Horseshoe Overlook unwelcome guests

Business taken care of was my thoughts at the time, one more target down and putting my deputy’s badge on my jacket sat at the local saloon in Valentine cleaning the bloody hidden blade before retracting it when the bartender put another bottle down on to the counter questioned, “So what is a Deputy of Blackwater doing in Valentine?” “Looking for a gang by the name of the Van Der Linde gang led by Dutch, Arthur and Hosea they fled over to Ambrino a few months back, I suspect they are around here; makes sense being the nearest town and the fact they need the money before fleeing, keep an eye out will ya?” he nodded before wiping the counter dry as I leant against the counter watching the townsfolk drinking happily but soon something caught my eye; a cart carrying three women in the back and two men rode on in, the thing is one was clearly Arthur no matter how hard he tried to hide it and the others must have been part of the gang but what was their part? I couldn’t just kill them if they were just their wives or cooks, “Right time to follow one!” I removed my badge before leaning over the counter ordered, “If anyone asks who I am say just say I am a rancher or something!” he nodded and watching the group split up saw the women walk in start sitting on men’s laps, “Pick one James!” I muttered and looking at the three who were now engaging with the men drinking their ale, muttering sweet comments to their ears and watching their slide theirs hands into their pockets retrieved the valuables. “Her!” I muttered and stopping saw the brunette haired woman wearing basic clothes and piercing blue eyes and watching her take the next watch and I smiled grabbing two bottles of ale and sat down waiting for the woman come near me, my valuables being moved to my boots and smiling became disappointed to see the bustier of the three come, “‘ello handsome care if I join you?” I shook my head before saying calmly, “I was hoping for your friend over there!” and nodding she walked up to the woman and spoke, “Mary you have an admirer!” she blushed before nodding headed to my seat.

“Hello sir!” she softly commented and handing her the bottle helped her onto my knee, “Mary is it?” she nodded and wrapping my arm around her heard, “You requested me, why?” “Because I like you... you acted sweet and within your nerves are charming!” she giggled before drinking some more laid her head onto my shoulder. “Hey what about me?” a drunken man spoke standing in front of us and stabbing his hand with my knife I growled back, “She is with me or do I have to smash some sense into you?” he backed away clenching the wound causing me to watch the other two women take the men upstairs presumably to rob their rooms whilst wrapping my arms around her she grinned again and feeling her hands in my pockets I smiled as she grabbed my badge, “Deputy...” she gasped and slapping the handcuffs on her wrist did it with the second putting my badge back, “Come on off you go!” “But...But... Til...” “None of that!” I growled gagging her and pushing her through the door looked at the prison before taking her down to the empty barn.

I pushed her down on the haystack and pulling the gag from her mouth spoke, “One of Dutch’s mob is it?” she shook her head before saying, “We are just some petty thief’s!” “Petty thief? Pretty thief yes but you aren’t no petty thief... I saw Arthur in the front, you do know what they did right???” “Why question me if you know?” “Because if you aren’t an killer or part of the big plots I won’t bring you in... if I do bring you in they will hang you, that’s not a prediction that’s the punishment for being part of Dutch’s gang!” she looked down causing me to sit next to her, “I wouldn’t even be doing this anymore if I didn’t have to, I am just a damn camp housewife; cleaning and mending clothes. We all have to pay our way and it’s this or one of the men’s new lover. I had hoped one day to be a writer, now look at me” I looked down before saying, “Wouldn’t be happening if Dutch didn’t lose his shit in Blackwater!” “What happened?” “From what I heard a deal went south, a disagreement or something about the price. What I saw when we arrived was cold blooded killing of innocent people trying to defend the town and families!” “You’re wrong Dutch doesn’t approve of it!” “I saw Dutch shoot a woman for no reason apart for she was there at the time of the event” she looked down and sighing I nodded, “Wanna earn some quick money?” “You aren’t taking me in?” “You want out of this... I won’t stop you from trying” the cuffs were undone and helping her up was met by her kisses to my cheek, “Thank you! Thank you! I owe you.”

“Come let me show you how to get easy money!” I spoke and beckoning her forward looked around to show the closed shop and the man walk to the saloon, “There is your way or my way, quickly follow me!” “Okay!” we walked to the back off the store and leaning over I whispered, “You don’t need several small moves, just one wise move. You see he has gone to the saloon and the money? In the till and maybe a safe!” “We have no key!” I laughed before retrieving my lock-pick kit stated, “Not a problem, watch and learn!” I knelt down and getting to work on it started to twist until there was a subtle click!” “How did a law abiding citizen learn such a thing?” “A different sort of training” she walked forward before feeling her waist be pulled back, “Never walk blindly into a door you have just illegally opened, crouch!” she smiled feeling the contact and nodding followed me closing the door behind us.

“I will open the till, you grab the valuables... Cigars, smokes, liquor, watches and jewellery then anything else!” she rushed in and grabbing the things I continued, “Try and make it look untouched as well, less mess the more his drunken state won’t notice!” she nodded and grabbing the boxes looked over to see me open the till and retrieving the money started to grab the bottles of liquor and put it into the crates, “Hello baby!” “What?” “Someone is doing some illegal trading!” “What is it?” “Undeclared gold and $200. Now to close the safe! Got everything?” “What about ammo?” “Leave it” she stopped and seeing a customer walk across the dirt towards the store I nodded to the door and using a small stick to keep the closed door in place laughed seeing her stare at what she had in her hands, “I can’t believe it!” “We need to go!”

We loaded the carts of Arthur’s up and going to count the cash I shook my head pulling her to the side, “What are you doing?” “The Gang’s kitty earns a large donation then we split the rest in half!” I shook my head before saying, “No! Don’t do that...how do you know the money is going to the camp. Give them the cigars and liquor, we then split it in half!” “But what will I do with that much money?” “I could pull some strings... get you a bank account, save the money and leave this life!” “I won’t be able to put any in or take it out!” “I...will put it in just under the name Mary-Jane!” she stood there and pondering agreed, “Okay, but paperwork!” “All taken care of!” I nodded and kissing my cheek I took her hand and smiling asked, “Can I see you again?” “I don’t know... it would make everything complicated!” and getting back on the cart waited for the others to come back, “Thank you again James!”