The Gunman (open)

[silvertongue217]

“A wise man once told me that no matter how hard you run from the past it’ll always catch up to you that we’re all predestined to play the roles that we play I don’t take much stock in destiny… but the past coming back to haunt you that I know”


“That I know well”

John sighed taking one last drag of his cigarette. He felt the smoke burning his lungs and let out a long cloud of smoke watching it curl in the afternoon sun. A few cows and wild horses grazed out on the plains oblivious to his ponderings. He shifted against the wooden post his brown duster slightly opening revealing a bandolier full of bullets and two Winchester revolvers. His cowboy hat was angled revealing only a pair of bright green eyes and a pointed chin with rough stubble that he idly scratched.

“Time to get to work” Jack murmured flicking the cigar into the dirt and stomping on it. He patted some of the dust from his blue jeans and started walking down the path angling towards the fort. Said fort that was housing Brain Devall one of the most notorious gangs operating right out side Smoky Hills, it was a small settlement that was growing each and every single day which Brian was preying on. He was gathering more and more outlaws to his little fort each and every day and by staying inside he was keeping out of sight.

Which was why John was getting involved

He sighed and moved towards the fort trying to prepare himself. He hadn’t seen Brian in years not since he left the gang. Since he didn’t leave on good terms he wasn’t sure how Brian would react to him (even though he doubted it would be good).

He reached the front gates cupping his hands to his mouth “Brain Devall! It’s John Smith I’m going to need you to come out now please with your hands in the air”

“Is that you Johnny?” Brains voice said appearing on the wall above him. He leveled a lever action riffle directly at John his eyes assessing him.

“Yeah it’s me” John said ignoring the riffle “I’m going ot need you to come with me”


“Uh no” Brian said laughing “Why in the hell would I come with you Johnny boy?”

“Because if you don’t then I have to come in and get you” John said “I’m trying to give you a chance to come cleanly since we used to work together”

“You mean the gang you left!?” Brian said his eyes narrowing “the one you betrayed”

“I didn’t” John said trying to figure out the words “I left because Carter was crazy!”

“Carter was crazy” Brain said laughing “I’ll give you that but I am afraid my answer is still no”

“Then we have to do this the hard way” John said sighing “I’ll be back Brian” He said turning.

“I don’t think so Johnny”

He heard the crack of the gun firing but never felt the bullet slamming into his body. He felt his entire body jolt and stumbled trying to move before another bullet slammed into his shoulder. He heard more people coming and tried to hurry up hobbling toward the river. He saw more bullets kicking up the sand around him and winced as another one sliced through his leg. He stumbled and fell crashing into the water. He blacked out just as the waves took him.

 

[slut_in_white]

It was unusual for a woman to live alone on the frontier. Dangerous even. Which was why Ella Windsor had taken Mistress White's offer of a safe place to stay. She'd come out west with her family, but the harsh nature of the place had taken them from her, one by one - her parents to smallpox, her brother to a snake bite and her sister to a fall and a hit to the head from which she never woke.

Ella knew what life could be like for a young, unmarried woman left alone on the lawless frontier like that. She knew what options were available to her, which was why she'd gratefully taken Mistress White's offer to come join the brothel. It wasn't a glamorous job, or particularly honorable, but Mistress White was a kind woman who protected her girls fiercely. She kept Ella housed, fed, and safe, and there wasn't much more a girl like Ella could ask.

Ella was, herself, actually rather suited to the work. She had a soft touch and a soothing voice, with long, thick blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a set of tempting pink lips. She was average height, with a narrow waist, flaring hips, and a generous chest. She looked gorgeous in the scandalously brief clothes the girls in the brothel favored. She was quite successful at her job and, thanks to the protection of Mistress White, she'd never become hardened and cynical the way so many women did in these sorts of positions.

