The Gunman (open)

[silvertongue217]

He groaned laughing a little at her admission of him being "incredible in bed"

"Afraid i will have to take your word for it darling" He said shaking his head running his hands up and down her naked back. He moaned in appreciation and reached down bringing her closer into the crook of his naked body.

"Well" he said looking over at his wounds and frowning "I got it for being an idiot more or less I thought I could parley with the dear bill seeing as we used to run in the same gang I was trying to be honorable but just ended up with a shoulder wound" He said frowning "this time however he gets my full attention which doesnt bode well for him"

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella frowned when he told his story, worry gripping her heart. "You have to confront him again?" she asked softly. "Promise me you'll be careful, won't you? Why do you have to go face the entire gang on your own?"

 

[silvertongue217]

"because its my job" He said stretching out and smiling at her "but dont fret darling there as dangerous as a cat" he said getting up and looking out the window "its bout time for me to go take care of it though" he said turning to her "what do you say darling ready to get out of here and go to the ranch ima drop you off there before heading to take on the gang"

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella looked uncertain. "I... Actually, is it okay if I stay here until you come get me?" Even though she knew he was likely to come back, the thought of being dropped on a ranch she'd never been to before, and then getting stuck there if he never returned was terrifying to her. Not to mention the fact that she had friends here who could comfort her while she worried about him.

 

[silvertongue217]

He looked at her for a few long minutes before nodding. He grabbed*his coat and pulled it on holstering his gun last.

"Alright darling be back in three days" He said pushing his hat on and leaning in surprising her with a kiss "and dont fret to much i will be back before you know it" he said winking at her before turning on his heel. He walked off closing the door behind him and heading out to dispense the justice he was paid to dispense.

 

[slut_in_white]

The rest of the girls in the brothel recognized Ella's feelings for what they were the moment she came out of the room. A few thought she was being foolish, falling in love with a man they thought was just a client. The rest were kind and considerate of her as she spent the days worrying over him. She couldn't bring in a client for the life of her - not that she particularly wanted one, anymore - because of the way her brow looked furrowed and her expression distracted all the time. In the end, she ended up spending the three days helping the servants with the cleaning. She insisted on making herself useful, and busying her hands kept her from going insane with worry while John was gone.

 

[silvertongue217]

He appeared three days later

On a horse whistling a tune to himself. He looked none the worse for wear as a matter of fact he looked oddly at peace as he angled up the path. He stopped at the house and got off wincing a bit at his old wound before coming in and pushing his coat off.

"Hello ladies" he said ignoring the giggling and tipping his hat at them "I came to pick up my new ranch hand... with your permission of course"

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella was upstairs with one of the other girls, helping her to clean up her room after a particularly rowdy customer made a mess when another one, a young brunette came dashing in. "Ella! Your lover is back!" she chirped, giggling.

Ella straightened, ignoring the teasing giggles, and grinned. "John's here?!" She immediately ran down the stairs, saw him at the door and began to laugh. She flew across the foyer and straight into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Oh! I'm so happy you're back, and you're safe!"

 

[silvertongue217]

He laughed hugging her back picking her up slightly "I did tell you I would be didnt I?" He reminded her chuckling even more as he put her down.

"I also believe I told you to be ready to go" He said raising an eyebrow at her "my ranch is a days journey from here so as long as we leave promptly we can be there by nightfall so go gather the rest of your stuff and say your good byes" He said pulling out a coin purse. He walked over to the madame and made arrangements not only to pay for her but to also pay for his room and board while he recovered with them.

 

[slut_in_white]

Grinning from ear to ear, Ella nodded and ran back upstairs to finish collecting her things - she'd packed everything away that she needed, she just needed to collect a handful of things that she used every day and couldn't pack right away. Once that was finished, there was a line-up of girls waiting to give her hugs and wish her luck in her new life. Even Mistress White gave her a big hug once she made it back down to the foyer.

With her things packed her her farewells said, she turned to John and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Shall we?"

