The Run.

Thanks again Scratcho. :2thumbsup:

 

no lie...that "day turned out pretty damn good".

:sunny: :hurray:

 

The group kept a steady pace toward Jackson, trailing the string of stolen, compliant horses. They rode around the edge of town on the theory that the fewer people that saw them heading south, the fewer there would be to give away the direction in which they were riding. Just in case someone got nosy. Or the angry, bee stung and now broke thieves got on their trail. Which they undoubtedly would sooner or later, of that they were sure. They had been out thought, robbed of their purloined riches, had bees set upon them and saw their best man put down and out with very little effort. And by a woman, at that. No man could let that go. They, of course, didn't realize that it would certainly be in their best interests to do so.

Someone had to fetch the banker from his enforced confinement at the hotel and Josh had volunteered to ride in and get him. Becky had given him a handful of her own money for the purpose and he set out towards town at a high rate of speed to get the banker and settle up with the hotel over the rented rooms. He had to purchase a saddle for the thief to use, but it wasn't going to be one that cost a lot of money. Just something utilitarian that would keep him astride a horse until---well, until Becky decided what was to befall him. Josh knew it would be her decision and she most likely would be the one to follow through with what was done with him, because of her decision. Most men would not like to continually follow the lead of a female concerning much of anything, but Josh and Becky had formed their friendship about as soon as two humans were capable of forming one. Babies, they were. Laying together on the ground as a baby and an infant on the blankets that had been in one or the other of their respective families for generations. Constantly touching each other and playing together with the little toys that various family members had provided. Eating and sleeping together. Josh was two years older, so he got to hold her as an infant even though at two years of age, he was virtually a baby himself. And as they grew and became as close as siblings, it was Becky that was proven to be the bolder of the two. Jump off the barn. Becky went first and Josh followed. Jump in the slough and learn to swim. Becky. Shoot firearms at the age of two. Becky, then Josh. Get on an unbroken horse and get thrown at 4 years old and get right back on another one? Becky.

 

So naturally, Josh had the utmost respect and eventually a mature love for this bold, odd eyed girl. Made no difference to him if she made the decisions about pretty much anything as they matured and new, and sometimes complicated decisions were presented to them. He eventually realized her uncle Amazon was turning her into a relentless fighting machine. Ok by Josh. He was fascinated by her efficiency at whatever task she happened to undertake. She always got done what she felt needed to get done. So it was, that when she requested something---anything of him, he was and had always been, ready to comply. His love for her was boundless and he considered himself one of the luckiest men on earth. As their youthful intimate groping and casual inspections of each other as they swam in and relaxed on the bank of the slough-- their private place-- and eventually had turned into one of mature intimacy---he knew that he was not one of the luckiest. He WAS the luckiest.

He paid the man behind the high welcome- desk for the rooms they had rented and sprinted up the stairs to the room in which the banker had been kept. The banker who had been their unwilling captor for a number of days, was in for a surprise if Josh knew Becky. The surprise was Joshes. The room was empty.

 

uh oh...

:2thumbsup: :hurray:

 

Josh quickly exited the hotel, crossed the dusty boards and approached the gray, untied him, mounted and turned him south at a speed that was neither expected nor wanted on the street before him. He scattered some chickens in a flurry of feathers, a couple of dogs getting familiar by the usual method and a group of folks that had to scamper up onto the boards that fronted the businesses. He wasn't sure if the disappearance would cause some problems for them returning the money, but it probably could if the banker somehow reached Sonora before he and his group did.

He let the gray go nearly full out when they cleared the edge of town. He knew that the big steed was as exited as a horse could be after not having had a good run for a few days. The first river, Becky had said. That's where they would be camped, waiting for him and the now escaped banker. When he met other riders on the trail heading to Jackson, they hurriedly got off the trail and out of his way. Didn't pay to bother asking what looked to be a crazy man going so damn fast on a well traveled trail. This was the main way to get to Jackson or away from it and was today, somewhat heavy with traffic. No choice but to move off the trail and fire some expletives at his back as he flew by them.

When had that damn thief gotten loose from his binding? It may have been as soon as they had started out toward the cabin. That would have been early. Any time after four thirty-five o:clock, so he may have a pretty good head start on them. Damnit! 'Shoulda left someone in the room with him. As far as Josh knew, the banker had no money and no horse. But he guessed that could have changed, depending on the resourcefulness of the man. What none of them knew, was that the man had a cousin in Jackson who had helped him with a good horse, a gun rig and a shorter route to Sonora that was known only to local people who had roamed the mountains around Jackson.

