Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay! Life, work, kids, it's been a bit much lately. Then the muses wanted to add a whole new scene in this chapter, that I already thought was close to done and it took a bit to work it in, and shift things around for it to fit appropriately. I hope it is worth the wait! I'm building on Danny's character more here, and his relationship with JD. Danny is my absolute favorite OC character I've ever created and there's a whole crazy backstory he's got going on. Bear with me as I do my best to bring that around. :)
I also have added - for the simple fun of it - a scene with a young Annie Oakley. History buffs, please don't shoot me. I am well aware of the illogical-ness of this. The year is right, but the location is not, nor is the time of year (For anyone who wants to know, the exact dates/location may never be known, but the generalized thoughts are that 15 yr old Annie Oakley won a shooting match against Frank Butler, Thanksgiving Day, 1875, in Illinois. Info obtained from Wikipedia) I also am not super familiar with guns/rifles/target shooting, and got my info from the articles I read on Annie and basic google searches about rifle capabilities, so if there is incorrect info on how she shoots, her targets or anything, I apologize. Do remember, this is fiction. ;)
Reminders - there is no CP in this story as a whole, but it is discussed/mentioned later on. As always, a huge THANK YOU to I'maMePanda, she's just awesome. No other words for it. :) (Go read her stories, if you haven't before, especially Rebuilding! Excellence!)
I am also going to be uploading the first Chapter of my M7 AU today...please check that out!
On to this story!
-wws-wws-wws-
They left the corral, both quiet in their own thoughts.
"JD?" Danny asked as they neared their horses.
"Yeah, Danny?" JD turned so he was walking backward and gave a small grin at his friend.
"Betcha the knife thrower wouldn't give us a lecture, huh?" JD stumbled to a stop, looking at Danny in surprise. He shook his head and then shrugged.
"I dunno, Danny, but I'm not sure I want to find out…."
Danny moved past JD, bumping his shoulder gently as he did so. He walked up to the horses and stopped to lean against Banjo.
"The mans got to be used to questions, JD. It's a trick show...right?"
-wws-wws-wws-
"Excuse me, Miss?" Danny's voice was just above a whisper. He could feel JD hovering behind him, the younger boy's apprehension almost tangible as they waited for the young lady to respond. She stood near the back of a small wagon, and she turned slowly, her long skirt swaying gently as she did so.
"Yes?" she was younger than Danny'd expected and as her blue eyes met his green in a mixture of curiosity and impatience, he gulped, unable to continue his original thought. He stared at her as she shifted her weight to one foot and shoved a wild mass of dark brown hair over her shoulder. "Did ya need something?" she asked, pulling a long mahogany barreled rifle in front of her and tipping her head to one side. Danny glanced over his shoulder and saw JD's mouth was wide open, eyes as big as saucers. Danny looked back at the girl and then to her rifle.
"You….I mean...we..um...do you know.." Danny stopped talking and cleared his throat in an attempt to forge sentences that made sense. He tore his eyes from the rifle she held effortlessly and looked her in the eyes, realizing fairly quickly that though she looked stern, her eyes were grinning. "Sorry. Um...do you know...are you part of the show?" Danny couldn't quite keep the awe from his voice.
A grin crossed her face and her eyes took on a look Danny couldn't name.
"I will be. Soon as I win the match in the morning..." she trailed off watching for Danny's reaction, but all Danny could do was stare at her. He thought she was amazing!
But, then he heard JD take a deep breath from right behind him, and he involuntarily sighed, turning quickly in hopes to stop his friend from saying anything that could get them in trouble with the gun toting young lady, but he wasn't fast enough.
"You're in the show?! That's not...but how...you can't...you're a girl!"
Groaning audibly, Danny slapped a hand over JD's big mouth before the boy could spurt off more damaging "observations" than he already had. The young lady- Danny wasn't gonna call her a girl even in his thoughts- was getting upset, as she shifted her gun to her opposite hand and frowned at JD, over Danny's shoulder.
"You calling me a liar?" Her blue eyes grew darker with her words and Danny watched her grip get tighter on her rifle.
