"Hey Bell" Billy said, taking the last draw upon his cigarette.

Bell looked at him and smiled, "What Kid?"

"This water in Lincoln gets my insides funny. May I go to the privy? Please."

Bell stared at him a moment, "Why sure Kid." Bell took up his rifle and took a key off his belt; he then unlocked Billy's chains from the floor.

Billy rose and stretched his muscles.

"Come on then" Bell said, gesturing to the door; Billy began to walk in slow, heavy steps, the shackles about his ankles hindering him, but not as much as he wanted his jailers to believe.

They made their way down the steps, out of the side door and around the back of the building to the small shack that served as an outhouse. Billy quickly went inside and closed the door. His blue eyes flashed, searching for any clue, finally he narrowed his eyes in distaste as he came to realise where whatever it was Jane had hidden was.

He rolled up his sleeve and dipped his hand down into the filth below. He searched only a few seconds before grasping something, he pulled it out with a sickening smacking sound and placed it on the wooden seat. Billy flicked the sewage from his hand and then wiped any remainders off with sheets of newspaper. He opened the material gingerly; avoiding soiling his hands again, inside was a perfectly clean Colt.44. He grinned down at it and carefully picked it up; he silently opened the chamber and saw it was fully loaded, he grinned again.

He shoved it down his britches and turned to face the door. Already Billy could feel the excitement rising within him, his blood scorched through his veins as the prospect of what this all meant revealed itself fully to him.

---

Bell stood impatiently outside, his rifle in both hands, fidgeting nervously.

A loud noise of pretend flatulence came from the outhouse. "Whoops!" came Billy's voice and he gave a crazy laugh. Bell looked back at the door trying to fight a grin, but it was no use, Billy Bonney was just too much of a comedian to keep a straight face.

"Alright Kid. Let's go, muy pronto" Bell said, pulling his grin back to a smile.

Slowly the outhouse door creaked open and Billy stuck his head out, Bell furrowed his brow thinking something was wrong and walked closer.

Billy gave a sheepish look, "I wouldn't go in there if I were you" he teased before breaking into more laughter, his spirits were high, his eyes alight with amusement. Bell smiled and gestured for him to get a move on. Billy walked out of the door; Bell opened the door wider, peering into the outhouse with curiosity. Billy laughed silently and deftly moved to the side of the rickety shack, out of Bell's line of sight.

Bell scratched his head finding nothing out of order in the privy and turned around; his jaw slackened in shock, Billy was gone.

"Kid?" he asked tentatively, the panic clear in his voice. Billy watched him in growing amusement; finally, after he felt he had had a little sport, he emerged from his hiding place. Bell gave him a thunderous look and Billy laughed his one of a kind laugh. Bell's face fell into a smile and he gestured with his rifle for Billy to start walking back. Billy continued to laugh as he walked, kicking up dust with his feet as he did a jig of a dance.

Billy walked calmly up the stairs, his chains jangling as he mounted the steps, Bell following behind him. He reached quickly into his britches, his hand resting upon the butt of the gun, reassuring him all would go well.

As Billy reached the top of the stairs he pulled out the gun, the blood pumped hard and fast within his veins like a wild fire spreading through his entire being.

"Yoo-hoo Bell." Billy turned, his hand raising the gun, "I'll make ya famous."

Bell shook his head and looked up, expecting more tomfoolery. Billy grinned excitedly, he had the power now, he was the one calling the shots.

Bell's face dropped, fear flickering across his eyes. As if he wasn't aware of what he was doing he began to raise his rifle.

"Don't do it Bell," Billy's laughter had died, "Bell, come on, don't do it!" Billy pleaded. "I ain't kiddin'!" Billy's eyes flashed a warning, one he hoped Bell would heed.

Bell continued raising his weapon anyway. Billy pulled back the hammer, his face contorted in an expression of unwillingness. "BELL!" Billy desperately cried his last warning. Bell's finger was upon the trigger, he was going to fire. Billy's jaw set in annoyance and determination, he pulled the trigger. Bell fell backwards from the impact, his rifle dropping from his hands as he began to fall down the stairs, rolling over himself in a strange somersault. Billy watched him, a look of regret clouding his features.

"That was stupid Bell" he said, as if chiding the dead man.

Billy turned, wasting no more time, he burst into a side room and grabbed Bob's shotgun, a juvenile twinkle flickered in his eyes and he quickly checked it was still loaded as he hurried back to his cell. He crouched at a window and looked down at the street below, waiting. He smiled and suppressed a tremor of laughter that threatened to burst from him.

Just as he had expected and wanted, Bob came flying out of the Saloon, a half empty bottle in his hand. He turned about to the men that stood drinking outside.

"Bell kill 'im? Did Bell kill the Kid?" he shouted in excitement. He drew his Colt and began to rush across the street towards the courthouse.

Billy smiled and brought the barrel of the shotgun up, smashing the window before him. Bob stopped abruptly; he squinted up, trying to see who was at the window.

"Hallo Bob!" Billy called, a wide grin accompanying his greeting.

