The Belted Earl.

A/N: This story is in the process of being re-written to make it flow better. I'd love to get your feedback, good, bad or otherwise. Enjoy.

Adios.

...

I woke the next morning feeling refreshed and safe in the knowledge that I didn't have to worry about being caught off guard anymore. I looked at the sunrise coming through the window and felt a lump rise in my throat. "Don't worry Father, I'll put Murphy in his grave for what he did," a tear slid down my cheek and I quickly brushed it away. I washed in the basin and dried off with a towel that had seen better days, then dressed and picked up my holster.

I put on my hat and walked outside to find the boys milling around in the yard. Charlie was throwing a lasso at Billy, Doc and Richard were sitting on the porch having a cigarette and Steve was getting into an argument with Chavez.

"Good morning, Jackie," Doc said raising his hand in greeting.

"Good morning," I replied sitting near him on the porch. "What exactly is it that you do as a Regulator?"

"We work for Mr. Tunstall, and regulate any stealing of his property," Charlie answered coming over.

"Understood."

"We should get going, except you two...you're on fencing duty" Richard said to me and Billy as he stood up and put out his cigarette.

Doc and I did the same and were about to head for the stables when the sound of neighing horses came over the hill. John came out of his house and quickly made his way over to us.

"Stay close to the boys," he said as a group of men rode down towards us.

I spied Sheriff Brady at the front but didn't recognise the man next to him. John stepped forward to meet them and we came up behind him; Doc and Richard on either side, Chavez and Charlie just behind them, me in the middle and Steve bringing up the rear.

"Good morning, gentlemen," John said politely.

"Good morning, John," Brady replied.

I didn't catch what Brady said but I did hear the name Murphy as the sheriff indicated the old man next to him. Something Brady said also caused Richard to swear before John spoke up.

"Mr. Murphy will continue to come to you claiming I've stolen his property until I am pronounced a thief and shaken out of Lincoln, I'm not going anywhere."

"Well! The belted earl has spoken," Murphy said. "Look behind you John, all I see are hired thieves."

I placed my hand on my gun and tried to step forward; Chavez firmly put his hand on my chest holding me back.

John looked back at us. "These boys are promising young men acquiring an education."

Murphy dismounted and stepped forward. "Well, I had you pegged as the type that likes...educatin' young boys." Murphy looked closer and stopped when he saw me. "You forgot to mention you're educatin' girls as well, Earl."

"Vete a la mierda!" I spat in his direction, doing my best to push past Chavez's hand.

Murphy laughed and asked John for a word in private. All I heard of the conversation was something about cattle and life savings being invested. Before long Murphy was back muttering about John selling ladies undergarments. The boys and I couldn't stand it any longer and pulled our guns on the posse; Chavez also pulled a long knife, and we managed to spook their horses.

Once mounted, Murphy looked down at John. "Get ready for hell!" he spat before leading the posse away.

John seemed remarkably unshaken by the threat as he turned back to us. "Back to work chaps," he said before looking intently at the pig pen.

I was surprised to see Billy crawl out from the sty. "When did he get there?" I mumbled to myself. My first few weeks on the ranch were a flurry of fencing, feeding, and education. I struck up friendships with Chavez and Charlie, and got short with Billy one day for his advances. That evening John came to us and told Billy and me that we'd be joining the other boys on patrol in the morning. My first day as a full Regulator was a hard slog of riding back and forth across John's ranch, checking all his cattle and horses were all present and happy. When we broke for lunch Billy came and sat next to me.

"Sorry about before," he said looking at the ground.

"Don't worry about it," I replied taking a bite of cheese. "Tell me one thing though, why were you hiding in the pig pen a few weeks ago?"

Billy laughed. "I was gonna shoot it but then that son-of-a-bitch Murphy came over the hill."

All of a sudden Richard leapt to his feet and onto his horse. "Mount up! We got trouble."

We scrambled to our feet and looked to the west. There were a dozen men riding hard in our direction and they didn't look like they wanted a cup of sugar. I jammed as many bullets as would fit into my rifle as Richard lead the way. I took particular interest in one member of the posse as we came face to face. Then it hit me, he was one of the group that arrested me. I took aim and emptied the chamber.

"Fuckin' whore!" he swore as some bullets hit their mark.

"That's no way to talk to a lady!" Charlie growled as he came up on my right.

"Asshole!" I shot back spurring my horse forwards. I didn't see the knife hurtling towards me until it was too late. It lodged in my left arm causing my to drop the reigns. I looked for the asshole who threw it and saw that Chavez had beaten me to him. As he dropped off his horse into the dust I looked around and saw we had killed six of them and, only receiving minor wounds ourselves, the others began looking nervous.

