Catori walked over to where Jericho had dismounted. "Commander." she said softly. "I may hate the fact you urned my village and killed everyone in it or the fact you're going to try to kill Buddy, but I am not without honor either. some day, I WILL pay you back." she said before realizing the other soldiers were staring at her.
Jericho smiled slightly, but shook his head, taking the savage girl's bruised hands in his, almost tenderly, but still by force, and using more strength than he would have really had to.
"I doubt I should see you again, Savage..." he snarled, loud enough for the men near-by to hear. "But, if I do, you can be sure, I will have your head, before you can 'repay me' by taking my scalp! Now GO! run away girlie! Tell your man the evil Commander Jericho is here for HIS head! Show him your wounds, remind him it could have been worse, much much worse, and tell him it WILL only get worse until I have his heart in my hands and can squeeze the last ounce of life from him myself... Tell him everything as I have told you, then forget about Buddy Reno and go on with your life, far from this simple little town..."
Catori couldn't believe she was being released! Still, she couldn't tell Buddy all of that, get him all riled up and thinking crazy, force him to do something monumentally stupid like charging head-long into the armed Army camp, just as Jericho probably hoped he might do! Catori's head was spinning with all the latest bunch of dramas, and she wouldn't lead Buddy to his doom! She couldn't! But, what should she do?
She needed to clear her head, to get some perspective, before getting safely back to the hotel before Buddy found out she had sneaked away. She should go check in on Lilly, and use that as her excuse, should Buddy find her missing from the hotel...
So, she made way through town, down dark back alleys and shadowy side-streets, to the Sisco Mercantile, where she was greeted not by Miss Sisco or her cute and funny little son Ben, but by a group of snaggle-tooth men dressed in Army uniforms but also wearing blue bandannas!!
"What the--"
"Hello, Savage girlie!" one man snarled.
"TAKE HER!" the others decided, "She might warn the Sheriff she saw us!" And before Catori could react, she found herself again at the mercy of a band of malcontents, this time with no compassionate commander or caring selfless sheriff to stand up for her...
there were 9 or 10 men in the alley behind the mercantile, and they subdued Catori and kept her quiet long enough to drag her from the street...
Li'l Bennet Sisco and Lily had left the bedroom to go find Miss Sisco and tell her the strange tale of the bandits being drafted, so nobody saw poor Catori kidnapped!!
Buddy loaded his shotgun and hunting rifle, and spun the cylinders on each of his pistols, making sure they too were fully-loaded, stocked his vest pockets and pistol belt with more ammo, and looked to Leo, nodding.
"You're probably right..." he shrugged, then proceeded to mount the horse any way, drawing down on Leo with those pistols before he was even (uncomfortably) in the saddle, obviously favoring his injured haunch. "Now, you can either let me ride into Jericho's little trap, where I can empty these 16 shots into him unless he releases Catori back to me unharmed... or I'll put 2 slugs into your shoulders and spare 14 for Jericho... not much calling for a gunslinger who can't lift his arms, 'ey gun-slinger?"
he was not joking this time, his face was cold and stoic, there would be no talking him out of this tonight...
"The money train will still be coming tomorrow or the next day..." Buddy promised. "We'll stop those blasted Scorpions before they take the train, whether the Army is there to help us or not! And, we'll do it in our own way, on our own terms, not at the mercy of those government-issue stuff-shirt political puppets! Now, move aside, Leo, or I'll shoot you down where you stand!"
Surely, he knew Leo understood about vendettas and honor, if not Love. Surely Leo would stand aside, rather than take a slug or 2 in his shooting arms??
Buddy held his aim on Leo's upper torso, chest and shoulder region.
"The Army razed the Comanche camp, probably murdered and burned everyone Catori knew... if she went there to stop them, or have her revenge, odds are she's dead now any way! Or soon will be... if not worse than dead, dishonored, disfigured... disheartened for certain... if I don't go in all guns blazing, if I take an easier path to this vengeance, I will do her the same sort of dishonor... I already owe Jericho more bullets than these here pistols can carry! The fact that he has brought such greater harm to Catori simply seals his fate, as it has hers, and as it should mine... It's time to pay what I owe..."
(((Heheh, I feel so loved 😮 😛 )))
Catori sighed. This was definately not her day. Everything had happened so fast. First her village burned, then she was captured by Jericho, then the drunk shoulder. The last thought mad her tremble. What did these people want with her now? she tried to figure a way out but found it hopeless. Tears found their way to Catori's eyes but she linked them away.
((Actually it's night time again, so the mercantile is closed, but Matt Can still walk around back...)
The 'Army soldiers' pick up the heavy chest and are moving out of the area when they notice Matt at the end of the alley, drawing down on them.
"Ho there, stranger!" one of the soldiers hollers. "Move out men, get this back to camp... I'll deal with this gun-slinger..."
the other soldiers usher a plain-clothes man down the street, carrying the chest between a few of them, as the 'squad leader' steps up. He is unarmed, but also appears quite unafraid.
