The gunmen (closed)

[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.

 

[silvertongue217]

bumping this one

 

[silvertongue217]

giving this one a bump

 

[silvertongue217]

giving this one a bump

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate's girls went down to the river in the early morning hours. During their time relaxing in the water, one of the girls noticed the water was tinged red around her. She wandered along the shore until she came to a bank lined with big boulders. Between two of these boulders, she found the unconscious body of John.

After getting two of the men that helped guard the brothel to carry John to their building, he was placed on a couch in one of the back rooms. A doctor was called and Kate walked back into the room to keep an eye on this man until help arrived. She set a glass of whiskey down on the side table, and with a swish of skirts plopped herself down in a chair against the wall.

She knew from the state of his injuries that he had more than likely had a run in with Brian, but what had he done that made Brian this angry? She couldn't make out this man's face and didn't want to get too close until the doc came in to assess his injuries. A knock came at the door, as Kate stood up to answer it, she thought she saw John stir out of the corner of her eye.

 

[silvertongue217]

The world came back to him slowly

He felt the darkness lift and groaned his injuries making themselves painfully apparent. He realized he was on his back with a soft mattress underneath him. Instead of getting up right away he kept his eyes closed letting his ears and senses gather information. He heard people moving all around him leading him to believe he was in an inn of sorts. There was a faint smell in the air a perfume that he found strangely exhilarating.

Before he could gather any more information some one-stepped into his room announcing themselves as a doctor. John opened his eyes warily lifting himself up and wincing in pain.

“Where am I doc?” He asked his intense jade eyes narrowing as he took in the area “who brought me here?”

 

[MidnightKisses]

The doctor began to speak but was cut off as Kate stepped forward.

"You were lucky that my girls got to you in time. If they hadn't, you'd be dead on the side of a river bank."

Kate's piercing blue eyes dug into him.

"From the state of your injuries, I don't know if they should have left you there to die or not. I will tell you this, there better be no trouble being led to my doorstep, or I will finish you myself."

Kate sat back down on the chair, watching the man with curiosity as the doctor went about treating him for his injuries. This man was definitely handsome, and a lot of the girls would probably be willing to show him a good time. She had hesitated in telling him where he was though, she didn't want to give too much away at once, without knowing exactly who this guy was. She tapped her fingernails on the glass of whiskey she had brought with her to give to him before the doctor came. She had been all caught up in trying to place this man, that she had forgotten all about it. She took a long pull from the drink, letting it burn its way down her throat. She eased her way over to him as the doctor worked, and placed the glass to his lips.

"For the pain," she said, as his beautiful eyes studied her.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Why thank you Ma’am” John murmured taking a sip of the drink as his jade eyes locked onto hers. He hadn’t expected to wake up to a sight like this! She was beautiful so much so that when she first walked in he thought he was dreaming of her. He had watched her the entire time the doctor treated his injuries taking in her words. This was a brothel which confirmed his suspicions clearly some of her girls found him in the water and brought him back to be patched up. He made a mental note to thank them later and the woman.

The woman

“Ahem” The doctor said stepping back and causing John to tear himself out of her eyes “I managed to patch you up take it easy and you should be fine”

“Thanks doc” John said wincing and moving his arm to get to his gun belt “for your trouble” He said tossing the coins to the doc and admiring the band aids criss crossing his muscular tan chest.

“I don’t reckon you will have any trouble Miss” John said taking the whiskey and gulping it down as the Doc left “my prey thinks me dead and likely wont go looking for me Brian was always a damn idiot” He said snorting.

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate shifted slightly as her suspicions were confirmed. This man had gone up against Brian, and lived to tell about it nonetheless.

"May I ask why you got yourself caught up with him in the first place," she said, as she let her eyes roam over his body. When you were in this business, you didn't believe in being shy. She made her money by letting men look over her body and have their way, now she ran the place and the other girls did it for her. But that didn't stop her from checking out the men that came through, it was her turn to be selective. If he played his cards right, Mr. John Smith might just be her new arm candy. Hiding a smirk to herself, she walked to the door and called out to one of the girls.

"Victoria, bring this man a change of clothes and a pillow and blanket," she turned to him, leaving the door slightly ajar for Victoria, "You will stay here until you heal well enough to go back out on your own. Messing with Brian and his gang was probably against your better judgement." She cut her eyes at him again, making sure he took note of her disapproval.

Victoria walked in carrying a change of pants and shirt, as well as a pillow and blanket. Kate held the door open for Victoria.

"I will let you change now. Meet me in the front parlor when you are done and I will show you around. No touching the girls without payment."

She let her eyes roam over his bare chest once more, before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

 

[silvertongue217]

John watched her taking not of the way she took charge and moved around the room. She was clearly a woman who was used to authority or at least taking charge when it came to men. She didn’t seem like the type of woman who was born into this life style which only made him all the more curious.

