Guns for Life or Death

[Morgoth]

"Sure do", said John, " you're Taylor "Bloodbath" Dean. And I'm John Lors. Now that introductions are over: You, Miss Taylor are the second reason I'm here. No, not because of the bounty. It's just money. Big fuckin' deal. I've got enough to buy this damn town, if not the county. I'm here to give you a bit of a proposition. And as a sign of good faith, I'll holster these here weapons", he said, slowly uncocking and holstering his six-shooters.

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor didn't know if she liked this situation but her curiosity always got the better of her. That is how she usually got into trouble but she shifted her guns away from John pointing one low on the lawman and the other towards the door just in case anyone decided to enter through that way to surprise her. He knew who she was? That was interesting.

"What kind of proposition?"

 

[Daisymell]

ooc: posted twice

 

[Morgoth]

"The Night Riders, and especially me, have heard a great deal of your exploits. I am getting old, I can't even shoot through two dimes at 100 yards anymore! I need someone to take my plave. Now, don't get me wrong, the boys are all good men, but they're not exactly the leading type, if you see what I mean.

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor:

"Why me? Why not someone you know and trust. I could shoot you right now for killing the law in this town and give you over to him," she pointed to the lawman. "He has been following me a while. Don't know why he has actually persevered but it is flattering," she smiled to the lawman.

 

[poohlive]

Nick held his hands in the air, nodding slightly. He thought she had known about him following her. It was why she kept up this horrid pace running and running.
He didn't know why she knew though? Maybe someone back home had told me, maybe even her father. It would make sense.
Nick shrugged his shoulders, "I'm just doing my duty, Ma'am. The law is the law. It is nice to see you get this far though. To be honest, when they said I had to catch a girl, I thought this would be the shortest bounty yet. You put up one helluva fight though. Thank you."

 

[Daisymell]

"Naturally men underestimate a woman. I am more of a good person than people think me. I kill gangs not lead them. Some even think I am a ghost or a demon. Why? Because I am not exactly what I seem. That is one thing that helps me. No one has a clue who Taylor truely is."

Taylor smiled at both men and made sure to have a six shooter on both men.

 

[Morgoth]

John laughed uptoariously for at least a minute before turning back to Taylor. "You think we're a gang? Bullshit! We keep the order around here. We keep up the gang pretenxe by robbing the occasional town, but we only take bare minimum. We also keep the U.S. from getting too powerful by robbing gold trains like the one passing through. We keep lost lives down to a minimum all the while, of course. Of course, the boys don't know any of this, that's why they can't lead", said Nick slowly.

 

[Daisymell]

"I wonder what would happen if they ever found out. But, I do agree with you that the US is too powerful. I am sure that is why someone at home sent this guy after me," she looks to the lawman. "Who did send you after me and why?"

 

[poohlive]

Nick laughed, but bit his tongue when the gun still pointed in his direction. No wonder this loon wanted a girl to lead his gang, he was flat out crazy. Having one group of idiots running around and stealing gold, making sure no one else grew too powerful.
Who in the fuck did this guy think he was?
It explained a lot now, more than Nick had first percieved. He kept his hands up, but this guy would always be a flat out loon to him from now on.
"A friend is all I can tell you, a powerful friend. I got the job through a letter, and that was the only mention of who wanted you. I don't know, but he's paid plenty, and given me status with the law, so I would have to guess someone rich and powerful, who can pull some strings."
She was doing a lot of talking. Could she be thinking as well? As far as he knew, she was in some deep shit pulling guns on Mister Psycho over there, but maybe she was thinking of a way out of this. He underestimated her once, he wouldn't make that mistake again. She was clever, and she'd think of something.
He just hoped part of her escape was putting a bullet through his head.

 

[Daisymell]

"Shit! Not... I'll kill him when I see him again!" Taylor became so enraged that when one of the Night Riders entered the bar she automatically shifted her gun off of the leader to the man and shoot him square in the knee without even thinking or moving her gaze from the other two men.

The man screamed in pain as she just continued to swear her rich "friend" up and down.

 

[Daisymell]

"Look, I don't think me leading your gang is such a good idea anyway. I don't want to go home and I don't want to stay in one place. I just want to leave without any problems. It was great meeting you both," she starts to back out of the bar passing the man grabbing his knee in pain, "Goodbye now."