"You will pay for this," the leader said scathingly before turning his horse back in the direction they'd come and taking off at a gallop, the rest of the posse close behind.

"That's right run away, ya pile of chicken shit!" Billy fired off a round into the air before returning his gun to its holster.

I barely registered Billy's elation as my vision started to blur. I felt a firm hand grip my good arm and Chavez's face swam into focus.

"The wound is deep Gatito," he said. "However, you will live."

I tried to laugh but everything went black and the next thing I knew, I was laying on something soft with soft voices around me. I slowly opened my eyes to find all the boys crowded in my room.

"How do you feel?" Doc asked sitting on the side of my bed.

"A little sore but okay, where's Billy?" I asked noticing he wasn't there.

Chavez came closer "Chivato is out back wasting bullets on a tree."

"What's he doing that for?" I pushed myself up with my right arm.

"He seems to think he should have protected you."

My gaze swivelled to Charlie as he answered. "Why?"

Charlie looked at the floor. "Because you're a...girl."

"Does he now? Now I know I've not long met all you boys but does that bull-headed son-of-a-bitch not realise I can take care of myself? Especially after the saga I told everyone on my first night?" I made to stand but Chavez placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Try not to push yourself, Gatito."

I nodded and carefully got up and went out onto the porch, and walked around the corner of the bunkhouse to where Billy was executing a tree. "I need protecting do I Billy?"

He spun around. "Of course you do, you're a gi-."

"Callete Billy," I retorted. "Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't survive on my own!" I went down the steps and stood in front of him. "After you apologised earlier for how you acted yesterday I thought you might be a swell guy," I took a step back. "I guess I was wrong, you don't seem to be able to cope with a girl who has a brain and isn't going to fall for your blonde hair, baby blue eyes and damn disarming smile!" I went back inside to find all the boys besides Chavez had left my room.

"Don't worry Gatito, he'll come around."

"Did you all hear that?" I asked my face flushing at the thought.

"Bits and pieces," he smiled.

I was surprised at how easily the friendship with Chavez was progressing. I'd only met the man a few weeks before but he seemed to have taken on the role of making me feel welcome. Doc and Charlie also seemed to be warming up to me. I had no idea what Richard thought and Billy had made his thoughts clear as day.

"Supper's ready," Doc said suddenly appearing in the door.

"We'll be right there," Chavez replied following Doc out.

I put my boots on, no easy task when you've only got the use of one arm, and followed. The boys had obviously told John what had happened because I was confined to the yard and under no circumstances was I permitted to rejoin the boys until my arm had healed completely. After supper I sought out Chavez as he was headed for his room.

"Do you think you could teach me to throw knives, like you do?" I asked.

"As long as you mind your arm, I have no objections."

"Great, can we start tomorrow when we're done with our chores?"

"If you wish, good night Gatito."

Once we'd all said good night and gone to our rooms, I sat on my bed and began to feel a little lousy for the way I'd spoken to Billy. I got up and padded down the hall to Billy's room. I knocked and waited a minute before opening the door, he was laying on his back and staring at the ceiling.

"Um, Billy? Listen, I'm sorry about my outburst earlier," I looked at the floor and gingerly rubbed my left arm. "I don't think you're a bad person, I'm just not used to trusting others with my life..." I looked over at him and he seemed to be ignoring me. "I'll guess I'll go and leave you alone." I turned towards the door and was half-way through it before the springs on Billy's bed squeaked.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

I turned back to him in surprise. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Is there anyone that you're...fond of in town?" his eyes sparkled in the candlelight as he spoke.

"No, why?"

"So there's no one who has a claim on your heart?"

"What are you driving at? No, there's no one and never has been."

"Would you mind...much...if I courted you?"

My mouth fell open in shock and I was speechless for a moment. "We hardly know each other!"

"I've never been one to beat around the bush, so what do you say?" Billy flashed a grin and I knew the words I'd spoken earlier were true.

"Damn that smile of yours," I chuckled. "I'm not going to say no, but I'm not rushing headlong into anything until I know all the facts."

"I understand," Billy replied joining me at the door. "I'm sorry about earlier too, so are we good now?"

"I guess we are," I smiled. "Good night Billy."

He grabbed hold of my good hand and brought it to his lips. "Good night, Jackie."

My face was on fire all the way back to my room. I splashed some water on my face to calm down. "It's too soon, it's too soon..." I muttered as I attempted to undress. Disarming smile was a perfect way to describe Billy and I was annoyed at how suddenly he seemed to have 'softened me up' to use his words. As I crawled under the covers I was determined not to let him distract me from my duties and we would have to see how things worked out in the future. I slipped into sleep with a dull ache in my arm and a cheeky grin in my thoughts.