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.
Author's Note. I haven't forgetten about The Best Part of Me. The next chaper's coming. I've just got a bit of writer's block with that story at the moment.
Chapter 7
Sliverston, Texas
1890
It was shaping up to be a hot day when I rode into Sliverston. Late Morning, early afternoon on Thursday. I slowed Dutchmen to a halt when I reached the outskirts of Sliverston. My thoughts where a wash with a certain blonde hair girl from Philadelphia.
This was the first time I had time to come to town. We'd been busy breaking in the Mustangs we'd brought back from Gun Canyon on Monday.
The Mares with foals, or in foal. We'd had cut out and where going to keep. The herd had been bigger then expected. There was close to eighty horses in total in the group. The big Black Appaloosa Mustang Stallion.
He was a beautiful animal. We had deiced to keep him. Along with the mares that had foals at foot or where in foal. That left us at least forty five horses to break and sell to Major Monroe.
I dismounted Dutchmen. Outside Brown's General Store. I tied Dutchmen to the hitching rail. I tipped my hat in greeting to a few women I knew. Edwin Brown was behind the counter when I walked in.
Edwin's uncle Jacob Brown was the Blacksmith in Sliverston. When he wasn't sleep off a night on the Whiskey. He's only son Warren did most of the work these days.
"Afternoon Will."Edwin nodded in greeted as I stepped into the General Store.
"Edwin. Henry sent me in. Something he ordered for Carina. He wanted me to see if you had it in" I answered.
"Give me a second Will. I'll check out the back. Peter can you take over at the counter" Edwin called to his younger brother.
"Sure Edwin. Afternoon Will."
"Peter" I answered rolling myself a cigarette while I waited.
"You hear. There holding a barn dance on Saturday night. I might ask the new school teacher for a dance. She's a fine woman" Peter prattled on with small talk.
"I think she's a little out your league Peter" I chuckled.
"Every Single man in towns after her" Let em try. Elizabeth already had a fella. I might have to break a few nose to get the point across on Saturday Night.
"She's already got a fella Peter" I let slip.
"How do you that know Will" Peter looked at me with interest.
"Cause I'm" I was interrupted by the door opening to the store. My eyes widen slight in shock at who stepped into the store. Ira Matthews and his remaining three sons Everett, Lloyd and Noah.
I had seen them for time to time in Sliverston. The most we said to one another was hello. That was the extent of our conversation. Since I had killed Brandon that day.
"Will. How are yea" Ira stiffly said.
"I'm well. Mr Matthews yourself" I answered politely back.
"I'm keeping well. You remember Brandon's brothers"
"Noah, Everett, Lloyd. How are you" I nodded to Brandon's now almost fully grown brothers.
"We're well Will."Everett the eldest answered.
"The dress. Henry ordered it's here."Edwin interrupted coming back from the back room.
"He taking to dressing like a pansy."Noah the youngest it seemed had a big mouth.
"Noah" Everett and Ira scowled him
I ignored his jab. I paid the amount owning on the order. I turned to leave. Lloyd stood in my path. His hand leaning on the butt of his Colt.
"Unless you want your Mama to bury another son. I suggest you move Lloyd" I stared him down.
"That a threat Turner" Noah growled.
"No. It's a suggestion. As for you. Get your head out of your ass or I'll do it for you" Noah it seemed had a death wish.
"Lloyd."Ira jerked his head for Lloyd to move. He moved out of my way.
"When are you going to think before opening your mouth Noah" Ira snapped at his youngest son as I left the General Store.
I slipped Henry's package in my saddle bags. I had some time to kill before school was let out. I rode over to the Sheriff's Office to see if there where any new bounties. There was none at the moment.
I found a place to wait near the school house. I sat under an old oak tree. Dutchmen stood not far away grazing.
I sat back against the tree. I pulled my hat covering my face from the sun as I waited.
I must have dozed off. I woke just as school was being let out for the day. The children who attended the local school left heading home for the day. I got to my feet. I dusted off my pants.
Elizabeth was packing up her stuff for the day. Someone cleared their throat from behind her. Elizabeth turned around to see it was. A smile came onto her face when she saw who her visitor was.
"You done for the day Darlin" Will drawled from where he leaned on the door frame.
"It seems I am Mr Turner" I chuckled as I crossed the distance between us.
"How's yea week been" I asked after kissing her hello
"Alright. Yours"
"Better now after seeing you Darlin. You got to be anywhere this afternoon" I questioned.
"I have to go up to the Post Office. I had few letters to post and collect the mail for Syrena and Phillip"
"Well your in luck darling. That's where I was heading."I kissed Elizabeth once more.
"Well then Mr Turner. Would you like to escort me to the Post Office then"
"With pleasure Ma'am" I answered before slipping back out the way I came.
I waited for Elizabeth to leave the school house. I watched as Nathaniel Burton who worked at the Bank approached Elizabeth to talk.