 

[poohlive]

Nick gave her a friendly bow goodbye, as he tipped his hat.
"You should have kept going, Taylor. I might not have caught up for another week or so. We'll meet again though. We'll meet again."
He put his hands down, walking over to the bar. After all this shit, a few shots of burboun and some beers would take the pain and ignorance away. He could get drunk, fuck himself a woman, and then spend tomorrow nursing his headache... before off on the road once more.

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor grins, "You will never find me again. It is very easy to get lost here in the desert," she backed up to the doors but unfortunately one of the other Night Riders entered the bar after hearing the shot. The doors collided with her ribs and her knees instantly buckled as she felt her wounds open and begin to bleed. Her guns stayed in her hands but the wrapped around her body in pain. She laid down and rocked back and forth trying not to scream.

 

[poohlive]

Cursing the very God who decided to put him on this fucking earth for no real reason except pain and suffering, Nick took another shot of burboun, asking for the bottle from the tender.
He left a dollar, going over to Taylor as she huddled in pain herself.
"You're hurt... bad," He looked down at her, remembering the bed and the blood stains on it.
"Here, this is going to hurt, but it'll help you heal," He tore her shirt, just enough to let the alcohol pour down to the wounds.
"Where is the doctor's office?" A few of the regulars told him a few buildings down.
"Would he be in?"
"Sure... he's always in this time of day."
Nick corked the burboun, putting it in a pocket, and kneeled down to his bounty.
"I'm going to pick you up, ok? Take you to the doctor... that is, if you'll let me."
His eyes traveled from her, to the guns in her hand, and back to her.

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor gritted her teeth in pain and even groanedas she felt the alcohol burn. She opened her eyes to look at the man who was suppose to be arresting her instead of helping her and saw the concern in his eyes. God if they ever got out of this situation he might be worth a chance.

She nodded in answer to his question of him taking her to the doctor and slowly sheathed her guns whispering, "They are my father's...all I have...don't take them."

She looked into his eyes and said, "Thank you." She waited for him to pick her up and take her to the doctor's.

 

[poohlive]

"Come on then," He wrapped her arms around his neck, and scooped up the rest of her, wicing as he saw her cry out in pain. He kicked open the door, walking down the small wooden sidewalk passed the general store. Small sacks of grain and flour were piled up in various places; he moved passed each to a small little office that said one simple DOCTOR on the front.
"Doc?"
"Arnold will do just fine," As an elderly man came out, with a warm smile on his wrinkled old face.
"I've got someone here, a friend, she's been hurt pretty bad."
"Ahh," He seemed to recognize her, "I hoped to see this one. She left last night, but was hurt pretty bad. I thought the worst, she might be out in the desert somewhere. Thank God you found her..."
"Yeah," Nick looked down at her weak form in his arms, unsure if God was the one to thank for this moment right now.
"Bring her in the back."
He did, laying her down on a hard raised bed, where various instruments laid upon on small white cloth.
"Oh," He removed her shirt, looking at the wounds.
"This looks bad, I'm going to have to take off the rest of her clothing. I know you're a friend, but..."
"Right, I'll just wait in the front," Nick moved to the door, looking back at her as the doctor began to heal her wounds.

 

[Morgoth]

John watched all this in interest. Then he stood up and walked outside. "Let's go, fellas. Leave the gold", he said. When one of them asked why, he got a hard look in response. "Are you questioning me? Let's go. Quickly. I need some peace, concentration, and patience. Trust me on this and you'll all be wealthier than you've ever imagined possible", he said quickly, swinging onto his horse. "Let's get out of here."

 

[Daisymell]

As Taylor was getting her wounds cleaned and treated all she could do was scream or cry and she hated doing both. He had called her friend even though he was trying to arrest her? What a weird turn of events. As the doctor helped her back into her clothes he told her she wouldn't be able to leave the town for at least a week since there was so much damage. She nodded regretfully and said, "I will take up at the inn again. Thank you so much. If you send me a bill I will get you the money when I next see you. Its in my boots on my saddle. My horse bites so no one can get close."

She stood up and almost fell to the floor, "Would you mind asking my...um...friend if he could help me to the inn?"

