A/N: I'm so sorry foodlover00! You requested another update this past weekend, but I'm a terribly slow writer! I couldn't get a chapter done that fast even if I stayed up all night to write it. I hope you'll forgive me!
Please let me know if there's some incoherence in this chapter...
Thanks for the reviews everyone! They really made me smile a lot! Especially the reactions to me using the cliffhangers :)
Disclaimer: I do not own GMW otherwise Maya would be kicking asses for real.
Billy rested in an alleyway, catching his breath in the shadows and gripping the wall as he watched deputies search the town and shake down townfolks, asking if they'd seen any of the three of them.
He'd barely gotten out of the mansion alive. He'd been trying to figure out an escape route, because the door had been blocked off by some other guard. He'd been on the verge of running out of bullets when Missy had come out of nowhere and told him of another way out of the mansion through the service entrance. He'd followed her and the other women out of the cacophony and got all the way back to town, where he'd left the women at the saloon with Abigail and hightailed it out of there so they wouldn't be considered accomplices.
He'd wanted to go back for Lucas and Maya and had made it half of the way back towards the mayor's mansion, but he had overheard a deputy asking around for all three of them. That meant they had to have gotten away as well.
But they were clearly asking for Maya Matthews. Which meant that the Matthews were in danger.
"Shit… what would Lucas do?" Billy muttered under his breath, wiping his brow. "Fuck…"
Lucas had always been the creator of the plans and the decider of their next steps to get out of trouble. He closed his eyes and tried to channel his partner's mentality.
And the Billy frowned and rolled his eyes. What the fuck was he doing?
"Nevermind…" he snuck back around towards the side of the inn, where some people's horses rested. "I should just go warn them of the impending danger."
He untied one carefully and hopped on, riding off towards the Matthews ranch.
He only hoped that the mayor's authorities hadn't gotten to them first.
~.~.~
The Matthews' house was still lit when he finally got to the ranch. He near flew off the horse and tore through the gate, heading to the porch.
Billy barged in through the door, breathing hard and looking around for any sign of life. Cory, who had been standing in the area, jumped in alarm, his eyes wide and looking frantic.
"Billy?!"
"M-Maya is in trouble." Billy gasped.
"I know." Cory said, helping him inside to sit in a chair. "Lucas told me. We're trying to get out of here as soon as possible."
"No time…" Billy gasped, fanning himself. "I saw a couple on their way here right now. I barely beat them."
Topanga raced by, carrying some linens and stuffing them into one of the open chests being filled.
"You need to hide somewhere Billy." Topanga said in concern, "If they see you, they'll try to kill you."
"How did Maya get into so much trouble?" Cory asked, a little bewildered.
"She was trying to save someone from the Bull's Sleaze. Katy. But our plan got really messed up, as you can see."
"Did you say Katy?" Topanga took a tiny, surprised step back, startled and eyes watering, "Cory… She's alive. She's still alive!"
Cory was sporting much the same shocked look on his face.
Billy looked between the two of them, confused, "Wait, you both know her? Who is Katy?"
"Katy is Maya's mother. We adopted Maya when she was a baby. All this time, I'd thought she wasn't alive."
"Shit… That means that she might be in trouble too…" Billy stood up in a flourish, "Look, you all need to leave right now. The mayor's men are going to come here soon and no doubt, he will use you all to get to Maya."
It was as soon as he said that that someone shot off a gun from the front doorway. They all spun around to face the sound and saw one of the mayor's men pointing a rifle at the three of them, a treacherous smile on his face.
"Yes! I'm first!" he whooped loudly, motioning with his rifle for them to stick 'em up. "I thought ya'll would have split by now, but looks like I'm gettin' the reward for your bounty."
Billy, Topanga, and Cory put their hands up in alarm, backing up slowly towards the parlor.
"Which one of you should go first?" he cackled.
"You." Topanga replied, eyes stone cold. "Now, Riley!"
Riley suddenly hopped out from behind a corner to the right, rifle in hand. She shot the man down without hesitation, and he toppled to the ground, groaning and gripping his stomach in pain.
Cory stared at Riley appalled, his jaw completely dropped, "Riley?! Since when do you know how to shoot off a gun?!"
She shrugged sheepishly, "Maya's been teaching me for years, Pa."
Auggie came running in from the back of the parlor to the front, bringing all the rifles and pistols he could find.
"Mama, I set up the bomb traps in the back if they try to get in that way!"
"Good boy." She scooped him up into a quick hug, kissing his cheek.
Billy stared at them all, a little shocked.
"You guys have this all planned?"
Topanga smiled proudly, "I've been planning a quick escape since they were young children. I've always had a bad feeling about the mayor."
She closed the chest and handed it to Riley. "Take this to the carriage and saddle up the horses. Papa and I will be there in a second." She stooped to Auggie, "Cover your sister if you see anyone, Auggie."
