Authors Note: Sorry for the non eventful chapter, I PROMISE this one will be more eventful!"
Maria rushed up to where the tower had fallen, she could see dirt and grit littered everywhere underneath the large circular copper dome, where a crowd ha begun to gather, all speaking in shocked hushed tones. To her horror, she spotted a small tawny brown paw and half of a leg, buried under a thick layer of sand and dirt. Beans rushed up beside her holding her dress, her braids ruffled, "What the hell happened here?!"
"Somebody done copped it!" Buford informed her.
"Yeah, one minute he was jus' walkin' out b'side the tower 'n then suddenly the whole thing jus' gave way," said Elgin.
"That just don't make no sense!" Beans said shaking her head in disbelief, "how does somethin' that secure jus' fall over like that?"
"A bolt's come loose or somethin!" observed Turley, swinging round to the others, causing Elgin to duck out of the way.
"Woah, watch where ya swing that thing!" the bobcat shouted, pointing a claw at the bird's iris arrow.
"It ain't my fault I was born with conjunctivitis!"
"Hush up allaya!" screeched Beans, "can't ya'll see we got a body lyin' in the middle of the road-" there was a peculiar sound as the lizard froze in place. From a spot in the audience, Angelique gave a light snobbish snigger, holding her cigarette higher.
"Does she know she is doing that?" Maria asked no one in particular.
"It's a defense mechanism," Willy explained.
"Survival Instinct," added Elgin.
"Make way Make way, Doctor comin' through!"
Doc entered the area closely followed closely by Sheriff Rango with Ambrose, Wounded Bird and Spoons. The rabbit snapped on a pair of white sterile gloves and putting a stethoscope round his neck, plugging the earphones into his giant lobes.
"What happened here?" Rango said turning to the townspeople.
"Some guy jus' got crushed by that thing!" a beaver said.
"Really? How'd it happen?"
At that point Beans awoke from her frozen stare, continuing to shout as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
-"poor guy's been crushed to death! Oh good, sheriff's here. Mr Rango, could you please tell these folks to stay back?"
"Alright everybody, ya heard the lady, this is a crime scene don't anybody get hysterical-OH DEAR GOD!" He stopped his spurs in mid air as his eyes fell on the navy sleeved paw half buried underneath all the sand.
"Did uhh...anybody see who this guy? Was? W-What he was doin' in his final moments?"
"Lightin' up," Buford said.
"How? I jus' seen a dead body, it ain't the time for rainbows an' sunshine!"
"No, Lightin' up. Outside my saloon! His lighter slipped outta his paw an' burnt off that there wood, causin' the whole thing to collapse, Sheriff."
"I see. Didn't he try to move?"
"Didn't look like it, poor guy probably didn't have time to."
"Can we say a few words?" suggested Waffles.
"That's a mighty fine idea. Hats off everyone! In respect of this fallen gentleman."
Everyone took off their hats and bonnets, Priscilla folding her hands as though she were praying and Waffles quickly scanned everyone to copy them.
"Dearly beloved," Rango began, "we are here to honour this man who we never really got to see more of, but ya would've made a mighty fine citizen and friend," he coughed, "you may now kiss the Angel, Amen!"
"Amen!" the others chorused.
"Decanse en paz," finished Maria.
"Wha-What was that?" Sgt Turley asked.
"Somethin' about a dance?" Waffles suggested.
"No, No, it's what we say in my country when somebody dies." Maria explained. "Come to think of it where I'm from everyone's obsessed with death."
"Shouldn't we bury him?" said Beans.
"I doubt he's in need of an official burial," chortled Mr Black, "he's half buried under that there pile a' sand! Looks like ma work's been done for me!"
Suddenly there was a loud groan, a weak but clear one that made the town freeze, literally in Beans' case.
"What was that?" Waffles said backing away.
"Wuden't me," said Buford hastily.
The groan sounded again and to everyone's amazement it came from underneath the pile of sand. People screamed in sheer surpriss as the tawny paw began to move, wiggling his furry fingers.
"Wait a second! He's still alive!" Rango told the crowd of onlookers, "Somebody! Do somethin' quick!"
Doc and Wounded Bird were the quickest to intervene, digging away all the sand, causing a large dirt cloud that made everyone cover their mouths. Once all the grit had been cleared away, the rabbit and the raven lifted the poor man's head. He was a squirrel with tanned fur and dark rims around his eyes. He wore a green jacket with a white shirt and black trousers, as well as a classic bushy tail.
