A/N Welcome back folks.
I know there is a huge gap between updates in this story. But you've got to understand, it takes a while to work on this plot and to keep a semi-authentic old west setting, the lingo, clothes and all that jazz
So I apologize for the long delays but hopefully the wait is worth it. Oh and I can always use a little help with the bits of Spanish I use. Online translators suck.
Arizona Territory:
From the second floor window of an Italian style villa, two men stared down into the vast courtyard below.
One man leaned out the window. A dapper and stylish hat, an elegant striped shirt beneath a blue river trail vest, jet black pants, a string tie and two deluxe black sleeve garters completed the attire of one Lilly the Devil.
"Let her rip boys!" he shouted from the window.
The eerie silence of the courtyard was shattered by the thunder of multiple chambers of a Gatling gun being fired as it slowly churned around on a tripod.
A bare-chested outlaw swung the muzzle of the Gatling gun back and forth, cranking with all his might. 600 rounds tore into a group of scarecrows scattered about the courtyard. The targets were blasted into shards of hay.
Eventually the rapid fire of the Gatling gun came to a halt, its ammunition spent.
Lily pulled back into the window with a grin on his clean-shaven face. He turned to the man beside him who wore a gray Victorian top hat, dark Edgewood pants, a silk puff tie, a blue baker city vest, and gray gloves on each hand.
"Mister Hench, walk and talk with me"
Jack Hench, walking stick in hand followed Lilly down a sunlit hallway.
"That's what I like about you Mister Hench you sell a fine crop of products. I'll be glad to take that exemplary piece o' technology off your hands."
"As always Lily it's a pleasure doing business with you and your cohorts. The country needs more entrepreneurs like you. Things have been slow since the war ended."
Lilly chuckled "you made a killing off the war didn't you?"
"Of course in my line of work, war is always good for business. Which makes me curious, why would Ángeles Caídos be buying up arms?"
Lilly sniffed "I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about. What pray-tell is Ángeles Caídos?"
"Then perhaps you can explain why, and I say this with no disrespect, but why would a notorious cardsharp like yourself be buying a Gatling gun. You couldn't possibly have that many enemies."
"Oh I wouldn't bet on that" Lilly laughed "but to rest your curious mind, I'm not buying it for myself, this particular item is a gift for a Comanche friend of mine."
Hench's eyes went wide "You can't possibly mean…… if you do that a lot of good Christians west of the Mississippi will be in danger."
"Ain't nothing wrong with leveling the playing field a bit. Those injuns deserve a fighting chance don't they?"
They stopped before a pair of large double doors "Your "friend" aside do you have any plans for the rest of the Comanche tribe?"
"I'm afraid I cannot divulge such details. But there are rumors in the wind that the cavalry will have a lot more work on their hands in the future."
Jack Hench's eyebrows furrowed in thought "that has the potential to send the entire west into chaos; on the heels of the war no less."
"Having some moral objections are we Mister Hench?"
Hench scoffed "like I said Lilly war is very good for business."
Lily smiled as they pushed through the double doors and entered a large parlor where six men sat around a large circular table.
A man at the table deftly dealt cards to the others "Lilly, get over here" he laughed "someone done stole the payroll of one of ole Bill's hotels and burned it down in the process."
After stepping further into the room, a young boy quickly rushed in and handed Lilly a sheet of paper.
Meanwhile the man known as Bill pounded his fist onto the table "It ain't right. I can't understand what kind of man would be loco enough to tangle with us. I'm telling you it's an inside job, it must be"
Lilly chortled "Now calm down old timer, remember your heart condition, it's just a minor mishap, I'll handle it."
He gestured to an empty seat. "Why don't you sit for a spell Hench, play a round with me and the boys?"
Hench shook his head "You must figure that I'm touched in the head. There's no one more foolish than a man willing to play a hand with Lilly the Devil."
Jack Hench waited for Lilly's reply, but he quickly realized that the letter the young boy delivered had captured the gambler's undivided attention.
"Danggit!"
"What's wrong Lilly?" Bill asked
"A telegram from Tom Braden, the boys in his outfit got themselves all shot up. Hell I was waiting on the money that they were bringing in."
"What happened, they run into a posse or sumthin?"
Lilly's eyes continued to dart back and forth as he scanned the letter "Uh-uh it seems like they got done in by one man."
"One man?" Jack Hench spouted in shock "who?"
The room fell into silence as everyone waited for Lilly's revelation.
Lilly to everyone's surprise slapped his knee with laughter "Oh my goodness, lady luck's been so good to me over the years I should just about marry her…….Like they say boys when one door closes another one opens."
"I never thought losing money could be so funny" Bill stated.
"Losing money is a small price to pay Bill, for some very interesting information" Lilly froze "hold on now I got an idea, I got a wonderful idea, and if the Big Sugar likes it then we can get started right away."
"So what's the idea?
"Yes spill it already or hobble your mouth!"
Lily took in a deep breath, and they all could see the twinkle of mischief in his eyes "I got a new game to play, high stakes; big money on the line of course. Anybody who's anybody is going want to get in."
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"Where are we going?"
Ron brought his gaze from the ground being trampled beneath a horse's feet. The grass below glittered from recent rain
"Hmmmm?"
Kim pulled on the reins. They were currently seated in a surrey or a light, four-wheeled, two-seated carriage.
"Where exactly are we headed?"
"Oh, you've been asking where I've spent most of my afternoons so I'm going to show you my napping spot."
"Napping spot?"
"Yep"
"So what's that?" she gestured to the hefty basket sitting on his lap
He looked down "this is a picnic basket" he said simply.
"What's it for?"
"For a picnic"
"Ah how silly of me to ask"
"I guess I should have mentioned it sooner, but I didn't think you would come along."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well its common knowledge that Josh has staked a claim on you……"
She stared daggers into him "staked a claim on me?"
He bristled "It's a figure of speech of course; however you're involved…..together so I assumed it might seem um disreputable if people see us."
"See us doing what?"
"See us going on a seemingly romantic picnic."
"Romantic picnic?"
"Seemingly romantic" he added quickly "if a person was not aware that we were only friends it may seem to be romantic."
"Ron."
"Yes?"
