0 comments/ 4081 views/ 1 favorites Longwood Second Hunt Day 01-02 By: emap Balik has good timing today, he has finished sucking and I hear the train. They are early, Dan has only just headed for breakfast. Putting my son down I get a feeling and head for my belt. It is a good day to wear my belt, the first time since our last hunt. The guns in the holsters jostle as I pick it up and strap it to me. Grabbing Dan's hat I heard for the stairs still working on getting my belt fitted. I hear conversation as I head down the stairs. I'm not wearing moccasins so no one has looked up. At least not right away then there is a sucked in breath. Conversation dies away so I look up and see the current visitors to town staring at me. Dan is as well with Sally, both are frowning. I know why Sally is, she wants me to go back to whoring. Dan has said if I want, but he also gives me two rolls a day. Reminds me of yesterday when he had me in the outhouse. Not the greatest of places for a good roll, the smell is bad. Still he was able to be ready and I can't deny my husband a roll, still not with another of his babes. I hear one of the women that is visiting, perhaps the same that is thinking of moving here, talking. She is wondering if it is legal for an injun to be wearing pistols. Reaching the table with Sally and Dan I grab his biscuit and drop his hat on his head. "Train is early and I got a feeling." Sally crosses herself. "Last time you had a feeling we had a wanted man." That gets me to grin. "Not that bad a feeling, and we did give you half." Dan sighs and stands up then drops his hat on my head. "Come on deputy, if you got a feeling I better go check on who gets off." "I'll have Amanda bring out your plate Janet." I wave as I follow Dan out the door. "Why am I wearing your hat?" Dan slows so I can catch up and puts his arm around me. "Because you never wear a hat anymore. You used to I remember that and I actually miss it a little." I sigh then pull my husband down to put his hat on him. "I haven't because you have not bought me a new hat. I always thought you liked me not wearing a hat." Chad falls in step with us and chuckles. "I want to know what happened to the last hat." Dan nudges me a smidgen so I'm telling it, though it was his fault. "You remember the story about us trying to sneak up on a camp at night?" Chad nods and then grins. "So his stumbling around got your last hat shot?" "Second time we tried for a man that way. Perforated is closer, stupid round eye shot it twice." Dan shakes his head. "It was one bullet, went through the brim then the body. Didn't help your mom decided it should hold his supplies until we got back to our horses." Chad guffaws then we are at the train station, plenty of folks going past to catch the train. It is still pulling in so we are not late. Not exactly on time to catch it either though it is early by about an hour. Suggests someone had a powerful desire to reach our town. The captain being here doesn't speak well of the desire either, I head for him. Dan and Chad split up to keep an eye on the departing passengers when they do step off. "Morning Janet, did you have a feeling?" I nod and twist a bit to keep an eye on the exits. "I did, you being here for the train doesn't sit well." Captain snorts and shakes his head. "Nothing like that, we get a few new boys coming in today. Fresh from training, one is even from West Point. Probably thinks he's going to replace me." I look up at the captain and do what Dan likes to, I spit on the ground. "If he does, hand him over to me so I can teach him the right." That earns me a grin. "I might though I get the feeling your feeling wasn't about the cavalry." I follow his vision and sigh. Couple greenhorn marshals are stepping off the train. They don't have a prisoner though one has paper in his hand. They are the first off that section so Dan spots them right off and whistles. They spot him and head that way, then I spy the new soldiers. The first off has a uniform so new it's practically black. His necktie is almost blinding it's so new, and a big hat marking him as officer. The captain snorts and spits next to me then another soldier steps off. This one at least has a lived in uniform. "I thought they were new." "Either not all were or they had a sitter. All I got in the report was three new soldiers, one is an officer. I think if you got a hunt I'll give you the greenhorn and the sergeant. Might as well get him learned on you." That gets me to look at the captain again. "Don't you need him in the fort?" "Nah, I got him for a short tour. He's here to learn the tricks of reservation and then off west for the trouble areas." "Is he learned in Apache or Spanish?" The soldiers are coming closer so he doesn't say anything at first. "You can find out I suppose." He takes the papers they are holding and ignores the salutes. Knowing they won't do a thing until he salutes back I walk around the three of them. The youngster is rather short, I'm drawing a bit close to his shoulders. The other two are taller, one is likewise in a new uniform and trembling a little. He wants to watch me walk behind them. I'd take offense but that's a good mark, he wants to keep an eye on the armed person, gal or not. The old hat soldier just stands there holding his salute and looking bored. The captain returns the salute and starts laughing when I get back to him. "Janet, he was sent here to learn how to fight injuns." I snort and look him over again. "Not much to look at." He stiffens though holds his tongue so I step up closer. "You look about as useful as a cockroach." He just stares ahead, the old hat soldier snorts and laughs, I spoke in Spanish. "Durn it lady if that isn't the god's truth." I look at him then turn to the captain. "Is he a translator for the greenhorn or yours?" Captain sighs. "He's mine, spent the last three years in Texas. I get to keep these two, though I only had a need for one and not for another three months." I look them over again realizing they are still standing attention. "I rather like the middle one, he knew I'm danger and wanted to keep an eye on." "Here comes Dan and your greenhorns, I'm taking mine off, I'll send a runner if you are doing a hunt tell him." Captain says as Dan and the marshals are coming this way. "If we have one make sure you find two warriors, I am not relying on greenhorns." Captain snorts then pauses as Dan comes closer waving a paper. "Captain hang on, you might want to take part of this one." Captain and I trade a glance then we both get closer to my husband. "What do we have?" I get out first though captain is looking at the paper with a frown. "Those two are here to get your help with this man. He's counterfeiting, bank robbery, and a few others not listed. There's talk of him with a gang and that's what we got to spare." I take the paper from captain and look it over. "Big reward, no mention of why the captain wants some of this." "He's got some injuns like you." I look up then off to the side to see the speaker, one of the greenhorns. "If they are like me then the captain doesn't care, he's in charge of Apache, I'm Cherokee." Captain snorts. "I don't think anybody knows what sort of injun he has." "This is true, round eye can't even see at night." Dan grabs my nose. "I got better, and you are going to help these two." I kick Dan so he lets go then turn to the captain. "Might as well hand me the greenhorn