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 9
Wolf Hill, Sliverston, Texas
I woke just after dawn. I slipped out of bed quietly as to not wake Elizabeth. I pulled on my boots before going outside to tend to th horses in the corral. After feeding and watering the pair.
Fang appeared from the trees as I slipped through the slip rails. He barked in a wolf like way."What's that matter boy" I asked.
He only barked in reply. Looking into the pashture beyond the trees. The only herd we had out here was some horses. Mares, Foals and a Stallion.
I ducked back inside. I pulled on my shirt and vest
"Will what's wrong."Elizabeth sat up as I buckled my gun belt back into place.
"Something feels off. I'll be back." I picked up my saddle, rifle and coat on the way out the door.
"There's an old shot gun above the fire place. Take it and keep it close till I come back Darlin" I kissed her before heading out of the cabin.
I saddled Dutchmen quickly. Fang took off ahead of us. We where only a few miles away from the Cabin when I smelt it. Campfire Smoke.
"Where are they boy" I glanced down at Fang. I should have passed the herd of horses by now.
Fang raised his nose in the air. Sniffing for the direction the smoke was coming from. He took off to the west of us.
The closer we got. The stronger the smell of smoke got. I heard a lot of horses as well. I slipped from the saddle leaving Dutchmen well out of sight.
I silently approached the camp. Our herd of horses where in a make shift corral. Goddamn rustlers. My eyes hardened when I recognised two of the five rustlers. The youngest two Matthews boys. Lloyd and Noah.
What the hell where they playing at. The price for rustling horses. Was five to fifteen years in the State Penitentiary . The only reason they would be doing this. Would be revenge for me killing Brandon.
Fang circled around the other side of them. His presence started to upset the horses. I cocked my Henry Repeater.
Lloyd Matthews was heating up a branding Iron on the camp fire. When he went to pick up the Iron. I fired off a shot.
"There's five of us and only one of you" Noah bravely hollered from where he was taking cover.
"You know the price for stealing a man's horse boy. Five to Fifteen Years. You really want to do that to your Mama" I called back.
"That's only if we let you live Turner. You know like how you killed our brother Brandon. Shot him down like a goddamn dog in the street" Lloyd called this time.
"Who said I was alone. And your brother had it coming. He drew first so it was self defence" I fired off another shot. It hit the crown of Noah's hat.
"Maybe we should give up" One of the other three suggested.
"No way. He's bluffing."Noah argued.
Both Lloyd and Noah both came out of cover briefly. I fired off another shot. Lloyd cried out in pain as the bullet hit him in the shoulder.
"He goddamn shot me"
"You'll pay for that You Son of A Bitch" Noah snarled angrily before firing off another shot.
I only answered back with a shot. I got him in the leg. Noah stupidly went for his Colt he'd dropped when I'd hit him the leg.
I fired again hitting the Colt before he could reach it. The other three drop there gun belts quickly.
I levered the spent cartridge out of the chamber. Uncocking the Henry. I made my way down to the camp. Lloyd was clutching his wounded shoulder. Noah was going no where with that bullet in his leg.
The other three didn't move a muscle. Eyeing my Schofields with fear in their eyes.
I bent down in front of the fire. Poured my self a cup of coffee."Now what am I going do with your five idiots. You know what the punishment for stealing horses is"
"You could let us go" The braver of the other three spoke.
"I could do that. But you tried to steal my property. Now I could just hand you over to the Sheriff in Sliverston. Or I could just save the time. There's a couple of nice looking trees back there" I got to my feet.
"Please Mister."
"Sheriff it is then." I tied and bound the five of them.
I saddled their horses. Before helping them mount and tying their hands to the saddle horn.
I took their weapons. Their gun belts hung over my saddle horn. Their rifles stayed in their scabbard on their saddles.
"Any funny business and he'll have you for breakfast."I nodded to Fang who came out of trees.
I rode behind them. My Henry Repeater in hand in case they tried anything.
Elizabeth waited nervously for Will to come back to the Cabin. She had heard the echoing of gun shots in the distance. She looked up when the sound of horses approaching the cabin caught her attention.
"Fang watch them" Elizabeth heard Will say to the Wolf. His spurs jingled and clinked as he walked across the porch of the cabin.
I only just stepped through the door. Elizabeth launched herself into my arms."Hey I'm alright"
"Sorry I just heard the gunshots in the distance. I was getting worried that something had happened to you" Elizabeth sniffed against my chest.
"I'm fine Darlin. I caught some rustlers trying to steal some of our horses. That was the gunshots you heard" I explained.
"Rustlers"
"Yeah Rustlers. They couldn't track a bed wagon through a bog hole. Just stupid dumb kids."I shook my head.
"What are you going to do with them"
"Turn em over to the Sheriff in Sliverston. It's up to the Law decide what to do with them."That and Judge Kingston when he came back to town.
We came back out of the cabin about twenty minutes later.
"She you whore Turner" Noah sneered.
"I'd watch your mouth Noah. I'm not the one holding the shatter gun trained on you" I nodded to Elizabeth who had the shot gun in her hand.
I set about saddling Elizabeth's mare. I lead the mare over. Once we where all mounted. We turned in the direction of Sliverston.
Sliverston, Texas
1890
Most of the towns people stopped and stared as we rode into town. We came to a stop out the front of the Sheriff's office.
I unbounded their hands from their saddle horns. Sheriff Barbossa and his two deputies Mullroy and Murtogg stepped out of the office.
"What's going on here Will" Hector questioned pointing his smoking pipe at my five prisoners.