"No!" He exclaimed, taking a step back, dragging JD with him as he did. "I...we believe you. Do you know...know where we can find the knife thrower?" Danny rushed his words as JD wrenched free from Danny's hold.
"Can you prove it?" JD asked before she could answer Danny's question, and the younger boy tipped his head to the side, curiosity obviously peaked. Danny groaned a second time, but a sly grin crossed the young lady's face and she gave a short nod.
"Yes."
Taking hold of JD's arm, Danny tugged him backwards some more before warily venturing, "Yes?"
"Of course I can prove it. What kind of dunce enters a contest with no skills?" the young lady's words snapped out in obvious frustration, one handing moving to her hip.
Danny's mouth dropped open again and he just stared as JD moved around him.
"I'm JD. That's Danny. Who're you?" JD stuck his hand out with his words and it only took a moment for another grin to replace her scowl. She grabbed JD's hand and shook it.
"I'm Annie."
-wws-wws-wws-
Danny dropped to the ground, then looked back up into the tree. He turned and looked skeptically at Annie.
"Are you sure...did you really want..." Danny couldn't finish his sentence. It was like every time he tried to talk to her, his tongue suddenly wrapped in cotton and his words got stuck.
"It's fine." Annie said, her tone quiet. She'd requested targets minutes before, and Danny had pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket. At her next request, he had then tied it to the highest branch in the tree he could reach. He could barely see it now. JD had found a tin can, Danny didn't even bother asking where. Annie had pointed out a rock that was a ridiculous distance away from them and JD had just gone to place the can on top of it. Danny was starting to get concerned that she was going to end up making herself look silly in an effort to make a point.
"Are you really sure…." he started to say, then stopped, unable to say more. It was as if he was jinxed by his own mouth, and she turned an annoyed look on him.
"I said it was fine."
Danny nodded, swallowing roughly and said no more as he waited for JD to come back. As soon as he did, Annie's whole demeanor shifted, as if she was now a few years older. She straightened, picked up her rifle and examined it closely, rubbing at some imaginary blemish on the butt, before pinning Danny with a look.
"I'm going over there." she pointed behind them, turned and walked away without another word.
Danny and JD looked at each other briefly, JD shrugging, before they followed her. When she stopped walking, Danny could no longer see his handkerchief, except when the wind rattled the leaves a bit and the tin can was like a spec on the horizon. Annie lifted the rifle to her shoulder….
Danny stared. He couldn't do anything else. A quick glance over his shoulder and he could see JD stood in almost reverential awe himself. Annie had fired off two shots in succession, and then they had followed her back to her targets. She had taken out the can, knocking it right off the rock, and she'd shot a hole clean through his bandanna- he wasn't sure how he was going to explain that to Jess. But, she...she just...Danny just couldn't help it, even his thoughts were muddled. He was beyond amazed. There was no way this young lady was losing that match. Just no way. He'd never seen precision like she showed. Ever. And he knew some pretty talented shots.
"You're better than Vin." JD's awe filled voice came from behind him and Danny felt himself nodding. He hadn't seen all of Vin's skills, but knew from the way JD talked about him that the tracker was also a talented sharpshooter. For JD to give that kind of credit to any person they didn't know, over one of his brother's just gave more credence to Annie's skills.
The dark haired girl grinned as she put her box of bullets back in the pocket of her skirt and shoved her mass of hair out of her face once more.
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?!" the words left Danny's mouth before he could stop them and he blushed three shades of red when she turned to give him a fierce look.
"Had too." Her clipped response was sharpened by her grabbing her rifle and whirling away from the boys, storming back towards her wagon.
Watching her walk away, Danny whistled low and quiet.
"She is one heck of a girl, JD."
-wws-wws-wws-
"She's amazing JD, can you imagine seeing the match she's going to be in?"
JD turned to give his friend a look that clearly said he thought Danny was a bit loco.
"We can't, Danny. Quit talking like that. Buck and Jess would hunt us down if we didn't come back in time and then we'd really catch it." JD shook his head at Danny, not quite sure why his friend was acting this way.
"I know that, JD." Danny grumbled back, following JD through the maze of tents and wagons that were behind the arena. "I just think she..."