They both nodded and then snuck out the front door, towards their method of escape.
Topanga watched them for a moment to see if all was good before running further into the house, "I'm going to grab the deed to our ranch, Cory. I'll be back in a second."
Cory stooped to finish filling up the other chest with some of their silver. Billy helped him, putting whatever he could find in the cabinets into the chest.
"Is Maya at least safe?" Cory asked in concern. "Please tell me she's okay."
"Honestly, I don't know…" Billy said truthfully, but he smiled fondly, "But Lucas is with her. I've seen him survive getting stabbed in the gut. Twice. She's in good hands."
"Good." Cory sighed in relief, closing the chest and straightening, "That's good."
"You know what else is good? That your son's an idiot who doesn't know how to set a trap."
A man jumped out of the back of the parlor and wrapped his arm around Cory's neck, a deadly glare on his face. Cory yelped, trying to grab onto the man's arm as he was being choked. Billy's eyes widened, and his hands went to his holster for his knives.
"Uh uh uh…" the man snarled, lifting up his cocked pistol to Cory's temple, "Move one more inch, you little shit, and I'll blow his brains out."
The man laughed and kicked the useless cherry bombs on the ground between them all. Cory squinted his eyes shut as his respiration was being cut off.
"Now where's Maya Matthews? If you don't answer, I'm killing this wimp." He tightened his finger on the trigger, and Billy's breathing harshened. He was going to shoot if Billy didn't do something.
Shit! What the hell do I do?!
"Hey!"
And then Topanga stepped out from where she had come, pistol in hand, and shot the man's kneecaps out before he could even react. He fell over howling before he could even realize she had shot him.
"Get the fuck away from my husband, you piece of shit." She growled, before kicking him in the head and knocking him out.
"Topanga!" Cory latched onto her like a leech, hugging her tightly.
Her expression softened, and she rubbed his back, a relieved smile on her face. Billy felt a pang of melancholy at the heartwarming scene. It made him wish he could be back at the saloon with Missy.
"Hate to break this moment, but you guys need to get out of here before someone else comes by."
They nodded and grabbed the full chest, running out of the front and rushing over to where their children were lying in wait near the carriage.
"Everything okay, Mama?" Riley asked, helping her tug the heavy chest into the back. "I heard gunshots."
"Everything is fine."
Billy helped Auggie and Riley into the back.
"Please bring back Maya." Riley said.
He nodded and then looked out into the distance.
"It looks like the road is safe. I don't see anyone else." Billy said, "Do you have somewhere safe you can stay?"
"My good friend Shawn. He lives in the next town over."
"Good. Travel safe."
"And you, Billy? Where will you go?" Topanga asked in concern as she climbed onto her side of the front seat of the carriage, "You're welcome to come with us."
He shook his head, a smile on his face. "Thank you for the offer ma'am. But I need to rescue Katy."
"You're a good man Billy." Cory clapped his back, "Be careful. And tell Lucas I said thank you."
"Will do, Mr. Matthews."
Then Cory climbed onto the front seat of the carriage and yanked the reins, sending the horses on a hard gallop out of their ranch and away from the danger.
Billy rushed back to where he had left his horse and hopped on it to head back to the saloon.
He raced through the streets, knowing he probably didn't have much time.
~.~.~
As he rode into town, his eyes widened when he realized the mayor and a few of his closest advisors were riding leisurely into town as well. Sherriff Holstein was also at the entrance, waiting for them.
"Shit!"
There was no way he could avoid being seen or find some back way to get to the saloon. The only thing he could do was beat them there and get out as quickly as possible. Eyes narrowed, he dug his heels into the horse, sending it on a hard run straight through the middle of their crew.
"Hey! There's Billy!" one of the men hollered, "Get him!"
Billy rode on, as fast as he possibly could, to get to the saloon. He heard a few shots behind him, and ducked his head, hoping they weren't particularly close. He could hear the loud, thundering clopping of their horses' hooves approaching from behind.
Billy stopped in front of Bull's Sleaze, and threw himself off of the horse, tumbling and rolling before coming to a graceless stop at the wooden steps. Hopping onto his feet, he raced into the saloon, out of breath. Thankfully, because it had been a town council meeting evening, Bull's Sleaze wasn't open for the evening. He wouldn't have to worry about all these other men trying to get his head for the bounty.
"Abby!" he shouted, "The mayor and his men are coming to grab Katy!"
Abigail ran out of the back, eyes wide and panicked.
"What?"
Hearing his voice, Missy rushed out from the back as well and wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh thank God you're safe." She sighed, "They've been asking for you all evening. I thought you'd been caught when you didn't come back."
"I went to help the Matthews." Billy kissed her head, and hugged her back before addressing Abigail, "Katy is in danger. We need to get her out now."
Abigail and Missy passed a look and nodded discreetly.
