Chapter XI A New Day

Promises and Dreams

By tk421beth

A/N: I want to thank my faithful reviewers! I LOVE YOU! Amber, Dana, Jo, Jeannie, the Vampire Jewel, Mononoke Lynn, HellAngelGirl, MizzNite, billycrazy…you ALL inspire me to write more and more! Thanks for all your great reviews and positive comments! As for Tiffy…Where ARE you? It's been two weeks, girl! Review this and my last chapter PLEASE!

Special thanks to my betas Sue and Tom! THANKS!

Chapter Summary: Jessie and the Regulators realize that they have fallen in a trap as they huddle inside the McSween home...

I watch as the sun sets gradually over Lincoln. I fiddled with my ring…the ring Father had given to me. What would he do if he was here? Oh, Father! I need you! My eyes begin to water, wondering if this is it. Will I soon join Father? Will I have the same fate as he did?

I feel Billy's hand slowly, gently massage my neck. "It's okay sweetheart…" He says in a low voice. How does he always know what I am thinking? "Remember what I told you. I'll get us outta here."

I look over at him, and see his wide smile. I return the smile and hear him chuckle.

As the house grew dark, I stare out the window once more, to see that more men were congregating outside, heavily armed. I sat back down with a big yawn. Feeling fatigued, I lay my shotgun down next to me, lean against Billy, and close my eyes.

I listened to the noises outside, as well as the quiet whispering going on inside of the McSween home. As Billy's arms slowly wrapped around me, I cuddled up to him, my face against his chest. I could feel his heart beating, as my eyes remain closed, not wanting to fight sleep. Billy will get us out of here. He promised…

I stir to the sound of drums, softly at first, then becoming much louder. I open my eyes, surprised that it is early morning already. The sun hasn't even come up yet. I find myself on the floor, lying next to Billy. My face was against his neck, as his left arm was around my waist. "Billy!" I gasped, waking him up. "What is that?"

"Chivato!" Yelled Chavez, motioning Billy to come over and look out the window. I grab my shotgun, and race to Chavez and Billy. My eyes widen in surprise to see the army!

There were two squadrons with some men marching, some riding horses. I also see a lethal looking gatling gun, being pulled by four horses. What in the hell were they going to use that for?

"Where did they come from?" I wonder out loud. "Fort Stanton?" Most of the soldiers were black. It's the damn Buffalo Soldiers! They were lead by a large white man, who was now dismounting his horse. I study the man, and acknowledge from the brass on his starched uniform, that he is indeed, a Colonel. Sheriff Pippin ambled over, and the two men began to talk. I strained to hear them, but they were talking in hushed tones, much to my frustration.

"They called in the goddamned troops!" Steve yells in a sudden panic, making me jump.

Disgusted by the scene below, I turn away from the scene. I observe Steve, who is now looking out the window. His eyes were open wide as well as his mouth. I could even see the chewing tobacco wadded in his cheek.

Doc sighs. "We're good, but this is getting a little out of hand. We're not that good!"

Billy sniggers. "I like these odds!" He states, laughing. I smile, as I examine Doc giving Billy a mean stare.

Susan rushes over, her hands full of papers, some dishes, and other assorted items she been packing into various trunks. Some loose strands of hair fell to her face, from the bun on top of her head. "They must be here to mediate; to break the whole thing up…thank God!" She looks over at Alex. "The townspeople must have contacted them. Maybe you should send a message down."

"Bloody hell, which one of us is going to give them the message, Susan?" I challenged. "I, for one, do not want to get killed!" Susan gives me a surprised look, not quite believing what I just told her.

Ignoring her for the moment, I made sure my shotgun was still loaded and walked back to the window, in between Billy and Doc. I spot Murphy riding up in his carriage, his china doll, Yen, in tow. She was dressed for this occasion in a black and dark red dress, sitting next to that bastard Murphy, who started this whole bloody war. She looked up, and stared right at Billy, Doc and I.

I glance over at Doc, who is staring at Yen, his blue eyes starting to water. He loves her! Doc actually loves her! I was touched to see Doc this way. I knew he had feelings for Yen, but did not know she felt the same way about him.