 

[silvertongue217]

He waited for her patiently checking his horse and tying up the small supplies they would need in order to make the trip. He watched as she said her good byes angling his face to block out the glare until she finally came over and kissed his cheek.

"We shall little lady" he said smiling at her and lifting her up and onto the horse. He clambered on after her and after making sure she was secured he snapped the riens and stirred the horse into action. They began a slow gallop on the trail and fell into a comfortable silence at first.

"My ranch is up closer to the mountains" he explained pointing off into the distance "Its got a bit a chill to it so if we need any clothes for you let me know okay darling =" he said looking back ath er and spurring the horse into action.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella let him position her on the horse - she'd ridden a lot when she was young, but it had been years. Once he was seated in front of her, she slipped her arms around his waist to hold on and let her cheek rest against his back, enjoying the warmth of his body in front of her.

As they rode, the air chilled and she hugged him closer, smiling at his offer of more clothes. "I think I should be alright for now. I might need some new things in order to be more useful on the ranch, though," she answered, shrugging. Her clothing for the past several years had all been purchased with her clients in mind. They were all lacy, colourful, revealing and easy to put on and take off. None of which were particularly useful on the ranch. She'd need simpler clothes, things that would be tough and able to withstand a hard day's work. "I have a few things I could wear that would work, but not much."

 

[silvertongue217]

"We can stop in a nearby town and look into that" John said shuffling on the horse and looking out at the trail "Though I hope you dont mind me saying miss that I hope you dont get rid of all of dem clothes" He said turning to send a wink her way before chuckling and looking up at the sky.

"I guess we should talk bout that as well" he remarked looking out at the horizon "my offer still stands you will be coming onto my ranch as a farm hand and i expect you to work just as i expect to pay you a wage for that work however if you decide you would still like to share a bed with me every night...." he trailed off letting her get the drift before continuing.

"It will be because of us both wanting to and i wont be paying you nor will i be treating you like some girl i can just get with understand?" He said urging the horse forward as they began to eat up the trail.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella's arms tightened around his waist when he pointed out that he wasn't expecting her to trade sex for her pay check. "I know," she answered, smiling. "Thank you for this. Not many men would allow me an opportunity like this one." She chuckled. "Though, it does little but convince me I do want to keep sharing your bed. And don't worry. I don't plan on getting rid of my dresses. It's more that I don't want to ruin them working in the dirt and hot sun every day."

 

[silvertongue217]

"right right" He said trying not to swallow to hard about her sharing a bed with him "I can work on that we can stop at the town just outside of my ranch and buy you some outfits there"

They fell into comfortable silence together for a few hours before he finally stopped at a town "were not to far out" he said to her pushing himself off the horse and helping her down "we will bunk here for night be at the town to get you some clothes by mid day tomorrow"

He tied up his horse and went in bringing her in and paying for a room for them to share

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella slipped down off the horse and followed John inside. There were several people still milling about on the street, and the men were giving Ella a certain kind of look because her clothing made her previous profession somewhat obvious. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and hurried to John's side, uncomfortable with the way some of them were watching her.

Once they made it upstairs to the privacy of their room, however, she began to relax. "I'm looking forward to seeing the ranch tomorrow." She sat down on the end of the bed, smiling. "You know, you seem uncomfortable with the idea of continuing this relationship once we get home. We don't have to... I want to, believe me I do. But I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

 

[silvertongue217]

He followed after her making sure to give any one that lingered with their eyes a quick look at his gun to show them he meant business. He followed her noting the way she pulled her shawl around her body and walked up behind her and put his hand on her back. He guided her into the hotel room closing it behind them and locking it before putting his hat and coat up.

He turned surprised by her words, he shook his head laughing as he crossed his arms.

"You couldn't be further from the truth darlin" He said smirking "I just want to make sure YOU know it isn't some thing you have to do in order to get this job" he walked over kissing the top of her head before sitting down in the chair across from her.

