The Bounty Hunters'

[Shoty98]

Red

While Diablo took in water I dismounted and croutched down to the river. My hands cupping and dipping down into the water to toss a bit over my tired swollen face. The coolness of it was such a relief. I dipped my hands down in once again and brought them to my lips drinking just a bit. Flushing the rest over my face I stood and paced the bank. Why did the tracks split back there? Who was off and running for life in the west and who had stayed behind? They were questions I was unsure of.

"Damn Joe this just seems to get crazier by the minute." I inhaled deeply, the fresh night air calming me for the most part. Walking down the bank a bit I was contemplating what we had seen, when I came across a disturbance in the sand of the riverbank. The tracks of two horses, the footprints of one human and near the river. What in the world?

I was about to call out to Joe when I heard Chester speaking up about sleep, tracking this tomorrow and a shelter for the night. I looked back at the group of them sitting atop their horses and headed back toward them. "That would probably be the best idea Chester. At first light we should check out the tracks in the snad of the riverbank. Two horses, one man's footprints, either the man shot earlier was dumped off, or they stopped for a drink. And it looks to me the tracks head south form there." I pulled myself astride my steed.

 

[Tibxo]

Keith

Though not a good a tracker as the two bounty hunters, Keith can see that the two men's have split up. He isn't happy splitting up the small group to chase both tracks down, especially in the middle of the night.

"Good idea, Chester. We'll make camp at the old mine and start after them at first light."

Sliding off his horse, he slowly makes his way to the mine, realising that he could do with some shut-eye before going on a man-hunt...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I hopped off of Thunder and glanced around.
"You are right Chester, we cant keep up at this pace.." I grabbed the reins and hopped back on. I was worn and weary and irritated this happened. Turning the horses, Red hopped on Diablo and we all rode a little way's to the old mine. Sliding off once again, I laid out the bed roll I had on the back of my horse and sat down.
Red built a fire and we pulled out cans of beans from my saddle bags. I was always prepared to high tail it after someone, good thing I was this time too. Heating them up, One by one i handed them out.
"I dont know what happened at the river. But there were three people. Or are you forgetting the tracks that lead west earlier? So someone met up with who ever came due south.. Though I do wonder who and why and when. We will find out soon enough, I spose." I laid back in my bedroom, laying my hat on the ground and my gun under my near flat pillow. Red had tipped her hat over her face and held her gun on her stomach. She slept, I could hear her soft even breathing.
I glanced over at Chester and keith.
"Well you two are the lawmen here.. What are we going to do in the morning? Split up or not?"

 

[Tibxo]

Keith

"Well you two are the lawmen here.. What are we going to do in the morning? Split up or not?"

Keith does not answer straight away. Instead, he saviours the taste of the beans. The truth is that he isn't sure what to do. One the one hand, he doesn't want to lose either trails (just in case one is false). But then on the other, their group is small to begin with, splitting them up will only expose them to a greater danger of ambush.

"We'll split." He says finally. "You and me'll go after one of the trails while Red and Chester goes after the other. We'll try to get reinforcements on the way."...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I nodded to Keith my eyes meeting his momentarily. He still made me hot from across the camp fire. I felt the blush creep to my face, but I held his gaze. Not so long ago, the things he did. My body tingled slightly.
"Sounds.. umm Good to me. Let's get some sleep.." I curled into my pallet and spent one long night tossing and turning.
At dawn I crawled out of bed and got everything loaded up on Thunder to go.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Richard Dalton

I hopped off of my horse and put him away for the night. Mark lay in his bedroll sound asleep mumbling threats at an unseen force. David had come back, informing me of where the sheriff was headed.
"Good, glad ya got rid of him before it was too late. Moron coulda led them straight to us.. YOU did cover your tracks right?!" I turned on David, making sure I seen his eyes when he replied. Little brother could never lie to me that way.
"Dont forget, we need to get some justice for Frankie's untimely death.. That wench will pay and pay big time. Now get some shut-eye and then we can head out to Twin Springs in the mornin'. Gotta bank with our name on it.." I curled up into my bedroll placing my hat over my face to block out the fire.

 

[Shoty98]

Red

I awoke and stretched my body in the first rays of morning light. Joe had been up already and loaded everything. It was like her to be the first up and rarin' to go. I holstered my weapon and pulled myself from the ground, wandering out of the mine to find Diablo. I needed a bit of a wake call and on this brisk morning what better than the river.

