Guns for Life or Death

[poohlive]

"Lawful? Sorry to disapoint you, but I am far from lawful. This badge," Nick took it off his vest, holding it in his hand. The star shined, glinting off the candle light inside the room. It seemed so heavy in his hands, so powerful. It was like the feel of a gun in your hand for the first time, oily and slick, the doors it opened, the opportunities it gave him.

"It's just a piece of metal. To be honest with you, I have a past of my own. I was stealing horses from one of the forts in Kansas. It kept me in food and whatnot, and the cavalry was nearly a thousand strong, they could afford a horse lost every coulple of weeks. They caught up to me though, they always do, don't they? Sooner or later, they always catch up to you. And, I stood there, just some seventeen year old kid with a gun in my hand, and I killed some stupid private because he was going to run me in for the horse I stole. I didn't mean to... I just wanted to, I don't know, scare him or something, make him lie down on the ground until I got away. The gun fired, and he went down. He didn't get back up."

Nick handed her the badge, "I've been running most of my life, but that man, your grandfather or whatever, he said he would take away all those mistakes I made. He said he would give me the money I needed to settle down, and he would make sure no one found out. He looked out for me when no one else did."

He sat back down on the bed, sighing as he did so, "I have to take you back. I'm sorry. I wish you were some cheap gun runner who deserved all this, but you aren't. You are just a sweet girl with a horrible grandfather, and I'm sorry I have to take you in."

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor laughed at this and couldn't stop. "You think he will give you the money? He killed his own son just because he married the daughter of a Priest and wouldn't be his lackey. What do you think he will do to you? I doubt he thinks of you highly. He doesn't think of anyone but himself."

Taylor gingerly moved to the side of the cot pushing Nick to the side, "Excuse me but I think I am now strong enough to at least use the chamber pot by myself since you all aren't letting me go to the outhouse."

She waited for Nick to leave disgusted with herself that she could even still feel something at all for the man before her after what she had told him about her father's death. Her grandfather wouldn't let him live and she knew that...that is why she felt sick after the dream. She knew that they were both dead.

 

[poohlive]

"You can go to the outhouse if you want. How weak you are, and those pills you've been taking, even if you wanted to run I doubt you'd get a mile before passing out. Come on."

Nick was at her side, helping her with each step. He had a warm smile to hos face, brow furrowed as he pulled her along with him. Outside the outhose buzzed with flies and had a distinct smell coming nearly as soon as they got anywhere near it.

Nick stopped just outside the door.

"I'll have some food made up for you. We can eat downstairs, even. All that ruckus before is gone, and people are starting to get things back to normal. I think I'd like to have a nice meal with you... before we have to go back. Call me if you need anything."

Nick went inside to order the food.

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor knew she was weak but once her business was done she went in search of her horse...first asking the cook as she entered the back entrance to the saloon/hotel. She found out that it was being stabled next door by the bartender himself who also owned the stable. She moved so slowly that she could see Nick watching her progress across the yard to her horse which she instantly kissed and gave a carrot to.

"Look what we have gotten ourselves into. Wait until you hear what my stupid heart is doing. God I hate my grandfather. If only grandpa had died instead of daddy..."

She turned to see Nick walk into the stable and she wiped her cheeks on her horse's neck then slowly walked towards him.

 

[poohlive]

"Thought you said I could trust you," Nick gave her a weak smile, walking up to her. He saw she was crying, and not just from the pain. She had lost, and had to go back, it was tearing her up inside. Her grandfather would probably kill her, or do things bad enough to make her wish she was dead.

He was taking her back to do that. He had to though, she was the key to his own happiness. Who was she to him, just a means to an end.

"Come on, food's getting cold. We are leaving in the morning."

 

[Daisymell]

"You can trust me, as long as you allow me to keep my father's guns. You take those and you are dead. And I know we are leaving tomorrow morning. I was just making sure my horse is ready to go."

Taylor gave him a disgusted look through her teary eyes, "I think I will eat then go back to bed," she started to walk out of the barn then turned around.

"You know there is more to money in life and to happiness? But maybe you don't."

She turned back around and continued to hobble out.

 

[poohlive]

Nick ran up to catch her, slipping his arm around her, "At least let me help you. My goodness. You are going to kill yourself you put up such a fuss."

Taylor was always a woman that seemed to do things her own way, though. She had a way about her that refused to play with the rest of the rules. Nick always liked that about her. How opposite everything was with her. He had studied a lot of her other work, other towns, things she had done, feats. Some were amazing, others simply ludicrious, but they had pushed her this far.

If she hadn't been stupid enough to come back to this town she might still be away, miles and miles, with him on her trail.

Inside they had a warm filling meal. Nick sat down to gobble up a bowl of stew.

"Money can't buy you happiness, you're right Taylor, but it can buy you damned near everything else. And I'm not doing this for the money... not just the money at least. I'm doing it for my freedom. To me, that's more important than anything."

 

[Daisymell]

"Your freedom? What are you slave to? What if there was another way to do what you want? There is more than just one way to gain something. I wish I could help you. I wish you wouldn't sacrifice me for yourself but since it will be for you and your freedom, I will go without troubles," she ate her stew quickly.

