Author's Note: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of the characters. I only own the plot to the story and a few characters of my own
Summary: Western Au. Wild Spirited Elizabeth Swann leaves behind her family in Philadelphia heading to the small Texas border town of Sliverston for a teaching job.
Will Turner was a man not looking for trouble but trouble had always found him. He had a reputation as a gunhand who was rumoured to have killed thirty men. A nonsense Bounty Hunter who rode with questionable characters. Dark Will.
Chapter 1
Sliverston, Texas
1890
Twenty Two year old Elizabeth Swann glanced out the window of the dusty stage as they rolled into Sliverston. It had a long journey from Philadelphia to here in Sliverston. Her family and friends thought her mad for going West.
Her father wanted her to marry James. James Norrington was a fine and good decent man. But both he and Elizabeth where just friends. They thought of one another as brother or sister rather then lovers.
Her father had relaxed a little to her coming out to Sliverston. Her mother Katherine's brother only son Phillip Swift. Was the local minister here in Sliverston. It had been years since Elizabeth had seen her cousin.
She had wired them shortly before she had caught the stage leaving San Antonio. Phillip had wired back that he and his wife Syrena would meet her at the stage depo in Sliverston when she arrived.
The stage rattled and came to halt at the Stage depo. She and four others stepped out of the stage. It wasn't hard to spot Phillip. He was the only man not wearing a gun of some description.
"Lord cousin how've you've grown."Phillip drawled with mix of Pennsylvanian and Texas Accent. More Texas then Pennsylvanian now.
"I would say the same Phillip" Elizabeth replied returning the hug.
"You must be tired. It's been a long journey. My mother would tan my hide for forgetting my manners. Cousin this is Syrena my wife. Syrena this is my cousin Elizabeth" Phillip introduced Elizabeth and Syrena to one another.
"Phillip speaking of you all often"
"Likewise" Elizabeth shook Syrena's outstretched hand.
A commotion coming further down the main street caught the attention of most of the town folk.
Five rough looking men road into town. Leading a group of horses. Some of their former owners that where dead where draped over the saddle. The few remaining alive. Where tied to the saddle horn of their saddles.
One of the riders caught Elizabeth's attention. He sat tall in the saddle of his black overo paint stallion. His hair long and dark was tied back under his black dusty hat. A beard covered the lower half of his face.
He wore more then one gun on his hip. He looked like the cowboys in the Penny Dreadfully Novels her brothers loved to read. His four other companions where more rough looking. The man beside him had braided hair under his battered old hat two eagle feather stuck out of the hat band.
The two at the rear of the group. One was quite short with a balding head, he rode a scrawny roan. His companion wore an eye patch over his right eye. He had a shotgun in hand as he rode at the back of the group.
The last of the group. Looked to the brother of the man whom had caught Elizabeth's attention.
The group came to a halt at the Sheriff's Office.
"I'd stay way from the like of those men" Phillip muttered from beside her.
"What's do you mean" Elizabeth looked at Phillip as the Sheriff stepped out of his office with a limp.
"They've got a reputation. They make their living hunting down men. Bringing them in dead or half dead."
"Did those men break the law. To justify the bounty on their head" Elizabeth asked.
"Most likely. The law can not a judge a man. Only the Lord can do that. We'd be best getting home" Phillip picked up Elizabeth's bags. Placing them on the back of the Buckboard.
"Papa" A little girl ran to the younger man of the group as he dismounted from his horse. A broad shouldered Chestnut.
"Reverend Swift" The man nodded to Phillip.
"Henry" Phillip nodded back to the man.
"Reverend, Syrena. How are you this day" A young woman with dark brown hair and the same piercing blue eye as the Sheriff of Sliverston came to stand beside Henry and the little girl.
"Mrs Turner. Both Syrena and I are well. Mrs Turner this is my cousin Miss Elizabeth Swann she just arrived from Philadelphia to teach here in Sliverston."
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Swann" Henry tipped his hat.
"You as well Mr Turner. Are you a lawman"
"Not exactly Miss Swann. We bring in the worst of the worst so to speak. To answer to the laws justice."Henry explained.
The door to the Sheriff's office creaked open. The man Elizabeth took to be Henry's brother stepped out onto the porch. He was tall and broad shoulder. He stood at maybe six foot or a little taller.
He wore a blood red shirt under a black vest. A black duster trail coat was worn over the top. The spurs on his black boots clink and jingled as he walked across the porch.
Elizabeth caught at glimpse of a nasty looking scar peaking out the open collar of his shirt and union suit.
For some unknown reason Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat when their eyes met briefly.
"Reverend" The stranger drawled in a thick Texas with a hint of Scottish accent.
"William."Phillip nodded to Henry's brother William."Face the laws Justice. You say Henry. What about the innocent Matthews boy you hunted down and shot like a dog in the street" Phillip turned his anger to William.
"Matthews had it coming Reverend."William's eyes blazed with anger and hatred at the mention of this Matthews man.
"He deserved a fair trial Will. You are not Judge, Jury nor Executioner" Phillip preached.
"Would you preaching the same bullshit gospel . If it had been your wife and child he butchered Preacher. Brandon Matthews wasn't the saint you want to paint him as Reverend. Matthews got what was coming to him. He raped and killed my wife and unborn child.
Tell me what would you do if it had been you. Think about it. Would you be turning the other cheek at that" I hotly retorted as I stepped off the porch to the dusty street below.
"I.."Phillip it seemed was at a loss for words for once.
"Don't worry Reverend. We left a few alive for you to give last rites to" Jack smirked as he handed me the payout for the bounty.
"Sparrow."
"We'll see yea at church on Sunday.. Miss. Mrs Swift" Jack tipped his hat.
"Don't worry Reverend. These were bad men who had it coming. We bring in the scum of the earth to keep the town safe for cowering god fearing people such as your self" I sarcastically remarked as I mounted my horse." Ma'am welcome to Sliverston" I tipped my hat to her.
"Henry you joining us at the Rattlesnake for a drink. Or you heading back to the Ranch with Carina and Arabella" I asked.
"I'll see you at home Will" I nodded. Dutchmen danced on the bit. I gave him a shallow kick in the flank. Jack, myself, Pintel and Ragetti rode off in the direction of the Rattlesnake Salon run by Joshamee Gibbs.