Williams, Arizona 1882

OOC: This is an open thread based on the American "Old West" and the terror caused by an all-girl group of bandits called Janes Gang. It's an open thread in which you may play members of Janes Gang (all female, I will be playing Jane "Apache" Huckster, the leader. You may also play visitors, fortune seekers and townsfolk. I'll be playing the sherrif. No more than two characters per player are permitted and that only if you want to play a townmember and a member of Janes Gang. Please post bios in the OOC thread and await acceptance before joining. Thanks.

Williams, Arizona. Home of ranching, farming and trappers. Home of men seeking gold and stopping place for folks who've heard of the Canyon and want to see it for themselves. Home of the railroad and post office too after the last few years. It's a nice place to live, rowdy like, but no more than any other Western town. At least, it wasn't. That was until Janes Gang arrived in town.

Evidently inspired by tales of the James-Younger gang out in Missouri these young ladies bust into town and bust open the bank. Ol' Sherrif Mitchell tried to stop them and got shot dead for his trouble. That's why I'm here. Killin' a lawman's a federal crime and the feds decided to put me in here as the new sherrif to see if I can't take down Janes Gang once and for all. Trouble is, they're hiding out in the Canyon an' that's a lot of hard country to try an' search. I got some of the boys out, but they aint come back with no news yet. I'll have them keep workin an' if the gang bust back into town we'll be ready.

Gotta say, I worked in much worse places. Overall, the folks here are friendly. Some are a bit more than friendly, if you know what I mean. We got gambling, a brothel, everything a man might need. Got ourself a nice schoolhouse with a new teacher too. Guess I'll just wait to see what happens fer now.

Charlie Gray leaned against the Ponderosa Pine that resided in front of the Main Street shop where the Clarion was printed twice a week. A light breeze cooled her warm skin as she took a break from printing out the new menus for the hotel restaurant. It had been unusually warm the past day or so and Charlie could feel the sweat drying on the back of her shirt. Although she preferred dungarees, while in town she stuck to the expected skirt and petticoats required by society even in this small, but thriving community.

A group of young women crossed the dusty street heading for the bank. They called and waved to Charlie who returned the wave with a smile. In a town of this size, everyone knew everyone and their business. Thank goodness they also liked to read that same business or she would be out of work. Growing up in the shop at her father's knee, Charlie had learned the printing business from setting type to getting ads and after his death she had carried on alone.

It had been several months but the loss of him still hurt. Just thinking about him could still bring a tear to her green eyes. Shaking off the sadness, she twisted her chestnut hair back up off her neck and headed back into the dark confines of the shop. If she didn't get this order completed she would hear the whining for months. Besides, Charlie had plans for later that day and the sooner the menus were hanging to dry the sooner she could get out of town.

Finding the outlaw camp wasn't going to happen leaning against this tree.

It had been thirty days. Exactly thirty days, not over or under by even a few hours time. Tom found himself more than punctual about these sorts of things. The payment should have come in here thirty days ago, it was thirty days late. It grew fines, it had delayment options, but after thirty days the contract became void.

The land belonged to Tom Touchstone.

This would be his third ranch. Touchstone had aquired the other two the same way, their contracts running up, money coming in short. They were ranchers, farmers, plowing the land and raising herds, but some could not come up with the money.

And, at five o clock, just as the contract pointed out, he came out from the bank in his nice suit and walked over to the Sheriff's office.

This walk had become something of ritual in the town. He held in his hand a yellow piece of paper. Gossip started when he had that piece of paper, walking right up the middle of Main Street. Who would it be this time, whose land was he going to take for his own?

He stopped to talk to one of the manager's of the general store. The store had been doing great, business booming. A little slack since the robbery, but they would bounce back. After robberies people bounced back.

"Of course," Tom said, leaning against a hitching post, his fingers dangling on the yellow piece of paper, "People still need their bacon, their flour. Can't expect them to go and eat at restaurants all day long, now can we?"

Certainly not.

Tom nodded, "Why don't you bring the misses, come with me tonight to eat at my new restaurant? I am sure you would enjoy it, it's on me. We got a whole new menu, good home cooked food."

Tom had that twinkle in his eye, when he did business. He loved doing business. This was a man who grew up in New York city, someone who lived and breathed real estate, land developing. He saw opportunity out here that few people saw. And with that, he had brought his old New York mentality with him.