and your sergeant, give me two warriors and see if there are any gals wanting to ride. I'm not carrying still so only Dan." Captain nods and takes his soldiers with him toward the fort. Dan sighs and takes my arm so off to the sheriff's. We go in with the two marshal and Chad sat out front. It's still a little warm so I want to join him. Dan has a different idea, he pushes me to a chair and takes his. "Janet I wasn't planning on going. I'm the sheriff, means supposed to stay here at least some." "Chad is good enough to sit lonesome guard. I need you for my needs, besides I work better with you." Dan sighs then eyes the marshals. "Two strapping young lads here though, I don't think your needs are in danger." I look at them and shake my head. "They are not my husband, and I am not carrying child. Bleeding time ended last week." Dan sighs tosses his hat to the side and pulls me up. "Fine, but getting new hats first, then breakfast." Well if that is not a darn moment. I like him wearing the dog hat, then I recall the new hats. Well if that isn't the oddest turn, he hasn't said anything about me not wearing a hat all these years. Makes me wonder who told him I want a new hat. Chad shakes his head when I look at him, I guess he knows I'm wondering on who told. I keep my peace until we are in the store and I just can't not ask. "Dan who told you I want a new hat?" I get looked at and Elan ducks below the counter. "Well nobody told me that, a few of the gals have asked me why you don't wear a hat. Not even just the whores either, you sorta grew on everybody." Shocked is the right word for me at the moment, Dan at least remembers what we are doing. "Elan stand up, we need a couple hats." Elan pops back up, just his head a spell to make sure no shooting. Once he is sure of that he stands up full and heads for the hats. I get looked at quick with a frown, he likes the dog hat too. Then Andrew is coming out of the back with a hat in hand. At least until he sees me and backs up quick. Then he's coming back forward with Claire calling him things. I go that way just to see what he is holding. It is odd behavior, lucky me Claire doesn't notice until I've taken the hat. Strange hat, it is cloth with a brim, though not a very big brim. There are strings hanging to tie it around you. The whole thing just loops around the head instead of sitting atop. Then Claire notices me and squeaks. "Morning Janet, did not see you afore." I smile and wave the hat. "Are you making hat back there?" Andrew sighs then heads for Dan leaving Claire standing there shooting eye daggers after. "No, we just got these in yesterday. These are hats for us women who don't do your hunting." Dan comes up and looks at the hat. "I'm thinking you won't like it, little brim so you will have light in your eyes." I look up at Dan then Claire. "Are you two saying I won't look good in this?" Claire sighs and sends a prayer up. "I have a bonnet I wear on Sunday. You don't attend so there's no need of dressing up. Besides Dan seems to have found a hat for you." I look at what Dan has in his hand and smile. He has indeed found a hat for me, the wide brimmed small topped hat I could only find in Texas. Course this one is different, that one was cloth, this on the other hand is straw. Makes for an interesting look, and I can string things up in it. "Dan it's perfect, I can string herbs and flowers in it." Dan's jaw drops, Claire gasps then comes around the counter. "I never thought of that, when we got these we figured we lost the money." "Why?" Claire looks at me and sighs then points to the hats. "Men prefer them like that, these came as part of the order we placed. Now if you wear one of these with flowers in it the other women will buy." I look up at Dan rather on the confused side, Dan just smiles and puts the hat on me. "Come on Janet your plate is getting cold." I nod and feel the hat sliding a little so I best get a ribbon. "Claire you got a ribbon or twine?" Claire grins and dashes off, coming back after a short spell with a lovely blue ribbon. Dan tosses her a penny then takes me and the ribbon toward the saloon. Keeping an eye on where we are walking I pull the hat off and see if I can fix the ribbon. I stop at the door checking the durn hat for a way to fix the ribbon. I can't find one then Dan takes my arm and walks me into the saloon. We stop suddenly so look up to find our maybe neighbor standing there with a smile. "Afore you do something drastic may I see if I can fit the ribbon?" I hand her the durn hat and the ribbon, I was fit to take a knife to it, then look at Dan. "Andrew ran ahead to tell the gals you bought that hat to put flowers in." I look around and no Andrew, but the gal with my hat is still here. "Left my tools upstairs, I need to go up there if'n you not mind." "Fit the ribbon up there if'n you pondering. Long as the hat comes back with ribbon so it stays I not mind." She curtsies and tears off for the stairs. Feeling rather like a customer at the old brothel I head with Dan for the table Sally is perched at. She has been joined by the two marshals and is flirting a mite with both. I sit while Dan heads for the kitchen, no plate for me. One of the marshals turns to me and tips his hat then leans a bit. "Is it true you a whore?" "When the feel for it comes. The feel will come when I'm with child again." Dan comes back and sits next to while I'm saying that. "That might take a while, neither of us is young." I smile and take his hand. "No bother, I don't have the need much." Dan sighs and looks up. "How often have you decided we shall roll at the eatery or kitchen?" Sally snorts. "Asking for the week or month?" I fix a glare on Sally then turn back to Dan. "I'm trying to be a good wife and provide with kids." Dan gives me a kiss. "I know, I'm one of the very few able to poke at ya. Most consider it a road to the mortician." Can't think of a thing to say bout that then Amanda comes out with a tray. I get a plate, Dan gets a plate, and both marshals get. I fall to, we are getting the biscuits and gravy today. With coney meat so it's quite tasty. "What is this?" I look at the marshal and snort, he ain't touched his. "Biscuits and gravy. Coney meat so quite good." He looks at me, the plate, and back then digs in, earns me a smile after a spell. "This is good." Dan pokes me. "No ideas, you ain't cooking on the hunt." "I'll do the hunting for dinner at breakfast like we used." "Ach lass that sounds good." I think all of us turn to look. The sergeant is there in the doorway with the greenhorn. Behind both are two warriors, one looks familiar so I wave at him. He waves back then pokes at the sergeant to get through. The greenhorn soldier doesn't look happy at the warriors coming in. I just ignore him and get up to give the one I know a hug then look at the second. "Are we blooding him?" Bipin nods then winks at me. "He is one of our hunters, rides out with the sergeant and they always return with coney at least." I look at the new warrior and I just have to ask. "How do you get the sergeant on a horse?" Bipin snorts and shakes his head. "Not that sergeant, that sergeant is always in fort." The sergeant straightens up and comes over. "Oi I do not, I exit the fort as orders demand." I grin and poke him. "When they won't let you get more whiskey." "That bears a resemblance, not true mind but there is." We're both grinning then Dan pulls me back