A/N - Sorry for the late update! I haven't been able to really get any good writing time, but recently I have, since exams have finished until the summer. THANK GOODNESS. Anyway, a MASSIVE thank you to the reviewers! Seriously, every time I get a review I die a little inside (from happiness) Please review people, other wise it kinda feels like I'm posting to no one, and that's scary. Hopefully this chapter is okay, it's starting to get into the little... side(?)plot? I don't know. But, read and enjoy! (and review!)

Chapter 22 - I ain't in the mood

Ever had a moment when you just wanna curl up like a snake on a hot day and hide? Well, this was one of those times.

The wind was knocked out of me as I fell flat into the dirt, bumping my nose painfully. "Eva! Are you okay?" I groaned into the dirt, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I sat up, rubbing my forehead and checking my injured nose for bleeding.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine, just startled." Jack hopped off his horse and rushed to my aid. He gently helped me up, checking me over.

"Are you sure? You took quite a tumble..." I waved him off as best as I could, feeling unsteady on my feet.

"I'm fine, honest!" I exclaimed, trying to laugh it off. I heard my voice waver and no doubt Jack did.

"Are you sure? I mean, you really hit the ground hard... and you look a little worse-for-wear..."

I laughed shakily and stood tall, brushing dust off my clothes. "I'm fine," I lied. My back was hurtin', my face was hurtin', and my confidence was hurtin'. I felt my mood slip.

Jack gathered Dash's reins before handing them back to me. I took them with a stiff nod and mounted my horse. "Gringo's, you oka-"

"Watch where you're drivin' next time!" Jack chided. "We told ya to slow down!" The Mexican looked back, panting hard. He took one look at the scowl on my face and snapped his mouth shut, offering us a slight shrug. Jack rolled his eyes and grumbled before looking back to me. "Now, are ya sure you're okay to ride back?"

"Of course I am, I only fell from my horse. I'm robust." Jack gave me a look like he didn't believe me before patting Dash on the neck.

"Alright, well, I think we ought'a head back and have a word with this sheriff." I nodded in agreement, feeling a pang of annoyance surface in me.

"Do you think he knew they'd be this much trouble? Just what's so important anyway?"

It was a good question; one the sheriff refused to answer. "That's not for me to say, Gringos. Now why don't you be on your way and mind your business, eh?" I couldn't believe it. We had ridden back to Chuparosa and found the sheriff leant against the crooked wood fence outside the bank. Jack had been fast and to the point, asking the man why we had been ambushed. The sheriff had coolly shrugged, saying it could happen to anyone.

My lips had turned downwards and I had asked, "Well what's in that wagon anyway?" At this the Sheriff gained a hidden smirk underneath his bushy moustache, and a glint in his eyes that unsettled me. Jack, beside me, placed his thumbs through the loop holes in his jeans and eyed the man carefully. We stood before him, the air around growing tense. My irritation was growing. "I think it's our business, friend, since you sent us out to protect some wagon when quite a few Banditos wanted to get their hands on this." Jack's voice grew dangerously low, his irritation evident.

The sheriff just twitched his upper lip before pushing off from the fence that I was beginning to believe was as crooked as he was. "Listen, Gringos," he began, leaning in close to Jack. The Marston didn't budge an inch, holdin' his ground with a set look on his face. "I think it's best if you stay out of the affairs on this country. Understand?" he asked in a thick accent. Jack and the man locked eyes and the tension was suddenly palpable. I took a step back and looked around, seeing a few eyes in our direction. I swallowed nervously. "Jack..."

"Oh don't you worry, we'll stay out of your broken countries affairs," Jack growled, earning a silent snarl from the Mexican. The two seemed to puff themselves up for a second, like hissing snakes, before Jack turned on his boot heel and marched away, knowing I would follow.

Spurs clinked as Jack marched briskly away from the man and headed straight for the saloon. "Jack?" I called, jogging to catch him. "Jack? Where're ya goin'?"

