The ding a ling of small bells was heard as the Horse Theft Saloon door opened. It was early in the morning and the sun had been up for only an hour or so. The light was streaming in between the two saloon swinging doors as a man walked in to the empty tavern. Only two other people were up in here this early. There was an old drifter reading the latest installment in the Filgaia Times, and then there was Mileux, who was scrubbing down her already spotless desk.

            The man who approached was a large man with a bowling cap and blue side burns. His long red jacket hadn't changed since the last time he visited, neither had hi blue poncho and handlebar mustache. The man walked up to the desk and placed an elbow upon the clean wooden front. Mileux looked up at the man, his artificial features more plain and visible in the bright morning sunlight. She instantly knew who it was and could barely contain her fits of giggles. The bells rang again as a woman in a purple dress and glasses stepped through the double doors and then leaned against the wall very-un- lady like. It took a minute or two to discern whom the woman really was, but after staring for some time, she recognized the true person under the dress.

            "Ahem. Excuse me my fine young lady, but I have finished a job I took her several days back and would like to see the reward." The man said.

            Mileux giggled as she bent down to get a stack of papers. The old drifter flipped a page in the newspaper. Mileux came back up with the papers. "What was the job sir?"

            "To destroy and photograph the mysterious Horse Eater, an easy task for someone like me, gorgeous." The handlebar mustache grinned.

            Mileux chuckled. "All right sir." She pulled the paper out from the stack. "And your name sir?"

            "Eh… A Mr. The Kid." He received a shake of the head from Mileux, who was still smiling. "No? Um… a Mr. Butch Cassidy?" Still another shake. "Mr. Wayne? Mr. Eastwood?" After a few more futile attempts at guessing his own name, Miluex silently showed him the paper and put a finger to her lips. "Ah, a Mr. Carradine –wait!"

            "It's alright Gallows." Mileux patted his large hand. "I won't turn you in. I know you are all innocent. Isn't that right Jet?" She called over to the woman near the door.

            "Is it really that obvious?" Jet asked in reply.

            Mileux laughed as the old Drifter turned the page of the newspaper. "There was a Drifter gang here a couple of nights ago looking for you, but they've headed off to Westwood. Rumor says you all blew it up while stealing a camera."

            "I wouldn't call it blowing it up, more like temporarily delaying it's services." Gallows grinned.

            Mileux pulled a bag of Gella out and handed it to Gallows. "You're all right in my book Gallows. I just need the photograph and the proof."

            Gallows reached into Clive's pocket and pulled out an extremely fancy fountain pen. Noticing it was the wrong item, Gallows reached in and pulled out the tooth and the photograph Clive had developed the night before. "There you go. A Photograph of the nasty beast and a tooth of ivory that's as beautiful as you."

            Mileux blushed and his her face for a moment, gathering the proof with her hands and placing them into a sack. She pushed the Gella towards Gallows hand. "Why, thank you little miss. Say, do you sell blankets?"

            "Of coarse we do Gallows! Do you want one?" Mileux asked.

            "I would indeed enjoy a good blanket right now. Clive's been having a streak of bad luck. His blanket and his horse both gone." Gallows informed her.

            "Oh dear, I hope it doesn't effect your travels." She pulled down a blue blanket from a shelf behind her. "Here, this one's on the house. Have you seen my Martina out there in the wasteland?" Mileux was concerned.

            "Of coarse we did. Ran into her near Little Twister. She was on her way to get something special just for you, a very special lady." Gallows raised his eyebrows.

            "Ahem!" Jet coughed.

            "It looks like you have to go. Well, I'll be sure not to tell anyone you were here." Mileux patted Gallows hand again.

            "Well then, I bid you farewell. Till we meet again." Gallows took the blanket and Gella and started for the door. "Come wench! There's work to be done!" Gallows yelled to Jet.

            Jet stepped on Gallows' foot with a lot of force, sending gallows into a lot of pain. "You know we could have been out of there in a matter of seconds…

            Mileux sighed as she smiled, rubbing the desk once again. Once the two were gone, the old drifter lowered his newspaper and looked to Mileux. "Was that the same Gallows Carradine who's wanted for Twenty-six million Gella?"

            Mileux continued rubbing the desk. "Gallows who?"

** *

            It was midday. The sun was it's height and the heat was at its max. Today happened to be one of those scorchers of a day. Virginia, in full apparel, Clive, back in his coat, Jet, and Gallows all rode in the tall grasses, westward towards Little Twister. They had yet to cross the great chasm, and were hours away from doing so. At this point they were just beyond Westwood Station. Something strange was on the horizon, and it was Clive to first notice it.

            "Do you guys see what I'm seeing?" Clive asked as he put his hands up over his eyes.

            "What? What do you see Clive?" Virginia asked the sniper.

            "It's-It's unbelievable!" Clive said excitedly.

            "Wow! To get you up like that it must be something damn good." Gallows was impressed.

            "It's a pond!" Jet said enthusiastically.

            Sure enough, before them in a miniature depression in the flat grasslands was a watering hole. The water was sparkling in the heat. Several boulders stuck out from the muddy earth in and around the pond. The four drifters became overly zealous.