With that thought I glanced at Joe, she had an unslept look about her. Tired and worn the same as she looked most mornings, but I knew better than to ask. She rarely talked about, just pushed it aside and went back to work. "Mornin' Joe." I finally spoke "I am going to take the horses to the river and get them their fill. Care to join me or you want to stay here and their hind ends up and goin...." My lips curled in a grin "I reckon a round fired in the air would have them on their feet in a wink." I chuckled and walked the four horses to the river to let them drink. We would have a long journey today, tracking the sheriff and Angel.

All the while the horses drank I croutched at the edge of the river and cleaned myself up a bit. The coolness of the water bringing me from my drousy state into a fine conciousness. I stood and righted my hat on my head, for today it would be needed to sheild my face from the sun. I paced the bank and looked back toward the mine, waiting for a sign that they were ready to go.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

I woke up, scratched my head, and yawned. I had woke up with a stiff one, but I would have to ignore it. I had work to do. I got some beek jerky out of my saddle bag for breakfast. It was my own little invention, for when I didn't have time for breakfast.
I went toward the river to wash my morning face. I saw Red there, giving water to the horses. I got up, and said, "well, what do you know. Someone who wakes up earlier than me. I never knew one existed". Not exactly a friendly good morning, but it would have to do. We all would tend to get a bit grumpy in the morning after sleeping in a rocky cave. Red looked... cute in the morning.

 

[Shoty98]

Red

I turned to see Chester there.. "Earlier than the crows...my pa always said." I gave him the warmest smile I could manage on this early morning and sat down on the bank. He looked as though he hadn't slept all that well either, the rocky floor of the mine was less comfortable but what could any of us do about that.

Removing my hat and setting it on the shore, I went about braiding my hair. It would be far to hot today to leave it down. As I did so I faced Chester.. "What do you think of this mess, Chester. Think we'll find the sheriff and his lacky?"

 

[Tibxo]

Keith

Keith awoke with a stiff ...... neck.

Dang having to sleep out in the open!

Getting up, he sees that the others are already awake and up. Pulling himself to his feet, he walks down to the river's edge to wash up which consists of dunking his hat into the water and then placing it on his head, allowing the water to pour over him, literally washing away his drowsiness.

Brrr! Certainly colder than most mornings! He thinks to himself, feeling the icy liquid run down his back.

Feeling refreshed if not colder than he did, he returns to the camp to find that the others are almost ready to leave.

Dang! He could shore do with a cup of coffee!

"Morning, folks. This is the plan. We're gonna spit up. Joe and I will take the tracks heading west while the others take the second. Chester, if you see anyone on your travels that you can trust, try to get them to join your posse. Okay, let's go."

He can't help but watch Joe as she mounts up, unable to stop himself from admiring her. Then he remembers how they had looked at each other last night.

Get on with your job. He admonishes himself. The last thing he can do at a time like this is go all soppy over a girl...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I walked down the river a ways and found the Sheriff's vest laying on a rock. Picking it up I headed back to camp. Everyone was ready to go, so I mounted up on Thunder.
"Hold up a minute... Sheriff's vest was down stream a ways.. I think we should saunter our asses that way as a group. It would be safer in numbers. It's a clear indication whoever went west back there wasn't the sheriff. one: his vest was down stream. Two: there was no river back where they parted ways. Safe to assume south's the direction we want." I nodded and glanced around, I hated mornings. I was not a morning person, but here I was awake before the others again. never fails. I glanced over at Keith, noticing his hot gaze. He was thinking, and not about work. I smirked a little and gave him a sassy wink.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

"Well Red, I for one think the sheriff should be dead for hiding behind the law. Hes a traitor, a criminal, and... hes very rude". I got up, and noticed that the others were awake. I went up to Red, "it looks like we're about to ride off now Red". I offered my hand to help up Red. Was she going to accept it, or was she going to go all "independent", and get up herself?

 

[Tibxo]

Keith

The vest! How did he miss it?

He finds himself looking at Joe as she winks at him.

God he wants her!

Realising what he is thinking, he tries to concentrate on the job at hand.

"Good idea, Joe. Okay then, we will do what Joe says. Let's go."...