 

[poohlive]

For hours Nick had sat there, unsure what to do. The nervousness had forced him to drown most of the bottle, and even tear up the floorboards as he paced back and forth uncontrollably. It saddened him that he couldn't do more than just sit here like a lump on a log.
The doctor finally came out, and told him of the situation. Nick nodded, understanding, glad to get inside and see her again. She looked a helluva lot better now, the wrinkles gone under her eyes, and some color returning to her face. Nick smiled, a little more than he intended.
"Sure, I'll help. Come on," He got under one of her arms and helped carry some of the weight.
"A week huh? Well, you'll get plenty of rest. Your rooms still empty. I mean, I got it... so you can use it still. You need to sleep, let's get you under some covers."

 

[Daisymell]

OOC: After so very long, we are at it again.

IC:
Taylor groaned as the lawman moved her out of the doctor's office and down the boardwalk to the inn. The people inside were still a little stunned but the leader of the gang was gone. She couldn't wait to sleep; the pain was starting to make her sleepy. The lawman assisted her upstairs where, before he could get her into the bed, she fainted on his arm from pain, exhaustion, and the day all together. She would dream of him and how she would get revenge on the one person who had had her chased after...her grandfather would pay, for he had killed her father.

 

[poohlive]

By the time Nick laid her down, the doctor went into a whole speech about her condition. He only half heard what the doc said, but felt he got enough of it to understand. The doctor put down a bottle of pills on the table, she should take some every time she felt in pain. She should get plenty of rest, no riding, no running, nothing physical for a few days, and then come see him again.

Nick thought she would be better in less time. He moved along the bed next to her, her head in his lap. A small sigh escaped him as he rubbed her head.

"You don't know how long I've waited to have you in my hands," He whispered, pointing at th badge on his chest, "I was law. I got to run into towns, and order people to do as I say. Even the sheriff. I don't outrank him, I don't outrank a sheriff, but I am kinda equal with him. He let's me do what I need to do. I got so many people thinking you were some desperate criminal, even kind folks who knew you and said how nice you were."

Nick bit his lower lip, "That was the hardest part. I hated making them think that you were mean and dangerous. The contract I signed though... that much money? God, I could have my own ranch, hire people, buy horses. I could live the rest of my life in peace, and never have to do this again. I'm getting too old to go chasing after young girls and running through towns. I just want to settle down."

She slept so peacefully. He continued to massage her head, wiping the hairs as they fell out of place. A small angel, sleeping in his arms.

 

[Daisymell]

In her sleep she felt wonderful. It never seemed to stop. On and off she would awake to a face above hers and she would smile recognizing the lawman who would shove a pill between her lips when she groaned from too much pain then again she would fall. Into the bliss of sleep where she pictured a farm, horses all around with cattle mooing in the distance and sheep and pigs lazying in the shade. She saw a house and barn off to her left which was drew her in. When she entered she could smell baking and cooking and children laughing with a man who was bathing them in one of the rooms. She smiled at the children calling them by name and being called mother. But she woke up in shock when the father turned to show the face she woke up to and all she could feel was frightened and alone.

 

[poohlive]

"You all right?" Nick saw her wake up with a start, holding him close as she did. A strange cold shiver went through her body, and Nick could feel it. Goosebumps jumped out on both of them.

"It's ok, I'm right here," He hugged her, holding her close, "I won't let anything bad happen to you. It was just a dream, ok? Just a bad dream."

Nick tried to calm her down, make her think about something else. Maybe that would work.

"Tell me about the guy who hired me, Taylor. The one that wants you back so bad. You said you knew him... "

 

[Daisymell]

"Papa," she whispered. "It was Papa or my grandfather," she shook her head for a second. It hadn't been a bad dream it was just that she never could have that wonderful dream. "My father was killed by my grandfather. I proved it, he went to jail for a while, when he got out he found me and that started the chase. It started when I was 15...it has been going on for years. He wants my head...either that or for me to take over in his wicked ways over the family. I hate him...I will never go back," she glared at Nick..."Never!"

She shook her head and whispered, "It wasn't a bad dream...I want my dream," she looked at him. "I remember seeing you in certain towns after the first time I heard you were looking for me. I wondered why someone so lawful could get involved with a grotesque man like Papa. Why?"