Let Them Come To You.

I decided to wait in the carriage. If I went out guns blazing I could end up dead since I didn’t know how many their where. There was a small chance I could reason with them but that was always very small, very small chance. I grabbed the derringer from my boot holding it out. “Madam you take this. Incase anything happens to me.” I said holding it out toward Madam Beaumont.

“J’ can’t Monsieur. J’ never utilisé one.” She shook her head.

“If things go bad Madame they want be as nice as I was toward your daughter and you.” I said thrusting it at her. I knew one shot wouldn’t make much of a difference and I hoped like hell they didn’t have to use it but it was better to put up a fight then to go willingly.

“J’ will take it.” Belle said as she sat beside her mother and held out her hand. I didn’t know how I felt about her holding a gun but I didn’t have much of a choice or the time to argue. Hell knows she deserved a fighting chance if she wanted it.

“Here it is loaded. Just pull the trigger.” I said handing her the pistol. “Keep it hidden and don’t point it at anyone unless you want to kill them.” I smiled and closed it in her hands.

“Well well, what do we have here?” The stage coach door opened beside me as a tall slender guy with a grin on his face looked into the coach. He smiled looking at the ladies pointing his gun at them as he reached in and touched the Madames calf running it up her leg. He was paying so much attention to the women that he never noticed me grab his gun with one hand as I pulled out my revolver pointing it at his head.

“Hands off the lady.” I said under my breath as I cocked the revolver and took his from his. “How many guys are out there?” I grinned hoping like hell he could actually count. I hate to go out and find nine guys though him and I would have words about it in hell after the fact.

“Three.” He said, he was twitchy. I didn’t like it I thought tucking his gun in my belt. I seen so many guys try and wield them both at once and not hit shit.

“What’s the holdup Slim?” I heard someone say from the other side of the carriage. Great they were on both sides.

“He’s got a gun.” Slim yelled as he went to shut the door. I was partly glad he had because I didn’t want the girls to see this as I put two rounds into the wood of the door and heard him drop. I leaned out of the coach and saw two men. One was on horseback while the other was jumping off. The one on horseback aimed his rifle at me and fired. I ducked back in as the shot hit the side. I jumped out and fanned the hammer on my pistol aiming not for the rider but the poor horse he was own dropping the poor animal as it feel over with rider in toe, I could hear the crunch of his leg as the animal came down on him.

I pulled out the second pistol from my back as I heard the women scream inside the coach as I turned to see the other door open and a gun point at me as Belle pointed the derringer at him pulled the trigger hitting him in what looked like the arm as he stumbled out of view. I ducked down and fired under the carriage hitting him in the knee as he fell backward and I put another round in his chest. I caught sight of the last one coming around the back end I was ready for him or so I thought until he stuck a double barreled shotgun around the corner. I dove under the carriage hoping like hell the stage coach driver kept the hand brake on. I heard a shot ring out and the guy in the back fell down.

“Wrong stage coach mother fucker.” I heard the old black man say as he came over and put a second round in him just to be sure. “And that’s mine you bastard.” He said snatching up his shot gun. I came out from my hiding place. “You okay sir.” The old balding black man said.

“Nothing a good bath won’t fix.” I smiled dusting myself off and picking up my hat. “You ladies okay.” I said looking into the carriage at the ladies.

“Oui Monseiur.” Madame smiled, her and Belle where holding each other tightly.

“Did J’ kill him.” Belle said.

“No mademoiselle you only winged him.” I shook my head reaching out to take the pistol from her and handed her my flask. “Here this will help with the shaking.” She took it taking a deep swig and started coughing.

“Merci.” She said and took another swig. I left the ladies to look at the dead as I heard the guy I dropped the horse on screaming out in pain. “You round up there horses and tie them to the back.” I said pulling out my knife. “I want the brown one with the white nose; you can keep the other two. Sell them in town if you like.” I said the black man smiled and went to work as I head over to the survivor with knife in hand.

A few hours later the coach pulled into town and we all got out at the local hotel, an old bunk house from the mining days refurbished into a hotel for travelers. It was warmer today. Not as warm as I might like but I didn’t have to worry about my balls retreating north. Warm enough for the women to be out. There seemed to be three women for every guy I saw.

I helped the ladies in, mostly an **** Belle who had trouble walking straight, and paid for my room and the ladies because of the most enjoyable carriage ride, that and so I knew where they were at while I was in town so I could at least say goodbye properly. I went out and untied my new horse and brought him around to the small stable the hotel had checking his pouch where I didn’t find much beside a few standard items you expect any cowboy to have, most of it was shit that I gave to the stable boy who tended the horses except for a map of the area which might be useful, as I thought about my next move. I could try and find the photographer though I had no idea where to start. I knew two people in town who would know everything, the saloon bar tender and the barber. You get a person in a chair and they will tell you their life story. Or I could always go back into the hotel and get one of the maids to draw me a nice warm bath; it wasn't like I was in a hurry.

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