It was late evening when she went out on the brothel's shared horse to one of the homesteads just outside of town. One of the girl's, Tina, had fallen ill, and Tina's brother was desperate for news, so Ella had offered to bring him news of his sister before the sun went down. She was on her way back when she noticed something odd - a hat, stuck on a rock in the river that flowed out of the nearby gorge. Curious, she went down to the riverside, and nearly shrieked when she saw a man lying face-down in the mud nearby.

"Mister, are you alright?" she asked, climbing down off the horse to try to shake him awake. Nothing. Well, she couldn't rightly leave him there, so with a great struggle, she managed to haul him up onto the horse and then set off back to town.

-----

"What is all this racket?!"

Mistress White's voice was sharp as a whip when she so desired it to be. It snapped out now, startling the girls who had gathered in the foyer of the brothel to help Ella carry the unconscious man inside.

The girls drew back, leaving Ella visible, kneeling on the floor with the man's head in her lap. "M-mistress, I found him like this by the river and I couldn't just leave him!"

Mistress White frowned. "And why in the blazes not?" As far as she was concerned, any shot man who found himself lying in the mud probably did something to deserve it, and even if he didn't, there was sure to be someone interested in making certain he was dead. Ella was bringing a heap of trouble down on their heads by bringing him here.

"He's a ranger!" she cried, clutching a the little silver badge pinned to the inside of his jacket.

And that's when Mistress White understood. Ella had been saved by a ranger once, when she was still alone. It was only natural that Ella would want to return the favour, even if it wasn't the same man.

"Alright. Take him up to your room, Ella. Clean him up, try to stop the bleeding. If he's still alive in the morning, I'll call the doctor."

---------------

It took Ella quite a long time to get the mud off of him, but she was meticulous, certain that it would be bad if any more dirt got into his wounds. She cleaned them out, being as gentle as possible, and then bound them with fresh linens. By the time she was finished, she was exhausted, and her charge still wasn't awake.

"Well, maybe I'll just rest my eyes while I wait for him to come awake," she mumbled, crawling into bed next to him and letting her eyes flutter shut.

Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

 

[silvertongue217]

The return to the living world wasn’t as pleasant as John would have wished.

His wound pulsed causing him to suck in the air between his teeth and groan. His eyes snapped open and he slowly sat up careful to keep one hand on his stomach as he pushed the blanket away. He moved as quickly as he could slipping the bowie knife out of his boot and holding it firmly as he looked around.

He was in a small room with soft feminine touches that marked it as belonging to a female. The sun was setting outside which gave him no clue to how long he had been out. His wounds were cleaned out fairly well and bandaged but by who he couldn’t say.

Then he saw her

She was resting sprawled out in the bed right next to him. She was beautiful with soft features and a breath taking body. John noted the scandalous clothes she was wearing and realized he was in a brothel. He processed the information and then shrugged sliding out of bed and biting his lip as he dressed himself in his clean breaches and linen shirt.

He slid the knife back into his boots and walked over leaning down and reaching out with his hand

“Ma’am” He said gently trying to wake her “Ma’am are you awake?”

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella heard a voice, and it drew her gently out of sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze met a pair of intense, piercing green eyes. "Oh!" She sat up, her eyes going wide, and ran her fingers through her hair. She'd fallen asleep? She hadn't meant to, and a slight blush coloured her cheeks.

"I-I'm sorry, sir, I meant to be awake when you finally came to..." she told him, her voice lilting in the slightest of Southern accents. She pushed herself to her feet and looked up at him, feeling very small next to his tall, broad body. "You really shouldn't be up and about," she said softly, well aware that he didn't have any reason to listen to her. "You were shot, and I'm certain you need more rest before you're healed. The madam said she'd call a doctor for you when you woke." She grasped his sleeve and pulled him gently back towards the bed. "Please, please rest. You're safe here."

 

[silvertongue217]

“While I thank you kindly Ma’am both for your hospitality and for all that you have done for me but I cant stay here in doing so I would be bringing Brian and his gangs and they would no doubt use the woman in this establishment” He said wincing as he reached over for his duster and shrugged it on.

