OK, to review...
Buddy: shot in the a$$, about to be murdered by the approaching Army
Catori: about to be raped and murdered by the approaching Army
Luis: having lunch and tea and signing on with Cavendish
Greg: about to discover Catori has left the hotel
Lilly: outside the hotel, about to be discovered by someone
Leo: about to fill us in about the Scorpion plot to derail the money train
Matt: about to clue Buddy in to his bounty-hunting for the Scorpions
Scorpions: about to rob the money train
Jericho's Army: sent to protect, defend and escort the money train, and murder Buddy Reno
Comanche Indians: murdered by the Army, searching for Buddy
New Hope Citizens: welcome Buddy as new sheriff in town, a job which Buddy doesn't really want, but to bring justice upon whoever killed Lily's father, Sheriff Sanders
Mysterious Gringo (in Mexican border town): coming back to Texas to kill Luis
Mysterious Mexican Girl: Mystery White Man's love slave
Darth Revan
Luis was out... riding the range... with Cavendish... or something...
"Yup, Luis..." Cavendish was rambling, "I imagine a world where all races live and work with each other, as equals, and it's going to start with me, and with my company, a co-operative organizational venture, that will span the country, and, maybe even the world..."
They rode out to the diamond mine and examined the area.
"I need good men, strong men, saavy in the ways of the wilderness, and good with a blade or a peacemaker...
Folks to clean up the scum like those blue bandanna bandits..."
Cavendish cursed as he gazed across the horizon, noting the approach of a few wagons. He found his viewing scope and cursed again, his suspicions confirmed. "Speaking of the cursed Army, here they come again.."
"I see... I am intrigued by your offer, Mr. Cavendish," Luis said cooly.
The two rode back into town, to the hotel.
Tela
Catori woke up to a huge headache. She held her head and groaned rolling onto her side. She tried to sit up and get her bearings. what hit her? All she could remember was the village burned to the ground, then a voice, the guy, Buddy had called him Jericho!
Catori started to panick inwardly. What was going to happen? there's no way she could escape. The fever still kept her somewhat weak and now the migrane. . . .She wouldn't be anle to fight.
"Look who's awake."
"Mmmmm... purdy li'l savage gulrie, aintchya..." the drunk solder slobbered over himself as he crawled into the supply wagon where Catori lay. "Careful, sweety... Don't want you to get hurt... much..." he moved his hands up her quivering body, enjoying her smooth curves and soft skin... enjoying himself too much, until he wanted even MORE!
"This won't hurt a bit, savage... kinda like a good scalping, I reckon... quick sharp pain, then just eternal bliss..." he spread her legs forcefully, not caring that the noose tightened around her neck while he tugged at his belt and unfastened his breeches.
Catori whimpered as she felt his touch. Her eyes squeezed shut. This couldn't be happening. Before she knew what was happening she felt the noose around her neck tighten. Her eyes shot opened and she started to cough slightly. Looking at the soldier, she wondered if she would live long enough to see Buddy again.
Buddy and Matt
Buddy chose that moment to make his announcement.
"That's right! Sheriff Sanders has been murdered, folks, in cold blood, in the most cowardly way imaginable, shot in the back in his own office down to the jailhouse!"
gasps and whispers up and down the street, as the gossip mill churned on..
"You have been charged with crimes against townsfolk!! Witnesses have had a say, and your victim has declared himself within his rights to settle this matter in quick-fashion, for all eyes to see...
You have but 2 choices, Criminal: surrender, or accept the Gentlemen's Challenge... I give you 'til the count of 3 to make your move.. One... Two...
Greg smiled broadly. He wasn't sure what would happen, but he was sure he was the fastest gun here, and he would be ready.
The man's hand darted for his gun and two gunshots rang out. The bandito fell forward, his gun arm snapping backward. Matt walked over to the man, using his foot yo flip him over. "I think you may want to get a doctor if you don't want to have yourself a corpse. I apologise for the mess."
Buddy raised his hands to quiet the murmuring onlookers after the amazing display of reflexes and pistol-prowess.
"Miss Sisco over to the mercantile is fairly skilled with bandages, and we can keep your murderer together long enough for ta put a call in to Bucksville... I'd be in your debt if you would make that call, Sir... "
Matt shook his hand, "The name's Matt DeClave. And I'd be happy to take the fool up to Bucksville. Can I ask you to look after him, just while I go find this Miss Sisco?" he turned to Greg, offering his hand, "You comin'?"
Xornon Jay
Greg smiled as he watched Buddy hobble. "Hey Buddy, I'm gonna go ahead and stay on the street. God knows what else could go wrong. I'm gonna keep a watch out."