"Is amazing. I know, Danny. You've said it five times." JD cut Danny off mid sentence, and then pointed, jumping a little in sudden excitement.
"I think that's him over there! C'mon, Danny!"
JD grabbed Danny's arm and tugged him toward a dark brown tent next to a rickety looking wagon. A man, whose long hair was braided half way down his back, stood between the tent and wagon, a knife in each hand. As they neared him, he tossed the one in his left hand up into the air, it spun in a wide arc and he caught it on it's decent.
JD was unable to hold back a surprised, "Wow!"
The man turned, now juggling the two knives, and grinned at the boys.
"Hey Boys. What're you doing back here?" he asked without stopping his juggling.
Actually, Danny thought he picked up speed a little and this time, he grabbed JD and pulled him closer to the man. When they were within a few feet, Danny stopped suddenly, jerking JD to a quick stop as well. Both boys stared in disbelief, neither able to speak. From this distance Danny could see the man's arms were covered in tattoos. JD gaped, while Danny mimicked a fish, his mouth opening and closing numerous times. The man watched them for another moment, then abruptly stopped his juggling, both knives back in his hands.
"Can I help you boys with something?" He asked quietly.
"You...you've got pictures...on your arms!" JD's awed voice brought Danny to his senses.
"Sorry...he..we ain't never seen...I mean...we wanted..." Danny trailed off, sounding just as miserable as he felt. He was having no luck today and he was sure the man was going to angrily shoo them off.
"Don't bite. C'mere." while it took Danny a minute to process what the man said, JD responded instantly, darting forward and talking a mile a minute.
"What are they? Can I see 'em all? Why'd you get them? How'd they get on your arms? Did it hurt? How many do you have? I ain't never seen anyone with pictures on their arms before! Wait'll I tell Ezra! And Vin! Mister, can we see you throw knives up close? Can you show us how? What happens if..."
"Whoa there, kid. Breathe." the man gave a soft chuckle with the order. He moved to the wagon, setting the knives inside, and then turned, holding his arms out for JD, as he explained. "They're tattoos. I have a few. Got most to remember stuff." JD looked at the man's arms, then over to Danny and hollered,
"Danny! C'mere! Look-it!"
Danny slowly edged closer, carefully watching the man for any shift in mood. He wanted to be ready in case the man got tired of JD's questions and he needed to get them both away quickly. JD may have not seen tattoos before, but Danny had. And some of the men that had them….
"C'mere kid. Ain't gonna hurt ya." The knife thrower spoke quietly, interrupting Danny's thoughts, but the underlying firmness in the man's tone actually soothed his frayed nerves. He nodded at the man and moved closer, grinning a bit at JD when the boy pointed to a horse on the man's upper arm and asked,
"What's the horse for, Mister?!"
The man patiently responded that it was in honor of a horse he had when he was younger than JD. JD nodded and continued his relentless queries about the man's various tattoos.
"Oh! What about this one?" JD asked, pointing to a gun on the man's opposite arm. Figuring the man had had enough, and they hadn't even asked him about knife throwing yet, Danny shook his head and touched JD's shoulder.
"JD, you've asked him enough questions. We didn't come here to ask about his tattoos..." Danny paused, looking up at the man in concern, "I mean…we like them...I just don't...we wanted to….knives. How did you...can we see...wanted to..." Again Danny was unable to finish his thought and he could feel himself blushing.
The quiet man chuckled and reached out to cuff Danny's shoulder. "C'mere. This way. Not the first to ask."
Blinking in surprise, Danny again watched for a few seconds as his best friend trotted after the knife thrower, while he just stood there.
"Danny!" JD's yell got him moving and he found himself standing just behind JD, watching as the knife thrower ducked inside the tent and came back out with a handful of items.
"What is it you want to know….or see?" he asked as he set everything on the back of the wagon.
"We wanted to know how you learned to shoot an apple off someone's head!" JD exclaimed, bouncing on his toes, his excitement amusing the knife thrower. He smiled at JD and then set up a chair, plunking a potato sack on it, followed by an apple on top of the sack. He turned back to the boys when he was done his set up, and made a shooing motion with his hands.