to my chair and plate. "Eat up, get ready, you can poke his drink later." Darn husband taken the fun away, though there is one thing. "Is there a mind on where he is?" The marshals nod. "Last we heard three towns down on this line." "When was this?" They trade a glance and I just know this will not sit well. "Two days ago." I sigh and kick Dan. "Take a day to catch up. Three day head start with greenhorns, sergeant, husband, and one blooded warrior. Gonna take week or three just to see, nother week to shoot." Dan puts a hand to my shoulder. "Janet I'm going with, thought you miss the long hunts." I sigh and nod then look at him. "Balik, I won't be about to feed him." "Bonita is staying with Chad, she can handle with Amanda doing milk." Well when he puts it like that I don't have much to say, though there is one. "Will add needs." Dan winks. "I can handle." Well I guess we are doing a hunt then the train whistle blows, that gets me into action. "Marshal hold the train, you fetch our horses." They both nod and get up with Dan to tell one our horses. "Bipin did you bring a gal for your rolls?" He shakes his head. "Not one willing, figured could get one of the whores." Well if that don't beat all. "Bipin talk to Sally, he can find one if he knows round eye." They both nod and split up, Sally had gotten up at some point. "Sergeant, help Dan get supplies, double the beans and make sure we have a mortice. Do not let him add sugar to the coffee." Sergeant salutes. "Aye lass, I'll be making double sure on the horses for you two and the whore." I'd remind him she has a name but we don't know which is coming yet. Out of things to say I stand up and head upstairs. First thing I do is check on Balik to find he is awake and active. Picking him up and singing I head for Bonita. Hoping she is in their room at least, luck find, she is in the room, not quite awake yet. New baby are hard first time, keep waking up to make sure is fine. "Bonita, going to impose, we have hunt and need you help Amanda keep Balik." She groans and rolls over, then sits up. "Next hunt we do and you keep Sashi." "If can, marshals asked for me." Bonita sighs and gets up to take Balik. "Go pack I take care of Balik, we all watch over him." I give her a hug then kiss Balik on the head. I admit being apart hurts already, but we have big hunt. Am excited and a little hurry to be on way. First thing is getting rest of weapons on belt. Bowie and tomahawk placed I grab up some throwing knives then pull out Winchester. Ammo and rifle in hand I head for the door, then stop and turn back to collect coats. It is getting cooler, night time especially and we will want them. Especially if this hunt takes as long as I think. Dan steps into the room then so I hand him the coats then head for my paints. I likely won't have much time for it but I do want to have them. I find a calm place while creating art that I find hard to reach any other way. At least it is hard to find if I am not underneath my husband. Dan smiles at me then helps with the stand for the canvas. Embarrassing to admit but it took me two days to figure out what exactly this canvas is. Teepees use canvas as well but different kind, though they tend to end up having the same use on one side. Back down the stairs I am shocked, we have two women coming along. Mostly I'm just shocked on one of the women. Chun is coming along, I can't figure this out, she has always been so good with Amanda. Bia, the other whore, is an Apache though she is not pure. Her mother had been forced resulting in her, though not held against like round eye do. Amanda isn't crying at Chun leaving, she is a little, smiling still though. Out the door I end up walking next to Chun so I guess I can ask. "Chun I thought you were happy with Amanda." She smiles and winks at me. "I've been pregnant we think twice now, but always lose the babe. We are thinking if I can get with men in a regular way I might end up staying like you did." I'd give her a hug except my hands are full at the moment so smile instead. "Well that is great, I'm honestly surprised most of the Apache take the poison." Dan nudges me and shakes his head. "You should ask chief about it, as far as I know the ones we get are tired of trying to find a man or don't want one." I gape at Dan a moment then Bia shakes her head. "Most of us are not like Chun. We just want to get a poke together before we go elsewhere so we can have a house." "I half want a house myself, though Dan would not let me cook." Dan sighs, though Chun just giggles. "There is talk of erecting a sheriff house. I believe across from my parents so you would not need to cook." "I thought the Gladstone house was going up there." Dan shakes his head. "Decided farther down our original street would be better." Yelling gets us to stop and turn back, the woman with my hat is running after, I clean forgot about it. Longwood Second Hunt Day 01-02 "Sorry I took so long, I had some silk flowers I fitted to it." I take the hat and look it over, it is beautiful now. The blue ribbon squeaks through a gap in the brim on two sides. It gives me a front and back to the hat now which is interesting. On the front now there are some lovely blue and red flowers. I can't help beaming at her as I get it fitted atop it's just so lovely. "Perfect, how much?" She smiles and shakes her head. "Sally paid, she wants me to make one for her so I got twice the pay. I'm thinking I will stay here, the gals are so nice." Gives me a mind on something. "Could you make me more leather pants and shirts? They are expensive to order because I'm not a normal size. If you can get it done cheaper I'd really like a second pair." She looks a little flummoxed until Dan clears his throat. "Most of us men would like better fitting, most wives don't bother sewing so we just order. Janet's sizes are known in the store, just ask Andrew. If you need money ask Sally, I'll pay her back when we return." We get beamed at then she runs off again, so Dan pulls me along to the train. "I do know how to sew Dan, I was given a needle at five." Dan shakes his head. "I like you painting and being my wife. Besides it's not an issue for me, I'm a regular size. Chad though is a bit under half a size and many of our farmers are the same." I giggle and rub his belly. "Much longer and we will have to ask Mr. Johnson what size he is." Dan glares at me, with a grin, but he glares as we sit, Bipin and our other warrior sitting across. "It occurs I never asked your name." He grins and shakes his head. "Elan, are you going to paint?" Realizing I have everything here and a look at Dan I suppose I may as well. "Not much else to do, though I have a short stand." Bipin nudges Elan so he grabs up the partly finished canvas I have. Both scoot over and hold it for me so I just need to break out the paints. Dan goes over me and opens the window so the smell doesn't get to anyone. Does bring to mind one thing, we should have saddle bags so look at Dan. "Where is the sergeant and our saddle bags? I'd like to stow my bullets." Dan sighs and gets up looking around as I work on getting the paints ready. I get a little lost in painting, I'm doing one of my beautiful Balik. In a way making it feel like he is right here with me. I already have him painted, I'm laying in the rest of the surrounding. Not so easy, the train is not a stable ride. Perhaps it is my stand, I have two men holding the