He had a pocket watch hanging from his jacket and a pair of glasses as well as many assorted ballpoint pens and pencils.
He sat up groaning and rubbing his head looking around to see his surroundings. "Wha-?"
"Sir," said Rango, are ya alright? Ya took a mighty big fall under that there sphere, in fact yer lucky ta be alive. That's ten tonnes of copper that is. What was you doin' standin' underneath that thing?"
"I-I, w-was jus' lightin' a cigarette. Then that thing came outta nowhere an' I got in the way." he spoke very quickly and nervously.
"Do ya need any help?" said Beans, concern lacing her voice.
"Oh no no no no, I'll be-I'll be fine. Jus' gotta. Stretch ma legs a bit-" he stood up but immediately his legs buckled and he fell backwards again banging his head on the hard surface. "Ow." he whimpered.
"We're gon' need you to rest," said Rango, he nodded at Doc and Wounded Bird and they put both of his limbs around each of their shoulders and carried him away into the office.
"Balthazar an his boys should clear this up," said Rango checking the grit, "they love any kind of terrain."
"What are we gonna do about him?" asked Beans, as the crowd started to dissipate, "We can't just assume he's going to be fit enough for an explanation, he might even have amnesia!"
"Well, mem'ry loss 'r not he's gonna need lotsa carin' for. He turned to Waffles and Spoons who had made a desperate attempt to sneak away, "You two! Go give our guest some company!"
"Aw, but Mr Rango we was gon' go swimmin'!"
"Yeah, we needa cool off!"
"Ya'll can do that later right now there's a sick man in there."
Waffles and Spoons reluctantly entered the surgery to entertain their wounded guest.
"He's not from round here." Beans said at last.
"How'd ya know?"
"His clothes. They look like they was fresher than tomorrow mornin'. Probably comes from some urban area or larger settlement. We're not the only ones out here ya know as nice as that would be."
"Yer clothes don't make ya a man!" Rango declared, "yer deeds do."
"Drop the act, "Sherrif," ya know it don't work on me!" Beans said playfully smirking and flicking the chameleon's hat.
"Aw, I thought you liked tough guys Beans!" he laughed in his old accent readjusting his hat, "You're a tough gal!"
Maria giggled and the two noticed her. "Oh, Miss Maria! I heard you an this lovely lady went down to her family's ranch, how was it?"
"Hot," Maria shrugged, "but we battled through it, and watered everything."
"Don't let this one fool ya," said Beans, "she hardly says a word here in Mud but the minute she steps outta the perimeter, she's as much of a chatterbox as you are."
"Oh really?"
"I didn't mean to talk so much!" admitted Maria, still smiling, "I just-let this new language take me over. I suppose I got carried away yes?"
"Nah, your interestin. I jus' talked' bout my life on a patch of land, you grew up near an ocean!"
"An ocean?" said Rango, "I seen it too! Years an' years ago!"
"We gotta go sometime!" Beans cried delightedly.
"Well it's a mighty long way from here!"
"Oh hush up! I can use reigns on a wagon can't I?"
"I'm sorry to have been such a burden to you since I came here," said Maria, "I shouldn't have gotten myself hurt twice, it was a silly mistake and I promise it won't happen again!"
"You ain't been a burden Miss Maria," said Beans, "you done run out Bad Bill didn't ya-twice in one day!"
"Twice?"
"Yeah honey, didn't she tell ya? She told him to leave alone some gal at the soiled dove."
"Speaking of which, I'm gonna need to have a good long talk with the owner about that," said the sherriff tilting his hat, "Welp. See you fine ladies later!"
Beans turned to Maria, "We should probably get inside, see how the fella's doing."
"Right," the human girl nodded and she crouched down to crawl back into the surgery-again.
Doc stood at a sink, washing what looked like blood off his paws and put away some plaster of paris he had been using to make a cast. He rolled up his sleeves and used shears to strip away some white fabric.
Many others were crowded around the squirrel's bed, he himself holding a cold cloth to his forehead.
"Alright, let's apply the bandages," said Doc, starting to unwrap the fabric folds. The rabbit used his buck teeth to tear off the extra threads and very carefully, trying not to touch the wound, wrapped them around the squirrel's head.
"I may have lost my footing out there!" the squirrel tried to laugh, wincing through the pain.
A rat woman proceeded forward with a plate of cake. "This is to build up er strength. It's from the local parish church."
"Oh uh thank you!"
"May God be with you," another piped up.