"You're thinking too much….for once" Kim took off her bonnet and leaned out from under the surrey's canopy, momentarily closing her eyes she let the sunlight wash over her face.
Ron shuddered slightly.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head "I'm getting this syrupy feeling in my chest area. I might be coming down with a mild case of the collywobbles.'
She glanced at him with obvious concern on her face "Hopefully my mother properly cleaned you up, more gunshot victims die from infection then an actual bullet."
He grinned "is that right? No worries, that wasn't really what I would call close to an actual bullet wound."
"Uh-huh" she wanted to make a remark about that, but thought better of it. "A weekday afternoon picnic, you are aware that there was plenty of work to be done around the ranch."
Ron removed his hat and ran his hands through his hair "If there was one thing that I've learned in my short time in this world it's that there's no fun in labor."
She shook her head "I am going to go ahead and assume that I am the only one here who has difficulty seeing a certain lazy body running a ranch in the future."
"What kind of man would I be without a dream?"
After a lull in the conversation she turned to him "I'd be happy to go on a picnic with you"
"What?"
"That's what I would have said if you had just asked me outright"
"Oh, I apologize……We can still turn around if that's what you prefer."
"No, we've come this far, and besides" she glanced at the basket "the smell of that pie I assume you baked is driving me batty. I don't figure I can go another minute without taking a bite out of it."
"That's good cuz we're here"
They arrived at Cotton Creek, where they met up with rippling water chuckling over a bed of sand surrounded by a stand of cottonwoods and willows.
"It's beautiful" Kim exclaimed as she descended from the surrey.
"Yep" Ron unbuckled his gun belt, left it on the seat of the surrey and then set the horse to graze.
For the next hour he and Kim ate, drank, and talked, sitting comfortably close, leaving Ron with combined emotions of anxiousness, fear and delight.
Kim snatched the last crumbs of pie off her plate and popped them into her mouth "Listen if you're going to be at the box social this weekend. You're going to have to get some new clothes and perhaps you should think about a trip to the barber."
"I'm doing what now?"
"I told you about the box social this weekend didn't I? The entire town is looking forward to doing a little celebrating after the recent events." She licked her lips "Speaking of which I hear a city marshal from Denver will be in town today. He'll be bringing a posse to gather Louis and his boys; maybe we should see them out."
He glanced up at the cloudless blue sky "nah I don't find it particularly appealing to be around men I've shot."
She eyed him curiously "yes you did shoot them didn't you. And you killed Dub Wilson"
"That I did."
She pulled her eyes away from him "it's still hard to believe…….anyway for the social this Saturday; you'll need to put on your best bib and tucker."
"I'm not sure I'll be able to make it"
"And why not?"
He paused "well for one thing women folk make me nervous. Sashaying and a twitching around, and you never know what they're thinking!"
"Uh-huh"
"But you're different" he added quickly "I'm pretty much at ease around you."
Her right eyebrow arched with his response "are you trying to say I'm not lady-like?"
Ron began to laugh before realizing a moment later that she was serious. "No that's not what I'm saying at all" he coughed.
"I'm just saying that, well with other gals I, its just that we….I'm going to stop talking now."
"Good idea" she remarked "now what's the real reason you don't want to go the social? In fact you haven't been in town since the incident."
"I just haven't had the need to go back that's all. When did not going into town become a crime?"
"Do as you want, but I will get to the bottom of the mystery that is Ron Stoppable. I'll figure you out sooner or later just see if I don't." she rose brushing the leaves and grass off her dress. "Now come on I want to show you something before it gets dark."
"Show me what?"
"A secret for a secret that was our deal remember. You showed me your secret napping space so I'll show you another secret place."
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"Let's race" Kim said.
It had started with a simple suggestion that turned into a full sprint along the prairie. For a mile or more they galloped along, neck to neck and nose to nose, but suddenly Kim started to pull ahead.
"You better be trying your hardest" she cried out over her shoulders.
As she slowly pulled away from him it occurred to him that he was. Letting her win was the last thing on his mind, he urged his horse on to no avail.
But Kim rode superbly.
He had known she was good but now he realized she was exceptional. It was another item for him to add to the list of things about her that impressed him. She was strong/pig headed, yes. Impulsive, yes…..Much more independent than most women, yes.
All those things make me like her even more……..like?
They galloped for a few more miles before coming up to a lone cabin at the base of the snow capped Bluff Mountains.
"You know I let you win right, it's my duty as a man to be generous with the fairer sex."
She dismounted "Let it be known that your generosity is very much appreciated."
"Honestly though you're a horseman to the manner born. You could probably race horses"
"You sound shocked"
"You're right as a trivet. I should have known better" Ron studied the log cabin "there were settles out here?"
"Outlaws or fugitives probably, but they and any of the Natives who used to live around here departed long ago."
"This used to be some sort of hide out?"
"And then some" she said as he followed her into the cabin. She walked into the one room in the cabin and threw open a closet door.
"Watch your step" she told him as she climbed down a passage with a few sandstone steps.
Ron whistled "you're just full of surprises ain't you?"
"Now that's a surefire case of a pot calling a kettle black. There's a network of caves here that were most likely used by the Pueblo tribe. The cabin was probably built by fugitives who found an opening to this cave…."
A loud bang cut Kim off mid-sentence, a thin trail of dark smoke appeared from another section of the cave. Before either of them could say a word Wade suddenly stumbled into their line of sight.
"Laws that was loud!"
"Wade, are you alright?"
He began to cough profusely "Not to worry I'm as fine as cream gravy."
Ron stepped up to them "howdy, it was Wa…..Mister Load wasn't it?
Wade shot a look at Kim "uh Kim"
"I invited him."
Wade shrugged "that's fine by me, but call me Wade. Come on Kim I've got some items to show you."
They moved into an even larger section of the cave that to Ron's confusion was surprisingly well let.
Wade spread his arms wide "welcome to my laboratory."
Ron's head swiveled from left to right in amazement. He had seen quite a few things in his life but never a laboratory. There were dozens of tables with containers filled with God knows what, large amounts of paper on the walls with scribbling he didn't understand, a few objects made of iron with wires running through them.
"Where, in tarnation is that light coming from?"