"Back up, Boys."
They obeyed, watching him retrieve his knife from the wagon and moving a good distance from where his target sat.
"Key here is aim and steady hands. Takes years of practice." the last part was a warning and both boys knew it.
"Yessir." Danny whispered and he heard JD echoing him. Though he couldn't speak for JD, Danny knew there was no way he'd *actually* try something this dangerous. Jess would kill him. Dig a grave and bury him 6 feet under. Jess had a thing about safety. He shook his head. He didn't want think about Jess right now! He focused back on the knife thrower.
"Never throw a knife if you ain't been taught how... knives have to be weighted correctly for throwing. And then you just…." the knife thrower trailed off as he pulled his arm back, eyed the apple for a span of a few seconds and let the knife fly. It landed square in the middle of the apple, causing the fruit to roll off the potato sack onto the ground.
"Golly!" JD breathed the word at the same time Danny let out a "Dang!"
Seeing it up close was a hundred times better than from behind the arena fences.
The knife thrower smiled at their reactions, walking over to collect his knife from the apple and set it back in the wagon once he'd wiped it clean on the leg of his jeans.
"Your folks gonna be looking for you boys?" the man asked, walking back towards where the boys stood. The two eyed each other, and JD shrugged slightly, leaving Danny to answer. He tried to look the man in the eye, but failed and felt the heat rushing to his face. He stammered a bit as he shifted from foot to foot.
"Well, no...I mean, yes. They are waiting….they're just not...um..." he swallowed hard and tried to finish his sentence, but before he could, the knife thrower suddenly grinned.
"Was it worth the trouble?" he asked, turning back to the wagon and rifling through something, while he waited for one of them to answer.
Danny flushed for about the tenth time in the last few hours. He was trying to forget about Jess and yet, everywhere he turned….!
"Maybe." he finally whispered, grudgingly answering the knife thrower's question, while pretending to not see JD's stricken look. Seemed JD hadn't been thinking about Buck, the way Danny had been thinking about Jess. At least not until this moment.
The knife thrower turned back to the boys, handing them each a small wooden knife souvenir. "Made 'em myself." the knife thrower said quietly, "You boys best get going."
Danny nodded, grabbing the still stricken looking JD by his shirt sleeve.
"Thank you!" Danny said, as he dragged JD away from the man and back towards their horses. They walked in silence for the next few minutes, both boys caught up in their own thoughts.
"Danny..." JD whispered once they'd reached the horses and were packing up their saddlebags, before getting the horses ready.
"Yeah JD?" Danny whispered back. His guilt was suddenly back in full force and Jess's words from a few months ago kept running through his head.
"Buck's gonna kill me if he finds out we were here alone." JD's words made Danny's guilt bubble up and over. This was not how this was supposed to go!
"But JD, no one knows." Danny had to keep up his facade. The whole point of this trip was to prove he didn't need a guardian. And, so far they were doing that, and doing it fairly well. "And we get to camp tonight before going home in the morning. Aren't ya a little excited about that?" Danny asked, as he looked over Banjo's back at JD, who was wrestling a bit with Danger, trying to get his bridle on.
JD paused in his fight with the stubborn equine, and looked over his shoulder, giving a little grin.
"Yeah….do you know any scary stories to tell over the fire?"
"I don't know any, but I could probably make one up." Danny said with a grin, climbing into the saddle. This was more like it!
"I know a great story!" JD said, as he stuck one foot in the stirrup and practically launched himself into Danger's saddle. "See there's this man, who lived in a big old house and he kept hearing these noises at night, but he couldn't find anything. He lived by himself, but he was sure he heard voices." JD turned Danger away from the tree they'd been tied near all day, and continued his story. "And one night he was looking in the bedrooms, trying to find the noise and you know what he saw, Danny?"
Danny shook his head, turning Banjo to follow JD.
"No idea, JD." Danny replied, rolling his eyes, knowing this story was going to last awhile, fully embellished in JD style.
"He saw eyes! Just beady red eyes staring in the window...but he was on the second floor, and…..."