When he neared the river, he began to examine the trail side foliage for the signal he and Becky had devised years earlier. He rode almost to the river without seeing her signal, so he backtracked a few hundred yards and there it was. It was almost hidden enough that anyone else would never have spotted it. A small piece of colored cloth had been placed deeply into a large bush and he almost missed it. He reached down and pulled it from its nearly hidden place, and he knew it had most assuredly been put there by Becky.


He rode up into the brush off the trail and kept on until he must have been at least fifty yards in from the tiny cloth symbol that had been left for him. There he found his friends, who were sitting next to a very small fire that had been made for the heating of the real coffee one of them had bought in Jackson. Becky stepped out from behind a tree that was good enough cover to watch the fire and those around it. " Well, now. Where's the banker," Becky asked. " The sumbitch got himself loose, somehow. One of us shoulda'-----" Never mind shoulda', Josh. What we got ta' figger on now, is what could possibly happen ifn' that fucker reaches Sonora before we do. Remember --there wudn't no law there when we come through. But since that-there bank were robbed, I 'spec there'll be not only government law there, there'll be Pinkertons. They always seem ta' git themselves hired by business, but also by the govment' too. So ifn' that sumbitch gets there afore' we do--there could be some trouble." " What do ya' wanna' do, honey?" She stood still for a while as was her way and then said, " Let's git the hell outta' here and git to Sonora and git this shit straightened out. We got ta' be cautious. They's gonna' be trouble. I can feel it."

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

Thanks Scratcho and I eagerly await the next installment. :2thumbsup:

 

:sunny: :hurray:

 

"Ear's lookin' good." "Yeah. Never hurt much. Knocked a little chunk off the bottom. Don't mean much." They had just taken a run to the top of a ridge east of their campsite and were sitting on a large, flat rock anticipating the sun making it's usual brilliant appearance. Josh reached their present perch a couple of minutes after Becky. In no way could he match her speed or stamina, but he was game enough to try. Becky, as usual was sans any clothing, for when she ran, she wanted to feel completely free. And she did. She sat between Joshes legs facing east while he began to twist her hair into the single braid that would then be rolled into a tight bun. " Who has the list that had the Missouri names on it, Josh?" " I reckon I might, but it don't matter none now, does it?" I guess not, honey. We've done about all we can do with it, I figure. Let's get back when you finish my hair and get movin' to deal with what's comin'. Dad has a plan to go over to Nevada or maybe Arizona to git' us some new stock to break. It's time to think about gittin' home. Damn--we's married boy!

"One thing I hope is that there'll be some Pinkertons around Sonora. I want ta' deal with em' in a serious way. You remember the railroad is trying ta' cheat the folks who bought every other section along the rightaway? And the god-damned Pinkertons is enforcin' it. If I got anything to do with em', they's gonna' pay." "Alright , honey. Let's do it." He nuzzled her neck and felt her warm body lean back into him. "Time to get this trip done."

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

The last one was a short one--had to leave. Came back to flesh it out, had another "chapter" written and comp froze the fuck up!! So it's gone. So it goes. I let Becky, Josh and friends "rest up" for a month, so I'll look in on them again soon.

Thanks all for following them.---------Joel

I think Becky's pissed off, soooooo watch out!!

 

I'm off one day, and look what I miss...short and sweet...(I still say DAMN that computer freezing!!!)

:sunny: :2thumbsup:

 

"Don't see nothin' worth seein," Josh said, as they lay together on the small escarpment looking down at the town of Sonora once again. " Well, it's only seven o:clock. I reckon that there'll be some activity within the hour," said Becky. Josh put Lonnie's brass looking glass aside and whispered to Becky to put her full weight on him. Not an unusual request for him. He loved to feel the warmth and the shape of her body pressing on his back. Of course it went both ways, as occasionally he would lay on her back, however that would usually lead to a more intimate ending. Not now though. Not the time. She crawled on his back gently and rested her cheek against his, while they waited to determine what their next move would be.

Some activity had been going on down on Main Street, as those denizens of Sonora that had early obligations of one kind or another, were either having breakfast, preparing their retail outlets for the coming business day and always , the poor souls for whom alcohol was a dire necessity each morning, were milling about in front of the saloons. No sign yet of the thieving banker, his cohorts or anyone else they recognized. " What day is this. I've completely lost track of it," Josh asked. " Hell if I know. Could be any day of the week, I reckon. Do you care," Becky asked. " Nah. Long as I'm with you honey, the days don't mean nothin." " Well, now. You sure is a sweet talking man, I swear. And I love it," she whispered to him, as she flicked her tongue against his earlobe.

The sun was beginning to share its warming welcome to the cool morning air some now, but they knew it would get much hotter after it crested the high ridges to the east. It got almost as hot in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range as it did in the San Joaquin valley in the summer. It usually required some extra layers of protection from the cold at night, although since combining their bedrolls from singles to a double, the nights were much, much warmer and certainly much more enjoyable.


Lonnie, Karla and the old man had reluctantly agreed to head back to the valley with the purloined livestock and had not stayed to see what would develop. The old man had roamed the hills and mountains for more years than he wished to remember, so he knew that he could lead them safely south off any trails that would expose them to others. Others could be dangerous. Not only could horses be used or sold, but people carried weapons and some had expensive tack. Some even had gold and all carried some amount of money. Most of it could be sold easily, once the owners of such valued items were disposed of. When they got far enough south down through the foothills, Lonnie would know how to get to the Hays and Pearson spreads.


Josh picked up the brass tube and took another look down at the area of the bank. "Uh-oh. There's that damn banker with several other fellers down in front of the bank. They're well armed, too. They's goin' into the bank--well most of 'em. They's two outside, standin' guard, 'er somethin." " Lemmie' see that, Josh. She adjusted the eye piece and then said, "I see two of 'em has come back out talkin' to the two in front. I don't know how many they actually be to deal with. They both went quiet for a time, retreating into their own thoughts on the matter.


"Ifn' we just charge on down there now tryin' to return that money, they's gonna' be a gun fight, that's fer' sure. Especially if'n them fuckers is Pinkertons. They shoot first and figger' it out later's what I heard." " I thought you liked that. Goin' head-on into a tussle --is all you, sweetheart." " Becky looked at Josh and giggled for a few seconds and then her face changed back to the hard look she carried on her when some kind of action was appropriate.

They lay still for several hours and fought the temptation to ride in and start stirring things up. Not to mention the temptation of intimacy that seemed to come upon them more frequently. It wasn't easy. Not the time.

Beckys breathing had evened out some and was sweet on his neck as she grabbed a short nap. Josh didn't want to disturb her gentle breathing and was thinking about her breasts pushing on his back with each inhalation, when he looked through the tube again. " Sumbitch. There goes burroughs headin' down the street. Becky was awake immediately. I reckon he's headin' towards the saloon 'er maybe the restaurant 'ta get some lunch. Whut do ya' think?" " Well, he's the only one as knows us, so I say let's go now. But let's leave the money here, 'case somethin' goes----what's that word Lonnie--uh --yeah--awry. That's a dumb sounding word, now ain't it?" " Well, maybe you ain't sayin' it right." " Yeah well, fuck it. Let's go Josh. The god-damn thief has told 'em we's to blame fer' stealin that money. Let's go set 'em to rights. Besides, I most --uh--uh--shit. I can't think a' the word. Lonnie's got me ta' start learnin' some new words, but damnit, they's hard to keep in my mouth. Anyway, if them's Pinkertons down there, I want'a meet e'm." " I'm gonna' make it my business to see what them fuckers is made of. Ready?" " Yes ma'm. Let's do it." " Becky tried to look a little mean at that, but of course that would never work with her love. "I told you not to call me ma'm, boy" as a little girl giggle escaped her lips.

 

YAY YAY YAY!!! :hurray: for Becky and Josh's adventures

:sunny: :2thumbsup:

 

Thanks Scratcho. Don't keep us in suspense so long now, ya hear?

 

("...reads well, am reading it..." went the goblin)

 

They rode north from their position two hundred yards or so and connected with the trail that would have taken them to the Baileys property, if that had been their destination. They reached the east end of Main street and rode slowly to the business directly across from the bank. Becky was sitting low in the saddle with her hat pulled down, hoping that they wouldn't be recognized sooner than was safe for them. No telling what the banker had been telling the lawmen. There wasn't much doubt that he had told them who was responsible for the bank theft. And it damn sure wasn't him. They turned away from the bank front to tie their mounts to the hitching rail. Across the street, the two men who appeared to be guarding the front doors were engaged in small talk and smoking some tobacco. " Alright, Josh, go down to the restaurant, ifn that's where he be, and bring that there snake of a man around to the back door 'a the bank. More'n likely, he's got his'self a key, so git' him ta' open it. You stay behind him so's them that be inside don't 'spect nothin. They's 'gonna be curious for a few seconds tryin' ta' figger out who you is and that's when you got 'em.

But be careful 'round that there sumbitch. He might be with one a' them lawmen." "What you gonna' do, Becky? What about them fellers out front there? They's fully armed." " Oh, I'll figger' somethin' out, don't you worry 'bout that. Once you got them fellers inside straightened out and sitting down, I'll come on in and we'll lay it all out for 'em." " I love you boy," she said as he strode off towards the center of town.

He crossed the street to the north side, headed west and stepped up onto the two by six boards that comprised the majority of the walkways in Sonora. " Damnit, I hope Becky's gonna' be alright. Them god-damn Pinkertons is supposed to be serious business, if'n that's who they is," Josh said out loud. A passerby-- a shopper he reckoned, heard him talking to no one in particular and said "What?" Josh ignored him and continued on the walkway looking into the various businesses as he made his way west.

"Well, now, looky here," he said, parroting one of Beckys expressions." Sure enough, there he sits, eatin' hisself some vittles." The man sitting with Burroughs was definitely a lawman. Have to watch it, he thought. "Well, hell---in fer' a little--in fer a bunch." Fortunately, the banker's back was turned toward the door and there wasn't any way the lawman would know him. He took hold of the ornate doorknob and stepped in.


Becky turned from the horses and strode across the street towards the two men, who were still smoking and laughing about something. " Nice day, huh boys," she said pleasantly as she approached them. They stopped talking and watched her as she neared them. " What yall' doin out here?" They realized with some confusion, that this was a woman walking up to them. She was taller than the both of them and -----what the hell is with her eyes. " Gits 'em every time," she thought. Neither man had moved. It wasn't every day a man saw a woman--or girl that looked to be six and a half feet tall with very odd eyes. She got right up close to them and then asked if they were working for the Pinkertons. That finally broke the tension and the bigger of the two replied, "Yeah. So what?" "So what," she said. Have yall' been down to the valley tied up in that there railroad business? Throwin' folks offn' their land and such?" Regaining some equilibrium, the man said, "Hell, yeah. We been hired by the Pinkertons to enforce laws whenever necessary by any means possible." Getting a little testy about being questioned by this freak of a woman, he made his first mistake. "I suggest you get on out of here if you don't want some trouble. There's supposed to be a shipment of money coming in on the stage this afternoon to replace what some thieving skunks stole. Now move along, before I lose my temper!" She stepped closer to the man and said, " Lose your temper, eh? Well, that's what I'ma' countin' on, you piece a' shit!" The man was taken aback at this bold statement and replied, " Look bitch, I can shoot you down right here and do it legally if you don't follow my order." She stepped up close to him and said, " Do it then. Draw that iron you miserable sunuva bitch!" The other man across the doorway looked as if he was about to faint. " Jesus, Frank--take it easy. I don't know what's goin' on, but let it go, man. I got me a family and kids and all. I don't want to------Becky looked at him steady and told him not to move if he wanted to live. The man did not move.


" I called you a piece a' shit. Now what you gon' do about it?" The big man was extremely agitated at being called a piece of shit, especially in front of his friend and fellow worker. Some folks passing by had stopped to listen, but stayed back in case of the possibility of imminent gunplay. The man was as tense as a man could be in such circumstances. Becky was watching him intently to make sure that if she'd pushed him over the edge, she would be ready for his play.

His hand moved swiftly toward his sidearm to draw down on her and he almost cleared his holster with it. She moved with snake-like speed and her fist connected with his throat, crushing his windpipe. He fell to the ground grasping his throat in a vain attempt to get some air to his lungs. He writhed around gurgling for a couple of minutes and then lay still. She looked over at the mans partner with a frightening glance and the man threw his rifle to the ground and took off running with haste.

The shades were pulled on the double doors of the bank, but she could see enough to realize Josh now had the group inside under control. She crossed the street to her mount, pulled the shotgun from its place on her saddle and walked back to the doors of the bank. " Well, looky here. Them doors is locked." She fired both barrels at the double doors and as they fell away in a tangle of glass, wood and noise, she stepped inside. " I guess Lonnie was right," Josh said to her, when the racket died down. "They ain't never gonn'a ferget you in Sonora."

 

Thanks Scratcho.

 

She broke the shotgun down to reload, as the men Josh had gathered up in a bunch, shook their heads and grabbed at their ears in an attempt to regain their hearing. Their guns had been unloaded and were in an expensive metalic pile on one of the desks. " Alright, settle down, now, damnit," she said as she moved toward them. Which they did. " So, Mr banker--how'd ya' git' that there food on yerself? And how's yer nose? The banker thought he might have an advantage here, as he had told all who would listen about the group that had robbed the bank. He was wrong.

How he got covered in food, was a tale she wanted to hear. " Well, I found the fool fillin' his face with some breakfast, so I walked up behind him, picked his plate up and dumped it on him, then turned his chair on its back. He started gittin' upset until I stuck this here forty five in one of his nostrils. Still sore, I reckon. I bout' had enough a' this sumbitch. Course I pulled iron on that there lawman, but I reckon I had to." He looked over and said "Sorry, mister." The banker was covered in pieces of egg, some grits and what looked like gravy with bits of potato showing through.


"He piss his britches?" " Naw. I dumped a pot a' coffee on the sumbitch. He squealed some---but who wouldn't?" " Damn, sweetheart---you shouldn't be so rough on these here upright citizens. You ain't 'a thinkin' bout' runnin' fer mayor, now is ya?" " Cain't never tell. I'm sure they's gon' be happy ta' git all that there money back. They'll probably' carry us 'round town on their shoulders, don't ya' know?" Yeah. Wouldn't doubt it. Now listen here , Burroughs. Wipe that there shit of'n yer' face and let's git on with the real story here." She approached him and made a quick move as if she was going to work his nose over again. He flinched and backed into the west wall whining some.

" Now. Tell these here folks who stole the town folks money outten' this bank. Was it us? Another quick movement and his mouth started moving as he tried to back through the wall. " No. It was some cowpokes just ridin' through that decided to take our money. I don't know 'em. They caught me unawares and -uh-- came in and took me by surprise. I went after 'em, but I lost 'em on the trail." The man was sweating profusely as he spun his fable. Becky moved over to Josh, keeping the shotgun on their unwilling hosts. " What do ya' think, honey? That's a bullshit story, but I don't guess these fellers would ever find out no different. As long as it ain't on us is what matters to me. And that the folks 'round here gits' their loot back," she whispered. She spoke up to the seated gathering to ask, "Is that there fool gonna' keep his job here?" " An older, well dressed man cleared his throat and said it wasn't likely under the circumstances. After all was said and done, he let some bandits catch him unaware and stole one hundred and some thousand dollars and a couple hundred pounds of gold, from what i saw looking at the losses. So no. It's not in the cards for him to retain any kind of a position with us.

" Yeah-what about the gold," shouted the banker, with a renewed interest in the proceedings. " Mister, you shut the fuck up. You're done here. If'n you'd like to keep that there nose of yourn', you better watch your mouth. He seemed to shrink some and thereafter, kept his mouth shut. " Now. We chased them fellers who stole your money on up to Jackson and we got the money back from 'em. We aim to return it and ride on outta' here fer home." " The well dressed man, obviously a representative of the Bank of Kansas asked Becky about the gold that was supposedly taken. We don't know nothin' 'bout no gold, but the money is close by and ifn' you agree, we'll bring 'er on in an' give 'er to ya'. It ain't ours to keep. People's gonna' need that there money fer whatever people need it fer. And then we ride." " Miss, what about that man outside you hurt?" " Well, first off, I didn't hurt him. I killed him. He drew down on me for some reason. And them women out--Josh. See that group a' women out there. Just west of --well-- what's left a' the doorway?" " Git 'em would ya' honey?" " Shore will," he replied and stepped out onto the boards and asked, " Alright now--did you ladies see what took place out here between that dead man and my partner?"


"Yes sir, we surely did. That man on the ground there started to draw his pistol on that ----uh---girl in there, with bad intent. He just wasn't fast enough to get it done, is what I saw. The rest of the ladies nodded their heads in agreement and clucked around about how terrible it was for a man to try such a thing to a young girl. They, of course had no idea that Becky was as much of a killer as anyone riding the west and had egged the man on to his breaking point.

"Ok, the man who seemed to be in charge said. It's all kind of confusing, but-----any you lawmen feel like you need to hold these two for anything?" " The lawmen looked back and forth at each other for a time and the one in charge finally shrugged his shoulders and said he guessed not. " You might want to consider paying to repair those doors you so completely destroyed." Becky pulled out one hundred and fifty dollars and threw the money on the desk in front of the man who had requested the repairs.

They each had finished one beer and were started on their second. The bar was quiet today. Becky turned to Josh and said " Well, that worked out just about right, didn't it?" " Yeah, I'll say. We oughta' get on outta' Sonora 'afore they change their minds. One more beer and let's head home. Oh yeah. Guess we oughta' git that money back to 'em."
At the eastern end of town, six men rode in on stolen horses and headed for the stables on the back side of town.