Chapter 2

To The Rescue!

Saloons were not fit for a pig! They were famous for being dirty, smelly and unfit to live in. That was a fact of life! It was the most obvious place for men to gamble.

The smoke from the gamblers cigarettes over loaded the bartender's nose, but he learned years ago that concentrating more on washing the glasses assisted him in ignoring the smoke.

The movement of the saloon's doors forced him to remove his gaze from the glass he'd been cleaning.

Remarkably, it was a girl, but undoubtably, not your everyday typical girl.

She wore men's clothing, all in black including her hat. The only speck of colour on her was red; her hair and her neckerchief.

The bar tender's curiosity sparked. Most of the local girls avoided the saloons. The only one who bothered to entered were singers looking for work and wives who came to collect their drunk husbands.

The girl walked in, and that was when he saw the folded whip hanging on her belt.

The girl pulled up a stool.

"What will you have?" he asked

"A LARGE glass of water. PLEASE!"

He brought out his freshly cleaned glass and poured. Before he was done with the last drop, the girl snatched it, threw her head back, and drank it in a few loud gulps.

The bartender could only stare in astonishment, as she slammed the glass down.

"MORE... Please..."

He nodded dumbly and poured. "Long ride in?"

"Got that right!" She replied. "First drink I've had all day!"

He finished pouring her next glass full. "You should've packed a water canteen."

The girl leaned over the counter. "I did! But my jelly-fish brain partner drank it all!"

"Ah..." the bartender replied, unsure of what else to say.

The girl took the glass and drank it with more dignity this round. She sipped the glass, observing the groups of gamblers around her.

Her ears eavesdropped on a particular table. Three men were placing their bets as they spread their cards for another game of poker.

"Ya know what Tom told me this morning?" said the man, that was handing the cards out. "He told me he saw Calamity Lina come into town."

The girl paused and put down her glass. "Calamity Lina!" exclaimed the second man, as he placed his bet. "Dear God! This town is doomed!"

The third man, the youngest in the tiro, gazed up from his cards. "Who's she?"

The older men stared wide eyed as their jaws hit the floor. "You never heard of 'The Coyote Spooker'?"

The girl's grip tightened on the glass.

"Coyote Spooker?" murmured the young man.

The seconded nodded. "She's a girl with a temper that's as dangerous and violent as a gun ready to shoot!" He'd raised his bet. "They say's she's so terrifying, coyote's run at the mere sight of her!"

Cracks began to form in the glass.

"She's a literal 'Calamity,' hence the name." added the first man. "I've heard she eats rattle snake eggs raw, without even cooking them!"

The girl glared at the men.

"Course, her most distinct feature is that she short and has a really flat chest..."

WHACK!

The girl's whip crashed on the table, scattering the cards to the wind.

Cowering in fear, the trio gazed upward at the girl that scowled before them. Fire was burning in her eyes revealing she a thirsty desire for murder.

The youngest man gulped. "You're...Calamity Lina aren't you?..."

She tugged at her whip, ready to strike again. "Damn straight!"

The men screamed as Lina prepared to launch another attack, but was stopped as a large blonde man grabbed her from behind and lifted her up in the air.

"Gourry, put me down!" she hollered, kicking and squirming.

Gourry tossed a sympathetic look to the shocked bartender.

The other gamblers had put a halt to their game and were watching the odd scene.

"Sorry about this!" Gourry yelled to bartender. "I'll pay Lina's tab and..."

"NO! NO!" The bartender forced a fake shaky smile. "It's free! On the house!"

Gourry blinked, astounded. "You sure?"

"YES! YES! So you can take her right out of here!"

"Thanks mister!" Lina continued her ranting and screaming as Gourry forcefully brought her outside.

A feeling of relief crashed upon the crowd. The bartender brought his gaze on the three men. "You guys need to learn to keep your mouths shut!"

Outside, Gourry dropped Lina to the dirt covered road. She instantly sprang to her feet and scowled at her tall partner. "What did you do that for! Didn't you hear what those guys called me!"

"The same things that a lot of people call you."

The scowl never left. Gourry sighed. "I wasn't in the mood to pay the damages you would cause."

Lina snarled, but Gourry remained unfazed as he readjusted his hat. She sighed, defeated by the knowledge that she wasn't going to receive a reaction. "Let's just get going."

Gourry blinked at her. "Sure...but where are we going?"

