Chapter 2 - SPURS N SIX GUNS - No Man's Land

Self appointed sheriff John McIntire sat back in his squeeky wooden rocker chair and spun his badge in circles on the desk in front of him...it had been almost a days ride for the scout that left early morning to go find both posses and have them return with either good news or bad news...his ironclad war wagon was being filled with the riches of gold and he needed his men back to guard the gold run to Coyete Hills. Those outlaws would have to wait a few days.

His stomach growled and his impatience grew as the minutes ticked by. Already he had warned the Apache slave woman he would rape her daughter if she didn't get back with his dinner and soon. The young girl striped to her bareness, her arms stretched above, hanging from handcuffs in the cell. McIntire had already taken a whip to her back and backside and welts stung from her own sweat. Crying outloud and chanting for the spirits to take her...McIntire told her to shuddup or he'd beat 'er to death. "Once your momma comes, you can watch those evil spirits devour her body...." He laffed and closed the cell door. "...And one more peep outta you and you and I are gonna hafta have another lil talk...only your jaws are gonna be sore fer along time...now shut the hell your trap, ye hear!"

There's was a tap on the front door..."Sheriff...the boys are coming into town and your dinner is here..

Bones listened to Maddie as she suggested that Sandy lead the way, seemed like a wise idea, after all Sandy had eyes like an owl. Bones stuck close behind Sandy as they rode, the night was dark now the clouds were staying overhead. So far the ride to Coyote hills was a dangerous one, the Apache boy and Maddie had been wounded and 5 dead men littered the canyon floor a few miles behind them.

These days Bones was not bothered by killing another man, as far as he was concerned this world had it's fill of killers and thieving scum and the devil could have them all. The former undertaker did not fear death, on the contrary he found the idea of it natural and inevitable. Bones figured that a man who makes his living with a gun in his hand should not be surprised when the grim reaper comes unannounced.

Bones took a minute to make sure that his pistols were reloaded and ready for any further trouble.

"We've certainly crossed into Apache land, they're probably watching us now..."
Bones said as he clicked his pistol back together. Bones looked out into the dark, were the silent people of this land looking out from the deep shadows?

Goylahkla and four warriors, sat astride their ponies in the darkness and watched as the four riders crossed the barren land below them. Hidden in the darkness and rocks, they sat silently watching. In his native tounge, Goylahakla said "Let these pass, we cut talking wires. Then when whites eyes come to make them talk again we kill white eyes. These we kill latter with all in white eye's village. We not want to have talikg wires warn blue coat soldiers."

After the riders were out of sight, Goylahkla and is raiding party rode out the the rocks, tied ropes around the four telegraph poles and pulled them down, cutting the wires. They then drug the poles off into rocks where the broke them, by wedging them between boulders and pulling them with their ponies snaping the poles. They then rode along the lines, pulling them down.

Maddie rode behind Bones and Sandy, next to Chase keeping an eye on her friend, who was still pale and sweaty from the pain his wound was causing. Her eyes bore holes in Sandy's back her anger at him rising, even though she wasn't real sure what she was angry at him for.

Her own leg still burned, but thankfully the bleeding had slowed. Glaring at Sandy's back again, she remembered how him and Bones had aided Chase with his wound but hadn't even asked about her own....not once. It made her feel very insignificant and that was something she didn't like at all. All she really wanted to do was turn around and head back to the ranch, but she'd made a promise to her father and she would see it through. She couldn't believe that when she'd first seen Sandy in Jake's saloon, she'd actually thought him good looking. She gave a very un-ladylike snort at that thought. So much for good looking. He cared about his fellow man, but God forbid if he cared about anyone else. She knew she probably wasn't being fair, but she didn't much care at this point.

She looked around her at the rocks and cliffs and knew that they were being watched, but they would only see the Apache if and when they wanted them to and not before. She thought of Goylahkla and how she would like to meet the great Apache, but she was also smart enough to know that he'd probably want her dead along with the other whites. That made her shiver.

"Maddie....you okay? Are you cold or something?"

"No, Chase, I'm fine, just thinking. How are you feeling?"

"I've been better. Shoulder hurts like hell, but other than that, I'm fine. How's your leg?"

"Don't worry about my leg, Chase. They sure in the hell don't. It will be fine."

Chase became quiet after that, and she gave him a worried glance but saw that he too, was looking around them. Maddie knew Chase worried about her the way he would a little sister and that was fine. She hoped that once this was all over he would have the courage to pursue Allison, her best friend whom Chase had watched from a distance, afraid that her father wouldn't accept him because of his Apache blood. Maddie knew different, it was just a matter of convincing Chase. Maybe that's exactly what she would do once they returned. Help her two best friends get together.....if she made it back and if she had a home to return to.

"They're out there." Sandy replied to Bones as he peered off into the darkness as if indeed he could make out the silent warriors that watched them from the ridge.

Sandy knew that even though they had a half-breed with them it would provide little insurance, like wolves the Apache would just smell the scent of the 'white-man' on, Chase and kill him as sure as they would them. Even though, Sandy had grew up with natives he had no illusions that his insights would offer any protection from their wrath. From what he heard the Apache were stone cold killers, but they had a right to be angry, after what the government had done to them, still Sandy wasn't about to die a martyr. Their cause for damn sure wasn't his and if he so much as caught scent of them he'd defend himself.

Looking back at the two that trailed behind them, Sandy saw the girl waver in her saddle. "Looks like the Keegan girl took more of a hit than we thought.", he mentioned aside to Bones, "I figure we've got another four hours to sun rise. She's made it this far, hopefully she'll make it the rest of the way."

Sandy looked back then and shouted to Madison, "We'll ride 'til dawn. Then we'll rest but if either of you is bleeding you best let us know otherwise you won't get very far."

Sherfif McIntire pulled up a chair to the table as the Apache woman kneel down beside his chair and presented his food to him in cuffs. Her wrists were chaffed and bleeding from wearing the rusted iron against her tender skin. "Didja git any injun blood on my food, he spat at 'er. Getting ready to slap 'er she suddenly reared up to protect 'erself from the mean white man..thinking to 'erselve she would kill him and rescue her daughter when the great spirit allowed this. Deputy Jake Wood stepped forward with the message from the telegraph office. "Sheriff I just received this confirmation from Coyote Hills"

To Shady Gulth Sheriff

Received description and warrant for arrest on four fugitives

will apprehend and send back for trial n hangin

From Marshal Richard Barr
Coyote Hills
PS Thanks for the contribution inst.a....l chec ............................

