We've FINALLY got a new router and its working so much better than our old one :D! It's GREAT to have internet again (\/)! Anyway, here comes the new chapter, enjoy~! *** Chapter Thirteen : The "Favor" ***
"Well, what a coincidence!" He said with a high pitched voice. He cleared his throat and repeated himself. "That's a nice name! It suits you!" He added.
Gus mumbled something to himself.
The other Rango didn't seem so impressed. "Yeah, but that name has been disgraced, thanks to you! Do you have any idea what it feels like when some useless, half-baked loser takes your name, claims to be you and make you into the laughing stock of the West? I'll tell ya; IT AINT NICE!"
He growled and turned to the two crooks standing by the Sheriffs office, one of them, a short ratlike rodent, tried to hold Beans still while the other one, a hyena, laughed at his friend almost getting pummeled by a tied up girl. "Bentley! Bring the rest of the folks out here will ya?"
The hyena, apparently Bentley, stopped laughing and nodded. He went back into the sheriffs office. Some shouts and shrieks were heard before the first townspeople came out with their hands on their heads. Tacker, the blacksmith prairie dog and his family came out first with Bentley while Sergeant Turley came last, constantly being poked in the back with a shotgun held by a tall, mean looking coyote.
"Calm down there, sonny! Ahm walking as fast as I can!" He complained, but the coyote replied by hitting the bird in the head, hard, with the shotgun and growl.
Rango stared with his mouth agape. The whole town! He had taken the whole town hostage! Plus, he had somehow managed to get them all to fit inside the sheriffs office!
"Ya know, Rango..." The other Rango said. "If you removed all the bars and other prison things in the prison, it actually becomes quite spacey!" The bountyhunter said, as if he had heard Rangos thoughts. Oh yeah... Rango thought. The Sheriffs office is connected with the prison. Genius!
Thankfully, Doc was among the townspeople and that immediately reminded Rango of Woodrow.
"Please mr... Eh Rango. Woodrow here need medical attention. Doc over there is a, well, a doc! We need his help!" Rango said, almost begged.
"Do I look like someone who cares?" The bountyhunter snorted. "Ya know, if I hate someone I usually just dispose of 'em as soon as I can" He said loud enough for the town to hear, keeping his eyes fixed on Rango. "And you are certainly classified for that category, sheriff! But, I've actually got somethin' bigger in mind here. I've got a bigger vendetta towards someone else, and you, Rango, is goin' to find these persons and bring 'em to me!" He pointed to the sheriff and pulled up one of the corners of his mouth to a lopsided smile. "If you do that Rango, I'll forgive you and call us even!"
Rango nodded. "Certainly, who am I looking for?"
The bountyhunter Rango did one of his bonechilling chuckles. "Don't worry, you have already met 'em! The Rattlesnakes ofcourse!"
Exactly those persons Rango DIDN'T want to go after. "B-but finding them would be like finding a needle in a haystack! It would take maybe WEEKS to find CLUES about their whereabouts!" Rango said, shocked.
"That is just what I was afraid you were goin' to say, sheriff..." The other Rango said and shook his head. He pointed the sheriffs gun at one of the townspeople. "YOU! Whats yer name?"
A tall, thin and very young kangaroo rat were forced out of the clung of townspeople. He almost tripped when the coyote pushed him out on the street. He stood there on shaking legs and twirled the end of his shirt. He swallowed nervously and looked at sheriff Rango.
"Your NAME, kiddo!" The other Rango demanded to know. His shout made the young kangaroo rat jump and wince in fear.
"P-Phillip, sir! Phillip Edwards!" He said with a cracked voice.
"How old are you, Phillip?" Rango asked and lowered the gun.
"T-thirteen, sir! B-but ahm turning fourteen in two months, sir!" Phillip answered, his voice still a bit unsteady.
"Well, do you know this kid, Rango?" Rango said and turned to the sheriff.