Spike
"Well, well... Leo the Lion... caged and tamed..." it was one of Wolf Raines' men, and he stood between Leo in the open jail cell and Leo's pistol and belt on the wall across the room. "You got but two choices, brother Raines: Join us, meet up with your brother up in Bucksville, or DIE!" the Scorpion had both his pistols trained on Leo, at deadly close-range.
Leo found a map of some sort of route from Abilene to Bucksville then to New Hope, then to the Army Fort further west, and at each of 3 points on the map there is an 'X' and a $$ marking 3 spots, a point between Abilene and Bucksville, a point between Bucksville and New Hope, and a point between New Hope and the Army Fort...
It doesn't make much sense, and Leo doesn't care to make it make sense; all he wants is to track down his brother and finish their face-off like men face to face instead of gunned down from the shadows. So, he rides out of town...
... and as he leaves, Leo rides past the newly constructed BANK building near the Cavendish Ent. Int. office, but he doesn't notice the plaque and sign on the front wall:
'Cavendish Reserve Bank--- GRAND OPENING! (4 days from this date) Waitin' on the $$ train...'
4 days later, while the ruckus is going on...
Leo rode back into New Hope, he didn't know how long he had been gone for. He had been out tracking his brother, Wolfe, and now back from his investigation. He looked around at the town, exactly as he remembered it. Now he just had to find Sherriff Buddy.
The Cavendish scouting party returns about then, and Cavendish and Luis debark from the stage. "Perhaps it is good that the Army be here when the money train arrives from Bucksville tomorrow..." Cavendish changes his tune about the dreadful Army. "They will most likely escort the stagecoach convoy from here to the the fort further west, but at least, finally New Hope will have a proper bank after tomorrow..."
Back to the hotel, Luis and Cavendish returned to the hotel. A bellhop took them to a dining room, where a table was already set with china and silver. Within a few minutes, a maid began bringing their food out.
Lily
Lily collapsed outside the New Hope shop of Bennet
Lily was scooped up and taken inside their little shop. Bennet's mother rubbed salves on her scarred chest. Bennet looked at her with eyes full of love. Lily lay back and fell asleep.
Little Bennet ran back to the mercantile and cried out to his Mom when he found the girl, Lily bleeding on the front stoop. He helped his mom by fetching water from the well while she removed Lily's shirt and salved and wrapped her chest in loose cloth bandages.
"Benny! You'll need to run fetch the doctor up to Bucksville... take the shotgun, and some water."
Little Ben was dragged back into the mercantile by the scruff of his neck. Ben's Mother screamed at the men to get out of her home. But the sight of the healthy-looking white woman gave the bandits all the more reason to hang around! They grabbed her, she fought them off, but there were too many of them.
Matt walked into the store, and was shocked by the scene in front of him, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he yelled at the scorpions.
"Take 'em out boys!" the lead bandit demanded, diving out the window as the gunfire ensued.
Matt dropped one of the bandits, charging into the second one. He kicked the man roughly, and he started scrabbling backward. Matt raised his gun and advanced...
BAM! BAM!
Matt puts his arm round Miss Sisco, his other hand still holding his gun, and spoke to Ben, "She's right, kid. Ain't no good you going and getting yoursel' shot. But I got no doubt yo woulda done perfectly well, had me and Greg not needed your momma's assistance for the man lying with to bullet wounds in the street."
"He's this way ma'am. I'm afraid to say I shot him, so it sounds like I must be one of those self same bandits you're talking about." Matt gestured backward, "I'll get someone to clear up that mess for you."
Greg smiled as he watched Buddy hobble. He still found it funny he had shot his friend in the ass, but hey, he should have said something. He rested his hand gently on his still very tender stomach. "Hey Buddy, I'm gonna go ahead and stay on the street. God knows what else could go wrong. I'm gonna keep a watch out."
Buddy looked to Greg. "Alrighty... You know where I'll be... in fact, why don't you go collect Catori from the hotel, get her over to the office, and try to find Luis.. and Lilly too.. she should know about her father... I'll be up and around again, in no time..."
he looked from Greg to Matt, "You coming, DeClave?"
Mysterious Gringo (in Mexican border town): coming back to Texas to kill Luis
Mysterious Mexican Girl: Mystery White Man's love slave
Elsewhere...
In some small, run-down hole-in-the-wall saloon, inhabited by several greasy nasty drunken Mexicans, a finely-dressed proper-looking man strolls in, but all eyes dart immediately to his beautiful Mexican companion, her brown skin glowing from the heat of the day, her big brown eyes sparkling, with a hint of sadness, as the man leads her along to the corner table, orders a shot of whiskey for himself and a glass of water for the lady, then excuses himself to go to the bar.
Minutes later, a man approaches the bar from the shadows, and nods to the well-to-do man.
