M7 Fic: Drunk Anarchy - Chapter 4 (of 4)
The final chapter. Hope you enjoyed! Sorry for the terrible slurring of my narrator. ;)
CHAPTER FOUR: BILLY RUFUS FINISHES WITH A BOOM
"Sorry," Billy said, chugging down some water from a pitcher that Hank had fetched him from behind the bar, "where was I?"
"A black man came to save everyone."
"Right. Right. So, there I was, watchin' the sun rise over the tops of the buildings. Somehow, some…fuckin…way, Cardsharp's not dead, neither's Jerkface. They're still not hanging…hanged. Is mid-morning, at least, and Jerk's voice is almost gone, n' Cardsharp's near death…but they weren't dead. They hadta a' known what was coming."
"What was coming?"
Billy grinned, and knocked back another water. "Pay…patience, brother." He giggled. "That's what he said to me."
"Patience, brother?" Hank frowned. He was Billy's only brother.
Billy nodded. "There I was, thinking, last sunrise I'd ever see n' how pretty the mountains are n' how nice the building's look n' how much I like the people in this town and I don't wanna leave, when this voice in my ear, it whispers, 'patience, brother. Salvation's at hand.'" He nodded, grinning still. "Whackadoodle, right?"
"A preacher?"
"Or something like. I feel the ropes loosen on my wrists, and I realizes they been cut. When I turns around, this grizzled older feller with a jaw the size of my whole head, he's smilin' at me. He says, 'don't move. Not 'til it happens.' And I was confused, and I said so. I was keepin' my voice low 'cause there are soldiers all 'round, though they're pretty excited 'bout all the loot they're countin', but I says to Grizzly, 'whazzat mean? 'Til what happens?' And he just says, 'you'll know.'" Billy nodded. "Then I watched him do the same to Robbie, cut 'im loose and tell 'im to stay still. 'Cross the way, I notice someone's talkin' to Allison n' Martita, some kid with black, shaggy hair and the worst grown-in beard I ever seen. No one's paying 'em mind, cause Jerk's yelling again, getting attention of the soldiers not greedily baggin' their gold n' stuff."
"The preacher and the kid, they're townsfolk?"
"Grizzled n' Shaggy? Nah. Never seen 'em before. No clue who they was. But they was helpin' n' no one in town was sayin' boo. In fact, when I looked 'round again, I realized that pretty much the whole town disappeared. Not a soul was still on the street. Even Sheriff's gone quiet in the jail. I think, if Jerk hadn't been cussin' out Crazy, Cap'n might've noticed. But he didn't. Jerk was that good at talking, at being a real jerk. Something I clearly knew froms the beginning."
"Yeah, you did." Hank had his chin in hand now, eyes wide, trying to imagine it all.
"And then, funniest thing. This black man came in from the other end o' town, pulling a loaded cart and driving some sheep in front of him. He was a tall fella, and big, know what I mean? Weird thing was, he was driving sheep from Malcolm's farm. I knows they's Malcolm's, 'cause they gots his mark on 'em. Blue n' white. But this black guy? Never seen him before. But he just comes in, seemin' completely oblivious to what's happenin'. Now Him? Cap'n Crazy does see. Not too many black folk 'round here, you know. And this Crazy, he was confederate, no doubt." He downed some more water and wiped a sleeve across his mouth.
"So black fella comes right in, sheep wandering everywhere, drops the cart off in front o the Godwins, and wanders up in front'a Cardsharp with the sheep. Cap'n yells at him to move, and this feller just starts talkin' in that way ol' slaves, you know? All master this and master that, like he's confused and not sure what to do. Just doin' what he's told. I know I'm not the only one thinkin' that he's gotta have a screw loose. When he won't go way, Cap'n lifts his gun, like he's gonna shoot him in the head...." Billy leaned forward. "Grizzled got his hand on my arm, and I'm thinkin' this is it. This is the thing. But it wasn't."
"It wasn't?"
"Nope. Black man's staring Cap'n down, seeming all confused, when suddenly, riding hell bent fer leather comes Stevie B!"
"Stevie B? I thought you said he'd gone to Leadstown?"
"That's what Crazy told us. Turns out, Stevie'd turned 'round. Must've heard what the Cap'n was doing-don't think he knew. He just comes stormin' in on his horse, and even the Cap'n looks surprised. And I asked Grizzled, 'is this the thing? The thing you was waitin' for?' And Grizzled just says, 'nope. This bit's unexpected.'"
Hank gave a laugh as Billy swallowed down his bread.
"So, me, Grizzled n' Robbie just watch as Stevie B gets off his horse, right n' front o the black man and yells, 'Captain! What are you doing? Maddie ain't here! What are you doin? Cut these men down!' And Cap'n, he says, 'Did you lose the mine?' And Stevie says, 'yeah. But I never said to tree the town. Or kill people! I didn't want killing! What are you doin?' Crazy, he answers, 'I'm paying my men. You lost the mine and I gotta pay my men. This town helped you lose your mine. So they pay.' Stevie's just shakin' his head now, like he's not understanding. 'I'll pay you, Cap'n. Don't do this,' he says. But the Cap says, 'with what?' And Stevie says, "uhhh…" like an idiot, so Cap'n says, 'Question answered. Get outta the way, Stevie, or I's gonna shoot you."
"Damn," Hank muttered.
"I know! And, for a second, I think Stevie's gonna stand his ground, but then he backs off, like he doesn't want to die, which, frankly, I don't disagree with as a notion. I wasn't lookin' forward to it myself." He took another drink of water. "He apologies to the black man, then to Cardsharp n' the Jerk, though he said somethin' to 'em about bringin' it on themselves, then he goes to the sidewalk, all slumpy shouldered. Cap'n Crazy, he's noddin', like this wasn't unexpected, and then looks at the black man again. He says, 'What about you? You gonna get out a here?' And you know what the black man said?" He paused, staring at Hank.
Hank blinked. Then, realizing Billy Rufus was waiting for him to guess, punched him in the arm. "Just tell me, nuts for brains!"
"He says, 'No. I'm not moving. I'm not lettin' you kill anyone else. So, here's fair warning. If you don't leave now, I's gonna kill you n' all your men. Yer not leavin' with their gold, neither.'" Billy rubbed his punched arm as he leaned forward. "Big damn hero, that's what that man ended up to be." Hank just huffed as Billy nodded. "And so, Crazy lifts his gun again. Points it at the hero's head, and…." Billy slammed his hands down on the bar. "BOOM!"
Hank jumped. "He fired?"
"No! The other kind of boom!"
"You mean…?"