I think them injuns cut the lines again...the message got cut off.


Sheriff McIntire took a bite of his scrambled eggs. "Hey Jake take Williams and Streeter and relieve Baker on loading the wagon, there at the bank." The rest of the boys git some rest, we ride in the morn' 4am.

Pushing back his chair...he hands his scraps to the woman, "Here..share this with your daughter." He drops the scraps in her hands, then pulls 'er arms and drags her to her cell.


"Sully, I'm heading for Jacks saloon. We have a VIP arriving in a little while. Why don't you close up early tonight. She ain't goin no place, lookin back at the cell." and pauses

"Yeah...sure ting sheriff."

McIntire finishes his sentence..." Then meet our visitor arriving at Anise Fisher's Stage. Git the gentleman a room at Fallon's and then stop by Jack's saloon. I've got a business proposition to discuss with the gentleman...he goes by Dr. Richard. Sheriff McIntire tosses a gold piece at Sully and walks out.

**********************************


The stage bounced over the last hill kicking up dust.The A.N. Stageline kept its schedule. Five days by train and another eight days through Chyenne and Apache country to get there. The grizzly looking man with a full white beard stepped out of the stage. Dr Richard, age 44, born in Como, North Carolina. A son of a farmer and an inventor. Dressed in a black suit, he looked more like a gambler than any doctor that Sully ever did see. Dr. Richard carried hisself in a very professional way. "Sur...Sully said...you must be Dr. Richard."

That I am, and whom may you be?

"I'm Sully your escort. Let me git yur baggage and then I'll git yu a room."

Mmmmm Mr. Sully, tell ya wat...Tell me what saloon, Mr. John McIntire is drinking in and I'll double whatever coin the sheriff handed to ya, to take my bags to the hotel that I saw coming into town...

Ah yes sur...that would be the Fallon Hotel and Sheriff McIntire is at Jack Douglass Saloon on
Main Street...just down that way.

Very Good, Mr. Sully. Stop by the saloon in a bit and I'll buy you a drink and give you the extra gold piece. He smiled at Sully as he turned and moved up the street.

*****************************

Sheriff McIntire stood at the bar and sipped on the brandy. He watched the two tables of card players and decided to sit down at one when one of the players pushed back his chair, stretched his arms and yawn. "Evening Sheriff...you git in here and win me my money back so Suziy don't take the fryin pan to my head again. Sheriff McIntire laffed...Now Bart...how many them fryin pans has Suzy broken over that thick noggin of yours already. The group laffed and passed the cards out around the table. Gentlemen, let's play some five card draw...deal'em

Maddie glared at Sandy as he told her what the plan was then that if either one of them were bleeding they had better say something.

"Maddie....c'mon. You need to let them take a look at your leg. Don't be stubborn about it."

Maddie looked over at Chase, her blue eyes angry.

"I don't think so, Chase. I'll take care of it myself.......they didn't give a damn earlier, I'm sure they truly don't give a damn now. The only reason I'm here is because my father wanted me gone......so that I was safe. But, damn, if they don't make me feel like I'm nothing more than a nuisance to them."

She looked back down at her thigh and saw that it was seeping just a little, so it had almost stopped bleeding, but her pant leg was soaked with her blood and she was extremely tired. But, she'd be damned if she'd let them know.

"Whatever, Sandy!! Chase will need to be seen to when we stop. I'm fine!", she shouted back to Sandy. She looked over to Chase who was giving a look that said he wasn't pleased with her. "What?", she said to him in an innocent voice.

"Don't 'what' me, Madison! You need that leg looked at and I would imagine that they know how to care for wounds. Now quit being ornery and bull-headed!!"

Chase looked at the two men and saw Sandy looking back at them, the look on his face said that he'd heard what had been said between him and Maddie. ~Good~, he thought to himself, ~maybe someone tougher than me can get Madison to listen instead of being so damned stubborn.~ He looked over at Maddie, and saw her looking at Sandy as well, the look on her face pure defiance. He shook his head, thinking that he'd wished her father had taken her in hand when he should have instead of letting her all but run wild. He wondered if it was going to be interesting watching the situation unfold between Maddie and Sandy or if Sandy would simply turn his back on her and her stubborness. He hoped that Sandy wouldn't turn his back on her, but he knew about men like him. The last thing he was sure the gunslinger had wanted to take on was protecting a hellion of a girl.

Madison on the other hand, was glaring at Sandy while gritting her teeth together to not let on just how bad her leg burned. She saw that Sandy had heard what had been said and it looked like it didn't sit too well with him. Well, that was too damn bad. She wavered a little only to catch herself and right herself in her saddle. She was becoming tired but was trying hard not to show it. She knew that Chase was aggravated with her, but she was too angry, shell shocked, and tired to care. All she knew was that if she didn't stay angry, then she just might fall out of her saddle, so she kept glaring at Sandy's back as they rode on.

Sandy removed his weather beaten hat and ran his finger through his hair. The frustration on his face was evident, especially to Bones. His sharp eyes flicked toward the older cowboy seeking advice as he himself had little experience dealing with girls, with the exception of those a man could up and leave in the morning. The only other woman that the rugged northerner could draw insight from would probably up and tie the girl to her saddle and send her home crying, if she didn't shoot her first. Jesse could be cold but it kept her level-headed and her goals in sight and if she were here right now she'd point that out to her boys. That's how she always referred to him and Bones, as her 'boys', a term that the two outlaws and eventually accepted as Jesse's version of endearment. Sandy wished she was here right now, she'd kick the wild right out of that cat as only a woman could.

Placing his hat back on his head, Sandy pulled the brim low and cast, the young Apache a sullen stare and tossed him a tourniquet. "Tie it off and be sure to release the pressure every fifteen minutes. We need to make up some time."

Sandy couldn't be sure if there was still shot in the wound. Probably, but they didn't have time to fuss over it now. Last thing Sandy knew was that McIntire was hell bent on dealing with Ian Keegan. They couldn't be sure whether or not that still held true so they to reach Coyote HIlls as quick as possible, else all would be in vain.