The manager nodded, "I'm sure my wife would love a day off from cooking."

"Good stuff," He wanted that General store. It would be the cornerstone of his market now. If he had the genetal store, hotel, and restaurant, he could make sure that almost any penny that came into this town was brought to him in one way or another.

He gave another few minutes of small pleasentries, before walking over to the Sheriff's. A new sheriff, brand new, brought in just to take care of those robbers. Tom didn't much mind the robbery himself. He had lost a couple of hundred dollars, but the fear it had caused, the drop in the economy.

Hell, when all was said and done, this might have been the greatest thing to ever happen to poor little Williams Arizona. Tom imagined in two years he would have it changed to Touchstone Arizona, had a better ring to it.

"Evening sheriff," He said, taking up a seat alongside the man. THe evening was winding down, people heading home for the evening. Not all of them. Some had followed him, like a cult, trying to find out whose name was on that piece of paper.

He showed it to the sheriff, "Fred and Jennifer Gale, out in the Eastern lands. They have a ten acre farm out there, few ranch hands. They heard cattle mostly, if I remember reading their application right. But, their thirty days overdue. Sorry, bank has to foreclose on them."

He handed the eviction notice to the sheriff, "Sad too. They were a nice young couple, just starting out. Had a kid, too, family and all. You tell them if they need to stay somewhere a few nights, my hotel is open to them. I would feel bad if they had to sleep under the stars."

The eviction notice was for another thirty days. Thirty days from being served they had to evacuate the farm. They had to leave the house, but everything else they could take. It was a standard eviction notice. He'd worked out the details before with the old sheriff, but this was a new one.

"How is that investigation going? You found them yet?"

OOC:

Amanda Collins
26 years
Blonde, black eyes

Height: 5'6''
Weight: 134lbs
36D-26-34

She had a nice childhood.Her parents doted on her, and she grew up in all comfort she could have. It was clearly too good to last, and good times came to a violent end. Her family was destroyed, and at 15 she had to develop her survival skills fast. She escaped being killed, and went into hiding. She wandered around, surviving on stolen food and money. She spent the next few years in the wilderness.

And then she met Jane Huckster. Jane "Apache" Huckster. And she had been devoted to her since. Jane had taken her under her wings. Jane just took care of her till she was 18. And for last 8 years, she had served her in robberies, murders and everything else.

8 years of faithful service, had made her one of Jane's trusted aides, often being entrusted with omportant assignments. She recently led the robbery of the bank at Williams, one of their biggest triumphs in recent times.

Now: She was right now at their gang headquarters. Their hiding place. They had recently completed a big assignment. She had heard that the banker was not too happy about it. All she really cared about was that Jane was happy. She wasnt sure if Jane would be happy striking again so soon, but there were ideas she had that felt great. For starters, it would create that feeling of insecurity among the rich and the elite. Constant threat, constant fear. She was sure it would make sure they would comply with any extortion demands easily. Or at least more readily.

She had her plans ready, and was now eager to share them with Jane.

John "Butch" Anderton

OOC: Sorry, I posted this earlier, but I guess I didn't hit submit hard enough. :/

IC:

People got it wrong. They thought vampires were mythical creatures that died in daylight, but as the banker walked down the sunset street towards me I knew here was a truly unholy blood-sucking son-of-a-bitch. His reputation preceeded him. The previous sheriff had told me that if I played my cards right and helped him arrange "legal" contracts that ultimately worked in his favor I would benefit too, especially if I helped him in later business arrangements with the clients. I knew what that meant, overlook some barely legal aspects of the contract and make sure he foreclosed on the business swiftly and you got a kickback. My hands clawed against the seat as he approached.

"Evening sheriff," He said, taking up a seat next to me.

"Mr. Touchstone," I responded.

He showed me a copy of the latest contract he was going to foreclose to the sheriff, "Fred and Jennifer Gale, out in the Eastern lands. They have a ten acre farm out there, few ranch hands. They heard cattle mostly, if I remember reading their application right. But, their thirty days overdue. Sorry, bank has to foreclose on them."

Too damn right they were a nice couple, and they'd served the town well. Not having enough money was part and parcel of the way they worked, ensuring that the ranch hands got paid no matter what. I wanted to put a bullet through his head, but this was still legal business sickening though it was.

