1 comments/ 4461 views/ 0 favorites Longwood First Hunt Day 05-06 By: emap Quiet steps waken me, I don't move at first simply move my hand to my Colt. When the person comes around the corner I sit up pointing my revolver at one of the Apache, his hands high looking a little surprised. He tells me the sky has awakened, with a sigh I nod waving him off as he looks at me smiling. I shoot him a dirty look and he goes chuckling quietly. Feeling like a failure that a man had to come wake me up I grab up my clothes. Dan is still asleep or so I thought, I sit on the bed to put my pants on when he grabs me. I'm under him in a flash his handsome face pressing down to me for a kiss, then a second. Before I get to excited and let him have his fun I push him back a little. "Vittles Dan, the sky is awake and you want me out of the sheriff's." Dan chuckles and smiles at me. "Gwen are you making vittles?" Dan asks we hear a conversation before Gwen answers. "Sylvia is making it, something to do with eggs and tortillas. Be a little bit before it's done we just started." I look up at Dan he looks back with a questioning look. I sigh and put a hand to me, I'm somewhat ready with only a little pain. I nod to him he comes to me for a kiss. I wrap my arms around him and work one foot under so I can pull him atop me. Dan does not try and come to me, just lies on me kissing away his readiness pressing in. I'm ready now I want this, I move under Dan trying to work into a good place to get him in me. Dan pulls back to look at me and smiles before coming to me, I accept him with a sigh. I feel good having my Dan, my hips move with him a little, afraid of moving more and wanting to. Dan holds me tight kissing me as we move together I can feel stars coming, held back a little by pain and discomfort. I try and only think of my Dan with me, it works I'm moaning as the stars come. Dan gets almost a pained expression above me then groans as his stars come. Lying under my man I welcome his warmth with a sigh as my stars fade away. I hold on to him as he moves a little to get everything where I want it. Dan collapses atop me I sigh and hold him feeling like everything is good. A knock on the wall gets us to look Gwen is standing there looking a little jealous. "Vittles are done, Janet I thought you gave birth last month." Dan chuckles and goes for his pants. "I did, second son it gets easier. Dan hurry up I think Gwen has a question." Dan looks at me then Gwen and sighs then slips his shirt on grabs his boots and goes. I sit up on the bed, grab my pants and work them on as Gwen comes and sits on the bed. She doesn't say anything so I grab up my shirt hand her the badge and slip it on. I'm putting my belt in place when Gwen finally opens her mouth. "Janet I don't know if I'm making the right decision. Silvia had to help me get ready for Martin. Shooting those men felt right but I keep seeing their faces, I woke up twice last night." I sigh and sit next to Gwen putting my arm around her. "It is not normally like that, I'm prone to shoot first. Round eyes never treated me well until Dan and not often since. It gets easier, you don't want it to but it does. You need to find something to do to keep you calm during, and find a way to feel fine about it after. Martin says rolls are my way to do that, they are not, it is the being held after that puts me good." "Do the faces go away?" I shake my head. "The faces stay you will see them everywhere at first I see the dead hovering behind us. They start to fade but you will always see them at odd moments, anytime you are excited or upset. Kansas City was always bad for me I would see the dead buying a roll. Walking down the street when I would leave the brothel. They fade they never go away they become instead a welcome sight, a sign that you are alive." Gwen looks down I grab up my moccasins and put them on. Standing I take her hand and my Winchester to pull her out for vittles. Silvia hands me a plate with two tortillas rolled up with something in them. I look inside to see scrambled eggs and beans. Dan is smiling at me as I sit at the desk again apparently it has become my desk. "Scrambled eggs, corn, and the baked beans are in these really very good." I look down at the rolled tortillas and sigh before picking one up to take a bite. Dan is right it sounds bad but tastes good. Silvia is watching me she smiles big when I smile at her. Gwen and Martin are talking quietly to each other before Gwen gets up and walks over to me, she sits on the desk. "Janet we should get going it's a little past seven, Martin is worried the deputies lied to us." I sigh and nod. I hand my plate to Silvia keeping the half of the rolled tortilla I have left. Gwen follows me holding her Winchester until I shake my head and hold mine up. We head straight for the store, Gwen not saying a word, I'm to busy hoping we can get her pants and a shirt. We have to knock on the window a few times before a little man comes running. "Apologies for the delay, I did not know we had a new deputy in town." He says looking at me trembling a little. "You don't, I'm from Longwood with the sheriff and a Marshal we had a cell break and had to chase down the prisoner. May we come in? I would like to ask some questions on the deputies and sheriff, along with I'm hoping getting her in pants she wishes to learn how to track." His eyes gets wide and he smiles big before moving aside and motioning us in. "I don't want to wear pants, I'm not a man." Gwen says her eyes wide making me laugh as the man closes the door. "Gwen I wear pants because a dress means no kneeling, the dress would ruin any track." "I'm sorry I do not have anything in leather, I have corduroy if that would be acceptable." The man says getting us to look at him. "Yes that would be fine I had to order my pants and shirt a while back. They are not as warming as the clothes you would have." He leads us over to his counter and produces a string of twine. He measures Gwen around the middle, makes a note then hands her one end to hold up to herself. Gwen looks at me quite pink as he measures her leg to her ankle on the inside. "Well now, I should have a pant in these dimensions, the shirt will be loose I am afraid if you need one. Men do not come that small you understand." Gwen looks at him and nods with a sigh. "My shirt should be fine Janet is more brazen than I am." He chuckles and heads into the back. "Now I understand you had questions?" He says as he comes back with a pant. "Yes, according to our two prisoners from the bandits the farms have been dying after the sheriff got here. The deputies are said to be strong arming, I do not understand this. The bandits were well supplied I know this, I wished to see what you say about the sheriff and deputies." Gwen moves behind me to slip out of her skirt and put the pants on. He sighs and looks down then looks up at me. "Your prisoners have the right of it. There is only one farm left, it is a milk farm. The sheriff and deputies take the supplies they want, they don't pay leaving me to pay for them. We don't get enough trade to afford it the trains buy supplies, sometimes the passengers. We don't have a saloon, had a woman wanting to put one up, she went to talk to the sheriff and left again. We would leave if it wasn't for the deputies and sheriff, they