A/N: I actually hate Westerns, and it probably shows for this. Also, warning for gun shots that happen off screen but are heard by the characters.
Written for the Are You Crazy Enough to Do It challenge using the prompt (book title) Desperado. I also wrote it for a resolution on Hogwarts Challenges and Assignments forum to write a western. Word count: 505
Hermione couldn't help but cringe when her surroundings came back into focus. It was easy to gather that she was in an Old West saloon. A glance down at the dress she was wearing seemed to confirm as much.
Looking around, she noticed that she was the only woman in the place. That left her uneasy, but the real fear didn't begin until she noticed one of the men several tables away watching her intently. Hermione dropped her gaze to the table, determined not to make eye contact. She wasn't sure what else she could do when she had no idea what was outside of the saloon.
A hand grasped her shoulder, and Hermione jumped.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
It was Ron. Hermione took several deep breaths as her heart calmed. She was so relieved to see him in this world that it took all of her willpower not to throw her arms around him.
Once he was sure she was okay, he set his eyes on the creepy man, who was no longer looking in their direction.
"Let's go," he suggested, casting his eyes over the other patrons for good measure.
Hermione stood readily, following him out of the saloon without complaint.
The town outside confirmed that they were in fact in the Old West, and it appeared old even if, in this universe, it wasn't. What few buildings lined the dirt street were flimsily constructed and dusty.
There weren't many people around, but the few walking down the street were men. Hermione had never felt so isolated as a woman in her life.
She stayed close to Ron's side, her hand in the crook of his elbow. She'd discovered the wedding ring on her finger, and it gave her comfort is in such a strange situation.
Ron was just as anxious as she was, gaze constantly flickering around the other men. She could feel the taunt muscles of his arm in his anxiety.
"I don't like it here," Hermione chanced saying, watching his face closely for signs.
"I don't either," he said with a sigh. "I knew it was a long way to California, but I underestimated how many of these towns we'd pass through before we got there."
That eased some of her anxiety. At least they were merely passing through. When she left, this version of her wouldn't be stuck here. Though she didn't know enough about the time period or California to know what she was heading towards.
She wanted to know why they were going to California, but this universe's real her would know the answer to that question.
Suddenly, gun shots sounded through the air, making her and Ron jump a mile high. Ron began tugging on her arm to hurry her along, his head swinging in every direction.
"Desperadoes," he muttered. "More of them. How many can there be?"
Part of Hermione was curious, but she followed after Ron anyway, trying to stay calm as the gunfire intensified.
Her surroundings were disappearing before they'd made it to their lodgings.