"I need a drink," he sighed. I frowned ever so slightly, not wanting to enter the establishment. Outside a few whores sat, draped over the laps of men as they played poker and drank. I could smell the burn of the alcohol and the think smoke from cigars. Scrunching up my nose I hesitantly followed him under the wooden canopy and into the door less saloon. We entered near the bar and Jack immediately turned left, walking to the far back of the seating area and into a corner. There he dropped himself into a chair and ripped his hat from his head. I hesitated at the threshold of the room, I had never seen Jack this angry. Perhaps angry wasn't really the word for it... I frowned slightly. Annoyed? No, irate.

Shaking my head, I quickly rushed to his table, aware of the eyes pressed into my body. I pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, flinching at the gun in my holster thumped against the chair leg. Jack had a scowl on his face, and he ran a calloused hand through his hair. I glanced around us before leaning forward slightly. A waiter walked over, asking in broken English what we wanted. "I'll have a bottle of Tequila." The Mexican looked at me. I shook my head.

"None for me." He bowed his head and walked off.

I looked at Jack to see he had put the hat back on his head. "What's got you all riled up?" Jack glanced at me before averting his gaze past me.

"I dunno..." he offered weakly. I sighed and shuffled forward more.

"Look, don' let that sheriff get to ya. I know we got ambushed, and chances are he knew that we were going to... but at least we're alive, and we handled it like true gunslingers!" I joked, hoping to lighten the mood. Jack exhaled slowly through his nose and didn't answer until the man who was approaching with his drink had set the bottle down along with two shot glasses. Jack wasted no time in pulling open the bottle and pouring a shot. He swung the glass back and downed the brown, swilling liquid in one easy gulp. I watched his throat bob as he swallowed. The glass was placed on the table and Jack finally spoke. "He just rubbed me the wrong way. We could have been killed!" I smiled softly.

"I know, but we weren't." Jack grumbled under his breath and downed another shot. I smiled more now, noticing Jack lighten up. But deep down I was still annoyed. I had tried to push it down, to forget about it all, but there was something about having my life risked by a man who was too lazy to do it himself that really ticked me off. Jack eyed the other shot glass. "You don't want none?" I shook my head quickly.

"No, no, no. I'm good, thank you," I polietly declinded, eyeing the Tequila with suspicion, like it was consipirin' against me.

Jack chuckled. "Ah yes, you never did say why you don't like acohol."

"Well, aside from turnin' people into foolish drunks it don't settle too well with me." Jack raised a single brow with a smirk on his lips.

"Settle how? Are you... a lightweight?" I frowned playfully and huffed.

"Well, if ya really need to know..." I trailed off, hoping Jack wouldn't make me re-account my story. But he stayed silent, waiting patiently. I sighed and opened my mouth to start, but I stopped when a whore appeared from nowhere, speaking in rapid Spanish to Jack. He seemed as startled as me when she ran her hands along his shoulders and chest. She slipped onto his lap.

The girl had dark tresses that tumbled down her back in waves. Her skin looked soft and supple and her eyes were heavily made up. The corset she wore was a butter yellow, with frills along the line of her chest, and revealed too much cleavage. Immediately my annoyance from earlier bubbled to the surface and was now twice as bad. Jack leant his face away from the girl as she went to kiss him. "Oh, senor, you look tired. Why don't you let me take troubles away?" the girl spoke in a sultry tone. I clenched my fists. "I'm alright, thank you," Jack answered, trying to stay polite. The girl recoiled, surprised at his rejection. Then her maroon eyes fell onto me. They narrowed to knife edges. "Oh, I see. This thing here is keeping you satisfied?"

"Excuse me?!" I growled, frowning and feeling my heart beat hard. "I am not a thing."

"Hmm, you look like something the dog dragged in," she spat. I gritted my teeth, anger rising like bile in the throat. I was not in the mood for this.
Jack pushed her off and stood to his feet. "Look, I don't want none of your services, and Eva here isn't a thing, she's my friend, and she is not servicing me. She has more self-respect that that." At Jack's words I felt giddy, touched by what he had said, and I couldn't stop the trickle of laughter slip past my lips. The woman looked shocked but recovered a few seconds later. She snorted and turned to me, marching closer. I stood from my seat and was just as tall as her. "You American girls all think you're better than us, huh?" I narrowed my eyes.

