Liberty rode for a good ten minutes before settling down and cooling off.
She finally slowed the animal to stop at the tin cup firing range. Josh
Jackson and Colin Daniels had put out 3 big tables. The first table was at
fifty yards. The second one was a hundred, and the third table was a
hundred and fifty. For the last three years, they had been practicing their
aim. One day, while gallivanting the countryside, Liberty stumbled across
them and almost got shot in the arm. Since then, the three had been
inseparable, Liberty, Josh and Colin.
Liberty was early. Neither Colin nor Josh had arrived. She unsaddled Lightening and let him wander and munch on the grass. She stepped up to the dirt line that they had dug out two years ago as the start line. Unholstering both pistols, she cocked them, took aim, and began to alternate fires. Left, right, left, right, left, right. She hit every can on the fifty feet.
"Nice shot. can you make the hundred with a perfect score?" a voice said closely behind her. She spun around.
"Colin, you know I can." She said huffily. Colin smiled, his straight blonde hair sticking out from under his hat.
"Yeah, I know you can. But that's all it is. Knowledge. I want to see some hard evidence Liberty James." Colin laughed. Liberty sighed turning around and reloaded, cocking her guns. Left, right, left, right, left, right. and all the cans were on the ground.
"That's nice. But can you make one fifty?" Colin challenged.
"Piece of cake." Liberty scoffed reloading for a third time. She had more than enough bullets to prove him wrong. Left, right, left, right, left, right. She holstered them quickly.
"Not bad. Though I noticed that you ah, lean to the left when you shoot. That's a bad habit Miss James." Colin smiled gently tilting the leaning girl up. Liberty turned to face him.
"Those are some, uh, nice pistols you got there." He said honestly. "Really, I've always admired them." His hand reached out to touch the butt of the left gun and brushed her breast slightly. Liberty shuddered.
"Colin Daniels, if my woman's intuition is correct, then I must ask this impertinent question. Are you trying to seduce me?" she whispered looking up into his face, his green eyes and his white smile.
"You can call it anything you want." he replied softly. Liberty felt her head tipping up to meet Colin when,
"Have you guys read the paper today? Someone let the paper know when the next Younger Comanche fight is!" Josh cried out running towards them. Liberty and Colin jumped apart.
"What? Did I interrupt something?" Josh asked suspiciously.
"No!" Colin and Liberty replied at once.
"Anyways," Josh continued. "I was reading today's Gazette and I found that they've found out where the next gun fight between the James Younger Gang and the Comanche." He said waving the paper up. Liberty grabbed for it. Her heart caught in her throat.
Scanning the article, she gasped and pushed the paper into Colin.
"I got to go! See you guys soon!" she hollered running over to Lightening. She saddled him up quick and jumped on.
"Where are you goin?" Colin asked. Josh just stood there shaking his head.
"Stupid, stupid girl. What can you expect from a James kid." Colin snaked around and wrapped a hand around Josh's pencil neck.
"You watch your mouth Jackson. Liberty is a mighty fine lady and you know it."
"Relax Colin. I wasn't saying nothing bad, just making a statement. I know you got a crush on her anyways" Josh replied squeakily.
Colin let go of Josh's neck, glared at him and looked at the paper in his other hand. It said that the James Younger Gang were going to cross paths with the Comanche in two days time in the Little Falls valley. A two-day ride from the town.
"Oh my god! She's going after him. I knew she was stupid, but god! I gotta go after her." Colin said suprisedly.
"Okay, do you want to fill me in here Colin?" Josh asked. Colin sighed.
"Hello? Her last name is James? Are you telling me you're that dumb that you didn't even pick up on the fact that her father is Jesse James and the leader of the James Younger Gang? Jesus." Colin reiterated exasperatedly. Josh gaped.
"As in THE Jesse James? The one that beat the railroad? Our Liberty is? My god I never could have guessed it. How did you know?" Josh looked at Colin suspiciously.
"She told me."
"When?
"Last summer. I asked why she was living with Mr. Miller and she told me."" Colin bragged. He looked at the horse that was becoming a blur and remembered his mission.
