Dutch shoots her

Mary shivered causing Dutch’s hand to flinch then with the bang sound I looked over to see Mary fall to the ground blood trickling around her, “James...I didn’t...I didn’t mean to!” I pushed past him and cradling the body Charles charged towards Dutch punching him square in the nose as he lassoed the man, “James...I didn’t mean to!” I wept holding her tightly watching her lay still in my arms and her blood covering my clothes, “James...We need to go!” “No!” “James...staying here won’t help us, we need to take them back!” I brushed the hair from her face and kissing her head spoke, “It’s okay Mary, I will take you home where you belong!” Charles nodded before looking down at the body in more detail looked away, seeing the bruises, scars and cuts on her body from the torment and pulling Dutch close to the body spat, “Look at what you did! What you did. You once said she was the best out of the worse in the camp and look at her. Is this all you cause? Trouble and grief!” “I didn’t mean to Charles; I’m sorry!” “Too late Dutch! Too late!” he dragged Dutch to the wagon and hauling him up hit him again, “See Dutch unlike the others I lost all respect for you ever since Shady Bell and this sums up why I lost all respect!” he turned back to James before shaking his head spoke, “And the thing is...he respected you to the end!”

Dutch was hung to a lot of people’s disarray he was still respected for the most part. He was hung facing the grave of Mary, he looked out for James who didn’t watch but instead he sat at the grave ignoring the bench made for him. The last thing Dutch saw was the dejected man sit at the grave site silent looking at the stone slab. Sadie was one of the firsts to comfort him and despite his protests of him being fine. Nevertheless they continued to hound him in the most friendly of ways, James didn’t each much or sleep much and talking was even less; it worked when it came to law and enforcement but otherwise worried the people especially when he lived alone. For weeks after Pearson and other people would cook for him just to make sure he ate something and women would stay at his for the company, he didn’t ask for much and he spent most of his time staring at the portrait of Mary when he wasn’t taking care of business. Sadie was the most regular who also tried to encourage him to meet others but he still remained glumly in his expressions and **** in his demeanour but when it come to violent drunks or violent abusers he was ruthless.

Abigail stood next to John after washing her hands and John adjusting his badge saw the friend Sheriff sit down on the step clutching himself. Abigail looked back at John before saying, "If we weren't married then I would be there for him... he has given up so much for us and the people, for what? Nothing. He deserves someone!" John nodded before stating, "He was more of an father to Jack then I ever was or will ever be, he taught how to read and write and how to think instead of shoot. He does deserve someone, you see it in his eyes; the loneliness and vulnerability that wasn't ever there beforehand!" Abigail held John tighter before saying, “That is something I wish I didn’t have to see!” as James remained there on the step clinging to himself distracted in his thoughts which they both knew wouldn't be positive and looking over to Sadie who nodded spoke, “One day James you will get over this!” watching the broken man, "What did I tell you about those thoughts!" Charles spoke to him kneeling in front of him to bring himself to James' level, "It's hard not to!" he nodded before commenting, "I know brother, none of us like seeing you like this; we feel bad because we all have someone and you have...well you would admit you have nothing!" James nodded before getting up spoke, "Hasn't changed much has it?" he shook his head before speaking, “It will change, one day it will!” and getting up James spoke, "I can do with a drink..."

Years later and seeing everyone had a family or something equivalent and sitting back down on my chair watched as the town moved forward, Charles often joked about how I was the only one stuck in the past. Many girls were interested and some offered a lot more then just a one night stand but I remained alone. “Come on James! You promised to go out!” I groaned before nodding walked down adjusting my shirt and collar before holstering my gun spoke, “Yeah! Yeah! I got it” “Some new girls are there!” I nodded before walking out put my hat on, “You could have dressed up!” “What do you mean?” “It’s medieval night!” I shrugged before saying, “I didn’t know!” we walked in and seeing the town dressed in their attire bought a drink before sitting on a table opposite the stage, “James nice of you to visit us!” Matilda spoke but shaking my head I spoke, “You know I only sanction this because it means women are employed!” she nodded before standing in front of me spoke, “And that’s one of the main reasons we will never get closer! Anyway we have several new girls one is very shy and a virgin, if you are quick you may be able to take her before the others!” “How old is she?” “21!” “Almost half my age!” she nodded before pointing to the nervous woman in the corner wearing her mask I nodded as she clutched her arm unsure of what to do.

