John Kinney

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.

...

We made camp amongst an outcropping of rock and shrubs and attempted to rest. Billy strode away from the boys and I followed. I found him staring out over the plains so I stood next to him and snaked my hand into his.

"Are we doing the right thing?" he asked. "Is killing all these men really the right way to deal with John's death?" Billy looked at me and I saw just how young he really was.

"I don't think it's the right way to deal with anything," I replied squeezing his hand. "But it's us or them and I'm not ready to die yet," I closed the gap between us and brought my face close to his.

"What are you doing?" Billy asked roughly.

"Something I've wanted to do for a couple of days." I pressed my lips to his and after a moment of surprise he kissed back.

"Ahem."

A voice suddenly broke through the passion of the moment and Billy and I separated quickly, to find Steve standing nearby with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Did you want something?" I asked irritably.

"Charlie's behavin' real odd," Steve replied with an eye-roll.

"Well, what the hell's the matter with him?" Billy asked as we reluctantly followed Steve back to camp.

"I don't know, Jesus, he's belly-achin' about something or other," Steve replied. "Something he read in the newspaper...he got mighty spooked."

We arrived at camp and Charlie certainly was panicking about something.

"Dirty Steve told me Billy...told me what they're writing in the papers," Charlie swallowed nervously.

"Steven told him about the party Sheriff Peppin's planning for us," Doc added when Billy didn't answer.

"Party? Oh you mean the hanging."

"Callete, Chivato." Chavez rolled his eyes and looked away.

Charlie was getting more worked up. "Goddamn it Billy! You ever seen a man hanged? His face turns flat purple...and his eyes come up on him!"

Billy nodded. "Yeah, I seen Red Smitty hang," he smiled. "Seen his head come clean off! It was a hell of a sight."

"Lovely," I replied before putting my uninjured arm around Charlie's shoulder. "Don't listen to him."

"Jackie's right," Doc said with a nod. "I don't think Charlie wants to hear about Red Smitty; I think what he'd like to hear is that we're not going to hang."

Charlie nodded. "You mess your trousers they say; gals watching and everything."

"If we get caught Charlie, we're gonna hang," Billy replied causing poor Charlie to shudder. "But there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," he said cryptically.

"We gotta do something before they catch us," Charlie said looking around at everyone. "You all gotta let me do something."

"Okay Charlie," Billy replied.

…

We rode into a small village and tied our horses to a rail outside the saloon.

"Damn Charlie, this is your last wish? To get your little carrot wet?" Steve laughed as he dismounted. "You could have done that back in Juarez."

"It's something called a special woman Dirt Face," Doc retorted. "You'll understand one day."

"Alright gentlemen, square up and shell out for Bowdre," Billy said as he handed Charlie some coins. "We'll be in the den, just yell if you need any help." Billy laughed and stepped inside.

I waited until the boys had gone inside before handing my money over. "Now listen Charlie, remember what I taught you about manners towards ladies? They apply to whores as well 'cause most of them can't help their circumstances." I looked him in the eye "you understand?"

"Yeah, thanks."

I headed into the saloon and was almost too late to get a seat with the boys. Billy was up at the bar talking with a big Texan so I nabbed his chair next to Doc. I ordered a drink and let my eyes wander over Billy's figure. My eyes came to rest on his groin and I blushed into my glass as lurid thoughts crossed my mind. I looked around and Doc had a knowing smile on his lips.

"It's not as secret as you might think," he said sipping his whiskey. "Charlie is the only one who doesn't know."

"Oh no! Really?" I was mortified.

"Yeah, you're a testy little cuss," the Texan growled pulling out his gun. He squeezed the trigger three times and each time it failed to fire.

Billy continued to whistle his slow tune as he raised his own gun. Billy fired once and sent the Texan backwards into the wall; he slid down and slumped in a heap on the floor.

"Hey Doc!" Billy laughed turning around to face us. "How many does that make? Twenty-five?"

"Five" Doc replied with a nervous chuckle.

"We'll call it ten. Ten even, how'd that be?" Billy's face was lit up with excitement.

"Whatever you say," Doc replied with a sideways glance at the man on the floor.

Charlie suddenly burst into the room. "It's John Kinney!"

The boys raced out the door and jumped on their horses. I followed as quick as I could and winced in pain as I mounted my horse. Looking behind as we headed off I could see the posse coming into view. It was obvious they'd seen us as they picked up speed. "Billy we need to move NOW!" I yelled as I dug my heels into my horse's flank.

Billy looked around and the smile faded from his face. "Shit!"

"You don't say!" Steve chimed in.

"Stop talking and ride!," Chavez ordered, spurring his horse forwards.

We raced across the flat land as fast as we were game to push our horses; every now and then someone would look back to check the location of Kinney's posse. They appeared right on our asses when the ground sloped downwards towards a thicket of trees on the edge of a creek. We ploughed straight into the trees only to find they were actually thorn bushes. With a hand up to protect my eyes I followed hard on Doc's tail as he led the way through to the creek. Once in the shallow water I could just make out the figures of Kinney and his posse amongst the thorns; trying to find us. We headed up the creek until we found a secluded clearing in which we could rest and water the horses.