painting for me. Still I have it finished to a point I can call it done. With that out of the way I work on getting the brush and palette clean. When I finish that I find Dan sitting next to me holding a package of jerky. He also has saddle bags at his feet so I look about. My bullets and the coats are not there so must be in the saddle bags. I reach over and take a jerky off Dan then curl up into him. The warriors admire the painting a spell then grab jerky so we are all sitting here eating jerky. "Janet is it true you learned how to fight from an Apache?" I shake my head at Bipin. "I got with an older man who was Apache, his tribe turned their backs on him. All he did was help me meet my needs and get better at throwing knives. Shooting was in there though that was closer to just practicing." Elan and Bipin trade a glance. "Why did they turn their backs on him?" Dan sighs but doesn't say anything so I am telling it. "He approached me, this is just after I escaped so I was thirteen summers. I knew I needed men above me, and he had seen me riding on the passed out man." Bipin and Elan sigh then shake their heads. "Wrong but was what you needed." I nod and shrug. "He was a very nice man, taught me most Spanish. Could not satisfy me enough so I tried for more, did not always work but he always got above me." They both look a little confused, Dan snorts and opens his mouth. "What Janet means is he was older so could not that often. He never said no to her sharing his bed because she was young." Bipin sighs though Elan opens his mouth. "How did you meet Dan?" I'm smiling at the question. "This was after my third trip on a cow drive, those were really nice." Bipin waves his hand then opens his mouth. "What did you do on a cow drive?" "I lied on a mattress in the back of a wagon. The pokes would ride up close tie their horse and climb in then poke me. When he finishes I'd be held a spell then he would climb out. All day like this, though the best part was each night I'd have one in bed with me all night." Bia and Chun are leaning over the bench on that side by now. "So tell us about meeting Dan." Chun says getting nods all the way around. "Well Dan was something of an accident. I was in between drives so trying to get my needs met. I was in the saloon when Dan came in asking questions. He was tracking down a man, fifty dollar bounty wasn't it?" Dan nods and pulls me in tighter but doesn't open his mouth. "He's upset about the information he gets because he isn't good at tracking. He didn't want to spend half the coin I think it was, so anyway I'm looking at him and we are about the same age. I just couldn't resist trying to get him inside me. So I go up to him and say I can track." Dan snorts and shakes his head. "What she said was I'll find him if you lay with me often." "I remember saying something else and having lay with as the pay. Granted it was my intention to have Dan above me as often as he could manage. I suppose it skewered his recall, or I recall wrong since I want to sound better than desperate." Chun giggles. "So tell us about finding him." "Well first I had Dan atop me and it was perfect. I think I fell for him right then, though my need skewered me so bad I didn't realize until later. Anyway, after the bed we head for where the man was supposed to be. Only had one horse and all I had was a pistol." Dan shakes his head. "You had two knives and we both had one pistol." I glare up at him a moment. "I'm trying to make this more interesting than it was." Dan sighs and shrugs with a grin. "So anyway we go up and leave the horse farther down. There had been a mudslide so we figured on just walking to save the horse. Because we walk the man didn't know we were coming until we appeared out of the bushes." Dan sighs and shakes his head. "She appeared out of the bushes. Wanted a roll all the way up to his camp, hands all over me and finally I tell her after we get him. So Janet takes off for his camp, we could see the smoke, and I'm trying to keep up. No idea how he didn't hear us but Janet is a bit afore me in getting there. She leaps out of the bushes hollering in Tsalagi and pointing her gun at him with her left hand." "What did he do." Dan and I snort and grin. "He took one look at me, squeaked, and keeled right over. I tied him up and got ready for my roll by the time Dan caught up with me." "I didn't roll her right away, made sure he was tied up then we go to the roll." Bipin is chuckling. "How did you get him down?" I sigh and turn a little red. 'I gave him a roll then we all walked." Chun is grinning. "What did you do with the fifty?" I look up at Dan, I don't really remember. "We stayed near to the town for the bounties for a spell anyway so I got us both a Henry rifle." "Och lad don't be leaving us in suspense, when did you learn Janet can do two pistols?" Dan looks at me and I roll my eyes. "We learned on that hunt, remember I was using my left hand when I got to him. I was moving the bushes out of the way with my right hand. If you push them up a small distance and let them fall they don't really make any noise. We didn't really get me a second pistol until after our third hunt?" Dan nods. "Our third hunt was worth three hundred. It was the oddest thing, we find the man and Janet just walks right up to him." Everybody is staring at me now. "I knew him, he was on all three of my cow drives. To be honest that was one of the very best return trips we had. I gave them both a roll every night, only one in the morning but I had to go hunting for dinner." "When did you get to Kansas City?" I frown then look up at Dan and mouth eight, he shakes his head it was nine. "After our ninth hunt, I had finally gotten to trust Dan and told him my story. The next day we head for the train, sell his horse and get there. Took three brothels to find a job for me, the first two didn't have an opening. Probably would have liked the second better, it wasn't timed rolls there, but it was good I ended up where I did. We made good money, I got enough and it ended up with us here. Course it also got me my first Winchester, then we did the first impossible hunt. Didn't we start that one on your birthday?" Dan nods and grins. "After the second hunt we got the Winchesters, first it wasn't out yet, war was still on. It was a good birthday present, got us both in the paper and they kept bringing us the hard hunts. Those pay better, this is how I could afford to keep sending the letters." Brings to mind one thing. "How much did that dress with the bustle cost anyway?" Dan sighs. "At first it was fifty, then when you refused the bustle part it cost another ten to get it on the skirt. Though as I recall the seamstress is very happy with you, bustles on the skirt is popular." There are four blank faces then Bia asks. 