Nebraska.
This morning I walked into the saloon and smiled when I saw John sitting at the bar. I joined him and we talked about the morning and how we had been hunting and cooking food a lot. Finally I admitted,
“You’re not the kind of guy I usually have a drink with...”
“Ya know ya ain’t half bad... Don’t understand why someone would wanna hurt ya in any way. Why damage perfection?” he looked at me. “Yeah, most tend to keep clear of guys like me.”
I blushed at the compliment and said, “It was a long time ago,” though in honesty it was only a couple of months ago. “I’ve learned a lot from it, and since then...”
“Yeah well, I don’t understand why though,” John said, as we’d talked about the cave the day before.
“I gave up trying to understand it myself, John. I find ya can’t change people... even though you see no justification for their actions...”
“Yes that is true. They will only change when they want to. It’s like the saying goes: ‘you can lead a horse ta water but ya cant make them drink’.”
“Very true. Might not even be able to lead ‘em. Some horses just don’t wanna be led, ya know what I mean?”
“Yes, that I do,” he nodded as we drank whiskey. “Well I wasn’t always an outlaw or whatever you wanna call it. I was law way back,” he chuckled.
“Were ya?” I looked over at him.
“Yes ma’am, I was.”
“What made you change, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Well. . . . a bunch of bandits came out to ma ranch and torched ma house with my wife two little boys. I was out in the field tillin’ up the ground gettin’ it ready for the next harvest and yeah... I’ll let you fill in the rest.”
My eyes went wide as I listened and then I saw Angelo and Red walking in and greeted them. I put my hand on his knee and said, “Oh John...”
“Interesting story,” Angelo said.
“We’re looking for the black brothers gang, had you seen?” Red asked.
“Nope, ain’t seen ‘em yet,” I shook my head.
“Yes well they are all gator food now so I’m happy and content,” John smiled.
“Well, they stole our money in the bank, they arrived before,” Red told me.
I looked over at her and asked, “Where did this happen?”
“In New Mexico,” Red frowned.
“So now we need some money dears...”
I took that as my cue and said, “See ya around, John. I should head home.” I walked out of the saloon before they could repeat themselves from the day before.
Kansas.
I went to the village and talked with a Sequioa who was making linen and she told me she sold it so that she could make more. Maryam came in and I told her about the incident in the saloon this morning and continued to talk with her and Sequoia. The girl said that she wanted to go to Colorado but a lady in black said to stay close to home because it was dangerous.
We continued to talk about gathering supplies and making traps and gathered supplies I needed. I followed them to the mines in Kansas where I gathered supplies I needed.
Nebraska.
This afternoon I was sitting in front of my house when Adder walked over. I went to hug him and said, “Hey Taurus!”
“How are things going out here?” he asked, hugging me back.
“Alright, just been doing some mining...” I said, looking towards the saloon and then back at Adder, debating telling him what had happened.
“Good stuff. I’ve been doing some trapping, but I’ve got more than I need.”
“Lot of time on your hands huh?”
“How are you off for meat?”
“I’m a little low...”
“Hell, you take some then. It’ll only go off if I keep it all.”
“Thanks, Adder,” I smiled and took the meat from him. “Thanks, Adder. I appreciate it.”
“Any time! Things are quiet back in Colorado, so I’ve been getting supplies in for the winter.”
“Care to join me for a drink or are ya busy?”
“Aye a drink would be good.”
I walked over to the saloon but then hesitated as Adder commented about the work that had been done around town. I told him he should see the sheriff’s office and clinic and he walked towards me curiously. “What’s up?”
“I... Maybe we should check out the other buildings. I want to show you the courthouse too.”
“Sure,” he nodded, avoiding pressing the question I could see on his mind.
We walked around town and I showed him all the new buildings. I realized I should tell him about things the last couple of days and looked down. “Maybe we should talk...” We walked into my house and sat at the table and I felt safer there. I looked at him, not even sure where to start.
“So.... whats up?” he asked.
“Okay... Well... yesterday I was almost robbed, got hit on by an outlaw... Today I was having a drink with said outlaw and then the woman who tried to rob me came in along with some others I didn’t feel safe around so I left...”
“Oh? Got any names?” Adder raised an eyebrow.
“Red Viper and Santos were the ones who almost robbed me in Col Springs, but Jake and Chels handled the situation well. They arrested Santos; wasn’t sure if they got Red but then she showed up at the saloon here.”
“Those two are getting more restless back in Springs,” he nodded.
“The others... I don’t know who they were but it was a couple of women and I just got a bad vibe. The guy... His name’s John,” I looked down, thinking about him and trying not to blush.
“Some folks you can just tell you don’t wanna be around em,” he nodded in understanding.
“Did I mention I’ve missed you, Adder? It’s a shame you don’t have any jurisdiction over here.”
“Missed you too Trin. The jurisdiction thing might change. Looking into maybe being a marshal,” he grinned.
“Oh really? That would be nice...”
“Aye. Seeing as we don’t have any ‘resident’ bandits in Springs, I reckon being able to go after ‘em outside the town boundaries would be useful.”
“Could use my constant body guard back,” I winked.
“It’s not like Amiville where the mayor and judges are so corrupt and inept that the outlaws feel happy drinking there,” Adder said. “And unlike my counterpart over the border, I CAN shoot for toffee.”
“Any recommendations on what I should do now?” I chuckled at his comment knowing he was talking about Logan.
“Stay in town whenever possible. If you do have to travel out, try not to ride alone. If you do ride alone, ride fast.”
“So mining’s probably not a good idea, huh?”
“Probably not, no. Isolated, secluded, and dark. Mines are a great place for someone to ‘disappear’”
“Charles and Brent are around quite a lot... So I’m somewhat safe here.”
“Good.”
“Charles has let me stay at his place a couple of times already.”
“Good to know the law out here are decent folk.”
“And Hawk is close by... I trust him too.”
“Aye, good to know he’s close.”
“That’s the main reason I came out here. I wanted him to be close.”
“I heard they have trouble with Harley Buu?” he nodded.
“Yes they have... Buu and Turner have attacked a few times. There’s not much anyone can do though.”
“But they’re not too keen on having law help, from what I’ve heard.”
“There’s no law in Kansas that I know of...”
“No, but the Marshals can go out there.”
“That’s true... When did you say you were gonna become one?” I winked,
“It might not happen, Jakes looking into what it means for the town, can I cover the sheriffs job and that sort of thing If he finds out it’ll work, then hopefully everything can be taken care of quickly.”
“I hope it can, Taurus,” I nodded with a smile.
“Me too.”
“I’ve missed debriefing things with you... It helps clear my head better.”
“Just like old times.. minus the preening ponce,” he added with a mutter.
I reached over and put a hand on his arm. “A lot has changed, Taurus...”
He nodded and said, “I has a moustache!”
“I noticed,” I removed my hand and smiled. “Makes you look more.. sophisticated.”
“Thanks,” he laughed.
“So... about that drink...”
“Aye,” he said and followed me to the saloon where we got ourselves some whiskey.
“Oh...” I said after a while. “Another thing happened weird yesterday... A guy came in here looking for Amelia or Mr. Day. Said to tell them that he was ‘back’... Whatever that means. Said he was a friend from Georgia... but as far as I understand it Mr. Day’s from Peurto Rico.”
“Don’t think I know them.”
“Amelia lives in Col. Springs.”
“Oh...” he chuckled. “Shows you how often I see folk there.”
We headed outside and walked around the town. We talked with Sapphire briefly and then I headed home for dinner after saying goodbye to Adder.
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