"Damnit! Geromino!" he called to his horse. The horse came trotting over and Colin hopped up.
"What are you gonna do Colin?" Josh said pulling his rifle from the sheath on his back and beginning to load some rounds.
"Stop her of course!" Colin called out as he pushed his horse after the girl.
Liberty rode to the store with ease. Nancy and the other girls were still sitting there. Their attention this time was on a rider in the distance. Liberty scoffed at their shallowness and rushed inside. She dashed into the back and up the stairs to her bedroom on the right. She grabbed her saddlebags from the end of her bed and began to thrust things into it. A clean shirt, some twine and a dime novel that she had bought ages ago with a picture of her father on the front. She gathered up her blankets and tied them together with twine. After looking to see if the coast was clear. She dashed downstairs and grabbed some food to last her a few days. She ran out to Lightening as quick as his name and began to pack. Attaching her saddlebags was no problem, it was attaching her blankets. She settled for a loose half hitch knot that would last until she could make it to the old farm.
"What, you running away again Liberty? Too hard to work like and honest person?" Nancy sneered, Liberty whipped out a pistol and as she rode away, she fired a shot that put a hole in Nancy's yellow dress.
"You'll pay for that Liberty James! I'll be seeing that you pay for that!" Nancy screamed at her. Liberty whooped and kicked the horse to speed him up as she sped off to her old home.
Moments later, Colin arrived, skidding to a halt.
"Colin! How nice to see you!" Nancy smiled sweetly.
"Morning Miss Small. Have you seen Liberty? She was riding Lightening." Colin said politely tipping his hat. Nancy jerked a bit, but regained her composure.
"She went down the road towards her old farm. I don't know why she'd want to go there. But, Colin, have you heard, my mother is holding a party at our farm. You're welcome to come you know."
"Thanks for the invitation Nancy, but I have other plans." Colin declined before spurring Geromino off at top speed.
He caught up with Liberty at the old James place. He had stopped for a short break at his farm on the way to gather some supplies. A blanket and a coat should have been enough.
"Liberty!" he called out as he walked cautiously onto the property. A click- click was heard behind him and he stopped dead.
"Colin Daniels! You rotten bastard. Don't ever sneak up on me again! Or you'll be dead!" Liberty's sarcastic voice could be heard putting the gun back into safety.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coming round to face him. She was wearing a long ranger jacket and had a few more holsters on then before. She walked over to her bag and packed in a cloth bag. Colin assumed it was ammunition.
"I can't let you leave like this!" Colin said. "You really think you'll get to Little River Valley before the Comanche and the gang?" Liberty just looked at him, her eyes darkening and she turned to tighten the girth on her horse.
Colin dismounted and stalked over to her.
"Please! Don't leave. I wanted to." he started.
"What? I can't let my father get shot at! I will not let him die out there!" Liberty shouted.
"He's lasted three years Liberty. He'll be okay."
"No, you don't understand. I know he needs me. You ever get the feeling that you're doing something you shouldn't and you're being watched? I got that feeling. I know he needs me. And Goddamnit I will not let him down!" she insisted.
"Then go! Fine, leave, but your taking me with you." Colin said simply crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"NO! I will not drag you into this Colin Daniels. I'm going alone." She said turning away. "Plus you can't even shoot all that well." A smile cracked at the corner of her mouth as she pictured Colin's perfect face glowering at her.
"You know damn right that my shots as good as yours." He said defensively. Liberty started to mount.
"I won't take you." Liberty said simply.
"I don't care. I'm coming." Colin said standing directly in her path.
"Get out of my way Colin." Liberty said simply stepping forward on her horse. Colin stepped aside, but ran back and jumped on Geromino. As Liberty went to pass him. He grabbed her reins and jerked her horse to a halt. Leaning over so that his face was in hers, Colin kissed her quick and hard. As he pulled away, he whispered.
"The only way I'm not going is if you shoot me. And now that I've started something, I know you won't shoot me." He said with a haughty grin. Liberty laughed, slugged Colin the shoulder before kissing him on the cheek.
