The Run.

The town of Jackson became much like the other towns in gold country. The little settlement was completely over run with those that came from just about everywhere imaginable in 1850. They were seeking to pick up the gold nuggets that supposedly were littering the ground like dirt clods. It wasn't exactly as easy as advertised; it took work and lots of it. Eventually, as often happens when individuals that use the simplest of methods in any endeavor, find that it was no longer so simple, the big money outfits took over. One of those methods entailed the blasting of whole hillsides with water cannons to loosen the gold that remained hidden from the panners. They were often financed by investors thousands of miles from their investments, with hastily formed conglomerates in such places as New York And Europe. Then there were those that were more retail minded and began to open businesses to cater to the miners, the hangers on and inadvertently, the road agents, gamblers and back shooters that always were looking to profit from the work of others. Then there were those that just appreciated the beauty of the place and decided to stay and build homes, start families, organize local government, start schools, hire lawmen and make an attempt at normalcy. Wasn't easy with a more than active criminal element preying on those unfortunate enough to run afoul of them.

In 1879, thirty years after the world wide rush into gold country, the roads into and out of the towns were little more than trails, although most were wide enough at that point for opposing traffic to pass with room to spare. The roads in Jackson were still dirt and in the winter were usually muddy messes that were tracked most everywhere people walked. Now, at summers end, the dust raised by horses and wagons could become a thickening cloud of haze that coated almost everything and everyone. The population had dropped considerably from the heady days of the gold rush and had stabilized into a regular community of citizens that loved their city and the surrounding pine covered hills, the draws and canyons in which the ubiquitous deer were the main denizens, and the rivers with the migrating salmon that unerringly returned to their home places to spawn. This then, was the town as Becky and friends found, as they rode in to continue their run.

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

The six riders rode slowly down the main street of Jackson, taking in the sights of yet another little town that had seemed to become a viable, thriving community. The usual coteries of lounging inhabitants occupied chairs in front of various businesses, checking the comings and goings of those passing, with occasional comments and accompanying guffaws about one thing or another for their entertainment. The ever present saloons were busily dispensing ice cooled beer and the hard stuff, to those for whom today was just another day to get liquored up to partake in what another day might bring.

They rode on through, ignoring the comments of the locals as to who they might be and what they were doing here in their town. The banker had said that they would come to the canyon where his cohorts were waiting, about a mile east of the edge of Jackson. As they rode, other groups of riders passed by them heading toward Jackson. It was prudent to keep alert when strangers were approaching. Becky always pulled her shotgun from its customary place hanging from her saddle and cradled it across herself toward those approaching. . She kept an eye on those passing and usually pulled her horse up and turned to watch them disappear from sight. You never know, she figured. Sometimes one from a passing group mimicked her actions and watched Beckys group as they parted.

Becky could see that the banker was getting nervous as they approached a canyon on their left after riding for a time, so she called for them to halt to do some planning. They dismounted and gathered around Becky and looked at her in anticipation. After a minute or two, "See that ridge that starts right there on the left? That there appears as if it circles to the back of the canyon, across the back of it and circles 'round ahead of us there. Like a horseshoe, kinda'. It's fully forested, so we can mos' likely circle above the cabin to see what we can see. You say she be a mile back in there, Mr banker?" "Yes ma'm. More like a half mile, I believe." The banker was very respectful to Becky at this point. He certainly didn't want that woman at his nose again.

I don't see no reason fer' us all to go up in there. I'fn they waited on this here thief as he thinks they have, then maybe two should go and the others should go back inta' town and wait. We go 'ta crashin' around back in there, we might not have ourselves the --the --" " element," said Lonnie. "Element of surprise." "Thanks," she said quietly. Education she thought fleetingly. I got 'ta get me some. This here bullshit of bein' dumb is gettin' old. The thought went away as quickly as it had appeared.

Lonnie spoke up. how 'bout me 'n Karla workin' our way up there and yall' take the horses back n' tend to 'em and we'll stay as long as we need to. And then we'll walk back. It's only a mile 'er two back and besides, we may be needin' some rooms fer' ourselves. Becky stood still for awhile, thinking on it. The others waited. She finally agreed with his suggestion and mounted up, as did Josh, the old man and the banker. " Be careful, now. Slow is the way ta' go about it. They might even be gone or in town. Anyway, we'll get some rooms in town ifn' they be any and remember---no touching!" She said this with a slight grin and then turned her mount and began to head back the way they had come. Her grin was returned and Lonnie and Karla worked their way into the brush and disappeared without a sound.