"Mr. Murphy, Judge Bristol. We've got all the rats in one hole!" I hear J.J. Dolan yelling with glee. That smug bastard!

Murphy nods. "What's been taking so long?" He actually sounds bored.

"Every time we try to get in close, we lose men! They've got about thirty, maybe forty boys up there." Dolan tells him. "Jessie Tunstall too!"

"Son of a bitch!" Spats Doc. I silently agree. Goddamn Dolan!

Murphy jumps out of the carriage, and shakes hands with the Colonel. Oh, God! Was Susan so entirely mistaken! The townspeople didn't summon the military! Lawrence Murphy did! I hear Murphy's loud, booming voice from the street. "Why are you here, Nathan?" He asks the Colonel, surprised to see the military in Lincoln. This isn't good! Murphy knows the Colonel? But he seems surprised to see him…okay…I was wrong. Maybe the army came here on special orders…but from whom?

"I was dispatched here, to make sure it doesn't get out of the hands of the civil authorities." He answers Murphy.

"I didn't want the army here. We don't need this kind of attention!" Murphy's face was red with anger, as he talked to the Colonel. Murphy paused for a moment, appearing to reflect. "If you have any hopes for a future in the county seat, as I understand that you do, you will respond to our…suggestions." His tone was firm and loud.

"And what do you suggest, sir?" The Colonel replies.

Pacing back and forth, with his hand on his chin, Murphy suddenly stops pacing. "Full military attack. Destroy them!" His demand is contradicting his previous request of not drawing attention to Lincoln. What in the hell was Murphy doing?

Much to my surprise, as Murphy keeps on talking to the now confused Colonel, Yen unexpectedly leaps out of the carriage, and starts running towards the house we're trapped in! Oh my God! What is she thinking?

"China!" Murphy shouts, as Yen runs closer to the house, weaving in and out of the many soldiers and other men who were standing by. "Soldiers…stop her!" He demands, running after her. "China!"

Yen ignores Murphy, and is running as fast as she can. "Yen!" Doc shouts, as we see two soldiers begin to race after her. Doc raises his rifle and fires at the soldiers. A bullet hits the ground, stopping the soldiers from catching Yen.

She reaches the house, at the same time as Doc runs downstairs. "Cover me!" He commands, throwing me his pistol. Billy and I stand at the window, making sure no one else was going to approach the house.

"There you go, Colonel!" Murphy starts sputtering, his arms waving in the air like a mad man. "Your troops have been fired on! You're in the right now! Burn it!"

What was that? Burn the house? Oh, shit!

"But…the girl…" The Colonel starts to speak.

"Burn it!" Murphy screeches at Colonel, fuming with anger.

"Excuse me?" The Colonel sputters, the perplexed look still on his face.

"BURN IT!" Murphy commands. The Colonel stares at Murphy for a moment, and then starts shouting orders to his men.

"Billy!" I gasp, glancing at him, still staring out of the window. The troops begin to take position, spread out on all sides of the house. "What are we going to do?"

"We'll be okay, Jessie." He tells me.

Right when Doc and Yen make it upstairs, the firing begins, as I scramble back on the ground, under the window, awaiting my chance to return fire. Glass breaks, chips of wood are flying through the air, among the ammunition being shot at us.

I hear Susan scream, and look over at the sound of her voice. Alex is holding her close, as they take shelter behind a large steamer trunk.

"Hold your fire!" I hear the Colonel from outside. "Goddamnit! Cease fire!"

With Billy at my side, we shoot back, as Chavez, Doc and Steve do the same on the other side of the house. We manage to hit some of the men, but the firepower down below is too much for us to handle. We have to escape; it is our only way out! I know this now…Billy must understand this.

Reloading my shotgun, I notice Charlie, petrified with fear, gripping his rifle in one hand, and his pistol in the other. "Hey, Billy…" He stutters, eyes welling with tears. "I gotta go. I got a wife…she's a sweet Mexican gal…I gotta go…"

I'm shocked to see Charlie this way. He's always been so rough, so tough. I believe that he has finally reached his breaking point. He's completely lost his mind.

