing the air from his body.
My guns I need my guns Ron scrambled for his revolver. But Shod cut him off and with forearm shot to his back knocking Ron back down to the ground. Shod stood over him and struck him in the face once and then twice.
Ron attempted to push the large man off but his strength failed him….I can't believe it I'm nothing without my guns…nothing….
His vision started to blur when Shod struck him again. I thought all gunmen were supposed to die in a hail of bullets. Live by the gun die by the gun that's how it's supposed to be… Shod reached into his vest and pulled out a sharp hunting knife. He brought the knife to Ron's chest I can't help but feel a little disappointed…..
In slow motion Ron watched as Shod started to bring the knife down on him when a shot rang out and his head violently snapped backwards. Blood and brain matter splattered across the moss on the tree trunks as Shod's body fell unceremoniously to the ground.
Through blurry eyes Ron saw James Possible stand over his Shod's and empy his pistol into the body until the hammer clicked on a spent cartridge.
His breathing heavy and with sweat pouring down his face James somberly stared at the body.
Killing changes a man don't let anyone tell you different. It makes you an outsider.
"Are you ok Cooley?" he said to Ron. He looked at Ron with the same kindness he always looked at him.
Ron's felt him self sinking into darkness "Stoppable"
"What?"
"My name is Ronald Stoppable" Ron answered with a smile before he blacked out.
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"Oh you are back I see" Monique smiled as Kim re-renter the saloon "Where were you off too?"
"Oh I had a few errands to run"
"You know for someone who doesn't drink or gamble, you sure do spend a long time here."
"Well I thought I'd keep you company…" she glanced back at Virgil Duval and keep, an eye on a few things.
Kim scanned the large saloon "what happened to the sheriff?"
"Sheriff stepped out for a moment, said he be back as soon as possible. And I hope he does I think he was the only one keeping the peace in here."
Both woman turned when they heard a loud whoop from Virgil's table "well as long as your here how about a game of darts."
"I'd love too" Kim replied
Virgil tossed back a drink, emptying the shot glass. Then he settled, filled his glass again and said "everything got out of hand, he suckered punch me you know. I could have handled him if he didn't sucker punch me." Cray Shaw nodded in agreement as he dealt out the playing cards among the six men at the table.
Curly Thomas had a troubled look on his face as he saw Virgil throw back another glass "Hey Virgil how about we go back to the café' and get ourselves some dinner."
"I already ate dinner" Virgil bellowed "coffee and whisky that's my dinner dammit!" The other players were getting visibly annoyed at his drunken hollering
"Stranger my ass, he was a cheat and a coward! If I ever see that mangy coyote again…I"
"Sure, sure" Cray said "now how about we concentrate on this game."
"Oh yes the game, I should be a school master because I'm going to teach you boys a lesson."
"Just like the way the stranger taught you a lesson" A frustrated townsman muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Virgil slurred
"Hold on now Virgil, remember what Louis said we ain't supposed to cause no more trouble." Curly yelled
But it was too late Virgil pulled out a hidden pistol that was strapped to his back, the townsman cried out as the pistol barrel swiped across his face.
"Jesus" Cray shouted.
Virgil pounced upon the townsman "Virgil no! The sheriff…."
"Hobble your lip Curly!" Virgil screamed. He shook the townsman violently, as he raged out of control "I asked you a question you son of a bi" he swiped the barrel across the other side of the man's face.
Virgil stood up straight, kicked the man on the floor, and took aim. He was set to take squeeze the trigger when a steel tip dart embed itself in the back of his hand.
He cried out in horror as he dropped his gun to the floor. He pulled the dart from his hand looked towards the bar and there he saw Kim staring back him. It was her, he didn't how but he knew.
"You…." he sputtered. He made a break towards her "you brazen whore!!!'" He came at here with his fist raised. Once he was an arm's length away he brought his fist down at her head. Kim immediately sidestepped the attack causing his fist to smash down on the bar; deftly she snatched a shot glass of whiskey off the bar and threw into his face.
Both of Virgil's hands reached towards his burning eyes, capitalizing on the opportunity Kim sent a well placed kick into Virgil's most private of areas. He whimpered softly before collapsing to the ground in crumpled heap.
"Goodness!" Monique exclaimed "did you have to hit him there?"
Kim turned to Monique "Those without manners need to learn some….and besides he called me a whore some insults cannot be abided."
"What's going on here?" Sheriff Barkin stepped into the room "I step out for a bit and all hell breaks out!"
"Virgil Duval went plumb crazy" said one of the salon girls.
"He, pistol whipped Harry Sack for no good reason and he was set to beat on Miss Possible" shouted a townsman.
"He should hang for this" another shouted.
"Now everyone settle, there won't any mob law in my town" Barkin strolled up to the moaning Vigil Duval "That's assault Virgil; you're going up against a judge this time."
Kim watched as Curly nodded to Cray before rushing out the door. She couldn't help but feel that things were going to get worse, and she'd be ready when it did.
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Stanly knelt over Kip's riddled body and he made the sign of the cross. "I didn't take you for the religious type" Billy sniffed as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
Stanly kept his eyes on the body "I am when it comes to dying Billy."
Bo leaned against a tree as one of Chick Moore's hands treated the gash his head.