Rooms were available, unlike in Sonora with all the goings on there, so they took three rooms, one for Becky and Josh, one for Lonnie and Karla. The third room was for the banker and the old man, who did not want to sleep in a room, but wanted to sleep outdoors as he had done for years. He was finally talked into staying inside, but he didn't like it. Someone had to keep an eye on the banker, lest he bolt and warn the crew in the canyon of the plans against them. When he saw the room he was to stay in, he realized that he could tie the banker up to the steam-heated radiator in the corner over by the single window and he wouldn't have to stay in the room longer than he wanted to. Which was measured in minutes by the old man.

Downstairs the saloon was full of men doing the things men did in saloons. Gambling, drinking, occasionally fighting over one thing or other, fooling with the women, some of whom worked as whores and others that just liked to drink and act foolish like the men did.

Well, honey--we're just waitin' I reckon. Maybe i'll play me some cards. I ain't played in a while. You got some money on ya?" " Shore 'nough do. Here. Here's two hunnerd. That enough?" "Oh yeah. Hell, I don' wanna' lose that kinda' money. Jus' gimmie' a hunnerd." "Ok. I'll go us a beer. I'll bring one over to yer' table, if'n you can find one to sit at."

Becky leaned up against the bar and as usual, was taller than everyone else and some unwanted attention came her way. " Gimmie' two beers, mister." The bartender looked at her for a time and then sauntered off down the bar to tend to some regulars. She watched as he drew beer for the men at the other end of the bar and then stood leaning there making conversation. A couple of them looked her way then laughed with the bartender over something said that was lost in the din of the loud talking drunks, the card playing gamblers and the playing of an old piano by a likewise shriveled old man.

Becky remained leaning on the bar and stood still watching the men at the other end of the bar. She felt like she might be warming up a little, but realized it had nothing to do with the weather outside. She decided after thinking on this slight, that it may be better to lay low due to what she and her friends had planned. It wasn't easy for her to do so. She did not like any sign of unfairness to herself or others either, if it was for no reason. She walked down to the end of the bar and made known her request again. She laid the shotgun on the bar in front of her, as the man stared at her eyes. The other men moved away a few feet and looked at the bartender to see where this was going. She stared intensely at the man and he finally looked away, turned and drew two beers and set them in front of her. She paid him, all the while looking at him for a minute or so and finally turned to take Josh a beer at the table of seasoned gamblers he had joined. " It just gets better and better,'' she said with some disgust.

 

Cont.

She made way to where Josh had taken a place at a poker table among six or seven other tables. The tables were full and Josh had taken a seat that was recently vacated by a man that had lost a considerable amount. Or so it had seemed when he left grumbling loudly. She stepped up and handed Josh his beer and backed off to take in the whole of the bar. It was a very large bar with the usual rooms upstairs for the trysts that would enrich the women who had chosen a particular way of life that would perhaps give them a grubstake to then get out of the life. It wasn't easy on them and she was glad her friend had decided to get out of it.

Besides the constant mounting of drunken cowboys who cared nothing for them, except as a place to empty their peckers, they were often beaten for no reason other than it was easy to do. In addition, the owner of the establishment often and more than likely always, shorted the money he paid them, keeping them in servitude for a little of nothing. Becky took a seat at the initial place she had occupied upon entering. What a life, she thought. What a waste.

Josh didn't seem real happy playing , as his stack of chips began disappearing into the stack of one of the gamblers that was obviously a well seasoned player. He appeared to be a pretty slick card mechanic. He seemed to be taking most of the pots from the rest of the players also and always took the pots in which he was dealing. Becky didn't care for cards much, but she had watched those who did and she began to get the feeling something was off, somehow. Most everyone was losing chips to the same player, including Josh. The gambler lost a pot once in a while, but he didn't complain about losing like most gamblers did. She moved off into one corner of the room where she could watch him more closely and pulled the brass tube from her pocket, extended it full length and set the focus to watch the gambler and his play. She focused in on his dealing when it was his turn to deal and she thought she caught something. She wasn't sure. She knew she would have to be if he was cheating and he was called on it.