"Oh there's an arc lamp in the far corner" Kim answered.
"I see" he replied "actually I don't see; I'm as stumped as a dead tree. How in the world is it doing what its doing?"
Wade tugged lightly on his suspenders "it's simple really as long as you have a generator or "self excited dynamo" as they say back in the East. You see in essence, two carbon rods connected to a current limited source are brought together and then drawn apart. As the carbons separate, a hot ionized path is created between them; which is the arc…now that continues to conduct after the carbons have been separated. This arc burns at thousands of degrees and heats the ends of the carbons to incandescence. Most of the light comes from the tips of the carbons, not the arc itself. As the carbons burn down they need to be constantly adjusted to maintain the proper spacing so that the arc does not go out…..are you following so far?"
Ron stared at the small genius with rapt fascination "my goodness you have fancy vocabulary" he exclaimed. He then turned to explore the rest of the laboratory like a child in toy story.
"Again Kim I must say again your friend is quite "interesting."
"Eh he's harmless" she paused "most of the time anyway. So what do you have for me Wade?"
He ushered her towards one of the tables "here's something new" he handed her a small wooden object that contained a lever, bowstring and a clamp at the very bottom.
"It's a miniature repeating crossbow. You can attach it to you forearm"
Kim placed her arm out an attached the weapon against the back of her wrist.
"It can fit into any saddle bag and if you can keep your arm straight. You can get a few pretty accurate shots off. You can load about twenty arrows in there, and it's possible that you can fire off a dozen of them in fifteen seconds. Not that you would need to anyway."
"And why is that?"
"I'm sure you notice that those arrows are too small to be lethal. But the grand thing about them is that they happen to be laced with a little tinkering I've done with chloral hydrate. It'll knock your target out cold in seconds then you can drag him off to the hoosegow if you'll feel up to it."
She studied the latest piece of her arsenal "Dreadfully impressive as always Wade. You've always been one I can tie to."
Ron abruptly returned with one of the blueprints he torn from the wall "What's this here box contraception with wheels? It's some fancy kind of carriage right."
"Uh that's actually in the planning stages; it's a transportation device, sans the horses."
"No horses?"
"Trains don't need horses" Wade said.
"Right……so it's a mini train, Wade you're an ace-high thinker. A mini train, these are strange times we live in."
"It's not a train….." Wade attempted to explain further but Ron was already moving on to the other tables.
"Moving on" Wade pointed out a few more objects to Kim on the table "The heel of that boot has a hidden compartment.
"Hey Wade how do you afford all these fancy smart things?"
Wade rolled his eyes.
"Wade's father happens to be a gold baron. He lucked out and staked the claim of a big gold mine in the rush of 49."
"Anyway Kim, this thin wire here might have a variety of uses….."
Ron held a beaker high into the air "Hey what's this it smells like gunpowder?"
"That's what I was working on before the two of you showed up. It's smokeless gun powder"
A look of shock registered on Ron's face and the beaker slipped from his hand spilling to the floor.
"Dang" he dropped to floor to gather up the powder with his hands "I didn't mean, I mean I…..did you say smokeless gunpowder?"
Wade sighed in exasperation "Yes indeed I did."
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Why-yes unlike the older form of gunpowder, if used in firearms and artillery this will produce negligible smoke when fired."
"My goodness! Do you know what this means?"
"I believe I just explained what this means"
"Yes, you're right you did explain what this means, but I'm not sure you understand what this really means" he continued to scoop up the powder "smokeless gunpowder that'll change everything" he said to himself.
Wade turned to Kim "is he always this….."
"Child-like?" She fell silent in reflection "most of time"
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White Cloud Kansas:
The pale outlaw ran a nail file across her fingertips as she gazed out of a second story window. She was about to pull away from the window when something caught her attention.
A suspicious looking wagon stopped before the building she was in. A rifle in hand the driver jumped from the front seat and stepped towards the back of the wagon. A moment later a second man exited the building and joined the driver. Together they dragged more than a dozen young women from the back of the wagon at gunpoint. Fear and apprehension could be found on each woman's face as they clung to one another and cowered on the ground. The two men then marched the women into building.
Her face expressionless the raven haired outlaw looped a thumb into the gun belt around her lean waist. Sighing she tucked the nail file into her vest and closed the window by letting the curtain fall back into place.
"New recruits"
She reached up and adjusted the black wide rimmed Stetson that completed her attire and turned toward the voice.
The statement had come from a tall and big man with thick auburn hair that had been doused with pomade. He sported a trimmed but full moustache, a fancy suit and diamond stickpin glittering in his lapel.
"You know Miss Go City bandit….you could be my top girl, the Madame I've been looking for to whip this place into shape."
She flashed a smile "I'd rather drink lye Nolan"
Nolan grinned "that's what I need, an uppity gal like you will really class up the joint."
She scanned Nolan's office "I'm getting worried Nolan"
"Worried about what? You've done a bang-up job robbing and vandalizing my partners for me. No one will ever think a woman is behind these thefts."
"I'm not worried about that. There's talk about the local law coming down on you for some of the girls that have been disappearing."
Nolan plopped himself down on the seat behind his desk. He drew a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from the top drawer. He poured himself a glass and offered some to the female bandit.
"Two fingers full" she told him. He poured her drink and handed it to her.
His sighed in satisfaction after a good long sip "they can't touch me"
"The cock of the walk around town, are you?"
"Yes I am. For one thing my family has been running this gentleman's house for three generations.
"Family values are always important"
He ignored her and continued "This manor house was one of the first buildings up after the town was founded. There wouldn't be a town here without the help of this very house. This town owes me and this house."
"That doesn't seem like enough to keep you from dancing a necktie jig."
"I wasn't done; second of all I'm a fledging member of Ángeles Caídos."
She scoffed "they don't exist….do they….I've heard some things."
He laughed "who do you think you've been robbing?"
The bandit quickly drained her glass.
"Does that make you more worrisome?"
"Not all, actually I'm more worried that you'll offer me more of that cheap watered down tonsil paint."
He roared with laughter "Sugar britches I love you, you sure beat those ten cent wastes down stairs. Makes me see females in a new light, I used to believe that if it wasn't for babies you'd all be close to worthless."