'What is a bustle?" "A bustle is this cage like that goes under the skirt on your backside. Gives you a great big backside though makes it hard to sit on anything with a back to it." More blank faces then Bipin asks. "Why?" I shrug then look at Dan. "I don't know either, I just know it was popular there and I figured I'd give her something good. I mean we weren't traveling together so I thought perhaps it would make her popular with the men." I sigh and roll my eyes. "I got one roll out of that trip, in the farm just before town. It was a really good roll at least but it was a bit difficult for me." "Weren't you in the war?" I think we all look at the greenhorn. "I had two older brothers that were. They didn't live, why I met Janet, my parents didn't want to lose their last son. The conscription gangs didn't care so I left, I ran out of money in that town so I grabbed a bounty just to try and move on. Luckily Janet kept me from being talked to about it, they all figured better to leave her with me and out of the war." Number of surprised faces so I guess I'll share the rest. "Mostly it was because the first time one of those came up to us I pulled my knife and tried to kill all of them. Dan held me off them and word spread." Dan snorts. "Actually at that point you were the crazy injun, but it worked and you did calm down in the brothel." "I was getting enough and there wasn't a call for soldiers there." Dan nods and squeezes me. "To be honest if that brothel paid better we probably would have gotten to McCalbane sooner. We spent most of your earned doing the hunts and buying more ammo." Chun looks lost. "How much did the brothel pay?" "I got a dollar and fifty cents for each half hour. Dan kept selling the horses so that was part of the expense." Dan sighs. "I had to, it was fifty cents a day to keep the horses in a stable." I never knew that, still sucked some of those horses were fine animals, then I notice how dark it is. "When do we get there?" "We stopped at Wicker while you were painting, next town is coming up and there is one more after. Janet you should get some sleep, we need you aware and not asleep on your horse." I want to say Bipin can do it, but he's actually not that good. We have him for when we do find our target, he can't track but he can shoot and sneak. I don't know Elan so can't leave it to him to track. Slightly stuck on me doing it, at least the marshals are fixated on it, I curl up on Dan a little more. I don't sleep for a spell, I just stare at the painting of Balik and pray, to return fast and give him a sister. Eventually sleep does claim me in fits and starts, bouncy ride and Dan moves. Waking up again I find we are pulling up to the right town. Well I can't stop thinking it's the wrong town, I miss Balik. While collecting the things I'll need, my saddle bag with ammo and Winchester, Chun and Bia help me out. Namely they pull up my shirt and suck, in no time I relax a bit because my chest doesn't hurt. I get sent to the engineer to ask how long he is staying just in case we need to board again. On the way I notice the sky isn't lighting up yet, but will be soon. "Hey Gus that you up there?" There's a snort and some banging then Gus does appear. "Janet how are you?" I smile up at him. "I'm good, missing my sons something fierce but get to do a long hunt." "Lost a prisoner again?" I shake my head. "We got a couple marshals come to ask me special to help. They only had two spare for this man and he's in a gang. Course I get all sorts of greenhorns to help so I'm needing to ask for special help from the great spirit." Gus crosses himself. "I'll do a little praying of my own." "Wouldn't hurt none, so how long are you staying here?" "Well I get to turn the train around here. Little farther there is the tracks to do it at. I'm doing that in half an hour then I'll get some breakfast. We take longer here because we get plenty of supplies from Kansas City and it is moved on to the overland rail. If you are fixing to look for a man here, head for the saloon, the barkeep hears about everything." "Thanks Gus, no offense but hopefully we won't need you." He grins at me. "I'd hope not, if you do chances are they went toward Longwood." That pulls a sigh from me then I'm heading back. I need to get a marshal to go with me, armed injun is likely to get the round eyes alarmed. I'm wearing a badge and a gal but they still react first to my color. Past where I got off I find everyone, Dan is standing there watching with the greenhorn soldier. Both jump a little when I move up next to Dan. "Gus is sitting here for half an hour then turning the train around. After he has breakfast, told me to visit the saloon so I need a marshal." "We're a might delayed, they are unloading the car behind and passing by ours. They are swearing ten minutes at most then we can get our horses." They are indeed unloading the car behind our horses. That one is filled with wood they are carrying to three different carts. There is four men so probably about right on the time but still, I need a marshal. "Can you get me a marshal?" Dan sighs and shakes his head. "The horses are spooked a bit, everybody is in there keeping them calm. I'd say I'd go with you but probably better to take the lieutenant." That makes me sigh, I'd rather not take time. "Why is it better to take the cucaracha?" Dan stares at me a moment. "Janet it's better to take him because he outranks a sheriff out of his town." "He's here to learn how to fight injuns, not hunt men." Dan gives me a glare. "He's along on this to learn how to hunt a man. There is little difference between tracking an injun and a regular fellow." I glare right back because there is. "That is not true and you know it. Tracking an injun means they want to remove our way of life." Dan grabs my chin. "No, it means they attacked settlers just trying to live like they are. Congress is looking at that very thing yes, but not yet and soldiers have nothing to do with that. You should find something else to call him by the way, that's a little insulting." I snort and grin. "Not insulting, rather fitting I'm at his shoulder." Dan snorts and shoves me off with the cockroach following. I get to look at the town and well if this isn't a proper town. They have four streets, we are heading for the middle part with the saloon right there at the corner of the X. Across the street is a gun store, we are thinking of adding one to our town. Hoping we can stay here long enough to take a look in there we head for the saloon then the cockroach opens his mouth. "What does cucaracha mean?" "Cockroach." He sucks in a breath. "Why do you call me that?" He goes up a little in my notions, he isn't yelling though he does find it a little insulting. "You are not much taller than I. Soon as we are riding I'll share a story about a cockroach." Cucaracha falls quiet after that so I get to go in the saloon. The people in here are asleep besides the barkeep. He doesn't look up as we approach, until we get to the bar and I hop up on a stool. He does then to look at me, then Cucaracha and back then frowning. "I'm not allowed to serve Apache." I grin at him. "I'm Cherokee, I'd like water and information." He nods then moves off to a pump built in to the bar. "What sort of information?" He asks when he comes back with a glass of water. "I'm hunting a man, with a couple marshals and my husband." I say going through the pockets on my vest before coming up with the poster and passing it across with a dollar. "I think he's been here, not the greatest of posters, but there was a man bearing a striking, left three days ago now." He says while pocketing the coin, then looking up at Cucaracha. "Apologies lieutenant, what would you like?" "Are we staying a spell?" I nod and shrug. "Need to know where they went and likely get breakfast. I want a look in the gun store." They are both staring at me now, though Cucaracha hops up on a stool and orders a beer. "You got a fine Winchester there, are your pistols not new?" I grin and hop up on the stool so he