 

[Shoty98]

Red

"Yes it does Chester" I looked at his outstretched hand, a gentleman quality I hadn't seen before. I smiled and placed one hand on my hat, the other placed in Chester's and a moment later I was on my feet. Straightning my hat on my head I let my hand linger in his for just a moment.. "Thank you Chester." letting his hand loose I pulled myself astride Diablo. "Let's find ourselves a sheriff....shall we." With that, we were off.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I turned Thunder, and began to follow the winding path of the river. Dawn was just cresting, and all around things came to life. Butterflies lifted as the horses waded through the underbrush. I kept my eyes alert at all times, watching ahead, below and behind as often as possible looking upwards towards the looming mountains. I knew a calm spot we could cross to finish the trek and more than likely was used by the sheriff also. Turning towards the river, I went to wade in on Thunder and stopped.
"Holy shit.." I looked down in the water, and there floating was the sheriff. His eyes locked on mine, in a very bloated pale wrinked face. I backed up Thunder a little and watched as the now dead sheriff floated and butted against a fallen log in the water.
"Well. Our search is over.." But many unanswered questions popped into my mind. Where was his horse? Who had killed him and why? He hadn't been dead very long, but he was deteriorating rather quickly. Could be the trout and salmon were feeding on him is why he looked so water logged. I shivered slightly and glanced away a moment. Sightless eyes that no doubt gazed apon his killer with some fright.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

Wow, I couldn't believe that I had just offered Red assistance, and lived to tell the tale. I thought she was the type of person who was pro-independence, and all that. I also noticed the way her hand lingered on mine. It felt odd, but kind of nice at the same time.
We rode past the water, and into the distance. We soon found the corpse of the former sheriff. Overcome with anger I jumped off my horse, and began to roughly kicked his corpse. "Oh ho, I bet your faking your death, just like you faked everything else you little bastard! Get Up!", I continued to kick him, and spouting words of anger, letting my rage go loose. "Protect the innocent you said, uphold the law you said! The only thing you ever protected was yourself ya butt-fucked, back-stabbing, throat cutting, lying piece of horse shit!!!". I calmed down after fifteen minutes of kicking, and ranting. I was sweating, and breathing hard. I never knew I had it in me.

 

[Shoty98]

Red

I halted Diablo and watched as Joe looked into the water and said our search was over. It wasn't but a moment later I watched in amazement, Chester in the river kicking the hell out of the sheriff's corpse and spurtin' out quite a number of remarks that I bet none of us had even thought of.

Sliding out of my saddle I wandered over to where Chester stood and looked down upon the sheriff's body floating there. Then took a look at Chester, now soaking wet and angry.. ''Feel better?" I asked and without waiting for a reply I continued.. "He is getting his Chester....I would bet he is center stage in hell, barefoot and naked as a jaybird, dancing on hot coal's for the amusement of all those who lurk there." I smiled a bit, it was granted, a sick and twisted thought but that is how I imagined the sheriff right about now. It was a borrowed thought from Mr. Wang, he once told me of a vision pretty much the same. Worked for me and maybe got the point across.

"Alright what do we do with him now, we can't leave him here, he'll contaminate the springs down yonder. Shall I pull him out and leave him to the wildlife to pick clean? Or do we take him back to town?" I looked at Joe and Kieth, waiting for their thought on the question.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

I bent down to have one last look at the corpse, and made me deputy analysis, "We should bury him. Its the decent thing to do". I hauled up his body, wrapped it in a horseblanket, and tossed the body over my horse. I turned to Red, and said, "should we ride back to town now, or is there another place we could bury this bag-of-bones?".

 

[Shoty98]

Red

I sighed and said nothing about Chester's comment of decency. What the sheriff deserved was far from decent, and far from what I wished to give him. Trugging out of the river I stood on the bank shaking out the water from my breeches, and looking at the lump that was now strewn over Chester's horse.

"I would prefer to dump him off somewhere, but since you think we need to do the decent thing here. We could take him to town and drop him off at the Doc's office. He will prepare him for burial and when the new preacher arrives he'll take care of the rest. I will take him..."

I climbed atop my horse and motinoned for Chester to throw the sheriff on. "You will need the safety of numbers..I will take the sheriff back to town while you three continue on. How does that sound?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I glanced at Red and then at Chester. Wondering what we really should do just now? I had no idea, I glanced at Keith.
"Do we ride on as red suggested or shall we all go drop off the body and head out again?" I pulled on my gloves, watching him for a decision.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

I thought for a little while. If I rode on with them, then they would stand a better chance of beating whatever was attacking. Then again, I rode with Red then she would have a safer trek back to town. Then there was a question loyalty to this mission. So I finally decided to stay with Keith, and Joe.
I went up to Red, and said, "you head on back to town Red. I think I'll stay with these two... just in case". It was then when I realized that I had my hand lingering across her arm. I quickly pulled back, blushed, and said, "sorry about that, um... well, anyways, have a safe journey back to town".