Looking back the way they had come, Sandy wondered if, McIntire's men were pursuing them. He had no idea how long Keegan's men who hold out, if in fact they were under attack and so he had no idea how long they had before they would come after them, if they weren't giving chase already. Kicking his horse, forward, Sandy lead the way, driving everyone at a fast pace, though, he had no idea if it was warranted. If McIntire wasn't trying to intercept them, the what was he playing at? Surely, the man was furious at the death of one his favourite men at the hands of Bones, and in his experience the fires of hell just didn't cool off in a day. Did they?

Maddie helped Chase tie off the tourniquet right before they picked up the pace. She had met Sandy's sullen glare with a glare of her own.

"Maddie!! Stop it!! You're acting like a spoilt brat!!"

Maddie's face dropped as she looked at Chase, but the look he gave her brooked no argument. She looked away from him, her jaw set at a stubborn angle.

"Your father would be ashamed of you! He sent you with Sandy and Bones to keep you out of McIntire's hands and this is how you repay them, by acting the part of a willful child!"

The more Chase spoke to her, the more upset Maddie became. When he became quiet as the urged their horses faster, Maddie was relieved. She helped him loosen the tourniquet every 15 minutes and then retighten it, but other than that she didn't even look at him.

Four hours later, they finally stopped and Maddie was almost as pale as Chase. She was too tired to notice where they were and the main thing she wanted to do was get off of Jasmine and find a bush to go behind. She helped Chase the best that she could, get off of his horse and helped him over to a rock to sit upon, then limped back over to take care of their horses. She ignored Sandy and Bones as she took care of their horses and got them tethered. There was a small trickle of water coming through the rocks and she went over to it to collect some in her hat so that the horses could get something to drink. Once they were taken care of, she limped over to a small cluster of rocks, taking her canteen and a jar of salve with her.

"Maddie.....let Sandy get a look at your leg."

"I'll take care of it Chase, let them take care of you."

"Dammit!!!! Madison Joleen Keegan!!!! What would your father say if he saw you acting like this?! I've never seen you act like this!"

Maddie stopped and whirled around, her blue eyes flashing and shining. She pinned her gaze on Chase as she spoke in an angry voice.

"Pa may not even be alive!! We don't know because he had to have me safe!! And they sure in the hell didn't care to begin with!! I'm nothing more than a nuisance to them, Chase and they've made it perfectly clear!! You can lead them to Coyote Hills just as well as I can!! Pa wanted me safe.....I know that.....but they agreed to take me with them!!! I didn't want to come...remember!! I wanted to stay and help Pa!!! So, don't you dare throw Pa in my face!!! I didn't ask to come......Sandy agreed with my father!!!! I've been shot at and taken a man's life and I have to take care of my leg.......so just hush and let them see to your shoulder."

By the time she was done, her voice had lowered and become a little shaky. She turned around and walked over to the cluster of rocks, not looking at Sandy or Bones. She knew Chase was right.....but her worry about her parents and friends, her leg, Chase, and taking a life had her strong spirit worn to a frazzle. She relieved herself a few feet away from the rocks then limped her way back up to the cluster. Sitting down on a small boulder, she removed the bandana she'd tied around the wound then took her knife and made the rip in her pants a little bigger so she could get a good look at her leg. She poured water over it and hissed as even that stung. The graze was deep and probably needed stitching but she had no way of doing that, so she cleaned it and put the healing salve on it. Afterwards she sat there, not returning to the men, but instead she stayed there, looking out over the terrain. She thought about her father and how he'd taught her everything she knew. She also thought about what Chase had said and how right he was.

She rose from the rocks and walked back to where the men were. When she spoke, her voice was low, but not so low that they wouln't hear her.

"Sandy....Bones, I owe both of you an apology and.......and I need your help with my leg."

Between the two gunfighters, they had enough experience nursing their own wounds to deal with Maddie's leg. It wasn't really that bad, just in a bad location. With plenty of bed rest it probably would have healed up on its own, a luxury the girl didn't have at the moment and so unfortunately the deep graze would have to be cauterized the only way the men knew how. Fortunately there was nothing in the wound and after a thorough cleaning they put hot iron to flesh. She weathered it well. What words the girl out after spitting out her bit were colourful to say the least, then she passed out. The men had expected as much, not because she was a woman, but simply because quite often the toughest of cowboys rolled their eyes back after such an ordeal and they often didn't get a word out before.

Sandy wished he could have given the girl at least a few hours to rest after the procedure but they had to keep moving. He stitched up the wound as best he knew how then they strapped the unconscious girl to her horse and set out with Chase leading her mount along. Bones and Sandy took the lead and they rode through the rest of the night and well into the morning before weariness set in and they made camp within the shadow of a tower of rock. By then, Maddie had awoke, and was able to assist in keeping watch while they slept in shifts. Sandy and Bones had actually told the girl to just rest but she had insisted and too tired to argue gave in and let her pull a shift, albeit a short one.

They set out once more in the late afternoon and rode through the night, Sandy in the lead with Maddie providing much needed details to guide them to Coyote Hills. Periodically, Sandy would quickly turn his head and stare into the darkness with his keen eyes as if he saw something but fortunately the did not have any more incidents. Then in the wee hours of the morning they could see lights in the distance.

"We've made it." Announced Sandy happily.

They had been riding hard and despite the delay caused by the bandits, Sandy was confident that none of McIntire's men could have beat them to the town but then he noticed something that made his heart sink. Far off in the distance, barely visible in the first light of day, Wilken made out the straight, consistent vertical lines of poles running all the way to Coyote Hills.

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Exclaimed Sandy as he motioned to Bones to follow his stare, "Those are telegraph poles but what the hell is the Western Union laying lines to a place like Coyote Hills?"

Sandy remembered seeing the lines in Shady Gulch but he never once considered that anyone would have stretched them straight across Apache territory. Who would have the sand to complete such a task? The answer was plain. "McIntire". He would have been able to send word days ago and Sandy began to fear what kind of connections the so called Sheriff had in the town. Best thing he figured they could do was take advantage of the dark while it lasted and make for town before rooster stirred, which would be another fifteen minutes or so, just about the amount of time it would take them to make it to town.