Bob's face fell, "Oh shit!" he murmured, the fear clouding his face like a shadow.

Before he could move an inch Billy fired. The shot slammed into Bob and he flew backwards before finally landing with a harsh thump on the ground.

"Goodbye Bob!" Billy smirked, "Best dollar eighty I ever spent!" He howled with laughter, enjoying his vengeance.

He ducked back inside, a wisp of a smile still playing upon his lips. He quickly sat upon the bed and wriggled out of his handcuffs. They fell to the floor with a heavy clang. Billy rubbed his wrists absently and quickly washed his hand with soap in a nearby bowl of water. He wiped his hands on his britches and made his way downstairs, he stopped at the lifeless body of Bell and bent down; his hands searched inside Bell's jacket and finally grasped the item he needed. Billy pulled out the set of keys; he glanced at his hand, it was now covered in Bell's blood. He studied the gleaming red liquid, his eyes flashing from regret to anger and finally his mind rested upon an idea. He looked up at the adobe wall in front of him and gave a firm nod to himself. He rose, and with the blood upon his fingers he began to write. Once he had finished he stepped back and admired his handiwork. The words read 'Garrett's Place'. He narrowed his eyes, the hatred for the man this was intended for shining clearly.

He sat upon the bottom step and freed his ankles of the accursed shackles. He stood up and flexed his muscles, feeling the freedom wash over him. He smiled once more and then gave an apologetic look at Bell's body, "I'm sorry I had to kill, but I couldn't help it" he mumbled before walking back up the stairs. He made his way out onto the balcony and surveyed the town.

Billy breathed in the fresh afternoon air, the aroma of flowers hung heavily on the breeze; he chuckled to himself as the thought crossed his mind that freedom really did smell sweet.

---

Bess sat at a small table nursing the same glass of whiskey she had bought two hours ago. The noise of heavy footfalls entering the saloon made her look up and she saw the one man she had hoped she would not lay eyes upon today. Bob Olinger stood at the entrance, he ushered the prisoners he was escorting to a large table near the bar. Bess groaned softly in disappointment as she watched Bob ordering food and drink. She took a small sip of her drink, taking some comfort in its warming taste and tried to read the newspaper upon the table. She could get no further than a few lines, which she seemed to read over and over again, none of it made sense in her mind; it was as if the words had no meaning. Finally after a good amount of time felt as if it had passed she glanced at the clock, something she had avoided doing since she had first sat at the table, she feared if she looked at it too often she would start to look suspicious and give the whole game away.

Thirty minutes had passed since Bob had first entered; Bob and the others were now enjoying hot food and bottles of liquor. Bob was swigging from such a bottle as he laughed gruffly at his teasing of some of the prisoners. Bess glanced back at the clock; her palms were hot with sweat, her heart beating in loud heavy thuds within her head. The sound of high heels echoed across the wooden floor, drawing her attention. Jane was walking through the bar. Bob 'wolf whistled' at her and shouted some lewd comments but Jane kept walking, her head held high and a twinkle in her eye as if she found the whole situation around her very entertaining.

Bess' hand tightened around her glass, so tight she feared for a moment that the glass would shatter from the pressure. Jane was a good few feet away from her, weaving her way through the tables, heading towards the stairs to the hotel rooms. Bess swallowed hard, beads of sweat pricking her brow and then Jane turned, her expression unconcerned, as if looking through Bess, as if she wasn't there, but upon her lips without mistake was a sly smirk. Bess felt a flood of relief wash through her, relaxing her muscles and slowing her heart. She smiled inwardly as she watched Jane disappear up the stairway and out of sight.

Now all Bess had to do was wait and pray. She prayed for Billy to be able to free himself and she prayed that Bell would surrender easily, he had treated them both well in comparison to Bob, but Bess also knew that Billy would do what he had to if it came down to his life or Bell's.

The minutes went by, each one seeming to drag longer than the last, her mind kept telling her that too much time had passed, the plan had failed, the gun had been taken from Billy and they were back where they started. No, worse: now there was no time, no second chance to think of a plan. She bit her lip, her nerves seeming to unravel as she tried to calmly sit in her seat, her expression only interested in the newspaper rather than the torrent of torment raging inside her.

Suddenly a shot rang out, echoing eerily around the town. The sound caused the whole saloon to jump within their seats. Excited murmurs began to fill the room as Bob abruptly stood from his seat, knocking the chair to the floor with a sharp thud. Bess could hear the blood rushing in her ears; she clutched at the paper upon the table, crumpling it in her fist. Her mind raced, was the shot from Billy or Bell?!

Bob was out through the door in a split second, Bess craned her neck, her heart feeling as if it would burst from her chest as she watched him run across the street shouting if Bell had 'Killed the Kid'. Bess' gaze flicked from Bob to the courthouse, knowing that the next few seconds meant everything, knowing they would reveal Billy's fate.