He handed the eviction notice to me, "Sad too. They were a nice young couple, just starting out. Had a kid, too, family and all. You tell them if they need to stay somewhere a few nights, my hotel is open to them. I would feel bad if they had to sleep under the stars."

I ground my teeth to stop from responding in the way I wanted. Stay at his hotel? If they lost their farm they would not be able to afford a box by the roadside let alone a hotel and this bastard wouldn't let them stay for free. Even if their pride let them stay, even if he made it seem free to begin with, he would ensure they signed away their last penny to pay for the hotel when they left. I spat on the ground in anger.

"Excuse my manners, Mr. Touchstone," I said. "Something left a sour taste in my mouth."

He seemed unconcerned. "How is that investigation going? You found them yet?"he asked.

That's when I finally smiled. If it wasn't for the harm caused to the local townsfolk I would have held the damn bank doors open for Janes Gang personally. But more than that, his question gave me an idea. "Don't you go worrying your pretty little head about that none," I said, dropping in the comment normally used only to women deliberately. "Me and the boys got it in hand. And you leave that eviction notice with me, it needs my signature anyhoo and I will make sure they get served just as soon as I can."

Just as soon as I can. Even his objections would not sway my superiors if I argued we were working on the investigation of a group of murderers and armed robbers. Some things still took precedent over local business.

"That's just fine, sheriff. Just fine," His demeanor didn't change at all. He was still smiling, nodding his head, happy as can be with this sheriff's way of handling things. Just fine and dandy, thank you very much.

Inside though, a far different story was coming together. He saw this sheriff as more than a little soft, and would act like a damned ass in getting into his new program. Yes, this sheriff would become a nice little thorn in poor Tom's side.

Still, as he stepped into the Sheriff's office, little more than a single room with an old mahogany desk and two barred cells in the back, he didn't feel that threatened. A sheriff could be lead by the nose, just like any other animal. Tom knew, he had done it before.

He placed the notice on the Sheriff's desk, which only held two other items. A faded Wanted Poster that must have just come through the express, and a bill from his restaurant.

Tom took that bill from the desk, tearing it up. Had to grease the wheels around here.

Back outside, he sat down next to the sheriff, eyes dull and cow like, staring into the horizon.

"I appreciate your help sheriff, in all of this. Horrible thing, for them to come into the bank like that. Old Misses Wilkinson was in there, she damn near fainted before the left. Her face so pale. I don't think the poor thing has been out in the sun since the day."

Yeah, just shooting the shit here with his old pal and friend Mister Sheriff. That was Tom, nice and friendly, always willing to play by the rules.

"I heard you got the boys scowering the canyon? You need more people? I can always let the bank make a nice favorable donation for those who capture the gang... would hate to see such a wonderful booming town be dragged down by filthy lawbreakers and bandits."

Charlie was on her way to the hotel to deliver the new menus when she noticed the sheriff and the banker sitting buddy close on the porch. Now wasn't that a fine howdoyoudo? The last sheriff had been as crooked as the river bed that flowed past the town and it looked as if the new one was making his way to following that same route. She paused, eyes narrowed as she looked at the body language of both men. Hmm, seemed to her that neither one of them was all that comfortable, despite appearances. Still it warranted keeping her eyes open.

She delivered the menus and came back out onto the boardwalk. Glancing back at the two men, she saw they hadn't moved positions. Still, she didn't want them to know how curious she was so she headed down the walk away from them. Stopping at the Post Office/Telegraph/Assayers office she picked up the mail for the Clarion. Just once it would be nice to get something that was personal but since all her relatives were gone and all her friends were here in town, that wasn't going to happen.

Charlie paused long enough to pay her respects to the manager, learn that nothing new was known in that quarter, and stepped outside of the building. She waited for a couple of cowboys to ride by, both politely nodding and tipping their hat at her, and then crossed the wide dusty street. She could see that the banker and sheriff had parted and wondered just what they were up to and who was going to be hurt when they followed through on whatever plan they had concocted. Too many farmers had lost their places to the banker and, if it hadn't been illegal, she would shoot him herself. If she could figure out how to do it and not get caught she just might do it anyway. Too bad Jane's Gang hadn't taken him along with the town's money. She knew she should feel guilty for her thoughts but she didn't. One of these days, someone was going to be fed up with his ways and Charlie was pretty sure God would look the other way.

