Chapter 3…

Bub's Blacksmith Shop

Mulder stepped into the shop and was assaulted by loud bangs in the foreground. The blacksmith hammered a horseshoe on his anvil, shaping it with his hammer. He dipped the iron horseshoe in the water to cool it down, finishing his product. He turned to see a new stranger in his doorway who he'd not met before, causing him to lower his hammer and drop the horseshoe into the bucket near the work stand.

"Can I help you?" Bub questioned. He wiped his hands on his apron, and walked towards Mulder/the stranger.

"I'm not sure if you can or not. I don't have any money and was looking for work." Mulder didn't know what else to say, since he was in a strange place and didn't know anyone, let alone recognize anyone from townsfolks he passed by as he came in. All he got was a lot of hateful looks from cowboys, ranch hands and the sheriff who, curiously, looked an awful lot like Assistant Director Skinner.

"Well, I hear the miner folk are hiring a few men. You might want to talk to them. They are over at the Longhorn Saloon down the street about a block," Bub turned his back on Mulder, continuing his task on another horseshoe.

Longhorn Saloon

The saloon was filled with townsfolk, young and old, who came together, to get the dust out of their throat's drinking whiskey, beer, sarsaparillas, Mint Juleps, fruit cocktail mixes, and of course, - water for those who didn't want to end up in a bar fight or for those who couldn't hold their liquor. Horses where tied up to railings with their saddles cinched, saddle bags half- full of supplies. Wagons trudged down the street while a few drunkards started a fight outside the saloon, dunking a loser in the horse trough.

Mulder watched the two men fighting as he walked past them up the steps, and entered the saloon. The music was loud and deafening, as chorus girls' voices carried throughout the building. He heard clinking of glass pitchers and gaming chips which clattered on the felt tables. Billiard pool balls struck one another on the pool table. Mulder scanned the room looking for a miner. He spotted a few men seated in the corner beside the billiard table, playing cards. They enjoyed their game so much that they paid no attention to others nearby.

"Are you looking for a job, mister?" The miner spoke as Mulder approached their table. The miner was watching a young blonde lady; deliver drinks to a nearby table. She caught his eye for a second and she smiled with a slight blush. Mulder watched the young woman return to the bar- keep, rounding up another set of whiskey glasses.

"What is it that you want? Gold or women?" Another man at the table spoke up and chuckled, sporting a gold tooth.

"Actually, I am looking for a woman," Mulder replied as he joined the men at the table.

"That we can help you with Mister-? The miner paused. "What's your name anyhow? I'm Tucker," he announced as his gold tooth peered out from his sly grin. He spit into the spittoon near the table. "And this is my partner, Frank." Both men were middle- aged with rough features. Their hands were well-worn over time, and they sported bib overalls, and cowboy hats that had seen better days. Mulder had to think quick. Making up a name, he said, "I'm Austin Cooper."

"What kind of woman you got in mind, Austin? There are plenty of girls here in the saloon, whether it be a 'saloon girl' or a lady of the night, "Frank said, downing his whiskey in one big gulp. He pointed at the chorus girls and then up to other ladies' upstairs who were leaning over the upstairs banister.

"I'm not interested in any that I have seen here. I'm looking for a particular lady and she is very, special to me. She has red flaming hair, pale ivory skin, and the bluest of blue eyes, like the ocean," Mulder replied and turned his attention back to the people in the saloon. Again, he scanned the room but had no such luck of seeing Scully.

"Mr. Cooper, there hasn't been a red- haired lady around here for more than ten years. I don't think you're going to be in any luck here," Tucker lit his cigar, motioning to a saloon girl from the other table, who, carried an empty tray.

"Lucy, another round for the table," he smacked his hand on the table and gave her backside a playful swat.

"Well, Tucker I am not leaving this town until I find her. She was with me in the .." Mulder stammered for a short moment.

Mulder realized that this nightmare started in the mine. It had been foretold that something bad was going to happen. As Mulder sat at the table, he thought of how to get back too normal- to their present time- to find Scully.

"If this red-haired angel comes into town, you'll be sure to know of it," Frank raised his eye- brows, dealing cards.

Meanwhile, across the street, Theo and his boss arrived at the sheriff's office. The older man got up from his seat on the bench. Sticking his cigar between his lips, he climbed off the buckboard and turned to Scully. Ignoring the extended hand from the older man, Scully quickly hurried off the wagon like a frightened animal, and afraid of what was coming next.

Entering the low lit building, the sheriff was talking with his deputy. Scully couldn't believe her eyes- the sheriff, was A.D. Skinner. Skinner was dressed in western slacks, chaps, a pearl- buttoned blue shirt, and dark boots. He also wore a trench coat, as if he was going on a man- hunt.

"What is this? Can't this wait? I have a two bandits on the run and I just got word they were spotted in the next town," he grabbed his shotgun out of the case that hung against the wall.

