"Bang! BANG! Bang!" Faye Valentine ducked, rolled, and came up with a water trough at her back. Checking her gun, she saw that she had only 8 shots left between two guns.

"How do I get into these messes!?" She moaned. Faye had just ridden into town not even five minutes ago and was jumped by a few toughs.

"It's not even like the bounty on my head is even that big. I'm just a small fry!"

"BANG! BANG!"

Faye swore. She knew there was one on the roof, one in the saloon across the street, but the third was missing. She had a feeling he was using a rifle from the sound of the shots raining around her, probably acting as a sniper. Steeling herself for possibly her last showdown, she prepared to take all three with her if possible.

Launching a rock to the left to draw their fire, Faye lunged to the left and kept moving to the nearest cover guns a blazing. A lucky shot to the left, the one on the roof was down, tumbling ass over elbows down the roof. A few more shots to the saloon, through the shattering glass she knew that he was hit.

Gasping for breath, Faye took refuge behind a wagon.

"SHIT! Only one shot left! I'm too young to die! Why are they even aft--"

"BANG"

Wood next to her head splintered as a bullet thunked home. A stray sliver flew past her cheek and left a bloody streak, marring the flawless beauty.

" Oh, now you're dead!"

She tried to do the same trick as before, throwing something and dodging the other way. The sniper must have been expecting that. As she dodged to the right, a bullet caught her left shoulder. Yelping in pain, Faye dropped to the dusty street a red flower blossoming on her shoulder. Stunned by pain, she was unable to move before her shooter came to the street.

"Miss Valentine I presume?" He was a cowboy with a handsome face, all tanned and rugged, yet underneath the good looks was a petty meanness, the kind of mean that would kick a puppy for no good reason other than it was there. He nudged her with his boot toe. "Let's have a look at you."

Pulling Faye to her feet, his eyes widened in shock. He knew she was beautiful, but did not think anyone could be this beautiful.

Her petite body was clad in blue Levis and a bright red button up shirt and both appeared to be about 3 sizes too small on her voluptuous body. Purple hair and ruby lips made a stunning contrast to the yellow cowboy hat, duster, and bandanna she was wearing. Only the bloody scratch on her flawless skin and the red stain on her shoulder marred her appearance.

"Well well well. We finally have you. You're quite a tough lady to get a hold of .You know, the Hodge City poker tournament is coming up. I'll bet a pretty girl like you could bring me good luck...standing in my corner. I've heard about your skill with cards. Why don't you work with me?" The cowboy pulled Faye closer, so close she could smell his breath.

"I don't think so..." He had forgotten Faye still had her gun. She whipped it up striking him in the handsome jaw. Remembering she had one bullet left, she carefully aimed at almost point blank range and fired.

The handsome cowboy fell to the ground clutching his chest, red seeping through his fingers, dust rising around him. Faye turned her back and walked away from all of the destruction in the street.

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"So the Hodge City poker tourney is coming up." Faye mused to herself. At one time Faye would never have dreamed of playing poker for money, even though she was unbeatable. Faye could read her opponents and tell you what they were thinking. She knew every move they were going to do before they would do it. AND she was a master of the sleight of hand. But a lady just did not do such things. Yet the world changes. That life was gone, Faye only vaguely remembered it.

She was broke. Dead broke. Broke and wounded, which meant no bounty hunting or continuing her search. It would be easy money as long as no one caught her cheating.

"What do ya say Star? Should we go make some money for oats and smokes?"

A bandaged up and semi-recovered Faye was talking to her horse, Star. Star was the closest thing Faye had to a friend right then. She would often carry on one-sided conversations with the chestnut flaxen maned beast.

Star snorted and turned in the direction of the Hodge City with out being asked.

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A/N: I'm sorry it's so short. Next, Faye gets kidnapped and Spike heads to Hodge City. R + R