I own only the plot and OCs! Enjoy guys :)

We have a lazy afternoon between us. Lindsey managed to snag a pack of cards this morning too. She shuffled the deck, smirking as she cut them. "Double or nothing?"

I shake my head and laugh, as Brittany eyes widen. "No way," she says immediately. "I'm out, I've lost enough as it is." She stands up and stretches, and I look up at her admiringly. The sun was still shining, higher above us now and we barely had any shade from the trees behind us. Still, it wasn't the warmest day as autumn drew nearer, and we were all grateful for the warmth. As I looked up at Brittany, the sun seemed to shine directly behind her head, blocking its path to me.

"You look like you're wearin' your halo," I smile at her and she grins down at me. "My angel." I lean up on my hands until she gets the hint, and bends down to kiss me. "I love you."

"I love you too, San," she smiles and nods towards Lindsey. "Now win all my freedom back from your friend, please." She turns towards the fire, taking out some paper and a pen, and starts writing. I wonder what she's doing when Lindsey interrupts my thoughts.

Lindsey laughs as she starts dealing the cards. She places two in front of us both, all face down. "You bettin' big?" She asks.

I look up at the sky and think. We'd decided not to use money a little while ago, seeing as we didn't have much between us at the moment anyway. We were betting freedom instead – mostly chores, but the promise of buying a drink in the future, or doing something embarrassing. "Hmm," I frown and look at her. "I bet cleanin' all 3 horses." I nod to where we had the three of them hitched. Sirocco was loving the return of his old friend, and the two were gently nudging into each other occasionally. Lindsey's horse, a beautiful golden mare named Cicero, was happily grazing next to them. "I mean cleaning. If I win, I don't want to find Sirocco ain't had his hooves cleaned or been shoed properly."

Lindsey contemplates it, then nods, a big smile on her face. "I think that's worse for me, but fine. I'm confident about my abilities. You remember who taught who," she laughs and I narrow my eyes at her playfully. "I know all your tricks, Miss Lopez."

"What's yours?"

"I bet…" Lindsey chuckles to herself and I groan internally. "I bet the loser has to run stark naked through that farm there the other side of these trees."

Brittany turns around at that and raises her eyebrows. "Do I get to watch?"

I push her gently and laugh. "Deal," I say to Lindsey. "I think you're gonna give those poor cows a fright later. I fear the farmer'll think one got loose."

She snorts and deals another 3 cards, this time in the middle of us and face up, then checks her own. "What next?"

Between us on the table is a 6 of diamonds, a 10 of spades and a 3 of hearts. I check my own cards and see a 6 of clubs and a 3 of spades. Not bad. "I'll bet my ladies chores back," Brittany smiles at me and gives me an excited thumbs up. "You do her chores, or I'll do hers, my own and I'll split the logs."

Brittany raises her eyebrows. "Now I kind of want you to lose." She shrugs and points at the tree stump with the axe buried into it. "I like watchin' you do that." She smiles devilishly and Lindsey and I laugh at her.

"Sorry, babe," I shrug back at her. "Not plannin' on losin' this round." Brittany pulls a face and returns her focus to her writing.

Lyndsey eyes me over her cards and thinks about it for a second, looking back down at her hand. "Okay. I'll agree to those terms." She picks another card from the top of the deck and places it next to the 3 between us. An ace of spades. Lindsey taught me to play poker, and she's had a few more years playing than I have. Her features don't move an inch; she looks completely nonchalant as she eyes the turn laid out in front of us. After a few seconds, she looks up at me. "You in?"

I nod as I look at the cards. "Whoever loses has to go huntin' for a badger, and try to pet it." Lindsey pales as she contemplates my words and Brittany nudges me in the ribs, shaking her head but laughing.

"Honey, that ain't fair. Poor Miss MacCallister here is terrified of those beasts and you know it."

"Why, Miss Pierce," Lindsey drawls, smiling at Brittany. "I thank you kindly for defendin' my honour against your girl here." She looks at me and laughs. "I'm sure her family tree was a shrub."

I cringe but laugh as I remember the antics of Drunken Santana in Sheridan when Sam rescued me from the vegetation. "I sure hope not," I shake my head. "But I'm stickin' to that condition. I'll do it if I lose, I swear it."

Brittany kisses my cheek and hands me a cup of freshly brewed coffee as she pauses her letter, before leaning over and passing some to Lindsey too. "Thank you kindly, Brittany," Lindsey nods and smiles at her. "You treat us rogues too well."

"Play the game, Linds," I take a sip of my drink and pull back quickly as the hot liquid burns my lips. "Or are you wimpin' out?" I blow the coffee this time before taking another small drink, and sigh as it feels much better. Brittany smiles at me and takes a small sip of her own before leaning back on her hands and looking into the sky. I'm sure it's one of her favourite past times. I look back at Lindsey expectantly.

She grimaces slightly then bites her lip. "Fuck it," she laughs. "I ain't losin' anyway and even if I did, those lil bastards can't frighten me." I raise an eyebrow at her sarcastically and she grins. "But I'm wearin' 3 pairs of gloves and you'll keepin' next to me with your rifle ain't you?"

"Anything you need, Linds." I laugh and she reaches for another card. "Good luck." She deals the last card between us, the river. The six of spades lies between us, face up and I double check my cards. "You still in?"

"Mind if I call the bet this time?" She leans forward, looking closer at the 5 cards between us then back at her own. I nod and gesture for her to go ahead. "What about…" She looks up at the sky for a second, eyes following a murder of crows as they fly overhead. She looks back down at me suddenly. "Winner gets the shot at Rachel."

Brittany looks up down from her cloud watching. "You're bettin' that?" She whistles quietly. "That's a big bet."

"I would happily make sure she's gone for good this time, Linds. I think we all would." I see Brittany nod quickly. The things she's done to this girl has made her eager for revenge and I smile sadly. "I'll take that bet," I hold my cards up. "You sure?"

"Flush, ace high," Lindsey says proudly, placing her cards down in front of. "Read 'em and weep, Miss Lopez." Her cards are the king and four of spades and I raise my eyebrows at them. "I can't wait to see you run butt naked through that farm. After you've cleaned and shoed Cicero, of course." Her horse looks up at her name, still chewing.

I look at the cards, my smile slightly turned down. "It's okay, baby," Brittany's next to me, rubbing my shoulders. We'll split the chores, just like we're used to." She kisses me cheek and smiles. "Besides, I'm lookin' forward to you chop wood again."

"See, Britt," I start, sighing loudly. "That's the thing, here. I know how excited you are to see that, but you're just gonna have to wait a while." I put my cards down in front of me – a 6 of clubs and a 3 of spades. Nothing special on their own. But combined with the 5 in front of me, I'd got a full house. "Maybe next time?"

Lindsey looks at the cards, then at me. "You bastard."