This story is a slight cross-over. It contains a few characters from the Young Guns movies although it does not follow any of the Young Guns movies plots, the people who feature are used mainly for enjoyment of the characters. It is fully focused upon 'The Streets of Laredo' and Joey Garza's story but hopefully even if you don't know the full story you'll enjoy it.

This fiction is rated 'Mature' for violence and sexual references/situations.

I do not own Joey Garza nor the situations taken from the original book and series, I do not make any profit in this writing.

I do however own all the characters that I made up as well as the situations that are not in either series or book. Please do not take any of my characters or ideas, this will be considered stealing and it's a low down dirty thing t' do, ya hear ;)))

I hope you enjoy!

Sweeten the Blow

Ella scrubbed hard at the small, worn table that served as both dining area and living area in the small run-down shack that she called home. The dirt seemed to have become ingrained over the last few years and as the sweat began to bead upon her brow she slumped down into a rickety old chair, resting her muscles for a moment and admitting defeat that the table would never be any cleaner.

Ella had turned twenty years old the summer just passed, yet she felt as if she were much older, like one of the elder woman of the Mexican village of Ojinaga she dwelt in, tired and worn from years of labor. Finally she pushed herself out of her seat and went to the dirty, marred mirror that hung above the black stained fireplace. She pushed her dark chestnut hair back into place, securing a few pins to tidy it into a proper style. She gave a low sigh at her pallid complexion, her deep brown eyes stared back at her ringed by dark circles and she pursed her lips in displeasure. It seemed that she was no longer the pretty thing men had flocked to Jane Greathouse's 'gentleman's establishment' to spend time and hard earned money upon, she had only been seventeen and hadn't worked there six months before she had met her future husband.

How exciting it had all seemed then, a wanted man paying her more attention than was usual for any man that came to spend his evenings there. Tales of desperate horse chases, gunfights and daring escapes kept her captivated and he was handsome in a rugged, unkempt sort of way. Whispering sweet words into her ear, telling her dreams and wishes that he had for both of them: that he could take her away from here, that he wanted none to have her but himself. Such talk had seemed romantic, like a wild free dream grasping at her heart and making her feel as if she could fly if she wished.

The reality unfortunately had been far from this fantasy life, they had married quickly, eloping from Jane's without any word. Why Ella had acted this way she had no idea, Jane had always been kind to her, had given her a better life than what she had before, and yet she had left without so much as a by your leave which had sealed Ella's fate. She had nowhere to run to now things had turned sour and the truth of the matter was it had become sour very soon after their wedding day ,when she had become aware that dreams and whispered honeyed words were no more than dust in the wind. They had headed for Old Mexico, after all her husband was a wanted man and to stay in New Mexico was not an option open to them, they had found themselves a small, dilapidated shack in the Mexican village of Ojinaga and tried to make it home.

But her husband was not one to stay put, he would leave her alone for months on end and Ella knew little Spanish. The transition had been hard and cruel, sometimes food ran out and he wouldn't be in sight to aid her. She took to helping a few of the other women with their crop gathering: a tedious task, given that she was paid only in food and little of it and that the Mexican girls did not take well to a 'gringo' woman working beside them, finding great enjoyment in teasing her and giving her more than her fair share of labor. She knew at the time she would have reverted back to her old ways of selling her favors if she could but her husband had told her in no uncertain terms that if she did so he would kill her, the warning was simple and she took heed. Whether he was capable of such a thing was debatable but he was certainly capable of beating her, a side that only reared if he drank too much and it was a fate she shared with many a woman of the village.

Thankfully there was one woman in the village that had shown her pity at being what most would deem an outcast. Her name was Maria Garza and she was the midwife of the village, respected and well thought of. She was a kind woman, if not heavily burdened by little money, little food and two young children with disabilities. Her daughter Teresa was nearing her thirteenth birthday and had been born blind; her elder son was called Rafael, and was what most in the village described as slow, or by crueler people a half-wit. Ella had heard talk of an older son belonging to Maria but any conversation about him was normally hushed; the talk that she understood about him was that he was a bad apple, rotten to the very core and he was not welcome in the village although she heard disapproving mumbles that he still came to his mother's when it suited him, but Ella had never chanced upon him in the years she had lived there, something she felt faintly glad of.