"Looks somebody creased you Bo, don't worry I used to work under this doctor in Missouri. He was an interesting fellow he only prescribed one thing for his patients whiskey."
Bo chuckled but then he became sullen as he looked down the bodies "this reminds me of Liberty Springs Virginia back in the winter of sixty four."
The hand looked up "You were at Liberty Springs?"
"I was under Brigadier General Alfred Thomas Arcamides Torbert," Bo said proudly
"Well I was under Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early."
"You were a dirty Johnny Reb?" Bo exclaimed.
"You were a damn stinkin Yank!" the hand cried out. They both stared at each for a moment before breaking into laughter as the cowboy continued to treat Bo's head "Don't that beat all, you in the mood for a smoke Bo" he said.
"Smoke! Me? Hell I'll give you my horse for a cigar."
James Possible sat down on a log his face in his hands when John slowly approached "Luckily we only lost Kip and Silias, Antonio's hurt be he should make it."
James said nothing
"Chick Moore's dead and…..most of the causalities…..came from his spread, eight men dead so far."
"What about the rustlers?"
"We got those bushwhacking bastards. The one's that didn't get shot are human fruit."
"So….."
"So what?"
"Do we bury them or do we leave them for the buzzards?"
"We shot them….we bury them" James told his foreman. He sighed "I'm just happy it's finally over" James than looked over his shoulders "where's Stop--- Cooley?"
Ron staggered into the forest still not completely over his recent beating. He leaned against a tree to hold himself up. Dub Wilson wasn't among the dead, he had to find him and finish what they had started before Dub hurts anyone else. But Dub was nowhere to be seen he must have escaped.
Ron stopped when he heard a noise bushes. "Hey pard" he said when his horse trotted to him "I'm sorry I had to run out on you there boy but…" A knife handle that jutted out of tree trunk caught his attention. He walked towards the knife, there was something scrawled beneath it.
He read it aloud "Show me Scarecrow or I'll see Red? What does that me…oh god no…"
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"The way I see it Virgil's going to get personal with a judge real soon." Cray Shaw told Louis Wilson as he and Curly Thomas stood alone in a livery barn.
"I say we break Virgil out, rob the bank and tree this whole damn town, make our mark right here" Curly advised.
Louis contemplated the situation "that part I like, treeing the town. Every newspaper in the region will be writing about us….but what about the cattle."
"Forget the cattle this town is bursting with money!"
"How many men we have in town?" Louis asked.
"I reckon about fourteen" Cray stated.
"That's enough to tree the town but not enough to keep Chick Moore and James' Possible's boys from hunting us down." He rubbed his hands together "Curly head on back to the spread. I want all the boys in town by tomorrow. We'll set ourselves a trap. We take the town and when word gets back to the ranches, they'll ride in here and we'll blow them to hell. Then we ride out of here with all the money in the bank and we can treat ourselves to any breeding bulls we find at the ranches."
"Now that's what I call a plan!" Cray laughed.
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A gas lamp in his hand Wade entered a lone cabin that was located about two hours away from the Possible ranch. Once in the cabin he entered the closet and there he found a well-like passage where weathered steps had been carved into the sandstone. He climbed down the shaft and found himself in a large roomy cave. He quickly realized that there were lit lamps lined up around the cave walls.
Someone was already there.
"Wade!" Kim shouted as she covered her body with her shirt.
"Oh God" he covered his eyes "I didn't know you were already here….I'll come back later." He retreated back towards the steps.
Kim shook her head and turned back to the mirror. She wrapped a tight binder made from strong fabric around her chest area. Then she threw a one of her father's larger shirt over the binder. A moment later she tied her hair up in a bun and placed her hat over it.
She looked her self over in the mirror "Howdy pilgrim" she coughed "Howdy pilgrim" she said with a deeper voice.
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Ron's horse thundered across the plains as he pushed it forward "Come on boy, come on" If Dub laid one hand on her……
You want to see Scarecrow, Dub I'll show you scarecrow. And it might be the last thing you ever see.
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Barkin peeked through his curtains and he immediately spotted two men standing across the street watching his building. "Looks like them boys are on the shoot tonight."
"I'm obliged for the company old man, but you should go home" he told Lunsford who was watching the sleeping Virgil Duval in the cell.
"That man sure did a number on poor Harry. I'm worried Sheriff there's a dark cloud hanging over the town tonight."
Barking continued to stare out the window "You feel that tension. It was just like this when I was in the 15th Maine Infantry as we marched towards Fort Esperanza. We could see and hear cannons firing in the distance, the devil's lightning some people called it. We knew we were headed towards a fight…that's the kind tension I'm feeling right now."
"Don't be such an old croaker. The town'll be fine…. I know what'll ease your mind Sheriff" Lunsford offered Barkin a drink from his spare canteen.
Barkin gladly took the canteen "What's going to become of our town?" he said before taking a drink.
A/N 1) So what do you think did the hangings turn anyone off. I tried to keep it as tasteful as possibly
2) I tried to give Felix some definition here (some of you were not too impressed by him before)...so you'll have to tell me if I did a better job with him.
3) Ron killing: I feel that some of you would have a problem with this but this is his character...I'd like to hear some feedback on him
4) Will Du subplot: Anyone give a darn
5) Tobias: Got some background love it, hate it?
6) Next chapter is the end of this rustling "arc" so it should go out with a bang. Stay tuned