"We have to try and get to the Marshall." Sandy suggested unaware that McIntire had already paid off Marshal Richard Barr and signed their death warrant.

Bones shook his head at the sight of the telegraph lines, McIntire could have easily sent word ahead of them, any of McIntire's men that called Coyote Hills home would now be looking for Sandy, Bones and the youngins. The four of them could be walking right into a trap. Bones Brown always assumed the worst, it was his part of his sour nature, a nature that had kept him alive all these years as a gunfighter.

"I don't like it." Bones said quietly as his eyes traced the line of poles and wires straight into town. The shear arrogance of McIntire, the effort it must have taken to build the telegraph line through disputed Apache territory was something to behold. It was not a quick rig job either, the poles were set and buried deep into the earth, the wires properly strung, this was built to last. McIntire seemed to think he owned everything, Shady Gulch, Apache land, did he already own Coyote Hills as well? Had he already slipped the Marshal into his deep pockets? Once again Bones was experiencing a deep dislike for this man McIntire, a man he had never even heard of 3 days ago.

It was becoming clear that McIntire was not to be underestimated, Bones had thought that this man was just another snotty thug that could be fitted for a pine box easy enough, but now it was clear that he was not your average cowboy.

"Sandy, we best leave the horses and the young ones here, in town we can blend with the locals and find the Marshal."

Many times before had Bones and Sandy needed to make a quiet retreat or an even quieter approach and they had become good at it. The two men could cover a lot of ground together quickly and silently, their years of holding up the Hudson Bay Company had taught them to be quiet as kittens, not to mention the numerous other less than legal ventures the men had been successful at together in the past.

Bones dismounted his horse, he pulled his shotgun from his bags and slung it at his side, hidden beneath his long coat. Bones pulled one more small bundle from his saddle bags, he slipped it into the pockets of his filthy coat.

Only Sandy could see as Bones pulled the bundle from his saddle bags, as Bones slipped a single stick of TNT into his coat. Bones nodded to his friend as he did so. "I ain't gonna be caught with my pants down." The thin man said with a slight grin.

Bones was about as ready as he was gonna be, he looked to his friend.

"You ready partner?"

Never had Maddie felt anything like the pain of having the wound on her leg cauterized and for once, she didn't feel like a pansy for passing out.

She woke strapped to her horse which once she convinced Chase that she could ride without the ties, he stopped long enough to unstrap her and give her Jasmin's reins. Her clenched teeth was the only thing that gave any indication that she was hurting.

Finally, she saw the lights and smiled, only to lose that smile when she heard Sandy's expletive comment and saw the telegraph wires. She almost couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Sandy...Bones, maybe it would be better if I went into town instead of the two of you. They'll be expecting two to four of us, but not one girl. I can slip in, find out if the Sheriff is in McIntire's pocket and back out again. I also have a couple of friends that live in town I can go to first and see what they know. What do you say?"

Maddie sat on her horse, waiting for their answer. Chase on the other hand, was not sure that this was a good idea and the look on his face said so, but he had to admit that Maddie had a point.

Dr Richard walked down Main Street and lit a cigar. It was the first time since leaving Indiana that he felt confident on this business deal. He was the son of farmer and inventor, Dr Richard was born in the town of Como, North Carolina. He worked as a fisherman, court clerk, teacher, and storekeeper. While running his own store, he invented a wheat drill, a planting device, and manufactured these for sale. By 1845 he was earning enough from this device to devote himself to selling and marketing it full-time. In 1850, he graduated from an Ohio Medical college and married four years later to Jemima 19 years his junior and the daughter of a prominent Indianapolis physician. Her younger sister Zerelda was married to David Wallace, the governor of Indiana.

He pushed the doors open and slipped inside saloon. Inside, a long mahogany wooden bar, bar stools and sets of tables and chairs completed the look along with a brass foot rail encircling the base of the bar and a row of spittoons spaced along the floor. He stepped up to the bar, and sat down on one of the few seats open in the smoky bar. "I'll have a Mule Skinner, bartender" You new around these parts ain't cha? Asked the bartender. "Yes sir...all the way from Indiana" Well, I aint figurin why anyone would come all the way from Indianaa asking fer a muleskinner ifn he werent lookin fer trouble...you aint on the run are you? Dr Richard shook his head. He lifted the whiskey and blackberry liquor and guzzled it. "Ahhhhhh...I'll take one more Barkeep" Slipping off the barstool, and sucking on the cigar, he found his way to the card table.

"Howdy, mind if I seat in on a few hands until my other party can be found." "Not at all stranger, you're money is good as anybody else's to take" said Sheriff McIntire laffed. As Dr Richard sat down he spotted the gold tack pin on McIntire's collar with the initials 'KGC' in diamonds. Sheriff Mcintire kept looking toward the saloon doors. Round after round and wits being played out the strategists wagered $10 Morgans and $25 rolls. Seven card stud and the pot rose in size of $250.

"I fold...thats it fer me, I've got get to workin' on the gallows in the mornin' according to your specs..for the four fugtives."

Goodnite, JC. Well stranger..guess it's between you and me now. Yes sir Sheriff...and I raise you $25 fer a card down n dirty. I see your $25 and raise you $50. Dr Richard stood out, Sir with your permission I would like to remove my suitjacket. I don't plan on getting gunned down by anyone with that much cash on the table. Sheriff McIntire smiled and nodded toward the gentleman. It was a bit stuffy in the smoked filled room, he happened to look over at the bar and spotted Sully at which sully pointed at the gentleman standing in front of him. Well, I'll be damned...the man's a gambler as well. He liked Dr Richard from the git go. When Richard removed his suitjacket and sat down, the other 'KGC' gold tack pin was revealed to McIntire.

"Faro", said Richard. Excuse me..said McIntire. I said, Faro...now thats an all time favorite for Kings..and Knights. Guess you gents don't get out much do ya? The last card slid in down n dirty. Richard showed queen, jack, ten, two. McIntire showed Pair Aces, and pair nines.

So tell me is it true what I hear from the Republicans that your a 'Copperhead', Dr Richard Gatling?
NOW THAT'S A DANG LIE... just because I'm a democrat, born in North Carolina don't mean I'm a anti-war democrat! McIntire knew he better not push the matter no further about the civil war until he found out what this man wanted. He had received a telegram from Indiana that he was on his way here.