"What did you find out?" the wealthy man asked, sliding an envelope across the bar toward the man.
"He's still in Texas.." the greasy-Mexican informant muttered, making a move for the envelope. The rich man swatted the Mexican's hand hard, holding fast to the envelope on the bar.
"Where?!" he demanded. "I am paying you too much for so little! All I ask is details!"
"New Hope, mostly.." the Mexican whimpered. "Near Abilene... and... and... he's made some friends... a black man, a savage girl, and even a few gringos!"
"Hmmm..." the wealthy white man took a moment to consider, releasing his hold on the Mexican and the envelope, and glancing away from the bar at his beautiful senorita across the way. "Luis Pasilla, passing himself off as anything but disreputable... making friends, and making a stake for himself, is he? all the more for me to TAKE FROM HIM, I think..."
he left the greaser at the bar and strolled confidently back to his lady love at the table.
"We're going on a trip, dear..." he announced. "Across the border, to Texas.. time to show you the white man's frontier, before it's gone away..." he lied, so well
"... to New Hope!" he toasted, tossing back the shot of whiskey he had ordered, thinking to himself, 'and to the end of Luis Pasillas!'
So, Lily is at the mercantile spare room, Luis and Cavendish at the hotel, Buddy and Matt at the Sheriff's office with Miss Sisco, Greg keeping the peace on the street, Catori's in trouble in the wagon of the approaching Army, and Leo just arriving back to New Hope with the Scorpion master plan map in his possession...
Scorpions abound on the streets and in the businesses, the ruckus on the street was surely noticed by all in the area, and the Army is fast-approaching all in preparation for the money train robbery...
Buddy crossed into the Sheriff's office and rigged a make-shift privacy screen between himself and the public, behind which Miss Sisco could recover the bullet from his haunches.
As Buddy sprawled over the Sheriff's desk, his derriere in the air behind a curtain of longcoats tacked between the desk and the wall, his mind was always whirring.
"Well..." he replied to Matt's question, tossing the two recently removed Scorpion bandanna's and artifacts on the desk. Along with the bandannas were the symbolic insignias of 3 separate Scorpion sects, Buffalos, Wolverines, and Lions. "If you can't beat them...
"... become them!"
He laid out a plot involving disguise, distraction and deception, trusting that the converging co-op of crooks couldn't possibly be completely aware of each other's identities. Reno's Renegades could infiltrate and blend in, and take the fight to the Scorpions from the inside out, figure out their master plan, and stop them, at any cost.
"Whatever they are into, we will get there first, and take them down and out..." Buddy didn't even flinch as Miss Sisco fished the slug from the hole in his rear, his head and heart were so absorbed in his plot.
"They have us out-numbered, and out-gunned, but we've got the talent, intelligence, and determination, and one more thing these Scorpions don't have..."
"Oh yeah?" Matt wondered. "What might that be?"
"Class..." Buddy smiled, rising from the desk, his pants around his ankles. He leaned against the desk, and poked at the bandage on his butt, squealed in pain, shuddered and spasmed involuntarily, slipping from the edge of the desk and collapsing to the floor. -oof!-
-cof- "Class... style... and grace... we will win the day!" he couldn't help but laugh. It was going to be a Hell of a challenge!
Originally posted by DIBWILLPAY!
Catori whimpered as she felt his touch. Her eyes squeezed shut. This couldn't be happening. Before she knew what was happening she felt the noose around her neck tighten. Her eyes shot opened and she started to cough slightly. Looking at the soldier, she wondered if she would live long enough to see Buddy again.
The drunk soldier grabbed Catori by the neck and pulled her face toward him, giving her another moment's breath as he pressed against her.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" he moaned... no SCREAMED in apparent orgasmic bliss, though Catori was too shocked and stunned to have even felt his penetration.
A sickening -crunch- of flesh sent the man screaming up and away, his testicles having been crushed from behind, in the gloved hand of Catori's savior. Commander Jericho shoved the castrated corporal from the wagon, kicking the man while he was down, then climbed into the wagon to free Catori from her bounds.
"Savages... the lot of 'em... worse than you and your people in some ways..." Jericho snarled as he loosened the ropes around her neck and wrists. "We're coming to New Hope, where you will be reunited with your friends and fellow savages, Reno's Renegades. I need you whole and unharmed, or your man will never trade his life for yours..."
"He would die for you, you know? Or kill any who would harm you...
But, he is not with out honor, your Buddy Reno, honor and a strong sense of justice and fair play... I'm counting on these values in order to survive this encounter. All I want is Buddy Reno, the rest of you will be free to live and die as you will...
You can see, I am not wholly without honor, Savage... I could just as well leave you at the mercy of these drunken fool soldiers, then drop your damaged, dead body at Reno's doorstep, call him out and kill him quick, him and all his band of Renegade sheep.