Her eyes were drawn to an upper window as the glass was smashed from it, a voice shouted down, it was muffled and she squinted trying to make out the figure that hung out of the window, still not daring to believe the plan had worked. Bob had stopped in the middle of the street, in a blur a louder gunshot ripped through the air and Bob was falling backwards, blown off his feet, until his body landed with a heavy thump upon the dusty ground. He lay as still as stone and Bess knew he was dead and what that entailed, Billy was free. She turned back to her drink and downed the rest of the liquid. The people about her were mumbling amongst themselves, she strained her hearing, trying to listen fully as she calmed her nerves.

"If the Kid's escaped I say good on him! Everyone knows he was set up!"

"Yep, yep I agree."

"I still think he should swing."

"Shut up John, no one cares what you think no how."

Laughter broke out and Bess smiled softly, knowing that Billy would have very little opposition to his escape.

"The Kid's outside on the balcony!" A man at the window shouted in a humorous voice.

Bess felt her breath leave her at this news. She got up from the table and followed the small crowd outside.

She looked up and indeed there he was, a grin plastered upon his face, his blue eyes dazzling even at this distance. A strange weight seemed to lift from her at the sight of him with no shackles and his guns fastened at his hips once more. As everyone stared up at him he began to speak, his voice clear and full of good cheer.

"Hallo!" he beamed, "I'm a free man once again and I'd like it to stay that way, so I gotta ask ya all to stay away from the courthouse and me until I leave town. I had to kill Bell, which I'm mighty sorry about, but he wouldn't listen t' reason and so I did what I had to." He paused and the crowd remained silent. "I'm 'standin' pat' against the world and I don't wish to kill anyone of this town but if anyone gets in my way of leavin' I will have to kill them." He grinned once more and a few men about Bess gave out whoops of approval. As if the show were over the men around her began to make their way back inside to their meals and drinks. Billy's eyes were scanning the thinning crowd, Bess waited with fluttering heart until his gaze found her. His grin widened and he gestured for her to come up to him. Bess did not need asking more than once, she picked up her skirts and rushed across the street, avoiding the bullet mangled body of Bob as she did.

She entered the building and stopped dead, her body breaking out in gooseflesh as a coldness swept over her. Bell lay at the foot of the stairs, his body in an impossible position, his mouth still slack-jawed in shock, his eyes half closed in death… his shirt covered in blood. She gasped and took a step backwards, closing her eyes, blocking out the awful scene. She forced them open, chiding herself for having such childish thoughts; she had known full well that this could be the outcome of her plan, yet she could not help but feel she had played a part in Bell's fate, that it was her plan and therefore her fault he was dead. The horror of death had worked all its devastation on her in the last six months and she wished bitterly to see no more. She glanced at the blood writing and furrowed her brow, the words brought forth Billy's hatred for Pat and how dangerous this cat and mouse game had become, for who was now the cat and who the mouse?

She gingerly stepped over the body and rushed up the stairs, into the sunlit room of Billy's cell where he already awaited her. She flew into his embrace and held him tightly.

"I can't believe it worked" she mumbled into his shirt.

"This was your plan?" Billy laughed softly.

Bess nodded and Billy's embrace tightened around her.

"It worked just fine" he breathed.

Bess pulled away and studied his expression, "Seems like the town don't care you've escaped."

Billy giggled, "Half the people here are friends, or at least were Tunstall and McSween supporters, the other half are scared of me and won't try anythin' after my warnin'."

"We should go" Bess stated, looking towards the door, feeling the urgent need to be far from this place and this wretched courthouse.

"There ain't no rush, as I said we're safe mi amada" Billy said, grinning as he pulled her back to him.

Bess smiled as his lips came to press against hers. Before she could protest Billy had swept her up into his arms and carried her towards the bed. Their love making was licentious and hurried, the months that had passed without each other's touch made it impossible to deny their desire.

They quickly fastened clothing and gathered provisions from the weapon room. Bess fetched her own belongings from the hotel and asked the Saloon owner for two red blankets and a good supply of food, water, a pan and some matches. The man happily gave her the things she needed and shook his head with a smile as she tried to pay. Bess smiled and thanked him for his kindness.

Bess met Billy outside, where he had managed to obtain the only good horse available in the town.

He walked towards her leading the animal; he stopped near Bob's body and narrowed his eyes.

"You're not going to round me up again!" He gave the corpse a sharp kick and grinned before continuing over to Bess.

Bess fastened their belongings onto the saddle and Billy heaved himself up into his seat before holding his hand out to Bess and she took her place behind him. She wrapped her arms around his middle, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth at the sensation and closeness. Billy glanced towards the hotel and saw a beautiful face peering down at them, he smiled warmly as Jane said her goodbye with a sensuous wave of her fingers, he nodded in return, his smile giving his thanks to her.

He then turned and gave a fond farewell to the people still standing about watching and nudged the horse onwards; the beast sprang into a gallop. Billy gave a whoop of pleasure as the breeze from the fast movement fell upon his face, he began to laugh, it was a gleeful sound and those who heard it couldn't help but smile. Billy pulled his gun from its holster and let a bullet loose into the air, he whooped again as they sped out of Lincoln, away from the jail, away from the law and away from death.