The Queen of Calico
The Queen of Calico
AJ Edwards
I stepped inside the Rose's Bloom saloon in Coyote's Run and hawked out a gob of tobacco in the corner spitoon before hanging up my duster on the wall. Brett was playing a tune on the piano while Big Sal sat next to him on the bench, one of her hands turning the pages of his music and the other wafting a fan in an attempt to cool her from the Arizona heat. They called her 'Big Sal' due to the fact she was taller than the rest of the whores in town. Some men have been known to jeer in her direction, but she still generated enough of an income. The rest of the ladies were sitting on the stairwell leading up to the rooms, waiting for the men to retire from their poker game.
"Gentlemen." I nodded as I passed by their table on my way to the bar.
"Why if it isn't Rex Remington, scourge of West." Pierre Rose cackled while setting a glass down on the bar.
"Nah, give me a clean one, Rose." I pushed the glass back toward him. He gave a hearty chuckle before picking up a freshly washed glass, filling it halfway with whiskey.
"I hear you've got yourself quite the business now, running a stagecoach from here all the way to California. Lots of bandits hiding out in those mountains."
"Yeah, it's not too bad if I keep a keen eye out." I took a sip of the whiskey and turned around to see Diana, Rose's daughter, sitting on a stool at the end of the bar. "Ma'am." I tipped my hat to her then walked over to join in the poker game. "Twenty bucks, deal me in."
"Goddamn, Rex, you're fixin' to clean out us out again, I know it." Ted James tossed the cards toward me. Ted was the kind of man who complained but still got the job done in the end. I took another sip of whiskey.
"Y'know, I heard the Sheriff is coming to town any day now to collect on them taxes and to see what the Deputy's been up to. I reckon he ain't gonna like what he's bound to find." Said Mitch Kirkpatrick. Mitch used to be a hired gun in another state until he met Daphne Carlyle in Washington, D. C. The two of them thought they'd try their hands at ranching on the frontier out West. I lit a cigarette and finished off the whiskey.
"Hey, can I get a fill-up here?" I raised my glass up. Diana made her way over to me with a bottle of whiskey. She employed the whores in Coyote's Run, availing them to the men stopping by on their way through town. It was her way of helping draw money into her father's establishment. She poured the drink into my glass and walked away in a huff. The game finally ends and the men pick out their lady for the night, except Mitch and myself. I start to climb the stairs to my room when Diana blocks my path on the landing.
"Rex, you spend most of your time here drinking, smoking, and playing poker in this saloon and never any time with my girls. You got a woman somewhere?" I stared at her, but I knew she wasn't going to let me pass without some sort of an answer.
"Woman, what I do in my own time is my own goddamned business. I've got to get ready for another trip West so I need to get some shut-eye."
"Are you paying in another town?" She asked. I heard the slightest hint of pain in her question, if not, jealousy. I moved past her with a scoff and entered my room.
The next morning, I had a plan to gather provisions for the trip back to Calico in the next couple of days. Pierre stopped me before leaving the saloon to tell me one of the women was badly beaten the night before during an encounter with a gentleman. He knew it hadn't happened in the saloon since Desirée wasn't working here last night. He suspected it was one of the Deputy's men but, of course, that couldn't be proven and also nobody cared enough about a whore. I saddled up with the supplies and headed to the stables to load everything up in the coach. I was mucking out the horse stalls when Diana appeared behind me.
"Rex, I need to ask a favor of you." She wrung her hands together.
"It's always something, isn't it?" I wiped the sweat off my brow and stuck the pitchfork into the hay. "What is it?" I asked.
"Can you take Desirée with you to California?" She asked, pleadingly.
"What? Are you out of your mind, woman?" I balked. "One free ride for someone is one less paying passenger on a coach."
"Please, she can't stay here much longer."
"The answer is 'no' and that's final." I crossed my arms.
"Fine. I will find another way to get her across the state line, with or without your help." Upset, she turned around to leave. I sighed.
"Wait, Diana.." I shook my head before continuing, "I'll take her, but Calico is as far as I go. She'll have to find her own way after that." I had barely finished speaking before she ran up and wrapped her arms around me. "Whoa whoa, I ain't payin' for that." I laughed while pushing her away. She smiled and gave me a kiss before sauntering out of the stable.
"That one's for free." She said with a wink. I exhaled sharply and stared at the dirt.
"These are the last of the provisions for the stage. It's about 450 miles to Calico from Tucson so about nine days of travel time." I said as I handed Desirée the last bundle of food and blankets. "We've got a family from Mexico we're taking there--the man's a miner by profession. I've got just a few more things to do before we set off here." The increasing threat of bandits through the mountain pass weighed heavily on my mind, but I didn't want to worry Desirée about it--especially after her encounter with the Deputy's man. I loaded both revolvers full of bullets and made sure to pack extra for the shotgun, as well. I took one last look at the horizon to the North, where Coyote's Run lay, unsure when I'd see it again.
***
I looked at the sun and determined it was around four in the afternoon and a good enough time to stop for the night. We found a spot nestled underneath a small hill and a rock formation that seemed to look somewhat safe from bandits who may be wandering around the territory. Carlos, the miner whose family I was paid to drive to California, had started a fire. Carlos, his wife Maria, and their daughter Carmela had come to the states to start a new life for themselves. He had worked in mines his whole life and with word spreading around about the silver mine in Calico, it seemed everyone wanted a chance of getting rich. Carlos and his family seemed to fall asleep rather quickly--it doesn't take much when they're not used to traveling by stage. Desirée, on the other hand, was still wide awake well past dusk. She'd been quiet all afternoon and evening, understandably so considering she'd been beaten by a John recently. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from my provisions and sat down beside her in front of the fire. We sat in silence for a little while before she spoke up.
"Rex, this job you've got being a Whip pays quite a pretty penny, but you don't have much to show for it. You don't even own a house in Coyote's Run. How come you never pay to spend a night with any of the girls? Do you have a woman somewhere waiting for you on some far away homestead?" Her blue dress gleamed in the firelight. It was the first time I noticed her hair was down, as well; which was different to the other girls in Coyote's Run.
"...I.." I sighed and took a swig of whiskey.
"You ain't got no sweetheart, sweetheart?" She asked.
"There's nobody and it's for a reason." I replied, laying back against my duster on the ground.
"Rex, men tend to not understand matters of the heart real well. You need to find your Queen of Hearts."
"I'm not interested." I tipped the bottle up but Desirée grabbed it from me before I could taste it. She gave a laugh before taking a drink. I took the bottle back but her hand remained attached to it, causing me to inadvertently pull her closer. Her eyes flickered in the firelight, cycling through emotions. "Desirée, I .." I started, but she did not give me time to speak before lunging her face towards mine, kissing me passionately. I barely had time to react before I heard the unmistakable howl of wolves nearby. I jumped up immediately and reached for my six-guns. Carlos also jumped up and grabbed the shotgun.
"Lobos cerca." He said, looking about.
"Si, my friend." I nodded. We spread out, peering out into the dark desert for the wolves. We eventually found the beasts and shot all three of them. Carlos and I brought the carcasses back to the camp. The rest of the night was quiet.
The next morning, I awoke earlier than the others and decided to skin the wolves from the night before and make use of their bodies. I stretched out the furs on the outside of the coach, allowing for them to dry in the sun while traveling. Carlos and Maria had treated the meat with salt and packed it away in the back of the coach. Back on the trail to California, Desirée picked the seat on the bench next to me.
"Can I try it?" She asked. Steering the coach wasn't too difficult at the moment, and if there was trouble I could take back the reins. I decided it was fine to let her drive for a little while.
"We'll make a Reinsman out of you yet!" I grinned.