Priscilla pushed her way through the crowd, surprising the squirrel who just stared back.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine now, little missy."
"We thought you was dead!"
Doc cleared his throat to try and tell her this wasn't the best time to share her interests. The squirrel shifted to allow the surgeon to put his arm in a sling. "Keep yer legs steady, we're gonna need to apply the cast now," he told him making his way to the bowl of rock.
"Cast? You mean to say my leg is broken?"
"That's what it looks like-unless ya wanna have our gunslinger come in an' double check."
The squirrel shook his fluffy skull frightfully, "N-N-No, t-thanks!"
When Beans entered she began screeching commands for people to "Git out tha way!" and "Big girl comin' through!" as Maria poked her head into the building.
The sickly fellow almost fainted as he saw her, "A h-human?! Out here?"
"Don't worry, I mean no harm," Maria reassured him, "I just arrived here yesterday I was dehydrated. I don't even have the strength to step on anybody."
"Oh-well. That's Good," said the squirrel chuckling nervously, "ya see I kind of come out here to try an' escape humans-No Offence!" he said quickly to Maria.
"None taken!" she smiled back, "that's why I'm out here too."
Rango entered the surgery, Beans at his side. "Alright folks, ya got to give this fella some breathin' space! So-What's yer name sir?"
"It's Merrimack. Joseph Merrimack." the squirrel replied sitting up.
"Merrimack?!" said Beans stepping forward, "you wouldn't happen to have heard of a Johan Merrimack would ya?"
"I sure do. I'm his brother, well was. I heard 'bout his death here jus' a week ago, I been traveling since then. I was hoping I'd be able to talk to whoever it is who runs the Bank around here now."
"Well, we got workers." Rango said, "we ain't got no head chief."
"Well, who manages the treasuries?"
"Angelique's in charge of the water and gold reserves," said Beans, "she's also in charge of winnin' over any guy she wants the little tramp," she added muttering.
"Now now, Beans, now ain't the time for any of yer womanly bickering," Rango said stepping forward, "So ya say yer the brother of our former banker Johannes Merrimack lll? Sorry for your loss."
"Oh, no. It's fine. I was kind of hopin' the bank didn't have anowner yet. I traveled out here to apply for the job."
"Well that's a might great piece of news!" cried Rango delightedly, "we been needed a new head banker out here an' you seem quite the intelligent gent for the job!"
"Oh that's swell. I knew my brother would be happy to see me take over his line of work. We done knew that old mayor of yours was up to no good."
"Oh don't you worry, Good Sir. We took care of him!" the chameleon smirked.
"We?"
Rango's smirk faded as quickly as it had appeared. Rattlesnake Jake had slithered through the doorway, causing many citizens to clear a path. The gunslinger nodded towards the rabbit who was hastily washing his paws. "Doctor."
"Jake."
Then he turned to the patient, who looked exactly how one would be expected to look after seeing both a fully grown human cub and a diamondback rattler in one day.
"You was what caused that noise earlier. I heard that tower fall," his black forked tongue flicked dangerously, "Yeah, you was lucky son,I thought you was dead-and I do have quite the appetite for dead things."
Joseph's whiskers twitched and he looked completely ashen. "Er well-er, I-I"
"Don't pay any attention to 'im Mr M. Thisol' gunslinger of ours likes to scare away anybody who walks through this here town's gates!" said Rango, trying to act as confident as possible, but ignoring his reptile blood running colder than usual.
"If I remember correctly, Sheriff," hissed the rattlesnake, "I thought that it was ma job to scare folks away."
"Oh-um. Well. Yes! It is! But not these guests-" he stopped short as he felt Jake's gun jab at his chest.
"Ya know Sheriff, our bargain was that I protect these good people. Yet you been lettin' outsiders in left, right 'n centre. If it hadn't been for me all yer souls would've been flung down that well all you folks are so afraid of."
At this, many of the visitors left the surgery, trying to look like they were just discreetly giving the rattler his space, but unaware that Jake could sense their fear. Rango blinked as the door slammedbehind him. Damn Snake. How did he know about the well?!
"But he's different, we can trust him!"
"What makes you so sure son? Some folks can be a lot more deviant then they claim to be." He gestured to Maria who sat inches away, kneeling, her hands perched neatly on her lap. "Can we trust her?"
"I believe so," the sherrif replied bravely, "she ain't done nothin' to harm no one so far."
"So far..." the snake repeated, twisting himself to face the child who stared back, indignant, yet calm. Jake had never seen an animal who wasn't terrified nor intimidated by the sound of a rattle, or a sharp flash of fang.
