Legal Disclaimer: What? Me own Kim Possible? No, that's Disney. I just write stories about them purely for entertainment and not for profit…

Thanks to Ran Hakubi and CajunBear73 for reviewing.

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Second Mission, Second Thoughts

Chapter 9: The Triple T

Rufus watched helplessly from his hiding place – inside a bucket that Ron had knocked over, near the pen's gate. He had intended to free the cattle and almost succeeded but the recent developments halted his efforts. Kim was winning until a new human emerged, captured Ron, and forced Kim to surrender. The new and taller human pointed a gun at Ron, while he rested his boot on the blonde's shoulder. Two of the rustlers grabbed her arms but Kim didn't put up much of a struggle. The new human then nodded approvingly to the rustlers and they plunged stun prods into Kim and Ron's sides. Kim let out a yelp and collapsed on the spot. Ron howled before succumbing to the jolt. Then, he did something strange – he had the others rob Kim and Ron of their jackets. Rufus himself shivered, seeing that he didn't have a coat of fur to keep him warm.

He nudged them with his boot and satisfied that the stunning devices did their job, took his revolver, spun it around his finger and shoved the weapon in its holster.

Despite his urge to rush up and bite the rustlers, Rufus stayed where he was and could nothing but watch the rustlers as they carried Kim and Ron into the ranch house. For now, he had to stay warm and the bucket helped.

"Ryan, Tyler," the tall cowboy barked, "Git on out there and make sure we don't have anymore surprises."

"Yes sir," they both chimed and left.

"Chad, go git Troy and Gabe."

"Sure, Mr. Tom, sir."

--

The naked mole rat waited until Chad was out of sight and scampered across the path, making his way to a nearby window. Peering from the corner of it, he watched the rustlers prop Kim and Ron up against either side of a support beam and tie them to it. Rufus was getting more and more frustrated, seeing that he couldn't do anything but watch. He feverously wanted to do something – they were his family. Ron had been in his life most of the time and had shown him a great deal of friendship, kindness and respect ever since he left Smarty Mart. Kim, although wary of him at first, was on her way to doing the same – she was growing on him. Plus, Ron had known Kim for a long time before he came around and Rufus knew that Ron really, really liked Kim – that was enough for the naked mole rat.

--

Kim and Ron regained consciousness almost at the same time and both knew that they had been captured. They struggled to get out of the rope but to no avail.

"That won't do ya no good. Shane is good at rope tyin' and that there's some really good rope," the tall cowboy remarked from his chair.

He stood up and slowly circled them, scrutinizing the captured pair as he walked. The younger rustlers simply sat in silence, watching. Then, after a full circle, he stopped and leaned in, looking at Kim and then at Ron. Snorting, he sat back down and stared at them. "So," the tall cowboy huffed in a deep voice, "who are ya, and who sent ya?"

Kim and Ron didn't answer. The red-haired teen was busy studying the apparent mastermind behind the whole operation. He was somewhat of a towering figure – Kim judged that he was at least six foot four, with a large frame and a rugged, yet pleasant face. Like his cohorts, he was decked out in western gear. Boots, jeans, chaps, flannel shirt, a duster, a bandana, and ten-gallon hat made up his ensemble. Further embellishing his "cowboy" image was a lasso, spurs and a gun belt, holding two revolvers. Kim noticed that his clothing was much nicer, too nice, for a regular cowboy. It looked as if he shopped at Club Banana or similar trendy store on a regular basis.

Ron, on the other hand, was too scared to answer; the guns frightened him but what was worse was that the cowboy reminded him of the soldier that he had dreamed about on the plane. His voice echoed throughout his skull.

The older cowboy saw Ron's reaction to the guns and used his overcoat to cover them. He looked them over again and then after a few moments he spoke. "Hmm," he muttered, stroking his chin, "Well, sir, yer too young ta be with the sheriff or any sorta law type. In fact, yer too young ta be anythin' worth worrying 'bout. But somehow ya got where ya weren't supposed ta be."

Just then, one of the blonde rustlers walked in with Troy and Gabe under each arm. All three cowboys stumbled to the couch and collapsed on it. The tall cowboy looked back momentarily. "And," he said turning back to face them, "it looks like ya can hold yer own in a scrap or two."

"So," Chad interjected, "what do we do we with them, Mr. Stone?"

"Mr. Stone? Mr. Dwight Thomas Stone? The missing businessman is responsible for the missing cattle? But why?" Kim contemplated.

Suddenly, his face twisted. He reached in his duster, whipped out a revolver, whirled around and pointed it towards Chad, "That's Texas Tornado Tom the third to you!" he barked.

Texas Tom waved the gun at the other rustlers. "Ya hear that? It's Texas Tornado Tom the third or just Texas Tom! The best cowboy in these here parts! Got it?"