"Right n' front of the Godwin's! The black man's cart-which turned out to be my cart--full of something like powder, exploded like a frikkin' Fourth of July firework display! There were seeds raining down, 'cause they'd put a bunch of Godwin's seed bags on top. The 'splosion sends Cap'n reeling backwards, n' not just him. All the soldiers staggered, some fallin' over their bags o' loot, all except the hero. He had to know it was coming, 'cause, soon as it happened? He spins around and, thwap! Thwap! Two knives outta the neck of his jacket, he throw's 'em at the tree, cutting both nooses. Hell of a thing! Never seen anyone that accurate, ever! Cardsharp just falls on the ground on his side, the Jerk's landed on his feet, but he's wobblin', and the hero? He just whips around as the Cap'n's got his gun up again, and throws another. Slams right into Crazy's chest!" Billy slapped his chest, and it thudded hollowly. "Crazy staggers back, and Hero's saying somethin' like, 'warned ya,' and then he's running 'cause now the rest of the soldiers, they realize he's really dangerous, and they're on their feet, guns out and firin'. Like some sorta magic, Hero runs and dives, aiming for Cardsharp-who's trying to stand up now, but failing 'cause his hands are tied and he's obviously weak as anything-but Hero just pulls him up to his feet in one move, like he weights nothin', throws him over his shoulder, bullets hitting all round them. He runs like a rabbit into the Merc with the Cardsharp, all in less than a second, I swears. I mean, he had to have been blessed by God, the way he did it all so fast! As for the Jerk, he'd stumbled behind the big tree, trying to avoid getting shot, and that's when I see the others."
"Others?"
"Outta nowhere, like archangels, coming to rain down fire. Scary n' Scruffy come out o' the smoke from the 'splosion, firing, nothing hittin' em, like their protected or something. Jerk disappears into the smoke behind 'em to lord knows where. Then I realize Shaggy and Grizzled are shooting too, getting the soldiers from the sides, and the Sheriff n' the deputies too, backin' 'em up. And Stevie B's ranch hands are there, and even Stevie, standing in an alleyway, shooting at the badgers. They were completely surrounded, and with Hero killin' their boss, they're lost. Suddenly, Grizzled looks at me and yells, 'What're you still doing there! Move! Get outta here!' I'd been so amazed, I'd just been standing there. I turned and ran into my saloon faster than I've ever moved before. I ducked behind my bar with Robbie, both of us covering our ears and Robbie's shouting something and I'm just not caring and, lord above, the firing just goes on and on n' on!" He shook his head. "I closed my eyes at some point. When I opened 'em again…it was to find Robbie gone. It was just me there. Not sure where he went. But it didn't matter, 'cause the shootin' had stopped."
Hank knocked back some water, and tried not to wish it was whiskey. Wiping his face on his sleeve, he asked, "And?"
"And it was over." Billy looked at the bar, at the glass of water on it that Hank had poured him. "Just like that."
"Just like that?"
He nodded. "I went outside. There were 'least a half dozen o' them fake soldiers on the ground. Dead as doornails. Cap'n Crazy's right where Hero'd left him, though the knife's gone. For a moment, I thought he'd been a real angel, sent to save us, but then I saw Grizzled and Father John walking 'mongst the dead, and Grizzled's carrying the hero's knife. Guess he pulled it for his friend. As I found out later, most of the soldiers ran-even though there were way more of 'em than good guys. Without Crazy eggin' 'em on, I guess they just took off. Sheriff locked some of 'em up too, though, ones that just surrendered or were wounded. Later, I hear Stevie went door to door, trying to 'pologize, but no one's listenin'. He leaves then too, takin' his ranch hands with 'im." He gave a wry look. "Didn't knock on my door, though. Man totally owes me 'pology."
Hank couldn't disagree. "And the men who helped save the town? Scruffy, Scary, and the others?"
"I didn't see 'em for a while. Not 'til later. Sometime in the evenin'." He shrugged. "After all it happen, I ended up just staying inside after that, started drinkin'." He looked at his bar, then around at the saloon. "Been two days, and I'm still here."
"But they came by?"
"Just Scary, really. He came in, looming over me, and I just watched as he put some money in the till." Billy indicated it, but didn't go near it. "Not sure how much-haven't checked. To pay for the rooms, and the 'extra' he said. Like I told ya before. But he didn't say sorry. I kinda wanted him to say sorry." He shrugged, morose now.
"Well, I'm sorry, Billy Rufus."
Billy smiled at that, and shrugged again. "Then next mornin', I heard them in the street, easy enough with most of my windows gone, so I went to the window and looked out. They were all there. Cardsharp was dressed-not sure when he came in to get his stuff, must've missed it. I did kinda drink a lot that night. But he was dressed, arm in a sling, kerchief round his neck, leaning heavily on the Hero. Speaking o' the hero, gotta say, he looked a lot less heroic in the morning light-just like anyone else-but I saw the knives strapped on his back this time, without his coat. Damn, if they weren't impressive still. Grizzled and Shaggy had found another cart, and Hero was helping Cardsharp up into it. The Jerk was all smiles, shakin' everyones hands, like they were all friends. Kissed Martita, Allison and Brenda. Nuts-not sure how they even found his mouth behind all the lip hair he was sportin'. Scary shook Sheriff's hand, and Scruffy did too. Bunch of townsfolk had come out to see 'em off, most thankin' them. Even told 'em to come back this way on the way backs from Leadstown. I couldn't understand it."
"Why not?"
"Well, I mean, Scary and them others…they made a mess, dontcha think? If they hadn't come, Crazy wouldn't a come."
Hank said nothing. Same argument could be used to put his brother at fault - if he hadn't ratted them out, Crazy wouldn't a come. Or if Stevie hadn't hired Crazy in the first place. Of if Maddie simply hadn't come back. Shaking his head at his thoughts, he ended up just patting his brother on the arm.
"There's lots of ifs, Billy Rufus. Can't control ifs. You said it yourself-can't predict crazy."
Billy sighed. "Yeah. S'true. Guess it was really his mess, weren't it? At the end of the day. The Cap'n's and Stevie's."
"Stevie's gonna need forgivin' too. Sounds like he did the right thing, in the end."
"Town won't forgive him that easy." He slumped. "Or me. Not sure I should even try fixin' this place up."
"Oh, don't be like that." Hank said. "Once the holes' are patched up, things'll get better."
Billy hunched against the bar. "How can you-?"
A sharp rapping on the door that Hank had wedged into place stopped him, and they turned to look at it. Hank just had enough time to think, "uh oh," when the hammering came again, and this time, the door fell open. More like crashed open, landing on the floor of the saloon with a loud bang and sending up puffs of dust, causing both brothers to jump.
"Well, that'll need fixing," a jovial voice said. "Hallo, the saloon! Anyone home?"
"Oh God help us," Billy muttered, standing unsteadily and turning to face whatever was coming in.
A tall man in a red shirt, broad grin, and a thick moustache stepped inside, dancing over the boards of the door and placing both hands on his hips.
"There you are! What's going on, Billy Rufus? How come you're not fixing this place up? Chris gave you enough from Maddie to rebuild it twice over!"
Billy frowned. "What?"
"And hello person I don't know!" the man continued cheerfully, walking over to the bar, hand outstretched. "You look like this curmudgeonly fellow here, except a wee bit younger and cleaner. You a brother?"
Hank blinked, and without really thinking, took his hand. "Um…yeah. Yeah. Hank LeClerc. Billy's brother."
"Buck Wilmington," the man replied, gripping Hank's hand so tightly, he could feel it bruising. "Nice to meet ya. But, whoo wee! This place is still a right mess. Rest of the town's looking like its getting back on its feet, but this place looks like hell."
"I wonder why," Billy snarled.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Hank asked, ignoring his brother's black mood.
"Ah, Billy didn't mention us, eh?" Buck's bright smile faded somewhat. "Unfortunately, my friends and I are somewhat responsible for getting poor Billy in trouble here."