can see, there's a curse then he crosses himself. "Heaven's above, I knew you were staying near but never expected you to come in." I giggle and sit again. "Didn't expect to either. Couple marshals came to our town wanting my help. What we got Cucaracha, another soldier and two warriors along for. He's got a gang by all accounts and you didn't say which way." "No I didn't, sorry. They went toward the overland rail. I'm not sure on the gang part, I only saw three but they were loaded down. I don't think they got the train." Well that is a grinning moment, then a thought occurs. "What is farther that way?" He stops to think a spell. "Well if'n they went straight a town about three days. There are farms and two ranches off the path that way close enough to visit some. Farther I don't know beyond the town." I nod and smile. "I guess we can find out, if'n they didn't catch the train and stayed on the road. Well then we should find out about vittles and when the gun store opens." "Vittles you go around the corner, we got a right smart eatery there and most of us eat there at least once a day. The gun store opens when I go wake him, leaning over the table right there." I giggle at the man, his hair looks to be aflame, and snoring a bit. "Saint's preserve us, an officer after me own heart." We all turn to look, sergeant is coming in with a grin eyeing the beer, Cucaracha looks at me. "What is he talking about?" "You got a beer, sergeant there goes on hunts with me to preserve the fort whiskey. The last three I'm sure were just to get him out of the fort." "Oi lass tha's not true, there was a miscount. I was not along for the counting you see." Cucaracha looks back at me a little worried. "Is he going to be a problem?" I shake my head and pull a dollar bill out. "For him and the rest, they should be along in a bit. Sergeant there is a fine soldier, just loves his drink when he's off duty, and on occasion on in the fort. I think his wife drives him, she has flame like the gun store man." Barkeep pulls up the bill and hands a beer to sergeant. "Be glad of the officer present lass, I'd turn you over my knee for speakin' so of my gal. So do we have good news or am I drinking before a train?" Longwood Second Hunt Day 01-02 "We got good news, seems they departed by horse. Going to stop and ask but we can get vittles around the corner and look in the gun shop." Dan comes in, comes over to me, and I get a hug. "You have four boxes of ammo, I have five boxes plus what the lieutenant has. If we run low it won't matter they have too many." I grin up at my husband. "I just want to see, Andrew was saying a full gun shop would carry more guns. Mayhap I can get another bow or three and we can show Cucaracha why lights out." Barkeep sighs and shakes his head. "You don't want that, he had two Mohawk with him." I look up at Dan beaming, he looks confused so he doesn't recall. "Mohawk fought with the French, Washington got Cherokee and a few minor offshoots of us." Cucaracha gets it first. "So we have nothing to fear because we have a Cherokee?" I nod. "Yep, two Apache as well, not as good but close." Bipin and Elan come in with Chun and Bia on their arms with the marshals right behind them. "Can we look at the gun store before we leave?" I think we all stare at Elan a moment. "That is my plan, look at the guns, get vittles around the corner and head after. We need to ask at the station, they perhaps boarded the overland train." Dan collects a beer then asks the question I was pondering. "Why do you want to look at the gun store?" Elan shrugs. "The rifles they give us to hunt with are not exactly long ranged. When hunting with a round eye range is nice to have and perhaps can get a pig." Dan nudges me so I look up. "Janet share your pig trick." "Dan he's a dirty Apache he doesn't need it." Bipin snorts and chuckles. "This from a filthy Cherokee." I give him the best answer to the comment, I stick my tongue out at him. "At least I have a husband." Well alright so there is a phrase to go with the tongue, Bipin stares at me a second then wags a finger. "Janet just share the trick." Dan beat him to coming up with a good counter. "What I do is collect a bucket and have Amanda drop orange peels, apple cores and such in. Add a little water and just let it sit until it starts to smell a little, then go pour someplace. Away from people because the pigs will come. Some are big and a bit mean." "That's all there is to it?' I shake my head. "Do it every day for three or four then you will have a good sized pile and pigs will come. I do behind the farm store past the outhouse. Once you do it enough you can go sit at the outhouse and they won't know. I take the big ones, they are ornery and will go after people." "What about the smaller ones?" This from the sergeant. "I leave them alone, though if you have a notion and a net you can keep them. Pigs are easy, they will take anything, left over meat, rotten anything. If it was food in the last month or so they will eat." Bipin opens his mouth and he has a good question. "How often do pigs breed?" "Once or twice a year, I think, not recalling. They have litters though so a year later you have a few big enough to eat for a while." "All it takes to get injuns to stop attacking people is to give them pigs?" I think we all stare at Cucaracha for a bit. "No, the ones you will be tasked with hunting I suppose are Apache. They value warriors above all others." Bipin nods and winks at me. "We make an exception on Janet." I grab my water and toss the water at him, keep the glass. "Hopefully you won't actually see why the Apache are afraid of me. This many greenhorns though I suppose you will. Apache are resisting reservations because they have tried, they get lied to. None have gotten it as bad as Cherokee, but it doesn't take much to anger a warrior. I'm going to say what you need to do, won't happen but what you need. You need to give them a place to live where they can grow, and teach it. We mostly did not know how to do a farm, most injuns wandered the land and knew where to sprinkle seeds for the next time through." Dan nudges me so I look up. "Women, they will want women because most of the rampaging Apache are war tribes, little to no women." "Ach that be a tall order." I shake my head and grin. "Apache remember, their women like to get with the warriors. If you get a war tribe to settle to a spot you can get women in by train or walk. We turn women away from the saloon because they want to bring money to their new tribe." Barkeep waves his hand. "What if they don't like any? I hear stories about Apache I guess raping women." I shake my head. "No what you hear stories about are Apache doing wife raids. They don't always sneak away with a wife for one, if there is husband they sometimes kill husband and take all women. Of age and resist are broken to stay with one, younger are raised Apache and get to choose. This is not seen as rape, to us rape is something to not do. Your soldiers do more often than hostile wife raids." Bia steps up. "I am a direct result of that very thing." Barkeep crosses himself. "So I should ignore most of what is said?" We all nod. "No whiskey still, we do not resist well." Dan snorts. "Janet turns into a giggling drunk with one whiskey." I shake my head. "Half a glass of watered beer was in there." "I got one better with you, two swallows and a half of whiskey and she passed