Ella spent many a day with Maria, helping her with chores and looking after her children and in return Maria was slowly departing all her knowledge about midwifery to Ella it was a slow task as both woman had very little time to themselves with so much to do, still Maria often said that Ella would make a wonderful midwife and after her old bones were finally laid to rest the village would need a younger pair of hands to take over the duty. The thought of having something of her own, some form of making a living without her husband's help caused Ella to feel that all was not lost yet…

She turned to the broth that boiled over the small fire and gave it a quick stir before picking up a small loaf of bread and cutting it into large wedges. Tonight they were having company, her husband was bringing home an old friend, one that Ella actually liked and felt she could hold a conversation with, she held fond memories of long nights talking to him at Jane's when he happened by. Ella would normally have been annoyed with having a guest at such short notice, she had not seen her husband in over a week and he had sent her word through another man that lived in the village that he was returning with company but the guest would be a more than welcome sight.

The sky was already beginning to darken; she quickly lit a few candles and before too long she heard the familiar sound of horse's hooves followed by voices. After a moment the door opened and her husband and his companion entered.

"I'm home" her husband said without looking at her. "The food ready?" He removed his hat and tossed it onto the table. "Come on in Doc" he said with a grin, turning to the light haired man that stood behind him.

"Hello to you too Dave" Ella huffed.

Dave finally looked at her, his expression bore a warning that she quickly understood.

"The food's ready, I'll just serve it up." She glanced at Doc who wore a frown. "Hey Doc, good to see you, take a seat."

"Nice to see you too Ella" Doc said, tugging the brim of his hat, his expression turning to a welcoming grin.

The two men took a seat at the table while Ella busied herself with pouring the broth into bowls. She glanced back at her husband, Dave Rudabaugh. He was good looking and was in his thirty-second year. His hair was messy, dark and never appeared to stay in place; he hardly shaved, taking up the task just before he had a fully grown beard so stubble always shadowed his chin, cheeks and upper lip giving him an unkempt look. He was handsome in a sly, callous way. His wit was deadpan and brutal and directed at her all too often.

She watched distractedly as he leant his rifle against the wall and struggled out of his long duster coat, allowing it to fall carelessly to the floor. Her gaze went to Doc who had mimicked Dave's actions and leant his own rifle alongside his friend's and then he too shrugged his own coat off but laid it carefully over the back of his chair. Doc did not match Dave in looks or in personality. He was quiet, preferring the company of books to people, in fact his mannerisms made it hard for Ella to think that he too was a wanted man, but he was - as were all of the old members of Billy the Kid's gang. Doc had an almost scholarly quality to his handsome features; shaggy blond hair, stormy blue eyes and a neatly trimmed beard made him look respectable, as if he should be a bank or store clerk.

After a moment he settled back into his seat and his eyes found hers, Ella felt a surprised blush rise in her cheeks and turned back to the food. She finished her task and set the two bowls before the men before turning and picking up Dave's coat and laying it over a nearby set of drawers, she then helped herself to some food and joined them at the table, carrying a bottle of whiskey in the crook of her arm and three cups in her free hand.

They were soon eating and the two men talked while Ella listened.

"I visited Chavez at old Fort Sumner; he still won't leave the place, after all this time" Doc said, tearing a piece from his chunk of bread with his fingers and popping it into his mouth.

"Chavez always was a stubborn…" Dave glanced up at Doc, suddenly seeming to realize that insulting words would not be taken gladly. "Well what do you expect; he probably thinks Billy's spirit is still there or something, just as he always did with his mumbo jumbo." He paused as Doc gave him a strange detached look. "Ah hell, don't look at me like that." He looked down at his food. "You know I'm right" he mumbled.