"We believe this woman is a 'claim-jumper'. Punishment is needed, post- haste," Theo shoved her into the light.

"You can't be serious? Skinner crossed his arms as he questioned Cigar Smoking Man. And what's your take on this matter?"

"I believe she could make up for what she has done, whether it was lying or trespassing or both. If she pays off a small fee, we'll forget this whole thing," the man puffed on his cigar, pulling it out of his mouth to blow smoke towards the sheriff.

"I can't hold you on anything ma'am. You're free to go." Skinner addressed Scully, then motioned for two younger deputies to join him, as he ran out the door. The three climbed on their horse's and rode out of town.

Theo spoke to Scully, "Seems like you're in our hands, now. He turned to his boss. I'll take her to the saloon and put her to work as a saloon girl. Or we can trade her for what she's worth," Theo eyed Scully up and down taking, in her beautiful features.

"A red- head is very rare around these parts I bet we'll get top dollar for her," the boss spoke, lighting another cigar. He walked out the front door, his boots scrapping along the boards; which made his spurs ring in every step.

"Yes, very rare." Theo fingered her long red curls between his forefinger and smoothed his hand down her silk dress. Scully quickly removed his hands.

"That's about enough of that, Theo. Don't damage the goods before they're sold," the boss took her wrist in his grip leading her out of the building and onto the dusty road. They walked along the planks toward the saloon.

Frank and Tucker finished their whiskey and dealt their last hand of five card stud. Meanwhile, Mulder continued to pan the room looking for Scully. Instead, he watched a raven- haired beauty seat herself at the bar. While she was perched on a bar stool a ranch hand joined her by taking up the other bar stool beside her after.

"Austin, some beauty caught your eye, yet?" Frank asked while he dealt his cards on the table.

"No," he replied, wiping the sweat out of his eyes.

As daylight started to fade into darkness the saloon crowded with more cowpokes, ranch hands and mongrels whom had ridden into town for a quick drink or romp with the ladies of the night. Frank and Tucker pushed themselves away from the table and straightened their hats on their heads.

"We have a long day tomorrow, Austin, and we'd better get back to the camp and settle in," Tucker said as he paid the saloon girl. His partner joined up with him, settling his tab too.

Across the street from the sheriff's office, Theo took hold of Scully's wrist. She fought both men but couldn't loosen from their grip as they forced her to walk down the dark alley towards the back hall door of the saloon.

"Where the hell are you taking me, now?" she shouted, then tripped, because of her dress got caught in her shoe as she twisted her wrists. Theo's grip was like a vice and didn't budge from her ministrations as he caught her from injuring herself.

"We're going to have a surprise for you my dear, Lily Rose," Theo smirked, grinning ear- to- ear.

"Yes, we certainly do," the smoking man joined in puffing on his cigar.

As the trio- Mulder, Frank, Tucker- exited the saloon via the swinging doors, there was a commotion across the street, as three individuals hurried along towards the back side of the saloon. Mulder caught a glimpse of two men in dark clothes, rushing a lady wearing a long Victorian dress through the alley to a back door. He was about to follow them but was interrupted with a firm hold on his right shoulder.

Frank noticed that Mulder was staring at the commotion. "You best not interfere with those two men," he warned.

"Why not? If a lady is in trouble..." he trailed off, looking in the direction of the saloon.

"Those two men are more powerful than you think. They own most of the mines. We barely got our share out of Dutchman's Mine; we had to do a few 'favors' for those two fellows to get our piece of the claim. We know what happens behind closed doors when they are around. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone, Austin. It's probably a new saloon girl, better yet, a new chorus girl," Frank said, laughing as he untied his horse and mule from their post.

"Where can I get a horse?" Mulder peered up at the two men who had already mounted in- their saddles, pushing their boots into the stirrups.

"Levi owns the livery stable. He'll sell you a horse," Tucker told him, pointing in the direction of the livery. Tucker and Frank waited at the livery stable while Levi and Mulder argued over the price of a bay horse.

"Can I borrow some cash from you guys? I'll pay you back," Mulder dipped his hands into his empty pockets for emphasis.

Frank paid Levi for the horse and turned to Mulder/Austin. "You can pay me back when you strike it rich at the mine," Frank told him as he nudged his horse forward with his boots.

The three men rode out toward the Dutchman's Mine. As they approached, tents became visible. Sage brush bundles littered the campsite and a few pots were scattered on the ground near the tents.

"Austin, sorry, but you're going to have to rough- it outside. We only have two tents and we don't share with anyone; at least not until we know we can trust you." Frank said, dismounting from his horse and tying the animal to the post. He began undoing the saddle cinch as Tucker joined the two of them. He was settling in for a long night and gathered sage brush for kindling, which he used to start, a small fire with a match.

"That's fine I can deal with that," Mulder told Frank, as he guided his horse to the hitching post. He joined the two other horses and a burro.