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 10
Sliverston, Texas
1890
Saturday Afternoon came quickly. As the sun was sinking low behind the horizon. We headed back up to ranch house. We cleaned up and changed into our Sunday Best for the dance tonight.
The hands where going into Sliverston to for the Dance. Dalton, Matt, Henry and myself sat on our horses waiting for Pa, Carina, Stephanie, Nan, Alex, Morgan and Arabella to be ready so we could leave.
"We ready to leave yet Pa" Matt asked as Pa helped Nan and Stephanie up into the wagon.
"Not yet. We're just waiting on Morgan" Pa turned to face Matt.
"Very Nice" Dalton chuckled as Morgan came out of the house wearing a dress. Morgan hated wearing dresses full stop.
Morgan looked mad enough to swallow a horn toad back wards as she glared at Dalton as she mounted her own horse.
"You look very nice Morgan"
"Oh shut up milk sop" Morgan snapped Matt this time."We going or what" Morgan angrily asked.
No one said another word about Morgan's appearance not unless you wanted to get bit quicker then a pissed off Rattler.
The town was a buzzing with activity when we rode in. Every man and his dog was in town for the Dance. The most alcohol we'd be drinking tonight would be Cider at must. Though must of us would wander off to the Rattlesnake or Sae Fang's Saloon for a drink of something a little stronger then Cider.
I dismounted Dutchmen as we arrived at the hall.
"Will nice to see you again" I turned around the sound of James Norrington's voice behind me. He was dressed in his best suit. His friends and business partners Theodore Groves and Michael Gillette where dressed in a similar fashion.
"You as well."I shook their hands.
"Gentlemen I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Cutler Becket. You bought the Hamilton Ranch did you not" Cutler Becket the richest man in the county introduced himself.
"We did. I'm James Norrington this my business partners. Theodore Groves and Michael Gillette."James introduced himself and his business partners Groves and Gillette.
"I have done some business with your father back in Philadelphia some time ago."
I tuned out their conversation. My attention was turned as a buckboard came to a stop not far away with Phillip, Syrena and Elizabeth aboard.
I put out my almost smoked cigarette. I made my way over.
"Reverend. Syrena" I tipped my hat in greeting.
"William. Will" Phillip and Syrena replied.
"You look beautiful Darlin" I kissed Elizabeth's hand.
"You not so bad yourself Handsome."
"What in the lord names is going on here" Phillip demanded grabbing a hold of my arm.
"Unless you want a broken nose Phillip. I'd remove your hand" I advised.
"I told you to stay away from my cousin William."
"Both Elizabeth and I are adults. We don't answer to you" I snarled lowly.
"You said nothing happened up at that cabin. Both of you lied to my face."
"It's none of your business if anything did happen Phillip your not my father" People where stopping and listen to the argument going on outside.
"That I'm not. But I promised your father I'd look out for you. He's not for the likes of you"Phillip angerily nodded at me
"William Turner is man enough for me. You don't have a say in who I love" Elizabeth snapped angrily her eyes a blaze with anger.
"Love" Phillip scoffed."What he whispers some pretty words in your ear. Is that all it took" Phillip was cut off from say another word. I swung hitting him square in jaw. Setting him on his ass in the dirt.
"I warned you" I stood my ground.
"Your a god dame hypocrite Phillip Swift" Syrena swore at her husband.
"Syrena"
"Dance anit even got started and night entertainments already started" Jack drawled with his arms around both Scarlett and Giselle
"Shut up you half breed no asked you"
"Insult my blood brother again. Former friend or not. I'll end your miserable life" I threatened lowly. My Schofield cocked under his chin
"Will" I calmed down and relaxed when Elizabeth touched my shoulder.
"Your a lucky man Swift" I rehosltered my Schofield.
"There a problem here" Hector appeared with Mullroy and Murtogg ever side of him.
"No there's no problem here Sheriff."Phillip said with gritted teeth as he got to his feet.