CALL...sitting on the third ace McIntire laid out his hand, read 'em and weep. As he began to encircle the pot, Dr Richard grab his wrist, not so fast...country boy laying out his hand an Ace, King, nine of spades was revealed.

Smiling at the doctors hand and sitting back in his chair, McIntire asked, so what's so important that my constitutes from Indiana's Knights of the Golden Circle sent me a telegram of your arrival?
Well Sheriff, one gets to know a man's worth sitting at a table like this. He's either a bad ass gunslinger, a fool, or a geniune gambler willing to take risks.

Do you know what is going on with the civil war right now? When I was studying medicine, I noticed early in the Civil War that a majority of the dead were lost to disease rather than gunshots. It occurred to me that if I could invent a machine or a machine gun - which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a large extent supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease would be greatly diminished." So I'm here looking for an investor who has done quite well for himself in this little town of Shady Gulch. Do you want to manufacture the first Gatling gun with me? McIntire eyes glittered, the thoughts of mounting something like this on his war wagon would surely cut labor costs on protecting his wagon of gold.
"Where were you planning on manufacturing this weapon?" McIntire asked. "Well, I figured on traveling back to Indiana and start production right away. McIntire stopped to think, Mmmmm. I tell you Mr Gatling, if you produce the first machine here in my town then you can test it out there, 360 degrees around without any restrictions and I guarntee a place of your own and food and anything else you'll need. Well, congratulations sheriff, I think we have a deal.

Pushing on TW gathered a few more wondering longhorns. His trip through the badlands was close to being over, he'd have just enough money after bringing in the small herd to git him to California and start a new life for hisself. He came across a Stageline stopover in the middle of nowhere and decided he would stop for some grub, shave and some sleep. Pushing the gate open from his saddle, Tumbleweed steered the cattle into the corral.



"Now, Missy...I be seeing the way you be looking at me...and I do swore if I ever see another female, I aint gonna let 'er run off like a crazy fool that I've been with you. So stop looking at me like this is the last time, you and me are gonna see each other."



Tumbleweed stumbled into the barn with Lightening in tow. He pulled the horse into a stall and closed the stall door behind him. He unsaddled Lightening and wiped down his back with a brush. Its when he felt the gun in his back that he knew he couldnt reach his own without being gunned down.

"Mister...you go by Ethan Dawson?" Well now, who be askin and who are you, boy? TW turned around quickly and slapped the gun down from the boys' hand. Please don't be hurtin me none. Its on the Wanted poster...for killing a deputy in Shady Gulch.

Sandy agreed with Bones' plan. If it was a trap they'd need to think quick on their feet and worrying about two wounded kids would most likely get them killed. Dismounting, the tracker scanned the the perimeter of the town for any signs of movement but the sleepy town was as still as the grave.

The rifleman decided to take his repeater along and as he slipped the scabbard over his shoulder took note of the yellow sticks his partner slipped into his coat. The potential of 'Trinitrotoluene' or more commonly known by its abbreviated name of TNT was starting to catch on in the west. Sandy and Bones had discovered it when they raided a mining expedition funded by the Hudson Bay Company. They found the sticks to be insensitive to bumps and friction and so there wasn't any real risk of accidental detonation. Hell, even shooting the stuff rarely set it off.

"If comes to that, we'll take as many as we can with us." Sandy vowed coldly in a voice only audible to his partner.

It was a short walk to town, but there current location was well hidden in between two low lying mesa. A good place for Maddie and Chase to hold up with horses while they investigated the town.

"If we're not back by sundown you two clear out. Do you understand?" Sandy told Chase directly knowing that the young half-breed would heed his words.

The two men then proceeded to make their way to town, but they stopped to listen to the Keegan girl's suggestion of her and Chase slipping into town. Sandy scratched the stubble on the side of his face as he pondered the girl's plan. She made a compelling argument when she revealed she knew her way around the town, but the fact that the town folk would recognize her did not bode well for Sandy.

"Someone might recognize you, Maddie." He told her, "Sometimes, the most trustworthy souls can betray you and not by their own choice. It's too risky. You stay here with Chase and watch the horses. We'll be back as soon as we can."

Sandy turned his back on Madison before she could retort and walked toward the stark form of the thin gunfighter silhouetted against the deep purple horizon. They moved quickly toward the town, following a dried creek bed that took them near an alley into which they silently stalked.

"Dammit, Bones." Said Sandy looking back over his shoulder from whence they had come, "I have a bad feeling that girl isn't going to stay put. Let's be quick about this."

The darkened alley opened up onto the main street which stretched east to west. Already the first light of dawn was beginning to spill down it, colouring the buildings and road a soft orange.

"What are we going to do, Bones? That is, if we find out the Marshall is in league with McInitre?" Asked Sandy.

Bones looked down the alleyway just ahead of the dry creek that he and Sandy had followed to the edge of town, the sun was coming up and they were all out of bright ideas and time.

What would they do if the Marshal was dirty? There was no other place to turn, if the Marshal was in league with McIntire then he would have to be dealt with harshly.

"We'll drill the bastard if he tries to sell us out Sandy, I imagine we'll find out real soon if we are expected or not in this town."

Bones put one foot out of the shadows and into the pale early sunlight and walked onto the street. There was but a few people up and about at this early hour. A man with thinning hair and a bright white shirt was opening his small storefront, he was stacking a few boxes of rosy colored apples out in front of his modest shop. He went about his business, paying Bones and Sandy no mind. A young man was leading a group of three horses down the quiet street, the animals were without saddles and the young man lead them down the road to a small shady stable building where he led them into the structure and was gone from sight.

The town seemed normal and friendly enough, Bones looked up and down the street for the Marshal's shingle.

"You suppose he's in his office yet?'

Bones squinted in the sunlight, the bright light pained his dry and dusty eyes a bit. The thin man walked with his friend further down the street, dozens of windows and a good number of doors stared out at Bones and Sandy as they walked through town. Bones wondered if the windows and doors held hidden enemies, he wondered if they were already in McIntire's sights.

"I can't think of a worse place for a fight Sandy, we better find the Marshal's place of business and get off the streets."