"Now it is time for sleep and rest for tomorrow. Wake me when the sun rises or whenever you do...whichever is soonest. Goodnight...Lawman."

She turned to nod at the bartender and slowly moved up the steps using the railing as she went.

 

[poohlive]

Nick thought about fighting her some more, but decided against it. She would be stubborn all the way back home. He would just have to grin and bear it. Luckily she could not run away, not without hurting herself. She gave her word to follow him back, and Nick knew she would keep it.

That didn't make his job any easier. He still hate it. That look on her face was just devastating. She looked like one of those exotic birds that had just been caged, and knew from now on her wings would be useless.

That stupid badge, stupid fucking deal. He wished he could go back on it, just get away from the whole situation. It was too late, though. Wheels were already in motion, if he jumped off now... he would be hunted just as much as she, maybe even more.

Nick slept in the common area, and tossed and turned mostly all night. He woke up way before the sun did, and spent most of his time getting the horses ready and packed up outside.

"Taylor," Nick knocked on the door as soon as the sun started shining in the east, "Come on Taylor, it's time to go."

 

[Daisymell]

Taylor had not slept at all. She had just continued to look out the window at the way the sounds down in the bar got loud and soft like a wave. When the knock came that morning she was already packed and with her wounds rebandaged.

She got up and answered the door smiling weakly, "Already packed. Are we ready to go?"

She moved to pick up her saddlebags then stopped, "Could you help me please?"

Taylor felt like she was going to cry but she kept it as hidden as possible smiling through it all. The sooner they got there the better.

 

[poohlive]

"Yeah, of course, here let me," Nick grabbed up all her baggage, throwing it over his shoulder with a heavy grunt. He used his free hand to steady her, and help her down the stairs.

Her horse was waiting, and seemed pleased when Taylor finally came out. Nick smiled weakly, putting the saddlebags on the horse, and then getting up on his own.

He held one of the reins, so it was tied to his horse. She was stuck with him now.

"You need help getting up?" He offered, supporting her weight. They would leave soon enough, a nice easy pace back to her grandfather's.

 

[Daisymell]

"Yeah if you could just help me get from the ground to standing in the stirrups then we should be able to get moving."

She gave him one arm to steady and put the other to pull herself up on the saddle horn. She slowly pulled herself up trying not to tear the stiches and was finally in the saddle breathing heavily. She grabbed her water pouch and drank a little then looked to Nick.

"I am in your hands. We have quite a bit of traveling to do."

 

[poohlive]

"I suppose you're right."

After that a lot wasn't said. Nick started off, a slow trot out of town. Her horse followed his, the reins loose between them. Even the horse seemed defeated as it came along.

Out of town they took a trail back west, that slowly rounded the smooth hills of the valley. It would curve more or less south, and would take them within a few miles of where they needed to go. Taylor had ran far, yes, but she had not run in any sort of straight line. If anything, she had curved and bobbed here and there in some sort of weird semi pattern that took Nick week's to follow.

Her trail was almost ingenious. He had to double track several times to find her, losing precious days.

Nick looked back at her, his brow furrowed.

Stupid woman. If she had only kept running, things might have been different. Another few weeks, if that, but still a little more freedom than before. Now, she was destined to slowly watch Nick's ass as they moved back to her home.

It wasn't until mid-afternoon that he made them stop. A cool stream ran nearby, deep enough to swim if someone were so inclined. Feed and drink for their horses, and some much needed rest for them.

Nick lay out a blanket in the shade and then helped Taylor down.

He looked at her, wanting to say something. To try and apologize... if that were possible, but in the end he just couldn't. It was a lousy fucking situation, and he had no business trying to say it wasn't his fault she was here.

"You should have kept running," He said, sighing, and lying down on the blanket to look at the clouds overhead.

 

[Daisymell]

"You are telling me. I would have if I hadn't gotten completely shot up and had to go back to the town. I feel like I could feed several leeches for years with all the blood I have lost. The river looks nice...do you think the good doctor would allow me to take a bath?"

Taylor went to the age and sat down slowly to take off her boots and stockings and sank her feet in the cool water.

"Mmmm that feels good," she looked back at him. "Come sit by me and tell me about yourself. I will have to get to know you before we reach our destination."

 

[poohlive]

Nick took off his boots, moving in alongside her. The feel of the water under his feet was great, cool and refreshing. He didn't find any objection to letting her get wet. If anything it'll help heal the wounds.

"Oh, just Nick is all. Used to be a stupid renegade outlaw kid. Back when I didn't know any better. Made some money, but made more than a few mistakes. That's when you're grandappy, or whatever got a hold of me..."

But, Nick had already told her that part. He didn't feel a need to reiterate that in front of her.

"I like horses, and am pretty good with them. Hope to own my own ranch some day, train them and sell them for a price. Only two things I was ever much good at was training horses and shooting a gun. Reckon I don't want to shoot a gun much anymore."

Nick took off his shirt, and slipped out of most the rest of his clothing, moving into the pool of water in front of them. He hollared at the cold water, until it felt better against him.

"Hoo Whoo!!" He said, smiling, "Come on in, swim with me."