All I want is Buddy Reno... help me get him, or die along side him..."
it was a no-win situation for Catori, but what choice did she have at this point?
Buddy was pulling up his pants and clamoring to right himself after his 'accidental' fall from grace, Miss Sisco, embarrassed and a bit disgusted, excused herself and stumbled across the room, as the office door opened and Leo poked his head in.
Matt and Buddy both drew down on the gun-slinger as Miss Sisco jumped with a start.
"Whoa, hold it a tick!" Buddy ordered, lowering his aim and hitching up his belt. "I know you, don't I? Step up and be recognized there, and let the lady pass, or my trigger-happy friend here will shoot you dead..."
Miss Sisco slipped past as Leo stood in the doorway.
~I forget if we actually had any encounters face-to-face in Abilene or not, so Leo's going to have to explain...~
Originally posted by SlickRick69
The drunk soldier grabbed Catori by the neck and pulled her face toward him, giving her another moment's breath as he pressed against her."AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" he moaned... no SCREAMED in apparent orgasmic bliss, though Catori was too shocked and stunned to have even felt his penetration.
A sickening -crunch- of flesh sent the man screaming up and away, his testicles having been crushed from behind, in the gloved hand of Catori's savior. Commander Jericho shoved the castrated corporal from the wagon, kicking the man while he was down, then climbed into the wagon to free Catori from her bounds.
"Savages... the lot of 'em... worse than you and your people in some ways..." Jericho snarled as he loosened the ropes around her neck and wrists. "We're coming to New Hope, where you will be reunited with your friends and fellow savages, Reno's Renegades. I need you whole and unharmed, or your man will never trade his life for yours..."
"He would die for you, you know? Or kill any who would harm you...
But, he is not with out honor, your Buddy Reno, honor and a strong sense of justice and fair play... I'm counting on these values in order to survive this encounter. All I want is Buddy Reno, the rest of you will be free to live and die as you will...You can see, I am not wholly without honor, Savage... I could just as well leave you at the mercy of these drunken fool soldiers, then drop your damaged, dead body at Reno's doorstep, call him out and kill him quick, him and all his band of Renegade sheep.
All I want is Buddy Reno... help me get him, or die along side him..."
it was a no-win situation for Catori, but what choice did she have at this point?
Catori's eyes began to tear up but she blinked them away. She would not appear weak in front of this man. She was so confused. The horrile man had saved her ut he wanted to kill uddy. "W...What has buddy ever done to you?" she asked not moving.
"Oh, it's you..." Buddy smiled, relaxing. "Caught me with my pants down again, there gun-slinger... I was wondering where you'd gone off to.. Leo isn't it? I don't know if I like losing track of my 'deputies' if you're still up for the job... Hell, not so sure I'm up for this job myself! These Scorpions are up to something, and it's BIG judging by the number of men involved...
So, Leo the Lion, where have you been? and what have you been up to?"
Buddy examined the map, noting the trade route marked with $$ from Abilene through New Hope and westward, to the Army fort.
"Where did you find this? On a Scorpion bandit right here in town? I KNEW IT! Something big is going down, and if money is involved, I'm sure these bandits won't give up easily!"
Buddy cinched up his gun belt and flipped on his cowboy hat, hobbling to the window for a peek out at the streets. He saw the Cavendish carriage across the way, outside the hotel, and remembered his benefactor's earlier offer of contractual obligations and signing later in the day. Surely a powerful business man such as Cavendish might have knowledge of any large sums of money coming into the area.
"We should get to the hotel, and have our meet with Mr Cavendish, and start putting things in order to undo whatever these bandits have in mind... I should check on Catori any way..."
Buddy looked to Matt and Leo checking to make sure they were ready to cross the mean streets of New Hope again, now that the Scorpions would be on the prowl since losing a few more of their numbers.
"Let's go!" he commanded.
Across town, at the hotel, another stagecoach was just arriving, its passengers disembarking. Inside the hotel, Luis and Nat were enjoying a fabulous dinner with Cavendish, and planning their futures, and the future of New Hope.
"Yes, once the bank brings more business and even more money to this unsettled region, it shall flourish, and we will all reap grand rewards, having been here at the start..." Cavendish cheered, raising his glass of fine wine to his lips.
Luis Pasillas was anxious and excited about the new opportunities to make something of his good name, but just then, all thoughts of wealth and power and a future for himself faded away, as the stagecoach passengers strolled into the hotel.
... among them, a beautiful Mexican senorita (from the Bordertown scene earlier, involving 'the end of Luis Pasillas...')
Luis was speechless, struck dumb, as if he had seen a ghost, returned from too long away...
~much like Luis/DR himself!! coincidence?? I think not~