"A woman Reinsman, wouldn't that be somethin'!" She beamed. Later on in the day, we stopped again to wait out the night. Desirée sat a little closer to the fire as it was brisker than the night before and the wind had picked up a great deal. I went to the coach and retrieved some wolf skins that I had fashioned into tunics from a previous excursion across the land. I gave two of them to Carlos for his wife and daughter and the last one I gave to Desirée.
"Here, we don't want ya catching a cold before we get to Calico." I smirked.
"Rex Remington, you sure know how to treat a lady." She said with a wink. I laughed and opened a bottle of whiskey. I fell asleep sometime after and awoke to someone touching me. Desirée had taken something out of my shirt pocket. She was halfway around the fire, laughing hysterically, by the time I realized she had taken my chewing tobacco. I stood up and pursued her around the fire, both of us laughing until I caught up with her. I caught a glimpse of her stare in the firelight but couldn't identify its meaning.
"Here, I want to show you something." I said. I retrieved my shotgun from beside Carlos' bed and walked over behind the stagecoach.
"What are we doing over here?" She asked, holding her shoulders with her hands.
"Just watch." I said with a grin. "See that tiny rock over there?" I aimed the shotgun and fired it, knocking the rock off.
"Wowee, that was loud!" She covered her ears with her hands. I pulled her hands down from her face and looked into her eyes.
"Desirée, I want you to learn how to shoot. So as to be able to protect yourself from men like the Deputy and his gang." Her smile quickly faded from her face.
"No.." She shook her head.
"No, Desirée, listen to me." I held her head still, she continued to shake. "You need to be able to protect yourself and I am going to teach you how to shoot this gun." I loaded the gun again and handed it to her.
"I don't know anything about shooting guns, Rex."
"You have to trust me." I said. "Here stand like me and do as I do." She stood with her legs shoulder-width apart but her shoulder was too high. I stood next to her and corrected her stance. "Pull the trigger. Hard." I whispered. She fired out into the darkness. The tiny rock flew off instantly.
"Oh, wow!" She exclaimed, twirling around with a laugh.
"You just have to be patient. You'll do just fine." I smiled at her and she smiled back.
We arrived in Calico on the tenth day after setting out. I waved goodbye to Carlos and his family as they went on their way. Diana had communicated with one of Desirée's relatives in the valley who was willing to take her in.
"I really must thank you, Rex, for showing a girl like me so much kindness. It's good to know there are some men in the world with a heart of gold."
"Of course, ma'am." I tipped my hat to her. "Oh, I almost forgot." I went into the back of the coach and retrieved my shotgun and some ammunition. "This is for you."
"Oh, I couldn't take your gun." She said, pushing it away.
"It's nothing. I insist you keep it." I took her hand and placed it on top of the gun and bullets.
"You're so sweet, Rex. God's got a lucky girl in store for you whenever you figure out how to settle down." She said. I laughed. She gave me another kiss and we parted ways.
***
It was nearly a month after I had set out from Coyote's Run that I was able to return to it. I couldn't wait to put my feet up and have a bath. I walked through the doors of Rose's Bloom saloon, extremely grateful to be back in town and ready for a drink. Before me, I saw Deputy Hodges and three of his men standing behind the bar engaged in what looked like a suspicious conversation with Pierre.
"You're gonna give it to me and you're gonna give it to me, now!" Deputy Hodges yelled out, slamming his fist down on the bar. My sudden arrival interrupted their quarrel and all attention turned to me. The Deputy's men drew their guns as I drew both of mine.
"Hey! Not in the saloon!" Pierre yelled. Deputy Hodges grabbed Pierre by the collar and flung him backwards against his register.
"I'll be back!" The Deputy threatened, his face turning red. The four of them shuffled out while still fixating their guns on me.
"Pierre, what the hell was that?" I asked, rushing over to him. He straightened his collar and then fixed himself a drink in a glass before abandoning the glass to drink out of the bottle instead.
"Deputy Hodges has been asking for money for 'protection'." He said finally, between swigs of alcohol. "I don't have enough for this week and we all know how he gets if he doesn't get what he wants." He sighed, loosening the collar on his shirt.
"Well, we're not going to find out." I said, turning around to leave.
"Not going to find out what?" Diana appeared at the top of the stairwell. I continued walking out of the saloon. She walked up behind me just outside the doors. I felt her hand on my shoulder as I lit up a cigarette, staring out at the dusty street.
"I've got things to do." I stepped away from her touch and mounted my horse.
"You and Desirée..?" She began, unable to finish what she was asking. I glanced away from her and rode off without saying a word.
I was in the stable, tending to the horses when I heard fast footsteps coming towards me from outside--it was Mitch Kirkpatrick and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Quick, come see." He said, struggling between words and trying to catch his breath. I grabbed my gun belt and accompanied him to the house of Ted James. Roy Abernathy stood solemnly at the front door, which was wide open, with his hat over his chest. He shook his head in a devastating manner. The three of us walked inside the house to the body of Ted James lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
"He had told me Deputy Hodges was askin' him for money, but he couldn't pay. This is what they did to him." Said Roy.
"Goddamn that Deputy!" I yelled, punching a nearby post.
"We have to do somethin', this ain't right. The Sheriff is fixin' to come to town soon and we ought to bring it up with him." Said Roy.
"That's not swift justice and there's no guarantee the Sheriff will do anything about it. I reckon we confront the Deputy on our own--we have to look after ourselves and our town." Said Mitch, pulling his revolver out of its holster. "Gunslingers don't retire, they die". He bared his teeth with a crazy grin.
The next night, the three of us gathered inside Rose's Bloom and prepared to meet the Deputy.
"Daphne begged me not to come. Said she wished I had left that life behind me." Said Mitch, loading his revolver.
"I don't want any trouble in my saloon, gentlemen." Warned Pierre. "You keep all this business outside these walls, ya hear?"
"Yeah, we hear." I said, spinning the chamber of my gun. Mitch, Roy, and myself made our way to the Sheriff's station on the other end of town. Two of the Deputy's men were standing on either side of the door.
"You got business with the Deputy, gentlemen?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, why don't he come out here and face us like a man." Said Mitch, squaring his stance. The two henchmen laughed, their gold teeth shining from their dirty mouths.
"The Deputy ain't here, boys." The other one laughed. "He's out collectin' on the taxes for this week."
"Well, when he gets back, you best tell him we've had enough of his pilferin' the townsfolk. He knows where to find us." Said Roy. The three of us walked away feeling defeated, but resolute in our cause. Mitch and Roy walked back to their homes and I made my way back to the saloon. As I stepped onto the porch of the establishment, I heard a blood-curdling scream from within. I ran inside, guns drawn, looking about. Pierre was held at gunpoint by one of the Deputy's men in the far corner.
"Don't shoot!" Pierre pleaded. A clatter and crying could be heard from the upper level. Deputy Hodges emerged from one of the rooms, fastening his trousers and looking the most smug I had ever seen him.
"You see, Mr Rose, there are consequences for not giving me what I want. Eventually, I will always come out on top." He gave a greasy grin as he descended the stairs. "That bitch of a whore wouldn't stop squirming, but if you don't have my money next week...She'll learn to accept the inevitable." He and his man cackled as they exited the saloon. Pierre and I ran up the stairs to see Diana curled up in her bed, her dress torn and her hair falling down. She sobbed. My hands tightened on the grip of my guns and my jaw clenched.
"Diana, I am so sorry." Pierre held his daughter in his arms. "Rex.." He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. Mitch, Roy, and myself had a few more meetings about our plan to confront the Deputy about his terrorizing ways. We agreed it would be best to move when he was not surrounded by his men; four against three was pretty good odds even with Mitch being a former professional gunslinger, but it was not without incredible risk. Roy had already recruited a few more townsfolk to our cause, increasing our numbers twofold.