Jane "Apache" Huckster

A day of hard riding always felt good. The feel of a wild stallion between your thighs, the bucking and thrashing as you urged him on with your spurs, the screams and gasps as you used the whip to tame him, were all a gal needed to make the day bright. Jane Huckster looked at the cowboy tied spread eagled below her as she pulled up her bluejeans.

"Guess y'all will think twice afore takin' advantage of ol' Miss Piddyfield," she said. "Well, guess YOU won't get that chance again, huh?"

She strode over to her horse and saddled up, leaving the man bleeding, covered in sexual juices, and struggling beneath the afternoon sun. High above a vulture circled. Down in the valley a coyote howled. Jane spurred the horse into a gallop and charged back to her hideout.

Amanda was waiting when she returned, looking like she had something on her mind.

"What is it, Amanda?" I asked as I tethered the horse. "Another of your plans? Always were a one for effecient schemes, huh?"

Strolling into the hideout Irisi's could hear Jane's voice, instantly she knew Amanda had come up with another one of her plans, probably dangerous, and briliant. But Irisi was not interested in the plan just now, what she really needed was to cleanse herself of the grit from riding.

Without a sound she headed out of the hideout and down towards the stream, it had been unusaully hot out the last few days and she was so covered in dust that she might-as-well have gone for a mud bath.

Slowly slipping out of her jeans and button down shirt she folded the clothes neatly and placed them on rock, wading in she lowered herself til the water was up to her shoulders, quickly she scrubbled herself clean as best she could with a scrap of cloth.

Tosing the cloth up on shore she floated in the water, the sun beating off her indigo hair, her blue eyes closed and once again she let her mind wonder back to the past, back to memories of when she first met Jane.

Tom sat in his office, looking out of the window at the city life. True, it wasn't exciting in the least. But it did have a kind of aesthetic appeal that Tom Redwood could appeal. The sand being knocked up into the air by the horses' hooves, the young women gossiping as they walked in the builings' shades, the sun's light under a clear, blue sky...

Tom didn't need much to feel content with his life, he could say he had it all. A nice job in a calm city, some free time, pretty ladies to glance at as they passed by... well, true, the 'calm city' thing had been busted a bit (which was good for business, now he thought about it), causing a loss of free time. And the ladies didn't come out feeling too much in ease because of that. But everything was still fine, and Tom looked forwards to another pleasant day in Williams Town.

That, and perhaps having a nice talk with Miss Gray. 'Perhaps', because he was a bit shy, and because he felt too insecure to tell Gray that he felt something for her... mostly, because he wasn't too sure what he felt in the first place. He looked at her, moving around, and he found that was nice to his spirit.

Tom re-adjusted his glasses, pushing them back up with his index, and turned to the drying newspapers. Yes, the bank robbery would sure get the Clarion some more dollars than usual, but that was as much solace as Tom found. The idea of some bandits making Williams their new target was not something that Tom disregarded as another fact of life. He genuinely feared that they might do more damage than the townsfolk expected. What the gang got was not much of a gaining for a heist, so that meant they would be up to no good very soon. Days? Hours? Who knew. And Tom didn't relish the idea of having to use that old rifle his parents had given him.

Not because he minded killing. At least, killing bandits. But because his marksmanship left a lot to be desired. He was the proverbial fool who couldn't hit a barn from the inside...

Amanda looked up at Jane as she walked in. "uhun.." she nodde, and then looking at Jane's expression "Just disposed of someone?" she said, with a smile.

"i have a plan. you know how we have wanted the city's law enforcement to cripple up? I dont think we really want that. We just want an ineffective enforcement, but good business. We want to rob, but we want to be the only ones robbing. And bad law enforcement means petty crimes, which is bad for business. bad for us."

she could see jane was listening intently. then slowly, dropping every word carefully, she said

"lets publish out posters. posters that talk about us. and these wont be the wanted posters for a change. these will be posters which will advertise a new service we will provide. businesses that subscribe to this, will get our protection from us and others like the banker in the town. If what i have heard is anything to go by, he is as much of a robber as we are. He just does it legally."

She paused and then added, "it discredits the city's law enforcers. causes panic. we may need to do a couple of strikes just to demonstrate the point. but it should work. we can set up collection boxes. and people could just drop their dues there.

Lets start off by setting up an example. Lets rob the banker again. This time, not his bank. His house."

she waited to see what Jane's reaction would be.