"Y-y-yes, sir, Mr. Texas Tornado Tom the third, sir," all the rustlers replied.

"Much better," he said loosing a deep breath, "Much better."

--

He swung his gun towards the two teens, saying as he turned back around, "Now, ta the matters at hand, starting with missy over here."

Before he could face Kim, Ron spoke out, "D-Dude, y-you got some issues."

"Ron?" Kim gasped.

Texas Tom's gun came back but rested on his lap. His face wore a look of surprise mixed with confusion.

"Y-You got the cowboy part down but 'Texas'?" Ron continued, his voice becoming more sure with each passing moment, "I might not have gotten an 'A' or even a 'B' in geology but I know this isn't Texas. Shouldn't it be like Montana something?"

"I-It's geography, Ron," Kim corrected as he eyes darted back and forth between Texas Tom and Ron.

"Ohhhh right. What she said," Ron shrugged. "Anyway, you're like a state away."

Kim wanted to correct him again but realized that what he was doing was getting him to focus on him and not her. He was acting like a "distraction".

"And 'tornado'?" Ron continued, "Not really seeing it."

Texas Tornado Tom stared at Ron for almost a minute. With each passing second, Ron could feel more and more beads of sweat forming on his brow. Panic was gaining a grip on his rapidly beating heart.

"Texas?" the cowboy retorted, "Look at me, I'm a cowboy! Texas and cowboys go together. And tornado? Well, it's best I show ya."

He picked up his revolver and, with a flick of his wrist, spun the gun around his finger from the trigger guard. As he whirled it, Texas Tom raised it high to display his showmanship to everyone. With the weapon still moving, he brought his arm down and stopped it by grabbing the handle. "Like it?" he smiled. Texas Tornado Tom held the long barreled weapon in front of his face, "I learned that myself."

He leaned back in his chair and remarked, "Still, "Texas Tornado Tom the third" is a mouthful. So I guess just "Texas Tom" fine fer now."

Ron forced down a gulp and then replied timidly "Oh, I, ah, get it. Eh, cowboy. The twirly thingee with the guns and all. Heh-heh."

Texas Tom stared at the blonde teen in silence. The gun moved slowly back to its holster and then, unexpectedly he loosed a deep laugh. "Haw! Haw! Haw! Yer a funny one, 'Ron.'"

Ron smiled nervously, "Yeah, uh I'm all full of uh laughs. Heh heh." He blew out a nervous sigh.

"Hilarious," he chuckled, slapping his knee. Texas Tom then drew in a deep breath, "So now that ya buckaroos are a talkin', who sent ya?"

"No one sent us," Kim retorted, "We were just trying to find a lost calf for Mr. Davis. We didn't know––"

"DAVIS?" he bellowed, "He sent you two? Why––"

"Mr. Davis doesn't even know that you're here," Kim cut in, "In fact, WE didn't even know you where here until now. We were only following the tire tracks from where you picked up Gertie."

"Yeah and besides Mr. Davis is pretty cool. He treated us to some great meals. And Rachael's Rodeo Ribeye? Most excellent, I might add."

Kim gave him a strange look.

"What?" Ron shrugged, "It's true."

"The Rodeo Ribeye?" Texas Tom spat, "I'm a thinkin' that needed a bit more garlic salt in the marinade."

"Pfft. Garlic salt? Dude, that was just right. I'm thinking that the grilling spices needed a touch more smoked paprika."

"Excuse me," the redhead spoke out, "I'm sure that you chefs could go on all night about this, but I have an important question, 'why'?"

"Why?" the tall cowboy asked with a slightly shocked tone, "You got the nerve ta ask why?"

The teen pair noticed that this got the attention of Texas Tom's henchmen. "Because I know I can run a ranch better than any cowpoke in these here parts and make a mother load of cash in the process. I got the business know-how, best heads of cattle here, and thanks ta my "Wildcats", none of these amateur cowpunchers are any of the wiser. The 'Triple T' will be the best in the West."

"So if you have the business 'know how', then why steal from other ranchers? And why would you need armed ranch hands?" Kim retorted.

"One, it's easier to get the business running and two; blanks, missy, fer show."

He pulled a revolver, spun it around his finger and slid it back into his holster in one fluid motion. "Except mine of course."

"Right. And that's why you've got a flat tire––"

"An oversight that needs a correctin'" he replied, shooting Troy a harsh glare, "Right?"

Troy shook his head 'yes' nervously.

"Anyways, I can do way better than anyone out here and if I need ta do a little borrowing of assets then I'll do it, but murder is not something I'm willing to stoop to ya hear!"

"Sir, w-w-why are you telling them all of this?" Chad interjected.

"Because I can and it's what we head honcho-types do," sending a threatening glare in his direction.

