Isabella and Dr Derulo finally arrived in Blackwater, it was a long journey since they had to cut around the O'Driscoll gang, but were able to beat them there with a small lead.
"I need to find Rosalyn first and foremost," Izzy said as she held her side painfully as they trotted into town.
"You need to rest that wound. I told you not to rides so soon it's going to go septic." The Doctor said as Izzy finally slowed to a walk.
"We don't have much time," Izzy complained.
"That gang isn't coming near this town till tomorrow. Not after I laced the water supply, those bandits will be shitting till dawn." He joked with a grin.
"That was a brilliant move doc. Do you know anything about this place?" Issy asked.
Down the main thoroughfare, the town was bustling with people — beautiful clothing shops, a barber and much more lining along the water's edge. A beautiful lake was glistening in the sun on a clear day.
"Well, start with the Sherrif. I heard he goes by The Candy Man." Dr Derulo looked around for the signs.
They looped around the town a few times, getting a layout of a few allies and the lumber yard till they came upon the Sheriff's office. A lovely small brick building which they hitched their horses too out front. The Doctor came around to help Izzy off her horse as the Sherrif stepped out.
A blonde-haired man with a long goatee and moustache finely shaped into a handlebar. He wore creme clothes and brown leathers, a gentlemen's suit decorated with the golden badge. His gunslinger holsters matched his cowboy boots.
"Well Howdy there folks, what can I do for you today? You're a couple of new faces in town." The Sheriff said and walked to the top of the stairs.
"I am the sheriff Tobias Candy, you are?"
"I am Isabella Morningstar, and this is Doctor Micheal P. Derulo. We come looking for Lady Rosalyn Bush. She was travelling-"
"With a gaggle of girls from Strawberry, yeah I know the ones. They are housed over in Horny Holly's. Wait a second. Ain't you that bounty hunter? Caught the Bayou Bandit?" Tobias asked, giving the lady in red a grin.
"Yeah sure, Where is Holly's?" Izzy asked matter of fact.
"What my partner means, is thank you, sir. We have an urgent message to deliver to her ears only." Micheal said and stepped in front of Izzy.
"Perhaps you should go ahead. I will fill in the Sherrif on what he needs to know." He added calmly before climbing up the stairs.
"Holly's is at the end of the street. What do I need to know?" Tobias asked and followed Micheal inside.
Isabella went tried climbing up on her horse but decided against it as her abdomen twisted in pain. Shoving back away from the creature, she pulled out her rifle and began walked for the inappropriately named inn at the end of the street. As Izzy walked with purpose, she looked up in time to see the familiar blonde exiting the joint. She was far, but unmistakable and Izzy trotted a bit faster.
"Rosalyn-" Issy spoke up as Rosalyn walked down an alley towards the saloon with the Deputy. As Izzy headed into the alleyway, Rosalyn and the Deputy made it to the other side and took a left. She shouldered her rifle not to alarm the Deputy but before she could exit the alley.
A man stepped out in front of her.
"Well, who do we have here? You lost pretty lady?" Dutch asked as Izzy came to a stop in front of him.
"Well, I'll be damned," Dutch said ashing the cigar in his mouth against the brick wall and advanced on Isabella. He was pushing her into the alley with a hand on his pistol.
Izzy forced to step back as she hovered one hand above hers.
Click!
"Don't move," Arthur spoke from behind her. His gun pointed at the back of Izzy's neck. The cold steel was stinging her nerves.
"Arthur, look who it is," Dutch said excitedly.
"Why it's little Izzy Wizzy," Dutch said with a grin. "I remember picking you up from that burnt down farm. Yellow like her piss-stained dress and dirtier than a pig. " Dutch said and looked her up and down. "You're looking like a lady finally." Dutch relaxed. With Arthur at the ready, he relights his cigar by slowly striking a match. Letting the others on the street walk farther away.
Izzy glared at Dutch but honestly shook in fear from the gun at her head. Lost for words as she stared at Dutch in a vulnerable state.
"Arthur, any idea why she's here?" Dutch asked as he slowly drew a puff of smoke.
Arthur paused, and Izzy looked over her shoulder at him. Her hands raised away from her weapons. There was a twitch on his lip, a subtle shake in his hand but Izzy made direct contact with his eyes.
"She's... looking for you," Arthur said, struggling for the right words.
"Me? How flattering. What pre tell are you looking to get from me, Ms Morningstar? The gold in my pocket? The bounty on my head?" Dutch asked as he leaned against the Alleyway wall, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was coming. He pushed off the wall before he could take another puff of his cigar.
"Take care of her Arthur, Then Skidaddle quick," Dutch said and went to dart away.
"Don't" Arthur tried to speak, but Isabella turned on her heels and drew her gun, trying to aim it at Dutch before he was out of sight. It happened so fast, unlike any pull of the trigger like before.