have said if we try the bandits will get us. If we speak against or resist in any way even to say it's the last item we become a deputy and there is a bandit attack, they are always fatal to the new deputy." "Is there a judge in town? Marshal was told there was a judge here to try the prisoner." "No, we've never had a judge in town. Most likely the plan was to get the prisoner and let him go again." I sigh and look down. "Would not explain why he was not with the bandits. I think they want to kill him after the marshal leaves. When does the sheriff get to town?" The wide eyes tell me something is wrong, I look behind to see nothing. "The sheriff should be here, is there a reason you are not at the sheriff's?" "I shot him ten years ago, why he limps. Do you have a back door?" I head out the back door Gwen following along behind me. We press into the shadows of the last building before the sheriff's. A man had gone to the outhouse I did not know this man. I hand my Winchester to Gwen and peek around the corner no one is in front of the sheriff's. I put a finger to my lips and dart across to the outhouse. I pull my Bowie and open the door the man looks up at me deputy badge glinting on his shirt. He opens his mouth to say something I put one hand on his mouth and shove my knife into him. His eyes get wide and he tries to scream I pull the knife free and shove it in again. I shove him full of my knife twice more before his eyes flutter closed and he slumps. Not wishing to have him wake up I cut his throat then wipe my knife on his pant leg. Gwen is standing outside of the outhouse green and trembling when I exit I take her arm and lead her toward the sheriff's. Putting a finger to my lips to make her quiet I whisper to her. "Gwen stay here, this is my slaughter." Her eyes get wide and she shakes her head. "Martin and Silvia are in there, I am helping." "I'm not sure that is a good idea. You need to wipe everything clean and simply act, see a man you don't know shoot him." Gwen nods then huddles to me when the door opens. I look around the corner Dan and another man are walking toward the undertakers. Martin appears calling out for the sheriff to wait, both men turn. When they turn back to talk Martin signals two more in the sheriff's and he can do the sheriff. I nod and smile at him before holding a hand to Gwen to stay here. "Shoot the sheriff if Martin is slow, I will take the sheriff's." Gwen sighs behind me, I move not wishing to see if she will or not. I peek in through the window to see one deputy at the near desk. There is another by the cells talking low. I move to the door and look at Martin he is walking slower with a limp one hand behind him thumb and finger in a circle. I cock both of my Colts then pull one so I can open the door. The deputy by the cells turns slow opening his mouth when I shoot him. He falls back blood splattering everywhere as I roll into the sheriff's, the door behind absorbing a bullet. I turn to shoot the other deputy to see he is turning fast standing tall eyes wide and desperate. I shoot him twice, his revolver shoots as he is falling back. I shoot him twice more before he has fallen into the chair blood splattering the wall. I turn to look out to see Martin and Dan running this way, a body lying on the ground behind them. I look around to see Silvia and the Apache staring at me eyes wide, the prisoners likewise staring. I holster my Colts and move to stand up only to fall down. Sharp pain shoots through me from my shoulder, I put a hand there to bring it back covered in blood. I sigh and close my eyes the room spinning, I am faintly aware of my head hitting the floor. I come back now and then, the first time being carried to a bed, the second time to a conversation of some sort. The third and final time to an older man holding some sort of metal thing digging in to my shoulder, this really hurts. He moves back when I groan and grab his hand. Dan appears above me saying calming things to me until I let go of the older man's hand. "Dan that really hurts and I don't know that man." Dan sighs and grabs my head to kiss me. "That is the undertaker, closest thing to a doctor here. The townsfolk were screaming thank you's to us. The store guy was even willing to forget you didn't pay, I gave him ten dollars. Martin has gotten a telegraph out detailing all of the bounties we are collecting. A full twelve if you can believe it." The older man appears again holding a bottle of what looks to be whisky. "Here take a few swallows of this it won't hurt so bad, we were hoping you would not wake up until I finished." I take it and look at Dan, he nods holding up two fingers. I sigh and take two swallows grimacing it burns going down. After a moment I get a little woozy and have to put my head down. Dan takes the bottle and gives me a little more then nods to the undertaker. "I'm not dead yet." I say giggling, the undertaker looks at Dan worried. "Second time she's had whiskey, we've given her watered beer twice, the second time it had whiskey in it by mistake. Janet doesn't normally drink anything besides water and milk." The undertaker nods with a grin and gets to work. I am aware of some pain in my shoulder. I giggle when I realize I should have something to bite on. I wave Dan over grab his hand and stick it in my mouth. I bite down a little getting an ouch out of Dan, the undertaker looks over and laughs. I start chewing on Dan's hand getting an odd expression from him. The undertaker spends a while working on something before he finally pulls something out of me that looks like a rock. "I was hit by a rock?" The undertaker looks at me funny as I start laughing. "Janet shush you were shot in the ribs, you should be dead according to the undertaker." Gwen says appearing over me, I giggle at the idea of the undertaker seeing me. "I'm not dead, why would the undertaker see me." I giggle more getting a sigh out of Gwen. Dan pulls me up to pull my shirt off I stop him then pull the badge off laughing. I stick him with it then pull my shirt off, Dan holds me up as the undertaker bandages me. I notice Martin appearing and kneeling down in front of me. "We did good twelve wanted posters all wanted dead, some or alive. We have made eight hundred and fifty dollars to split up seven ways." I shake my head. "Six ways," I say holding up one hand with all five fingers out giggling. "Everything the tribe does goes to Dan he hands it out as needed." I look over at Dan my head wobbling. "Dan I think the roll will have to wait, I'm tired." Dan nods as I giggle and lean in to him, the undertaker pulls me back. I giggle and lean into Dan again earning me a look from the undertaker. I find this funny and laugh before leaning forward and lose my breakfast. I sit up saying sorry wiping at my mouth then giggle again. I relax and lean in to Dan then fall back giggling at the roof. My eyes grow heavy and shut in no time I lose all thought. I wake up hearing what sounds like Balik wanting his milk. I try and get up only to be held in place by Dan. I groan at the pain in my head and stop moving. Dan sits me up despite my protest and feeds me water. I get two of the metal cups worth in me before my eyes open. Dan is looking at me worried as he holds up a plate of beans and cornbread. With a sigh I take it and start eating, feeling