I knew I had nothing to fear on Elizabeth's part. But Peter's words from earlier came to me. Every unattached man in town was after her. I was by no means a jealous man. But if need be I would step in when needed.
After watching Burton make a fool of himself for a good ten minutes. It was time to intervene. He was all but drooling over Elizabeth. She was a fine woman. Much to good for the likes of me. But I was hers and she was mine.
"Miss Swann. Burton" I tipped my hat as I walked over leading Dutchmen.
"Turner" Burton nodded nervously looking at my Schofield hanging on my hips.
"Mr Turner. How are you this fine day"
"I quite well Ma'am. Burton how's the banking trade" I politely asked.
"Business is good. Look at the time. I'd best be getting back. It's good to see you Turner. Miss Swann perhaps you could save me a dance at the Barn Dance on Saturday" Burton scurried off back to where he come from.
"Anit been in town a week. You already got all the men and boys falling over themselves" I teased.
"That quite a bold statement to make Mr Turner."Elizabeth regarded me with a raised eyebrow.
"It anit a statement Miss. Merely an observations. You headed to the Post Office" I nodded in the direction of the Post Office and Stage Depo.
"I am. Are you headed that way Mr Turner" Elizabeth played along.
"Possibly. You mind if I walk with yea"
"No at all" Elizabeth answered.
Elizabeth and I made our way down to Post Office. I could see people stopping and staring at the pair of us as we walked. The Gossip Mill would be working over time. Come Saturday Night. If not sooner.
Just as we made it to the Post Office. The Afternoon Stage came rattling into town. She came to a dusty stop at the Stage Depo.
Three Well dressed men got out of the stage coach. A couple of other travellers disembarked as well.
"Jimmy, Theo Michael" Elizabeth cried spotting the three men. I took this to mean she knew these three fellas. The one called Jimmy I took to be Elizabeth friend from back in Philadelphia James Norrington.
"Elizabeth this is a nice surprise" The one she called Theo hugged her.
"I live here now. What brings you all to Texas of all places" Elizabeth asked after hugging the one called Michael.
"We bought a ranch and are going into business together" James answered before turning his attention to me.
"Whose your friend Lizzie" Michael asked sizing me up.
"James, Theo, Michael this is Will Turner a friend of mine"
"Mr Turner a pleasure to meet you. I'm James Norrington, this is Theodore Groves and Michael Gillette."James offered his hand.
"Elizabeth spoke about yea a bit" I shook his hand as well as the other two.
"You a law man, you mind if I call you Will" Groves asked.
"No at all. I'm a Bounty Hunter by profession. Though my family own a size able ranch" I answered.
"Oh so you know the Twin Hill Ranch then" That was Arthur and Madeline Hamilton's ranch.
"I know it."I indeed knew it. After Victoria died. Arthur and Madeline went back East with their younger two daughters.
I got the occasional letter from them from time to time. I didn't know that they where going to sell the Ranch
"You know the previous owners"
"I know Arthur and Madeline Hamilton quite well. Old Tom who caretakers the place after the Hamilton left to go back East. He's taken good care of the place. He's a good man" Elizabeth sensed the change in my demeanour.
"I don't want to trouble you any further Will. Do you happen to know a good place to stay in town.
"Sure. You got the Sliverston Hotel. The Rosewood Boarding House and O'Brien's Boarding House."I answered.
"We'll see you around town then Elizabeth. It was pleasure to meet you Will"
"You as well Fellas." I shook their hands once more.
We watched as they left heading for either the hotel or the two boarding houses in town.
I lead Dutchmen over to the hitching rail, before tying him to it. Elizabeth and I entered the post office separately. Elizabeth went first.
Young Elijah who was behind the Post Office Counter today. Was blushing and stumbling over his words as Elizabeth paid to post two letters and collect her mail.
"Mr Turner can I help you" He spoke stiffly as he served me.
"Just come to collect any mail you've got for the Ranch Elijah"I answered leaning on the counter.
"Right I'll just be a second."
"Here you are Mr Turner" He handed me the sack with the mail for the ranch.
"Thanks Elijah" I put a dollar tip on the counter for him. The kid had it rough growing up. He's daddy had been a no good son of a bitch. He's mama had died bringing him into the world. His daddy had taken out on him all his life till the old bastard got himself shot at the Rattlesnake Saloon one night.
The old bastard picked a fight with the wrong fella over at the Rattlesnake one night. The fella he picked a fight with shot him. He ended swinging from a rope a week later. After Judge Kingston sentenced him
"Well I guess I'll see you around then Mr Turner"Elizabeth said once we where outside
"Guess we will Miss Swann" I leaned back against the hitching rail.
"I'll meet you up at Wolf's Hill later" Elizabeth whispered in my ear as she kissed me on the cheek before leaving in direction of Syrena and Phillip's house.