Late one evening, I arrived at the mercantile for some supplies and happened upon Deputy Hodges threatening Mr Oleson. The Deputy, outnumbered this time, ran out into the street with me chasing after him. I fired my guns at him and he fired his at me. I felt a hot, stinging pain in my left shoulder and fell to the ground immediately, unable to stand back up.
"You think you can take me out? Know your place, boy!" The Deputy shouted, running away. The pain in my shoulder seared and my vision began to darken. I could barely make out shapes of people approaching me as I lay in the street. Pierre and Diana dragged me inside the saloon and laid me out on the bar. Through flashes in my vision, I could make out Pierre looking for something in his alcohol cabinet as Diana attempted to pull back my vest and shirt to examine the gunshot wound.
"Rex.." She started, running her hand over my shoulder and down toward my chest. Under layers of clothing, she discovered a physical attribute on me she herself had shared.
"Shhhh.." I whispered weakly, bringing a finger up to my lips. "Please.." I begged.
"You don't worry about a thing now, hon." Diana's voice was the last thing I heard before blacking out.
***
"This man is my patient and he needs medical attention immediately! Your custody can wait." Doc Whittaker had been arguing with someone on the other side of the clinic curtain. Suddenly, the curtain was drawn back and I could see both the doctor and Deputy Hodges staring back at me.
"I'm taking you to calaboose!" The Deputy said, pointing an angry finger at me. I attempted to sit up in the bed, but a sharp pain in my shoulder had prevented any movement.
"No no no no no, don't get up, son." The Doc waved his hands before turning to the Deputy. "You. Out." My hand reached up to where the bullet entered, finding a square of cotton soaked in blood.
"How long was I out, Doc?" I asked, my fingers feeling the fibers.
"Only a few hours. You're lucky Rose and his daughter came to me when they did." He walked over with what looked like a pair of silver scissors and other things I couldn't identify. "Good news, son, the bullet passed through so you should make a full recovery. Now, I would strongly recommend you cease any stagecoach trips for the time being. Oh, and also.." He sighed. "The Deputy is charging you with attempted murder." He pulled off the cotton square and soaked a new one in some sort of tonic.
"That's only cause I missed." I said, defiantly. The soaked cotton stung worse than the bullet.
"Yes, well, I don't want to get mixed up in whatever it is you've got going on between the two of you, but he's got a mind to throw you in jail after I've stitched you up here."
"Great.." I winced under the pain of the needle. "Give me some whiskey, damn it!" I demanded through gritted teeth.
"Do you only drink whiskey?" Doc Whittaker tied off the thread with the scissors. "I've got a salve here that needs to be applied to your wounds to prevent infection. No alcohol for you until you're healed up."
The Deputy had his men transport me to the jail sometime later, I guess the coward couldn't do it himself. I sat in the cell, listening to the drops of water collecting in a pool in the corner. I was resigning myself to the fate of rotting away in this damp, musty jail when Diana appeared before me. I stood up from the bunk and moved toward the bars.
"I bribed the guard to let me in." She breathed, looking around paranoidly. "I have to tell you something, Rex." She said in a hushed tone. I leaned in closer, my hands just inches away from hers on the cold metal separating us. "I.." She hesitated. "I'm pregnant." She said, finally. Her eyes cast downward and I could see the tears streaming down her face. The humiliation and shame she had felt was written all over her and there was nothing I could do about it. Over the next several days, I sat in my cell silently plotting against Deputy Hodges. The extortion of the town--even the murder of Ted James--was deplorable enough but the violation of Diana and jeopardizing her livelihood was enough to send me over the edge. I waited.
One day, the door to the jail flung wide open and a portly man stood before me, fiddling with a ring of keys. He opened my cell and stood off to the side of the door.
"Rex Remington, you're a free man." He said with subdued exuberance.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked, holding onto my shoulder as I walked out of the cell.
"My name is Billy Bratt and I'm the Sheriff of this territory. A couple of fellers greeted me on my way into town to inform me of the actions of Deputy Hodges. In light of the situation, I've decided to pardon you. Now get the hell out of my jail." Sheriff Bratt shook his head at me as I passed by him. I immediately made my way over to the saloon as I desperately needed a bath and a good night's rest. I stepped inside and found Roy and Mitch talking with Pierre. All three of them stood up upon my entrance.
"Rex, it's good to have you back among the civilians." Said Roy. Mitch tipped his hat in agreement.
"I believe a bath has been drawn for you in your room. I wouldn't tarry." Added Pierre, with a knowing look. I shook off the bewilderment by what he said as I didn't quite understand what it meant. I climbed the stairs and reached the door to my usual room. Upon opening the door, I was surprised to see Diana sitting next to the full bathtub. The room lit only by a singular candle. I stopped suddenly, unable to move any further.
"Come on in, I won't bite ya. Hard." She smirked. I remained frozen in place at the threshold.
"Um." I cleared my throat. "Thank you for the bath, I greatly appreciate it, ma'am." I did not move still. She sat there for a little while longer before breaking the silence.
"Rex, come in here. Don't be standing in the door like that." She beckoned me inside with her hands. I looked at the door, back at her, then back at the door again. After another awkward hesitant moment, I closed the door behind me. Once I turned around, Diana was right there.
"I.." I started.
"It's ok, Rex." She whispered, reaching for my hands.
"The Sheriff-"
"Yes, Rex."
"The Deputy-"
"Yes, Rex."
"You-"
"Yes, Rex."
"I need a bath." I breathed heavily. Diana looked me up and down before responding.
"Yes, Rex." I let her lead me over to the bathtub, the steamy vapors rising in the air.
"I've never been bathed by someone else before."
"Is that what you want?" She asked.
"No. Yes. I don't know." My mind was going in circles around a million thoughts. It seemed she was fine with what she had discovered about me, but I still couldn't be quite sure. "Is this ok?" I asked, unsure what I was actually asking.
"Honey, I've seen so many different bodies in my line of work. Yours certainly wouldn't be the first." Sitting next to the tub, she looked down at the water and ran her fingers through back and forth. I sighed greatly and began removing my vest and shirt. Both had been torn and bled through that night I had been shot. After removing my trousers and underwear, I placed a hand in the water. Diana looked up at me and I could see her eyes reconcile what she was seeing before her. Indeed, it felt like I was being seen for being me for the first time in my life. I stepped into the hot water, each passing second feeling better than the last. I relaxed my shoulders and tilted my head back. The last few weeks had been rough, but it felt worth it just for this moment. I was incredibly grateful to Pierre and Diana as their quick actions had saved my life. "Soap?" Her question snapped me back to reality.
"Hm?"
"Are you ready for the soap?" She asked.
"Ah, sure. Yes, yes. Please, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am." I stammered. She let out an amused laugh before leaning in close.
"Mr Remington, is this your first time being alone with a lady?" She winked. "I don't care what you have or don't have. There are instruments nowadays that...aid in that sort of thing." She ran the sponge up my right arm and across the back of my shoulders. I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes. The sponge made its way toward my left shoulder, captained by her hand. I opened my eyes and looked down at the wound. The weeks I spent in the jail cell had allowed it time to mostly recover.
"Doc Whittaker said I need to stretch it out so it doesn't go stiff. No telling when I'd be able to drive the stagecoach again." The sponge began a descent down my chest. I looked up at Diana, she looked at me. I lifted my hand up to the front of her dress, tracing the seams with my fingertips. My other hand found its way to her cheek and she leaned into the touch. The sponge reached further down still, causing her face to become close to mine. I could feel her ragged breath on my neck.
"Rex.." She whispered. I kissed her and she returned the passion tenfold.
The next morning, I woke up after dawn. Remembering the night before, I rolled over to see Diana sleeping soundly next to me. The look of her in that moment would put the sun itself to shame. I kissed her forehead and she opened her eyes.