"Will can I have a word with you in private" I nodded following Hector, Mullroy and Murtogg.
"What did you want to talk to me about Hector."
"The new Judge Ian Mercer arrived on the morning stage. The Matthew, Wilson boys and Roy Davidson are appearing in front of him first thing Monday Morning. He's nickname back in Houston was the Hangman."Barbossa revealed. That was comforting to know. Not.
"You need me to take the witness stand then" I rolled a cigarette.
"As your the only witness we got." Hector offered me a light.
"About what time"
"Nine a clock. That's when the trial is starting" I nodded taking a long drag of my cigarette.
I parted ways with Hector and his two deputies heading back to where the Dance being held. I removed my hat before taking a seat at the back of the hall.
Phillip glared in my direction from where he sat on the other side of the hall. A nasty looking bruise was starting to form where I had hit him.
"What this I hear you flattened Phillip just before" Davy bemusedly said as he sat beside me. With Tia.
"He was asking for it. How are you doing Tia"
"Tired and ready for this child to be born" Tia leaned into Davy's shoulder.
I smiled as I watched the pair of them together. My eyes searched the room for Elizabeth. I found her deep in conversation with Amelia Beckett, Carina and a few other ladies I knew.
Jack came over hiding something under his coat. He passed me bottle of Whiskey he had ever bought from Gibbs or Sae Fang.
I sat drinking Jack watching the festivities of dance going on. Peter Brown came over asking Elizabeth for a dance. She had rotation of various dance partners. Morgan was sitting in one corner of the hall. Looking more bored then pissed off.
I passed the Whiskey Bottle back to Jack. I got to my feet heading over to where Morgan was sulking in the corner
"Come on Dance with your brother" I held out my hand.
"No thank I'd rather just sit here then make a fool of my self. I anit one for dancing"
"I anit either. You can't spend the entire night sitting there sulking or looking like mule whose sucked on half a dozen lemons" I teased
"I do not look like mule who sucked on half a dozen lemons" Morgan hit me in the shoulder.
"Then come and dance with me" I jerked my head.
Morgan begrudgingly took my hand and followed me out onto the dance floor.
We dance a few steps before Morgan trod on my boots." I told you I can't dance"
"Stand on my boots" I advised
"What" Morgan looked at me like I was crazy.
"Put your feet on top of my boots. That way you won't trod on my feet."I repeated myself
Bill Turner watched his eldest son dance with his youngest and only daughter. Will had suffered more heartache and tragedy in his thirty years then most men went through in a whole life time.
The brutal death of his daughter in law and unborn grandchild had all effected them differently. After Victoria was killed. Will became a different man all together. Even after killing and put the man who killed Victoria six foot under.
It had done little to ease the pain that had almost consumed and destroyed Will. The years that passed since made no change either. Time did little to ease the lose of someone who had meant the world to you.
In the last week. Bill had seen the old Will coming back. The man he'd before that day. Will had opened his heart again to love. That was thanks to one person. Elizabeth Swann.
Bill himself had felt like that for a time after Arabella had died in childbirth when Henry had been born. That was till Stephanie had come into his life. He had opened his heart to love again. It had been the best thing he had done.
Bill glanced over in the direction of his wife. Where she sat with Abigail and Alex. Carina sat beside her with their only grandchild Arabella sat in her lap. He had a good feeling there would be more grandchildren around the corner.
Out of all his five children his youngest and eldest where the wildest and the most like one another of the bunch.
Bill watched with interest as he watched his future daughter in law dance with one of the new owner of the Twin Hill Ranch. It seems that Elizabeth knew the man called James Norrington knew each other quite well.
Henry came over to cut in to dance with Morgan. Will left the hall for some reason or other. Harriet Brown followed after Will for some reason. Bill had an uneasy feeling about this.
Harriet Brown had a thing for Will for years. No matter how much Will said he wasn't interested. The girl didn't seem to take any notice.
