A Girl?

This is my first published Young Guns fic! Hope you all enjoy it. Forget the whole war thing. This is just for fun, to see how a girl is accepted at the Tunstall ranch.

"Natalie, git down!" Natalie ducked as bullets flew by over her head. Ted raced by her, bent double, and disappeared through the wooden fence. Natalie tried the same escape in desperation, but the fence wouldn't open.

"Ted, you let me through!" she gritted, pounding the timbers, but the fence didn't budge. More bullets. Natalie scurried down alongside the fence, then turned a corner, running straight into a tall, smartly dressed man.

"Heavens, what trouble is this?" he asked calmly in an English accent.

"None of yours," muttered Natalie. She stood to run, but the man took her arm. "You let me go!"

"No, I think you better come with me." Natalie looked at the noble and grim man for a second.

"You're John Tunstall, ain't ya?"

"Quite right, dear girl. Now, have you changed your mind?"

The sounds of yelling and running drawing closer made up Natalie's mind. She nodded quickly, and John led her to his waiting wagon. She jumped aboard, ignoring his offered arm, and he climbed up next to her. Taking the reins, he started the horses into a trot, making Natalie's escape.

At the Tunstall ranch, Natalie looked around at her new surroundings. Dirty, dusty, but safe and promising. She brushed some dried mud from her pants as John led her to the main house.

"I'm not sure of your capabilities, uh…"

"Greenwater, Natalie Greenwater," she informed. "And as far as capabilities, I can ride, lift, tie, yell, haul, think, curse, sweat, bleed, shoot and rope as good as any man you can show me."

John smiled at Natalie's resolute face. "Still, Natalie," he stated, "you are still a female variety, and I shall not having you bunk in the same house as the rest of my crew. You can have the spare room in the house."

"The crew?"

"Yes, my boys."

"Your sons?"

"No, my collected boys. Young men of promise, but unfortunately not always discipline. Committed of petty crimes, but here they are working for me as I rehabilitate them into decent gentlemen."

Natalie laughed. "Uh-huh, I'm sure." Natalie looked down at her worn and faded attire, a man's attire, but her female form was quite evident. "You're sure they're not gonna mind me here? Being a female variety and such?"

John was about to answer when the door to the house opened. Six men around twenty years old entered the dining room, talking and laughing, until they got sight of Natalie. Then, there was silence.

"What's that?" one of the men finally said.

"Excuse me?" asked John. "Have you forgotten your manners, William?"

"Sorry John," he giggled. "Ahem, may we make the acquaintance of this young flower blossom?"

Natalie was about to lunge at the guy, fists clenched, but John restrained her.

"This young lady is Natalie Greenwater, the newest Regulator."

Several of the men groaned in disbelief.

"John, you cain't be serious," said one. "I mean, I couldn't even believe it when you were taking in revolting half-breeds…" This remark was met by a forceful punch from another Regulator. Natalie smirked in spite of herself as the man rubbed his arm. "…but, a woman? You can't be serious, John."

"I am positively serious, Steven. She was running from the law, as you lot all were. Was she not allowed the same treatment you received?"

There was an awkward silence. Natalie offered her thoughts. "Look, I ain't too happy about working 'longside you miserable looking lot, but it beats being jailed, so I'm a-staying."

"Wonderfully put," remarked the giggling one with a mocking smile. Natalie glared at him.

"Well now," John announced, "how about some dinner?"

Later that night, after dinner, the men lay in their bunks, discussing the new Regulator.

"It's outrageous, Dick!" shouted Steve. "Do something about it!"

"Look, I don't really mind the lady's staying here. She might be a nice change from you lot," stated Chavez.

"Well, I sort of agree with you," said Doc. "Besides, she looked pretty strong and competent. I bet she's a mighty handy worker."

"Never saw a woman wearing trousers before," said Billy quietly. "What do you think, Charlie?"

Everyone waited for Charlie's response, but he only sighed. "Did you see her big brown eyes and that beautiful auburn hair?"

Everyone groaned and threw their pillows at the love-sick Regulator.