better though I keep getting more water out of the pail sitting there. "Janet, are you feeling good? The undertaker said after you stopped moving that we should get you back to Longwood. All he can do is get the bullet out of you." "No, I'm lots of pain my head, my shoulder, my chest isn't feeling good I need my Balik." Dan nods and pulls me to him for a hug. "Eat up I'll get us packing, the town sent word they want a saloon here free land for it. Michael and Benjamin are going to take up sheriff and deputy. We will order you a new shirt and a vest. Please don't stick me with your badge that hurts." I look up at Dan and giggle. "Did I really do that? I thought it was a dream." Dan sighs and hits me on the head before heading out front. Feeling more pain than I should for the hit I eat what I have here. By the time I finish I'm feeling better and needing to visit the outhouse. I waver a bit when I stand up, looking down I realize I don't have pants on. Not feeling up to finding and putting my pants and shirt on I head for the outhouse anyway. All eyes are on me as I walk through the sheriff's, except one Apache having his roll with Silvia. When I say outhouse and point Dan shakes his head and points the other way. I follow his direction to find another outhouse, this one marked with a full moon. Not knowing the difference, the other one was marked with a half moon I use the outhouse. Exiting the outhouse I find Gwen standing there, she smiles at me then latches to a breast. I move to get her off when I realize she's draining me not going for a roll. I let her with a sigh enjoying the slacking of pressure on my chest. Both sides sufficiently drained I put my arm around Gwen and let her help me to the sheriff's. Dan takes over taking me to get dressed, I squeak when he drops me on the bed. Dan hands over my pants once I am in those, it took longer than I'd like to comment on, he helps my get my shirt on. When Dan brings my belt over I shake my head and point at my moccasins. He hands those over then goes up front with my belt in one hand. "Janet, why are you not wearing your belt?" Gwen asks coming around to kneel in front of me. "Dan said I don't need to for a while, there are no bandits in the area. I need to try and not look at every armed man as someone I should shoot." Gwen nods as I go back to getting my moccasins on. You never realize how hard things are until you only have one hand working without pain. It takes me a bit to get my moccasins on, once I finish I stand up. Looking around I find there is nothing of mine or Dan's left here so head for the front of the sheriff's. Everyone is outside of the sheriff's where our horses are saddled and ready to go. I look around then grab the lantern hanging there and hand it up to Dan, he shakes it and lights it before handing it back. "Go on ahead a little ways I want to show Gwen a little on tracking." Dan nods and gets everyone moving our horses pulled along after. I pull Gwen Michael comes along, down low holding the lantern high. I point out the hoof prints to each getting nods. "As you can see Gwen horseshoes leave a very distinctive mark. Tracking an unshod horse is harder, they spread out the weight more but can only go on soft dirt, hard dirt or rock will tear up their hooves with a rider. Now if you notice, these two are not as deep, those are our horses, this one is Silvia's and this one is Elizabeth's or vice versa. Women weigh down a horse less, now if you take your arm elbow to finger and hold it in line with the tracks crosswise you can estimate how many horse. Each pair falling at the edge of your arm is one horse." Michael tries it and finds his arm is to long. "Michael for you try from your elbow to where your arm turns to hand, should be roughly same." "What about over hard dirt like rock or clay?" Gwen asks getting a smile out of me. "Good question, for hard dirt like that you look for scrapes, fresh scrapes have no dirt, the more dirt the older the scrape. It is possible to lose a target in hard dirt go past and try to pick up trail if they confuse it. Never follow into a gulch or canyon, always work to go above." "What if they get on the train?" Michael asks getting a sigh out of me. "If they get on the train put up wanted poster and send ahead of train. The tap machines are good for that, an hour after train leave the next five towns are looking for target. If they hop off someone will notice and tell sheriff in next town, marshals will pick up prisoner and return if caught. Talk to engineer they have to stop to let someone off or on, every train comes through meet." Michael nods then grabs my hand when I stand up. "What if they leave on foot?" I giggle at the question. "Then follow, small town nothing can happen a run can get away from. If they are carrying rifle or revolver and run shoot first. If you need help with bandits send message Dan and I will come or send Apache with rifles, many know round eye now." It takes longer than I would like to catch up with everyone. Dan has to hop down and pick me up to get me on my horse. We move along at a slow trot so the horse can hopefully see any holes. Dan rides ride next to watching me his rein in his left hand. Longwood First Hunt Day 05-06 "Dan why are you so close?" Silvia giggles as she moves up on my other side. "Because you may pass out, the undertaker was very serious about this. He told us to help you do everything and when we rode to stay close enough to catch you." I look at Dan and sigh. "Janet you were shot the Apache are worried about you, you had to get help to get on your horse." Silvia says getting me to look at her and feel a little dizzy. "I need my Balik, I need to hold my child and sing to him." I look down at the back of my horses head. "Silvia we have biscuits for Janet to eat, don't we??" Dan asks next to me, I sigh not willing to look away from my horse. A sandwich appears in front of my eyes, I groan it's the fritter sandwich. It shakes in front of me I groan a second time then take the sandwich. Nobody says anything while I eat, perhaps halfway through the sandwich a cup of coffee appears. With the sandwich finished coffee clutched in both hands I feel faint, steadying myself with one hand to the saddle horn I look at Dan. "Dan, hold me." Dan doesn't even ask just reaches over with both hands picks me up and settles me on his horse. I get a neigh of surprise, not sure which horse protests the change. I settle against Dan and end up looking at Elizabeth she looks over and looks worried. "Janet, you don't look so good, are you feeling well?" "I've been shot, riding a horse and walking a little way wore me out, and I have to be held. How do you think I feel?" Dan chuckles against me. I relax against Dan enjoying the feel of the horse under me walking along. Dan holds me close and I sigh enjoying feeling him like this, sharing a horse or not this is very nice. "Janet this is why you always insist on a roll after a shoot out isn't it?" I look up at Dan and sigh. "Yes Dan, most of the rolls I demanded over the years have been to be held after. I always thought you knew and wanted the roll for yourself." Dan chuckles then laughs bouncing me around a little. "I always liked the holding after best. You still owe me a roll when we get back, after the doc says your fine." I giggle and nod. We