"I hate it when I lose." she muttered loudly starting down the road. Colin sat there dumbstruck for a moment, unsure of her reaction. A few paces down the road , Liberty stopped, turned back in the saddle and called out.
"Are you coming? Or was that a goodbye kiss?"
Colin laughed and pushed his horse into a lope to catch up.
Liberty was early. Neither Colin nor Josh had arrived. She unsaddled Lightening and let him wander and munch on the grass. She stepped up to the dirt line that they had dug out two years ago as the start line. Unholstering both pistols, she cocked them, took aim, and began to alternate fires. Left, right, left, right, left, right. She hit every can on the fifty feet.
"Nice shot. can you make the hundred with a perfect score?" a voice said closely behind her. She spun around.
"Colin, you know I can." She said huffily. Colin smiled, his straight blonde hair sticking out from under his hat.
"Yeah, I know you can. But that's all it is. Knowledge. I want to see some hard evidence Liberty James." Colin laughed. Liberty sighed turning around and reloaded, cocking her guns. Left, right, left, right, left, right. and all the cans were on the ground.
"That's nice. But can you make one fifty?" Colin challenged.
"Piece of cake." Liberty scoffed reloading for a third time. She had more than enough bullets to prove him wrong. Left, right, left, right, left, right. She holstered them quickly.
"Not bad. Though I noticed that you ah, lean to the left when you shoot. That's a bad habit Miss James." Colin smiled gently tilting the leaning girl up. Liberty turned to face him.
"Those are some, uh, nice pistols you got there." He said honestly. "Really, I've always admired them." His hand reached out to touch the butt of the left gun and brushed her breast slightly. Liberty shuddered.
"Colin Daniels, if my woman's intuition is correct, then I must ask this impertinent question. Are you trying to seduce me?" she whispered looking up into his face, his green eyes and his white smile.
"You can call it anything you want." he replied softly. Liberty felt her head tipping up to meet Colin when,
"Have you guys read the paper today? Someone let the paper know when the next Younger Comanche fight is!" Josh cried out running towards them. Liberty and Colin jumped apart.
"What? Did I interrupt something?" Josh asked suspiciously.
"No!" Colin and Liberty replied at once.
"Anyways," Josh continued. "I was reading today's Gazette and I found that they've found out where the next gun fight between the James Younger Gang and the Comanche." He said waving the paper up. Liberty grabbed for it. Her heart caught in her throat.
Scanning the article, she gasped and pushed the paper into Colin.
"I got to go! See you guys soon!" she hollered running over to Lightening. She saddled him up quick and jumped on.
"Where are you goin?" Colin asked. Josh just stood there shaking his head.
"Stupid, stupid girl. What can you expect from a James kid." Colin snaked around and wrapped a hand around Josh's pencil neck.
"You watch your mouth Jackson. Liberty is a mighty fine lady and you know it."
"Relax Colin. I wasn't saying nothing bad, just making a statement. I know you got a crush on her anyways" Josh replied squeakily.
Colin let go of Josh's neck, glared at him and looked at the paper in his other hand. It said that the James Younger Gang were going to cross paths with the Comanche in two days time in the Little Falls valley. A two-day ride from the town.
"Oh my god! She's going after him. I knew she was stupid, but god! I gotta go after her." Colin said suprisedly.
"Okay, do you want to fill me in here Colin?" Josh asked. Colin sighed.
"Hello? Her last name is James? Are you telling me you're that dumb that you didn't even pick up on the fact that her father is Jesse James and the leader of the James Younger Gang? Jesus." Colin reiterated exasperatedly. Josh gaped.
"As in THE Jesse James? The one that beat the railroad? Our Liberty is? My god I never could have guessed it. How did you know?" Josh looked at Colin suspiciously.
"She told me."
"When?
"Last summer. I asked why she was living with Mr. Miller and she told me."" Colin bragged. He looked at the horse that was becoming a blur and remembered his mission.
"Damnit! Geromino!" he called to his horse. The horse came trotting over and Colin hopped up.
"What are you gonna do Colin?" Josh said pulling his rifle from the sheath on his back and beginning to load some rounds.
"Stop her of course!" Colin called out as he pushed his horse after the girl.
