Chapter 4 ” OUTLAW” Part 1.
the bright desert sky shone above the few clouds, through a blazing sun. Some tumbleweeds hurdled nearby, disturbing the calmness by a gust of wind. A traveler rode across the dusty trail, her horse a tan palomino, flecked with rich brown speckles across his face and body. The traveler was headed west on the way to the town of the gold rush, indians, and thieves. The traveler strode past through the wood houses and corner markets, and stopped to a halt at the saloon nearby. The sounds of piano music she heard, drifting through the double swing doors.
….
“You sure you ain’t bluffin’? ‘Cuz if you are…” Marcus Allenwood revealed his pistol behind his poncho, the steel barrel glinted in the light.
“Nah, I ain’t” replied Shane Mutchuchon, with a tilt of her hat and a smirk. She looked over the poker table, studying the players intently. Melvin Porter placed the bet, sprinkling a couple chips on the table. As well as Oscar, who chewed his fingernail through rotten teeth. In the foreground, the piano man played a familiar tune, as Jenny sang to the audience on stage.
“What do you got,ya’ll?” Shane mused, as she put her cards on the table, face up. Melvin, Oscar, and Marcus blinked in awe, ” Royal flush, pilgrim! Read it an’ weep!” Suddenly, a tall dark stranger entered the room, stopping Shane from grabbing the men’s earnings. Deep, brown eyes scanned the crowd of the saloon, and the pianist stopped playing to look up at the cowgirl. Wearing brown leather boots, a dark brown duster jacket and black ,wavy hair over a white stetson hat, she was not a woman to mess with. She paced through the tables and Shane dropped her jaw, and just stared and marveled at the formidable beauty. “Mercy,” she said under her breath, ” I’d like to tame that wild stallion!” And the men shushed her, as the blonde began to speak.
” Howdy folks,” She growled,” Name’s Bette Porter, Ah’m the new Sheriff ’round these parts.”
“Pardon, ma’am, but our Sheriff left this mornin’, so-” Melvin started.
“Like Ah said, pardner, ahm the new Sheriff ’round here. Sheriff Alice is dead, buncha marauders shot her in the back.” Jenny got down from the stage, pulling the burlesque like dress as she stepped down.
“Oh yeah? We need some proof, stranger.” The dark woman complied, by pulling out a badge, Alice’s badge, and threw it at Jenny.
“ALICE!!” She cried, catching the metallic star, sobbing.
” We all had great respect for her, and I will not rest till I find someone behind all this, which is why I came here today.” She walked by Shane, who averted her eyes.
“Ahm lookin’ for an outlaw that fits this description.” Christina pulled out a sheet of paper, with the drawing of a woman’s face, “WANTED: For thieving, murder and treason. Ransom:$1000″ on the label. She shoved it in Shane’s face.
” Anyone lookin for this Outlaw and her whereabouts will be rewarded greatly. Ah want Christina Kennard Dead or Alive!”
…..
“OOomph!” Tina opened her eyes, and found herself lying on the floor, in the apartment of the C.A.C. Shane burst through the door, followed by Bette, who frantically looked around the room, then back at the blonde, lying on the floor.
” What’s going on? We heard a noise!” Said Shane. Tina sat up, pulling her legs bent, and blushed embarrassingly
“Sorry.” she said,” I had a bad dream. I’m fine now.”
“Uh, all right,” Shane smiled with a wink,” We thought a buncha goons were attacking ya. But you’re okay?”
Tina nodded, looking back at Bette, then at Shane again.
” You going to come up to the kitchen, for breakfast?” She asked
” Um, yeah, in a bit. I’d like to talk to Bette first.” Shane’s smile widened.
” You want to talk to Bette…” She looked over at the dark haired skinned girl, grinning devilishly, while Bette remained neutral, crossing her arms over her shoulders.
“Why?” Bette asked.
“Because it’s important.” She stated, and Shane giggled like a maniac.
“I’ll leave you two ladies alone for privacy.” She winked at Bette, who rolled her eyes, as she left the room. They were silent as tension filled the air.
“What did you want to speak to me about?” Bette murmured, looking deep in her eyes, and Tina could help but feeling drawn to her.
” Um, I want to apologize, about last night, and I really feel bad about it. Jenny told me about, about-”
“About Alice, yes. You can say her name, I won’t mind.” Bette turned away.
” I’m sorry too. I don’t really know you that well, and don’t really trust you either. But Daddy did hire you for the C.A.C. and I suppose I can trust for you to work with me as much as he trusts you..”
“I’d like that, let me get a chance to get to know you, to trust you.” Tina walked up to Bette, closing the gap between them, only Bette stepped back.
“Woah. I said I’d trust for you to work with me, not trust you entirely. Anyway, I should go, there’s a meeting in 0-100 hours. About Eric and his little operation. Turns out we got a tip.” Bette opened the door.
“Bette?”
“Yes, Tina.”
“What was she like?” Bette stared at the blonde, looking down at the floor and exhaled the breathe she was holding.
“She was…” The woman began, a slow smile curling her lips as she remembered Alice.
“She had a wicked sense of humor.” She laughed, and Tina smiled back, ‘ her giggle is so cute!’ she thought.
” I um, I’ll leave you to change. Be back at 0-100, remember?”
“Got it! Thanks!” And the door shut, as Tina lay back on the bed, a stupid grin on her face. ‘ I’m so nervous, I’m gonna burst! But I got to let her know that I trust her…good god if only I can trust myself from grabbing her and kissing her! to. She has the most gorgeous looking body I’ve ever seen, I’d just like to know what was under those clothes of hers’ She giggled, holding a pillow in her face, trying to stop the naughty image in her head.
…
Bette bit back a smile as she walked through the hallway. ‘ I can’t get her out of my mind! I want to trust her but I can’t right now! I’ve got all this ***** to deal with, and I just don’t need another person that I love getting hurt right now.’ She sighed. Besides, she has a boyfriend. AND She’s straight, and I’d just mess everything up.’ Abraxys sat in front of Bette’s door, waiting for her. Bette smiled, patting the puppy on the back.
” She’s straight, right?” Said Bette to the yawning puppy,” she wouldn’t want me anyway.”
tbc