Most anyone that was called for cheating would immediately pull iron and either shoot the accuser or challenge him to go outside and settle up. It was serious business, calling out a man for cheating. Becky moved over to the bar and this time the bartender didn't hesitate to draw two more beers. She brought Josh another one and gave a look to the gambler to see if she might recognize him, but did not. None of the gamblers particularly cared for people coming up behind them and disturbing the flow of the game and a couple of them let Becky know about it.

She resumed her spot , consumed half of her glass of beer and focused the brass looking glass on the the gamblers hands again. " Sonuvabitch!! There it was. Right off the bottom where he had placed it. That was hard to see, but godammit, I saw it." She was considering what to do about it. If anything, what she did would have to be done exactly right so that the sonuvabitch was exposed. " OK. OK. Timing. That's it. Timing. Got ta' be right.". When it came to be the slickers turn to deal again, she stepped up behind him and pulled her knife from the holster on her ankle and concealed it in the folds of her shirt. No one paid any attention except a couple of the men that had bitched about her approach before, looked up to give her their looks of disapproval again.

The cards were being dealt around the table and Becky knew that the last card he gave himself would be from the bottom and to his advantage. Josh noticed her concentration and wondered why she was still standing behind the dealer. Coming to the last card--coming--coming--BANG!! Her knife went right through the center of the gamblers middle finger, glanced off the bone and pinned it with the card coming off the bottom of the deck, right to the table. It was there for all to see. The gambler screamed,stood up and attempted to pull free, but Becky had made sure the tip of the knife had gone clear through the table. The others had stood up immediately, their chairs scattering across the floor behind them with horrified looks of bewilderment. A couple went for their guns, but Josh had them covered and Becky had slapped the cheating gambler silent with a blow to the side of his head. " Looky here, gentlemen. A god-damn cheater. That card came off the bottom and I seen it." She pulled her knife free of the table top, causing the stricken gambler to howl again. She returned it to her ankle holster. One of the men that had been losing to the cheater said " Well, I'll be a son of a bitch. That sumbitch has been in town for two weeks and he ain't lost a nickel, I'll betcha'." " Josh, how much you lost to that cheatin' bastard?" " Damn near alll you gave me, Becky." " Well, take yer money outa' there and these fellers can do what they feel oughta' come next." Josh took his money out of the gamblers large stack of chips and he and Becky moved through the now silent crowd to a place at the end of the bar. The bartender moved over to the two and gave two more beers and said, " With all due respect miss, somebody down there at the other end of the bar said you was Becky Pearson, the -uh-person that kilt that bruiser fella down ta' Sonora. " Brute," Becky said. But he weren't no brute. Just a piece 'a shit with no manners." Beer's on me, miss. The beer's on me. "Thank ya' kindly mister. Ain't nothin' better'n a cold beer on a hot summer day," she remarked, as the gambler was being hauled outside by an angry mob.

 

Thank ya Bro! :2thumbsup:

 

OH MY YES!!!! :2thumbsup:

:sunny: :hurray:

 

Gotta love that Becky.

 

They finished the cold beers the bartender had given them, as the saloon returned to the normal racket that characterized saloons everywhere folks gathered to drink. Josh converted the chips he had taken from the cheaters pile, into money. "We got 'ta get outa' here, Josh. Too much attention. Them fellers down there at the other end is talkin' and lookin' at me. Dammit. It's always somthin', ain't it?" " Well, it couldn't be due 'ta you, now could it?" " I don't see how," she said with a slight grin. Why, I'm jus' a little 'ol country gal, minding my own business. Mostly. Les' go up to our room, Josh. I got somthin' 'ta show 'ya. You've seen it before, but I betcha' you'd like to see it again." The man standing next to them heard her invitation to Josh and he looked over with a grin. Josh turned a darker shade of red than his days in the sun could hide. They moved to the swinging half doors and made their egress into the bright sunlight. "We oughta' check on the horses and the mule in case they's some useless fellers here like they was in Sonora.

Finding that the horses had been washed down, curried and fed, they started back to the hotel to wait for Lonnie and Karla to come back to town. Hopefully, with some kind of information regarding the crew in the canyon. As they passed a large oak on the edge of the settlement, they saw what remained of what was likely a larger crowd that had taken care of the itinerant gambler. " Damn. They don't fool around with cheaters 'round here. Poor sumbitch 'shoulda known better. Thing is, with most 'a the gold hearabouts played out, money ain't that easy 'ta come by," Josh said. And folks don't take kindly to losing it to some card man-man-," "I think ya' mean manipulator. I think that's what Lonnie would say," Josh said, by way of helping Becky find the right word.

