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 6
Wolf's Hill. Sliverston, Texas
1890
The storm was starting to ease off. It was mid afternoon already. It would no doubt be dark by the time the storm finally eased off. I wasn't about to be riding around in the pitch dark back to Sliverston.
I slipped out of bed. Elizabeth didn't stir from where she slept as I redressed. I strapped my gun belt back on. I grabbed the Shot Gun that hung above the fireplace. There was a box of shells around here someplace.
I left it on the table. I picked up my Henry Repeater by the door as I headed out with my saddle as well.
I whistled for Dutchmen as I climbed through the slip rails of the corral. Dutchmen was not alone. An old friend was in the corral as well. A Grey Wolf I had raised from a pup. Fang as we had named him.
Fang was by no means domesticated. But he wouldn't rip those he knew to shreds. Fang came over to say hello. He rumbled softly as I rubbed him behind the ears. I could hear a whining of young wolf pups.
It seemed Fang had a family of his own now.
He sniffed around my pockets. I took a few pieces of dried jerky from my saddle bags. He ate them from my gloved hand.
"You feel like going hunting boy" He barked in a wolf like bark.
I saddled Dutchmen. Fang took off ahead of Dutchmen and I as we left the Cabin. Fang sniffed the air for any deer in the area.
I followed close behind. Fang had found a small herd of Deer. The Buck looked like a good size. He feed the four of us a while. It was that or the bigger of four Does with him.
I slipped silently from the saddle. Fang sank low to his belly as he circled around the other side.
I lined up my sights on the bigger Doe. Controlling my breathing before I pulled the trigger. The bullet hit its mark. The Doe stumbled after a short while. I had hit it in the heart. The other does and buck had scattered.
I picked up the doe over my shoulder. I carried it back to Dutchmen. I would skin and butchered it back at the cabin.
Fang returned with his own kill. We went back up to the cabin.
I removed the doe from the back of Dutchmen. I hung it up. I cleaned up and unsaddled Dutchmen back into the corral.
It was long bloodied work skinning and butchering the doe carcass. I cut off what we would need. I took it off the hook. Dumping it on the ground. Fang and his pack could have what was left.
Elizabeth was awake and somewhat dressed. She was wearing only my borrowed shirt and not much else.
"Will where the hell have you been you look and smell like a butchers shop" I supposed I most look a sight.
"I went hunting" I placed the wrapped up fresh cut meat on the table with my Henry Repeater.
"What was that" Elizabeth looked around nervously at the sound of Fang howling outside.
"Wolves" I headed outside to clean up a little from the old barrel filled with water. I cleaned the blood off my hands, face and shirt.
I dunked my head in the barrel of water. The sound of horses approaching caught my attention. I recognised a few of the horses. Dalton and Matthew where two of them. Sheriff Barbossa was another.
I stood near the door of the cabin as they riding up to the cabin. One hand on my gun belt the other lazily on one of my Schofields.
"Turner where is my cousin" Phillip all but demanded.
"Inside she's safe and unharmed. Apart from a little Hypothermia she's fine" I casually answered.
"That's a goddamn Wolf." Deputy Mullroy swore as Fang came to stand beside me.
"He won't hurt you. Put your gun away Mullroy."I advised. Fang stopped growling and bareing his teeth as soon as Mullroy hostler his pistol.
"I'll be back in ten minutes" I excused myself going back inside.
"Will what's going on" Elizabeth relaxed as I came back inside.
"Your Cousin and good half dozen men are outside. They've been looking for you. Though you might want to get dressed before going out there" I remarked earning a slap on the chest for that comment.
I made a make shift belt out an old length of lasso rope. I found an old pair of boots in a chest. There was an old winter coat in the same chest. It was a bit dusty. But it was wearable.
I pulled on my own coat. I got the deer meat I butchered not long ago. As we left the cabin. Fang was still standing guard. No one dare come close of fear of being mauled by him.
"Will that's a wolf"
"His names Fang, he won't hurt yea" I tried to reassure Elizabeth.
Fang sniffed at the wrapped up deer meat in my hand. He followed me around the corral. I unwrapped the meat. Throw it to the side. Fang dug into the meat while I saddled Dutchmen.
"Elizabeth are you alright" Phillip asked while finished saddling Dutchmen.
"I'm fine Phillip it would have been worse if Will hadn't shown up when he did" Elizabeth replied.
I lead Dutchmen now saddled out of the corral. Phillip eyes me with the normal mistrust he always did. It didn't bother me none anyhow.
I helped Elizabeth up into the saddle. I got up behind her. I had one arm wrapped likely around her waist the other with the reins in hand.
It just going dark when we rode into Sliverston. Most of the towns folks had turned in for the night. We came to a stop at the Swift residence on the edge of town.
"Thank you Sheriff" Phillip thank Hector and the two deputies. Davy said a quick goodbye before riding back into town.
"Mr Turner, Henry, Matthew, Dalton."He didn't bother thanking Jack, Pintel or Ragetti.
"Not a problem Reverend" Pa nodded in reply.
"Will. We'll see you back at the Ranch" I nodded in agreement.
"Thank the Lord. You ok and unharmed" Syrena came forward hugging Elizabeth after I helped her down off of Dutchmen.