"Somewhat?" Billy repeated, snarling slightly and swaying a bit as he tapped a finger against the man's chest. "Was almost killed, you jerk!"
Hank cowered slightly-since this man was a head and a half taller than both of them, and could probably break them in two, but Buck simply nodded, as if this were not an unusual thing for him to hear.
"Fair enough. I deserve that. But we aim to make up for it. Ezra still needs to rest, and seeing as Leadstowns mostly lean-tos and shanties, and it's freezing up there, we thought we might stay a couple days down here with you 'til Erra can ride a horse. That, and so we can see Maddie settled."
Billy perked up immediately, and took a drunken step towards the outside before falling back against his stool. "Maddie? She's here?"
"Sure is. She n' her boy are looking to buy a plot here in town, and set themselves up."
"Her boy?" Billy's eyes almost bugged out, his rump landed fully back on the stool as his legs apparently gave up.
"Oh, right, you don't know." Buck almost looked contrite. "That was a bit of a ruse to get the boy out safely. He was fine-that was all makeup and some pretty darn good acting on the kid's and his mama's part. I'd a thought your Doc or that Benny fella would have told you."
"Yer saying…" Billy swallowed before speaking again. "Henry's alive? Cap'n was right? It really was a trick?"
"Yeah. We'd hoped it would get Maddie out of town too, but, as you know, that insane Reb Captain had DeBlois too spooked." He smiled then. "But it all worked out, and we got one more nutter and his gang off the streets. So you know, Maddie and her cousin have made up as well, and she's hoping the town will let her stay here, while DeBlois runs the mine for her in Leadstown. She really hated Leadstown-I don't think it was what she was expecting, but anyone who's ever seen a mining town knows they ain't pretty. Chris convinced 'em to make a deal, shared ownership with DeBlois running it, provided that Henry inherits when they both die. Since DeBlois got no kids, he agreed."
Billy snorted, but Hank smiled lightly.
"That was right clever of…." Hank paused. "Sorry, who is Chris?"
"The scary one," Billy whispered sloppily in his ear.
"Ah," Hank replied. Buck gave them another curious look before talking again.
"Anyway, look, while we're here, we figured we could also give you a hand cleaning up. After all, we sort of owe you. Sort of an apology, of sorts."
"We also bought you another cart," a new voice said from the doorway, scratchy and with a southern drawl. "Since Vin blew yours up."
Hank had to smile-his brother had described this fella dead to rights. "Let me guess," he said, eyeing the smart coat and brocade waistcoat, and the arm in a sling, "you're the cardsharp, the one that got the whole town playing?"
The man in question tipped his hat. "Guilty. Ezra P. Standish at your service. Speaking of that wonderful game, if my companions get this place semi-respectable by this evening, perhaps we can do it again. You might like to join us, good sir. I hear there are a few folks interested in winning their money back. And, who knows, with this injury," he glanced at the black sling one of his arms rested in, "they might stand a decent chance of--"
"You are irredeemable," another man said, tall, black and enormous. He look a good head taller than the cardsharp, and without pausing, he grabbed "Ezra P. Standish" by his good arm and dragged him over to one of the few chairs. Pushing him into it, he ordered, "Now sit! Stay!"
"I am not a dog, Mr. Jackson!" Ezra croaked back.
"True, you'd be far less annoying if you were. I sent you in here to rest out of the sun, and to rest your voice, not drum up card games and think of new ways to cheat the people of this town out of their money."
"I was merely-"
"Nothing with you is ever 'mere,' Ezra." He stripped off his coat as he spoke, and draped it around Ezra's shoulders with clear affection. "Now, behave and…" He trailed off, and turned to glare at the bar. "Stop grinning, Buck!"
Leaning next to Billy and Hank on the bar, Buck tried to quell a grin, but it came back.
"Aw, don't blame me, Nate! Yer awful cute when you're mother-henning."
"Oh, shut up. You're supposed to be resting your voice as well. Ezra may've been a bit more strangled than you, but your voice got more wear."
"I kinda like this husky thing I've got going on," Buck answered, rubbing at his throat, and Hank saw the red burn marks on it for the first time. "Ladies do too. Imagine if I sang with this voice? I'd bet the ladies would be-"
"One more word and I'm gagging you," Nathan snapped.
"Oh, please do gag him," Ezra said pleadingly. "It'd be so nice."
Nathan just snarled. "You'll both be the death of me," he said. "Neither of you leave this saloon until I come back, and no drinking while I'm gone!" He pointed at them both, waited a moment while Ezra and Buck just smiled, and then heading back out the door, giving Hank a good view of the knives strapped to his back.
"Whoa," he whispered. "So he's the one who-"
"Yep."
"I can see why you thought him larger than life. He's a real big fella, isn't he?"
"They're all big, 'ceptin' Cardsharp, Scruffy and Shaggy."
"Wait, what was that?" Buck asked, still grinning at them. "Were those nicknames? Who's Scruffy?"
From his chair, Ezra simply sighed and settled in, pulling a book from his sling and starting to read. "They're both rather drunk, Mr. Wilmington. I wouldn't put too much stock into their ability to clarify."
"Are you really?" Buck's grin widened. "So that's what I smell! Got anymore?"
"Work first," an older man with short white hair said, nodding at Hank and Billy. A blondish man in an Indian fringed jacket and a kid with shaggy black hair followed him in, all carrying tools from the hardware store.
"Ah, got it. Scruffy and Shaggy," Buck said, nodding at the two younger men. He looked at Billy then. "What do you call Josiah?" He gestured to the older man.
"Grizzled," Hank said, almost without thinking. Buck burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Scruffy asked, walking over. "Hey Billy Rufus." He gave a nod to Hank. "Vin Tanner."
"Hank LeClerc."
"Nice to meet you. Related?"
"Brother," Buck supplied. "Younger and married, so also cleaner."
Hank just huffed.
"That's JD," Vin said, jerking a thumb at the kid. "And the one with the tool box, that's Josiah. He's gotta lot of experience fixin' places up. We should have this place back together in no time."
"In time for this evening, you think?" Ezra asked hopefully.
"Might be a bit short on chairs and tables, but the windows, walls and doors, sure."
"As long as there is one table and about six chairs, that should do me fine."
"You're not gambling these people out of the recompense Maddie gave 'em, Ez," Nathan said, walking back into the saloon with a bunch of 2x4s over his shoulder.
"Nathan, you wound me! I would never."
Josiah chuckled. "The forked tongue of the serpent, it-"
"Josiah," Ezra said with a growl, "one more parable out of you today, and I'm going to get Maddie to take back that German book of psalms she gave you. And you'll have nothing new to bore us with when we get home." That caused the others to laugh, and Hank couldn't help smiling as well. It felt like a shadow was being lifted off this place, and these men were the ones doing it. Josiah said something to Ezra, but it got lost as JD, Vin and Nathan started sawing the wood.
"Speaking of Maddie, " Buck said then, still leaning next to them at the bar, "she has a special gift for you, Billy," Buck said. "She's outside, with Chris, Henry and your new cart."
Billy's face lit up at the news, getting to his feet again, still a bit unsteadily. Hank frowned slightly, a little worried about how happy his brother looked at seeing this woman again. Standing, he followed his brother's uneven walk to the front, stopping when Billy did. Billy was looking at Josiah, who was standing by the open door, measuring the broken frame.
