It was about time for her partner to get up, Meryl decided as she threw on her traveling cloak and got used to the heft of the derringers again. Her shoulders were muscular from all of the years carrying them around with her, and she'd developed quite a left hook, one that the priest felt the day before when she finally couldn't stand it anymore. He got let out of the hospital about the same time as Milly, and avoided her like the plague now. She smiled to herself, served him right for getting them into such a mess. And to top it off Vash saw the little display and found out every last detail of their plot. She sighed. It had not worked out the way she wanted it to, and the gunman took Milly back to his hotel even with the doctors and nurses complaining the entire way.
Meryl worried that he might do something to her… But the way he doted on her and carefully brushed the bangs from her eyes as she lay in the hospital bed after her head was examined… Meryl sighed and realized she should just give up. He was a sweet man just like Milly said he was. There was just no proof that besides the fact Vash was followed by every kind of trouble known to man, he also knew how to get out of it and keep those around him safe from harm. If her friend was in good hands, those hands would have to be Vash the Stampede's.
But that still didn't mean she would sit idly by while Milly had fun! No way! Meryl slung the strap of her typewriter over her shoulder and headed out the door and down to the lobby. She nearly missed the dark suited priest as he lit up a cigarette on the front porch until he said, "Hey."
"You just don't learn do you?" Meryl asked, a bit perturbed by the rogue. He shook out his match and looked at her with eyes asking forgiveness. She sighed. "What do you want now, Mr. Wolfwood? I think we've both received due punishment for what we did yesterday so I suppose we can start over."
Wolfwood nodded, "I just wanted to apologize," he said after a moment. He placed the smoke to his lips and pushed away from the wall. His cross sat to the side, and he hefted it onto his shoulder, "I got carried away and for that I feel really bad for what happened to the big girl. I thought maybe I could join you in apologizing to her."
"Really? You'd do that?" Meryl asked, suddenly glad she wouldn't have to take all of the blame onto her shoulders when Milly found out the truth of what happened yesterday. The priest was mostly at fault for hiring the bounty hunters, but she had done her own level best at making life miserable for Milly for two days. It was about time she just accept the relationship between her friend and the gunman.
"Sure," the priest said slowly, "Besides, I wouldn't want either you or her to be mad at me…" He rubbed his chin with his hand. It was black and blue from Meryl's fist. Wolfwood tested it and squinted and Meryl knew it still hurt him. She also knew that he was keeping out of her reach, carefully standing about five feet away from her at all times. He nodded to the hotel down the road, "Shall we go give them a wake up call?"
Meryl nodded and followed him down the road. Things were really hopping today for some reason. After the commotion at the cave the day before, things were lively since the miners were back to business and people were eagerly getting prepared for a tourist industry in the caves as soon as they cleaned up and rebuilt the tunnels. The bounty for the Hard Luck Gang was reverted to the city thanks to Meryl's well-timed knock out of the priest, and the mayor himself bought out the caves to stop the dispute. From now on the caves were public property with all proceeds would go to making May City a better place to be rather than an outlaw haven.
Wolfwood wasn't all too happy about it, but he did receive a motorcycle from the impound yard as thanks for his help in the capture. It had some work that needed to be done, so most likely he'd be staying in town for a time, but figured he would be far, far away from Vash and the insurance girls within a week. That made him somehow happy. The group put his head in a wringer time and time again and Vash was giving him fits. He didn't like the idea that the brother of his boss was such a fruitcake and he was still debating on whether he was the right guy at all. However, there were a few unmistakable hints, and Nicholas knew he had to check and see if his theory was correct before he rejoined them.
The little insurance girl headed into the Sand Dune Hotel and into the main lobby. Nicholas deposited his spent cigarette in an ashtray and followed her in. There was commotion behind the front desk and bellhops and the manager were all dashing around looking for something, ignoring the visitors. Someone yelled about an emergency in room two-oh-seven and another person said they'd found the screwdriver. A maid rushed by and out of site and Meryl stopped and looked him over her shoulder. "I hope Vash didn't do something I'm going to need to fill out paperwork for again…"
"You have to do that every time he stirs up trouble, don't you?"
Meryl shook her head, "No, only when the involved parties are insured by Bernadelli. Although we do have to make a note of it if he causes any problems where someone may try to file a false claim." She patted her typewriter, "That's my job though, and I like it."
"You're one strange girl, you know that?"
"Maybe so, but I've never claimed otherwise," the little girl smiled and turned her attention to the upstairs balcony. The manager was scrambling about, wringing his hands, and a maid rushed out from the farthest room on the left. They conversed for a moment, the manager smiled and all the commotion ceased and things seemed to go back to normal. The old manager, he was a man in his fifties, saw them standing in the lobby and hurried to come greet them.
"Welcome, welcome to the Sand Dune!"
Wolfwood pointed his finger at the room where he had just been standing, "What was going on up there?"
"A couple got stuck in their bathroom this morning. We had to break the door down to get them out, but it's all better now and we'll be getting a new door shortly." He smiled, "They were such a nice couple, said because they spent so much time in the bathroom together that they were going to get engaged and promised they'd use our banquet facilities for their reception." Turning, he went to the counter and started fishing for the log, "So, do you plan on staying here tonight?"
"Actually," Meryl said, "We were looking for our friends, they were supposed to be staying here, although I didn't find out the room number last night before we parted." She reached into her typewriter case and produced a card, "Here's my card. If you ever need to change your insurance provider…"
The priest coughed and Meryl frowned, she looked up at him, but he wasn't paying her any attention. His eyes were diverted to the room upstairs. "I think we may have a problem," he said slowly, his gray eyes finally falling on her.
"What?" Turning on her heel, Meryl glanced up at the balcony again. Two very familiar people were walking out of room two-oh-seven… Vash the Stampede and Milly Thompson, hand in hand, were followed along from behind by one of the maids who seemed to be gushing over something, her hands moving wildly about. "Milly…" Meryl murmured.
"Oh, there they are now!" The manager gushed, he waved, "Mr. Smith! There you are! I was just telling this nice couple about you and your fiancée."
Meryl cast a death look at the manager. "Did you just say fiancée?"
"Yes, of course, those were the ones who got stuck in the bathroom. I do say that Mr. Smith has been a splendid guest, very quiet, and always paying ahead. He said that Miss Thompson surprised him by coming into town last night while I was off duty. It was a nice surprise." The old man was just so happy his cheeks were pink as he watched Vash and Milly make their way down the stairs.
Now that they were closer, the maid's words came in crystal clear. "My aunt Betty will be able to help you out just perfectly! She's got the best wedding dresses in all of May City and I think my cousin Susan will be able to decorate even on such a short notice…."
"That would be so wonderful!" Milly chirped in response. She was smiling as she looked from the maid to Meryl, "Oh hi Meryl! Guess what! Vash asked me to marry him!"