Odd thing about the saloon, was it always seemed cooler there than the outside. Must be why it as such a popular place to have a drink and relax. Then again, at the moment the saloon was somewhat empty, one or two customers sitting at the tables.

Behind the bar stood the bartender, cleaning off shot glasses and the like. Channer didn't exactly look like someone who'd be a bartender, but hey, stranger things have happened. He wasn't a bad guy at all either, townsfolk liked him at least. Maybe it was something about the drinks he served, or the stories he told the patron regulars. Or maybe it as the fact that he didn't skip town like the previous 'tender did.

Then again, he did think about it often...

But he didn't have the guts or the right mind to do it. Honestly, he was scared stiff by the thought of even stepping foot outside of this small town. Maybe he'd never leave. To him, that wasn't the best choice either. Not with that gang still on the loose.

For now and for as long as he was able, he'd avoid them like the plague. Being mugged twice, and held hostage during the bank robbery, Channer was more than likely the person in Williams who was the most afraid of Jane's Gang.

So for now, he'd just stay behind the bar and away from the trouble that lurked outside.

It was late afternoon when Charlie came back to the Clarion, her mind filled with gossip that needed to be checked for facts and not just opinions. According to various townfolks: Jane and the Banker were in cahoots; Jane and her gang weren't really females but men dressed as females; Jane and her gang members were really Amazons; the townspeople should go out and grab the gang and string them from the nearest tree; Jane stole from the white people and gave to the Navajo that lived east on the east side of the territory; Jane was the ghost of some settler's wife that had been killed by Apaches; Jane was going to enter each person's house and murder them in their beds. Charlie wasn't complete knowledgeable about Jane and her gang but she was positive that Jane was not a man, an amazon, a modern day female Robin Hood or a ghost. The rest of the gossip could have the possibilities of being true.

Charlie spent the next half hour writing up an article about the Saturday Social that was held at the church last Saturday night. She described the food, who was there, what they wore and what music was played. Then she gave the article to Tom to begin the typesetting. He would lay out the letters tonight and they would set it to the side until she had more information for the front page. The back page was always filled by advertisements, want ads, personals and a section where anyone could submit a short story or poem. Charlie had started that section after her dad had died and it seemed to be a popular corner. Most of the stuff that came in was anonymous and needed a lot of proofreading for spelling and punctuation but there were some pretty good local cowboy poets and storytellers. One of the females in town had a pretty good way with words and liked to submit love poems. People had been trying to figure out who the poet was but Charlie didn't know and if she had, she wouldn't have told. It was fun seeing whose names were guessed though.

Standing and stretching, Charlie handed the article to Tom, "Here is the article for the lower right side. I will have the back page ready for you for tomorrow and then hopefully something will come in over the telegraph about national news or state news for the upper left side of the front page. I think I will call it a day, don't forget to lock up. Night, Tom."

Heading out the backdoor, she climbed the staircase that led to the small living area. Changing her clothes, she stomped on her boots, put on her hat and grabbed her map of the area around the town. Charlie had taken the map and divided it into grids and whenever she had some time she would ride out and search one of the boxes on the map. Eventually she would find sign of where Jane and her gang hid out and then she would see them arrested and hung. Maybe then, Charlie could appease the guilt she felt for not being there to protect her father when he'd been shot down by Jane's gang.

Sheriff "Butch" Anderton

I reached into my pockets as the banker came back out of the office. I had heard him rip something up, and I was relatively sure it wasn't the eviction notice. I wondered what it was for a while and then realized I had left a bill from his restaurant on my table. So, that was his game. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a billfold.

"Your chef cooks a nice meal, Mr. Touchstone," I said. "Fraid I did not have my billfold with me last time I was there. I believe it was about two dollars for the plate, if my memory serves. Here, if I owe you more then please let me know."

I removed a couple of bucks and held them out to him, watching his face fall. Oh yes, this one was used to dealing with crooked law enforcement all right. Well, Mr. Touchstone, I thought, those days are gone. Try and refuse this money and I'll give you one and only one warning about bribing an officer of the law. Take it, and I'll know you realize what situation you are in. Either way, Mr. Touchstone, you are through.

"Oh, as to the donation for capturing Jane's gang, that'd be mighty civic minded of you, but that will be between you and the townsfolk. I reckon that we might be putting up a reward from official coffers ourselves soon. You might have noted the signs we have 'round the town marking them captured - dead or alive. Frankly, either one'd be a tough call. Oh and don't worry, if I need more men I'll deputize them myself. Perhaps I'll sign you up for duty eh?" I chucked. "Oh don't look so serious, Mr. Touchstone, it's just an old man's joke."