"This gal don't have the nerves to stand up to somebody like me," the snake said, grinning menacingly. Although he continued to speak to the lizard, his hellfire eyes never left her delicate features, "she's human. An' that means she's a coward. An' as ya know sherrif, I don't take kindly to cowards. She stands up to me, she's standin' up to death."
"Mr Rattlesnake Jake, as I told you before Sir, I don't intend to wish you any harm. You misunderstand."
"I think you're the one who's a misunderstanding lil missy," Jake shot back, rearing up, "you're a big ol beastly animal that never looks where she's goin' an' always has trouble walkin' behind her. Trouble finds me, not you. You're ain't nothin' but a mockery of nature. Look at them limbs. Where's ya fur? Where's yer skin? There's nothin' but flesh on yer bones human. Pathetic."
Maria swallowed her hurt along with her pride before her eyes bore into the flaming corneas of Jake's head. "Am I pathetic Mr Rattlesnake Jake? A moment or so ago you said you don't like cowardice. Yet you say you are death itself? Well, I've stood up to you twice now, and you carved a bullet out of an open wound. If you are death, I have had brushes with you many times. So, if I have faced death, am I a coward?"
The entire room went silent, Joseph pulled the bedsheets up, pausing where his nose met his eyes. Rango's hand stayed firmly on his gun. He and Beans just stood there staring at each other. She had a point, but didn't she realise she was talking back to an outlaw?
Jake twisted his coils again, his eyes burning with fury. He raised himself, terrifyingly high to bring his face so it was level with hers. "That don't make ya brave woman!" he spat, "that makes ya foolish! An I hate fools just as much as I hate cowards. In fact, I downright despise em. That's the problem with you humans, ya think yer as high an mighty as the Lord himself. But ya ain't. Yer jus' a worn out pile of vulture meat fresh'n dead in the desert."
Maria forced herself to keep looking into those hellfire eyes. "If you are death Rattlesnake Jake, answer me this." The serpent's eyes narrowed to show he was listening. "If you truly are death were you the one who stole my family from me? Did you leave me to die in that desert? Did you shoot me with that bullet? Are you the reason I have these stitches. Rattlesnake Jake, if you truly are the Grim Reaper everyone says you are; Why did you remove my bullet? Why did you let me live?"
The room stayed eerily quiet for another few minutes. Rango and Beans held their breath, Doc stopped his activities by the sink, Joseph was now merely reduced to a quivering lump underneath the white blankets.
Jake waited, taking his time with his response. Finally, he clicked his gun, making Maria cower and instantly turn away, which pleased him very much. She feared him, and he loathed her. He intended to keep it that way.
"I let you live Little Desert Flower," the outlaw hissed "because I know you won't last another day out here."
He lowered his rattle, clicking it back into place, before tipping his hat to the two smaller reptiles. "Sheriff. M'Lady."
Beans scoffed and turned her head, as Jake turned to the lump, "Get well soon son," he said coldly before slithering away.
"Is he g-g-g-g-gone?" Joseph whimpered poking his head out from the bed.
"Everythin's fine," Doc reasxured him, "our new human friend's jus' got some guts on her is all."
Maria half beamed, half stared at the floor in embarrassment. "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Don' be, not many of us can stand up to Jake," Rango said warmly, "but next time, leave it to me okay? I'm the sherrif I'm the law an' my brother respects ghat."
"Respect?!" said Beans incredulously, "did ya hear what he called me?"
"Alright now, everyone out!" said Doc urgently, "let ma patient get a good night's rest, it's gettin' dark out so ya'll best be headed back to yer own places."
"Yeah, Doc's right, we should bail," said Rango, "come on Miss Maria, ya need yer good night's slumber."
Maria crawled out on all fours, turning and giving one last, "Gracias Doc," before following Rango and Beans. She would need all the rest she could get that night. After all, facing death was never easy.
Wow, this was a longer chapter than I anticipated it would be. Anyway I'm SOOOO Sorry for not updating quick enough, I just had a lot on. That and I was lacking in inspiration. But I've got plently of great new ideas now! So stop askin me what's going to happen next because you'll find out soon enough, don't worry! :)
In fact I have come up with two new OCs-one is a mysterious stranger, the other is an OC for Jake ;) 3
I hope you like it, I seriously hope you do! Please don't forget to give a detailed review on likes and criticisms. Thank you for being so patient my faithful readers!