ride on I don't think I get any shut eye. It seems like no time and an eternity before the sky starts to lighten. Dan moves me around so I can watch without craning my neck. I sigh watching the sky lighten then turn colors, orange, red, and blue. The sun rising is blinding and beautiful I lean against Dan and feel happy to be able to watch this sunrise. Once the sun is in the sky we make out the shapes of our town, it is not far. Dan puts me back on my horse and we proceed at a fast trot. I watch the town getting closer the rhythmic motion of my horse making it hard to stay upright. I think Dan talks to me, my ears do not work right I can't piece together what he is saying. The sun high in the sky we reach town and my hold on awake slips away. When my eyes open again I am attracted to the sound of a baby feeding. Bonita is sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. She looks up and smiles at me, a noise from Balik gets my attention. I get up slowly and go to him, looking around I realize I am in my room and not wearing anything. Bonita giggles when I pick up Balik and hurry back to the bed embarrassed. "Are you feeling better?" I look over at Bonita and smile as I get Balik in position. "I have my Balik back to me. I hope that is all I need, I best speak with chief I find it hard to walk about armed." Bonita sighs and nods. "Dan told me, he shares your fears I will tell him go get chief and Mohin. After we name my daughter, Chad was saying Janet I did not think you would want that." I sigh and lean a little farther back happy to have my Balik to feed again. "I think Sashi would be better, my mother's name." Bonita smiles at me. "Yes I like that name. Once she finishes feeding I will go yell at Dan." I smile back and start singing to Balik. Bonita and I sing to our babies as they feed, Bonita is burping her daughter and I am switching sides with Balik when Dan comes in. He looks around covers his eyes and comes over to me. He climbs on the bed with me leans over to give me a kiss then sits looking at me. "Janet are you up to seeing the chief and Mohin?" I nod at Dan. Dan gets up and goes back out the door then returns with chief and Mohin. A moment later Mr. Gladstone knocks and comes in, he turns pink and averts his eyes making me laugh. "Mr. Gladstone was there something you wished to see me for?" He sighs and comes closer with a medical satchel in his hand. "I did not mean to interrupt I wished to see your wound and check on the bandaging." "Go ahead if you think it best you check it I am not going to argue." Mr. Gladstone smiles at me and sets the satchel on my legs. He pulls out a few metal things I don't recognize and goes about undoing the wrap on me. Chief and Mohin move closer to watch, a thought comes to me and I giggle. "Chief I shall tell your wife you watched me feed Balik." Chief sighs and looks elsewhere, Mohin chuckles. "Janet, Dan said you wished to speak with us, he did not specify why. We've heard the stories from the men that went with you." Mohin trails off there I look up at him expecting something more and get nothing. "We are not encouraging this, most of the tribes agree with their assessment of you. Dan would not say what you wished to speak on, just that you needed our opinion." The chief says looking a little uncomfortable standing there with me without clothes. "This is not simple, it is said I have a warriors spirit. I disagree I want to care for Dan and leave shoot outs behind me, Dan wishes me to go with him. I seem to have a problem with hunting men, right now there is nothing wrong, put a gun on Mr. Gladstone here and give me one and I will wish to shoot him. Not because he has done wrong, just because he has a gun." Mr. Gladstone stops moving and just looks at me until I pat his hand. "Janet, that makes you the reluctant warrior. You wish to fight and do not let yourself. This is not wrong, it is what every tribe wishes to have many of." Mohin says with a smile. "I am supposed to see every man with a revolver or rifle as someone to shoot?" Chief nods looking a little more comfortable, Bonita has put her shirt on. "It is something all warriors must face the white man corrupts it, gunslingers wander the land shooting each other because they must prove they are better. It is something I face myself, we are allowed a knife my warriors have fights to first blood. It is exciting to take part in, I do not often my wife would be upset if I do. Killing is not the hard part, killing only when you need is the hard part." I slump back not knowing what to say to that, Mr. Gladstone has me sit up again. Balik has finished so I get up to burp him then put him back in his crib. The sighs from behind me are enough of a reminder that I grab up my skirt and put it on. Mr. Gladstone finishes with putting the bandage back on me then hands me my shirt. "So I am to continue to wear my belt and try to keep myself from shooting men for no other reason than they have a gun?" "Janet I think they are saying there is nothing wrong with you. You don't have to wear your belt until you need it. This is I think where the gunslingers went wrong they always wear a belt and look for people to shoot." Mr. Gladstone says sitting next to me on the bed. "Doc has the right of it, even when our tribes wandered and dealt with each other in the old way our warriors did not always carry bows and tomahawks." Mohin says with a smile. I look around at chief and Mohin and Mr. Gladstone and smile at them. Looking over at Balik I know he will be with shut eye for a while yet. I get up and go to my dresser and open the top drawer. Pulling out three dollar coins I toss one to Mohin and chief. "I have some time for fun, let's go play poker." Chief and Mohin smile, Mr. Gladstone sighs then gets up producing a dollar of his own. "If we have to use the small table Janet your dealing, if I deal you three will accuse me of cheating." Laughing we head down the stairs to find Celeste looking pained, Sally is there with her. Sally looks up at us a little worried Mr. Gladstone goes to Celeste and feels her belly. Looking around he pulls up her skirt and goes under it for a moment then comes back out to look at us. "Well I'm not playing poker, Celeste is having her baby. Mohin would you like to help Celeste get through it?" Mohin nods and hands me the dollar back, I put it back in his hand with a smile. "Payment for helping Celeste, you were a big help when I let Balik out." Mohin smiles at me as he helps Mr. Gladstone get Celeste up the stairs. Sally looks around then whistles telling Silvia to stay on the stairs before following them up. Chief watches them go then turns to me a curious expression on his face. "Is Sally and Celeste?" I shake my head. "They only like men they have been together since whoring in New York. Celeste helped Sally afford the saloon in the first place and helps her run it. Silvia if Balik starts to cry bring him to me we are going to play poker." Silvia smiles at me. "Of course Janet, go have fun you deserve it." We go to the bar to get the chips, Ishmael asking if we want a glass of water. Chief and I ask for milk at the same time, Ishmael laughs and goes to get us milk. When he comes back he sets them down turns to move away then comes back. "Chief I thought your tribes were supplying milk for the saloon