“I would be remiss to let such a pretty young lass like you fall prey to any thing untoward” He told her reaching over and taking her hand before bringing it in for a kiss “but thank you for fishing me out as I haven o doubt it was you and tell your Madame that as soon as I can I shall return for payment” he said wincing as he brought his hand to his side and tried to remain upright.

 

[slut_in_white]

She knew about Brian and his gang. In fact, the ranger was right - he and his men often visited the brothel. Mistress White didn't like them. More than once, she'd had to kick the whole lot of them out after they'd hurt a few of the girls. They were mean and violent, but their coin was good, so inevitably they'd come crawling back, and things would be fine for a while, until one of them got too drunk and hit his girl, and the whole thing would start again.

Ella found herself blushing, though, as the mysterious man kissed her fingers and informed her that he'd hate to be the cause of any harm to her. It was rare for even lawmen to care about the safety of a simple brothel girl like her. Half the time, they were as bad as the gangsters when it came to visiting violence on women. She found herself warming to him at the thought that he might actually care about her safety and feelings, despite so many people looking down on her for what she did. Brothel girls were still girls - they still had hopes and dreams and families. They were still people. Too many people forgot that, and it made her smile to see that at least one man hadn't.

She noticed, though, when he winced and had to stop himself from doubling over in pain. And he was going out to face that entire gang alone? Not in that state. She grasped his hand again and tugged, this time slightly more insistently, and motioned to the bed. "Sir, you can't possibly think you're in a state to go face the gang alone. That would be a dangerous feat even for the healthiest of men, and you're injured. Please, let me call a doctor. Stay, at least another night. If you're concerned you can't afford it, don't worry. You don't have to pay me to stay until you're well again." She could afford it, after all. She did quite well for herself most nights, and had a sizable little nest egg squirreled away as a result. She could afford to survive for a few nights unpaid. "Please."

 

[silvertongue217]

“I cant do that Ma’am” John said even though he collapsed in his chair “would be a danger to you and you girls” He murmured even though he closed his eyes. The fatigue his him all a once and within seconds he was back out snoring softly as his wounds took hold.

He awoke some time later once night had fallen groaning and once again leaning forward. He found himself back in bed and he wore cursing his wounds and his weakness as he pulled on his beeches again.

“Guess I am staying here for a while” John murmured walking over to the door and opening it “any one around?” He called ut peeking his head out.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella turned the corner to go to her room at the same moment that her guest called out to ask if anyone was around. She smiled when she saw him and approached, balancing a tray with two plates of steaming food on it.

She walked up to him, grinning. "I see you're awake again. Next time, will you please get into bed when I ask?" she teased, leading him back into the bedroom. "That way, it won't take three girls to lift you into the bed while you're asleep." She set out both plates in a small table next to the window and turned to face him, hands on her hips.

 

[silvertongue217]

“I guess I better listen to you huh” He said laughing and sitting back in bed as he took the plate of food “After all it would be rude of me to ignore such a beautiful woman” He remarked as he began to eat slowly. He could feel his strength waning and made no move to get up instead watching her

“I will pay you for your services and help” He said before wincing at his little slip up “not services in that way” He countered shaking his head “but for helping me also I know this is your profession and no doubt your room so if you need me to move I can as well” He said watching her trying not to stare at her bueaty.

 

[slut_in_white]

She chuckled at his little slip about her services, amused by the fact that he thought she'd be offended.

Taking up her own plate, she sat down next to him on the bed and took a forkful of food into her mouth, using it to give her a chance to think. "I wouldn't be upset if you wanted to purchase my services, you know," she told him softly. "Few men passing through this brothel have been as kind to me or as concerned about me as you." A bright blush appeared on her cheeks and she looked away from those intense green eyes, drinking her in. She rarely desired the men she 'serviced' - but she was quickly beginning to realize that she desired him. And she didn't even know his name.