"They might be out there all night, tryin' 'ta figure on the best way 'ta take 'em on. They's five 'er six, as I remember it. So we can't jus' go ridin' on in 'ta take 'em straight. Someone could get kilt'. But I got me an idea that jus' might work, ifn' it's done right," Josh said. Let's check on that there banker fella before we settle in fer' awhile." "Ok, honey." " An' I need 'ta get over 'ta see what that there general store has, so's I can foller through with my idea." " What might that be?" Becky asked. " Well, I ain't sayin' yet 'till I see if'n they got what I need.

The store was like most general stores in the west. It had just about everything anyone would need or could use for just about every purpose, from small household goods to furniture, tack, food , tobacco, womens wear, rope, gold panning supplies and much else. After pawing through some saddlebags and various other leather and canvas bags, Josh found what he was looking for. " This'll do 'er, right here. How much be this here bag?" Josh asked the young man that was working the store. Probably too young to own the store, they figured he was watching it for his family, as many times a man had to take a job doing carpenter work or a little gold panning to get by. " Well, I don't rightly know, 'cuz there ain't no price on it and my father is off somewhere. He knows what he needs 'fer it, but I sure don't. How 'bout two dollars, mister?" " Make it five, Josh replied. That fair enough?" " Sure, mister. More 'n so." The purchase of the bag made, Josh picked out several pieces of hard candy for Becky and they started out toward the hotel. He didn't care much for candy, but Becky loved the different colored hard candies.

As soon as they cleared the doorway, Josh tackled her and threw her onto the bed. She put up a fight as he tried to hold her down, when he flung himself on her to hold her that way. They both knew that she was acting out a pretense of fighting back against him, for no man could actually hold her down if she felt the need to free herself. May not have been true, but that's the way she felt and that attitude contributed to her fearlessness. This was a new game for them to indulge in and they both knew it instinctively.

He ripped her shirt off and began to knead her breasts roughly. She grabbed at his hands to help him as they urgently kissed. He raised up on his knees and began to undo her pants as she fought him. He jerked her boots off and flung them against the wall while holding her down. He worked her pants down, flung them on the floor and she was left with only her underwear to hide her nakedness. He ripped them off, undid the fly of his pants and withdrew his member. " Now. I'ma gonna take you and you ain't 'gonna do nothin' about it!" This was certainly a new intimate game of play that Becky was enjoying more than she realized. He grabbed her hands and held them above her head onto the pillows almost to the point of pain. He moved his manhood appropriately and tried to enter her as she vainly tried to keep him from doing so. When he finally gained entrance,
he pounded and pounded her as she rose to meet his thrusts. " Slap me. Slap me motherfucker!" In his sexual delirium, he complied as they met in hard embrace. "Harder. Harder, godammit! He slapped her hard on her cheek and she in turn lay some serious scratches on his back. He did not feel her nails digging into him.

They finished this new game in a flurry of thrashing and biting. They finally lay still with their bodies entwined, whispering their love to each other, as their breathing slowed and returned to near normal. They began to consider what had just happened, each in their own way.

Eventually, Josh said-" Damn, honey. That was rough. Wonder what caused that?" Becky said nothing for a few minutes and then replied, " I don't know. I think this here sex business has a lot goin' fer' it. I mean, they must be all kinds 'a ways to do it and I guess that were just one of 'em. I don't know what it were, but I needed 'ya to slap me. And hard too. I ain't smart enough ta' figger some stuff out, but it mus' have somethin' to do with all this killin' and whatnot. Know what I mean?" " No. Don't rightly know, but don't matter, 'long as we both agree on it. "N like it," Josh replied. " Yeah. I agree. Know what? Let's do it real soft 'n slow now. I mean, what else we got 'ta do?" " Nothin' sweetheart. Nothin'. Well, 'ceptin' --get you some new duds."