In a fast reflex, Lina bonked the blonde with her fist. "I already told you! We got a job offer from..."

She took a moment to unfold her letter. "An Alfred Seyrune."

"Oh." Gourry replied, rubbing his sore spot. "So what is the job?"

Lina refolded the letter. "We don't know yet, that's what we're here to find out."

Gourry nodded as they walked down the road. "So where does this Alfred guy live?"

Lina scanned the buildings. "We're supposed to go to his law firm."

"Law firm?"

"He's a lawyer Gourry. There it is!"

She pointed to a large building near the end of the street. Written across the door in large black letters were "Seyrune's Royal Law Firm."

Lina marched forward and entered, with Gourry close behind.

They came into a small waiting room. Gourry went up to the office door with "Alfred Seyrune" written on it and knocked.

A voice replied within and it opened. A young man in his mid twenties greeted them with a smile.

Lina stepped up. "Are you Alfred?"

"That I am. You are the famous Calamity Lina?"

"Got that right!" Lina replied, as she entered the office.

Alfred looked over to Gourry. "And this must be your partner, the famous gunman Wild Gourry Gabriev!"

Gourry removed his hat. "Uh...I guess so."

Lina shook her head, as she sat. "Cut the flattery. I doubt you called us here to increase our egos."

Alfred's sunny smile faded into a firm frown. "Very well, I'll get right to business."

He went behind his desk, folding his hands neatly. "I would like to hire you for a rescue mission."

Lina's eyebrows quirked. "Rescue mission?"

"Yes. Five days ago a very important client was kidnapped while she was coming here to confirm her late father's will. Amelia Wil Tesla Seyrune."

"Seyrune? Isn't that your last name?" asked Gourry.

"Yes, for you see she is also my cousin."

"Hold it." interrupted Lina. "She was kidnapped Five days ago? Do you have any idea how far those kidnappers could have gone by now!"

Alfred calmly brought out a piece of paper from his desk, flashing a satisfied smile like he had been waiting for that question.

"Actually Ms. Lina, I know exactly where they have taken her."

He laid the paper on the desk which Lina realized, was in truth, a map. "From reliable source, the kidnappers have been located. I marked the area on the map myself."

Lina studied it carefully. It was easy enough to read, but ...the whole thing sounded too simple. She stared at the lawyer. Alfred seemed to be a decent guy, but the way he smiled gave her the creeps. "May I ask who this 'reliable' source was?"

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you. I made a promise of keeping the identity a secret."

"Right..." Lina replied, even more doubtful.

"Um...why was Amelia kidnapped anyway?"

"Good question Gourry and why are you so egar to rescue her?"

Alfred looked offended. "She's my only cousin Ms. Lina! As of now ,I'm her only family and it is my duty to look after her."

"You still didn't explain why she was kidnapped."

The lawyer sighed. "So far, the reason is unknown, but it is most likely for ransom."

Alfred adjusted his chair. "Amelia and I came from a very wealthy family. In fact, our family founded this town and her father was a well known politician."

"Has there been a ransom note?"

"Not yet, but I'm hoping you two could save her before it comes to that."

Lina tapped her fingers on her knee cap. "We could, but how much are you willing to pay?"

Alfred straightened his posture. "How much do you suggest?"

The girl's eyes lit up. Grabbing a piece of paper from the desk, she vigorously wrote down her price.

Gourry glanced at it and his eyes became the size of dinner plates.

She passed the paper to Alfred, who had the exact same reaction as Gourry.

"That much!"

Lina crossed her legs and folded her arms. "Considering how much we're going to travel and that fighting kidnappers is a lot of work, I'd say the price is fair."

Alfred ran his hand through his hair. "Very well, but I can only pay half of it now. I'll give you the rest when you return."

He leaned over the desk. "So then, this means you'll accept the job Ms. Lina?"

She stroked her chin and cast a glance at Gourry. He gave her a shrug.

She sighed. "We'll take it."

The lawyer smiled and shook her hand.

"Thank you Ms. Lina. You don't know how much I appreciate this."

The smile he gave sent more chills. Lina wasn't sure of the details, but this guy was planning something and she wondered if she made the right choice.


Amelia shivered in the cold night air. She would have wrapped her arms around herself, but the kidnappers had bound both her wrists and ankles together. Her teeth were chattering.

They could at least offer her a blanket! Amelia laid on her side against the cold dirt hoping she could just go to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come.