Billy stands up; a determined look on his face, taking control of the situation. "If you don't stand up and whup some ass, you're never gonna see her again! C'mon, Charlie!"

Charlie just sits there, his face white with fear, tears streaming down his face. I want to say something, to do something that would make Charlie feel better…but what can I do?

"Well, they lit it, boys." Steve yells. "They lit the house!"

"Bloody fucking hell!" I screech, glancing at Billy. For the first time since we've been in the McSween home, I see worry register on his face.

"Mr. Bonney! Ms. Tunstall! Mr. McSween!" A voice shouts from outside. "This is Colonel Nathan Dudley out of Fort Stanton! Come on out with your hands high!"

Billy cackles at this. "…With your hands held high! I better reason with him." Billy gets close to the window, still laughing. "Hey, Colonel Shithead! You can kiss my ass!"

"Goddamnit, Billy!" Alex cries out in frustration.

"We'll see how they like that one!" He laughs. "Get President Hayes down here, and we'll come out! How do ya like that?"

They fire on us yet again, as we all scramble for shelter. I don't think they liked that one. I'm again on the ground, wondering when this whole thing would stop.

Now Charlie's yelps are joining Susan's screams. I look up at him, watching as he shakily re-loading his rifle. "Hey, Kinney!" He shouts, as the attack on us stops for a moment. "You bastard! I'm gonna shoot your ass from here to Patricio and back, if I have to, you shit dog!" Charlie starts to shoot his rifle.

"Yeah, Charlie!" Billy encourages him.

"Maniac!" Charlie is still screaming and shooting. He throws down the now empty rifle, and grabs his other one, and continues to shoot.

"Yeah, Charlie, YEAH!" Billy encourages him, holding his six shooters up. "Go on, Charlie, YEAH!"

I just stare at Billy, then at Charlie. They both seem to be in their own world at this moment. My eyes wander over to Chavez, as he slinks about. I raise an eyebrow as he moves to the corner of the wall and stands there for a moment looking frightened, looking like he has reached the end of this tether.

I smell the fire, and actually see the flames now. The room is getting smoky, and I start to cough. Billy rushes over to me, concerned.

"Alex!" Doc cries out. "Get Susan outta here!"

"NO! I don't want to-Alex, no!" Susan shrieks, holding plates, letters and papers in her hands, as Alex grabs her by the upper arm, they descend the stairs.

"Hold your fire!" I hear Alex shout from downstairs. "There's a woman coming out!"

"Cease fire!" I hear the Colonel commands. "A lady is coming out!"

I close my eyes, as I listen to Susan's protests. "You can't make me, Alex! What about Jessica? She needs me! ALEX, NO!"

I take the opportunity to look out the window. She's closing the gate of the yard, and slowly walks away from the house. As Susan walks away, she stumbles at bit, her eyes on the house, looking back at Alex, who is still downstairs.

Susan walks up to the Colonel. "You need to go across the street, ma'am, so I may attend to my duties." He tells her.

"The Colonel can't help you now," Murphy interrupts. "But, back at his tent perhaps!" Murphy laughs loudly at his joke, as most of the men laugh with him. That bastard! My eyes narrow with hatred for this man.

I can barely hear what is said, as I witness Susan smack the Colonel in the face. "Animal! Murderer!" She begins to scream, as the soldiers take her away.

The smoke and flames get worse. Alex and Steve try to put out the flames, but to no avail.

"Where's Chavez?" Steve asks.

"I don't know!" Doc yells.

"He's gone!" Charlie says in amazement. "Must of skinned out."

"He skinned out!" Steve starts to yell, as he stomps on the floor. "That fargin' Indian greaser…I knew he wouldn't stick! He skinned, and we're all gonna die in here!"

I stare at Steve, my mouth open in surprise as he punches the adobe wall in frustration. The house is almost entirely engulfed in flame.

I look around the room. Everything seems to be moving in slow motion. I look out the window, and see the sun starting to crest over the hills. How did we get to this point? How did I get here?

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