"Will would you like to stay for dinner. As a thank you"
"I'm sure William has to be getting back" Phillip interjected.
"The offer of dinner. It would be rude to pass up. So I will stay for dinner" I accepted to spite Phillip.
"Dinner may be a little while a way"
"That's fine. I'll go help Phillip put the horses away" I dismounted Dutchmen.
"Thank you Will" Elizabeth kissed me on the cheek before following Syrena inside the house.
I tied Dutchmen to the hitching rail near the yard where Phillip kept his horses, with a few goats and sheep,
I followed Phillip into the makeshift stable. He was unsaddle his gelding when I came in. I removed my hat shaking the excess water from it.
"What happened at the cabin" Phillip spoke for the first time in ten minutes.
"Nothing happened. She's still intact" I lied. Something had happened alright. I wasn't going to say a word about it to Phillip anyway. It was none of his business anyhow.
"Just keep it that way" Phillip's green eyes glared at me as he cooled off his horse.
"What that meant to mean" I angrily replied.
"She's not for the likes of you William"
"The likes of me. Did I miss something. Even if something did happened between Elizabeth and I. What business is it of yours. Your not her father are you" I squared my shoulders.
"Though I'm not. But she is my family. I will protect her from unsavoury men"
"Unsavoury Men. For all your preacher of loving your brother. Your a goddamn hypocrite Phillip Swift. You'd rather her marry a man who can't protect her" My voice getting more livid and louder with every word.
"William"
"Don't say my name like we're friends any longer Phillip."I snarled before walking off. I only showed self restraint from hitting for Elizabeth's sake.
Dinner was tense between Phillip and I. He kept his mouth shut. Not giving me any reason to reach across the table to hit him one. Well not yet anyway.
"Who's for desert. I baked an apple pie this afternoon" Syrena broke the silence that had fallen around the table.
"I'll give you a hand" I stood up. Gathering up the dirty plates.
"Oh you don't need to do that Will. Your a guest"
"My Nan would tan my hide for forgetting my manners" I followed her and Elizabeth into the kitchen.
"Do you two mind getting a start on the dishes. I'll be back in few minutes" Syrena disappeared out the back door.
"I'll wash up. You dry" I rolled up my sleeves.
"What did Phillip say to you out in the stables earlier. You could cut the tension between the two of you with a knife" Elizabeth asked.
"About if anything happened between us up at the Cabin" I answered.
"What did you tell him."
"Nothing happened. It anit anyone else business but ours" I handed her a plate to dry.
"There is more to it then that Will. You look like you want to kill him. What did Phillip say"
"He warned me to stay away from you. He seems to think the likes of me is not good for you" I replied.
"That goddamn son of a bitch. He isn't my father" Elizabeth swore under her breath.
"I told him as much" I looked up as Syrena came inside.
We finished up the dishes. We sat down for a piece of Syrena's apple pie and a cup of coffee. Still no one said a word.
"I'd best be leaving soon. I got an early start tomorrow" I checked the time with my pocket watch.
"I'll walk you out"
"Thank you for dinner Syrena. Reverend I'll see you around town then." I tipped my hat in goodbye
Elizabeth and I walked out onto the porch. Down the stairs to where Dutchmen was tied to the hitching rail.
"When will you be back in town" Elizabeth asked I took her into my arms.
"Sometime this week. The boys and I are heading up to Gun Canyon to bring down a herd of Mustangs. So we'll be gone for a few days. I maybe able to sneak into town Thursday or Friday at the earliest" I answered.
"It's not to bold to ask you to stay"
"It may be if you want to give your cousin heart failure and give the church ladies something to gossip about" I drawled.
"Like I care what the church ladies think."
"Good thing I don't care what they think either isn't" I bent down my head to press my lips to hers.
Syrena had gone to check on what was keeping Elizabeth. She should have been back a while ago. She hadn't heard a horse leaving. So Will must have still been here.
Syrena stopped dead when she opened the door and spotted the pair of them. Locked in a lovers embrace. Syrena glanced over her shoulder to the sitting room. Phillip had his head in a book reading thank the Lord.
Syrena silent watched the pair from the doorway of the front door. She was too far away to hear what was being said. Syrena smiled to herself as she shut the door quietly behind her.
"I better get going" I reluctantly started to pull away.
"Must you"
"Afraid so Darlin. I don't want to go. But I have to. I see you soon Darlin" I kissed her once more
"I love you Will"
"I love you too Darlin" I kissed her one last time.
I mounted Dutchmen. Wheeling him around in the direction of Sliverston. I gave a wave as I rode off home.
Elizabeth stood watching as Will rode away. She stood there till he was well out of sight. Elizabeth turned to walk back to the house.
"Elizabeth can I talk to you for a minute" Phillip called to her.
"What did you want Phillip" Elizabeth asked coming into the sitting room.
"Nothing happened between you two up at that cabin today right"
"No Nothing happened. Will was a perfect gentlemen" Elizabeth tried to hide the blush that was treating to come at the thought of what she and Will had really done in that Cabin.
"Alright" Phillip seemed content with that answer.
"I'm going to go to bed. It's been a long day" Elizabeth said her goodnight to Phillip and Syrena. The only person she would be dreaming about tonight was her rough around the edges cowboy.