"Hey," Billy said, his voice soft.
Josiah gave him a smile. "Billy Rufus. You alright?"
"I…yes…I just…I wanted to….Thanks." Billy actually blushed then, something Hank'd not seen since they were both little. "Not sure I said it before. You saved my life. Thank you."
Josiah just inclined his head. "Perhaps you can do the same for someone else, someday. Lots of folks need saving in this world."
Billy snorted. "Maybe I will."
Josiah smiled again and backed out of the way as Billy staggered out the opening into the light of day. Hank followed him, squinting a little.
His brother groaned mightily as the sun pierced his sight, throwing up his hands as if warding it off could prevent it from being so bright outside. The snow on the ground didn't help.
"Hi Billy."
Hank's eyes adjusted first, he reckoned, so he was able to see the somewhat plain, but pretty woman standing at the edge of the boardwalk before his brother did. She had the lines of someone who'd seen some things-Hank guess maybe early 30's-but still had a blush in her cheeks. After a moment, he realized the blush was because she was uncomfortable, and, amazingly, a little shy.
"Heh…Hello Maddie," Billy said, equally as shy. Hank had to fight not to roll his eyes. And he wasn't the only one.
Standing behind Maddie, leaning against a cart with his arms crossed, was a man that Hank easily admitted was one of the scariest looking people he'd ever seen. Wearing a heavy black coat, looking a little like he enjoyed eating children for breakfast, a blondish man glanced at both Billy and Hank before looking away.
Maddie, meanwhile, had shifted back a step so she could indicate the cart. "I bought you a cart. I think it's better than the one Vin blew up."
"Oh, um," Billy smiled. "Thanks."
"And, um…" She bit her lip.
Good God, Hank realized as she blushed prettily and looked down. She really does like his brother. When did hell freeze over?
"Um, I also bought you this." She nodded at the scary one, who must be "Chris," Hank realized. The man reached into the cart and tossed back a heavy cloth, revealing a long bar mirror. "I had them make it in Leadstown," Maddie continued. "Lots of blacksmiths there." She looked at Billy again. "I thought…to replace the one that shattered?"
Billy just blinked, then smiled goofily. "Yer real pretty in this light, Mizz Maddie."
Maddie smiled again, blushing even more deeply, and Hank heard Chris groan. Throwing the cloth back over the mirror, he growled, "I'm getting a drink."
"Sure," Maddie said, paying him no attention as he swept past her and Billy and into the saloon. He hadn't even looked at Hank, though Hank had been staring right at him. Damn.
"So…" Billy said then, "I heard that Henry-"
"Oh, yes, I'm so sorry for the ruse." She pointed down the boardwalk, where Martita and her girls were currently hugging and fawning over a young kid with a mop of blondish hair and sporting a sling like the Cardsharp's. "He's going to be alright."
As if aware that he was being spoken of, the boy suddenly turned and sprinted towards them.
"Mom!" he yelled breathlessly, skidding to a stop in front of Maddie. "Where's Chris?"
"Inside," she replied. "But I-" Too late. Henry had already disappeared into the saloon, and Hank had to smile as laughter erupted from inside a moment after the boy's appearance.
Oblivious to anything but Maddie, Billy asked, "Wanna take a walk?"
Maddie gave a nod, then just as quickly shook her head as if realizing something. "Oh, I can't. I can't leave Henry with Chris for too long. I need to see him settled, but…lunch? At the hotel, in an hour?"
"Okay." Billy nodded, and Maddie smiled again and, with obvious reluctance, walked away-presumably to get a room at the hotel.
Unbelievable. Hank fell against the saloon's walls in total shock. In his whole life, he'd never seen Billy act that way around a woman. Or vice versa. And never a pretty woman.
Billy just turned around and grinned. "Told ya, Henry Beau."
"Billy Rufus," Hank replied, "I'm officially proud to be your brother."
And Billy grinned even wider.
"But," Hank added, "you best sober up and wash up before you meet that lady at the hotel."
Billy's smile fell, and he looked down at his filthy clothes. "Bath! I need a bath!" And suddenly he was off and running, headed towards the bath house like his clothes were on fire, nearly running into a hitching post along the way as his balance faltered. Hank just stayed where he was, shaking his head.
For a while, he just stood there, drinking in the cool air and the sunlight, feeling the last of his alcoholic haze fade. He smiled as he listened to the sounds of laughter, sawing and hammering from inside the saloon.
When the clock struck noon, he glanced over at the Godwin's and saw Edith on her stoop. She spotted him and waved him over. Giving her a nod, he strolled across the street to her now perfectly clear porch, the feed store's goods restacked and looking as if nothing had ever happened.
"Did he tell you the story?" she asked as he approached.
"He did. He thinks the whole town's mad at him."
"Weren't his fault," she admitted. "Weren't no one's, 'cept that old Captain friend of Stephen's. Never seen anything like him before. Was terrifying, it was. Hal tried to stop 'em when they raided our place, and nearly had his block knocked off. That's why he's hiding-don't want anyone seeing his face." She shrugged. Then she frowned and leaned forward, sniffing. "Oh, Hank! Don't tell me you been drinkin' with him? I was hoping you'd break him out o' that! Not joining him. What'd your wife say?"
Hank just shrugged. "I'm hoping to sober up before heading home."
She stared at him a moment, then looked over his shoulder at the saloon. Hank followed her gaze, and saw the Jerk…Buck…standing outside, helping Nathan to shatter the rest of glass from the partially broken plate glass window, probably to make it easier to remove. Turning back, he caught Edith flashing a rare smile.
"Wait here," she ordered, and, like everyone else in this town, he did whatever Edith ordered. She disappeared inside her shop, and, a moment later, returned with a tray and a hot pie covered by a cloth.
"Hal n' me'll load up your wagon. You take this over to those boys helping your brother, and tell 'em this is for them."
Hank frowned slightly as he took the tray. "But…" His frown deepened, thinking about what his brother had said. "You don't blame 'em for what happened?"
Her eyebrows lifted, giving him a look as if this was the most absurd thing she'd ever heard. Then she gave a shrug.
"Maybe. When it first happened. Some. But listen. Even after they'd gotten Maddie out, after they'd done what they was hired to do, they came back. And before they did anything-before they helped their friends, whom anyone with eyes can see they care about like family, or fired one shot at those bandits-they made sure everyone in this town was safe. They came in our back door, got me, Hal n' the girls, and got us out o' town. Got everyone out of town. And they got your brother, Robbie, Martita n' her girls-made sure they were free, so they could run when it started. And then they saved the town itself, got us back all those things we worked so hard for, not takin' one thing for themselves." She nodded at the saloon. "Those men, Hank LeClerc, they're the real thing. They're the kind of men stories and legends are made of, and I, for one, think they deserve a little peach pie."
Hank couldn't help but smile at that, and he lifted the tray up. "Well, when you put it that way…"
"I'm never wrong, Hank. Don't you forget." She turned away as his smile grew, only to stop and throw him a look over her shoulder. "And you tell your brother, him and his new lady friend are welcome over for dinner. 6:00. They're not to be late. You tell 'em."
Hank grinned. "I will."
She gave him a nod, and, with a swish of her skirts, disappeared back into her shop.
Now that? That was a queen.
Laughing now, Hank headed back to the saloon. He wondered how pie tasted with whiskey?