Liberty rode to the store with ease. Nancy and the other girls were still sitting there. Their attention this time was on a rider in the distance. Liberty scoffed at their shallowness and rushed inside. She dashed into the back and up the stairs to her bedroom on the right. She grabbed her saddlebags from the end of her bed and began to thrust things into it. A clean shirt, some twine and a dime novel that she had bought ages ago with a picture of her father on the front. She gathered up her blankets and tied them together with twine. After looking to see if the coast was clear. She dashed downstairs and grabbed some food to last her a few days. She ran out to Lightening as quick as his name and began to pack. Attaching her saddlebags was no problem, it was attaching her blankets. She settled for a loose half hitch knot that would last until she could make it to the old farm.
"What, you running away again Liberty? Too hard to work like and honest person?" Nancy sneered, Liberty whipped out a pistol and as she rode away, she fired a shot that put a hole in Nancy's yellow dress.
"You'll pay for that Liberty James! I'll be seeing that you pay for that!" Nancy screamed at her. Liberty whooped and kicked the horse to speed him up as she sped off to her old home.
Moments later, Colin arrived, skidding to a halt.
"Colin! How nice to see you!" Nancy smiled sweetly.
"Morning Miss Small. Have you seen Liberty? She was riding Lightening." Colin said politely tipping his hat. Nancy jerked a bit, but regained her composure.
"She went down the road towards her old farm. I don't know why she'd want to go there. But, Colin, have you heard, my mother is holding a party at our farm. You're welcome to come you know."
"Thanks for the invitation Nancy, but I have other plans." Colin declined before spurring Geromino off at top speed.
He caught up with Liberty at the old James place. He had stopped for a short break at his farm on the way to gather some supplies. A blanket and a coat should have been enough.
"Liberty!" he called out as he walked cautiously onto the property. A click- click was heard behind him and he stopped dead.
"Colin Daniels! You rotten bastard. Don't ever sneak up on me again! Or you'll be dead!" Liberty's sarcastic voice could be heard putting the gun back into safety.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coming round to face him. She was wearing a long ranger jacket and had a few more holsters on then before. She walked over to her bag and packed in a cloth bag. Colin assumed it was ammunition.
"I can't let you leave like this!" Colin said. "You really think you'll get to Little River Valley before the Comanche and the gang?" Liberty just looked at him, her eyes darkening and she turned to tighten the girth on her horse.
Colin dismounted and stalked over to her.
"Please! Don't leave. I wanted to." he started.
"What? I can't let my father get shot at! I will not let him die out there!" Liberty shouted.
"He's lasted three years Liberty. He'll be okay."
"No, you don't understand. I know he needs me. You ever get the feeling that you're doing something you shouldn't and you're being watched? I got that feeling. I know he needs me. And Goddamnit I will not let him down!" she insisted.
"Then go! Fine, leave, but your taking me with you." Colin said simply crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"NO! I will not drag you into this Colin Daniels. I'm going alone." She said turning away. "Plus you can't even shoot all that well." A smile cracked at the corner of her mouth as she pictured Colin's perfect face glowering at her.
"You know damn right that my shots as good as yours." He said defensively. Liberty started to mount.
"I won't take you." Liberty said simply.
"I don't care. I'm coming." Colin said standing directly in her path.
"Get out of my way Colin." Liberty said simply stepping forward on her horse. Colin stepped aside, but ran back and jumped on Geromino. As Liberty went to pass him. He grabbed her reins and jerked her horse to a halt. Leaning over so that his face was in hers, Colin kissed her quick and hard. As he pulled away, he whispered.
"The only way I'm not going is if you shoot me. And now that I've started something, I know you won't shoot me." He said with a haughty grin. Liberty laughed, slugged Colin the shoulder before kissing him on the cheek.
"I hate it when I lose." she muttered loudly starting down the road. Colin sat there dumbstruck for a moment, unsure of her reaction. A few paces down the road , Liberty stopped, turned back in the saddle and called out.
"Are you coming? Or was that a goodbye kiss?"
Colin laughed and pushed his horse into a lope to catch up.