"Good morning, darlin'" I said, softly.
"Good morning, Ace." She smiled sweetly.
"Oh? I'm 'Ace' now, huh?" I smiled back.
"You're my Ace of Hearts: one of a kind." She winked. There was a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" I called.
"Rex, could you meet me downstairs, please?" It was Pierre and he sounded worried. I got dressed and walked down the stairs. Two of the Deputy's men were sitting the bar, looking smug. Just then, Deputy Hodges walked in with a stride larger than Texas itself. I placed one hand on each of my guns and clenched my jaw.
"I'm going to have to make an example out of you." The veins in his neck popped out as his face became red with fury.
"Gentlemen, you're gonna have to take this outside." Pierre demanded.
"Oh, I intend to." Said the Deputy, without removing his gaze on me. As soon as we were off the porch of the saloon, Deputy Hodges turned around and a greasy smile grew upon his face.
"I can see why Diana is the boss of the rest of the whores in town--she's the best lay around and I'd do it again." The man fell backward into the dusty street after my right hook connected with his rubbery face and drew the attention of everyone around.
"He fell." I shrugged. He scrambled to his feet, aided by his goons, his face redder than ever and covered in blood.
"I'll kill you for that, you scoundrel!" He shrieked, being held back and stifling a sniffle.
"I doubt it." I retorted, drawing my gun and firing a straight shot right through his chest. His body fell back to the ground without any further beat from his heart. "He fell again." I holstered the gun.
"You're not going to get away with this, you know! The Deputy was a powerful man!" Said one of the goons as they dragged the lifeless body of the former Deputy across the street to the Sheriff's station. Roy and Mitch arrived next to me with astounded looks on their faces.
"What happened?" Asked Roy.
"I shot the Deputy." I said.
A few days later, I was mucking out the horse stall in the stable when a young boy ran into the barn.
"Come quick, Rose's saloon is on fire!" He said, panicked. I dropped the pitchfork and ran. Coming out of the clearing and toward the center of town, I spotted very tall tower of black smoke and my heart dropped to my stomach. I spotted Pierre, who was covered in soot, crouching over two women who lay in the dirt. I ran over to him and recognized the women as Holly and Francesca, two of Diana's ladies. Both of them breathing, but unconscious.
"Where's Diana?" I asked, catching my breath, and fearing the worst.
"She's over by that tree. I couldn't save the others." He shook his head. I looked over at the old oak adjacent to the saloon and saw her knelt down next to it. I made my way over to her, her heartbreaking screams increasing in volume as I got closer.
"Hey.." I crouched down next to her, she grabbed ahold of my arm and sobbed deeply.
"They're gone. It's all gone. Bessie-Anne, Big Sal, and Kitty. They didn't make it out. My father tried." She buried her face into me, the smell of the fire lingering. Pierre appeared next to us.
"Rex, I've come to a decision. This town ain't safe so I'm going back to Philadelphia." His face changing into a grimace.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to take Diana with me to Calico. Leave Coyote's Run behind."
"If that's what she wishes, I give you my blessing." He nodded.
"Diana?" I asked. She stood up and composed herself, brushing off the dirt from her dress.
"I'd love to." She placed her hand inside mine.
"Rex Remington, you're the best man I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I've no doubt in my mind you will look after my daughter as well as, if not better, than I ever could." He nodded and patted my shoulder before walking back toward Holly and Francesca.
I tightened the reins on the horses while Diana placed the last pack of provisions in the coach. Coyote's Run had been a nice place to stay between runs, but while the Deputy still had some semblance of an influence, it was not a good idea to stick around. We climbed onto the bench and I handed her my shotgun.
"Why are you giving this to me?" She asked, puzzled.
"You're riding shotgun. So," I nodded toward the gun. "Shotgun."
"But I don't have the faintest idea how to shoot."
"Oh, you will." I pulled the reins to get the horses in line. "Buck, Sebastian, Big Ben, Branson, Luke, and Cash! Ya!" We took off in a jolt toward the West.
We stopped in a low valley for the night and started a campfire. I gave Diana my duster to wear to protect against the unforgiving desert air.
"Come on over here, darlin'." I waved her over behind a large rock, holding the shotgun. I struck the ground with a wayward stick and sat a pebble on top. "Now, I'll demonstrate how to shoot, then I want you to do it." I shot the pebble off the top of the stick and showed her how to load the ammunition. "It's all yours." She stood where I had and aimed the gun, pulling the trigger. The pebble immediately disappeared
"Oh wow, that's a mighty powerful gun." She said with a huge smile.
"Ah, that was very good; you're a natural."
"Ya think?"
"Definitely." We returned to the camp and had some jerky and then I opened a bottle of whiskey. I sat deep in thought, staring at the dancing flames of the fire.
"Diana, marry me."
"Oh, Rex! Of course, I'll marry you!" She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me before taking the bottle from my hand. "That means you have to bring the whiskey to me." She quipped, with a mischievous grin.
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded. We resumed the trail early enough before the heat set in. After several hours of a clear day, I spotted something off in the distance ahead of us.
"Ohh, no. Get that gun ready--we're gonna have company."
"Company? What do you see?" She gripped the gun tightly.
"Bandits." I said, furrowing my brow. A group of four men riding horses drew closer to us and began firing upon the coach. "Shoot 'em!" I ordered. The team of horses ran wildly during the commotion and I strained to keep them in line. Diana fired a shot at one of the bandits' horses, hitting it in the hindquarters. The horse reared unexpectedly, knocking its rider off and trampling over him.
"Lucky shot!" Diana exclaimed. Several of their bullets hit the coach itself, scaring the horses yet again.
"Ya!" I yelled. She aimed at another and missed. Then a bullet hit one of the wheels and the coach pulled sharply to the right, leading us right over a cactus bush. I could hear the damaged wheel creaking as it rotated over the rough terrain. Three of them were still on us and I knew I had to do something. I put all of the reins in my left hand and wrapped the straps around my wrist, and pulled out my gun. We continued shooting at the bandits, injuring two more.
"We're out of ammunition!" She loaded the last shell into the shotgun.
"Make it count!" I pulled hard on the reins, struggling to keep the frightened horses running straight. The remaining bandit rode closer to the horses in what I knew was an attempt to stop the entire stagecoach. She fired and missed. The bandit aimed behind him toward the coach and fired. The creaking wheel busted into a million tiny splinters, forcing the coach to crash into the cactus around us. Four of the horses were trampled underneath and we were immediately stopped in our tracks. The bandit circled back toward us and I could barely make out his shape through the dust cloud. I fired the six-guns at him, emptying both cylinders into his chest. Diana gasped, still clutching the shotgun. The bandit's horse ran off into the distance.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"I'm fine. What are we gonna do now?"
"We're gonna grab what we can and finish the stage on horseback." I loaded all the guns with what was left of the ammunition and inspected the two remaining horses. Cash had been shot in the leg and was also in a lather. I pulled Buck away from him and then put the injured pony out of his misery. We mounted up and headed straight for Calico.
***
We were married in the Calico chapel a week later with Desirée in attendance. It was nice for the girls to catch up with each other after having to leave Coyote's Run. The two of them would stay in touch, having weekly visits. We'd used the money I had saved as a stagecoach Whip and bought a ranch close to town, raising cattle. Six months later, Diana gave birth to a boy, Rufus Remington. She often wrote to her father back in Philadelphia and he had plans to come out and visit us on the ranch and to see his grandson. I sat in my rocking chair, facing the West, as the sun sank into the horizon. Diana emerged from the house and leaned against a porch beam.
"There she is." I said.
"Hm?" She raised an eyebrow.
"The Queen of the Calico Mountains." I grinned.