_______________________________________________
The End
And the second awesome banner from Randi, for the story:
CHAPTER FOUR: BILLY RUFUS FINISHES WITH A BOOM
"Sorry," Billy said, chugging down some water from a pitcher that Hank had fetched him from behind the bar, "where was I?"
"A black man came to save everyone."
"Right. Right. So, there I was, watchin' the sun rise over the tops of the buildings. Somehow, some…fuckin…way, Cardsharp's not dead, neither's Jerkface. They're still not hanging…hanged. Is mid-morning, at least, and Jerk's voice is almost gone, n' Cardsharp's near death…but they weren't dead. They hadta a' known what was coming."
"What was coming?"
Billy grinned, and knocked back another water. "Pay…patience, brother." He giggled. "That's what he said to me."
"Patience, brother?" Hank frowned. He was Billy's only brother.
Billy nodded. "There I was, thinking, last sunrise I'd ever see n' how pretty the mountains are n' how nice the building's look n' how much I like the people in this town and I don't wanna leave, when this voice in my ear, it whispers, 'patience, brother. Salvation's at hand.'" He nodded, grinning still. "Whackadoodle, right?"
"A preacher?"
"Or something like. I feel the ropes loosen on my wrists, and I realizes they been cut. When I turns around, this grizzled older feller with a jaw the size of my whole head, he's smilin' at me. He says, 'don't move. Not 'til it happens.' And I was confused, and I said so. I was keepin' my voice low 'cause there are soldiers all 'round, though they're pretty excited 'bout all the loot they're countin', but I says to Grizzly, 'whazzat mean? 'Til what happens?' And he just says, 'you'll know.'" Billy nodded. "Then I watched him do the same to Robbie, cut 'im loose and tell 'im to stay still. 'Cross the way, I notice someone's talkin' to Allison n' Martita, some kid with black, shaggy hair and the worst grown-in beard I ever seen. No one's paying 'em mind, cause Jerk's yelling again, getting attention of the soldiers not greedily baggin' their gold n' stuff."
"The preacher and the kid, they're townsfolk?"
"Grizzled n' Shaggy? Nah. Never seen 'em before. No clue who they was. But they was helpin' n' no one in town was sayin' boo. In fact, when I looked 'round again, I realized that pretty much the whole town disappeared. Not a soul was still on the street. Even Sheriff's gone quiet in the jail. I think, if Jerk hadn't been cussin' out Crazy, Cap'n might've noticed. But he didn't. Jerk was that good at talking, at being a real jerk. Something I clearly knew froms the beginning."
"Yeah, you did." Hank had his chin in hand now, eyes wide, trying to imagine it all.
"And then, funniest thing. This black man came in from the other end o' town, pulling a loaded cart and driving some sheep in front of him. He was a tall fella, and big, know what I mean? Weird thing was, he was driving sheep from Malcolm's farm. I knows they's Malcolm's, 'cause they gots his mark on 'em. Blue n' white. But this black guy? Never seen him before. But he just comes in, seemin' completely oblivious to what's happenin'. Now Him? Cap'n Crazy does see. Not too many black folk 'round here, you know. And this Crazy, he was confederate, no doubt." He downed some more water and wiped a sleeve across his mouth.
"So black fella comes right in, sheep wandering everywhere, drops the cart off in front o the Godwins, and wanders up in front'a Cardsharp with the sheep. Cap'n yells at him to move, and this feller just starts talkin' in that way ol' slaves, you know? All master this and master that, like he's confused and not sure what to do. Just doin' what he's told. I know I'm not the only one thinkin' that he's gotta have a screw loose. When he won't go way, Cap'n lifts his gun, like he's gonna shoot him in the head...." Billy leaned forward. "Grizzled got his hand on my arm, and I'm thinkin' this is it. This is the thing. But it wasn't."
"It wasn't?"
"Nope. Black man's staring Cap'n down, seeming all confused, when suddenly, riding hell bent fer leather comes Stevie B!"
"Stevie B? I thought you said he'd gone to Leadstown?"
"That's what Crazy told us. Turns out, Stevie'd turned 'round. Must've heard what the Cap'n was doing-don't think he knew. He just comes stormin' in on his horse, and even the Cap'n looks surprised. And I asked Grizzled, 'is this the thing? The thing you was waitin' for?' And Grizzled just says, 'nope. This bit's unexpected.'"
Hank gave a laugh as Billy swallowed down his bread.
"So, me, Grizzled n' Robbie just watch as Stevie B gets off his horse, right n' front o the black man and yells, 'Captain! What are you doing? Maddie ain't here! What are you doin? Cut these men down!' And Cap'n, he says, 'Did you lose the mine?' And Stevie says, 'yeah. But I never said to tree the town. Or kill people! I didn't want killing! What are you doin?' Crazy, he answers, 'I'm paying my men. You lost the mine and I gotta pay my men. This town helped you lose your mine. So they pay.' Stevie's just shakin' his head now, like he's not understanding. 'I'll pay you, Cap'n. Don't do this,' he says. But the Cap says, 'with what?' And Stevie says, "uhhh…" like an idiot, so Cap'n says, 'Question answered. Get outta the way, Stevie, or I's gonna shoot you."
"Damn," Hank muttered.
"I know! And, for a second, I think Stevie's gonna stand his ground, but then he backs off, like he doesn't want to die, which, frankly, I don't disagree with as a notion. I wasn't lookin' forward to it myself." He took another drink of water. "He apologies to the black man, then to Cardsharp n' the Jerk, though he said somethin' to 'em about bringin' it on themselves, then he goes to the sidewalk, all slumpy shouldered. Cap'n Crazy, he's noddin', like this wasn't unexpected, and then looks at the black man again. He says, 'What about you? You gonna get out a here?' And you know what the black man said?" He paused, staring at Hank.
Hank blinked. Then, realizing Billy Rufus was waiting for him to guess, punched him in the arm. "Just tell me, nuts for brains!"
"He says, 'No. I'm not moving. I'm not lettin' you kill anyone else. So, here's fair warning. If you don't leave now, I's gonna kill you n' all your men. Yer not leavin' with their gold, neither.'" Billy rubbed his punched arm as he leaned forward. "Big damn hero, that's what that man ended up to be." Hank just huffed as Billy nodded. "And so, Crazy lifts his gun again. Points it at the hero's head, and…." Billy slammed his hands down on the bar. "BOOM!"
Hank jumped. "He fired?"
"No! The other kind of boom!"
"You mean…?"
"Right n' front of the Godwin's! The black man's cart-which turned out to be my cart--full of something like powder, exploded like a frikkin' Fourth of July firework display! There were seeds raining down, 'cause they'd put a bunch of Godwin's seed bags on top. The 'splosion sends Cap'n reeling backwards, n' not just him. All the soldiers staggered, some fallin' over their bags o' loot, all except the hero. He had to know it was coming, 'cause, soon as it happened? He spins around and, thwap! Thwap! Two knives outta the neck of his jacket, he throw's 'em at the tree, cutting both nooses. Hell of a thing! Never seen anyone that accurate, ever! Cardsharp just falls on the ground on his side, the Jerk's landed on his feet, but he's wobblin', and the hero? He just whips around as the Cap'n's got his gun up again, and throws another. Slams right into Crazy's chest!" Billy slapped his chest, and it thudded hollowly. "Crazy staggers back, and Hero's saying somethin' like, 'warned ya,' and then he's running 'cause now the rest of the soldiers, they realize he's really dangerous, and they're on their feet, guns out and firin'. Like some sorta magic, Hero runs and dives, aiming for Cardsharp-who's trying to stand up now, but failing 'cause his hands are tied and he's obviously weak as anything-but Hero just pulls him up to his feet in one move, like he weights nothin', throws him over his shoulder, bullets hitting all round them. He runs like a rabbit into the Merc with the Cardsharp, all in less than a second, I swears. I mean, he had to have been blessed by God, the way he did it all so fast! As for the Jerk, he'd stumbled behind the big tree, trying to avoid getting shot, and that's when I see the others."