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

Thanks Bro! :2thumbsup:

 

The next morning, they found a very cozy, small cafe that didn't have the crowds the larger cafes on the main street seemed to constantly have. The pungent smell of breakfast cooking wafted throughout the nice home- style decorated cafe and reminded them of some of the fine breakfasts Beckys mom had put out for them and the ranch hands. They ordered eggs, bacon, toast, flapjacks and a pot of coffee, not realizing the large amount that would be served to them. "This little place really puts on a feed," Josh said. Having ordered two plates of similar fare to take to the hotel across the street for the old man and the banker, they dug in to their own orders.


. Josh happened to be looking out of one of the windows next to the door they had used to enter the cafe, when he spotted Lonnie and Karla walking along the board walkway across the street from where they were taking their breakfasts. Presumably , they were heading to the hotel where the others had stayed, but Josh stepped to the door, opened it and hailed the two. They crossed the dusty street, entered the cafe and joined the two at their table."Damn, that's a buncha' food you folks ordered! " I know. Take some of mine. Just a minute. Miss, can we have two more plates , please?" Agreeing, the young lady brought the plates for the folks that had pulled up to the table and the food was divvied up between the four of them.

"So, what did you folks learn about them men out there? Figger' anything out?" " We had us a good hidin' place where we could see right down on 'em. They weren't doin' too much. Just hangin' around both inside and outside. Lookin' like they was just wastin' time. They was pitchin' some horseshoes and drinkin' what musta' been whiskey, 'cuz they mos' definitely got themselves drunk. They got some nice lookin' horses in a small corral eastways from the cabin. Saw five of 'em--the men, that is, if'n we saw 'em all. That's what it looks like, anyhow.

When Lonnie was finished, Becky asked him if there was a trail that went down behind the cabin that began from where they were hiding on the ridge behind it. "Yeah, there is. It's small and steep. Not for horses, unfortunately, but the mule could handle 'er. We just 'gonna ride in and take 'em or what do yall think?" " Josh spoke up and assured them that he had this one under control. He didn't elaborate and the others looked at him in anticipation of hearing what he had in mind. He grinned and said, "Oh yall' 'er 'gonna like this one," but did not explain.

" You got 'er, huh? " Yup, I got 'er. Trust me on it." The others were somewhat puzzled, but said nothing. " So", he said, " we need to be out there just before daybreak 'n ready 'ta get in there with the mule and gather up all that paper 'n yeller when they leave." "Leave?" " You --uh--just 'gonna invite 'em to leave, are 'ya? And they're 'gonna leave?" "Don't you worry none 'bout that. I guarantee y'all they're gonna leave." No more was said by anyone about his plan and they all set about eating the tasty food that was now split equally among them.

 

The late evening was on the cusp of becoming early night, bringing with it a coolness to the mountain air that was welcomed by all. Lonnie and Karla had gone to see a play in an old town theater by a troupe of traveling thespians. Becky and Josh had ridden out of town so that she could run as she was accustomed to doing, while Josh waited for her at the edge of a small, cold stream. She would more than likely strip down to nothing and lay in the stream to cool off when she was done and Josh always appreciated that.

They had a nice dinner in the same little cafe as they had been in earlier in the day and decided to go for a beer. Or two. Josh sat in on a poker game and won some money this time, as there were no cheaters playing. Becky stood at the bar and talked to a couple of the sporting girls when they had a little free time. Which wasn't much, as the steady drinkers kept them fairly busy. They had made sure the old man and the banker had gotten some food, but the banker was miserable being tied to the radiator and the old man was miserable having to sit and watch him.


They had all turned in, except for Josh who was well on his way to getting the first part of his plan started. He had taken the large canvas bag and a blanket with him on the big gray and was almost to the mouth of the canyon where the intended targets were, when he found what he was looking for.

When he returned to his and Beckys room, Becky was sleeping, so he put the bag in the corner out of the way and joined her. The old man said earlier that he could wake up at just about any time he wanted, so it was his internal clock they counted on to get them started before daybreak. It worked as he had said and they were up and gone well before the sun would peek over the ridges of the highest Sierra Nevadas to the east. They left their horses back from the small ridge above the cabin, tied in a small meadow. The mule came with them and was held back a ways from the edge and was eating some hay that had been brought for him.