AJ Edwards
I stepped inside the Rose's Bloom saloon in Coyote's Run and hawked out a gob of tobacco in the corner spitoon before hanging up my duster on the wall. Brett was playing a tune on the piano while Big Sal sat next to him on the bench, one of her hands turning the pages of his music and the other wafting a fan in an attempt to cool her from the Arizona heat. They called her 'Big Sal' due to the fact she was taller than the rest of the whores in town. Some men have been known to jeer in her direction, but she still generated enough of an income. The rest of the ladies were sitting on the stairwell leading up to the rooms, waiting for the men to retire from their poker game.
"Gentlemen." I nodded as I passed by their table on my way to the bar.
"Why if it isn't Rex Remington, scourge of West." Pierre Rose cackled while setting a glass down on the bar.
"Nah, give me a clean one, Rose." I pushed the glass back toward him. He gave a hearty chuckle before picking up a freshly washed glass, filling it halfway with whiskey.
"I hear you've got yourself quite the business now, running a stagecoach from here all the way to California. Lots of bandits hiding out in those mountains."
"Yeah, it's not too bad if I keep a keen eye out." I took a sip of the whiskey and turned around to see Diana, Rose's daughter, sitting on a stool at the end of the bar. "Ma'am." I tipped my hat to her then walked over to join in the poker game. "Twenty bucks, deal me in."
"Goddamn, Rex, you're fixin' to clean out us out again, I know it." Ted James tossed the cards toward me. Ted was the kind of man who complained but still got the job done in the end. I took another sip of whiskey.
"Y'know, I heard the Sheriff is coming to town any day now to collect on them taxes and to see what the Deputy's been up to. I reckon he ain't gonna like what he's bound to find." Said Mitch Kirkpatrick. Mitch used to be a hired gun in another state until he met Daphne Carlyle in Washington, D. C. The two of them thought they'd try their hands at ranching on the frontier out West. I lit a cigarette and finished off the whiskey.
"Hey, can I get a fill-up here?" I raised my glass up. Diana made her way over to me with a bottle of whiskey. She employed the whores in Coyote's Run, availing them to the men stopping by on their way through town. It was her way of helping draw money into her father's establishment. She poured the drink into my glass and walked away in a huff. The game finally ends and the men pick out their lady for the night, except Mitch and myself. I start to climb the stairs to my room when Diana blocks my path on the landing.
"Rex, you spend most of your time here drinking, smoking, and playing poker in this saloon and never any time with my girls. You got a woman somewhere?" I stared at her, but I knew she wasn't going to let me pass without some sort of an answer.
"Woman, what I do in my own time is my own goddamned business. I've got to get ready for another trip West so I need to get some shut-eye."
"Are you paying in another town?" She asked. I heard the slightest hint of pain in her question, if not, jealousy. I moved past her with a scoff and entered my room.
The next morning, I had a plan to gather provisions for the trip back to Calico in the next couple of days. Pierre stopped me before leaving the saloon to tell me one of the women was badly beaten the night before during an encounter with a gentleman. He knew it hadn't happened in the saloon since Desirée wasn't working here last night. He suspected it was one of the Deputy's men but, of course, that couldn't be proven and also nobody cared enough about a whore. I saddled up with the supplies and headed to the stables to load everything up in the coach. I was mucking out the horse stalls when Diana appeared behind me.
"Rex, I need to ask a favor of you." She wrung her hands together.
"It's always something, isn't it?" I wiped the sweat off my brow and stuck the pitchfork into the hay. "What is it?" I asked.
"Can you take Desirée with you to California?" She asked, pleadingly.
"What? Are you out of your mind, woman?" I balked. "One free ride for someone is one less paying passenger on a coach."
"Please, she can't stay here much longer."
"The answer is 'no' and that's final." I crossed my arms.
"Fine. I will find another way to get her across the state line, with or without your help." Upset, she turned around to leave. I sighed.
"Wait, Diana.." I shook my head before continuing, "I'll take her, but Calico is as far as I go. She'll have to find her own way after that." I had barely finished speaking before she ran up and wrapped her arms around me. "Whoa whoa, I ain't payin' for that." I laughed while pushing her away. She smiled and gave me a kiss before sauntering out of the stable.
"That one's for free." She said with a wink. I exhaled sharply and stared at the dirt.
"These are the last of the provisions for the stage. It's about 450 miles to Calico from Tucson so about nine days of travel time." I said as I handed Desirée the last bundle of food and blankets. "We've got a family from Mexico we're taking there--the man's a miner by profession. I've got just a few more things to do before we set off here." The increasing threat of bandits through the mountain pass weighed heavily on my mind, but I didn't want to worry Desirée about it--especially after her encounter with the Deputy's man. I loaded both revolvers full of bullets and made sure to pack extra for the shotgun, as well. I took one last look at the horizon to the North, where Coyote's Run lay, unsure when I'd see it again.
***
I looked at the sun and determined it was around four in the afternoon and a good enough time to stop for the night. We found a spot nestled underneath a small hill and a rock formation that seemed to look somewhat safe from bandits who may be wandering around the territory. Carlos, the miner whose family I was paid to drive to California, had started a fire. Carlos, his wife Maria, and their daughter Carmela had come to the states to start a new life for themselves. He had worked in mines his whole life and with word spreading around about the silver mine in Calico, it seemed everyone wanted a chance of getting rich. Carlos and his family seemed to fall asleep rather quickly--it doesn't take much when they're not used to traveling by stage. Desirée, on the other hand, was still wide awake well past dusk. She'd been quiet all afternoon and evening, understandably so considering she'd been beaten by a John recently. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from my provisions and sat down beside her in front of the fire. We sat in silence for a little while before she spoke up.
"Rex, this job you've got being a Whip pays quite a pretty penny, but you don't have much to show for it. You don't even own a house in Coyote's Run. How come you never pay to spend a night with any of the girls? Do you have a woman somewhere waiting for you on some far away homestead?" Her blue dress gleamed in the firelight. It was the first time I noticed her hair was down, as well; which was different to the other girls in Coyote's Run.
"...I.." I sighed and took a swig of whiskey.
"You ain't got no sweetheart, sweetheart?" She asked.
"There's nobody and it's for a reason." I replied, laying back against my duster on the ground.
"Rex, men tend to not understand matters of the heart real well. You need to find your Queen of Hearts."
"I'm not interested." I tipped the bottle up but Desirée grabbed it from me before I could taste it. She gave a laugh before taking a drink. I took the bottle back but her hand remained attached to it, causing me to inadvertently pull her closer. Her eyes flickered in the firelight, cycling through emotions. "Desirée, I .." I started, but she did not give me time to speak before lunging her face towards mine, kissing me passionately. I barely had time to react before I heard the unmistakable howl of wolves nearby. I jumped up immediately and reached for my six-guns. Carlos also jumped up and grabbed the shotgun.
"Lobos cerca." He said, looking about.
"Si, my friend." I nodded. We spread out, peering out into the dark desert for the wolves. We eventually found the beasts and shot all three of them. Carlos and I brought the carcasses back to the camp. The rest of the night was quiet.
The next morning, I awoke earlier than the others and decided to skin the wolves from the night before and make use of their bodies. I stretched out the furs on the outside of the coach, allowing for them to dry in the sun while traveling. Carlos and Maria had treated the meat with salt and packed it away in the back of the coach. Back on the trail to California, Desirée picked the seat on the bench next to me.
"Can I try it?" She asked. Steering the coach wasn't too difficult at the moment, and if there was trouble I could take back the reins. I decided it was fine to let her drive for a little while.
"We'll make a Reinsman out of you yet!" I grinned.