"Others?"
"Outta nowhere, like archangels, coming to rain down fire. Scary n' Scruffy come out o' the smoke from the 'splosion, firing, nothing hittin' em, like their protected or something. Jerk disappears into the smoke behind 'em to lord knows where. Then I realize Shaggy and Grizzled are shooting too, getting the soldiers from the sides, and the Sheriff n' the deputies too, backin' 'em up. And Stevie B's ranch hands are there, and even Stevie, standing in an alleyway, shooting at the badgers. They were completely surrounded, and with Hero killin' their boss, they're lost. Suddenly, Grizzled looks at me and yells, 'What're you still doing there! Move! Get outta here!' I'd been so amazed, I'd just been standing there. I turned and ran into my saloon faster than I've ever moved before. I ducked behind my bar with Robbie, both of us covering our ears and Robbie's shouting something and I'm just not caring and, lord above, the firing just goes on and on n' on!" He shook his head. "I closed my eyes at some point. When I opened 'em again…it was to find Robbie gone. It was just me there. Not sure where he went. But it didn't matter, 'cause the shootin' had stopped."
Hank knocked back some water, and tried not to wish it was whiskey. Wiping his face on his sleeve, he asked, "And?"
"And it was over." Billy looked at the bar, at the glass of water on it that Hank had poured him. "Just like that."
"Just like that?"
He nodded. "I went outside. There were 'least a half dozen o' them fake soldiers on the ground. Dead as doornails. Cap'n Crazy's right where Hero'd left him, though the knife's gone. For a moment, I thought he'd been a real angel, sent to save us, but then I saw Grizzled and Father John walking 'mongst the dead, and Grizzled's carrying the hero's knife. Guess he pulled it for his friend. As I found out later, most of the soldiers ran-even though there were way more of 'em than good guys. Without Crazy eggin' 'em on, I guess they just took off. Sheriff locked some of 'em up too, though, ones that just surrendered or were wounded. Later, I hear Stevie went door to door, trying to 'pologize, but no one's listenin'. He leaves then too, takin' his ranch hands with 'im." He gave a wry look. "Didn't knock on my door, though. Man totally owes me 'pology."
Hank couldn't disagree. "And the men who helped save the town? Scruffy, Scary, and the others?"
"I didn't see 'em for a while. Not 'til later. Sometime in the evenin'." He shrugged. "After all it happen, I ended up just staying inside after that, started drinkin'." He looked at his bar, then around at the saloon. "Been two days, and I'm still here."
"But they came by?"
"Just Scary, really. He came in, looming over me, and I just watched as he put some money in the till." Billy indicated it, but didn't go near it. "Not sure how much-haven't checked. To pay for the rooms, and the 'extra' he said. Like I told ya before. But he didn't say sorry. I kinda wanted him to say sorry." He shrugged, morose now.
"Well, I'm sorry, Billy Rufus."
Billy smiled at that, and shrugged again. "Then next mornin', I heard them in the street, easy enough with most of my windows gone, so I went to the window and looked out. They were all there. Cardsharp was dressed-not sure when he came in to get his stuff, must've missed it. I did kinda drink a lot that night. But he was dressed, arm in a sling, kerchief round his neck, leaning heavily on the Hero. Speaking o' the hero, gotta say, he looked a lot less heroic in the morning light-just like anyone else-but I saw the knives strapped on his back this time, without his coat. Damn, if they weren't impressive still. Grizzled and Shaggy had found another cart, and Hero was helping Cardsharp up into it. The Jerk was all smiles, shakin' everyones hands, like they were all friends. Kissed Martita, Allison and Brenda. Nuts-not sure how they even found his mouth behind all the lip hair he was sportin'. Scary shook Sheriff's hand, and Scruffy did too. Bunch of townsfolk had come out to see 'em off, most thankin' them. Even told 'em to come back this way on the way backs from Leadstown. I couldn't understand it."
"Why not?"
"Well, I mean, Scary and them others…they made a mess, dontcha think? If they hadn't come, Crazy wouldn't a come."
Hank said nothing. Same argument could be used to put his brother at fault - if he hadn't ratted them out, Crazy wouldn't a come. Or if Stevie hadn't hired Crazy in the first place. Of if Maddie simply hadn't come back. Shaking his head at his thoughts, he ended up just patting his brother on the arm.
"There's lots of ifs, Billy Rufus. Can't control ifs. You said it yourself-can't predict crazy."
Billy sighed. "Yeah. S'true. Guess it was really his mess, weren't it? At the end of the day. The Cap'n's and Stevie's."
"Stevie's gonna need forgivin' too. Sounds like he did the right thing, in the end."
"Town won't forgive him that easy." He slumped. "Or me. Not sure I should even try fixin' this place up."
"Oh, don't be like that." Hank said. "Once the holes' are patched up, things'll get better."
Billy hunched against the bar. "How can you-?"
A sharp rapping on the door that Hank had wedged into place stopped him, and they turned to look at it. Hank just had enough time to think, "uh oh," when the hammering came again, and this time, the door fell open. More like crashed open, landing on the floor of the saloon with a loud bang and sending up puffs of dust, causing both brothers to jump.
"Well, that'll need fixing," a jovial voice said. "Hallo, the saloon! Anyone home?"
"Oh God help us," Billy muttered, standing unsteadily and turning to face whatever was coming in.
A tall man in a red shirt, broad grin, and a thick moustache stepped inside, dancing over the boards of the door and placing both hands on his hips.
"There you are! What's going on, Billy Rufus? How come you're not fixing this place up? Chris gave you enough from Maddie to rebuild it twice over!"
Billy frowned. "What?"
"And hello person I don't know!" the man continued cheerfully, walking over to the bar, hand outstretched. "You look like this curmudgeonly fellow here, except a wee bit younger and cleaner. You a brother?"
Hank blinked, and without really thinking, took his hand. "Um…yeah. Yeah. Hank LeClerc. Billy's brother."
"Buck Wilmington," the man replied, gripping Hank's hand so tightly, he could feel it bruising. "Nice to meet ya. But, whoo wee! This place is still a right mess. Rest of the town's looking like its getting back on its feet, but this place looks like hell."
"I wonder why," Billy snarled.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Hank asked, ignoring his brother's black mood.
"Ah, Billy didn't mention us, eh?" Buck's bright smile faded somewhat. "Unfortunately, my friends and I are somewhat responsible for getting poor Billy in trouble here."
"Somewhat?" Billy repeated, snarling slightly and swaying a bit as he tapped a finger against the man's chest. "Was almost killed, you jerk!"