            "A POND! Finally! I can take a wash!" Virginia clapped her hands.

            "My sentiments exactly!" Clive grinned.

            "Last one there is a Cow pie!" Gallows called as he rode off, only to discover that Clive was sharing the horse. "You know Clive, you don't make this much fun."

            By the time Virginia, Clive, and Gallows made it to the water, Jet was already in the far side of the pond, washing himself with an un-carved soap bar. His dry and dusty clothes were thrown on top of a sun-dried boulder nearby.

            "Woohoo! Look at them abs!" Gallows roared, laughing. Jet sighed and waded to behind a boulder. Virginia blushed immensely upon seeing Jet's upper torso completely devoid of clothes.

            Clive laughed. "It seems we forgot we had a lady in the party."

            Virginia smiled. "Which means none of you boys are going to be lucky enough to go in with me!" Virginia laughed.

            Clive and Virginia were both greeted with an enormous splash as Gallows had cannon balled into the pond off the same rock he shared his belongings with. "Come on in! It feels great! Hey Jet, pass me one of your dolls, I need to scrub-a-dub-dub! Ha ha!"

            A soap bar, regular style, flew from behind the boulder and caught Gallows in the face. Virginia laughed.

            "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have a bath to take." Clive took off his coat. Virginia didn't seem to move, just smiling as she saw the two lake boys. "Pardon me Virginia, but I'm about to become indecent."

            "Oh! Sorry!" Virginia apologized as she walked away. Virginia walked to the other side of the pond where the horses had begun slurping up water uncontrollably. She heard the sound of a loud splash, so she looked to the pond.

            "Woo! Great cannon ball Clive!" Gallows high-fived the sniper.

            "Pshht amateurs." Virginia smiled. "I was the cannon ball champ of Boot Hill when I was kid."

            "Virginia, come get your soap bar." Jet offered as waded towards her.

            Virginia immediately covered her eyes, even though he was still waist deep. "That's all right Jet. I got my own."

            "It would save time if we all bathed at once." Jet replied.

            "Jet, get yer naked ass back over here." Gallows called.

            "Jet, if I may advise, men and women don't bathe at the same time." Clive called.

            "Whatever." Jet responded as he started back towards his corner of the pond. Virginia moved one finger so she could witness Jet's back. She blushed again.

            "Jet, Jet, Jet. What the heck were you thinking?" Gallows waved a finger.

            "Shut Up alright! I didn't know that." Jet became angry. "I'm getting out. We'd best get a move on."

            "You don't come across ponds that often Jet, especially in the dry deserts." Clive said.

            "I'm done here." Jet simply said as he pulled himself out and dried himself with his scarf.

            "Aw he's no fun." Gallows smiled.

            "Indeed. It seems that he lacks that concept. Kaitlyn likes to splash while in the bath tub, rather fun." Clive agreed.

            "You have running water?!" Gallows was in shock.

            "No, no, no. Water from the well." Clive answered.

            It wasn't much longer until Gallows and Clive came out, offering the pond for Virginia's use. The three men sat on a boulder, looking out towards the grassy horizon, their backs turned from the lake. Clive had an eye on Jet, making sure he didn't turn around on accident. It seemed that on one had ever taught him proper etiquette around women. Someone was going to have to change that. But not now.

            "Oh man, this isn't nearly as fun by myself. What's the use of a cannon ball if no one can see…" Virginia splashed water with her arm. She was in to her shoulders, having to crouch in most parts of the pond.

            "So what are you saying Ginny? You want us to join you?" Gallows laughed, his back still facing her.

            "If you all could magically become women it would be great. Either that or we all become seven again." Virginia replied.

            "I'm going to go set up the horse." Jet tried to stand up, but Clive and Gallows kept him bound to the rock.

            "You aren't going anywhere while Virginia is indecent." Clive said.

            "It wouldn't be fair if you got a peek and we didn't." Gallows chuckled.

            ** *

            "Hey boss! I think that's a pond up there!" Romero said cheerfully.

            "No distractions! We must hit Westwood!" Cormano replied.

            "B-but boss! You know how long it's been since we've bathed?!" Dario moaned.

            "I don't care! I'm after that twenty-six million Gella reward! If you don't like it, tough! We've delayed long enough! If we delay any longer-" Cormano started.

            "-The Sierra Gang will catch up?" Ian finished.

            "Exactly. And I'm not going to let them take it! They always steal my jobs!" Cormano growled.

            "Oh come on! Just five minutes! I don't think the Sierra Gang will get here within five minutes!" Romero pleaded.

            "You're more likely to gain information if you're a clean person." Ian suggested.

            "Really? …All right boys. Take five in the pond. But remember, if you're not out in five minutes, you'll be sleeping there with the fishes!" Cormano threaten.

            "Thanks Boss! Yahoo!" With that, Dario and Romero west running towards the pond, unaware of it's current inhabitant.

            "Aren't you going to take a bath Ian?" Cormano asked.

            "Of coarse, as soon as those idiots get out." Ian replied.

            "Got something you're shy of Ian? Bwahaahaha!" Cormano laughed.

            "At least I don't have to compensate for mine with the barrel of my gun…" Ian replied coolly.