"Rustlers. Caught them trying to steal a herd of our horses up near Wolf Hill this morning."I answered.
"Lloyd, Noah Matthews you two should know better. As for you three. Lewis, Paul Wilson. And you Roy Davidson. You want to break your mama's heart by being locked up before your eighteenth birthdays" Hector shook his head.
"Mullroy go and get Doc Walker. He's got two stupid kids to patch up."Mullroy nodded heading off in the direction of Doc Walker's house and practice.
Once we got the five of them in the jail cells in the Sheriff's office."What do you want to do with them. Will" Hector asked sitting down at his desk.
"They broke the law. So they have pay the price for their crime what ever the punishment is "
"I'll send Mullroy out to tell Ira, the Wilsons and Davidsons their boys are here. After that. My hands are tied it's up to the new county circuit Judge.
Old Kingston retired a few weeks ago. Word is his replacement is some up and comer from Houston."Hector leaned back in his chair.
I nodded."Miss Swann how'd you get roped into all this"
"She was with me up at the Cabin at Wolf Hill" I answered. Everybody was going to find out about us sooner or later.
"So all the talk going around towns true then"
"What talk" I questioned.
"The Gossip Mills been working into over drive since yesterday. When you two where spotted walking to the Post office"
"So what if it's true then. They'll find out eventually. I'll see you around Hector" I said goodbye as Elizabeth and I left the Sheriff's office.
I could feel everybody's eyes on us as we mounted our horses. Heading to Phillip and Syrena's house on the outskirts of Sliverston.
I notice Harriet watching us with hate filled eyes as we rode passed the General store through the window of the General Store.
Syrena was sitting out on the front porch when we rode up.
"I won't be in town again till tomorrow" I say as I helped Elizabeth down from her mare.
"Are you coming to the Dance tomorrow night"
"I am. I'll see you then."I kissed her briefly goodbye before mounting Dutchmen again.
"Syrena" I called over tipping my hat before riding off back to the Ranch.
Broken Arrow Ranch, Sliverston, Texas
1890
It was just after nine when I rode up to the Ranch House. Carina and Nan where hanging out the washing. Alex was sound asleep in his chair.
Jack, Matt, Dalton, Henry, Pintel and Ragetti where over by the main corral where we where braking the horses for Major Monroe.
"You get lost" Nan questioned with a raised eyebrow as I dismounted.
"No. Nan I spent the night up at the Cabin at Wolf Hill" I answered. Grabbing Henry's package and the sack of mail.
"Alone or with that young woman who came from Philadelphia to teach in town."
"Yes Elizabeth was with me" I replied.
"And when do I get to meet this young woman"
"Tomorrow night. There's a Barn Dance being held in town. By the way this is for you from Henry" I handed the package I had picked up from Brown's General Store yesterday to Carina.
"Thank you Will"Carina kissed me on the check
"I'm going inside to change and clean up" I kissed both Nan and Carina on the cheek before going inside.
I changed my cloths and got a bit of food to eat before heading back outside to start work.
"Nice of you to join us whelp. Seeing as half the days gone."Jack teased from where he sat on the top slip rail.
"I've been busy"
"Busy as that what they call it these days."Jack shot me an amused look as I took a seat on the top rail beside him.
"I had some rustlers to apprehend and take to Hector in town"
"What rustlers" Jack questioned as Dalton bit the dust off the Mustang he was trying to break in.
"The youngest two Matthew boys, The Wilson boys and Widow Davidson's only boy. I caught them trying to steal the herd of horses we've got up at Wolf's Hill" I answered.
"They stupid or crazy. Everybody knows what old Judge Kingston does to horse thieves"Old Judge Kingston hated Horse Thieves and Rustlers even more then Murders and Back Shooters
"Kingston retired a few weeks ago. His replacements coming from Houston or so Hector said. I heard that Arthur and Madeline sold the ranch" I revealed.
"Who bought the place then"
"Couple of fellas from Philadelphia. Met them when they came in on yesterday's afternoon stage" Dalton bit the dust once more.
"This before or after you went to court the lovely Miss Swann"
"We where both headed to the post office" Jack shot me a look to say he didn't believe a word of what I had just said.
"I'm sure. In all seriousness. I'm happy for you mate. It's the first time I've seen you smile since Victoria died. I haven't seen you this happy, care free for a long time."
"She does make me happy Jack. I never thought I'd find anyone else or fall in love again. I don't know what it is about her."I winched as Dalton landed heavily in the dirt a third time.
"Wonder what old Phillip going to have say about. His cousin taking up with you"
"He can go jump in the river. He already threatened me to stay away from Elizabeth on Sunday after we got back to Sliverston" Jack looked at me sideways.
"Why what where you two up to in that cabin all day Sunday and yesterday"
"What do you think" I questioned.
"Playing cards."
"Yeah Playing Cards. That's exactly what we was doing" I laughed.
"Better go ask her daddy for her hand before she's too big to fit through the church door" Jack laughed as well.
"You two better not be laughing at me" Dalton interjected as he stood up dusting himself off for the fourth time.
"Now why would we do that little brother" I jumped down from the top rail" Henry grab a hold of that horse. I'll show you how it's done little brother" I mounted the still unbroken Mustang.
"What's he so happy about" Dalton looked at his older brothers for answers.
"Take a guess" Matt slapped his younger brother on the back.
Dalton stood near the slip rail of the corral watching his older brother as he stuck like glue to the saddle of the bucking horse. It was the first time in a long time Dalton had seen his brother joke and smile. It was a long time coming.