"Wait a minute if you're a member Ángeles Caídos, why are you telling me about it?"
He took another sip "Obviously I'm trying to make a mash on you darling. Are you impressed yet?"
She coughed "as fond as I am of the pleasures of your company. Do you have any thing new for me?"
"As you know men love to talk in there sleep which makes brothels a deep well of information. You ever hear of John P. Walton?"
"The steel tycoon" she replied her interest waning.
"Yes ma'am seems like his daughter is out in the world all by her lonesome. Well not exactly by her lonesome, she's been escorted by a greenhorn Deputy Marshal and his mother."
"Really?" she asked suddenly showing more interest in the conversation "Walton's one powerfully rich man."
"And I'm sure he'd pay through the nose to see to it that his little lady gets safe passage for her tour through the west."
The dark haired beauty paced back in forth in the room "That's a genuine fact for sure."
"You just bring that prized filly to me. I'll set you up with a hiding place and I'll handle the dealings with the Walton family."
"I'll do it. And I'll do it alone."
"Alone?"
"Its quiet, kidnappings need to be discreet. And I don't need any dead weight holding me back." Suddenly she took a seat on the edge of Nolan's desk.
"Lady, if you want to be taking seriously as an outlaw you best wear a bigger shirt. You're chest jiggles like two badgers in a laundry sack."
She smiled brightly "Nolan I know you like to get as soaked as the next man. But stop beating on these girls. If the lawdogs raid this place I'd hate it if my future plans were to go up the spout because you needed to feel like a big man."
Nolan clucked loudly "what I find rich is that you fail to realize that these girls are my property. Just like this house is my property, this desk is my property, that bottle of whiskey is my property. I will do with my property as I choose. Now I feel, it is in your best interest to stop shooting your mouth and get started on your work."
"Understood, do you know the location of our little princess?"
"Last known whereabouts of her party was in Cala Del Castor a small town near the border of Texas and the Indian territory. Can you track them down?"
"I'll try; the nearest railroad station is a few days away. I'll need a fast horse."
"You can get one in the stable I own in town."
"I'll take it."
"Good, just bring up my name and you'll get a fair price."
"You seem to be confused I said I'll take it, not that I'd buy it"
Before he could react, she grabbed him by the back of the head and banged his head against the desk.
"Nolan I don't like how you operate but worst of all you're a blabber mouth. So consider out partnership terminated."
"Oh god!" Nolan clutched his bloody nose as he slid off his chair onto the floor.
"With three generations of sin and vice running through your veins I'm surprised there is any room for blood"
She kicked him in the bread basket "no come on don't take on so. I thought you'd appreciate the irony of being beaten by a woman."
A well place kick knocked Nolan unconscious. "Ok Nolan I know you don't trust banks, so where do you keep your money?"
During her initial survey of the office she had noticed another door in the room beside the exit.
"Let's see what's behind door number two"
On the first floor the sound of Nolan's body hitting the ground had not fallen on deaf ears.
The wagon driver who had herded the young women in at rifle point called out for his boss. Upon getting no reply he gathered up Nolan's two remaining employees on the premise and together they sprinted towards the office.
"Boss!" they shouted when they saw Nolan on a crumpled heap on the floor. "Who did it to you? Was it that woman? Where is she?"
"Look over the there!"
Every head turned towards the other door in the room and not one of them was lost on the fact that it had been opened a crack.
They rushed towards the door and threw it open.
Unfortunately there were two peculiar things about Nolan; he did not trust banks and he was also not above booby trapping the room where he kept his money.
Huddled closely together in the doorway they stared down the barrel of the shotgun before them that was mounted on a tripod; the three men then noticed the tripwire running from the door to the trigger. Before they could utter a sound hot lead ripped through their body from the front to the back.
What, Nolan's men had also failed to see were the two gloved hands hanging from the windowsill. After the roar of the shotgun the pale bandit pulled herself up and back into the Nolan's office.
She shook her head "how tragic, that's a real fine mess you boys have gotten yourselves into. Always check for traps fellas, men like your boss love to hang on to their money."
Five minutes later the painted ladies under Nolan's "care" scrambled onto the first floor lobby and watched in shock as an open safe rolled down the stairs spilling large amounts of money from its interior.
"Listen up gals" the green eyed thief shouted from the top of the stairs "I can't tell you to go back to your families because if they cared any, they would have been here fighting for you. But this here money smells too much like Nolan and I don't want nothing to do with it. So take your fill and chuck out of this town. Jump on a stagecoach heading east; get yourselves a nice frilly dress, and find a fancy dandy to hold your hand."
She stopped and took a long swig from Nolan's bottle of whiskey. When she was done her lips smacked in satisfaction, after that she stuffed a handkerchief into the bottle leaving a tiny bit hanging out of the mouth.
"Oh and ladies I'd move quickly" She lit a match and ignited the dry end of the handkerchief. Smiling she tossed the half full bottle over her head "because this place is going to start heating up real soon."
Nolan's head bobbed up and down as he came out of the fog of unconsciousness. He moaned out loud and was surprised to find that he couldn't move.
"Awake are you?"
His senses recovered Nolan stared out into the face of the town sheriff. He soon discovered that his body was tied to a street post.
"What, where am I?"
"As far as I can see somebody gave me a gift, wrapped it up all special like as well."
It occurred to Nolan than that his money was back at home unprotected.
"Let me down. I need to get back to the manor house!"
"I don't think you need to worry your little head about that" The sheriff pointed to the massive cloud of smoke that hung in the night sky.
"What, where's the fire brigade, why aren't they trying to put out the fire?" Nolan cried frantically.
"The thing about that Nolan is that the town council agreed that since it was just about out of the town limits none of the other buildings were in danger. And they also agreed that we were all better off if it burned down."
"What, why?"
"The town's tired of you Nolan. Now we have the opportunity to get rid of you."
"You dirty scoundrel! Do you know how much I've done for this town?"
"Of course" the sheriff lit a cigar "that's why you'll get a decent meal before we hang you."
"You dirty son of….." he stopped when a horse and rider slowly wandered by.
The sheriff tilted his hat "ma'am"
"Sheriff"
The riders face was all too familiar to Nolan.