They took their positions on the ledge and waited for the false dawn to lighten the sky a little and when Josh said it was time, they could clearly see that no one was up and about in the cabin, for there was no smoke coming from the stovepipe. A fire for coffee was usually the first thing that happened in the morning. They started quietly down the steep trail with Mr canary leading the mule in the rear of their little column. They had decided that Josh and Becky would position themselves on the western side of the cabin twenty feet apart, while Lonnie and Karla would take like positions on the east side. They still weren't sure what Josh had in mind, but he now told Becky and she almost laughed out loud, but managed to contain her mirth sufficiently.


Josh took the canvas bag and crept up to the window on the back of the cabin, which was open a foot or so and stuck it up to the frame just inside the window. He shook it vigorously, opened it as wide as it would go and dropped it inside the cabin. He took up his previous position and grinned at Becky. She grinned back and shook her head at him. Three of them had their Colts drawn, but Becky, who always favored her shotgun had it up and ready. " We should be hearing something pretty soon," he whispered to Becky.

Sure enough, a couple of minutes went by and all hell broke loose. Men were banging into objects inside, things were being knocked over, loud hollering commenced with much profanity and the door in the front BANGED open. Men dressed only in long john bottoms came boiling out and were slapping at their necks and bodies as they ran as fast as they could south toward the mouth of the canyon. They all were covered in very angry bees and were getting stung ferociously. There were literally clouds of bees swarming around the running men, waiting to get their chance at a clean shot at some skin.

The men were so panicked and getting stung so badly that they didn't even see the four that had stationed themselves outside the cabin. " Why, the damn fools are runnin' clean outta' sight! Lookit 'em. They ain't even slowed down!." At this point, the other three had gathered around Josh and were laughing heartily. " Damndest thing I ever seen" Karla said. That was easy!" The men had run clear out of sight, still slapping at themselves. "Well, hell Josh---that was a damn goodin', boy!" " Well, thank 'ya. Better 'n flingin' lead back forth, I figgerd." " Hell, let's git' what we came fer an get on outta' here."

Becky gave him a kiss and mentioned that she was glad she didn't have to kill anybody. This time.

 

You are quite the writer! Bravo....

 

Wonderful!

:hurray: :sunny:

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

Thanks again Bro! Keep 'em comin'!

 

Entering the cabin with guns drawn, the few remaining bees were being encouraged to leave through the open doors and windows Karla had opened. The one room cabin was quite the mess. Furniture overturned, broken flatware littering the floor, and the paper money strewn here and there, as if the recently departed men had been playing with it. Maybe they had. Not often was 100 thousand and some dollars held by anyone. They began to gather it and stuff it into the large canvas bag that had until recently, held the unwilling little partners in Joshes plan.

The old man had brought the mule close to the back door of the cabin anticipating that the money and hopefully the gold would soon be atop his old friend.

" Well. Looky here," Becky said as she began gathering up the guns the men had abandoned in their flight from the rude awakening provided them. Josh grinned at her little girl expression--looky here. He loved it when she used that expression or giggled like she did when she WAS a little girl. He would not for an instant have any idea what the word juxtaposition meant. But he innately knew that her occasional girlishness was in fact, extremely opposite from many of her actions. Particularly when her ire was aroused. By anyone or anything, for that matter.

" Should we go after them men 'er just leave 'em be?" Lonnie queried. " Becky was thinking about it and after a bit, she replied, "Don't think we need to. Hell, they ain't got no guns and now they ain't got no money, either. They be basically what I call shit outta' luck. As far as them horses go, let's turn 'em out, so's they can git 'em somethin' 'ta munch on. Or, we can take 'em with us and ride on down ta' the mouth 'a the canyon and confront them fools, ifn' they still be around. What do yall' figger?"

" They's some good lookin' stock out there. I say we take 'em home with us and sell 'em off 'er keep the ones we want. They's a buncha' thieves anyway. Teach 'em a lesson," Lonnie said, with what passed for a laugh. " Don't matter none 'ta me,"Josh said. " Karla mentioned she was just along because of them and whatever they decided was fine with her. She figured someone might have been looking for her by this time anyway because of the horses she had stolen. The old man felt that he had thrown his lot in with the rest of them and was willing to go along with whatever Becky decided.


" Alright, let's git' them there mounts and get on outta' here after we load the mule up. But, we got ta' find that there gold, first. Find that gold 'n we be gone.

The gold, contained in a pair of saddlebags, was finally found stashed in the rafters of the cabin. It lay on top of some sawn lumber strategically placed to hide it from prying eyes. They found it after an hour or so of looking both inside and outside. Josh climbed up and lowered the bags down to Becky and it was soon packed on the mule with what was about one hundred pounds on one side and a like amount on the other. The paper money fit nicely into the canvas bag and was tied onto Joshes saddle.