now." Chief smiles and nods at him. "We are it is just so long since we have had a ready supply of milk I have to have a glass as often as I can." We move on to the big poker table to see all but one spot filled. I wave to Stanos our dealer on the table and move to the small poker table. Bodaway is dealing here, there are two men sitting there already. Chief takes the far seat leaving me sitting between the two already here. I start when I notice Andrew is sitting here he looks over at me and chuckles. "I get away from the store sometimes, do you really think all I do is sit in there and wait for you to come in and order licorice?" I giggle at the question. "I always thought you were stuck there because of Marie." Andrew laughs at this. "Oh no, Marie runs the store and does the counting. I'm just the pretty face to buy from. So Janet, Dan hasn't told us much about what happened." The silence and shifting of chairs gets me to turn and look. Seems the entire town and most of the farms in the area are here. "Really not all that much to tell we rode after the cell robbers to a gulch. We crept up at night over them and shot them, all but two died, they gave up. We saved the daughter of a senator in the gulch then move on to Wicker were we shot three deputies and a sheriff, they had been helping the bandits we shot in the gulch rob the town." "How many dead?" Is the call from the back I can't see who asked. "Twenty three died in the gulch and four in the town. I know you will ask I do not know how many I shot in the gulch I shot two deputies and knifed the third." "Dan said you reloaded at the gulch, how many bullets go into your rifle?" Andrew asks leaning closer. "Twelve bullets, I do not understand what that has to do with anything." "It means you have fifteen kills on this trip." I shake my head. "It is impossible to tell who shot dead whom in the gulch, there were seven rifles firing." Andrew shakes his head. "Dan and Martin both agree you have fifteen. I think Martin and Dan argued over it because Martin was saying seventeen." I sigh and turn back to the table. "Deal me in I just wanted to play poker." I can hear everyone going back to their tables behind me as I take a drink of my milk. I sigh realizing how much you miss milk on a hunt, hard to come by when you're moving fast and light. As the cards are dealt I pick mine up and sigh again, it's a fair hand. "Dan's hat." Chief says leaning forward a little to see me better. "What's so funny about Dan's hat?" Andrew asks when I stop laughing so hard to catch my breath. "When we went to speak to Mohin about if I should go back to the Cherokee reservation to have Balik." I pause to giggle and hold myself. "We spoke to Mohin and the chief, Dan took his hat off and left it on a table. A dog took it off the table and ran off with it. I really think they taught the dog to do it, it didn't run away to eat the hat it stopped and started to chew and shake the hat until Dan chases it. The dog led him on a merry chase all over, I think all of the tribes were there laughing. Finally Dan gets his hat back a little chewed on but otherwise fine." Andrew stares at me a smile creeping into his lips then laughs. "I suppose would explain why the soldiers come in with chewed on hats so much." I giggle as we place bets and get new cards. "I had a similar experience with our horse, I was going to plow our new field, about a week early but close enough to work. Bessy didn't seem to like the idea and took my hat off and started prancing about with it. I finally got her to stop with the harness ropes. Darn horse laughed at me for a week every time she saw my hat." Laughing I look over and his name comes to me Benjamin though he always prefers me calling him Ben, I think I can't say it right enough for him. "Horses have the strangest humor mine is always sniffing around me looking for a treat. I never give him one and yet he always looks." Andrew chuckles next to me. "You smell like licorice often enough he equates you with licorice, horses like licorice." I laugh at that as we put our cards down to see who won, I did. Feeling happy about winning I put my hands up yelling about winning and rocking on my chair. I squeak when my chair keeps going backwards, I don't hit the floor instead I find myself looking up at Dan. "Hi Dan, I won the first hand at our table." I smile up at him, he chuckles. "That's great, can I get you to put on your leather again we got a marshal coming through, not staying but he has two prisoners and is picking up Martin to help. I want you to stay free Chad and I are going to take charge of the prisoners for a short time." I sigh and nod, then it occurs to me I can't hear the train. "Dan the train is not near I don't hear it." I get a smile for the acceptance of putting on my belt again. "Train will be here in about an hour, in the meantime you and I are going to go have some more vittles from Chun's folks. I already talked to him and ordered for us both, go get kitted as a deputy." He sets my chair upright, I look over at chief. "Chief take my chips and try and make more money, I'll want a dollar back at least." I get a nod then I head up the stairs, Silvia smiles at me as I pass her. Celeste is groaning loud around her bite leather. Shaking my head and feeling a little sorry for her I head into my room. I find my leather and belt right where they should be glad Dan had enough sense to put everything where I want I put them on. My skirt and shirt sitting on the bed I check Balik. Smiling about my son sleeping so peacefully I head for the stairs. I'm checking the bullets in my Colts as I come down the stairs. A silence falls over the saloon making me look up, everyone is staring at me. Dan comes over with a smile and takes my arm to take me to the eatery. A few of the women on the street wave to us as we go the short way to the eatery. Dan pulls me after when I slow to wave to Bartholomew, I catch a part of a wave back then we are standing in front of the door. Chun's dad guides us to a table in the back, mostly hidden by the plants in the window. There are two plates on the table, both on the side to put our backs to the wall. Wondering what's going on I sit next to Dan seeing out better than he can. I look over at Dan as he starts to eat, looking about nervously. "Dan what is going on?" He looks at me a little surprised then sighs. "Our two prisoners coming in are high risk. I'm being jumpy for no reason no one new has come in to town." I sigh and start eating. "I don't know what Martin is going to do with Gwen Silvia already said she's staying." I sigh again then kick Dan, the sweet and sour beef is really good it's not terribly sweet just a little hint of it. "I got the picture on things already shush about it. This sweet and sour beef is misnamed it's not terribly sweet but all good." Dan smiles then holds up his fork with sweet and sour beef on it, I taste it and make a face. "You told him I don't like sweet." Dan chuckles and shakes his head. "Chun told him, likely one of the first things she told them both was about you. I reckon it went something hi mom and dad, Janet is an incredible woman and doesn't like sweet." I giggle and kick Dan. "Stop kicking me you pretty wife you, I need to be able to walk." I smile at Dan and get an urge of the not vittles variety. I look over