 

[Shoty98]

Red

"No harm done Chester." I spoke and smiled at the crimson that still stretched his face. The sheriif had been thrown over my horse in front of me, turning Diablo around I glanced at Joe. "Please becareful, we're not excatly sure who we are dealing with here. And therefore don't no what to expect. I'll meet back up with you as soon as I take care of this slab of worthless flesh." With that I kicked my horse and was on my way back to town.

All the while thinking of who could have met up with the sheriff, there was only one thing that I could think of and that was the Dalton's. But how could they be this close to Tumbleweed now, after robbing the bank you would think they would have high-tailed their asses further from town. Who knew? If it was them or if they were really still this close, I didn't. My thoughts kept getting interupted by the nagging feeling I should just dump off this slimeball and head back to find the others. It was sooo tempting.

Sometime later I arrived in town and haulted the tired horse in front of the Doc's office. First thing I did was throw the rotting corpse to the ground then climbed down myself, finding a couple of recruites we got the body in the office and in the room Doc used to fix em up. A few breif words with the Doc and I was on my way to the telegraph office. It was there I sent a telegram to the Federal Marshall's office in Denver, it went something like this.....

Marshall's office....Denver Branch,
The town of Tumbleweed is now out of a Sheriff. He was a criminal poseing as a Sheriff. He was shot last eve, we believe, by someone still yet unknown. Please dispatch a new Sheriff and make sure you check him out thoroughly. Also a bounty needs to be placed for Brad "Angel" Micheals, he was set free buy the poseing sheriff and is now on the loose once more, and heading west. Add to his list of crimes..Arson and Attempted murder. If there are any questions wire me in Tumbleweed.

Red Sloan....Bounty Hunter

With that sent I left the office and gathered up my horse. I stopped in to the general store.

 

[Tibxo]

Keith

Still on his horse, Keith watches in surprise at Chester's reaction at finding the Sheriff's body. He had always been emotional about things than he has. Even so, seeing his friend get off his horse and start kicking the daylights out of the corpse still comes as a shock.

For a moment, he thinks of stopping him, but instead lets his friend get it out of his system.

Finally, with Chester calmed down, they discuss what they should with the body.

"Do we ride on as Red suggested or shall we all go drop off the body and head out again?" Joe is looking at him, expecting an answer.

Once the decision is made, a few minutes later Red is riding the body back into town. He isn't none too happy about splitting up the group but they may need the body later on and Red can get fresh supplies.

Looking up at the sky, he sees that the sun is slowly climbing, the early mist now gone. He wants to get on with the search.

"Right, I don't see any tracks here 'cept ours so I figger that his body drifted down river. So 'less either you reckon on something else, we are going up stream to take a look. There may be tracks up there or even better, his gun. It certainly wasn't on him."

Then turning to Joe.

"You shore that Red'll be able to catch us up?"...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Joe

I gave him THAT look that clearly said can the sunset?
"Of course she can track us, she's best in the terriotry aside from me.. Now let's back track and get underway. There is another criminal out there and we need to get Micheals before he causes more trouble. And whoever killed the fake." I turned Thunder and kicked him enough he jumped forward and took off towards where the body had to have been dumped. I pulled up when I found the spot.
"Here we are gentlemen... Tracks that clearly head into the mountains. But how far do they go? Most know how to cover their tracks.." Speaking of which the Dalton's were also damned good at it. I made a few marks with Thunder's hooves, knowing Red would see the little 'T' and follow.

 

[The_high_king]

Chester

We then rode off, following a trail of hoof prints, and what not. The more we went out, the less, and less visible the hoof print became. Then we got to the mountains, and scratched my head. Whoever killed the sheriff came a long way to do it. Its either this person was paid well, had a very extreme hatred, or some crazy cult-joining fanatic or something. As far as we no we were after to people, a man named Brad Micheals, and a unknown character that is yet to be discovered.
We entered the mountain pass slowly. My deputy senses were tingling, or I just had a gut feeling. I raised my hand, and quickly said, "stop!". Dead silence filled the pass, I looked around, and said, "its too quiet here, somethings off". After a couple of seconds, a barely noticeable pebble tumbled down from a cliff, and landed beside my horse. I looked up, but no one was there, but I did hear a small scrap sound. I took out my two guns, and said, "stay sharp people. Somethings up".