"A woman Reinsman, wouldn't that be somethin'!" She beamed. Later on in the day, we stopped again to wait out the night. Desirée sat a little closer to the fire as it was brisker than the night before and the wind had picked up a great deal. I went to the coach and retrieved some wolf skins that I had fashioned into tunics from a previous excursion across the land. I gave two of them to Carlos for his wife and daughter and the last one I gave to Desirée.
"Here, we don't want ya catching a cold before we get to Calico." I smirked.
"Rex Remington, you sure know how to treat a lady." She said with a wink. I laughed and opened a bottle of whiskey. I fell asleep sometime after and awoke to someone touching me. Desirée had taken something out of my shirt pocket. She was halfway around the fire, laughing hysterically, by the time I realized she had taken my chewing tobacco. I stood up and pursued her around the fire, both of us laughing until I caught up with her. I caught a glimpse of her stare in the firelight but couldn't identify its meaning.
"Here, I want to show you something." I said. I retrieved my shotgun from beside Carlos' bed and walked over behind the stagecoach.
"What are we doing over here?" She asked, holding her shoulders with her hands.
"Just watch." I said with a grin. "See that tiny rock over there?" I aimed the shotgun and fired it, knocking the rock off.
"Wowee, that was loud!" She covered her ears with her hands. I pulled her hands down from her face and looked into her eyes.
"Desirée, I want you to learn how to shoot. So as to be able to protect yourself from men like the Deputy and his gang." Her smile quickly faded from her face.
"No.." She shook her head.
"No, Desirée, listen to me." I held her head still, she continued to shake. "You need to be able to protect yourself and I am going to teach you how to shoot this gun." I loaded the gun again and handed it to her.
"I don't know anything about shooting guns, Rex."
"You have to trust me." I said. "Here stand like me and do as I do." She stood with her legs shoulder-width apart but her shoulder was too high. I stood next to her and corrected her stance. "Pull the trigger. Hard." I whispered. She fired out into the darkness. The tiny rock flew off instantly.
"Oh, wow!" She exclaimed, twirling around with a laugh.
"You just have to be patient. You'll do just fine." I smiled at her and she smiled back.
We arrived in Calico on the tenth day after setting out. I waved goodbye to Carlos and his family as they went on their way. Diana had communicated with one of Desirée's relatives in the valley who was willing to take her in.
"I really must thank you, Rex, for showing a girl like me so much kindness. It's good to know there are some men in the world with a heart of gold."
"Of course, ma'am." I tipped my hat to her. "Oh, I almost forgot." I went into the back of the coach and retrieved my shotgun and some ammunition. "This is for you."
"Oh, I couldn't take your gun." She said, pushing it away.
"It's nothing. I insist you keep it." I took her hand and placed it on top of the gun and bullets.
"You're so sweet, Rex. God's got a lucky girl in store for you whenever you figure out how to settle down." She said. I laughed. She gave me another kiss and we parted ways.
***
It was nearly a month after I had set out from Coyote's Run that I was able to return to it. I couldn't wait to put my feet up and have a bath. I walked through the doors of Rose's Bloom saloon, extremely grateful to be back in town and ready for a drink. Before me, I saw Deputy Hodges and three of his men standing behind the bar engaged in what looked like a suspicious conversation with Pierre.
"You're gonna give it to me and you're gonna give it to me, now!" Deputy Hodges yelled out, slamming his fist down on the bar. My sudden arrival interrupted their quarrel and all attention turned to me. The Deputy's men drew their guns as I drew both of mine.
"Hey! Not in the saloon!" Pierre yelled. Deputy Hodges grabbed Pierre by the collar and flung him backwards against his register.
"I'll be back!" The Deputy threatened, his face turning red. The four of them shuffled out while still fixating their guns on me.
"Pierre, what the hell was that?" I asked, rushing over to him. He straightened his collar and then fixed himself a drink in a glass before abandoning the glass to drink out of the bottle instead.
"Deputy Hodges has been asking for money for 'protection'." He said finally, between swigs of alcohol. "I don't have enough for this week and we all know how he gets if he doesn't get what he wants." He sighed, loosening the collar on his shirt.
"Well, we're not going to find out." I said, turning around to leave.
"Not going to find out what?" Diana appeared at the top of the stairwell. I continued walking out of the saloon. She walked up behind me just outside the doors. I felt her hand on my shoulder as I lit up a cigarette, staring out at the dusty street.
"I've got things to do." I stepped away from her touch and mounted my horse.
"You and Desirée..?" She began, unable to finish what she was asking. I glanced away from her and rode off without saying a word.
I was in the stable, tending to the horses when I heard fast footsteps coming towards me from outside--it was Mitch Kirkpatrick and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Quick, come see." He said, struggling between words and trying to catch his breath. I grabbed my gun belt and accompanied him to the house of Ted James. Roy Abernathy stood solemnly at the front door, which was wide open, with his hat over his chest. He shook his head in a devastating manner. The three of us walked inside the house to the body of Ted James lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
"He had told me Deputy Hodges was askin' him for money, but he couldn't pay. This is what they did to him." Said Roy.
"Goddamn that Deputy!" I yelled, punching a nearby post.
"We have to do somethin', this ain't right. The Sheriff is fixin' to come to town soon and we ought to bring it up with him." Said Roy.
"That's not swift justice and there's no guarantee the Sheriff will do anything about it. I reckon we confront the Deputy on our own--we have to look after ourselves and our town." Said Mitch, pulling his revolver out of its holster. "Gunslingers don't retire, they die". He bared his teeth with a crazy grin.
The next night, the three of us gathered inside Rose's Bloom and prepared to meet the Deputy.
"Daphne begged me not to come. Said she wished I had left that life behind me." Said Mitch, loading his revolver.
"I don't want any trouble in my saloon, gentlemen." Warned Pierre. "You keep all this business outside these walls, ya hear?"
"Yeah, we hear." I said, spinning the chamber of my gun. Mitch, Roy, and myself made our way to the Sheriff's station on the other end of town. Two of the Deputy's men were standing on either side of the door.
"You got business with the Deputy, gentlemen?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, why don't he come out here and face us like a man." Said Mitch, squaring his stance. The two henchmen laughed, their gold teeth shining from their dirty mouths.
"The Deputy ain't here, boys." The other one laughed. "He's out collectin' on the taxes for this week."
"Well, when he gets back, you best tell him we've had enough of his pilferin' the townsfolk. He knows where to find us." Said Roy. The three of us walked away feeling defeated, but resolute in our cause. Mitch and Roy walked back to their homes and I made my way back to the saloon. As I stepped onto the porch of the establishment, I heard a blood-curdling scream from within. I ran inside, guns drawn, looking about. Pierre was held at gunpoint by one of the Deputy's men in the far corner.
"Don't shoot!" Pierre pleaded. A clatter and crying could be heard from the upper level. Deputy Hodges emerged from one of the rooms, fastening his trousers and looking the most smug I had ever seen him.
"You see, Mr Rose, there are consequences for not giving me what I want. Eventually, I will always come out on top." He gave a greasy grin as he descended the stairs. "That bitch of a whore wouldn't stop squirming, but if you don't have my money next week...She'll learn to accept the inevitable." He and his man cackled as they exited the saloon. Pierre and I ran up the stairs to see Diana curled up in her bed, her dress torn and her hair falling down. She sobbed. My hands tightened on the grip of my guns and my jaw clenched.
"Diana, I am so sorry." Pierre held his daughter in his arms. "Rex.." He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. Mitch, Roy, and myself had a few more meetings about our plan to confront the Deputy about his terrorizing ways. We agreed it would be best to move when he was not surrounded by his men; four against three was pretty good odds even with Mitch being a former professional gunslinger, but it was not without incredible risk. Roy had already recruited a few more townsfolk to our cause, increasing our numbers twofold.