Hank cowered slightly-since this man was a head and a half taller than both of them, and could probably break them in two, but Buck simply nodded, as if this were not an unusual thing for him to hear.
"Fair enough. I deserve that. But we aim to make up for it. Ezra still needs to rest, and seeing as Leadstowns mostly lean-tos and shanties, and it's freezing up there, we thought we might stay a couple days down here with you 'til Erra can ride a horse. That, and so we can see Maddie settled."
Billy perked up immediately, and took a drunken step towards the outside before falling back against his stool. "Maddie? She's here?"
"Sure is. She n' her boy are looking to buy a plot here in town, and set themselves up."
"Her boy?" Billy's eyes almost bugged out, his rump landed fully back on the stool as his legs apparently gave up.
"Oh, right, you don't know." Buck almost looked contrite. "That was a bit of a ruse to get the boy out safely. He was fine-that was all makeup and some pretty darn good acting on the kid's and his mama's part. I'd a thought your Doc or that Benny fella would have told you."
"Yer saying…" Billy swallowed before speaking again. "Henry's alive? Cap'n was right? It really was a trick?"
"Yeah. We'd hoped it would get Maddie out of town too, but, as you know, that insane Reb Captain had DeBlois too spooked." He smiled then. "But it all worked out, and we got one more nutter and his gang off the streets. So you know, Maddie and her cousin have made up as well, and she's hoping the town will let her stay here, while DeBlois runs the mine for her in Leadstown. She really hated Leadstown-I don't think it was what she was expecting, but anyone who's ever seen a mining town knows they ain't pretty. Chris convinced 'em to make a deal, shared ownership with DeBlois running it, provided that Henry inherits when they both die. Since DeBlois got no kids, he agreed."
Billy snorted, but Hank smiled lightly.
"That was right clever of…." Hank paused. "Sorry, who is Chris?"
"The scary one," Billy whispered sloppily in his ear.
"Ah," Hank replied. Buck gave them another curious look before talking again.
"Anyway, look, while we're here, we figured we could also give you a hand cleaning up. After all, we sort of owe you. Sort of an apology, of sorts."
"We also bought you another cart," a new voice said from the doorway, scratchy and with a southern drawl. "Since Vin blew yours up."
Hank had to smile-his brother had described this fella dead to rights. "Let me guess," he said, eyeing the smart coat and brocade waistcoat, and the arm in a sling, "you're the cardsharp, the one that got the whole town playing?"
The man in question tipped his hat. "Guilty. Ezra P. Standish at your service. Speaking of that wonderful game, if my companions get this place semi-respectable by this evening, perhaps we can do it again. You might like to join us, good sir. I hear there are a few folks interested in winning their money back. And, who knows, with this injury," he glanced at the black sling one of his arms rested in, "they might stand a decent chance of--"
"You are irredeemable," another man said, tall, black and enormous. He look a good head taller than the cardsharp, and without pausing, he grabbed "Ezra P. Standish" by his good arm and dragged him over to one of the few chairs. Pushing him into it, he ordered, "Now sit! Stay!"
"I am not a dog, Mr. Jackson!" Ezra croaked back.
"True, you'd be far less annoying if you were. I sent you in here to rest out of the sun, and to rest your voice, not drum up card games and think of new ways to cheat the people of this town out of their money."
"I was merely-"
"Nothing with you is ever 'mere,' Ezra." He stripped off his coat as he spoke, and draped it around Ezra's shoulders with clear affection. "Now, behave and…" He trailed off, and turned to glare at the bar. "Stop grinning, Buck!"
Leaning next to Billy and Hank on the bar, Buck tried to quell a grin, but it came back.
"Aw, don't blame me, Nate! Yer awful cute when you're mother-henning."
"Oh, shut up. You're supposed to be resting your voice as well. Ezra may've been a bit more strangled than you, but your voice got more wear."
"I kinda like this husky thing I've got going on," Buck answered, rubbing at his throat, and Hank saw the red burn marks on it for the first time. "Ladies do too. Imagine if I sang with this voice? I'd bet the ladies would be-"
"One more word and I'm gagging you," Nathan snapped.
"Oh, please do gag him," Ezra said pleadingly. "It'd be so nice."
Nathan just snarled. "You'll both be the death of me," he said. "Neither of you leave this saloon until I come back, and no drinking while I'm gone!" He pointed at them both, waited a moment while Ezra and Buck just smiled, and then heading back out the door, giving Hank a good view of the knives strapped to his back.
"Whoa," he whispered. "So he's the one who-"
"Yep."
"I can see why you thought him larger than life. He's a real big fella, isn't he?"
"They're all big, 'ceptin' Cardsharp, Scruffy and Shaggy."
"Wait, what was that?" Buck asked, still grinning at them. "Were those nicknames? Who's Scruffy?"
From his chair, Ezra simply sighed and settled in, pulling a book from his sling and starting to read. "They're both rather drunk, Mr. Wilmington. I wouldn't put too much stock into their ability to clarify."
"Are you really?" Buck's grin widened. "So that's what I smell! Got anymore?"
"Work first," an older man with short white hair said, nodding at Hank and Billy. A blondish man in an Indian fringed jacket and a kid with shaggy black hair followed him in, all carrying tools from the hardware store.
"Ah, got it. Scruffy and Shaggy," Buck said, nodding at the two younger men. He looked at Billy then. "What do you call Josiah?" He gestured to the older man.
"Grizzled," Hank said, almost without thinking. Buck burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Scruffy asked, walking over. "Hey Billy Rufus." He gave a nod to Hank. "Vin Tanner."
"Hank LeClerc."
"Nice to meet you. Related?"
"Brother," Buck supplied. "Younger and married, so also cleaner."
Hank just huffed.
"That's JD," Vin said, jerking a thumb at the kid. "And the one with the tool box, that's Josiah. He's gotta lot of experience fixin' places up. We should have this place back together in no time."
"In time for this evening, you think?" Ezra asked hopefully.
"Might be a bit short on chairs and tables, but the windows, walls and doors, sure."
"As long as there is one table and about six chairs, that should do me fine."
"You're not gambling these people out of the recompense Maddie gave 'em, Ez," Nathan said, walking back into the saloon with a bunch of 2x4s over his shoulder.
"Nathan, you wound me! I would never."
Josiah chuckled. "The forked tongue of the serpent, it-"
"Josiah," Ezra said with a growl, "one more parable out of you today, and I'm going to get Maddie to take back that German book of psalms she gave you. And you'll have nothing new to bore us with when we get home." That caused the others to laugh, and Hank couldn't help smiling as well. It felt like a shadow was being lifted off this place, and these men were the ones doing it. Josiah said something to Ezra, but it got lost as JD, Vin and Nathan started sawing the wood.
"Speaking of Maddie, " Buck said then, still leaning next to them at the bar, "she has a special gift for you, Billy," Buck said. "She's outside, with Chris, Henry and your new cart."
Billy's face lit up at the news, getting to his feet again, still a bit unsteadily. Hank frowned slightly, a little worried about how happy his brother looked at seeing this woman again. Standing, he followed his brother's uneven walk to the front, stopping when Billy did. Billy was looking at Josiah, who was standing by the open door, measuring the broken frame.
"Hey," Billy said, his voice soft.
Josiah gave him a smile. "Billy Rufus. You alright?"