Doc spied a spring and started stripping his clothes off. I turned around to give him privacy only to be faced with Charlie's bare ass instead. Chavez was trying to remove thorns that were stuck there. Steve joined Doc in the spring and Billy stood to the side reading a magazine he'd picked up in the saloon. I sat near Chavez and checked my bandages. Susan had done a good job of cleaning me up but it looked like I needed to change the dressing. I got up and dug around in my saddle bags to find the spare ones I'd packed before I'd left home; then grabbed an old blanket and spare clothes. I walked up to Billy and started reading over his shoulder.

"AH!" Charlie cried as Chavez removed a thorn.

"Yeah, yeah, it breaks my heart," Chavez said as he poured some whiskey over the wound.

"I ain't left handed," Billy laughed as he read a passage about himself.

I jabbed him in the ribs. "You do use your left hand though," I chuckled. "Maybe they got confused?" I placed a kiss on his cheek and wandered off in search of a cleaner spring to wash in. Once I found one, I looked around to make sure the boys weren't looking before carefully stripping off. I eased myself into the water and gently started scrubbing. I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. I covered my chest and turned around to find Billy standing above me with a roguish look on his face.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

I looked over at the others and they seemed immersed in their own minds, so I nodded and flashed Billy a smile. "As long as you don't splash and be mindful I'm injured."

Billy removed his clothes and stepped into the water. With an impish grin he splashed a bit of water at me.

"Oh! I spluttered as it hit me in the face. I retaliated but he dodged it and moved closer.

He smiled and pressed his forehead against mine. "Sorry, mi amor, I couldn't help it."

My face grew hot at the realisation of how close Billy was and the fact that we were bare as the day we were born. I also couldn't help but think this was the first time I'd seen a guy naked and been viewed the same.

Billy brought his lips to mine and suddenly lost his footing; taking me with him. With a loud splash we sank underneath the surface of the water and came up gasping for breath. I heard a chuckle or two coming from the others and my face went red with embarrassment. I turned to Billy and saw he had a piece of weed stuck in his hair. I laughed and reached out to remove it.

"Billy I was thinking about our course," Doc said loudly to grab our attention. "It looks like we just did a big circle. Twice."

Billy sighed and climbed out of the water; assisting me as he did so. We used the old blanket to dry off and, once he'd helped re-dress my wounds, he wandered back to the others and picked up his magazine again.

"It looks like we're going back into Lincoln," Doc said. "I know we can't be doing that?"

"We are," Billy replied.

We all fell silent and I figured now was the best time to finish dressing. I tried hard to ignore the whistles Steve threw in my direction when I dropped the blanket and soon rejoined the others to re-braid my hair.

"Christ in Heaven Billy, what are you thinking?" Doc asked.

"Billy we're lucky to be alive," Charlie added. "I mean going back to Lincoln! That's crazy."

"Lincoln's were we'll find the rest of the men who killed John," Billy retorted.

"It's a hundred against six!" Doc fired back.

"It's a hundred against six," Billy replied mockingly. "We take Murphy and the Ring falls," he looked at all of us. "We take him and we win this war. Then it'll be over."

"We can't even get to him Billy," Steve added his two cents.

"It's not just a hundred men," Chavez said. "There's bounty hunters too, everywhere we go. But not West."

"Oh Christ, here we go again." Billy all but rolled his eyes.

"Billy!" I crossed my arms in disappointment at Billy's attitude.

"No I followed you! I chose your way Chivato," Chavez was getting angry. "I don't trust it anymore. Now California is where we have to go!"

"Dang on the money, I believe in that Spirit World stuff Chavez, let's go," Charlie agreed. "Yeah, California sounds about right to me."

"Are you sure about this Billy?" I asked. "It does seem risky."

"You're all scared," Billy said. "You're going to fail the test."

"What test?" Doc asked.

"You have to test yourself everyday gentlemen. Once you stop testing yourself then you get slow and when that happens they kill ya," Billy explained. "You fellas don't feel that? When John Kinney's riding up on your ass and the balls are flying and the blood goes right to your head!" He whipped his gun out and fired a shot into the dirt. "It's quite a sensation."

"Yeah I bet it is. I'm sure in your mind you hear trumpets sound and angels sing a fargin hymn! I SHIT MY GOD-DAMN BRITCHES OKAY!" Doc yelled in reply. "WE'VE TAKEN ENOUGH GOD-DAMN MURPHY SCALPS! WE CAN'T WIN THIS WAR! NOT THE SIX OF US!" Doc paused for breath. "Do you understand? You want to get the President's attention go ahead. You want to keep testing yourself, that's fine. Let me tell you something, tonight I'm riding for the border, I'm gonna get myself a hot meal and a good nights sleep and come morning I'm a Mexican."

"Yeah Billy, me too," Charlie agreed.

Billy turned his gaze on me. "How 'bout you Jackie? You gonna stick with me or skin out with them?"

I shuffled uneasily. "You know I'm with you."

Billy nodded and looked around at the others. "Mexico huh?"

"That's right," Doc replied.

"I see. You all are testing yourselves and don't even know it. Try and make it to Old Mexico! That's a hoot," Billy laughed.

"What do you mean?" Doc asked.

"They'll be covering every which way possible from Texas to Arizona," Billy replied. "John Kinney knows everyone along the border. There's a full days ride through those thorns we all love so much, which also makes a good hiding place for scalp hunters and renegade Indians. The chances of making it to Old Mexico, well hell, that's the test of all tests if you ask me," he grinned. "I'm in." He walked past us and still smiling disappeared behind a clump of trees.

"I'm really not liking him," Doc announced.

I smiled to myself as I started a fire. As unsure about our path as I was, I was certain Billy would see us through.