"I'm Ella, by the way." She offered him a shy smile, feeling foolish. What kind of prostitute was shy? She was normally quite forward with her clients, but there was something inexplicably different about him.

"And no, you don't have to leave. I'd like for you to stay, actually. So I know you're alright. I'd feel wrongly about it if I sent you away with no one to look over you while you recovered."

 

[silvertongue217]

“You have a beautiful name Ma’am” He said tipping his head as he watched her eat “as tempting as it is given how beautiful you are I don pay for sex not because I wouldn’t want you but because any money I give wouldn’t be enough for the services of some one s breath taking as you” he remarked leaning in to give her hand a squeeze before returning to his food.

“I don’t want to interrupt your business” John said “surely you use this room to make a living and pay for your room and board I would hate to cause you to get thrown out” He said looking at her in concern.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella's blush brightened and she smiled. "Y-you certainly have a way with words, sir," she stammered. She couldn't remember the last time a man said so many sweet things to her. Very often, her clients complimented her, but the compliments tended to be more in the vein of "nice tits" rather than... well, this.

"It's alright. I have a bit of savings that I can live on while you stay here. And Mistress White doesn't ask that much of us in order to stay here. Don't worry yourself. I'd much rather have you stay here so I can see to it that you're safe and healthy."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Well then I would never say no to a woman’s offer” He said inclining his head and reaching out to take her hand giving it a kiss before he laid back on the bed “I have to go soon though brain and his gang are stirring up all sorts of trouble and I have to stop them” He murmured as he stretched out and winced

“I was a fool for thinking I could reason with him” He remarked groaning and biting his lip “I need to take him out plain and simple show him that when I shoot I shoot to kill” He said sighing and shaking his head his eyes clearly showing not in the mood for killing.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella frowned faintly, shifting on the bed until she was sitting next to him. Then, she lifted her hand to run her fingers soothingly through his hair, sighing. "Don't think on such dark things now," she cooed, looking down at him. "Relax, let yourself sleep, and we can worry about that once you're well."

She looked down at him, her hand softly caressing his cheek, and smiled. "You never told me your name, cowboy."

 

[silvertongue217]

“My name is John” He said sighing in pleasure as she caressed his cheek “my name is John Smith” He murmured before he fell back asleep. He slept a lot better this time around soundly and without any aches and pains not waking until the next morning.

He woke up and carefully slid out of his side so as not to wake her. He pulled on his beeches again and went into the washroom washing up and taking care of some of his rough five o clock shadow before walking back in. He paused to look at her and walked over cupping her cheek and sighing.

“You sure are pretty” he murmured at her as she slept.

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella's sleep schedule ran a little late by the nature of her work. She tended to be up very late, and then slept through much of the morning. It was quite a while after John woke up that Ella finally roused herself. She looked up at him with a sleepy sort of smile, and pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"How are you feeling today?" She reached for him only to pause when he seemed uncertain about what she was doing with her fingers pushing his shirt up his toned abs. She blushed. "Sorry, I just needed to check your bandages. I should have asked first." She chuckled. "I suppose I'm not used to the idea of having a man in my room who doesn't necessarily want me to touch him..."

 

[silvertongue217]

“You can touch me whenever you want Ma’am” John said shaking his head and sitting down “I am feeling much better for the most part” He said shrugging and leaning back stretching as he let her have free reign of his body.

“It is still a little stiff” He said wincing a bit when she touched a tender spot “but its going to be until it fully heals” He remarked looking at her “so how does a girl like you know how to take care of a mans health so well?” He asked jokingly reaching over to cup her cheek and giving her a warm smile.

 

[slut_in_white]

She grinned when he told her she could touch him whenever she wanted, wondering if he realized how suggestive it sounded. Still, she went about checking his injuries and changing the bandages as required, and chuckled when he asked her how she knew how to care for a man's health so well.