"What? Is there some sort of villain handbook or something?" Kim questioned under her breath

Then, Ryan and Tyler walked in. They were unaware of the recent conversation. Ryan spoke up. "It looks like it's only these two. We found two horses out near the front of the ranch and it looks like only two sets of tracks. They've got some light camping gear, climbing stuff, and this." The blonde rustler presented the Kimmunicator.

Kim suppressed her gasp.

Ron gulped.

"Let me see that," Texas Tom demanded. He held it up, turned it around and eyed it suspiciously. "It looks like a PDA or a cellphone."

"It's a Gameguy," Ron blurted out.

"It doesn't look like one to me and I've seen a lot of those," Shane retorted.

"I-It's a, a," Ron bowed his head slightly admitting, "It's a cheap knockoff. Yeah," Raising his head, he continued, "I couldn't afford a real one. I didn't know how long I'd be out here so brought it along. I'm all about the cheap portable entertainment."

"Looks like one – cheap," Shane scoffed.

"Yeah, heh-heh it does doesn't it?" Ron smiled weakly.

"I can use a Gameguy, knockoff or not," Shane replied.

"Well, I don't have time for games," Texas Tom replied, tossing the Kimmunicator on the table, "And neither do y'all. We have too many things ta do now."

Texas Tom pulled off his hat and swept back his hair with his fingers. He loosed a deep sigh and then turned to Kim and Ron "You two really messed things up. And now I gots ta move the operation."

"Move?" the henchmen all groaned.

"But, what about these two?" one of the blonde haired Wildcats questioned, "They've seen too much and I'm not really comfortable with that."

"Good point, Shane," he answered, putting on his hat, "Well I'm not resorting to killin'. What we'll do is drop 'em off somewhere far off and let 'em wander. They look pretty resourceful. Sure, it'll take a while ta find someone or some place but by that time, we'll be long gone. And if they say something, the sheriff will figger that they've been seein' things out here. It's happened before."

Texas Tom leaned back and smiled. Most of the other rustlers seemed to be satisfied with their boss's reasoning and grinned. "Shane?" the cowboy mastermind queried.

"Yes, sir?"

"You've done what I paid you ta do, right?"

"Yeah. We're clean. If they look, they'll find nothing and chalk it up as a loss."

"Good."

"I still don't like it," Tyler retorted.

"Stop worrying, Tyler. In a few hours, it'll be as if we were never here."

"Well, after we get that flat fixed," Gabe added.

Troy uttered a low growl.

"We wouldn't have that flat if y'all listened ta me! Shock sticks only! I knew I shouldn't have given you all real guns!" he hollered.

Not one of the henchmen said anything in response.

--

"Something's not right," Kim reasoned internally, "This can't be the same Dwight Thomas Stone that Wade found. It doesn't fit his MO. He's got a good, legitimate business in Utah. Why throw it all away? And the "Wildcats". They don't seem like the criminal type. Motivated by money – yes, Career criminal – no. Whatever the sitch is we have to get out of here and get the police involved. I hope Ron's holding out okay. If they do anything to him…"

Kim looked in concern to her best friend, wondering what he was thinking; his face was hard to read.

"Cattle rustlers, guns, and shock thingees. This would be kind of cool if they weren't going to like shock us and strand us out here. All I wanted to do was help Kim rescue that calf. I don't think I'm cut out for this kind of thing." Ron thought and slumped slightly.

--

Then, after a few tense moments, Texas Tornado Tom sighed, "Well, it's not a total loss, seein' that we just set up here. All right guys, Plan B. Y'all know what to do and where ta go right?"

All of the henchmen nodded. "Good," he replied, "We need ta move and fast. Troy, you fix that flat, seeing that you're responsible for it. Everybody except Shane, git the gear and cattle loaded. And Shane?"

"Yes sir?"

"You watch these two. Don't let them try anything."

"Yes, sir," Shane grinned, flicking on the cattle prod to emphasize his point. He took his place guarding then on a sturdy chair next to the table.

Texas Tom strode for the door but stopped short of it. He turned towards them and spoke in an even tone, "Sorry, but I gotta business ta run…But y'know, it would make it a lot easier if'n ya join us. You were pretty impressive out there, little lady. You and your friend took out my Wildcats pretty quickly. Maybe you two want to join up? I pay well, very well."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Kim replied, "I'll take my chances out there."

"That goes for me, too," Ron added, "Although, I could do without the electrical shocks if you know what I mean."

He snorted derisively. "Suit yerself but at this time of year, the rains come down pretty hard and it gets awful cold out there."

To be continued…

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Chapter End Notes: Initially, I wanted to wrap this up here, trying to keep this under nine chapters. I looked it over and well it felt rushed – so I expanded a little. Plus, I wanted to make Texas Tornado Tom a more plausible character and flesh out the henchmen.