Reap The Whirlwind

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.

...

Billy's plan had seemed simple enough when we arrived in Lincoln, but thinking about it while hiding behind a wall with Steve and Charlie made it seem impossible. I looked at the boys and winced at the colour of Steve's black eye; it had turned a nasty shade of purple and green. I looked back up the road and saw Sheriff Brady striding down it with three Murphy boys. Billy came skipping up behind them and I was amazed Brady didn't hear him.

"What's he doin'?" Charlie muttered.

"That's our Billy," I replied with a smile.

"He ain't all there is he?" Steve said as he shoved some tobacco in his mouth.

"Get ready boys, the fun's about to start," I said hushing Steve as Billy threw his hat in front of Brady. Brady bent down to pick it up and Billy closed in and stole the Sheriff's gun.

"Top o' the mornin' to ya girls," Billy crowed as Brady whirled around.

"Now, boys!" I yelled leaping around the wall and firing at the tallest of the men. I had to duck for cover as a shot flew over my head and I disappeared back behind the wall.

Steve and Charlie jumped out next and emptied their guns. I heard Chavez let out a war cry before I emerged again.

This time I didn't duck in time and I cried out as bullets ripped through my waist and thigh. I hit the dirt and my hand went to my waist as I tried to stop the bleeding. I heard Charlie yell out above me and suddenly the bullets stopped flying. I made attempts to stand and only made it to my knees. Two pairs of hands gripped my arms and gently pulled me to my feet. My left leg didn't want to support my weight and blood was dripping from the tear in my shirt. I gazed blearily at Steve and Charlie. "Thank you" I mumbled before glancing around at the scene before me.

Only Brady was still alive and Billy was standing over him; his gun raised. Billy looked at me and relief washed through his eyes before he turned his attention back to the Sheriff. The man had started to reach for his shotgun but Billy stood on it.

"Reap the whirlwind, Sheriff Brady. Reap it!" Billy pulled the trigger and Brady fell backwards, never to move again.

Doc and Billy rushed over as Chavez was beginning to look at my wounds. "You are lucky Gatito, the bullets only grazed you." He gave me a tight smile and used bandannas to wrap the wounds. "You will live."

"Thank you" I replied leaning heavily on Steve and Charlie. "So what do we do now?"

"The first thing we need to do is get you fixed up properly," Doc said placing his hand on my head. "Billy, we need to get her to Alex and Susan."

Steve and Charlie helped me into the saddle and Billy held me fast, so I didn't fall off.

As we arrived at Alex's ranch, Susan came rushing out. "Oh my, what happened?" she asked as Charlie helped down from the saddle.

"One of Murphy's dogs is what happened, can you patch her up?" Charlie asked, supporting my uninjured side.

"Of course, bring her this way." Susan lead the way back into her house and half and hour later I was able to stand by myself. We headed back outside to find Alex and Billy arguing.

"You weren't supposed to touch Brady!" Alex yelled.

"Sheriff Brady sent the men who killed John! It was a good move for us Alex." Billy shot back.

"Was it Billy?"

"YES IT WAS!"

"Have you seen the Independent? The Governor's revoked your deputisation powers." Alex started pacing. "You're wanted by the legitimate law as well as those outside the law. You're not only being hunted by John Kinney and Murphy's men, you're being hunted by troops! Fort Stanton Billy, the U.S. Army."

My stomach dropped at the thought of going up against trained soldiers.

"The Governor's put a two hundred dollar bounty on your head," Alex strode away and ran his hand through his hair. "You were supposed to serve eleven warrants and expose the Ring. Instead you went out and went on the warpath, on a rampage. Now Richard's dead! We're living up here like fugitives! What the hell do you think you're doing out there?" Alex glared at Billy.

"I don't know," Billy shrugged. "Maybe I'm trying to get some attention. Maybe I'm trying to get President Hayes to look this way." Billy rounded on Alex. "They let Murphy and his bankers get away with anything and I can't allow that! The more bastards I dust, the more President Hayes is gonna have to raise an eyebrow and come down and see for himself what's really going on here. They'll find out who's really doing the killing." Billy turned on his heel and stalked over to where I was standing.

"Alex. What are you gonna do?" Charlie asked stepping forward.

"I'm going to try and reach the President myself; legally," Alex said. "It won't be easy to get past the Governor, he's got so many..."

"Yeah I got plans for the Governor," Billy's eyes sparked as he looked back at Alex.

"What if you can't get in touch with Hayes?" Doc asked.

Alex sighed. "I'll go back to Lincoln and reopen John's store and try to deal with that. That's what John would want."

"We'll escort ya," Billy offered as he leant against the same barrel I was.

"You'd be a death sentence to anyone now Billy, I don't want your help."

Billy held out the photograph he'd had taken a few days before.

Alex shook his head. "Christ Billy!"

Billy handed the picture to Susan. "Thank you Billy," she said tucking the picture into her apron. "Billy please go to Old Mexico."

Billy put his hat back on and turned to me, pressing gently on my bandages. "Are you able to ride?"

"I will be when you stop doing that!" I pushed his hand away and he turned back to Alex.

Billy took his badge off and dropped it in the dirt at the lawyers feet. Steve and Charlie did the same and Alex turned his eyes towards me.

"You don't have to do this," he said. "You're injured and you need to recover."

"I'm sorry but I can't stay here," I said taking off my badge. "I'm grateful for your help Susan, thank you." I hugged her before making my way over to Alex. "I have a warrant out for my arrest anyway Alex, they'd easily find me here and I don't want to do that to you and Susan, I'm sorry." I placed my badge in his hand and gave him a weak smile. "Goodbye Alex." I joined the others as Doc said his piece. He handed his badge to Alex as well and with a last glance over our shoulders we headed off into the plains.