"I…yes…I just…I wanted to….Thanks." Billy actually blushed then, something Hank'd not seen since they were both little. "Not sure I said it before. You saved my life. Thank you."
Josiah just inclined his head. "Perhaps you can do the same for someone else, someday. Lots of folks need saving in this world."
Billy snorted. "Maybe I will."
Josiah smiled again and backed out of the way as Billy staggered out the opening into the light of day. Hank followed him, squinting a little.
His brother groaned mightily as the sun pierced his sight, throwing up his hands as if warding it off could prevent it from being so bright outside. The snow on the ground didn't help.
"Hi Billy."
Hank's eyes adjusted first, he reckoned, so he was able to see the somewhat plain, but pretty woman standing at the edge of the boardwalk before his brother did. She had the lines of someone who'd seen some things-Hank guess maybe early 30's-but still had a blush in her cheeks. After a moment, he realized the blush was because she was uncomfortable, and, amazingly, a little shy.
"Heh…Hello Maddie," Billy said, equally as shy. Hank had to fight not to roll his eyes. And he wasn't the only one.
Standing behind Maddie, leaning against a cart with his arms crossed, was a man that Hank easily admitted was one of the scariest looking people he'd ever seen. Wearing a heavy black coat, looking a little like he enjoyed eating children for breakfast, a blondish man glanced at both Billy and Hank before looking away.
Maddie, meanwhile, had shifted back a step so she could indicate the cart. "I bought you a cart. I think it's better than the one Vin blew up."
"Oh, um," Billy smiled. "Thanks."
"And, um…" She bit her lip.
Good God, Hank realized as she blushed prettily and looked down. She really does like his brother. When did hell freeze over?
"Um, I also bought you this." She nodded at the scary one, who must be "Chris," Hank realized. The man reached into the cart and tossed back a heavy cloth, revealing a long bar mirror. "I had them make it in Leadstown," Maddie continued. "Lots of blacksmiths there." She looked at Billy again. "I thought…to replace the one that shattered?"
Billy just blinked, then smiled goofily. "Yer real pretty in this light, Mizz Maddie."
Maddie smiled again, blushing even more deeply, and Hank heard Chris groan. Throwing the cloth back over the mirror, he growled, "I'm getting a drink."
"Sure," Maddie said, paying him no attention as he swept past her and Billy and into the saloon. He hadn't even looked at Hank, though Hank had been staring right at him. Damn.
"So…" Billy said then, "I heard that Henry-"
"Oh, yes, I'm so sorry for the ruse." She pointed down the boardwalk, where Martita and her girls were currently hugging and fawning over a young kid with a mop of blondish hair and sporting a sling like the Cardsharp's. "He's going to be alright."
As if aware that he was being spoken of, the boy suddenly turned and sprinted towards them.
"Mom!" he yelled breathlessly, skidding to a stop in front of Maddie. "Where's Chris?"
"Inside," she replied. "But I-" Too late. Henry had already disappeared into the saloon, and Hank had to smile as laughter erupted from inside a moment after the boy's appearance.
Oblivious to anything but Maddie, Billy asked, "Wanna take a walk?"
Maddie gave a nod, then just as quickly shook her head as if realizing something. "Oh, I can't. I can't leave Henry with Chris for too long. I need to see him settled, but…lunch? At the hotel, in an hour?"
"Okay." Billy nodded, and Maddie smiled again and, with obvious reluctance, walked away-presumably to get a room at the hotel.
Unbelievable. Hank fell against the saloon's walls in total shock. In his whole life, he'd never seen Billy act that way around a woman. Or vice versa. And never a pretty woman.
Billy just turned around and grinned. "Told ya, Henry Beau."
"Billy Rufus," Hank replied, "I'm officially proud to be your brother."
And Billy grinned even wider.
"But," Hank added, "you best sober up and wash up before you meet that lady at the hotel."
Billy's smile fell, and he looked down at his filthy clothes. "Bath! I need a bath!" And suddenly he was off and running, headed towards the bath house like his clothes were on fire, nearly running into a hitching post along the way as his balance faltered. Hank just stayed where he was, shaking his head.
For a while, he just stood there, drinking in the cool air and the sunlight, feeling the last of his alcoholic haze fade. He smiled as he listened to the sounds of laughter, sawing and hammering from inside the saloon.
When the clock struck noon, he glanced over at the Godwin's and saw Edith on her stoop. She spotted him and waved him over. Giving her a nod, he strolled across the street to her now perfectly clear porch, the feed store's goods restacked and looking as if nothing had ever happened.
"Did he tell you the story?" she asked as he approached.
"He did. He thinks the whole town's mad at him."
"Weren't his fault," she admitted. "Weren't no one's, 'cept that old Captain friend of Stephen's. Never seen anything like him before. Was terrifying, it was. Hal tried to stop 'em when they raided our place, and nearly had his block knocked off. That's why he's hiding-don't want anyone seeing his face." She shrugged. Then she frowned and leaned forward, sniffing. "Oh, Hank! Don't tell me you been drinkin' with him? I was hoping you'd break him out o' that! Not joining him. What'd your wife say?"
Hank just shrugged. "I'm hoping to sober up before heading home."
She stared at him a moment, then looked over his shoulder at the saloon. Hank followed her gaze, and saw the Jerk…Buck…standing outside, helping Nathan to shatter the rest of glass from the partially broken plate glass window, probably to make it easier to remove. Turning back, he caught Edith flashing a rare smile.
"Wait here," she ordered, and, like everyone else in this town, he did whatever Edith ordered. She disappeared inside her shop, and, a moment later, returned with a tray and a hot pie covered by a cloth.
"Hal n' me'll load up your wagon. You take this over to those boys helping your brother, and tell 'em this is for them."
Hank frowned slightly as he took the tray. "But…" His frown deepened, thinking about what his brother had said. "You don't blame 'em for what happened?"
Her eyebrows lifted, giving him a look as if this was the most absurd thing she'd ever heard. Then she gave a shrug.
"Maybe. When it first happened. Some. But listen. Even after they'd gotten Maddie out, after they'd done what they was hired to do, they came back. And before they did anything-before they helped their friends, whom anyone with eyes can see they care about like family, or fired one shot at those bandits-they made sure everyone in this town was safe. They came in our back door, got me, Hal n' the girls, and got us out o' town. Got everyone out of town. And they got your brother, Robbie, Martita n' her girls-made sure they were free, so they could run when it started. And then they saved the town itself, got us back all those things we worked so hard for, not takin' one thing for themselves." She nodded at the saloon. "Those men, Hank LeClerc, they're the real thing. They're the kind of men stories and legends are made of, and I, for one, think they deserve a little peach pie."
Hank couldn't help but smile at that, and he lifted the tray up. "Well, when you put it that way…"
"I'm never wrong, Hank. Don't you forget." She turned away as his smile grew, only to stop and throw him a look over her shoulder. "And you tell your brother, him and his new lady friend are welcome over for dinner. 6:00. They're not to be late. You tell 'em."
Hank grinned. "I will."
She gave him a nod, and, with a swish of her skirts, disappeared back into her shop.
Now that? That was a queen.
Laughing now, Hank headed back to the saloon. He wondered how pie tasted with whiskey?
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The End
And the second awesome banner from Randi, for the story: