Chapter 4

John could only shake his head at the mess in the hallway. Here he’d tried to go unnoticed and now after these had attacked him, he was the talk of the town.

The short walk down the stairs was tense for John. No sense staying in the room, a box of death where he hadn’t the room to move.

John went to the table near the door after he settled with the bartender. Several men were sitting at it, they quickly moved when they saw John approaching. The bartender tentatively brought John a glass of the rot gut they served here.

John’s hand flashed out grabbing the man’s shirt sleeve. “Ya hear anything let me know. Hate ta have to kill ya.”

“Yes sir.” the bartender quickly replied.

A few of the men closer to the two started to move further away. John let the man go, watching as he scurried as fast as he could back behind the bar.

At first the bartender thought of grabbing his scatter gun then, thought better of it. He’d seen the man draw, to him being struck lightning or shot by one as fast as it, wasn’t a desire of his. Best to do as the man asked no sense tempting death.

John sat there a while trying to figure out his next step. He knew that Greely was here though where at the moment was evading him.

The fact that the now seemed to have an ally within Greely’s camp was also encouraging. Though he trusted the red brothers a lot more than those that he was a part of.

John’s vision drifted across all the men in the make shift bar. A small wince went through John at the unending wave of stench that wash passed his nose.

His gaze settled on a few that had their holsters tied down. He’d hoped that the display in the street would dissuade most. A small sigh escaped his lips, knowing the idiots here, that thought they were fast, they’d wanna try soon.

Finishing his almost acid tasting drink, John stood heading to the doors. Might as well find a safer place to bed down.

His hand on the butt of his pistol, John knew that if any were going to make a move, they would now. Sure enough, as soon as he touched the doors, he heard a few rise from their chairs.

A step to the side of the doors had two men that thought to waylay John, falling on their faces. Both stopped reaching for their guns when they heard the click of both hammers of John’s revolvers.

John backed up a step seeing a few more inside seeming to head in his direction outside.

“I suggest you toss them peace makers to me. Don’t wan’em going off by mistake.” John slightly growled.

Both men slowly reached for their pistols, John pointed at both their heads. This made both men stop, then one rolled away drawing his gun, firing.

The only problem was, John was nowhere near where the man’s bullet hit. Another thing John had already shot the gun from the man’s hand.

The other man stood his pistol pointing at where John had been. The man then swallowed hard as he felt the cold, steel barrel of John’s pistol at the back of his head.

“I just got clean, don’t really want brains on my clean clothes, drop it!” John commanded pressing harder into the man’s head.

The man started to shake then dropped his gun. John kicked it away from the man. “Look mister, after that show ya had, everyone’s gonna wanna a piece of ya.”

John grunted as he backed up, looking everywhere he thought an attack might come from. He’d just got across the street when a loud report sounded. The man across the street fell, a spot of red on his chest that rapidly started to grow.

John took cover as he searched for who had the rifle he’d just heard. From cover John saw the glint of a barrel, drawing his pistol, John took aim and waited.

A slender arm appeared holding the forend of what appeared to be a Winchester appeared. John could only shake his head he knew that arm anywhere. He was sure when he saw her peek her head out, yep, the blond hair was a dead giveaway.

John saw movement across the street, several barrels were pointing out the double swinging doors.

John drew both revolvers with blazing speed, shooting all six of the guns from the hands that held them. Shit John thought, when he heard the scream, well, guess I was a littler high on that last one.

“Any of ya skunks wanna try again, I’m more than ready to show you the error of your ideas.” John said, sweating a little as he only had four shots left.

A smile crept on John’s lips, then again none of them knew that. Backing to the edge of the building, John slowly withdrew toward the livery stable. Might as well saddle up find a place to bunk in the woods.

Entering the livery, John looked around trying to see if anything was out of place.

“Hey mister, didn’t expect to see you so soon.” The young stable boy John had met a few hours ago said.

“So, you were going to sell my horse when i got killed?” John asked.

The boy backed up at the look on John’s face. “Naw mister, I onlys work here. Sides da owner waits a week afore he does that.”

John nodded he believed the boy, tossing him another silver dollar. The elation on the boy’s face made John feel good for the first time in a while.

John had his mount saddled about to ride out, when he heard a few horses arrive. John drew his reloaded revolvers as he waited.

The boss had only been back in town half an hour listening to several men and the bartender. A shake of his head had him heading for the Livery Stable.

John tensed up more when he saw the mission boss appear. “Guess I’m gonna have to have a meeting. I warned them not to mess with you. Heard about the six that tried to ambush you. The one that thought he was faster than you. Then there is the six that you shot the guns from their hands. Well five of them, the last gota hole in his hand.”

“Talked to the them like’n you said, didn’ seemed interested. The one on the street called me out, called me a liar and a horse thief. Didn’ take too kindly to it.” John almost growled out.

Mr. Jones could only nod his head. He’d already confirmed all this. “As I said gonna have to have a meeting. Gonna loose too many of the crew if’n this keeps up. After I bury more’n ten I feel it’s time ta get involved.”

“‘ppreciate it boss.” John said.

“Got a new job for ya. We need a good scout, plus it might keep a good piece of the men alive. Might also get ya some peace from a lot of the men trying ta kill ya.” Jones told John. He was glad to get John out of town, damn but the man had killed a passel of men as it was now.

“Sure, been a scout before, what I lookin for?” John asked.

“Got our town here, don wan any uninvited guests. Lots ‘o the time we get a stray lawman through here. We need to know, also ya are to go at least a day or more out. That way, ya can get back at a full gallop lot faster than they can go. This is ‘specially true of any wagon trains, we need the supplies, though, the women get made ta great whores ‘til they get used up.” Mr. Jones said. “We’re always gonna need whores, any you find gets ya well paid.”

“Alright, I’ll leave in an hour, boss.” John said as he walked his horse out of the Livery, Jones not far behind.

“Actually, I need ya to go now,” Jones said then saw the look on John’s face. Swallowing hard Jones said, “I need you out there as soon as possible.”

John nodded then saddled up. “Alright boss just need a few things, then am on the way.”

“Be quick about it need you out there as soon as possible.” Jones said urging John to get going sooner.

John nodded then headed towards the saloon, if she was out there now, there was no telling what trouble she was into.

John went up the back looking for any sign of her. As he neared where he’d seen her, he found almost nothing. A nod of his head was the only sign that he appreciated her. Close to a room window he found one shell from a rifle. Ok John thought, she’s left me a message, guess she was serious about what she’d said.

With a final shake of his head, he turned going back the way he’d come. Knowing her she was already waiting on him. John climbed into the saddle feeling at least a dozen set of eyes on him. Yeah, he thought, they were watching him too damn close.

The biggest thing though, was the fact that the boss Jones was watching him the most intensely. A small smile lit up John’s face, the little pissant was scared of him good thing too. John felt the pure sleeze oozing off the man.

A turn of the reins had John heading out of town at a leisurely rate. John knew that she would have seen him following. He hadn’t expected her to find him as fast as she had. He’d also hadn’t expected to be with the wagon train, she was learning that was for sure.

He was going to have to sit down with her, though if she actually listened to him, remained to be seen. It was several hours later when he felt the last of the watchers from the town leave him.

Though he couldn’t actually feel her, he knew she was out there. John figured that he was still to close too the town for her to show herself.

More than a few hours later the sun was starting to set when John decided to bed down. The camp set up; John started to set him a place in the trees. Nothing too obvious, for sure he’d be dead before sun rise.

Finally situated, John took to his bed roll well hidden in the branches. He’d just laid out when he felt her move into the camp, for a moment then she also took to the trees.