"No, I don't think I'm better than the Mexicans," I answered. "But I certainly am better than a woman who sells her body." She screeched with anger at my words and stepped closer. Around us I could hear chairs scrape as men stood and gathered. "You think I have any other choice?" she ground out.

"Of course you have choice; you always have choice! You've jus' taken the easy route. Making a few easy bucks - or pesos, whatever - because you're afraid to try something new, to break your back working all day for an honest pay." I could hear her mutter curses in Spanish and she moved closer. "You filthy, American bitch!" she cried before I felt a sharp stinging pain erupt over my left cheek.

Men's voices sounded around us but I ignored it as my cheek stung. I stared at the woman before me, narrowing my eyes before I let my anger get the better of me. I shoved her. She went stumbling back into the table, knocking the bottle of Tequila off. It landed with a crash, glass shattering. The woman then cursed at me again in Spanish but I ignored her and gave her my own slap. She screeched again like a dyin' bird before she snatched a handful of my hair and ripped it from its bun. My hair fell down loose now but some was tugged painfully by the whore. I yelped and brought my hand up to hers and tried to pry her fingers off. "Think you're so tough now, huh? Puto," she sneered. I growled before snatching up a handful of her hair and tugging. She screeched as her head was pulled down.

"Ow!" I snapped as she gave another tugg.

"Ouch! Puto! Puto!" she repeated as I tugged everytime she tugged.

Then, as the burning sensation in my scalp became unbearable, it was suddenly gone. Her hand had been pried from my hair and I felt a hand on mine, pulling at my wrist. I let go and suddenly arms were around my waist, easily lifting me from my feet. The other woman had been restrained by local men, a few onlookers laughing, a few shaking their heads. A rapid stream of angry Spanish poured from her mouth as she screamed at me. I didn't have a clue what she was saying but I was sure it wasn't pleasant. I was still fuming and struggled against the grip around my waist. "Le' me go!" I reached out, wanting to smack the made up face of the woman before me. My cheek still stung and my head throbbed. I was carried out of the saloon, the woman's shrieks growing quieter as she too was carried away. "Le' me go!" I cried again. "She's askin' for it! She needs to be-"

"Keep still, will ya?" I paused as Jack's voice cut through mine. He carried me easily out the back of the saloon and onto a patio area, where a few men and women danced lazily. He then dropped me on a chair and before I had a chance to speak he said, "Stay there. Don't move." I slowly closed my mouth as he walked away, back into the saloon. The screeches of the woman had stopped now, and the music of the saloon had started back up. Everything carried on as normal. I sighed harshly and crossed my arms, anger still present but it was simmerin' down. Jack reappeared a few moments later and walked to a door, pulled out a key and unlocked it. He glanced at me over his shoulder before entering the room. I followed.

The room was long and minimally decorated. There was just a bed, a dresser, a wardrobe and some potted cacti. "How much did this cost?" I asked Jack, breaking the silence. He walked to one end of the room, rubbed his chin then turned his back to me. I gulped and suddenly was unsure if he was annoyed with me. "Jack?" I asked tentatively. His shoulders were shaking. I stared at his figure for a moment before I stepped back, startled as he suddenly burst into laughter. Jack turned to me, bent slightly as he shuddered with laughter. I did nothin' but stand and stare, bewildered. "Why're you laughin'?" I asked. He raised his hand, signalling me to wait.

"Did you... Did you see it? It was one of the funniest things I've seen in a while," he sighed, calming down. I raised a brow.

"So, you're laughing because I was in a fight?" I asked. He paused, thought for a moment before nodding.

"I guess so. You should have seen you two, both pulling on each other's hair. Typical women."

"Hey! I ain't a 'typical woman'," I pouted. Jack raised a brow and sat on the end of the bed.

"Oh, I know you aint," he teased. I rolled my eyes and joined him. I flinched as I prodded my tender cheek. No doubt it was a nice shade of red. Jack clicked his tongue. "Look at you," he chuckled. I raised a hand to my head and massaged my scalp.