"Missy, tell the other girls to get in their rooms. And show him you-know-what." She frowned, "Now hurry up! I can hear them outside!"
Missy grabbed Billy's hand and yanked him towards the back rooms, rushing out of the bar area quickly.
Just as soon as they'd disappeared in the back, Mayor Jed and his cronies kicked open the door to the saloon. Abigail stepped in front of the hall leading to her girls' rooms, blocking the way to the back. Now was the time to put up the good fight if any.
She glared at the mayor as he walked nonchalantly up to her, flanked by his men on all sides.
"What is the meaning of this?! Bull's Sleaze is not open for business tonight. You can take your men and go."
"Get out of my way." He said softly.
There was a demented, silent rage in his eyes as he watched her. Abigail was alarmed at the malice in his expression. But she straightened to her full height, crossing her arms and bravely narrowing her eyes.
"The ladies are resting. I cannot allow you to disturb–"
A shot rang out.
Abby choked, eyes widening and looked down in shock at the hole in her chest. She looked back up in alarm. Blood spurted out of her mouth, and she collapsed to the ground, eyes blank and unseeing.
Mayor Jed stared at her dead body in disgust, slipping his gun back into his holster with an unapologetic look in his eyes.
"Such a shame Miss Abigail. You should have known when to pick and choose your battles." He looked over his shoulder at the men behind him. "Some of you stay here and keep watch. The rest of you: we have a blonde whore to catch."
They stepped right on the woman as they marched through the corridor.
~.~.~
Billy and Missy hastily raced through the halls, trying to get to Katy before the mayor and his men caught up. Missy shouted at the girls to go to their rooms and lock the door and not to come out, no matter what they heard. Girls and women scrambled into their rooms, worried and confused by the apprehension in her voice.
Missy tugged Billy along until they had reached Katy's blue door. She ripped it open and they plowed through the entrance, breathing hard.
Katy jumped in shock, dropping her book on the floor, her eyes wide at the sudden intrusion.
"Missy…?"
"Katy we need to leave! Now!" Missy panted, looking out of the room and down the hall to see if the men were approaching.
Katy frowned nervously, "Wh-what's going on?"
"We need to go!" Billy said.
"Well can I at least change?!" Katy asked, closing her bed robe tighter around her body.
"No time!" Billy said, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. "We need to go!"
As they raced out of Katy's room, a gunshot rang out from the saloon, and Katy spun to look over her shoulder, gasping.
"What the hell is happening?" she questioned again, her heart pounding.
"Your daughter." Billy said, following Missy around another corner and further towards the back. "She got into some trouble with the mayor."
Katy's eyes widened immeasurably, "No… Is Maya okay?!"
"I'm sure she is. She's with someone who'll make sure she's safe."
They reached the back where there was a den stocked with a few bookshelves and some plush parlor couches on top of a fancy rug. It looked like a resting area for the women. It also had no other doors or windows and was closed off completely.
Billy turned to Missy in alarm, "It's a dead end!"
Missy pushed one of the smaller couches out of the way and flipped the corner of the carpet out of the way.
There was a trap door.
Billy's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell…?"
"This is the escape route Abigail installed years ago in case any of us girls wanted to run away or see the outside world for any time." Missy heaved it open with a grunt. It led to a stairwell that led underground. "This leads to the basement. Take this and then go up through the storage room and out the back!"
"Okay." Katy said, climbing into the hole and beginning to crawl down the steps.
Billy started to head down himself before he realized Missy wasn't behind him. He stopped and looked up in alarm.
"Come, hurry!"
"No." she swallowed thickly, eyes welling with tears, "Someone has to stay behind to close it. Otherwise you'll just be followed again."
"Please don't do this." Billy choked, climbing out of the hole and taking her hands earnestly, "Come with us. We've been apart for so many years. I can't let you go again."
"I want to Billy, I do. But I can't! I'm staying to close the door. Just go!"
He knew from the determined expression in her eyes that she wasn't going to budge in her decision. She'd made up her mind.
Without a word, he kissed her, wrapping her up in his arms and holding her tight. Whimpering, she gripped his shirt, reciprocating his fervent kisses. As much as he didn't want to acknowledge it, he knew that this was something of a goodbye.
"If we make it through this, will you marry me?" he whispered against her lips.
"Just go!" she looked behind her, worried when she could hear the sound of boots approaching on the hardwood.
"Will you marry me?" he repeated.
"Yes, I will marry you!" she laughed breathlessly, "Go you buffoon!"
He kissed her chastely one more time before hopping into the hole in the ground and hurrying after Katy. Missy watched him with one last sad smile before roughly wiping her eyes and shutting the trap door back into its place. She quickly covered the door with the carpet and tugged the parlor couch back into its place above the carpet. Grabbing a small book resting on the table, she plopped down on the couch just as the men marched in, led by the mayor.