"Y-yes" Rango answered, recognizing the child as the oldest son of Taylor and Lotta Edwards, the carpenter and his wife.
"Do you want him to grow up to be an adult?"
Rango flinched. This question worried him. "Ofcourse! What are you...?" He started to say, but the other Rango quickly lifted his gun again and pointed it to the kid.
"Then I suggest that you hurry the fuck up! Every sunset that passes I will kill one of these townspeople, starting with this kid!"
Everyone gasped in shock and somewhere in the heap of critters, a woman cried out:
"No! Not Phillip! NOO!" His mothers heartbroken sobs echoed.
"No, Rango! Don't! He's just a kid!" Rango said, taking a few steps toward the bountyhunter.
"Yes, Rango! I'm sick of waiting for you! This time, I'll make sure you hurry up! If you want any people left in this town, then I suggest you get movin'!" He said with an evil smirk. "The clock is tickin', sheriff!"
Rango couldn't believe it. His throat felt dry and a sudden urge to strangle this cruel lizard burned in his chest. "W-why?" He whispered.
"Because fuck you, that's why! MOVE!" The other Rango said and snapped with his fingers. Sheriff Rango turned around and saw Bad Bill come with the bountyhunters black road runner. It's was loaded with food, water and a blanket.
"Look, to ease the pain a little, I'm letting you borrow my runner, I bet yours is tired. Her name is Arrow, she is the fastest runner ever hatched. Take good care of her, ya hear?" Rango said and stepped towards his runner and stroke her beak. Arrow squawked and puffed on her master with her head.
Sheriff Rango stood like frozen to the ground. The clock was ticking, but he could manage himself to move. He felt sick in his stomach, like he wanted to vomit. He looked at Phillip. He was standing on the exact same spot and tears were running down his cheeks. He sniveled and looked at Rango with a begging look in his eyes. Rango closed his eyes and looked away. Phillips mother were going ballistic, screaming and tried to claw her way to her son.
"C-come on, Priss..." Rango managed to whisper and started to make his way to Arrow. Bad Bill was still holding her and silently chuckled at the sheriff. Oh how he loved to see the misery in the sheriffs eyes!
Priss nodded and turned to get her runner when suddenly someone grabbed her hand.
"Except, your pretty little deputy won't be following you!" The other Rango said and signaled for Sam to bring Priss to the rest of the townspeople. Priss growled and tried to resist, but the bobcat was stronger than her. "Nope, this is a journey you'll have to make on your own, sheriff!"
Rango was about to object, but he couldn't find the words. He was really bad at tracking. As in REALLY BAD, with capital letters! How would he do this without Priss? The Rattlesnakes were hard enough to track as it was, and to have to do it without Priss by his side would be impossible!
"Come on now sheriff! If you don't do this, how will you ever learn to do anything by yourself?" The bountyhunter chuckled. Sheriff Rango didn't answer. He just clenched his teeth and climbed up in the saddle.
"My gun..." He managed to press forth. "Can I at least have my gun?" The other Rango shook his head. "Ofcourse..." he mumbled.
He was going to signal for the runner to begin, but she was a step before him and already started running. The surprised Rango clung to the reins and tried to keep his balance when Arrow exploded into full speed.
"YO RANGO! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ARROW, I'LL PERSONALLY SKIN YOU FOR IT!" The bountyhunter shouted after him, but he couldn't hear it. All he could hear was the wailing of Lotta Edwards and all he could see was the big, scared eyes of young Phillip Edwards.
A single tear of humiliation and frustration pressed its way out through Rangos eyelids.
He thought hate was a strong word, but in this case it was the perfect word to describe his feelings for the bountyhunter.
*** MWAHAHAHA! Sorry guys... I don't like it when people threatens to kill children either (no matter how much I dislike 'em) but somehow, I felt that this was probably something that Rango would do. Not our sheriff Rango ofcourse ;), but the bountyhunter.
I think I'll go fill up the sink with water and keelhaul myself as a punishment for killing off sweet little Phillip...