He took her hands bringing them up to his mouth and kissing them lightly

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella's whole expression lit up in a bashful smile. She was still unaccustomed to such sweetness. Once John finished pressing his kisses to her knuckles, she stood and approached him, stepping easily into his arms and pressing a kiss of her own to his lips. "I can't imagine what I have done to deserve such sweetness in my life. But I shall be thankful for it, every day."

 

[silvertongue217]

"Bah every one deserves some sweetness" John said with a wave of his hand "this place might be wild lands but that dont give people a excuse to act like a bunch of varmits" He said smiling and kissing her back before pulling away.

"Now im going to see about getting some food" He said pulling out his spare revolver and spinning it before handing it to her grip first "you take this I trust you know how to use it I dont like how some of dem men were looking at you blast any who decide to come looking you here?" He said raising an eyebrow at her and waiting to make sure she understood.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella took the gun, looking a little uncertain. "U-um. I've used a rifle before, not one of these. I imagine it's much the same though, right?" She offered him a smile, trying to look more confident than she was. "I'll be fine. I'll just wait up here until you get back. No one's going to come into the room looking for me." I hope.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Yes wait up here and dont answer the door for any one but me" John said nodding and looking at the gun "and dont be afraid to use that thing" He told her putting his hat back on before going to the door.

"Lock it behind me" He said before closing it. He was probably being overtly cautious but he didnt want the young lass to get hurt in any way. He nodded at the other ladies of the night upstairs (this town was to small to have a brothel) and walked down to the main lobby. The owner was nice enough to point him in the direction of a food and general store and he got them both a few simple things for the journey ahead and for their dinner. It took him an hour to make the purchases and thankfully when he came back it looked like nothing had gone amiss.

"Its me darling open the door" He said knocking softly.

 

[slut_in_white]

The moment John was out of the room, Ella put the gun down on the table and went to sit by the window. It wasn't that guns made her uncomfortable, exactly - rather, it was the thought of why she might need one in a room at an inn that did. The door was locked, and she was safe enough with just that. Even if some of the men on the street at been leering at her even more than she was used to.

She entertained herself by watching the town through the window until John returned. She saw him coming down the street, laden with food and other necessities, and smiled. The smile drew a blush to her face - she wasn't used to feeling such joy at the simple sight of a man.

She heard his knock and his voice, and opened the door. She reached out immediately and took some of the food from his arms. "Here, let me help you with that!" She took the food to the table and then finally took a moment to check and see what he'd purchased. "This looks quite delicious. Thank you."

 

[silvertongue217]

"It will do at least until we get back to the farm and get some home cooking" John replied nodding at her kind words. He noted the gun on his table and mentally made himself a reminder to practice shooting with her. The ranch he owed was by civilized land but there was the occasional Cattle Rustler and walk incursion. He needed her to be comfortable with the idea of shooting some one.

Even if she didnt like it

He took the gun back exchanging it for the food in his hand. He spun it and slid it back into his holster pushing his duster off as he did and throwing it on their bed.

"Go ahead and dig in" He said taking a piece of the jerky he bought and tearing off a piece. He went over to the window checking his horse before turning to her.

"Tomorrow before we head out we will get you some new clothing" He said "that way you can blend in a bit more I dont like them looks the men were giving you"

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella took a seat on the bed, tearing a piece of bread for herself and topping it with a slice of cheese. She smiled when he offered to buy her more clothing. "Thank you. Your concern is very sweet, but I'm rather used to men looking at me like that. I doubt they'd do anything. Not while I'm with you, anyway."

She took a bite of the bread and chewed thoughtfully. "I'll still need new clothing, however. For working on the ranch, so I suppose it's something we should do anyway."

 

[silvertongue217]

"never doubt the stupidit of men" He warned her shaking his head and eating his own share of the food.

"Yes I suppose you will" he said eyeing her current outfit and smirking "though I probably will buy a few more pieces for you to wear in private as well" He told her taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.