Lonnie had freed the fine looking horses from the small corral, after having put some leads on them, so that they would trail along with the group. " Alright. Let's move, Becky said. Sonora, here we come."

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

They rode to the opening of the canyon trailing their newfound mounts and could hear some racket fifty yards or so down the slope from where they were stopped. " Those fools is floppin' around in that there stream a piece down the way. They're still tryin' 'ta get rid 'a them bees. One 'a funniest things I ever seen, I swear." " A couple of the recently stung men were working their way through the underbrush above the stream. When they saw the five riders and their own mounts being led away, they began the threats. " I don't know who you fuckers are, but you just bit off more 'n you can chew. Now yall' better come to your senses if you got any an' turn them horses loose. And where in the hell is Burroughs--what've yall' done with him?"


" Damn, mister. How can you see through them little o' puffed up eyes 'ya got there. Looks like them little critters got the best of 'ya." The rest of the men were beginning to work their way up to where the crowd was and they were in no mood for bantering about anything."Look--you give us them horses back an' the money too and we'll ferget all about this. You kin' just ride away, like nothin' ever happened." Several of the other men weren't feeling so charitable. "Aw, fuck that. I'm gonna' kill them people if they don't give us our horses and that money if I hafta' chase 'em ta' hell." "I'm gonna' kill 'em anyway no matter what happens," said another one. "An Im gonna' fuck them women after I kill the rest 'a 'ya." " Uh-oh", the old man said quietly to Karla. She widened her eyes a little in an expression of foreboding. Josh said nothing, but he had an idea what might happen.

Becky slowly dismounted and handed the reins of her mount to Karla. She turned and advanced on the five men standing before them. She came within ten feet of them and asked the man who had made the comment about her and Karla, "Now, who you gonna fuck, mister? You referin' 'ta me?" " You godamn right, bitch. Who in the hell do you people think you are, pullin' this shit?" Becky stuck her hand out in front of her and crooked her finger in a come-here motion. " Kick my ass--you can fuck me, mister. That's what there is to it. Now git' started!!"


Josh had his hand on his Colt. Just in case. Never know who you're dealing with, he figured. The man had a big laugh over the tall girls invitation and stepped forward to meet her. " Well, boys--," he said in a loud voice, " guess I know what I'll be a'doin' tonight," as he raised his hands in a fighting stance and advanced on the subject of his intention. A couple of the other men began to move forward, albeit slowly. Josh warned them off by clicking the hammer back on his Colt. He could tell Becky was getting madder by the second. She did not like threats of any kind, but especially the kind that presumed that she was not much more than a dump for some mans sexual desires.

Her stance appeared to the advancing man that she was going to use her fists to scuffle with him, as most everyone did when confronted with the possibility of a fight. Her left leg was in front of her right leg and she put her hands up to make the man think exactly that. He was in no way prepared for what Becky did next. A little shuffle and her right leg shot out an up and connected solidly with his jaw, right between his hands. He hit the dirt immediately and was out cold, showing no movement whatsoever. She looked down at him for a few seconds to make sure he was done, moved closer to the remaining men and said, "Next." " The men were confused to say the least. The man laid out cold was one of the toughest men they had ever known. And that woman kicked him unconscious just as easy as you please. They milled around some and decided not to take her challenge. " That's what I figgerd. All talk and no balls. I ever see you motherfuckers again, I'll kill the buncha' ya." Karla winced at that, thinking just what man wouldn't take offense at that? And yet they were just standing there. Doing nothing. " An' by the way, my name is Becky Pearson and I live in the south valley, if'n yall want ta' carry this any farther. Sorry honey,' she said as she looked at Josh. I mean Becky Pearson-Hays. Let's get the hell outta' here and start ta' think about where we sell that there yeller, as Mr Canary calls it."

They had emptied the cartridges from the guns belonging to the thieves and they now flung them on the ground, except for a 50 caliber Sharp that Josh had taken a liking to. " You don't need and you ain't gonna' get these horses back, so you might as well start walkin'. They started back toward Jackson and they all figured that this day had turned out pretty damn good, even though it had just begun.


"

 

Thanks Scratcho.