to Chun's dad, thinking I really need to remember his name and signal him to turn around. He smiles and holds up a finger, he goes into the back then returns with a very pretty wooden wall. He sets it up and I can hear him walking away whistling a strange tune that sounds familiar but has the wrong cadence. Dan is looking at me confused when I turn to him with a smile. Dan sighs when my hands go to his pants he smiles understanding as I work them open enough to reach him. I handle him getting a rise to readiness before sinking down and giving him a little bleeding time relief. My head moving on him Dan sinks down in his chair perhaps thinking I will only do this. His eyes get wide when I pull off him and stand up to get my pants off. We both sigh when I sit atop him it feels good to settle down. Dan opens his mouth to say something I silence him with a kiss moving atop him. I owe Dan a roll and I want to give him one now. My Colts clinking a little as I bounce on my husband I move for him, enjoying every little bit of this roll. Dan unsnaps my belt to pull it off me and drop it on the table. I don't look hoping he missed our plates as his hands work my shirt up. I moan when he handles my bared breasts, his lips closing over them to give me pleasure. I can feel the stars coming for me fast as I move on him his lips to me. When the stars do come Dan keeps me quiet with a kiss, I keep moving on him knowing we only have so long before the train. I'm nearing a second pass through stars when I hear the train, Dan looks up at me as he hears it to. Begging him to see stars with me I move a little faster enjoying my gentle bounce. Dan moves with me, I tense a little expecting pain then relaxing when none comes. I do feel a little uncomfortable, just shoving it aside I move on Dan wanting his warmth. I pull Dan to me his mouth fastening on one nipple as I near. I can feel Dan tensing under me and know he is near. I move just that little faster as the train gets louder, moaning his name as my stars come. Dan groans under me pulling me to him as his warmth fills me. I lean against Dan feeling content and happy. I move above him to get all where it should be before getting off. Grabbing up my pants I slide into them giggling as I realize I still had one moccasin on my foot. Dan chuckles as he looks down adjusting his pants into a proper place. While I am getting my belt on Dan pulls my shirt back in place his hand going to the hole created by the bullet. I shiver when I realize where it is, as close as I was to that deputy I should be dead. Then I giggle remembering his revolver, the older style with unreliable rounds. With a promise to keep our vittles warm and a big smile Chun's dad watches us go and his name comes to me, Fen. Chun had told me the first day they had reached town. Dan jogs to get to the station before the train, I go a little slower. As it turns out it is a good thing I did, there are men with rifles pointing at Dan, Martin, and a marshal I think I know. Longwood First Hunt Day 05-06 I stop to look at everything, there are four men with a rifle none looking at me. The other passengers have cleared off the station or stayed on the train. I smile as I remember I have throwing knives, Dan looking at me his eyes wide shakes his head. Singing a song quietly I pull two knives. Hold one before me in my left hand I throw one drawing the second back as I recover and throw. My first knife hits the closest man in the hand holding the rifle, the second catches the farther man in the eye he turned to look at the sound the first man made. Singing louder I pull my Colts and go around the corner into full view of the last two, they are looking uncertain. I point my Colt's at both drawing half aims from both of them. They look from me to my husband and the marshals and the two prisoners ducked down. "Drop the rifles or be dead. Do not think your rifles will help, look at my shirt, I was shot not two days ago at four feet." I spit out at them then resume singing, their eyes get wide. "Listen to Cherokee Janet, she reaches the end of that song and your lives won't be worth spit." Martin says getting a gasp from the train. The two men drop their rifles and put their hands on their hats. Chad comes up behind them slipping cuffs on both. The one living man I knifed moves I turn to watch him try and run away. My one word question answered I shoot him twice walking closer to him I shoot him again. I walk back over to where Dan and Martin are standing talking to the other marshal. Chad has the two new prisoners face down on the wood. "Janet, God I want to yell at you for doing it like that but well damn you're good." Dan says giving me a hug. "These two are wanted at the same town I'm taking the two I had already. We need more marshals." The older marshal says I look up at him, he looks familiar but I just can't place him. "I don't think that will be a problem." I say to him then move over to the prisoners pulling my Bowie. "Look at me, see this knife? This knife will cut you after you are staked and we will leave you for the wolves if anything happens to these marshals. I will descend upon you with one hundred bloodthirsty Apache all wishing nothing more than to get a smile from me. Promise me now or lose what you have in your pants." All four look up at me their faces white and promise. "Well color me glad to have been refused when I asked." I look up at the marshal and giggle, I remember him now. "There was never a chance of me leaving Dan and the brothel. I will say you were the best roll I had out of those that asked." Chad sighs and gets the prisoners to stand. Martin and Dan help him search the two new ones to find revolvers and knives. I watch as all four men are led away by Dan, Martin and Chad. I am offered the marshal's arm, I take it and off we go to the sheriff's. I wave to our undertaker and his new assistant as they pass us to collect the bodies. "Don't we need to take the posters out to check the dead?" I giggle and shake my head. "They will be brought along in a minute their pockets are searched for coins and bills then brought to us. Zalman you really should settle down and sheriff it's easier." I say as we enter the sheriff's getting a guffaw out of him. "I reckon I'm too old for that, all I get anymore is pay and transporting. I heard you finally settled down and had a child." I smile at him as he takes a seat at the desk. "Married according to your religion as well, I gave Dan a son. I'm hoping to find a daughter coming from me soon." Dan and Chad curse getting a chuckle from Zalman. "One of you is more than enough I warrant. Still I hope you get your daughter. Now where are those dead I want to get some vittles in me before we leave." The prisoners ask for some food, Chad looks at Dan then goes at the nod. "Janet, take Zalman to the eatery and finish eating, doc made it clear you need to eat." I turn a little pink and offer my arm to Zalman, chuckling he stands up and takes it. Zalman laughs when Fen shows us to the same table the wall still up. With the order in hand he exits returning after a few moments with my plate. Eyeing my plate he looks at me and grins, embarrassed I look away. "Janet I knew you were brazen but right here?" I sigh and pick up my fork. "I owed Dan a roll and he finally just up and called me his