Nolan struggled against his restraints "STOP HER, STOP THAT WOMAN. SHE STARTED THAT FIRE"
"God bless her then, probably to stop you from striking her."
"NO SHE'S A CRIMINAL; SHE'S A THIEF, A THIEF! THAT'S MY HORSE SHE"S GOT."
"Quit yer bellyaching, you're keeping good folk from their sleep" The sheriff took a puff of his cigar and started past the post "Now you stay put Nolan I'll see you in the morning."
"NO LET ME DOWN, TURN AROUND ARREST THAT WOMAN. SHE BURNED MY LEGACY!"
The pale raven haired thief smirked as she rode towards the town entrance. That bridge significantly burned, it was time to move on to greener and more lucrative pastures.
"DAMMIT STOP HER. SHE'S THE GO CITY BANDIT. DO YOU HEAR ME; SHE'S THE GO CITY BANDIT!"
She stopped just before the town entrance. "I reckon that's not too bad"
With that she rode on.
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It was a cloudless Saturday afternoon and Middlewood was in a festive mood, for the box social was being held just outside of the church. Lanterns hung from ropes and streamers dangled from the rooftops.
Children ran around playfully as their parents sipped on some punch. The band which consisted of a guitar player, fiddler and accordion player played a high energy tune to get people dancing.
"Over here"
Ron had just stepped into the vicinity of the fiesta when Bo Taggart and Stanley Colbert called Ron over. He still wasn't sure about joining the event. But when he learned that the rest of the brand was going to be there, a sign of healing after the loss of Kip and Silias, he decided that being at the party was the right thing to do even if he didn't hang around for long.
Bo patted him on the shoulder hard "what are you doing just standing around looking like a lonesome hound dog?"
"I'm just dropping by for a spell. Maybe teach some of you how to do a proper jig."
"Of course" Stanley replied as a group of children brushed past them "Y'know after what happened with those rustlers, seeing these little younglings run around kind of makes a man want to settle down."
"Really?" Ron replied as he scanned the partygoers.
"Don't get me wrong I enjoy the high lonesome. But sometimes when you get to thinking about it…You know Ronald it might be time you told the young lady how you feel."
"How I feel about what?" Ron said his attention partially elsewhere.
"Boy, I think its time you throw a loop around that mare and bring her in."
Bo shook his head "I reckon he can't do anything until he's sure the mare is his to rope."
"Not a problem, there's only one rooster here to rule the roost."
"Fellas, what are you talking about? I'm at sea here"
Bo rolled his eyes "Mankey ain't here boy. He won't make it to the party; he came down with a chill."
"Oh" Ron looked back and forth between both men "and…."
Bo offered Stanley a weary look "the boy's a lost cause."
"Mister Cooley"
Ron turned to see Tara and Bonnie walk straight up to him.
"Luckily there seems to be more then one hen in the hen house" Bo and Stanley chuckled to themselves as they sidled away from the scene.
Ron took his hat off.
Tara smiled brightly "Put your hat back on Cooley or you might find yourself sick in the morning."
"Yes ma'am"
Tara continued to smile but Bonnie carried a tortured look on her face. As if just being in Ron's presence caused her tremendous pain.
"You haven't been in town much; I thought you may have gotten hurt."
He ran his hands across the back of his head "Far from it ma'am. I've just been working a bit more at the Circle C"
"So you have been well?"
"That's right ma'am"
"You can stop calling me ma'am"
"Yes ma'am I mean….I…" he fumbled with the rest of his words.
She giggled softly
"So you're enjoying yourself?" He managed to blurt out.
Bonnie leaned over and whispered something in Tara's ear. Ron watched in bemusement as Tara nodded to herself, and then drew in a deep breath.
"I hope this does not sound too brazen, but I'd enjoy it more if you asked me to danc….."
"Ron! You made it!'
Tara was too stunned to say anything as Kim and Monique cut in between her and Ron.
"I'm not aimin to stay long; I'm just going to look around…dance a little I figure." Ron told Kim
"Come on now. You act like you're afraid of the town."
His shoulders slumped "I just don't want people looking at me different, that's all"
"You had a gunfight in the middle of the street. You shot a few rustlers and survived, of course people are going to look at you a little differently"
"Do you?" he asked timidly.
"Well I…..if you don't want people to see you differently then you should dance like everyone else" She grabbed his right hand "so let's dance then"
"That's fine with me but..."
"Ahem" Bonnie cleared her throat interrupting Kim and Ron's back and forth "we're still here"
She elbowed Tara in the rib "well?"
"Oh yes Miss Strong you were saying something?"
"I…." The shock on her face still visible Tara curtseyed gracefully "I'm sorry Mister Cooley I recollect that I have business elsewhere, if you'll please excuse me" She then shuffled away.
Bonnie groaned aloud, before returning to Ron "I was wondering, will the Stranger be showing up today?"
Through the corner of his eyes Ron could see Kim bristle and it brought a grin to his face.
"I haven't had the chance to properly reward him yet" Bonnie said slyly
"He might be here right now."
"Really?" She brightened.
"Or not" he chortled.
Bonnie scoffed "unfortunately you're the only who has talked to the Stranger, if it wasn't for that I wouldn't even grace you with my presence." She then haughtily walked off.
"Isn't she a ray of sunshine?" Monique quipped.
Ron was about to agree when a woman bumped into him "Excuse me ma'am"
"Oh" the much older woman blushed "you're that shootist everyone's gabbing about"
"Um"
"You have freckles, and sandy hair. I like that in a man."
Ron almost chocked on his own breath "so do I" he joked.
She looked him up and down with fascination "have you killed many men?"
"Uh, only when I had too ma'am"
"Oh yes of course, still it must be rough for you, living on the edge of life and death all the time."
Kim stepped up beside Ron "Excuse us Missus Hattiesburg we were in the middle of a conversation."
The air became thick with tension as Kim stared Missus Hattiesburg down. Ron eyes flickered from one to the other.
Eventually Missus Hattiesburg stuck her nose up in the air, turned on her heels and dashed off.
"Can you believe that, and she's a married woman."
"That sure was peculiar" Ron stated
"Goodness child, I really enjoyed that aggressive display. No one can say you don't know how to mark your territory."