"You sure are a funny one," He said, without any laughter in him. Instead, it was more of a seething. This sheriff did nothing the right way, the good way. Even those dollars in his hand were some sort of break in the bond. Could things possibly be this cut and dry in this town?

How difficult, and challenging beside.

Still, this sheriff might be an old stubborn donkey, but Tom had worked worse, he'd made them come around. A stubborn donkey would move if whipped enough, provoked into the right direction. That's all Tom needed to do.

And for now, he could do little but let the man work, "All right then. You have further use for me, just let me know. Think I'll head over for a drink before I go on home. You could join me, would love to buy you a drink and shoot some of this shit that's in the air."

He did give a bit of a chuckle at that, before tipping his bowler hat and then walking off. There was little else he could do with the sheriff's right now. That was sad. He had hoped to get affairs done straight away there. Perhaps another time.

And, as he walked, he saw the lady of the only printing press in town just wander off. He thought of yelling out to stop her, but she seemed done for today. He had wanted to buy some advertising for her paper. He had a new campaign that would hook the rest of this town into his own personal debt.

Instead, he made his way to the bar, being smiled and welcomed by some, and shunned by others. Some of their looks told him sometime soon he'd have to hire someone to watch his back. Perhaps in another day or so.

Another item on his to do list.

"Here you go, barkeep," He said, putting down the dollars he was given by the sheriff, "Drinks all around. On me, of course."

Even the saddest person could cheer up with a free drink. Tom himself ordered a glass of fine wine. He had it shipped personally, couldn't stand the taste of beer or anything else low grade.

Jane "Apache" Huckster

"You sure got a head on your shoulders," said Jane as she Amanda finished outlining her new idea. "Might not always be screwed on tight, but it's a head."

She laughed, making the putdown into an obvious joke. She could see flaws in the plan, but it intrigued her. To have the businesses of the town pay to not be robbed blind was an intriguing notion she'd have never come up with. Of course, it left problems unsolved. How would they arrange payments and contracts without giving away where they lived, or at least arranging a spot at which one of the gang could be captured by going to a meeting on so-called neutral ground? Even more importantly to her was who would do the hiring.

"Course, you'll have to help me understand a few points. Like number one, who is to say that it won't be the damn banker or the sherrif that try to hire us. Now, if he paid enough, I wouldn't mind being 'deputised' by that new sherrif..."

Deputised wasn't exactly mean according to the school book and her filthy leer said as much. "But that banker. If what I hear is true, it won't be long afore he's got the rest of the town in his bankbook. I did hear he's taking over more ranch herds right now. Hell, he gets much more uppity he'll be taking over the damn railroad."

She sighed as she stared out of the window. The full moon had risen during daylight hours, its pale face offering no light until the sun sank. She thought over what had been said.

"Look, Amanda, I like the idea, but you've become our brains much as I have. Tell me how we're gonna get paid by anyone in the town without giving ourselves away and I'll get the girls together for a raid on the bankers home tonight. Hell, I hear one or two of y'all feel like getting that rat stallion between your thighs afore he kisses the ground goodbye. Who knows, perhaps you'll all get your wish when we hit his house. Leaving him raped an' tied with a poster as a gag should get the point across don'tcha think?"

Amanda smiled. She knew Jane would have questions. She always did. Always careful, always meticulous. And Amanda was always thankful Jane acted that way. she knew they wouldnt still all be free to rob as they wished, had Jane not been so clever about picking ideas.

She got to explain the terms of the idea to her. "Well, first we need to advertise the service we are offering." she smiled evilly, "And what better place to start with the banker. He will be our first ad. Tonight we do that. Tonight we also replace our wanted posters with posters of our own. Telling them what could happen if they didnt pay for the 'service'. And that they get protection from the banker as well if they pay us."

She looked at Jane to make sure she was clear till then. "Next, comes the real problem. The actual collection. For that we set up a collection box, a little way outside the town. We ask people to put in their names on their packets with payments so we know where it came from. We go out once a month to retrieve the box, but on different days and times every month. They cant have a trap waiting for us there all the time. And if they do with the limited men the sherif has, well we have a free ticket to rob the bank then, dont we? And before you ask, we can state in the poster itself that all but the banker can avail this service. Something tells me he is too proud to ask for it anyways."