pretty wife. I wasn't going to run us to the saloon." At the chuckle I work intently on eating not looking up. Dan appears finally when Fen is bringing Zalman his plate. I get a hug and a kiss as Dan sits down. Dan eyes my plate while Fen is retrieving his then finally reaches over and takes one of my sweet and sour beef. I kick him for that getting a jump out of Dan. "I do need to be able to walk tomorrow you know. You were shooting good Janet both of those men have wanted dead posters. Martin was saying it should all go to you, we didn't shoot anyone." I shake my head. "Split it three ways, I was in no danger of being shot." "I'm not so sure on that part but why three ways, there were five of us." Zalman says looking confused. "Chad is my first son Dan is the leader of our tribe increased by two now, Chad has a daughter. Dan gets everything and hands out as we need." Zalman looks lost, I look at my plate seeing I am done I look at Dan. "Share my past Dan I am going to get more licorice and check on Balik." I see a number of women with luggage standing at the corner by the sheriff's. Reckoning that Chad and Martin already has talked to them I head in to the store to find another woman. Elan smiles at me and comes over followed by the woman. "Janet, do you know where doc is?" I look from Elan to her and back to Elan. "Mr. Gladstone is delivering Celeste's child unless she has finished already. Mr. Johnson as far as I know is in his office. I think the Apache whores found my licorice I suppose I should get a whole five cents worth today." Elan smiles and gets the licorice down. "Could you show me to Mr. Gladstone? I am to be his wife now that he has found a home." The woman asks I look at her surprised. "Mail order bride?" She looks down coloring then shakes her head. "We grew up across the street from each other, I wanted to before he went to doctor schooling. He was dead set on waiting until after I had to make do with letters for three years." I smile at her as I pay Elan for my package of licorice. "I will show you where he is, I was going there to begin with my son is asleep and I wanted to check on him." She follows me out of the store Martin falls in step with us looking at the women on the corner. "Janet how often do the men visit from the farms?" I look at Martin and slow down seeing that the women are mail order brides. "Once a week on average, rouse Father Darren and tell him he has some brides to deliver. We have a wagon in the stable he uses, have they checked the saloon? Seemed most of the men in the area where there when I was playing poker." Martin smiles and goes speak to the women. The women follow me and the future Mrs. Gladstone into the saloon. I direct the mail order brides to the tables before heading for the stairs to find Sally sitting there looking a little worried. "Sally what's wrong?" Sally rushes to me and I give her a hug. "Doc told me to get, it's a tough birth. He was reaching into her when I left, I don't know what I'm going to do if we lose Celeste." I sigh and hold her. "Don't worry Celeste will be fine. Mohin and Mr. Gladstone know what they are doing." The woman I'm leading steps forward. "You shouldn't worry, reaching into the mother means the child is not positioned properly. It is not a tough birth so much as the child did not position." Sally looks up at me and we both turn to her. "How do you know this?" "Stanford shared many of his lessons with me, this one is of importance to me I am hoping to end up with his child in less then three months." Sally looks up at me. "Oh sorry, Sally this woman here is the future Mrs. Gladstone." Sally blinks then smiles and holds out her hand. "Candice, if you please. I must say it is an honor to meet you both, do you know where Stanford is staying? If he is busy I should retire to his home to freshen up." Sally looks at me then giggles. "Third floor last door on the right. He hasn't gotten enough money to get a house built and our dentist did not have a large enough bed." Candice looks a little bewildered. "Room twenty four if you wish to go up, we are doing well enough on not being hurt he does not have much to do. Sally that reminds me is he being paid for helping Celeste and did Dan pay him for working on me?" Sally smiles and nods. "He's getting two dollars to help Celeste, and he got four dollars for stitching you. I guess we have a good wedding present to give these two. Excuse me if you please I need to get a whore to run a message to the telegraph office." Sally heads down the steps whistling. "I don't know if I should be alone, and I wish to ask questions of you if it is no bother." Candice says watching Sally collect a whore and head for the bar. "No bother you can see my perfect little Balik with me, licorice?" I hold the opened package out to her she takes one looking at it. "Is it sweet?" She looks up at me I shake my head as I lead her up the steps. "I do not like sweet I was seven when my tribe was coaxed into sitting at a reservation. It is not often a wandering tribe would get honey in large amounts. Never for a reservation, perhaps this one the captain is talking about a bee keeper." Candice smiles at me and takes a bite of the licorice. "I am not big on sweet myself my mother would make cakes that were all sweet. I had perhaps half of one when I was five, I felt so bad after I never wished sweet again." I smile at her as I open my door. "When you eat at the eatery be sure and tell Fen that you want to eat like Janet. He cooks Chinese, it is strange to me, yet very good and I wish to eat there more often. One of the dishes he makes is sweet and sour beef, for me it is not very sweet and wonderful, for Dan it is sweet." We look at Balik asleep and so wonderful, Candice sighs and smiles at him. "Oh he is so precious I hope I can give Stanford a son like him. I wish to ask if Stanford has been making acquaintance of the whores." I sigh and take my belt off. "In a fashion perhaps, the first time I met him he wanted to examine me. Dan said he should examine all of the whores, I do not know if Sally agreed to that. I have been out of town for the last few days hunting down escaped criminals. I shall put a dress on again and we can go ask Sally, she will know for sure." Candice sighs and nods trying to not break down. Sally is back in the chair on the steps, she looks up at us coming down. I notice that Candice's luggage is sitting there. Candice squeaks and rushes to it making Sally and I laugh. "Sally, Candice wishes to know if Mr. Gladstone has been buying time with the whores." Sally looks up at me then Candice and shakes her head. "He has been the perfect gentleman, he examines us but otherwise he only talks to us during breakfast and dinner. I ordered for you a very nice two story house perhaps it will serve as his office." Candice smiles big and gives us both a hug. "Sally how much is my portion of the wedding present?" Sally snorts and laughs. "Oh no the house is my present, you will have to figure out what to give them. No furniture mind, just a stove so I suppose everything else is up for grabs." I sigh and look at Candice. "Dishes be good for you?" Candice smiles and nods. "I would like the blue china, my folks have green, Stanford's folks have blue and I like the look better." I smile at her. "Then blue china it is, I'm half