Kim was set to reply to Monique's quip when she noticed a wave of young women gathering towards the wooden stage.
"Looks like the bidding is about to start" she said sadly.
"Well let's go then" Monique grabbed her by the arm "just because Josh isn't here doesn't mean you can't participate. The money will help rebuild the school."
"I reckon you've got a point" Kim said as Monique dragged her away "Ron you just enjoy yourself, and don't talk to anyone suspicious."
"You know what that means right? Don't start wagging your tongue around other women while she's gone" Monique shouted over her shoulder.
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A box social was a get-together that involved the auctioning off of boxed lunches prepared by the women. A potential sweetheart might let her man of choice know how she had decorated the box she prepared so that he would try harder to be the one to successfully buy it at auction. This was a way for young women to show off their meal-making skills. He who bought the lunch would share the meal with the one who prepared it.
"I feel sorry for the man that'll have to eat Kim's lunch. Cooking is not one of her strengths."
Old man Lunsford suddenly appeared beside Ron "Why don't you make a bid yourself?"
Ron clutched his chest "Sweet Moses old man I nearly jumped out of my boots"
"So are you going bid?"
"I don't reckon I have a right too."
"No offense son but you ain't got a lick of sense, this is as good an opportunity as any to hook her, and reel her in as your own. Win her over is what I'm saying boy."
Ron swallowed a mouthful of punch "Old man it would probably be easier for me to reach up into the sky and grab a handful of stars."
A man stepped up on the platform and announced that the biddings would begin. The boxes flew by, as most of the gentlemen in the crowd there knew in advance how to identify the box of the girl they wanted to bid on.
Bonnie's box unsurprisingly enough held the highest bid of the day so far, with a winning bid of seventy five dollars.
The next box opened its bid at one dollar, but there came nary a peep from the single men in the audience.
The confused auctioneer searched the silent crowd "This bid is starting at one dollar. Anyone; one dollar!"
Ron wondered why no one was bidding. He looked in Kim's direction on stage and noticed that she was squirming in her skin.
It couldn't be
"That's Kim's lunch box!"
"Makes sense" Lunsford announced as he downed a shot of bourbon.
"What do you mean? I understand Josh is not here to bid for her, but she should be getting just as much bids as Miss Rockwaller, maybe even more."
"The men here are scared."
"Scared of what?"
"In plain language they're scared of the blond herd bull sniffing around that red headed heifer, no offense to the young lady of course."
"What? That makes no sense, Mankey is a nice fellow, by no means is he a herd bull and I know for sure he's not blond…..Ohhhhh"
About that time Ron noticed the looks he was getting from the other men in the crowd. Most took a quick gander at him and quickly turned away.
"They're scared of me?"
"Looks like it."
Thinking quickly Ron bolted to the stage, once there he bumped the auctioneer to the side "folks, contrary to popular belief I am not sparking Kim Possible."
"Thank you for that important news" the frustrated auctioneer declared "once again the bidding starts at one dollar."
Murmurs ran through the men huddled before the stage.
"Hell I don't know, they shore spend a mess load of time together."
"I'd much rather go on without windows in my noggin."
"Fast as chained lightning they say."
"Man I ain't no fool, he called her by her first name, real familiar like."
"I hear her cooking is terrible anyway."
"A might too uppity for my taste, you know she rides a horse like a man."
Ron slapped his forehead. If things carried along like this Kim wouldn't get a single bid. From the back of the crowd he saw Bonnie sporting a Texas sized grin.
He had to do something.
"Last chance the bid is at…"
"One hundred dollars!" Ron screamed
Silence
"Sold to Ronald Cooley……..next box!"
Fifteen minutes later the two sat quietly on a wooden bench as Ron struggled through the contents of Kim's lunch.
"So how is it?"
He blinked in response.
"Be honest."
"I've eaten worse."
"Oh, my apologies."
He swallowed a mouthful and held in a grimace "it's alright."
"By the way…Do you have a hundred dollars?"
"No"
"So why did you bid that much?"
"Most of the time there's no sense in trying to understand the things I do. It's best to just see where the river takes you….besides don't you think you're worth at least a hundred dollars?"
"I wasn't up for bid, my food was."
Ron looked down at the lunch box "good point, now that you mention it, I may have overpaid by a hundred dollars."
Kim sighed "you desperately need to learn how to quit while you're ahead."
"What?"
"Nothing…..How will you get the money?"
"Don't know"
"Well, anyway….thank you" she said softly
"No problem" he said before placing his fork down "do you want to go to the café and get something to eat."
She smiled "I sure would, and I'll buy."
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The Next Day:
The patrons of the dusty saloon roared with laughter as Ron folded on another winning hand.
A man named Everett hooted loudly "Are you sure this is the game you want to play Scarecrow?"
"I'm just being cautious" Ron sighed.
Everett howled "The big bad gunman is cautious; well cautious players are the best kind"
"I'm opening with twenty five dollars now are you in?"
Ron took a moment to think this over "ok but, do you mind if I put a little more on the table."
"Fine with me"
The cards were dealt around the table and the betting became quick and brisk until the pot was over two hundred dollars.
"That's it I'm tired of playing around with you greenhorns, I'm betting one hundred dollars. It's going to cost yall to see my hand."
A chorus of "too rich for my blood" went around the table until Ron and Everett were the only two players left.
Ron looked at his cards and then he looked across the table "I'll see your hundred and raise another."
"What?" Everett exclaimed "what kind of cards are you holding?"
A confident small crept over Ron's face "you'll have to pay to see them."
"He's bluffing, he's bluffing I knows it" said one man
"Hold on now this is the same fella who folded on a flush" said another.
"That's right" Everett said aloud
Ron's grin spread from ear to ear.
"Fine take the pot, I fold." Everett turned his cards over "I had four of a kind, what did you have."
Ron let out a relieved sigh "I had two tens, and two threes."
For moment Everett's face was clouded with anger but then unexpectedly he burst out into laughter, and the rest of the saloon followed suit.
Ron reeled in the pot. That takes care of the auction bill. That's one less thing to worry about.
During the merriment someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Hold you horses KP I'll be with you in a moment."
He jumped out of his chair.