Time slowed down. The world narrowed in his vision as the lively colours vanished. The Dead Eye vision of a bird of prey as Arthur had to make a choice.
He fired his gun, and the bullet tore through her skull as the rest of her went limp. The gun clattering to the ground sending off a second shot as the red gloved hand grasped tight on the trigger.
The bullet narrowly missing Dutch as he ran off.
Izzy now laid dead on the ground, and Arthur froze for a moment his gun held aloft on the air as the hot steam of the bullet drifted up.
It happened so fast. Arthur thought as he raced out of the town. The sounds of dogs barking behind him. His mind was swimming with all sorts of thoughts. Things had just gotten so much worst. He was confused. That was the worst thing about it all. Arthur was so sure, for the longest time he was so sure but the first thoughts of doubt began to cloud his mind.
Those thoughts had to wait.
Arthur needed to lose the tail on him. Before he could think, a black man and the Sheriff showed up behind him. They must have seen him because they were hooting and hollering calling for men to search. Arthur needed to change. His hand made vest too noticeable. Stripping it off mid rush, he trashed it before sprinting into a full dash, darting for the nearest hitch post for a horse. Outside the Sheriff's office, an abandoned horse which had broken free of his hitch wandering the street. Arthur jumped onto it and took off out of town. The Wiping the sweat from his brow his white shirt smeared red with blood as he looked down at his sleeves. Izzy's blood smeared over his face.
"What have I done." He said heartbroken.
The town broke out into a panic, the shots of gunfire in the streets sending Rosalyn and the Deputy in a full dash for the Sheriff's office. As they got inside, Rosalyn ducked around to the window and peeked out. She pulled a pistol from her purse and saw just in time. Arthur Morgan was galloping by on a strangers horse. Her eyebrows furrowed with worry as she saw him leave in a rush. She said nothing though, and not long later. The Sherrif and the Doctor came into the room.
"Put out a warning to the town. We have gang members in the area." The Sheriff said and kicked the desk frustrated.
Doctor Micheal was walking back and forth with both hands on each side of his head, upset. "I left her alone! How could I be so stupid? Izzy, I'm so sorry." The strange Doctor said out loud, making Rosalyn's eyes almost cross in confusion.
"What did you just say?" Rosalyn asked, standing up.
"Ms Bush please, stay calm. The O'Driscolls you were speaking of are here near town. Stay away from the windows." Sherrif Candy said and moved her away from the window.
"You said, Izzy! Who do you mean by Izzy?" Rosalyn asked exasperated.
"Ms Isabella Morningstar madam, You must be Lady Rosalyn Bush. Excuse me." Doctor Michela dusted off his trousers and bowed to her politely.
"My Name is Doctor Michela P. Derulo mam' I travelled here from Strawberry with your friend with an urgent message. You need to leave town." He said and looked Rosalyn straight in the eye. "Right now."
"Where is Izzy," Rosalyn demanded.
"Mam please." The Doctor doth protest, but Rosalyn marched up to him.
"Take me to her now!" Rosalyn barked. Her voice loud enough to shake the windows.
"I'll bring her here." Sherrif Candy stepped out the door, and for a long 5 minutes. Rosalyn stood in a staring contest with the Doctor. He said nothing, and she could read nothing from him.
Not long later, she heard the heavy steps his the Sheriffs boots in the dirt outside. Rosalyn finally broke eye contact with the Doctor and went to the window, but her eyes widened, and she skipped the window to go straight outside.
"My Lady wait!" The Deputy called out, but Rosalyn was already on the porch. Her eyes swelled up with tears as she watched in horror.
Sherif Candy was carrying the body of Isabella Morningstar like his bride. Her red hair was dripping a trail of blood into the dirt as the Sheriffs cowboy hat shielded Rosalyn from witnessing the gore for herself.
Rosalyn ran down the stairs, tripping over her skirt before Doctor Micheal stopped her.
"Let me go!" She screamed in tears.
"Please, wait." The Doctor tried to calm her, but Rosalyn broke away only to stop a few steps away. The Sherrif stopped in front of her holding her still body.
"I'm sorry my lady, but the O'Driscolls are here for you. Doctor Micheal is right. You need to leave." Sherrif Candy warned.
Rosalyn reached her hand up to the Sheriff's hat, hesitating above it. Finally able to lift it a few inches to peek, but quickly turned away.
"Ms Bush." The Sherrif tried to speak to her, but Rosalyn shook her head.
"Don't. I'm not leaving. Not till I mount Colm O'Driscoll's skull on a pike." Rosalyn cursed as she put the hat down gently and held Izzy's limp hand.
"I'm sorry" Rosalyn whispered as she pressed her face into the Sherrif's chest and started to cry.
"I'm sorry."