I brought another drink and walking pushed the man who was talking to her out of the way, “What are you...oh sorry Sheriff!” I pulled her arm before pulling her to a seat in the corner spoke, “So you are the new girl?” “Yes they call me Double V. Virgin Viola!” I handed her a drink spoke, “Nervous?” she nodded before causing me to speak, “Then why did you work here?” “I’m a woman trying to earn a living!” “You could have just come to me...I try and accommodate the less fortunate!” “I wish I knew...I am not really keen on this; I wanted my virginity to be taken by the man I love!” I nodded before looking up saw the bearded man smile, “Virgin V. How about 25 for licking my candy?” she looked at me confused as I spoke, “She is with me!” “Matilda’s rules are you have to hire them otherwise others can!” “I have paid $200 for the night with her!” “Prove it!” I grabbed $200 notes out and slipping it into Violets dress spoke, “$200. Enough proof?” he grumbled walking away before smiling she spoke, “Thank you... I didn’t even know what he wanted!” “You suck his cock for $25!” Ewww! I wouldn’t do that!” “Well I payed for the night so how about we get out of here? I will get another bottle and find some food and we find somewhere quiet to talk?” she smiled and nodding kissed my cheek as I put my coat around her.

“I can’t believe it. You’re the lone wolf!” I nodded before saying, “I told you the truth but I am sort of interested in what they say about me!” “The exterminator of the Skinner Brothers, the crusader against the Del Lobo, the warrior who killed a bear with his bare hands and is a strong but lonely individual not **** for a woman!” I laughed before saying, “Technically me killing the leaders and the other experienced members caused them to fall apart but the town took the rest, Del Lobo hide in Mexico now. The bear? I used a knife and that is only because my gun fell out my holster” “And strong and alone?” “All lies. I am still mourning a woman’s **** from three years ago!” I drank from the ale before changing the subject spoke, “What about you? Why are you hear? You mentioned needing the money...” “My Father was a sheriff of Valentine, he was murdered a few years back” ”Good he deserves it! I was going to do it myself if Mary didn’t beg me to react” “What do you mean?” “He deserved it” “Me and my mother struggled for 3 years to make money to live and I had to leave her because we couldn’t live off what we had tucked away!” she got up before snapping, “I thought you were good!” she walked away but stopped when I barked, “You owe me the chance to explain myself or at least listen since I paid for the night!” “Hurry up!” I got up and standing back so she could sit down spoke. “When I freed Mary-Beth from the prison I found out some dark truths in what had happened between the last time I saw her and that current day. I found out from Karen who was currently trying to survive alongside Mary gunned a few guys down and of course they were both accused, if you ever got a chance to meet Mary you would see even holding a gun is impossible for her. They were both to be hung but Karen never really caring apart for beer and herself used Mary to seduce him. It worked until she fell pregnant...” “Why should I believe any of this?” “Autopsy report, his confession before killing him, a witness account and also a bartender in Valentine mentioned it...” “Where’s the baby!” I looked down before upset coughed to try and mask it, “James? Where is it?” “The bastard to hide what happened...cut the baby out of her half grown. He destroyed everything in that area; she couldn’t have children, fell ill regularly, hell she even wet herself regularly because she couldn’t feel the need to the go; she was embarrassed and upset by it... It still hurts me to think all the chances we had prior to leave and start all over and the dream of a family and a house but that was destroyed by him. He acted tough and ruthless in front of women... he wasn’t so tough when another man confronted him. You may have been told he was an great and kind man, I and others know him as an evil and sadistic man. If you still don’t believe me then check the inquest of his **** maybe then you will see it from my side!”