"What are you doing here?" He exclaimed "this is the roughest saloon in town."
"First of all I followed you; second of all I'm a grown woman I can go wherever I want."
"Yes you are a woman, the only woman here if you haven't noticed the stares."
"You know, they may just be admiring my sense of fashion." Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him "so you're a gambler as well."
"No, no…yes…at least I'm not a sneak."
"That's arguable."
"Ok, I've played a hand or two or three, and only when I had no other options for money."
He felt another tap on the shoulder "Excuse me good fellow but do you happen to be the notorious gun handler known as the Scarecrow."
"Look there's no need to get on the peck I swear I'm not much of a gambling man, gambling can get too heated b…."Ron ceased apologizing to Kim and turned towards the man behind him "And uh who might you be?"
The Easterner grabbed Ron's hand and shook it vigorously "Jimmy Blamhammer writer extraordinaire at your service."
"Nice to meet you sir"
"Scarecrow I have the offer of a lifetime for you. You're a legend in the making and I would like to pen a book about your exploits."
"Really? What for?" Ron inquired.
Enthused Blamhammer grabbed Ron by the shoulder and pulled him into a side by side embrace "What for? My good man shooting affrays are always of interest. Why most men can hit the board side of a barn if they're lucky. Exceptional gunmen are a rare breed; men who can coolly strike down another in the blink of eye, these men garner just fame. Their names are spoken in every saloon in the west and every parlor in the East. What better tales are discussed amongst all manner of men then the violent deeds of those who wield six shooters? Scarecrow, readers all over the nation would love to hear the story of an infamous gunman like…..."
Ron broke out of the embrace "not interested."
"What?"
"I'm surprised" Kim announced.
"Hey I'd love to have a book written about me, even if it's written in that crazy ye olde English language that I don't understand. But I want nothing to do with it…. if it's written about…..Scarecrow."
"Well then what have you done that's noteworthy, besides gun fighting?"
"I….I…..I can bake a pretty darn good peach cobbler."
Blamhammer frowned "I'm not sure that will make for good reading. In fact I doubt readers would care much about your peach cobbler."
Kim took notice of the sadness in Ron's face.
"Mr. Blamhammer….you sure know how to cut a man deep" he took Kim by the hand and led her towards the exit. "I'm sorry but I'm not interested in the book."
"I should warn you Scarecrow, you might not want to head towards that door so quickly. I'm not the only who's looking for you today."
Ron stopped in his tracks "what are you saying?"
When Felix walked into the saloon, one could have heard a pin drop, even though the place was filled with hardened westerners. Not a word was spoken as Felix made his way towards the end of the bar and ordered a drink, and all the time he kept his eyes squarely on Ron.
"What's on your mind friend?" Ron asked.
Felix drained his glass "I'm here to kill you."
Silence
"You certainly don't beat around the bush. Now why would you want to kill me?"
Felix laughed "You don't remember me ¡Oh, Qué Bíen! My name is Felix Renton."
"Doesn't ring a bell"
Felix ran his forefinger and his thumb across his forehead "A few years ago you killed a friend of mine. You shot me too, but you let me live, you told me find you again. Well I've found you again and I'm going to kill you."
Ron bit down on his bottom lip.
"Remember me now amigo?"
"Excuse me but what right do you have to barge in here and demand….."
"Just a minute a minute KP, Renton I remember you, but you don't want to fight me."
"I don't? That's news to me."
"You can't beat me I'm faster than you. "
"I'm not too sure about that, but I aim to find out."
"Then you're aimin to feed worms."
'I'm not in the mood for a mess of jawin, I let my bullets do the talking for me….."
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!"
Kim's excessively loud shout immediately grabbed the attention of everyone in the room.
"Are you not aware how childish your "tough hombre" antics are? This is not a game, do you realize that you are talking about killing each other?"
Felix glowered at Kim "Didn't your mother teach you not to stick your nose in other peoples business?"
"I'm going to ignore that but I'll ask you to keep your rudeness to yourself."
Ron attempted to suppress a smile but failed miserable. He inhaled and exhaled "Renton, this may be hard to believe but I…..I consider myself retired from the hook and draw lifestyle."
Felix slapped his knee and threw his head back in laughter "Is that a bluff or do you mean to play for real?"
Ron ran a hand down the back of his neck "Yes I'm serious I'm retired."
"Yea?" Felix laughed.
"Yea"
"Ok" Swiftly Felix reached for his holster and Ron instinctively did the same. In a matter of seconds they both had their hands on the butts of their colts.
Felix smiled "retired are you?"
Kim placed a hand on Ron's arm when she saw the flash of pain on his face
"Alright" he said "I know for sure that I can keep myself from drawing on you."
Felix pulled his colt from his holster and pointed it at Ron "then I'll just have to shoot you down."
"If you're ready to kill an unarmed man in cold blood, go right ahead."
Felix thumbed back the hammer "Scarecrow I think you've gone yeller on me, maybe I should shoot you right now and listen to you cry."
"Go ahead, if you've got it in you. Just so you know I won't draw."
As Felix seemed to reflect on the situation Kim stepped in between Ron and his Colt.
Starring into his eyes she said "you'll have to shoot me down first, if you want to get to him."
"Hiding behind a woman" Felix holstered his weapon and turned towards the bar with his back to Ron "I'm going to be generous I'll give you a day to wash that yellow streak off of your back Scarecrow, and come face me in the street like a man. Rest assured if you don't find me I'll come find you."
Kim pulled at Ron's sleeve "let's go."
As they walked away Felix spoke up again "Scarecrow, if the stories about you are true, if you are what some say you are, then you should know exactly what this is about. You owe me."
He looked over his shoulder and stared into Ron's eyes "Don't disappoint me now…..¡Hasta luego"
When Kim and Ron walked out the door, Blamhammer scribbled furiously on a notepad "'Heavens that was EPIC!"
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Riding back home Ron couldn't hide the apprehensive look on his face "What's the matter?"
"Nothing is the matter"
"There is a disquieted air about you."
"Not knowing what disquieted means I'll have to take your word for it."
"Its means you are as jittery as a jack rabbit right now.'
He avoided her gaze "Ah, you might be on to something."