Dave glanced back up his eyes falling upon his young wife. "Ain't I right Darlin'? All this Indian shit is just mumbo jumbo."

Ella looked up at him, knowing to agree was to insult one of Doc's closest friends, but knowing that if she disagreed Dave would not be happy with her. She hesitated, her eyes flicking to both men.

"Stella!" Dave said, his voice rising in pitch. "I asked you a question girl."

Ella looked back at her husband's frowning face. "Sure Dave," she said, "mumbo jumbo." She gritted her teeth and returned her attention back to her food, determined not to have a blazing argument while they had a guest.

Dave gave a nod as he chewed upon his food and then turned his attention back to Doc whose brow was now furrowed.

"What crawled up your britches Doc?" Dave asked with a small laugh. "Chavez can take my words from all the way out here; you know we never got along."

"Chavez wouldn't care what you think Dave," Doc said slowly, "but you should treat your wife better."

Ella glanced at him shocked by his words.

"Now Doc, I know you just didn't tell me what I should do in my own house." Dave smiled wolfishly, a warning glinting in his eyes.

"If you can call this a house!" Doc said, his anger beginning to boil. "You don't change Dave; you never change, still wanting to be a leader of a gang that no longer exists, stop living in the past and leave Billy and all our past where it belongs… buried and at peace!"

Dave stared at him a slight guilty smirk coming to rest upon his lips.

"Don't think I haven't heard what you been doing just over the border in New Mexico, forming a new gang, calling yourselves the 'Regulators'…"

Dave gave a harsh laugh. "Well, you all skinned out like cowards, someone had to carry it on, it's what Billy would have wanted."

"What Billy wanted?!" Doc said heatedly, more enraged at the use of Billy's name in this context than being called a coward. "You never knew Billy! He didn't even like you that much Dave, don't you dare put his name to what you're doing!" He paused. "Billy's dead, I don't want you tainting his memory with men that would rape women and loot everything in sight, that was never Billy's way, you know that Dave, you know that!"

Dave gave a small nod. "Yeah, you're right Doc but I gotta get men in my gang somehow and Billy's name still holds good sway over people, it still holds respect."

"Goddammit Dave, it's like I'm taking to a damn horse!" He brushed a hand across his face, the anger and distaste clear in his eyes. "Although a horse would probably have more sense!" He paused, regaining himself, his eyes flicking to where Ella sat still listening. "You'll get caught, you carry on like this and they'll catch you Dave." He paused, "Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing."

Dave grinned wolfishly, "We'll see." He finished the last spoonful of broth. "Till then how about we just leave it lyin' as it is." He paused. "No point in fightin' an' making me kill you at the dinner table Doc" he teased, good humouredly, wanting to stir the conversation away from talk of gangs and Billy.

Doc shifted in his chair, his look saying that he did not wish to leave things as they were but he felt he had no choice, he knew Dave too well to try and talk sense into him.

"Fine Dave, it's your skin" he finally said.

Dave grinned again, "Good." He turned his attention to his wife. "Ella, go and get some wood while we finish this bottle, fire's gettin' low." He held up the whiskey bottle and winked at Doc giving a hissed laugh though his teeth. Ella glanced up at him taking another spoonful of her unfinished food; she narrowed her eyes telling him silently that he could do it himself if he wanted the wood so badly.

"I said now!" Dave said gruffly. His hand came out and knocked the spoon from her grasp, sending it flying half way across the small room with a dull clang. Ella started in surprise, her eyes flying to her husband's. "I said now" he repeated, his voice low.

Doc again shifted uncomfortably in his seat as if he were biting back words that bubbled angrily within his throat.

Ella stood abruptly from the table knocking her chair backwards onto the floor.

"I'm goin'!" she said, biting back her own anger.