"No need for gun-play, Sir." the man explains, "We're the United States Army, here to protect you... and your money... always looking for new recruits though, if you'd be interested, you can pack up and follow the young fellow there out to our camp.. he's our newest recruit, we're just getting him started tonight.
So, please, Sir, holster your weapons, or we might have to have you arrested..."
"Unluckily for you, Captain," Matt stressed the word with a slight sneer, "I happen to know that Captains cannot recruit soldiers. And I know that people who wear blue bandannas, or at least keep them," he motioned with his guns to the bandanna that was slightly hanging out of the Captains pocket, "Aren't worth the trust I would give a whore. But, either way, I'll kill you now unless you tell me when and where the money will be stolen."
He hopped off the boardwalk, standing even with the bandit.
The man seems more the willing and able to answer questions, in a calm and orderly manner, and does so without skinning any weapon of his own.
"Actually, I am SERGEANT Willard Desmond Anthony Conrad Stevenson, 2nd Battalion, of the 35th Riflemens' Brigade, out of Camp Chiamongua Bay, East Texas..." he correctly identified the actual rank insignia on his uniform, in a growl, including more useless information thatn necessary, to be sure, and continued without pause, "Our recruiting tactics and mandates have been altered slightly, since the war (Revolution) has diminished our numbers so, as if that be any of your business, civilian...
And, these here be official government of the (Union/Confederacy, whichever is appropriate for Texas in mid to late 1860s)-issued bandannas, which would explain their similar colors, blue being the most readily available fabric at the time of their creation and dispersal into Army-issue...
again, neither her nor there as far as you're concerned... you may yet join our ranks, if you could pass the physical and mental requirements, that is, or stand aside...
And, as for the money train..." there rose a thunderous racket down the main street from Abilene way as a 4-wagon convoy galloped into town, surrounded by a 16-man/horse escort of mixed mercenary- and military-types. "Well, there it be now, and ahead of schedule..."
"Your concerns for your money, and for the well-being of those traveling with the convoy is noted, citizen Sir, and this little incident need not be reported, or brought to the next level of disciplinary measure at this time. I will overlook your zeal and anxiety, as it is most likely in the nature of a gun-slinger. Now, if you will excuse us, Sir, we have arrangements to make to secure the convoy and its contents for the evening..."
the man makes no sudden moves, demands or orders to his fellow troops, who continue to move away, to secure the incoming convoy, even while looking back at the exchange, drawing pause at the Stranger's display of weapons on a public, if dark street... The 'Captain' waits for Matt's response, now that more witnesses have arrived.
~I was sorta playing it that you -just missed- the abduction, and Catori is nowhere in plain sight, and for something to chew on later, that had Matt left and followed Buddy directly out rather than sitting in and collecting another $500 for the bounty/money train caper, he might have caught the abduction and prevented it... not that he will ever know he was that close, or maybe he might... but just telling you, it did just happen, but all you see is the soldiers and the big heavy trunk, and their stories and demeanors do seem to check out, as far you can tell by the one guy who has done all the talking... he seems to know exactly what to say, like a good recruiter should... or like a well-versed actor playing the role! either way, it's done and done for now...~
The Army man nods and shrugs, passing by Matt still with an air of caution. "Could be a career in it for you too, son..." he continued his pitch. "A family legacy even..." but he felt his words fall on the deaf ears of the gun-slinger, and moved on with his men, to the convoy, loading the trunk onto the rear wagon before leading the convoy, men and horses to be put up and secured for the night.
It's not until a few minutes later, when the convoy has been secured byt the Army and all the men are on guard, when Benny Sisco and Lily step out from the mercantile and look after those strange Army men...
~but, again, they didn't see the actual abduction either...~
Lily got up and got out onto the patio back of the store. Falling onto the cool ground she looked up at the twinking stars. They all seemed to tell a different story.
Around midnight she heard a scream that pierced the dark. She sat bolt up right. Gazing around in the darkness she spotted a figure.
Until it was a few feet from her she saw it was a man with a lighter. Gulping she got up as if to run but she was still to the spot.
Commander Jericho seethed. The men he sent after the scouts shouldn't e taking this long! He sneered. Looking around he spotted two men. "Go see where the others are and why it is taking them so damned long." he barked before stomping into his tent.
The two men relunctantly mounted their horses. They didn't like this. The commander had the savage in his hands and more than likely he could have gotten information of Reno's whereabouts out of her. Spurring their horses in the direction which the scout had followed, they began their journey. Little did they know what they would find.
A little while later the two army men spotted vultures circling in the distance. Smirking they knew the scout was dead. Driving the horses even harder they galloped to the site.
The taller man was the first to slow down. He lowered his eyes two the dead carcasses and then shut them quickly. It was horrible. He looked to his companion who seemed equally shocked.
"How could this happen?" The smaller one asked.
The first one sighed. "Don't know. There's no arrows. They still have their scalps, and there are no bullets just a lot of cuts, gashes, ruising, and scrapes. almost like they were rolled down that mountain side." he said pointing to the ro mountain. "We etter report back. The comander will not like this."
"The scout is gone. Must have been them."
"must have."