"Are you worried that people are going to say you backed down?"
"Heck no I'm alive aren't I?"
"About Renton, did you really……?"
"I did" he said quickly "I did."
"If you don't mind me asking, how, how did it feel?"
"I…..It's not a feeling I fully understand myself so I can't really describe it….besides it's not good to dwell on that for too long or you're liable to drive yourself crazy. Most of the time its best to focus on one thing, you got him before he got you."
"Things just get more and more curious with you around" Kim muttered.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Through a cabin window Veronica watched the glare of the setting sun streaking through the far end of the horizon. She tried to clear her vision, but a strange haze remained in the air.
"Hello the cabin!"
Hearing a familiar voice, a blanket covering her shoulders Veronica rushed out the door.
"Ah Marshal you've returned"
Wil Du slowly rode into camp and stopped his horse "you shouldn't be up."
She coughed "Oh I know I should be resting, and I hate to say it but I grew a bit bored. Jenkins is asleep inside; Missus Director and Mister Beechum are each surveying the land. I was just a bit lonely."
"Lonely?"
"I know it sounds childish……"
Will chuckled "Sometimes women can be as silly as five year olds. I got the medicine you needed from town."
He pulled a small paper bag from his inner vest and tossed it to her.
"Thank you" She coughed again and then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand "I….I was just enjoying the sunset. It's a grand event isn't it…..the sun setting."
"Yes I reckon it is grand for something that happens, just about everyday"
Veronica shoulders slumped and her head lowered "I apologize"
"Excuse me?"
"I know how much you are dedicated to you duty so I apologize for getting sick and slowing us down. I know how important this assignment is to you" she lifted her head and stared at him defiantly "but that does not justify your snide comments and your overall rude behavior towards me."
Finding himself momentarily tongue tied Will Du sat motionless on his horse "Fair enough"
He rode out of the camp and returned pulling a horse by the reins "get on the horse."
"I, I don't understand."
He sighed "just hop on."
They rode along together until Will drew rein at a shallow rise "if you look to the east you can just see the Flatland Peaks. If you think a sunset is grand trying seeing it from here."
Veronica stared out at the vast land and was rendered speechless by the beauty of the far blue, mountains and the golden light peeking from behind them.
"How lovely" she exclaimed
"It almost makes you forget what the world is really like……almost. Miss Walton don't worry about slowing us down, I'm fairly sure we've gotten away from Sheriff Towers, no one knows we are here, so you can just….."
She touched him lightly on the arm which unbeknownst to her practically startled him "Apology accepted" she said.
"I wasn't, that is to say that…..no harm done then."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Resting beneath a cottonwood, his hands folded underneath his head Ron stared up at the legion of stars that filled the sky. Quietly he marveled at the star-lit display.
"Aquene used to tell me about this warrior chief who said "I'm a person who has already accepted death, one who lives day after day with death by his side."
Ron's eyes fell on an owl at the very tip of the cotton wood whose hooting eclipsed the loud lapping of Cotton Creek.
"That does sound like some balderdash that Aquene would spew. I've got a better saying, you live by the gun and you die by the next person's gun."
"A master of the English language is what you are Murdoch. Shakespeare should be envious……..I don't know Murdoch I might feel worse if I win than if I lose."
"If you lose your dead…. You win you're alive, plain and simple."
"Not sure if I want…need to win this time."
Ron heard a rider approaching and his hand flew to his colt "who's there?"
"Who do you think?"
The rider approached and Ron's eyes confirmed what his ears had heard. "Don't you know it's dangerous for a woman to be on her own this far from town at night" he declared, knowing full well that she was the last person who needed the lecture. .
She noticed the hand on his colt "it seems to me that it's dangerous for men as well."
The hooting owl took off into the night sky, leaving a few falling leaves in its wake.
She dismounted "its getting really late, don't you think it's time for you to turn in."
Ron slowly sat up "you were worried about me?"
"Well of course" she sat down beside him "but I guess my worries are unfounded, I mean it's not like you have someone out there trying to kill or anything."
"You won't need to worry about him sneaking up on me KP because I'm going to fight him."
"What the devil for?"
"He called me out for one thing."
"Oh I see, of course it makes sense. Will you be measuring the size of your guns before you get down to the actual killing."
"You've got a tongue as sharp as a blade, sticks in my craw like a pincushion."
"So what now, you teach him what happens when you grab a wolf by the tail. A matter of pride, of honor…"
"You weren't this biting about Dub Wilson."
"Dub Wilson kidnapped and threatened to kill my mother. His brother held the entire town hostage. Dub Wilson backed you up into a corner where you had no choice but to act. Felix Renton doesn't seem at all to be the same type of character as Dub Wilson. You can see it in his face."
"I owe it to him."
Her eyebrow arched "you owe it to him to try and kill him?"
"I owe him" he repeated. "I'm going to go into town and ask him for a week. At the end of that week I'm going to brace him, and that's all there is to it."
His train of thoughts was derailed when Kim suddenly tackled and pinned him to the ground.
"What the heck?"
Even in the dimly lit darkness his hazel eyes found hers.
"You really want this foolishness to happen don't you, last man standing and all that."
Abashed, Ron sighed "I wish I could make you understand."
He reached up and gently ran his finger from her cheek to ear.
"Why did you do that?" she asked.
He shrugged "I don't know….. It actually sort of, did itself."
She sucked in her bottom lip "…you can do it again….if you want."
Ron stared past her face, into the heavens. A shooting star streaked across the sky. He vaguely recalled that certain Indian tribes considered this to be a sign of good luck.
"Truth is I think it took all the gumption I had, just to do that."
Kim slowly pulled herself off his body and sat beside him "you're an odd duck Ron Stoppable. Who are you really?"
He exhaled "No one in particular."
A/N Ok there you go...so what's to talk about. Not much action in this chapter unless you count the lovey dovey action.
I liked the way Wade's laboratory worked out. BTW if anyone has any ideas for inventions I'd be happy to hear them.
Felix's arrival to Middlewood. I kind of wanted it to be surprising but maybe it came out a little too low key
What else...what else...oh yeah Shego! What do you think about her entrance to this tale, personally I see it as a hit or miss
So feedback folks, really important.