Battle at the Inn

We last left are heroes when they were riding back to Sherrock Town. Once Bugs and company were within sight range of the town, he gave commands.

"Ok, you two assemble the Freedom Fighters," said Bugs to two of the Fighters. Then he turned to the other two and said, "and you two go back to the hideout to salvage any supplies dat we may have left. We meet back at the old hideout. If anything goes wrong, head back to the Hamota tribe."

The Fighters went off into pairs to do their tasks.

"What do we do?" ask Lola

"Head back to your place,"

"To do what?"

"The nast…I mean to get my wagon. We need the supplies in dere to help wit da resistance,"

"When you mean 'we', you're including me aren't you?"

"Yeah. Even if I didn't mean you, who am I to stop ya?"

She smiled at him. When they entered the towns' limits, the roadrunner and its usual pursuer, the coyote, zoomed passed them. Bugs and Lola looked at each other and shook their heads.

"He'll never catch that Roadrunner," said Bugs

"Nope," said Lola

"Hey!" read a sign that Coyote pulled, "What sort of friends are you supposed to be? Terrible ones?"

"Excuse you," muttered Lola

Coyote dropped the sign and zoomed after Roadrunner.

Bugs and Lola were coming close to the inn when…BANG! Joy panicked and knocked both Bugs and Lola off her back. She ran away.

"Joy!" cried Lola

"Are you alright?" asked Bugs helping her up

"I'm fine, and you?"

"I'll be Ok,"

They heard evil laughter all around them; they looked around nervously.

"What was that?" asked Lola

"I have a bad feeling about dis," said Bugs

"You should," came a voice

Then Canasta and the rest off his men came out of hiding. They surrounded them, with evil grins on their faces. Bugs and Lola were back-to-back facing the ambush.

"First chance you get, run," whispered Bugs

"Huh? But what about you?" asked Lola

"I'll hold dem off,"

"But…"

"I need you Lola,"

She nodded, "be careful."

"Boys, do what you will," said Canasta.

The militia charged at them. Bugs went on the defensive mode while Lola took evasive maneuvers and made a run for it. Canasta saw her escape.

"Shall I go get her?" asked one of the men

"Nah! Smith has got that taken care of," he answered

Lola ran without looking back. She made it to the back of the inn, to the stables. She untied the wagon and released Copper. She tied him to the wagon.

"Lola!" called someone from inside

"Pa…" she said, "I'm coming!"

She ran inside. She looked around the first floor but Pa wasn't there. She came to the bar and saw Smith leaning on the counter.

"Hey there sexy," he said

"What are you doing here?" she said repulsed

"It's Friday, remember? I came to collect your taxes,"

"I don't have time for this," she was about to go upstairs but Smith caught her arm.

"I'm gonna get your dues, one way or another," he said bringing her close to him.

She shoved him off. He came at her again; she dodged him. She ran behind the counter.

"You're only stalling the inevitable, doll," he said

Lola came from behind the counter with two bottles.

"Don't ever call me doll!" She fired the corks and they hit him in the eyes.

"Ahh!" he rubbed his eyes. Once he opened them he saw a blur. The blur came towards him. Lola whacked him with the bottles. She used them as weapons to push him back. They broke against him and the liquor spewed allover. He fell backwards and struggled to get up. He charged at her again. Lola grabbed two more bottles as she dodged him. She was about to hit him with one but stopped herself. "Not the good stuff," she said setting down the expensive bottle. She took the other and broke it over Smith's head. That knocked him out. She took a sip of the 'good stuff' and left him there with two black eyes.

Meanwhile…

Bugs was fighting off the militia. He jumped up and kicked two guys. When he landed he did a cartwheel to dodge one guy and kick another. He rebounded and punched a guy that was coming at him. He picked him up and swung him around, knocking the others out. He let the guy go and he fell against two other guys. That took care of the ambush. Except for…BANG! Bugs dodged the bullet that came from Canasta.

"Lets do this like civilized men," said Canasta

"You? Civilized?" said Bugs

"Grrr!"

They stared each other down (Music from 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly' played in the background). They both were in the center of the street, their hands itching to get their guns. They waited for the other to make a move. Then in the blink of an eye, they drew their guns and fired. The gunshots echoed through the empty streets. He fell to the ground, clutching his side. The victor blew the smoke from his gun and put it back on his holster. He walked over to the loser.

"Too slow," said Bugs

Canasta gritted his teeth, but was in too much pain to attack.

Bugs turned his back on him but was highly disturbed with what he saw. Sam and the rest of his army were coming towards him.

"Shoot," muttered Bugs

Elsewhere….

After dealing with Smith, Lola went to the stables. To her delight Joy had returned! "Joy!" she said, "thank goodness you're safe!" She put her back in her stable for well-deserved rest. Lola then took Copper and the wagon to where the Freedom Fighters were supposed to meet. When she arrived, they had already assembled.

"Where's Bugs?" she asked

"Wasn't he with you?" responded one of the Fighters

"He was, but then we were ambushed. I hope he's alright," she said looking in the direction of the inn

"We have to get ready, or we'll never help Bugs or ourselves,"

"You're right," she got off the wagon and opened it. There she distributed the supplies.

"Has anyone seen my Pa?" she asked the Fighter

"I saw him at the inn not to long ago," said another Fighter, "I was there for a drink, and he was there."