“I wouldn’t dare touch your girls without permission Ma’am” He called as she left before he slid out. He put the jeans on and the simple shirt and paused grabbing his gun belt and clicking it back on. He moved his shoulders to dissipate the stiffness and finally grabbed is black hat and placed it atop his head before stepping out.

He followed after her ignoring the woman and men shooting him curious looks. This wasn’t his first time in a brothel (though he never had been a customer of one) so he understood the common layout. He walked to the front parlor and paused finding her seated in one of the chairs before going over to her.

“Thank you again Ma’am” John said tipping his hat at her “I wont be causing you or your girls any trouble I assure you and I can pay for my time here”

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate looked up at him as he approached. He carried himself with a sense of authority and the way he ignored, yet seemed to assess everyone in the room told her he'd seen his fair share of trouble. He was either a very good man or a very bad man. She still couldn't place which though. As he strode up before her, she stood up to meet his gaze.

"I wouldn't hear of it. As you can see," she nodded her head at the couplings around her, "We get by quite well here and wouldn't think of taking your money. Seeing as how you came to us under unusual circumstances. How'd you say you got caught up with Brian Devall again?"

She kept her eyes locked on his, waiting for an answer. As she did so, she subconsciously wrung her hands together behind her back. Oh, they'd had their fair share of run ins with Brian Devall's gang tearing her place apart periodically over the last couple months. They were ruthless and didn't think twice about hurting her girls. They never went farther than beating up a few customers and giving a couple of the girls some black eyes, but wasn't that enough.

Shaking her head, she realized she was being rude. "Anyway, we've got entertaining areas to each side of the room we are in."

She took a couple steps toward the staircase. The kitchen and bathroom are in back beside your room. Feel free to fix yourself up anything." SHe rested her hand on the staircase railing. "All the girls rooms are upstairs. If you want to spend the night with one, you pay up front. They ain't doing this for fun. My room is at the very top in the center, if you should have any problems or are paying for services. Anything else I can do for you?" Her eyes twinkled and she bit her lip as she scanned her eyes down his body again, hoping he didn't take notice but she couldn't help herself.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Well that’s a long story Ma’am” John said following her as she showed him the place “this is a mighty fine place you got here Ma’am” He said nodding his head at her as they finally stepped into the kitchen.

“Oh nothing against your girls but I don’t pay for companionship” Jon said clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck “No offense I just I feel like I am taking advantage I would rather both parties be willing” He said taking out his coin bag again.

“As for the room it might not be any trouble but it would make me feel better” He said taking out the coin and placing it on the wooden table “should be enough for two nights give me enough time before I go back after him” He said making a face as he watched her checking him out.

“If you’d like I can tell you the story” He said not quite wanting to be rid of her company yet “If you would join me in a drink that is” He said gesturing at the scotch laying on the table “been a long time since I had such pleasant and alluring company Miss?”

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate eyed him for a moment before finally agreeing. She watched as he poured them each a drink. She also slipped the coin into a small bag, who was she to turn down money. She placed her hand on his forearm.

"Don't think you can sweet talk me there sugar," she smiled a little at him, "Go on. I'm listening. And enough with the ma'ams and misses. I hear that all day long out there."

She reluctantly withdrew her hand and nodded her head towards the door, and the people behind it. As he began explaining things to her, she took small sips of the scotch. She rested the side of her head on her palm and watched him lazily as he began to tell her the story.

 

[silvertongue217]

He leaned back regarding his scotch for a few seconds before beginning to speak “Me and Brian go a long way back see I was a bad man for a very long time a bandit me and Brian were in the same gang w ran together looted stole and lived the high life we were part of gang with five other men our leader was a real monster but he was charismatic to so we didn’t pay it much mind”

“Well one day some thing happened I took part of some thing that haunts me to this day after that I left the gang went far away from all that and made my self into some thing I had never been before” He said looking at her “I made my self a rancher got my self a half decent bar and lived peacefully for a few years”

“Then it all changed”

He paused looking at her before continuing, “about a few days ago I was approached by our great nations newest government I was to hunt the men down from my old gang and bring them to justice either with a bullet or in handcuffs I don’t like it but if I don’t I wont get my farm back” He said scowling “and that’s my story

 

[MidnightKisses]

"So you're basically like a bounty hunter?" she asked, sitting up in her seat. That just majorly upped his hotness points. She had drank quite a bit of scotch throughout his story and was a little off center. To shift herself up, she had placed her hand on John's leg to help steady herself.

"I apologize. Get a little drink in me and get to talking about that bastard. Well knowing your story now, you're welcome to stay as long as you like without payment. Maybe we can work out an arrangement later or something, I just want to see that man brought down one way or another. So anything i can do to help just name it." She glanced away as she said this. Wondering if he'd take note of the mention of an arrangement. She deserved her fun too, and he seemed like a man just intriguing enough to liven up her life a little.