She caught sight of Sherriff Holstein among the group and swallowed thickly, though she kept her eyes nonchalantly and firmly planted in her book. She ignored them all, pretending to be enraptured by the literature in her hands, although her pulse was skyrocketing.
"Where are they?" the mayor growled.
"Good evening, Mr. Mayor." She said politely, setting the book on the table and readjusting her robe.
"Where are they?!" he bellowed, stepping up to her menacingly.
Her body shook in fear, but she looked up defiantly, "I-I don't know who you are talking about."
With a rabid snarl, he viciously snatched her by her neck and forced her to her feet. Missy choked, gasping for breath and trying to claw at his hands as he cut off her circulation.
"You know exactly who I mean." he said, deadly soft. "Where. Is. That. Whore."
"I-I don't kn-know!" she rasped again, eyes welling with tears and face turning red.
He shoved her backwards before backhanding her so savagely, she plunged to the ground, limbs splayed everywhere. She screamed, holding her throbbing face and trying to catch her breath as tears cascaded out of her eyes.
Sheriff Holstein gasped and pushed to the front, standing in between the mayor and Missy with his arms held out.
"Now hold on, Jed." He said, placatingly, "Calm down a little."
The mayor's empty green gaze turned to him impassively.
"Thank you for your services, Holstein."
He flipped out his pistol before anyone could see his hand move and shot the sheriff point blank in between his eyes. Blood splattered, and Missy screamed as blood sprayed her robe and the sheriff tipped over sideways, hitting the ground with a loud thud.
Mayor Jed's eyes turned to her, and he stooped to her level, a crazed glare in his eyes. The splashes of blood on his face made him look almost demonic. Missy's eyes widened immensely as he grabbed the collar of her robe.
"You know… there's a special place in hell for disgusting human trash like you."
~.~.~
Billy looked out into the night from the back door of the storage room, checking to make sure the coast was clear and no one was watching the door. It was. He saluted Katy and they snuck out, walking around towards the front where the men's horses were waiting. He had to do this fast.
"Where are we going to go?" Katy whispered as he helped her get on one of the strongest looking Mustangs.
"I don't know." Billy climbed on behind her, tugging on the reins, "The mayor is on the warpath and we need to get the fuck out of here! Hold on tight! Hyah!"
The horse whinnied loudly and took off in a cloud of dust. A few men ran out of the saloon, shouting and calling the others and informing them that they were escaping. They hopped on their own horses, shooting their guns wildly after the two escapees.
Katy looked behind her, past Billy's shoulder, in worry. They were gaining ground with every few seconds that passed.
"They're gaining on us!"
"I know!" Billy shouted back, over the noise of the horse.
Katy bit her lip, a pensive frown on her face. She knew they would never make it out of town without getting captured at that point. She and Billy were traveling impossibly fast, but the weight of two people on a horse was always going to make the horse slower than the weight of one.
"Go to the Summit."
Billy was sure he hadn't heard her correctly. "What?"
"The Summit!" she repeated earnestly, "Go towards the Summit!"
"Are you crazy lady?! The Summit is a cliff! There's nothing past it other than Death Valley. Think about the name! Death Valley. Death!"
"Just trust me on this!" she yelled back, eyes still on the men who were slowly approaching. There were more of them now. She could see some of them behind the ones who had been originally following them.
"You are crazy…" Billy muttered, "Ah, who am I kidding. You're Maya's mother. Of course you're crazy too."
But he shifted their direction so instead of going straight out of town, they were heading towards the Summit. Katy smiled at the comment.
Once they had gotten a far enough distance out of the town, he could see the Summit and the tree that he had never actually gotten hanged on. Oh, how it brought back so many memories.
"Where do I go now?" Billy asked. They were quickly approaching, and he still wasn't sure what Katy's plan was. Were they about to engage in some kind of crazy battle? Because he honestly didn't have that many knives, and he wasn't sure he had enough bullets to last.
"Straight off the side."
"What?!" he screeched, "I swear, my ears must not be working because I know you didn't just tell me to go over the damn edge!"
"That's exactly what I said!" she shouted, glaring at him over her shoulder, "Go straight off the side!"
"Oh dear Lord! I thought you had a real plan!"
"You said you would trust me!"
"You want us to jump off the damn side of a cliff! Sorry for being a little skeptical!"
Katy shoved his hands off the reins, grabbing them and thwacking it harder, bringing the horse to a more intense gallop. She knew if Billy hesitated, the horse would stop instead of going over the edge.
"I trusted you to save me." she finally said, "Now trust me to save you."
Billy stared at her before sighing in surrender.
"Alright. Go for it." He said, looking over his shoulder. The gunshots were just hitting the ground were their horse's hooves left. "It's been nice knowing you."
"You too."
Katy grinned, and they hurdled right over the edge of the Summit.