She then looked at Jane to see if she liked it. When Jane didnt say anything for a while she said "Jane. Do you like it? "

Kacy lived on the BIG T ranch all her life. Her mother had gone back to civilization when she was only 4 years old leaving her with her father Big Joe Morgan. They owned the largest horse ranch in the county. the horses that they bread where known to be the best. a small heard of 2500 long horns also kept them busy.

When Big Joe died suddenly of a heart attach Kacy steped up and took over the ranch as her father had wanted and prepared her to do.She was known to be an honest law abiding citizen. The men that worked for her on the ranch had no complaints except maybe that she refused to have liqure on her land. But she always gave them saturdays off to do as they pleased.

Living on the Big T Kacy usually did not make it into town but she had heard tell of a gang of wemon running around terrorizing the good people of the comunnity.She had never really cared about what was going on in town becuase she always had more imortant things to take care of at home.

Now Kacy was thinking of nothing else as she prepared to go into town to buy some supplies.She couldn't help but wonder how much she had heard was fact and how much was actually fiction.More than a little worried she throws a bag with her clothes for the next day over her saddle horn and mounts her hourse. A beutifull stallion black that she called luciffer.becuase of his mean temperment.

As she mounts astride the horse he shifts and moves to the left before calming down and excepting her weight.calling out to one of the cow hands as she rode past the corall waving her dusty hat in the air. " make sure you see to those new pony's we brought in the other day.. see you tomarrow night!"

the boys where used to Kacy going into town and staying at the hotel once in a while but this trip had been unexpected.Kacy's rode into town just before noon and couldn't help but see the signs posted all over the place. Appearantly what she had heard last monthe had been the truth.Sighing she rides over to the general store to make her purchases.

Tying her horse to the post outside she walks in and looks around letting her eyes adjust to the differance in light.Her blue jean clad form was dusty and wind swept from her ride into town but there was still no denying that she was a beuty, even if she did dress like a man.

"Here's your drink, Mr. Touchstone," Channer remarked, setting the glass of wine down in front of his customer, before going to serve the other customers their drinks. But really, he served Tom first because, well, it doesn't hurt to stay on the good side of a banker. A vile banker at that...good thing Touchstone can't read minds.

"So, uhm," the barkeep fumbled his words, "How's business, Mr. Touchstone?" he asked, moving back towards the banker as he cleaned a shot glass.

OOC: Gah, sorry, writer's block. >_<

Tom enjoyed power. He relished in it. He could sit and drink from a brandy glass, in a high chair overlooking the world as it bowed to him, and that would be a pretty good day.

He had felt more than a little frustrated leaving the sheriff's office, but now, seeing this little bar tender get distracted as he set Tom's drink down, that power returned.

People unsure what to say, knowing what he could do, how far his reach truly went. That is what Tom wanted, that is what he craved. He sipped from the glass of wine, licking the soft drops from his lips as they formed.

"Oh, ups and downs, bar keep. Ups and downs. I don't suppose you'd care to spill with me a bit. You've been here all day. How has the town been getting on?"

He leaned back on the stool, glancing around. The place was far from bustling. A group in the corner playing some cards, and a sprinkle of customers here and there, in various stages of drunk.

"Don't suppose that Jane gang has been in here, have they? A gang always loves to quench their thirst some way..."

"The town's fine, 'least from from what I've heard. Been slow business today, really, so 'm somewhat short on stories," the barkeep claimed, setting the shotglass down and picking up another. He was one for small talk, even if it was with Tom Touchstone.

"Don't suppose that Jane gang has been in here, have they? A gang always loves to quench their thirst some way..."

A grimace rushed across Channer's face; a chill ran along his spine and an oh-so subtle nervous twitch showed in his hands as he washed the second shotglass. Damn banker had to bring them up, didn't he? "N-No...Someone 'ld notice if they came to town...Sheriff wouldn't be too happy if they slipped past him..." he stammered.

Jane "Apache" Huckster

"Like it," said Jane. "Amanda, if I thought you'd enjoy it I'd show you just how much I like it. Course, we'll have to watch over the box or someone'll be sure to have their grubby paws on the cash before we can get to it. That banker may be too far up his own ass to want to hire us, but there's no way even he would turn down the chance for free money."