 

[silvertongue217]

“I would more than love to take you up on that offer Ma’am” He said watching her rise a little unsteadily. He helped her up sliding their arms together and smiling “I still would like to pay and of course use your establishment as a temporary place to rest Brian is an idiot who may have the superior position right now but he will screw up just like old times” John said nodding at her and smiling before releasing her.

“Your truly an angel” He said taking her hand and kissing it “for helping me and listening life on the farm can be lonely I have to admit I liked entertaining a woman of such allure like your self” he said reaching over and kissing her hand before letting it go and smiling at her.

 

[MidnightKisses]

She smiled back at him and turned to walk towards the door.

"Feel free to explore the place to your liking. I am going upstairs to relax for a while. It's not everyday you have a man full of bullet holes show up on your doorstep."

She walked up the staircase and entered her room. She sat at the vanity and brushed out her hair. She stepped out of her dress and walked over to her closet in a lacy red bra and panties. She needed a comfy pair of jeans and a man's button up. It wasn't common to see a woman wear attire like this, but then also how common was it to run a brothel? She turned and placed the clothes on her stool and turned sideways to look at herself in the full length mirror. She was glad she didn't have her own paying customers anymore. The girls here jsut got skinnier and skinnier and that's how the men liked it. She, on the other hand, had a little meat on her bones. She shook her head and turned for her clothes again.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Yes Ma’am” He said watching her go and tipping his hat to her. Once she disappeared he turned finishing the scotch and washing the dish before going out. He found out who managed to find him and thanked them giving them some coin and refusing their offers to help him “Recover”. After he found his guns and walked outside going into the back by the lake and stripping out of his shirt.

He rolled his shoulders and sang to himself an old miners song as he began cleaning his weapons. He oiled his guns and checked them cursing as he realized the Winchester was corroded to hell from his little trip down the river. The revolver was fine but if he was going to assault a fort then he was going to need another gun.

If he had the coin for it

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate slipped on the jeans when she saw a movement out her window by the lake. Seeing it was just John, she started to move away when he took off his shirt. She stopped and watched him for a minute, completely forgetting that she was in jeans and now just a bra. She thought she began to see his head turn and quickly held the button up in front of her and preparing to flee from sight.

 

[silvertongue217]

He turned seeing her staring at him and gasping a little. She was wearing jean and a bra and he felt his adam apple bobbing as he took a gulp. He finally gave her a sexy smile and rose waving at her still shirtless before turning back to his gun. He pulled out his bowie knife and sawed off the barrel of the Winchester. It would be a shit gun but it would do until he was able to find some thing else. He brought it up and checked the sights before nodding in approval and wiping his hands off.

 

[MidnightKisses]

She put on the shirt and buttoned it as she was walking down the stairs. As she started across the lawn toward him, she finished buttoning the top of her shirt. "I saw you out here working on your gun." SHe nodded towards a small shed by the back of the house. "There's a few guns in there too if you should need them." Her face was still flushed from him seeing her through the window. "I also wanted to ask you to keep your shirt on around here. We don't want any of the girls giving it out for free you know." She wandered over to a small bench at the edge of the lake and sat down, looking out over the water.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Sorry Miss” He said grabbing his shirt and pulling it back on “I don’t usually work with a shirt on” He explained following her to the water as he buttoned up his shirt.

“I doubt your females are so untrained that they would give it up for free” He countered sitting next to her “as for the guns you no doubt need them for protection I will go out and pick up some supplies tomorrow when I go scout the fort pretty soon Brian’s brand of terror will b a thing of the past”

 

[MidnightKisses]

"Some of the girls here are pretty young. And as I'm sure you know, you are pretty easy on the eyes. They might just be looking for a thrill. What they do now is their job."

She looked over at him and scrunched her eyebrows together.

"Do you honestly think he won't follow you? I mean once he realizes that he didn't kill you. We have had him tear this place apart, and I don't think I can afford the damages yet again."

She looked out over the water. "In my opinion, you should just kill him and be done with it already."

 

[silvertongue217]

“If he didn’t think I was dead he might” John said shrugging his shoulders and looking t her “but since I was shot and fell into a river surrounded by blood and because Brian is a lazy idiot I doubt he will even think to check”

He laughed at her comment chuckling a bit “look how well tat worked for me last time Miss” He said pulling his shirt open to show off his bandages “I reckon this time I should go in with more of a plan though if you are that worried about any harm coming to your establishment or ladies I can leave earlier than I attended.

 

[MidnightKisses]

Kate placed a hand under one of the bandages, her cool hands against his warm stomach. "Nonsense" she said quietly, "you're hurt and not going anywhere." Her eyes locked on his and she bit her lip.