McIntire rode out at 4am, behind him, his iron wagon carried the riches of his hard earned work maintaining a lawless town that only he controlled. He divided the 20-man team into two separate groups and the 3rd group, his special force of paid killers, six gunslingers, and two trackers that met only to make these one-way runs to Coyote Hills. The money was that good.

Since the run began, the Apaches warrior Goylahkla would send parties of four or five warrior scouts, who would sit on their ponies in the darkness and wait. McIntire's routine runs cost him, many men in these canyons for the sake of his gold. But he didn't care, he offered each man, three days' wages for his run straight thru to Coyote Hills.

He didnt like Apache Goylahkla. Goylahkla forced mcIntire to hire more guns and he became a frantic on changing times and days, weeks even to keep Goylahkla guessing.

And he didn't like Ian Keegan. His horse ranch was in the way of progress. If it weren't for the little sweet tart Maddie, he would have gunned her daddy in cold blood and taken the ranch from him. There was more Silver and Torquoise on that ranch than all the wild horses he gathered for the US Army.

McIntire had his strategy worked out before each trip and wasted no time cutting across the open territory. He exchanged his six-up team from A. N. Fisher Stagline, in two places along the route. At Coyote Hills, there was a small Wells Fargo Assay office where a Mr. Madison Larkin waited for McIntire.

As the two 10-man team split, the canyon walls began to raise. The 6-up wheel team drove on pulling the ironclad wagon. Ready to take on any takers that got in his way.

*******************************

One of the 10 man teams took a switchback up the canyon wall and a more indierct route to Coyote Hills.

Maddie was pacing back and forth, limping on her injured leg, but unable to stay still. Damn, arrogant men. Chase kept telling her to sit down...stay put. He knew her well enough to know that there was a good possiblity that she would head into town, regardless what Sandy had told her to do.

Maddie was torn between going after Sandy and Bones and staying with Chase and his injury. She looked over at Chase, a gleam in her eye that he knew too well.

"Maddie....you heard Sandy. You're too stay put here with me and wait. They have their hands full as it is."

"And are you suggesting that I would only make it worse?"

"Yeah, Maddie. It is. Now, don't look at me like that. You know that you don't have the know how to do something like this that they do, so just stay put."

Maddie was not happy with Chase's words. She knew people in Coyote Hills...people her and her famly considered friends....people that she just knew wouldn't betray her. She checked Chase's bandage on his shoulder, made sure that he had plenty of water and that his horse was close by.

Chase knew what she was doing and was having a fit, but Maddie ignored him as she mounted Jasmine.

"I know what I'm doing, Chase. They think I'm just some dumb girl who can't take care of herself. Well, I'm not!!"

"I know that, Maddie, but this is a dangerous situation and they're used to handling things like this. Now get off Jasmine and stay put!!"

Maddie glared at Chase before she rode in the direction of Coyote Hills, leaving a cursing Chase behind. The closer she got, the more she began to regret her decision, but she didn't turn around as she should have, but she knows where Mr. James lives and he owns the James' Mercantile in the middle of town. He had always been good friends with her ma and pa. She rode up to what looked like an old warehouse and tethered Jasmine to the side of it, slipping into town through a different alley. Looking around as she gets to the street at the end of the alley, she pulls her hat low over her face, not seeing Sandy and bones, but they see her....or at least Sandy does. She heads straight for James' Mercantile and steps inside.

Once in, she sees Mr. James and walks calmly over to him. Once he's done waiting on a customer, she looks around and sees that the store is empty. She raises her hat so that he can see her.

"Mr. James....it's me, Maddison Keegan, Ian Keegan's daughter from Shady Gulch. I need your help."

"Maddison Keegan!! What in tarnashin' are you doing here?! Don't you know there's a bounty out on your head?"

As he drags her back to the backroom, she explains everything to him. Once she's done, he tells her to wait there when the bell above his door jingles, indicating that he has a customer. Maddie paces back and forth, waiting.

Out in the front of the store, one of the sheriff's deputies has come in, having noticed Maddie slipping in. Mr. James tells him about her in the back room, the reward meaning more to him than his friendship with her father. Telling the man to go get the sheriff, the deputy heads back to the back room as Mr. James runs out.

Maddie turns around just in time to see the deputy approach her and quickly draws her .38 only to have him slap her before she gets it pointed and cocked. The gun flies from her hand as she hits the wall.

"Now, Miss Keegan, let's not be too hasty. Mr. McIntire has already warned us about you and your friends and told us that yer quite the spitfire. Well, we'll deal with that if we need to. Now, why don't you jest come with me quietly so I don't have ta hurt ya's."

Marshall Richard Barr sat before a fine looking breakfast and savored his morning cup of coffee. Normally he wasn't up at the crack of dawn and it was so refreshing that he considered making a habit of it. Taking a bite of hot buttered biscuit, he took the time to go over some paper work while he waited. It also wasn't often he ate breakfast on his desk at the Marshal's office either, but duty called and thanks McIntire's investment in the telegraph wires he and his men had the jump on four desperado's heading their way.

Rubbing his hands together excitedly, the Marshal leaned back and looked over at the stock-still man staring out the window. "Mitch, m'boy, I have a feeling it's going to be a great day." he declared.

Mitch Murdock, Barr's number one deputy didn't respond, not that the Marshal had expected him to. He remained still as a statue, with the exception of the small throwing knife he adroitly twirled around his fingers. A serious man, the Marshal could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen, Murdock laugh and when he did smile it was usually due the pain he or someone else inflicted on another. There wasn't a kind bone in his body, the Marshal reckoned but he'd never had a more loyal deputy. Besides, the Marshal admittedly enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice rather than listen to others ramble on anyway, so in truth they were a perfect match.

The Marshal took another sip of his coffee and moved aside the shot gun on the desk so that he could get a better look at an article that caught his eye in the Shady Gulch Tribune. "The rodeo's comin' pretty soon." he announced happily, "You gonna enter that knife throwin' contest again?"

Murdock's ears pricked up at the mention of the contest that he had won at the previous rodeo two years ago but his eyes stayed concentrated out the window. The Marshal's office and jail was at the end of Main street and one could see clear down the street and easily keep an eye on the town.

"They're here." Notified Murdock as he skillful slipped the knife into his belt along side the other's which ringed his waist. He then turned and awaited the Marshal's direction.