tempted to make Dan buy us a house so I can have china. I suppose he would never eat my vittles, what I make and what he likes are different." Sally giggles Candice looks a little lost. "Janet, I thought you were a whore here." I smile and nod at Candice. "I am Balik was born a bit over a month ago I'm not ready to return to it. Dan is my husband he's the sheriff, I'm thinking stay an active deputy until Dan has a second child in me." Candice looks even more lost Sally sighs and puts her hand on my shoulder. "Janet go see chief he said he owes you some money, he's playing poker on the big table still I think. I'll fill Candice in on your past." I nod and head downstairs finding chief at the big table like she said. He has four good sized piles of chips working on a fifth when I sit down next to him. "Ah Janet you took your time, I have been playing very well. I've found singing praise to both of our religions works well. I do it quietly to not annoy the players I did louder once shortly after you left. Here is your half of my winnings so far." Chief pushes over two piles of chips, about two dollars worth getting groans from around the table. "I cheat as much as chief does." I say getting chuckles around the table. "I think less, you don't follow our religion like chief." I shake my finger at Henderson. We get down to poker, chief and I having a good time kicking each other. Each kick followed by a dirty Apache or Cherokee comment getting the other players to laugh. I end up with three dollars and a little change, chief just a little behind me in the chips when Ujjwala comes down with Balik. I fold getting a few cheers and collect my son before heading for the kitchen. Isaac and Amanda are busy with making evening vittles when I come in. Setting Balik down I open my shirt and pull him to me to feed. Isaac starts singing getting a happy gurgle at my chest. I sit and listen smiling at the beauty of his song. I stay in the kitchen far longer than I originally intended, the vittles have gone out on plates and I've fed Balik again when Dan comes in. Dan sits next to me as Isaac gets up to get us plates, I put Balik in the basket blissfully asleep. Vittles are decidedly good today, fried chicken again with biscuits and taters and gravy. "Janet we seem to have a special table at the eatery now." I look up at Dan and groan turning colors, Amanda and Isaac laugh. "Bartholomew told us when we went to get the chicken. Seems he was dropping off some meat right in the middle of your fun." Amanda says giggling. "Fen is leaving the screen up there for us he said he almost always has an empty table. Seemed happy to have it out there, wants to decorate the eatery in his homeland." I smile at that. "I know the feeling, does not seem quite right with just the dream catcher in our room." Amanda smiles and leans closer. "Sally may not let you paint her walls she never said you can't do a painting. Talk to Andrew and get paints and canvas, you can hang them on the walls." I look at Dan, he nods and smiles. "Of course you can do that, be good for you to do something not involving shooting men. Oh and here is your take of the poker, I cashed it in for you should be enough." I put the three dollars and some pennies in my pocket. "I may need to find a book on painting I would like to do paintings like in the brothel." Dan looks over at me and smiles bigger. "I'd like that, I was afraid you would do the paintings like your tents. If nothing else, speak to Johnson he does the signs for us." Isaac gets called to cut up pie Dan gets called to settle an argument. Amanda and I get to sit there watching the pie action. At least until I finish my plate, Amanda takes it from me hops up and darts off. She returns with a glass covered in whipped cream. Isaac comes over with a spoon for me both watching as I try it. I can't help but smile it is really quite good, the whipped cream is not sweet and the brown something underneath tastes very good without being just sweet. "What is this?" I ask in between mouthfuls. "Chocolate mousse, it is quite popular in New York and Washington, we got the recipe for it today. Elizabeth told us about it and sent a telegram to her dad when you came in to town." Amanda says smiling big, I pause to ponder if I should ask how long ago that was. "It is very good the Apache will love it I hope it will be for sale." Isaac laughs and nods. "Going to add it to the board tomorrow, you liking it was all Sally wanted to know. I got blackberry pie left if you want some." I smile and nod still hungry, this mousse stuff is good but not filling. "Janet you're with child again already?" Dan asks as he and Sally come in to the kitchen and sit down. "No this mousse is really good but not filling. Here try some." I push the glass of mousse over to Dan he takes a bite and smiles. "This is good, could stand to be a little sweeter." I hit Dan on the arm and shake my head. "It goes into the glass in layers we could add honey to it, we get a gallon with every other train." Amanda says getting a smile from Sally. "Yes I like that idea, gives us two versions, the Janet version and the sweet version. Maybe add a penny to the sweet to cover the cost of the honey." Isaac laughs and points to the corner where there are two tubs of honey. "We haven't gotten to using enough honey as it is, perhaps with the ice we can make ice creams and use honey more." Sally sighs and nods. "Order the little jars and put them at the tables, biscuits with honey is really good and some like sweet best." Chun says in the doorway. "Everybody has gone home?" Sally asks looking over at Chun. "Yes we are cleaning up Chad has already come in and gone up to Bonita. I finished my part and came in for some sweet." Amanda gets up smiling and goes over to Chun. I pick up Balik and nudge Dan while they start kissing. We go upstairs together our sleeping son letting out a sigh as we reach the top of the stairs. I am putting Balik into his crib when Dan opens my shirt again. I look down at our sleeping son and hope to give him a sister as Dan caresses me. We move to the bed my skirt falling from me. Helping Dan out of his clothes I find he is ready, a quick feel shows I am as well. I climb on the bed pulling Dan after me, sighing as he comes to me. We move together in the soft way of the married. Neither of us in a hurry, we move against each other. I moan as I feel the stars coming Dan helping me along with his lips to my neck kissing me. Moaning my delight in the stars Dan moves us around to get at me better. I sigh enjoying it knowing I will be sore later and not caring. I watch my husband move on me, loving him and what he is doing I moan feeling stars coming again. I seem to be mostly better now Dan looks at me with a smile. I smile back then moan again with the stars flowing through me. Dan moves atop me with more purpose now, I giggle and hold to him. I try and move with him as much as I can. I am nearing more stars when Dan finds his stars. He groans above me and I moan his name as his warmth sends the stars to me. I hold Dan as we move to get all of him in me, rolling after when he moves to lie beside me. I curl up into my husband and feel mostly good, my shoulder hurts a little and I will be sore in the morning. I sigh and close my eyes letting it sink away to bother me tomorrow.