Then again, she hadn't slept well for the last few nights either. The fear of what the men might try to do to her caused instant insomnia. She had to keep her guard up, and watched the three men drink themselves sick.

The place where they had taken her was unknown. Right after the men forced her from the train, she was blindfolded and it wasn't removed until they had arrived at their campsite.

From the trees that surrounded them, Amelia figured that they must be right on the edge of a forest. The chances of someone passing by and rescuing her were dim.

She would have to save herself. So far, however, Amelia saw no possible way of escape.

Movement drew Amelia from her deep thoughts. The man that was named Charlie looked at her as he wiped his lips, while he was clutching a bottle.

"She sure is a cute thing isn't she?"

Amelia tensed, almost biting her tongue.

A pistol was fired. The bullet sliced the air and shattered Charlie's bottle. He tumbled backwards stunned as his hat went flying. "Geez Boss! What was that for!"

The boss, also known as Luke, blew the smoke away from his gun. "Don't get any unsavory ideas you dolt! We got a lot of money riding on this, providing all goes according to plan!"

Amelia's muscles relaxed. She had overheard the mention of this "plan" since they got here, and though she didn't know the details, she knew that it wasn't anything good.

A speck of the fire light shone onto something shiny. More alert, Amelia gently picked up the object and discovered it was a piece of the broken glass bottle.

"I can use this to cut the ropes!" Excitement arose, and she carefully folded her fingers over it to hide her means of escape.

"So how are we getting rid of her boss?"

Amelia froze. "Rid of me!"

Luke took another drink. "We'll shoot her in the morning and then leave the body for her rescuers to find.

Amelia's mind came to a crashing halt and she almost dropped her glass piece. "They're going to kill me!"

She stared at them, more fearful then ever. She had to escape tonight! Her life depended on it!


The hours passed extremely slowly, but the men finally fell asleep. Cutting her rope took longer then she planned. She ended up cutting her fingers more then once and the dry alcohol stung.

At last she managed to cut through the rope that bound her hands. Amelia threw away her bondage and rubbed her wrists covered in rope burns. Untying her ankles were less of a hassle, but she kept a watchful eyes on her dozing captors.

The last piece of rope was gone. Amelia got to her feet quietly and tried to tip toe her way out. One step on a twig or branch and it was all over for her.

It felt like an eternity, but she walked passed the men noise free.

Amelia smiled in disbelief. "I did it!"

CRUNCH

Eyes jumped down and hatred grew against the small branch she just snapped.

Amelia instantly started running.

"Hey Boss! She's getting away!"

"Great, they're awake!" she hissed.

The loud grumbling and shouting she heard made her feet move faster.

Amelia picked up the hem of her skirt. "If I live through this, I'm switching to pants!"

Shots rang out.

Amelia ran faster than her heart could take.

"It's so dark! I don't even know where I'm going!"

Suddenly, she stumbled over a rock.

Her whole body tumbled and rolled down what felt like a hill.

The end of her agony came as she landed on the grass.

Warm blood trickled down her head from the small cuts.

Everything was a blur. The whole world was spinning like a top and refused to pause.

There were movements of dark figures on top of the hill. "There she is!"

Another gun shot was heard, but it sounded closer to her.

The beating, pounding sounds of a horses' hooves escorted it.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY PROPERTY!" an angry voice screamed.

The three from the hill scrambled and ran away.

"What's going on!"

There was a rustle. Amelia squinted her eyes to see, but was greeted with modified blurs.

She was picked up in strong arms.

Panic struck!

She squirmed. "Go away!" she mumbled.

The arms wavered, but they kept their hold on her. Amelia could hear the strangers say something, but it was jumbled along with her vision.

It all crashed. Her head lay against a chest as darkness consumed her sight.

Author's Note: I know. I'm evil for ending it on a cliff hanger. (Evil grin)

Anyway, as most of you probably notice, I made references to Calamity Jane and

Wild Bill Hickock, by calling Lina aka "Calamity Lina" and Gourry aka "Wild Gourry."

I think I should also mention where I got the idea of Lina using a whip as a weapon. A few years back, there was a cartoon series I really liked called "The Legend of Calamity Jane." (I wish it could have gotten another season.) In the series Calamity Jane's first weapon of choice was a whip and I thought it would fit Lina better, leaving Gourry to be the gun expert.