out" I swat Dan for making me sound like a round eye drunk. "I was shot and the undertaker wanted me passed out or something." "I think we better get to the gun store." Cucaracha says with a sigh and the barkeep nods and heads for him. The waking is rather funny, when the barkeep touches him the man only groans. So he pushes him a time or two and he falls out of the chair. The sergeant mutters something then hops up and goes with his beer. He waves the beer near the man's head a time or two and he grabs for it. He actually gets hold so sergeant is pulling and the man is pulling. Both are calling the other names I don't understand. Barkeep runs behind the bar and returns with a whiskey. Back over to them he goes and holds it up in front of gun store man. Well he lets go of the beer and grabs up the whiskey. Sergeant is too busy keeping his beer so ends up sitting down and splash. Some of his beer came out and on him so he's complaining about losing beer. The rest of us are laughing, watching this is better than most of us see often. Then Bipin calls it dog hat and us injuns are laughing. I shake my head and call it sergeant morning and we are all laughing. Finally we get the two Irish up and head for the gun store. Inside is wonderful, there are rifles and pistols everywhere. Cucaracha follows me around as I go over the rifles. The pistols I am quite happy with my Colts so pay them no mind. One rifle though is interesting, it looks to be a blackpowder rifle. I pick it up and go over it, the back of it opens up to allow a bullet. The length is about on par with my Winchester so it would fire true. I think at least and while my Winchester is better with loadout this would be a good rifle. Cucaracha on the other hand seems to love the rifle. The store owner comes over and just looks at us a moment. "Not much call for these, the Winchester and Henry are more general use. These are good for hunting though." "I have a Winchester and a Henry before." He looks me up and down and shrugs. "I didn't know you injuns followed the stories." I'm just a bit on the confused side, Cucaracha is right there with me. "What stories?" I think we ask it together. "Why the stories on Cherokee Janet, there hasn't been a new for a spell. They are good though, she goes out hunting outlaws." Well that makes me laugh. I laugh so hard I end up sitting on the floor. After a spell I realize everybody is looking down at me. Dan is right there so I climb right up and swat him a few times. "Dan you never told me about stories on me." Dan scratches his head. "I never knew honest. I shared stories at the courthouse, and the men we rounded up alive shared stories. Nobody ever told me there were books." "There is a book store across the street." I just follow his point and out the door. The book store is next to the eatery so it is easy to find. I seem to be followed by most everybody. Dan is all I need though, he has most of our money. The store is just opening when we get to it so I get to look right off. Finding the books is easy, I'm a series of penny novels so not terribly big. There are plenty of them though so I collect every one and drop it on the counter. The clerk looks at the books, up at me, then at the books again. "If'n you follow her why are you buying all of them?" "I lived these most likely, I didn't know made books about me." The clerk chuckles and points, on the cover of one it shows a round eye woman. "Dan, did you say I'm a round eye?" Dan sighs and picks up one of the books and leaf's threw a moment. "Oh here we go, Janet say us about our first hunt with a Winchester, just catching the guy." "If'n I recall right we had found our man in the evening. I talked you into moving up during the night and we reached his camp with the sun coming. I went above with new Winchester, you stayed down in the dirt. When I got to a good overlook on a sleeping camp I shot in the air. Dan yells at them while I sung. End up shooting two out of the five and we had two bounties, one dead and one alive." Dan nods and the clerk's jaw is just hanging. "Here now, let's get a few sets." Sergeant drops two more sets of the books on the counter. "We can laugh about the wrong parts." I elbow the sergeant but well I can't really forbid it. Dan pays a strangely quiet clerk then we are exiting to get vittles. Cucaracha joins us here carrying the black powder looking rifle. I can tell he's got boxes of ammo for it. Into the eatery we go and get a big table for sitting. To be nice, everyone gets a big table, there are three long tables with chairs. We split up a little, there are not many empty chairs together. The rest of the eaters are a bit nervous, at least I'm the only injun armed. I sit with Dan, Bipin, and Cucaracha. Sergeant sits elsewhere with Elan, Bia, and Chun. I'm fairly certain Bia and Chun actually get spoken to, the man sitting next to me never utters a word. "Cucaracha why did you get that rifle?" He looks up from his plate and smiles. We don't get a choice on what to eat, we sit and get a plate of vittles. Not a terrible system though I rather prefer the eatery we have. Course here we only have one cook so definitely easier. Amanda swears she had problem every day though she never made more than two different plates. "I trained on this rifle. At West Point we are taught how to soldier in all ways, foot, horse, and boat." "Not every soldier gets a Winchester?" He shakes his head and smiles. "Fine rifle if expensive, cavalry gets a Winchester, anyone else gets one of these. Once trained this rifle is just as good as a Winchester." Brings to mind a question so I turn to Dan who is busy eating. "Dan, how much did we pay for my Winchesters?" Dan sighs and slumps a little, I guess I won't like this. "The first one was borrowed, I didn't expect you to put it in a drawer. I just went and bought a new one for him. At least the new one was cheaper than he paid. He swears up and down it worked better though you never complained." I shake my head. "It worked perfectly fine for me, perhaps my songs helped." Dan shrugs and smiles at me. "I can't say, I don't follow your ways though you never dropped it either. He said dropping it loaded sets it off. The new one didn't do that so either he dropped it cocked and it did on that one, or he never cocked the new one for a drop." I snort and giggle. "Possible either way, now you never answered, how much did they cost?" "Lets see, if'n I recall right the replacement was fifty. First short rifle was seventy five, something about wanting to make sure there is a demand. The second was fifty." Cucaracha waves his hand. "Why did you buy two?" "The first one got shot, we had just finished a hunt and taking him back. The store we stopped at didn't have replacement stock, but did have short rifle so we traded. I got six boxes of bullets for my shot rifle so even trade I warrant." "Sold that one to the brothel when we moved to Longwood. Had it for a good spell and fine for brothel but I wanted a new for Janet." Cucaracha looks at us both and shrugs. "Makes sense, you two get the duties most won't do." "It's not hard work, the only part that needs training is tracking. If'n you don't want to do it yourself just hire an injun, most all of us can. Some are better than others course so make sure you ask. Bipin can't track worth spit, but everything else he's powerful good." Bipin swells up and smiles. "Janet you realize you just