Late one evening, I arrived at the mercantile for some supplies and happened upon Deputy Hodges threatening Mr Oleson. The Deputy, outnumbered this time, ran out into the street with me chasing after him. I fired my guns at him and he fired his at me. I felt a hot, stinging pain in my left shoulder and fell to the ground immediately, unable to stand back up.
"You think you can take me out? Know your place, boy!" The Deputy shouted, running away. The pain in my shoulder seared and my vision began to darken. I could barely make out shapes of people approaching me as I lay in the street. Pierre and Diana dragged me inside the saloon and laid me out on the bar. Through flashes in my vision, I could make out Pierre looking for something in his alcohol cabinet as Diana attempted to pull back my vest and shirt to examine the gunshot wound.
"Rex.." She started, running her hand over my shoulder and down toward my chest. Under layers of clothing, she discovered a physical attribute on me she herself had shared.
"Shhhh.." I whispered weakly, bringing a finger up to my lips. "Please.." I begged.
"You don't worry about a thing now, hon." Diana's voice was the last thing I heard before blacking out.
***
"This man is my patient and he needs medical attention immediately! Your custody can wait." Doc Whittaker had been arguing with someone on the other side of the clinic curtain. Suddenly, the curtain was drawn back and I could see both the doctor and Deputy Hodges staring back at me.
"I'm taking you to calaboose!" The Deputy said, pointing an angry finger at me. I attempted to sit up in the bed, but a sharp pain in my shoulder had prevented any movement.
"No no no no no, don't get up, son." The Doc waved his hands before turning to the Deputy. "You. Out." My hand reached up to where the bullet entered, finding a square of cotton soaked in blood.
"How long was I out, Doc?" I asked, my fingers feeling the fibers.
"Only a few hours. You're lucky Rose and his daughter came to me when they did." He walked over with what looked like a pair of silver scissors and other things I couldn't identify. "Good news, son, the bullet passed through so you should make a full recovery. Now, I would strongly recommend you cease any stagecoach trips for the time being. Oh, and also.." He sighed. "The Deputy is charging you with attempted murder." He pulled off the cotton square and soaked a new one in some sort of tonic.
"That's only cause I missed." I said, defiantly. The soaked cotton stung worse than the bullet.
"Yes, well, I don't want to get mixed up in whatever it is you've got going on between the two of you, but he's got a mind to throw you in jail after I've stitched you up here."
"Great.." I winced under the pain of the needle. "Give me some whiskey, damn it!" I demanded through gritted teeth.
"Do you only drink whiskey?" Doc Whittaker tied off the thread with the scissors. "I've got a salve here that needs to be applied to your wounds to prevent infection. No alcohol for you until you're healed up."
The Deputy had his men transport me to the jail sometime later, I guess the coward couldn't do it himself. I sat in the cell, listening to the drops of water collecting in a pool in the corner. I was resigning myself to the fate of rotting away in this damp, musty jail when Diana appeared before me. I stood up from the bunk and moved toward the bars.
"I bribed the guard to let me in." She breathed, looking around paranoidly. "I have to tell you something, Rex." She said in a hushed tone. I leaned in closer, my hands just inches away from hers on the cold metal separating us. "I.." She hesitated. "I'm pregnant." She said, finally. Her eyes cast downward and I could see the tears streaming down her face. The humiliation and shame she had felt was written all over her and there was nothing I could do about it. Over the next several days, I sat in my cell silently plotting against Deputy Hodges. The extortion of the town--even the murder of Ted James--was deplorable enough but the violation of Diana and jeopardizing her livelihood was enough to send me over the edge. I waited.
One day, the door to the jail flung wide open and a portly man stood before me, fiddling with a ring of keys. He opened my cell and stood off to the side of the door.
"Rex Remington, you're a free man." He said with subdued exuberance.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked, holding onto my shoulder as I walked out of the cell.
"My name is Billy Bratt and I'm the Sheriff of this territory. A couple of fellers greeted me on my way into town to inform me of the actions of Deputy Hodges. In light of the situation, I've decided to pardon you. Now get the hell out of my jail." Sheriff Bratt shook his head at me as I passed by him. I immediately made my way over to the saloon as I desperately needed a bath and a good night's rest. I stepped inside and found Roy and Mitch talking with Pierre. All three of them stood up upon my entrance.
"Rex, it's good to have you back among the civilians." Said Roy. Mitch tipped his hat in agreement.
"I believe a bath has been drawn for you in your room. I wouldn't tarry." Added Pierre, with a knowing look. I shook off the bewilderment by what he said as I didn't quite understand what it meant. I climbed the stairs and reached the door to my usual room. Upon opening the door, I was surprised to see Diana sitting next to the full bathtub. The room lit only by a singular candle. I stopped suddenly, unable to move any further.
"Come on in, I won't bite ya. Hard." She smirked. I remained frozen in place at the threshold.
"Um." I cleared my throat. "Thank you for the bath, I greatly appreciate it, ma'am." I did not move still. She sat there for a little while longer before breaking the silence.
"Rex, come in here. Don't be standing in the door like that." She beckoned me inside with her hands. I looked at the door, back at her, then back at the door again. After another awkward hesitant moment, I closed the door behind me. Once I turned around, Diana was right there.
"I.." I started.
"It's ok, Rex." She whispered, reaching for my hands.
"The Sheriff-"
"Yes, Rex."
"The Deputy-"
"Yes, Rex."
"You-"
"Yes, Rex."
"I need a bath." I breathed heavily. Diana looked me up and down before responding.
"Yes, Rex." I let her lead me over to the bathtub, the steamy vapors rising in the air.
"I've never been bathed by someone else before."
"Is that what you want?" She asked.
"No. Yes. I don't know." My mind was going in circles around a million thoughts. It seemed she was fine with what she had discovered about me, but I still couldn't be quite sure. "Is this ok?" I asked, unsure what I was actually asking.
"Honey, I've seen so many different bodies in my line of work. Yours certainly wouldn't be the first." Sitting next to the tub, she looked down at the water and ran her fingers through back and forth. I sighed greatly and began removing my vest and shirt. Both had been torn and bled through that night I had been shot. After removing my trousers and underwear, I placed a hand in the water. Diana looked up at me and I could see her eyes reconcile what she was seeing before her. Indeed, it felt like I was being seen for being me for the first time in my life. I stepped into the hot water, each passing second feeling better than the last. I relaxed my shoulders and tilted my head back. The last few weeks had been rough, but it felt worth it just for this moment. I was incredibly grateful to Pierre and Diana as their quick actions had saved my life. "Soap?" Her question snapped me back to reality.
"Hm?"
"Are you ready for the soap?" She asked.
"Ah, sure. Yes, yes. Please, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am." I stammered. She let out an amused laugh before leaning in close.
"Mr Remington, is this your first time being alone with a lady?" She winked. "I don't care what you have or don't have. There are instruments nowadays that...aid in that sort of thing." She ran the sponge up my right arm and across the back of my shoulders. I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes. The sponge made its way toward my left shoulder, captained by her hand. I opened my eyes and looked down at the wound. The weeks I spent in the jail cell had allowed it time to mostly recover.
"Doc Whittaker said I need to stretch it out so it doesn't go stiff. No telling when I'd be able to drive the stagecoach again." The sponge began a descent down my chest. I looked up at Diana, she looked at me. I lifted my hand up to the front of her dress, tracing the seams with my fingertips. My other hand found its way to her cheek and she leaned into the touch. The sponge reached further down still, causing her face to become close to mine. I could feel her ragged breath on my neck.
"Rex.." She whispered. I kissed her and she returned the passion tenfold.
The next morning, I woke up after dawn. Remembering the night before, I rolled over to see Diana sleeping soundly next to me. The look of her in that moment would put the sun itself to shame. I kissed her forehead and she opened her eyes.