Bill got up from his chair to follow after the pair of them.
I had slipped out to go take a piss. I slipped around the back of the Hall. Once I had finished my business. I turned around to go back inside.
"Why Her."I stopped in my tracks to see Harriet Brown standing directly behind me.
"Why Her what Harriet"
"That harlot from Philadelphia. She's got every fella in town panting after her like she's a bitch in heat" Harriet slurred. She was drunk.
"Harriet" I began to say. She threw herself at me. Trying to kiss me
"Harriet" I hissed pushing her away. I didn't see her in that way.
"What so wrong with me"
"There's nothing wrong with you Harriet. Your a nice girl. But I don't feel that way about you. There be some fella your age out there for you" I tried to let her down gently.
"So what's so special about her" She slurred once again.
"I love her Harriet. I only think of you as a friend. Nothing more I'm sorry.
"You goddamn bastard."Harriet turned from sad to anger quicker then a rattler. Slapping me hard across the face before she started to hit me.
"Harriet. For Christ sake calm down" I tried to restrain her. So she wouldn't keep hitting me.
"Get off me you son a bitch. Let go of me" She started to scream. Trying to cause a scene no doubt.
"Hey get off her you bastard" Byron Cooper came out of no where shoving me back against the wall."Are you alright Harriet."
"I am now. Thank God. You showed up Byron. I though no one was going to to come. He tried to force himself on me" What the hell. I had done nothing of the sort
"You make one move and I'll shot you Turner" Byron had his Colt out aimed my head" SHERIFF" He hollered at the top of his lungs.
Byron's hollering caught everybody's attention.
"What's going on here Mr Cooper. Put that pistol down and explain to me why your pointing your pistol at Mr Turner's head" Barbossa questioned.
"I caught this bastard here trying to force himself on Harriet. I heard her screaming and I came running" Lying sack of shit.
"Mr Turner."Hector turned to me.
"That anit what happened at all Sheriff. I came out here to take a leak she followed me. Harriet threw herself at me. Tried to kiss me. I pushed her away. That's when she turned violent starting to hit me.
I was only trying to restrain her to stop her from hitting me" I started to explain
"You lying bastard" Byron lunged for me only to be held back by Deputies Mullroy and Murtogg.
"It's the truth Hector" Pa spoke up
"You saw what happened Bill"
"I did. It was like Will said. Harriet forced herself on Will. When he rejected her advances she turned violent. He was only defending himself."Pa answered.
"Mr Cooper how about you give me that gun of yours. The rest of you go about your business."Hector turned to Edwin and Peter Brown."I suggest you take your sister home to sober up"
"Mr Cooper I anit going to ask again" Byron undid his gun belt. Handing it to Hector."Now you go home and cool off. You can have this back in the morning. When you've sobered up and calmed that temper of yours down"
The crowd that had gathered dispersed. Heading back to where they had come from. Before Harriet and Byron's theatrics had caught their attention.
I headed back inside the hall.
"Will are you alright" Elizabeth asked concerned.
"I'm alright."I took her hands in mine.
"What was all that about with Harriet Brown"
"She didn't like that I turned down her advances. She stated hitting and screaming like a banshee. Byron Cooper came running. Harriet told him a sob story about me trying to force myself on her.
Sheriff Barbossa and most of the town came over to see what the ruckus was about. Both Harriet and Bryon straight out accuses me of rape. Lucky for me my father was outside and saw the whole thing.
Barbossa took Byron gun off him. Told him to go home. Edwin and Peter took Harriet home before she caused anymore trouble tonight" I explained.
"I think. I've had enough of this dance tonight"
"You want to get out of here" I asked. Elizabeth nodded against my chest
I grabbed my hat and coat. We left the hall hand and hand to where Dutchmen was tied to the hitching rail. I climbed up into the saddle first. I helped Elizabeth up to sit in front of me. I ignored the town's folk who where watching as we rode away into the night.