said an Apache is good at something." I look up at Dan and sigh then stomp on his foot. "He's not exactly an Apache anymore." Bipin snorts and points at me. "I warrant you ain't Cherokee anymore but you didn't change none." I grin and stick my tongue out. "At least Cherokee always smell good." Bipin sighs then chuckles. "Got nothing to say bout that one. All jealous of you though, you don't attend church and no problem." I lean into Dan and wink. "Honest, if'n it wasn't for Dan I'd only do round eye way." Dan pokes me. "This wasn't my idea, I'm happy just minding Longwood." "Dan I was happy just being in the brothel with you doing security." Dan turns to look full at me. "So you wouldn't want to get McCalbane if we stayed in the brothel?" I roll my eyes. "I meant we could have found him, rode out, kilt him proper, and gone back. Course I'm happy with Longwood, just wish he had gone near the Cherokee reservation." "I don't think he would have, likely figured you went to a reservation and being Cherokee would have been there. Think about it, Apache and Cherokee don't mix, you seemed all set to shoot the Apache at first." I just roll my eyes, Bipin laughs. "Dan Cherokee don't do that, Apache might but then we are not stupid either. A reservation full of tribes one Apache won't attack. I warrant our reservation wouldn't attack theirs either." I giggle and shake my head. "If'n we were that close we would set up watch and you might get two steps. Asides I been teaching you to be more Cherokee like." "Chief been saying he heard stories of Cherokee having towns, is that true?" I nod and grin at Cucaracha. "True, when the round eye came they found us in towns, at first they asked us to get closer together. We figure have nation like them, then round eye get better idea, for round eye. I missed most of, what I recall of before reservation with McCalbane we were getting moved about. We got McCalbane providing meat because small tribe, why we had been near Florida, get away from enemy tribes." "So your tribe was the one that revolted?" I just glare at Cucaracha a spell. "Round eye recall wrong, McCalbane not give meat after take me. Cow he get he sell and not give, tribe went to town to get meat and cavalry come. Killed all but seven elders too weak to fight, women, children, all dead for being hungry. Because of McCalbane we forced on march, can't march, shot. I miss all because I held in ranch for enjoyment of men. Reason I work in brothel, round eye try and kill Cherokee because round eye not like injun." Bipin nods and nudges him. "Apache learning christian cause hear talk of sending our kids to round eye school and forget our way. Christian nice though, chief prays to both during poker and walk away richer often." I snort and shake my head. "Chief good at poker, I sing because what I know. Might help, might not, there's no tell. I no christian because round eye christian are reason need brothel so long." Dan gives me a hug and just holds me, I smile cause nice. "I'm Christian and attend, we all pray for Janet but she's too set in her way. Father Darren plays poker with Janet and speaks on it, she knows just won't attend or say. Honest, most of our money come from her playing cards anymore." I look up at Dan. "Craps, I play craps too. I warrant we should get, and figure out where marshals went." Dan snorts. "Marshals ate fast and took our horses to the overland rail, they are asking after our man on getting train." I nod and we get up, the cook coming fast to collect coin. I figure Dan pays a dollar for all us, though the plates are only a penny each. He does get us a big smile though so I warrant it's worth the dollar. Good bread too, plenty of butter, honey as well but I didn't touch. I notice Bipin did so I tease him on being round eye a spell. When we reach the rail we find the marshals and our horses. They give good news as well, our man didn't get on train. For this train you need buy ticket before boarding. We all stow anything we got extra in our saddle bags then get on horse. Chun needs help with that. She doesn't leap like I do so Cucaracha ends up leaning over and pulling her up. Course a train is coming during the wait for Chun. Dan heads over and looks, like I couldn't have already said too close. So we sit there and wait for the train to move up and stop. When it does we head for the train and go in front of it. Passengers are getting off and we cause something of a stir. Judging by the look we are getting most have never seen an injun before. Dan nudges me and tells me to so I pull my Winchester and shout a challenge. The warriors do the same with grins causing consternation. Sergeant shakes his finger at me then goes that way. I wave at the engineer as we pass him, he's grinning at us. Around the train we speed up a bit, not much to let the sergeant catch up. Bipin and Elan head to the edge of the path in cause they turn quick. A laughing sergeant catches up with us after a spell. "Most of the women refused to believe you are Janet. The men wondered if we were taking you all to a reservation." Chun groans and shakes her head. "Can't anybody tell me from an injun?" Bipin, Elan, and myself raise our hands, Dan does as well after a moment of chuckles. "Pretty sure she speaking of not injuns and pals." Cucaracha says after a moment, well this bears a question. "What difference? I gave Dan son already, Chad is from round eye." Sergeant waves his hand. "Janet you rather hold yourself aside from us." Well I'm plumb confused so look at Dan, he shrugs. "In a way you do, I mean besides not attending church. You have a rather man feel most of the time." I lean over and swat Dan, then look at Chun who waggles her hand. "Besides the hat you got now you rather do have a man feel. When you whored it was easy to overlook, you wore a camisole and a skirt. Now all you wear are the pants and a shirt." I groan and toss up my hands. "I'm a deputy need to be able to at least fight with no warning." Dan snorts and shakes his head. "You didn't wear your belt, not complaining but a deputy with no gun is a little odd." I ran out of things to say, I guess I do have a man feel. "I'd like to hear this tale about a cucaracha." I look at him and grin, Bipin looks up and snorts. "What story about a cucaracha?" "Bipin you forget much of old way." Bia snorts and giggles. "I think I know story but was sparrow." "Yes similar, coyote never get moment of peace, perhaps why he act the way." Cucaracha opens his mouth until sergeant nudges him. "Just get on with the tale." "Should have brought wife, sergeant. Perhaps would give us moments peace." Cucaracha snorts. "She never shut up when we were getting ready." This is funny so I laugh with most everyone, sergeant gets a little red. "She was upset I was going away for a while with no warning. Still has not met you." I look at Dan and get a shaken head. "Will on return promise, perhaps play poker at fort." Sergeant opens his mouth until Cucaracha swats him, I guess say story now. "Coyote has den in sky, sleeps there, plots his tricks. Cucaracha one day decides to listen in to foil plot. Hears coyote plan on getting sparrow so goes and warns sparrow. Coyote goes for sparrow and does not get sparrow, but finds out cucaracha warned sparrow. Coyote is powerful mad so hunts cucaracha, long hunt, much tearing up of ground. Can not find cucaracha so finally coyote give up." Bia claps and smiles.