I sat in front of Mary’s grave cleaning the dirt away and putting new flowers down on the grave sitting back sighed before looking at the others laughing and hugging their loved ones, “That should be us too Mary but yet we are worlds apart!” I looked over and seeing two simple looking shoes stand next to me saw a woman’s hand place flowers next to mine, “I’m sorry Mary, you shouldn’t have been hurt by any of the men that did and James I owe you an apology for not believing you!” I raised my hand up to dismiss it heard, “He may have been bad but he still looked after us and treated us well. I can’t and won’t ignore it but nevertheless he did ruin another mans life. How do you deal with it?” “I come from a group of people that see it like this: we are killing someone to save others, we kill one who has done harm to many. So yes killing is wrong but us killing them has helped others. Del Lobo murdered 100’s, Skinners more. Dutch’s gang in it’s 100’s if not more people, your father savagely tore a woman apart who knows how many others... even when I used to ride around with Dutch I killed only those who deserved it and tried even then to do it quietly and with dignity!” “What was it like killing your first?” “Nerving but my first target was a man who imprisoned slaves. It made you want to kill him just by that fact, the thing is my first kill was simple, when your blade is spring loaded it isn’t as intense as actually stabbing someone manually!” “Do you regret it?” “Like everything yes and no... yes because of what happened to Mary but no because if I didn’t pick this path I wouldn’t have met her in the first place and more would have suffered!” she nodded before shivering spoke, “It’s so cold!” I got up before wrapping my arm around her spoke, “Come, let’s get you warm. I take you to my house, you grab a blanket and I will light the fire!” she nodded as I helped her up to my horse, she spoke, “Thanks James!”

We sat around the fire with her wrapped in the blanket and coffee in her hand, it was silent for the most part apart for me regularly checking she was okay or if she wanted an refill and nodding for the refill she asked, “That offer you made...” “The one about a place to live and money to earn working?” she nodded causing me to say, “Yes still open, I owe you that much...” “You don’t owe me but what is this work?” “Are you educated?” “To what extent?” “Can you read, write and spell?” “Yeah...” “It’s not fun but I need help with paperwork, prioritising crimes over others it isn’t grand but you will get payed and have free accommodation, hot water and food, plus if the town is quiet we have no work to do, so you can go out!” she nodded before shaking my hand spoke, “I will do it because I like you. My bags?” “I will get Haytham to bring them up!” “Will the town talk?” “Yes but none negative, you will get a warning about not hurting me or using me for your own advantage but most will be happy that I actually have someone else in this house just to give me company and make sure I am eating or not doing something thought to be “Stupid” she nodded before smiling spoke, “They will want me to be your “mother” I laughed before slipping out, “You are too beautiful to be my mother and half my age!” the room fell silent again.

The next few days was met by talk from the town who asked her multiple questions and also the eyes of some of the ex gang members who saw her buying new clothes to add to her bare articles of clothing but when asking James he spoke how he saw what she had and insisted she got some clothing, with that Abigail went with her to help get a good price and whilst the town talked about her and her potential career Abigail among the other “Town Elders” respected and defending her and in return she would talk to them and find more out about her housemate. It was in these incidents when Tilly and Abigail found out that Viola crushed heavily on James and later adored the man for being an gentleman and a defending her from men which recognised her from the Brothel and Abigail kept pushing her to ask him out however it went the other way; there was an ‘Lover’s Ball’ and being part of the town’s set up James was obliged to go, this time however he wasn’t going alone, “Viola, will you go with me?” “What?” “Will you go to the Lovers ball with me? I am fed up of turning up alone!” “If you want to...I am more shocked you even asked me!” “Vi you know I like you, so why not? If you don’t mind going with a man double your age...” “I don’t care about your age, I would love to, but I don’t have a dress!” I smiled before saying, “Borrow one from Tilly or Abigail; I will even buy you a new one if you want one!” and nodding she rushed out to see the others and looking up at the picture of Mary he spoke, “I’m sorry Mary but I can’t be alone anymore!” Viola wore a luxury style dress, apparently when they found out what it was for they were more than willing to help, apparently their hanging out was classed as the two dating and got the large part they could have been considered together when Viola grew even more encourage stating to people that she hoped he would propose to her not expecting it to fall on his ears but it did and it wasn’t until the end of the night when Lenny asked next to Charles and Sadie what they were to each other Viola smiled when James stated clearly and calmly, “Viola is my fiancé!” and agreeing Viola immediately hugged him, “Soon to be my husband!”