Marshall Barr threw his head over his shoulder in a relaxed manner and looked up at the grave deputy. "Well, I suppose we ought ta go out and greet our guests." he said as he picked up his shotgun, "Are the men in position?"

Murdock nodded.

"Good. I'll tell ya though, I'm in no rush. What say we let them get comfortable. My pa always said, 'never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction'. I'm not quite sure yet what we got out there yet."


The corner's of the deputies mouth curled ever so slightly in anticipation of what was to come.


Buck Daniels another one of Marshall Barr's deputies swaggered in through the mercantile's back door, pistol in hand. "Good eye, Jeb." he complimented while pointing the barrel of his gun directly at Maddie's forehead. "Bang!", he shouted, then proceeded to laugh at his own joke.

"Com'on girl." Ordered Buck, waving his pistol toward the back door, "The Marshal would like ta have a few words with ya."

"Go on git!" Encouraged the other deputy, Jeb, menacing the girl with his own pistol, "An' don't be tryin' anything stupid or we'll jus' have ta tell the boss we had to kill ya in self-duh-fence."

The men intended to get the girl out behind the mercantile where they could properly bind her hands with some rope. They had been watching her since she arrived and already had her horse, Jasmine in the back alley. The plan was to her walk down to the jail and toss her in a cell until they rounded up the others and the two men didn't have any allusions about having a little fun with the girl. McIntire had given strict instructions that she wasn't to be touched but allowed them to use whatever force was necessary to apprehend her.


Sandy's keen eyes searched the shop windows, alleys and roof tops for any signs of movement. A few times he caught sight of something questionable but he couldn't be sure. "Yeah, we're sitting ducks out here." Replied Sandy, then he pointed down to the end of the street, "There's the Marshal's office and it seems he's home." He figured by the light in the window, still visible in the dim hours of the morning.

The rifleman hesitated for a moment as Bone's caution was beginning to rub off on him. "Y'know, Bones. What say we duck into this here saloon and contemplate our situation for a moment. Shall we?" Suggested Sandy with his fine English tone.

Off to their left was a two story building called the 'Silver Sage', a quaint establishment with a saw dust floor and the roughly constructed furniture characteristic of small, isolated towns. In the far corner, a man snored in a chair while leaning back against the wall, obviously a remnant of the night before sleeping off his drink. A bald headed man, dressed in the common attire of bartender was polishing glasses and rearranging bottles when Sandy and Bones strolled in.

"Sorry, gentleman. The saloon doesn't open for another couple of hours." Said the bar-keeper, apologetically, "Could I offer you a cup of coffee?"

Maddie just glared at Buck as he made fun of shooting her in the head, not giving in to the dread she was feeling. She looked through the door into the store and saw Mr. James speaking with a customer. When he turned her way, her blue eyes spit fire at him and he excused himself from the lady he'd been talking with and walked back to the storeroom.

"Don't look at me like that, Maddie. I've got a business to run and kids to raise and the bounty on your head was just too good to pass up. I always told your pa that he needed to take a switch to your backside and get you under control. Apparantly, he didn't take me up on the free advice."

"Well, at least my pa wouldn't think about stabbing a friend in the back, Mr. James. You're not even half the man he is....hell, you're not even half a worm."

Buck shoved her roughly out of the back door, causing to trip over the step and sprawl out in the dirt. She stood up and dusted herself off, turning her angry gaze onto the two deputies.

"Make you feel like real men, pushing a girl around? Then again, looking at the two of you, there's nothing that you could do that would do that. Make you feel like real men, I mean. After all, there has to be a man already there and I just don't see that."

That got her a smack from Buck and 'shut yer yap!', which for once, she did as they bruisingly bound her hands together in front of her and yanked her out from behind the mercantile. They walked down the wooden walk-way, in front of the saloon.

"Damn, boys....you really are real men....you even have to tie my hands so that I don't hurt ya. Little ole' me and you're scared that I could hurt both of ya."

"Shuddup, ya little bitch!!! McIntire told us to do what we had to keep you in line and that you're a right little firecracker....not to be trusted, he said."

That told Maddie all she needed to know. The sheriff was in McIntire's pocket and she was going to be a special delivery to McIntire if she didn't figure out how to get out of this mess she'd gotten herself into. Glancing into the saloon as they passed the swinging doors and headed out into the street, she saw Sandy and Bones and hoped that they'd heard what had been said about the McIntire. She was going to get their attention then thought better of it. She didn't want them getting hurt because she'd decided not to listen, so she clamped her lips together and trudged along with the two idiot deputies.

Bones was getting that tingling in his hands, sometimes this strange feeling would come just before a gunfight broke out. Bones figured that there was nothing supernatural about the sensation, it was probably just old raw instincts tugging at his mind.

Bones swung his eyes up and down the street, so far he did not see anything to get itchy about. Bones nodded to Sandy and two of them walked through the doors of The Silver Sage.

The bartender was just setting the glasses out, he offered the two strangers some coffee.

Bones looked back to the door one more time and nodded to the barkeep.

"I have some of that coffee."

The pudgy man brought two cups over and went back to his duties. Bones sipped the black liquid, it was fresh and hot.

"I like this much better than the street Sandy, a man could shoot it out all day in a place like this."

Bones glared at the barkeep, if the bald man heard his words he didn't let it show.

"It might be a good move to send someone from this establishment over to the marshal's place, he would have to come to us and we could buy him a drink, you know, feel him out a little bit."

Bones figured that most men enjoyed a stiff drink, even more if if was paid for. God knows that Bones was achin for a drink, but he put it out of his mind. Most men enjoyed a little whisky, maybe the marshal was one of these men, a reasonable man.

"If the marshal agrees, we would have a good shot at presenting our side of things."

Bones shot another look at the barman, he was at the end of the bar and seemed to be minding his own.
Bones looked around the saloon, it was a simple, small place. It had two good sized windows facing the street and a small set of entry doors. other than a back door these were the only way in and out of the building.

Bones sipped the coffee some more.
"Of course if he is not a reasonable man, we'll burn him down."

The barman stiffened up this time and nervously went back to his set up.