"Good morning, darlin'" I said, softly.
"Good morning, Ace." She smiled sweetly.
"Oh? I'm 'Ace' now, huh?" I smiled back.
"You're my Ace of Hearts: one of a kind." She winked. There was a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" I called.
"Rex, could you meet me downstairs, please?" It was Pierre and he sounded worried. I got dressed and walked down the stairs. Two of the Deputy's men were sitting the bar, looking smug. Just then, Deputy Hodges walked in with a stride larger than Texas itself. I placed one hand on each of my guns and clenched my jaw.
"I'm going to have to make an example out of you." The veins in his neck popped out as his face became red with fury.
"Gentlemen, you're gonna have to take this outside." Pierre demanded.
"Oh, I intend to." Said the Deputy, without removing his gaze on me. As soon as we were off the porch of the saloon, Deputy Hodges turned around and a greasy smile grew upon his face.
"I can see why Diana is the boss of the rest of the whores in town--she's the best lay around and I'd do it again." The man fell backward into the dusty street after my right hook connected with his rubbery face and drew the attention of everyone around.
"He fell." I shrugged. He scrambled to his feet, aided by his goons, his face redder than ever and covered in blood.
"I'll kill you for that, you scoundrel!" He shrieked, being held back and stifling a sniffle.
"I doubt it." I retorted, drawing my gun and firing a straight shot right through his chest. His body fell back to the ground without any further beat from his heart. "He fell again." I holstered the gun.
"You're not going to get away with this, you know! The Deputy was a powerful man!" Said one of the goons as they dragged the lifeless body of the former Deputy across the street to the Sheriff's station. Roy and Mitch arrived next to me with astounded looks on their faces.
"What happened?" Asked Roy.
"I shot the Deputy." I said.
A few days later, I was mucking out the horse stall in the stable when a young boy ran into the barn.
"Come quick, Rose's saloon is on fire!" He said, panicked. I dropped the pitchfork and ran. Coming out of the clearing and toward the center of town, I spotted very tall tower of black smoke and my heart dropped to my stomach. I spotted Pierre, who was covered in soot, crouching over two women who lay in the dirt. I ran over to him and recognized the women as Holly and Francesca, two of Diana's ladies. Both of them breathing, but unconscious.
"Where's Diana?" I asked, catching my breath, and fearing the worst.
"She's over by that tree. I couldn't save the others." He shook his head. I looked over at the old oak adjacent to the saloon and saw her knelt down next to it. I made my way over to her, her heartbreaking screams increasing in volume as I got closer.
"Hey.." I crouched down next to her, she grabbed ahold of my arm and sobbed deeply.
"They're gone. It's all gone. Bessie-Anne, Big Sal, and Kitty. They didn't make it out. My father tried." She buried her face into me, the smell of the fire lingering. Pierre appeared next to us.
"Rex, I've come to a decision. This town ain't safe so I'm going back to Philadelphia." His face changing into a grimace.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to take Diana with me to Calico. Leave Coyote's Run behind."
"If that's what she wishes, I give you my blessing." He nodded.
"Diana?" I asked. She stood up and composed herself, brushing off the dirt from her dress.
"I'd love to." She placed her hand inside mine.
"Rex Remington, you're the best man I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I've no doubt in my mind you will look after my daughter as well as, if not better, than I ever could." He nodded and patted my shoulder before walking back toward Holly and Francesca.
I tightened the reins on the horses while Diana placed the last pack of provisions in the coach. Coyote's Run had been a nice place to stay between runs, but while the Deputy still had some semblance of an influence, it was not a good idea to stick around. We climbed onto the bench and I handed her my shotgun.
"Why are you giving this to me?" She asked, puzzled.
"You're riding shotgun. So," I nodded toward the gun. "Shotgun."
"But I don't have the faintest idea how to shoot."
"Oh, you will." I pulled the reins to get the horses in line. "Buck, Sebastian, Big Ben, Branson, Luke, and Cash! Ya!" We took off in a jolt toward the West.
We stopped in a low valley for the night and started a campfire. I gave Diana my duster to wear to protect against the unforgiving desert air.
"Come on over here, darlin'." I waved her over behind a large rock, holding the shotgun. I struck the ground with a wayward stick and sat a pebble on top. "Now, I'll demonstrate how to shoot, then I want you to do it." I shot the pebble off the top of the stick and showed her how to load the ammunition. "It's all yours." She stood where I had and aimed the gun, pulling the trigger. The pebble immediately disappeared
"Oh wow, that's a mighty powerful gun." She said with a huge smile.
"Ah, that was very good; you're a natural."
"Ya think?"
"Definitely." We returned to the camp and had some jerky and then I opened a bottle of whiskey. I sat deep in thought, staring at the dancing flames of the fire.
"Diana, marry me."
"Oh, Rex! Of course, I'll marry you!" She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me before taking the bottle from my hand. "That means you have to bring the whiskey to me." She quipped, with a mischievous grin.
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded. We resumed the trail early enough before the heat set in. After several hours of a clear day, I spotted something off in the distance ahead of us.
"Ohh, no. Get that gun ready--we're gonna have company."
"Company? What do you see?" She gripped the gun tightly.
"Bandits." I said, furrowing my brow. A group of four men riding horses drew closer to us and began firing upon the coach. "Shoot 'em!" I ordered. The team of horses ran wildly during the commotion and I strained to keep them in line. Diana fired a shot at one of the bandits' horses, hitting it in the hindquarters. The horse reared unexpectedly, knocking its rider off and trampling over him.
"Lucky shot!" Diana exclaimed. Several of their bullets hit the coach itself, scaring the horses yet again.
"Ya!" I yelled. She aimed at another and missed. Then a bullet hit one of the wheels and the coach pulled sharply to the right, leading us right over a cactus bush. I could hear the damaged wheel creaking as it rotated over the rough terrain. Three of them were still on us and I knew I had to do something. I put all of the reins in my left hand and wrapped the straps around my wrist, and pulled out my gun. We continued shooting at the bandits, injuring two more.
"We're out of ammunition!" She loaded the last shell into the shotgun.
"Make it count!" I pulled hard on the reins, struggling to keep the frightened horses running straight. The remaining bandit rode closer to the horses in what I knew was an attempt to stop the entire stagecoach. She fired and missed. The bandit aimed behind him toward the coach and fired. The creaking wheel busted into a million tiny splinters, forcing the coach to crash into the cactus around us. Four of the horses were trampled underneath and we were immediately stopped in our tracks. The bandit circled back toward us and I could barely make out his shape through the dust cloud. I fired the six-guns at him, emptying both cylinders into his chest. Diana gasped, still clutching the shotgun. The bandit's horse ran off into the distance.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"I'm fine. What are we gonna do now?"
"We're gonna grab what we can and finish the stage on horseback." I loaded all the guns with what was left of the ammunition and inspected the two remaining horses. Cash had been shot in the leg and was also in a lather. I pulled Buck away from him and then put the injured pony out of his misery. We mounted up and headed straight for Calico.
***
We were married in the Calico chapel a week later with Desirée in attendance. It was nice for the girls to catch up with each other after having to leave Coyote's Run. The two of them would stay in touch, having weekly visits. We'd used the money I had saved as a stagecoach Whip and bought a ranch close to town, raising cattle. Six months later, Diana gave birth to a boy, Rufus Remington. She often wrote to her father back in Philadelphia and he had plans to come out and visit us on the ranch and to see his grandson. I sat in my rocking chair, facing the West, as the sun sank into the horizon. Diana emerged from the house and leaned against a porch beam.
"There she is." I said.
"Hm?" She raised an eyebrow.
"The Queen of the Calico Mountains." I grinned.