"I should go find him," said Lola, "remember the plan!" She ran off back towards the inn.

Meanwhile…

Bugs was catching his breath. Sam and his men assembled themselves in front of him.

"You really are very rude," said Sam, "you city slicker! You don't even listen to the friendly warning I gave ya before."

"It comes from being a New Yorker," said Bugs proudly. (J.C.: Word up Bugsy! w00t!)

"We'll show you what we do to city boys out here,"

"Bring it on shorty!"

Sam got off his horse and approached Bugs.

"You guys don't know how to make a guy feel welcome," said Bugs casually, "If you guys are gonna be like dat, how do you expect dis town to prosper?"

"The town?" said Sam "Ha! That's funny! You really think I have the slightest interest in the welfare of this town?"

"I didn't think so. It's completely obvious dat you're in it for yourself,"

Sam took out his six shooters and fired around like a madman. Bugs and everyone around had to duck for cover.

"Say that again! I dare you!" he yelled

Bugs called out from his hiding place, "you're a crook! A scam artist! A politician!"

"Come out!" yelled Sam. He shot at random spots, but he couldn't find his target.

"The people will turn on you. They will get their revenge. You betrayed their trust, and we will make you pay!" called out Bugs

Sam was getting nervous, since he didn't have a visual.

"Ahh!" yelled Sam as something stinged him from behind. He turned around but no one was around. Sam backed up to a barrel near a building.

"You varmint! Show yourself!" yelled Sam

"Are you scared?" echoed Bugs

"No!"

"In denial, are we?"

"No!"

Then Bugs popped out of the barrel and pulled Sam's hat over his head. He then jumped back and took out his slingshot and struck him in the gut.

"Grr! I'll kill that rabbit!" struggled Sam with his hat. When he finally got free he said, "Men! Take him down!"

Elsewhere…

Lola had arrived at the inn again. She looked outside, and at the stables, but no luck. She entered inside in hopes of finding Pa. To her surprise, Smith was not where she had left him knocked out. She then walked cautiously, on high alert. She tried looking for a weapon to defend herself, but all the bottles were stolen! She found a broomstick and held it.

"Pa?" she said, "Are you home?"

"Oh he's home," came a voice

A gunshot went through the house and broke off the top of the broom.

"Drop it,"

She did so.

"I know where you're beloved Pa is,"

"What did you do to him?" she asked angrily

"Now that's completely up to you," said Smith revealing himself, "I'll let ol' Pa go if you do what I say."

"Never,"

"Then you sentenced your own Pa to death," he said turning away

"No!" she begged. Smith turned around to face her. "I'll do what you ask," she said silently

"That's a good doll," he came to her and grabbed her face.

She looked at him. Then her sad face turned to one of rage. She kneed him then punched him away.

"Let him go!" she yelled

Smith was smart this time, he tackled her low then lifted her on his shoulder. She struggled to get free, but it was no use. He carried her upstairs.

"Let me go! Let me go!" she yelled

"I told ya I'm getting my dues, one way or another,"

"Oh you'll get you're dues," came another voice

"Huh?" said Smith. After a shot, Smith fell and tumbled down the stairs. Lola fell on to the first steps. She looked up and saw her grandfather holding his side and breathing heavily.

"Pa!" she cried. She came to him in time to catch him. "Are you alright?"

"Smith had me tied up and gagged in the barn. I was able to cut the ropes with my pocket knife, but I took a while," answered Pa

"Oh, I'm glad you're OK,"

"Not really, my back is killing me,"

"Here, I'll take you to your room," she said as she helped him upstairs

"You should take out the trash," he said referring to Smith

"I will,"

She went back downstairs and dragged Smith's knocked out body and threw him out in the middle of the street.

Meanwhile…

Bugs had dodged the bullets by heading into the buildings. He climbed to the second floor and began shooting from his location. He took out some of his attackers before they noticed his base. They were falling like flies. They shot at him, but Bugs dodged. He reappeared and shot again. He moved over to a balcony and ducked under the railing. Sam saw where he was hiding. When Bugs reappeared Sam shot at him and hit Bugs' gun. He shot again and hit the railing Bugs was leaning on. He fell to the ground and slammed into some crates. Bugs was in extreme pain, everything went black. Sam was overjoyed. He was about to deliver the final blow when a whip snapped and took the guns right out of his hands. It was the Dark Rider!

"You!" said Sam, "I should have known you would have made an appearance!"

The Dark Rider, on his black horse, took out his own gun. He shot at the remaining men, forcing some of them to retreat. Some were dumb enough to face him. The Rider used his whip to disarm them, then charged like a knight to knock them out. Sam was the only one left.

"You're good," admitted Sam, "you should work for me, together we'll own this town!"

The Dark Rider in response lashed out his whip against him.

"I'll take that as a no," said Sam. He then pulled out a knife and came at the Rider. He swung off the horse to knock the knife out of his hand. Sam fell against a wall. The Rider then took out a hatchet and threw it at him; it crashed into the wall, right beside Sam's neck. Sam looked at how close it was to killing him, then just fainted on the spot.

Dark Rider then walked away, towards Bugs. He picked him up and put him on his horse. He rode away to get help.

Where is he taking him?