Sandy smiled when the bartender reacted nervously to Bones' ruthless words. His friend sure had a way with them. Nodding in agreement to the plan he took a slurp of his coffee and pondered who they could use as a messenger boy. The look on the bartender's face told him that he'd be reluctant to do them any other service than to pour them some more coffee and the old cow poke in the corner was still sleeping off his drunk. His eyes drifted down to the saloon doors as he searched for a candidate and that's when he saw two men ushering a woman with dark hair, her head just reaching the top of the swinging doors. That alone wasn't enough to alert him, but then he took note of the boots the woman was wearing and recognized them straight away.

"Damn." Cursed Sandy under his breath and glancing over at his partner knew that he had recognized the Keegan as well. "Well, there goes a pair of aces into the Marshal's hand."

Discouraged Sandy ran his hand along his face, rolling his fingers along his grizzled face, holding back the urge to drive his fist into the table. Why the hell couldn't she have just stayed put! He still wanted to talk with the Marshal, but it was more than apparent that they were aware of their presence and set to round them up, if not shoot them dead.

"When you're in a hole, the first thing you should so is stop diggin'." Called out a rough womanly voice.

Sandy would have recognized it anywhere. His eyes shot toward the stairway from where it emanated and there leaning against the wall was the figure of a tall and strong woman, her feminine form more enhanced rather than hidden by the manly clothes she wore.

"Jesse?" He questioned wondering how she found them as Sandy quickly rose from his seat. "Dammit, Jesse. It is you!"

"Well a course its me. Damn, Sandy, I keep tellin' ya that there doubt a yours ain't becomin' of a man." She joked, her grim expression stretching into a warm smile as she tightly embraced her old friend, "It's good ta see ya, Red Coat. I was sure you were dead, until I saw this."

Jesse pulled out a couple of rolled up posters and tossed them on the table. They unfurled, revealing an accurate depiction of Sandy, and beneath it was Bones under the heading, 'Wanted'. Spinning a chair around and straddling it like it was a horse, her dark blue eyes shot over to the thin man, "So how the hell are ya, you old saddle bag." she greeted. "Same old situation. Different time, huh, boys?"

Well Shiit. You gotta be kiddin'! Where'd you get this boy? Ethan half dragged the boy by his britches into the 2-story house of A.N. Fisher Stagecoach Country Inn. The woman in a long blue dress and white apron dropped a bowl of fruit on the floor seeing Ethan dragging the boy into the house with his rifle in the other hand. He dropped the boy on the floor and quickly apologized. I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't expect to get a reception like this from no boy or stagecoach stop out here in the middle of nowhere. You have anymore of these on the wall? The woman bent over to cradle her son and pointed to the office wall.

What's wrong with your mom, boy? My daddy was shot and killed and then my momma was beat and was was... the boy was on the verge of tears, was raped by Sheriff McIntire's deputies that came back through here after there Coyote Hills run last year. They said they'd come back and kill us both if any of this leaked out to Marshal Barr. Momma hasn't talked right since it happen.


Ethan shook his head...that bloody bastard. Boy, I saw horses in the corral, is he on his way here? Yes sur...he's due in a few hours. Ethan shook his head...thats why the posse turned around. Ethan smiled as he thought of his options. McIntire would be pissed if I stole in his horses and rode ahead to Coyote Hills with this woman. I could plead my case there. He looked at his and the three other WANTED posters. He noticed all four had the same crease in the ink paper which meant these came out the same time. Where'd you get these, boy? Delivery from Coyote Hills Post office, Pony Express service. Wat? Did ya say, Coyote Hills? How? You ain't from here are you mister? There's wires strung a few miles from here. Oh TW wat did you git yurself into this time...Ethan sits down in the chair.

He thought about his options. Tell your momma to pack some bisquits and put on some riding clothes, I aint stayin here waitin for McIntire and you aint either.

I realized this was the second time, I'd have to leave the herd behind but as I released the wild horses that McIntire had hitched up at a six horse team...I couldn't wait to see his face expression when that wagon of gold would be delayed gittin into town.



Com'n Lightening we got some ridin' ta do now...let's gitty up, spurs dig in, Lightening stood on her hinder quarters as the first bullet wized by my head...shit It was the posse coming over the ridge and seein the horses scatter in all directions The woman and boy riding separate ponies had already fallin behind. I pulled out my hawkin and fired, twisted in my seat. I watched as a rider fell off his horse. Guns firing, bullets whizzed by my head...this was not the perfect plan. Pulling out both six shooters i twisted around in the saddle and watched as the boy took one in the shoulder and fell forwards grasping the the mane. He slowed down to a trot, his momma as well dropped behind. The main group stopped and a small posse of six horses fired back this way...

Maddie stumbled a little only to have her arms damn near jerked out of their sockets when Buck yanked hard on the rope.

"Damn, girl!! Can't ya walk?"

He chuckled at this, then lost his grin when he saw Maddie glaring at him. He had a right mind to put the arrogant girl in her place, where a woman should be. Instead, he yanked hard on the ropes again, causing the rough material to chafe her wrists. When she didn't even wince, he became even more annoyed with her.

"I can ride and shoot just as good as any man on my pa's ranch and from the looks of you, I've worked a hell of a lot more than you have, so this little rope isn't going to bother me, if that's what you're trying for, you idiot."

Buck reached out lightening quick and grabbed her by the throat, chocking her, enjoying seeing something other than indifference leap into her blue eyes.

"Don't you ever shut your yap?! I can't wait til Mr. McIntire gets his hands on you.....he'll teach you your place and I hope to be there to see it."

Maddie tried not to let her uneasiness show at the mention of this, but failed. Buck smiled a black-toothed smile at seeing this and squeezed a little harder, cutting off her air and bruising her throat. Jed stepped in and whispered something in his ear, causing Buck to let go of her.

"You're lucky, girl. McIntire wants you alive. He don't care much about the others, but you're to be returned to him....alive. Now git!!!"

Maddie felt her spirits sink as she knew now that she'd royally messed up. She should have stayed put instead of rebelling against Sandy telling her what to do. It was stupid of her and she knew it. She made a promise to herself that she would definately do better at listening to Sandy and Bones and trying harder to do as she was told. She wasn't real sure how in the hell she was going to do this, not with her temperment, but she would try if they got out of this alive and unharmed. Before she knew it, she was being shoved into the Sheriff's office, damn near running into the Sheriff's desk.