"Ah. My father was a doctor, and my mother often helped him at his clinic. They taught me a lot before they died," she answered. Clearly she missed them, but she didn't seem uncomfortable talking about them. "What about you? Do you have any family? I imagine your wife must miss you terribly whole you're out like this." It never even occurred to her that he might not be married. Kind, attractive, honorable man like him? There was no way some lucky woman hadn't snatched him up.

 

[silvertongue217]

“No wife” He grunted shaking his head and laughing “I was a criminal for a number of years” He said adjusting so she could get better access “this Brian waso ne of the guys I used to run with well a couple of years back I found my self caught I either would go to prison or become a ranger and help hunt down my kind well as it turns out I was good at it and made my self quite a name”

“A few years back I started getting out got my self my own farm a little ways up in Texas well I kept having to do odd jobs for the rangers including this one” He remarked “normally I wouldn’t do some thing so stupid but I was hoping to parlay with him so to speak us being old mates and all”

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella's eyes went wide at the revelation of what he used to do. "Really? You ran with that gang?" She paused, shaking her head. "I just... You really don't seem the type." She'd finished checking his bandages, but her hands stayed against his skin, her fingers tracing the shapes of his bones and muscles in his back. Just soft, affectionate touches, the sort she wasn't even aware she was making. The sort that indicated just how comfortable she felt around him.

"I'm sorry, I suppose I shouldn't have assumed you'd be married. It's just, I can't imagine that a woman wouldn't have snagged you by now. I mean you're..." She paused, blushing when she realized how much she was saying. But she'd started now, so she might as well continue... "You're so kind, and if you don't mind my saying, you're very handsome."

 

[silvertongue217]

He ignored her comment about him and instead chuckled “I wasn’t the type just easily swayed” he remarked making no move to move her hands as he locked eyes with her “I was a troubled youth so to speak and that led me to be easy prey to men with big mouths it was a mistake I learned from early on and vowed to be my own man whenever possible”

“As for being a handsome man” He said capturing her hands nad bringing it up to his mouth “I think your crazy for thinking that” He remarked kissing her finger tips before biting in between her hand “but you shouldn’t get to attached im headed for an early grave” He said chuckling darkly

 

[slut_in_white]

Ella frowned, surprised by how much his comment about being headed for an early grave bothered her. "What? I thought you said you were leaving the rangers. You have a farm waiting for you... I don't understand. How are you headed to an early grave?" She held his hands tight, as if she could hold him here where he'd be safe instead of heading into the danger that awaited him and where, apparently, he expected to die.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Men like me we don’t ever get out of the life not truly” John said laughing and holding her hand “not without being in a grave there is always some thing there keeping us in or drawing us you can be sure as shit if this baddy is put to bed some one else will come a knocking” He said snorting and smiling at her.

“There there lass” He said leaning in and kissing her cheek “no need to fret about me”

 

[slut_in_white]

It was a sad thing to hear, the thought that John had resigned himself to dying in the line of duty like that. He kissed her cheek, and she found herself blushing again. It seemed ridiculous - why was it that she wasn't made shy when she did all manner of lewd things with other men, but something as simple as a kiss on the cheek from him made her blush?

She chuckled sadly at his gentle urging that she not worry about him and shook her head. "Well, someone needs to, since you apparently won't fret for yourself, I suppose the job must fall to me." Her gaze dropped down to the bed between them and she sighed. "I have found that the only thing that guarantees a man's death is if he has nothing to live for. Perhaps if you had something more to live for, the grave might not feel so certain..."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Oh trust me I have plenty to live for” He said smirking “though one more thing couldn’t hurt” He reasoned leaning in and kissing the top of her head and pulling her in.

“Come on darling” He said adjusting her so she was laying on his chest “just cause I aint going to pay you for sex don’t mean I wont take some free cuddles” He said stretching out and then kissing the back of her head “you’re a nice girl to nice to be in a place like this” He told her softly.