She left her half finished broth knowing that by the time she came back Dave would have finished it and she'd be left to fill her hungry stomach up with bread. She opened the door, slamming it a little harder than she had intended behind her. She walked out to the wood pile kicking up the dust with the toes of her worn leather boots, watching as the dirt clouds were caught by the wind and blown away. She stared after them a moment before Dave's horse gave a snort behind where she stood startling her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah Red" she said, giving the chestnut horse a quick comforting scratch on its neck. "I'll bring you some hay soon enough." She pressed her face into the animal's soft coat. "I wish I could be a damn speck of dust" she sighed, pitying herself. "An' I wish he'd just ride away, 'stead of coming back and making me feel like I'm nothin'." She sighed again, pushing herself from Red and reached out to the nearby wood pile, stacking a few pieces carefully into her arms.

"Do you need any help?"

Ella whirled around on the spot to see Doc stood leaning against the side of the house, drawing on a cigarette.

"No, I'm ok. I can manage just fine" she said with a smile, the surprise abating quickly at the sight of his familiar face.

"I can see that" Doc said, giving her a warm inviting grin, "I don't know how you put up with him."

Ella gave a small laugh, "Neither do I, but I'm stuck with what I got."

"Here," Doc held out her bowl of half finished broth and a clean spoon, "I saved it for you."

Ella gave a smile, "Thanks Doc." She placed the wood down carefully and took the bowl and spoon he offered before greedily finishing off the now lukewarm meal. "I hardly see him though, he's off God knows where half the time" she said through a mouthful, "It ain't so bad." Ella shrugged.

"Do you miss Jane's?" Doc asked, taking in the dark cloud littered sky above them, his gaze narrowing as a wisp of smoke stung his eyes.

"Sure" Ella said, again with a shrug.

"Why not go back, Jane's a good sort, she'd take you back."

"Nah," Ella wiped her hand across her mouth, "I don't reckon I could, I'd feel too strange, that part of my life is over, I don't think I'd want to… besides it was my choice to leave."

"You don't look good Stella" Doc said, concern showing in his bright eyes.

"Yeah, I know" she sighed. "I was sick a few weeks back; I'm well now though - it want nothing to worry over" she rushed, seeing Doc's concern deepen. "Maria, a woman here, she helped nurse me an' I'm nearly back on my feet now."

Doc shook his head and came to stand beside her. "You always did get sick too easy" he commented with a dry smile.

Stella laughed. "That I did, I would always come runnin' to you if you were in White Oaks with Dave and the other boys, I thought you were a real doctor." She gave him an amused but slightly embarrassed look.

"Ah well I could have been, I studied for a year in New Orleans remember?" He laughed, easing her discomfort. "I still don't understand why you chose Dave." He took a last long drag on his cigarette before tossing it to the ground and twisting his boot heel upon it. "You could have had me." His tone was part teasing and part serious.

Ella looked at him with a wry smile. "Ah come on Doc, you liked me in the game like everyone, even like Dave, I was young and pretty… Dave just found out that pretence don't last when you live over the border in a Mexican village with no money."

"You are still young and beautiful, nothin's changed apart from maybe your spirit's dampened a little, it ain't dead and gone yet." He paused. "An' I never saw you as just a Dove Ella." His voice was serious, his steel blue eyes finding her own gaze. "You know that, you know my feelings were…." He gave a low sigh and glanced down at the ground. "I just hate to see you like this, it makes me mad."

Ella turned to Doc, suddenly feeling a small spark flicker somewhere inside of her, struggling to grow into a flame.

"What? You don't have any feelings for me now?" She blurted out the sentence before she could check her words.

Doc gave an embarrassed laugh and glanced away.

"I'm sorry," Ella said, "I shouldn't have asked that." She paused, "I'm just tired is all and Dave just… he just makes things harder I guess." She turned back to look at the buildings about her, wanting to concentrate on anything but the bitter feelings of remorse; tears began to pool in her eyes and she was glad Doc could not see her face.

Doc reached out and placed a hand softly upon her shoulder, unable to think of any words to say to ease her as Ella's body shook a little from unwanted tears of savage disappointment and anger, he hoped that for now it was comfort enough, he could do nothing else.