Jane looked at her friend and protege for long seconds. If she carried on like this the student would soon be the master, or was that mistress. Frankly, she was looking forward to that day. Having an equal, someone who could run the raids while she kept the gang together, would be a weight off her shoulders.

After a while she turned away. There was still a problem, and she didn't like to face it. "All we have to do now is stop this from making the banker team up with the sheriff. I reckon we can beat either one of them, between your brains and the our guns when necessary, neither one can stop us. If we piss them off enough though we'll stir up a hornet's nest with two queens. Two kings at any rate, even if kings ain't so good as queens at working out what to do. With the bankers money and the sherrif's power though even we might have a problem."

She stood and thought for a few moments, reflecting on the good and bad of the situation. It was always possible that attacking the banker again would get him so riled up he would try to harm the sherrif rather than work with him. Men were stupid like that sometimes. If that happened then the town might as well change its name to Easy Pickings.

"Well, we'll cross that particular bridge if it even exists," she said as she glanced out of the window. "Any idea where Irisi is?"

"Ah, yes..."

Tom sighed, watching Miss Gray disappear into the back of the offices and up the stairs. He wondered what she was up to as of late, riding out on her horse. But, well, that was not his business, was it? Even if he cared about her, Miss Gray had her own life and business to attend to, probably.

Tom set to work, and spent some more time making sure the articles were right for publishing. There was also correcting the anonymous contributions to the newspaper that Miss Gray's father had started. Tom didn't think much of that section, though. Yes, it was interesting. Yes, it was popular. And yes, he did like it in a sense. But it was a bit outside what Tom considered a newspaper's professional work. And besides, it was one of the sections that cost him more time to correct, although on the other hand Tom could save a lot of work for the next days by correcting a bundle of the contributions that couldn't be featured in the current edition but could be released in the next.

Some time later, Tom had finished, and he reclined in his chair before stretching and yawning.

"Well, that's it for today, I do think..."

Tom smiled at himself with the satisfaction of a job well done, and started gathering materials here and there, securing them with paperweights when necessary. Really, Tom was an editor, not a clerk! He'd have to talk to some of the reporters who thought he was their servant, if the mess in the office was any indication.

He put on his vest, wondering what to do for the rest of the day as he closed the newspaper's building. Sometimes he went to the bar, other times he rode of the town to have a look at the landscape. Tom was a good writer himself, and had thought of writing a novel with Williams as the setting, although that would be done discreetly. There were English authors who did that kind of thing, and they were excellent writers. But Tom was never too confident about his chances for success. Then again, going to the bar... Tom was not a drinker, he sometimes went to enjoy the atmosphere and meet with people, but he didn't feel like going into a noisy place today.

Yes, he would ride out of town today. Towards the east, where the higher point of the terrain around the town was. He could see the sunset well from that hill...

"No, I suppose you are right. Then again, they've slipped past sheriff's before, and this new one doesn't show me he's much different."

Actually, this wasn't true. This new sheriff was entirely different. He'd dealt with different law enforcers in his time, some greedy, others just too dumb to understand. He had yet to meet a reasonably inteligent one that wouldn't play ball. Until today that is.

"Well, tell you what. If he comes in, you tell him drinks are on me," He said, laying down a few bills, "And something for yourself as well. Hope you have a good evening, barkeep."

He hadn't bothered knowing the man's name. Didn't need to with that kind of tip. Tom nodded his had, touching his fingers to his hat, before going off for the night. With no rumors and no people to exploit for the evening, he was fresh out of things today, aside from retire for the evening to his own house and then get some sleep.

And then start it all over again, tomorrow.

Channer looked down at the money Touchstone placed on the bartop. He shrugged slightly and put the money. "G'Night Mr. Tou--"

He was already gone.

"--chstone..."

The barkeep sighed and picked up another glass, idly cleaning it as he once again lost himself in thought. He knew that Janes Gang had indeed slipped past previous sheriff's, but the new one didn't seem as dim as those before him. "Hmm...." he mumbled quietly, placing the glass down.

Strumming his fingers on the countertop, he was out of something to keep his hands busy until someone ordered another drink. And that didn't look like it was going to happen, as the last customer just paid for their drink and left for the night.

Of course, that wasn't the end of his night. No, he'd keep the bar open for maybe a few more hours. Incase anyone wanted a drink...