"My head hurts," I said. Jack laughed.

"Well, that's what you get for havin' a fight with another woman." Jack peered at my cheek before poking it.

"Ouch!" I cried as it stung. Jack whistled lowly.

"That'll sting for a while as yet. That was a nasty slap you got there, though you dished out one jus' as bad." I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment as Jack laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," I sighed. A moment of silence passed over us. I stared out of the small window opposite us, at the dark, grey sky. "Is it gonna rain?" I asked, my voice soft in the silence.

"I think so," Jack replied. He stood from the bed, mattress risin' from the lifted weight. "I'm gonna go put the horses in the stables and give them some hay and oats," he said, giving me a quick smile before he left the room.

Just before the door clicked shut I quickly said, "Jack! Thank you, for what you said, about me havin' more self-respect..." Jack paused at the door and sent me a soft smile. "It was nothin'." The door clicked shut and I was left in the room.

I awoke the next morning early to the sounds of rain poundin' the roof. I had fallen asleep on the bed waiting for Jack. I sat up slowly and looked around. It was still dark. I looked around the room, confused as to where Jack was. I spotted him in a wooden chair, hat tilted low over his face and arms across his chest. He must have slept sittin' in a chair as I had taken the only bed. My face dropped as I felt guilty. I slid my feet off the bed and gently placed then onto the wood, boots making an inaudible thud. I slowly stood up and walked over to the window, peering out. Not much could be seen as the window was small and faced a wall, but over the wall I could see the dark sky. Rain was still coming down and I was hungry. Perhaps the saloon sold food? I frowned at the thought of the woman. I didn't want to go back there without Jack.

I tore myself away from the window and looked at him again. He looked uncomfortable slumped in the chair. I sighed. I would have moved him to the bed had I been strong enough. But if I tried I would likely only be able to drag him along the floor. Smiling slightly, I checked I had everything on my person then as quietly as I could I walked across the room to the door. I cringed with every clink of my spurs. I made it to the door without Jack stirring and slipped out.

I was immediately pattered by raindrops. A shiver ran down my back. It must have been early morning as people were up and going about their business. I looked around for the nearest shelter and ran across the courtyard and towards a large building with a balcony. I sprinted and made it under, regretting coming out in the rain. My shirt was wet and clung uncomfortably. My hair was still down and the end slowly dripping. I looked around, walking under the balcony and noticed two men on horses trot through the town, going right past and out the back exit. Perhaps it was towards the stables? I quickly shot off again, running out of the back entrance. A dog yipped behind me and followed. Train tracks went this way too and there were pens with cattle, as well as a few horses. I ran to the stables and slipped under the overhang of wood, shaking my hair. Water whipped from the strands.

Two bay horses were in the two stalls nearest me, with a further four further along. I walked, inspecting in each, before I spotted Dash's spotted coat. Grinning, I ran over, calling out. His ears pricked and he turned to look, wisps of hay dangling from between his velvety lips as he chewed. "Hey boy," I greeted. He walked over and placed his head over the wood, nickering softly. I rubbed his forehead then looked down as I felt something prod my leg.

The dog was sniffing my boots and could no doubt smell an array of odours. The canine was small, brown and skinny, ribs showing through the skin. I felt pitiful of the creature and crouched down, offering it my hand to sniff. It's ears pricked and it tentatively sniffed my palm before it's tail slowly wagged. I smiled and stroked the dog, earning a low whine. "Hey, you're a bit skinny, ain't ya?" I said to it. Dash reached his head down from the stable as far as he could and sniffed the dog, ears pricked and curious. The dog paid him no heed, no doubt used to the other animals around here.

"Are you anyone's pet?" I asked it, not expecting an answer. Looking it over, I guessed it must have been a feral dog, perhaps once having an owner in Chuparosa, but for now it probably survived off scrapes and the odd caught rabbit. Poor thing was just skin and bones. "How about if I see you around later I'll slip you some food?" I offered the dog. Perhaps it could understand me, or at least the word 'food', for it's ears pricked higher and its tail wagged faster. "How does that sound? Does that sounds good?"

"You know people might think you're crazy if you keep talking to animals, amiga."

I jumped at the sudden voice and quickly looked up to see a Mexican casually leaning against a wooden beam, a grin on his face and a white stetson on his head. I must have been gawkin' at him for he stuck out his hand. "Eduardo Guerrera, at your service." I eyed him cautiously before standing up and shaking his hand.

"Eva White." He dipped his hat.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss White." He released my hand and looked to my horse. "Is that horse yours?" I nodded and smiled, scratching Dash behind his ear.

"He is, mighty fine horse as well, if I do say so." Eduardo chuckled then stepped forward, likely to stroke Dash, but immediately his ears went back in a threat. Eduardo paused then retreated. "He don't seem to like me. Is it the hat?" I laughed lightly and shook my head.

"No sir, he just don't like men. It's not just you," I assured him. Eduardo seemed to size up my horse before he chuckled to himself. I got a good look at him now. His skin was dark, with stubble around his chin. I could see black hair protrude from under his hat and his eyes were a rich brown. He was young, probably not much older than Jack and I. He suddenly looked back to me and cocked his head to the side when he noticed me looking. I coughed and felt a little embarrassed. "Sorry, I was jus' tryin' to work out how old you are... You don't seem much older than me." Eduardo laughed and nodded.

"It's okay, amiga. I'm 24." I nodded and looked back to Dash. "And how old are you?"

"19," I answered after a few seconds of hesitation. The man nodded and leant back against the wooden pillar.

"You're from America. Why're you here?" he suddenly asked. I looked at him and blinked. Catching my look, he quickly added, "If you don't mind me asking, amiga."

"I'm here with a friend, jus' havin' a look around I guess. Like a vacation."

Eduardo nodded and laughed, replying, "You come here for a vacation? This country has gone to the dogs again. Abraham Reyes has become as big a tyrant as the man he stopped. The power has gone to his head. You bet get out of this country, amiga. It's a dangerous place." Eduardo spoke with a light tone, but I could hear the edge behind it, how he spoke with hidden anger. I nodded slowly, taking in his words, but it did nothing to deter me from staying in Mexico. "The danger here is no greater than the danger back home," I replied, home meaning America. Eduardo chuckled.

"Ah, but your... law enforcers, won't shoot you for no reason, will they? Here, in Mexico, they'll shoot you if they think you have anything to do with the rebels. Maybe even for fun." I shrugged, not really knowing how to reply. I knew it was dangerous, I knew there were men with guns around, but I wasn't about to let it send me cowering back to the safety across the border. I was here to explore Mexico, and I was going to do it, whether or not Abraham Reyes liked it or not.

I said this to Eduardo and he erupted with musical laughter, hands bracing himself against the wooden pillar. "Oh, amiga, you have a fiery spirit! I admire that! Alot of people in this country are too scared and roll over like dogs. Actually," he paused, as if suddenly remembering something. "That's why I'm here." I cocked my head sideways, curious.

"Here?" I echoed.

He nodded, then quickly added, "In Chuparosa, not this stable." I laughed slightly as he grinned. "I don't know if you've heard the name, Emiliano Zapata?" As the name left his lips, Eduardo's eyes lit up. I shook my head slowly.

"No, I'm afraid I ain't. Sorry." The Mexican man before me waved his hand.

"I don't expect you to, anyway, Emiliano Zapata is an amazing man! He is currently leading this revolution, he is an immortal who has taken it upon himself to free the Mexican people from this second wave of slavery!" I stepped back slightly as he had grown enthusiastic with each word of praise he spoke. "I am Emiliano's right hand man, and I am here to gather followers, to spread the word of his ideas for a better, fairer Mexico." He pushed off the pillar and stepped closer. "You, amiga, have a fiery spirit deep inside you. You have a passion and a will to fight. How do you feel about joining the Zapatistas?"

He was in front of me now, large hands gripping my shoulders. I stared blankly at him, lost for words. Luckily, a voice cut through in time.

"She ain't interested."