Marked for Death: A Feminist Western

Chapter Six - Dead or Alive

Sunstone Ranch - seven days later.

"Paper's here!" Maud's voice calls from the front door.

I wait for her to bring the paper in while I sit in one of the farmstead's well-worn yet comfortable plush leather sofas in her living room. Exuding warmth and rustic charm, I glance at the old photographs capturing generations of hardworking ranchers and their prized cattle that adorn the rough-hewn wood walls.

While Maud was much better at mustering cattle than me but had never learned to read - so over the last week we made a routine of sitting on the couch together each day while I read the morning's paper to her.

She plonked herself down next to me, handing me the paper with an exaggerated flourish and I took it with a grin. With each passing day, Maud and I grew closer on that couch. Today, we were sitting shoulder to shoulder. Tomorrow, I hoped she would just curl up on my lap like a cat.

"What's happenin' out in the wild world today, darl?" She said as she rested her head on my shoulder, the sudden display of affection making me smile warmly.

This feeling of giddiness was short-lived. My smile disappeared instantly when I saw the paper's headline:

PRIEST-MURDERING FUGITIVE STILL AT LARGE

I gulped. Maud, noticing my change in demeanour, sat up straight again. "What is it? What does it say?"

Oh god ... do I lie? No ... no I can't. I've already lied to Maud too much.

I read out the headline, and Maud lets out a low whistle. "Damn, Sadie - there are some bad people out there, hey? Go on."

My hands shaking a little, I try my hardest to keep my voice from shaking as I read the paper aloud.

"Last week, the upstanding preacher of Sagebrush Creek, Reverend Reed, was found dead, murdered in cold blood by his own daughter, Amelia Reed -"

"A woman?" Maud smiles, "Wow, usually when you hear about these bandits and fugitives they're dudes."

I smile, although my mouth is dry. My fingers are trembling as they hold the paper, but I continue, "- by his own daughter, Amelia Reed, who then vanished into the desert. She is armed and dangerous, and civilians are warned against approaching her. Sheriff Thompson is in hot pursuit, and he and his men have issued a $200 bounty for her capture ... dead or alive."

Buzzard's Rise

Sheriff Beau Thompson and his men had scoured every corner of Buzzard's Rise, but their pursuit of Amelia Reed had come up empty-handed.

"Ride out men," Sheriff Thompson ordered from atop his horse, "let's head to Sunstone Ranch. If we keep up the pace that we're making, we'll be there before sundown."

They galloped off into the desert, the posse hot in relentless pursuit of a fugitive who they were determined to bring to justice.

Sunstone Ranch

Maud's eyes widened as I finished reading the article. "Well, I'll be damned," she exclaimed, a mix of shock and intrigue in her voice. "That's one hell of a story, ain't it?"

"Yeah, it is," I replied, trying to sound composed despite the unease gnawing at me.

"Ah well, she might not last long in the desert. Either way, this ranch has dealt with worse. Anyway -" she suddenly stood with a jolt, her cheerful smile lighting up her face, "wanna take a ride with me?"

Despite it all, the look on her face brings a grin to my lips. "Sure, Maud. I'd love to."

We walked out to the corral, finding our horses. "Hey Sadie," she said as we saddled up our steeds, "I was wonderin' ..."

"Yeah, Maud?"

"I mean, if it ain't too much of a bother - I never learned how to read when I were a child, and I was ... I was wondering if you wouldn't mind teaching me?"

She seemed a little bit embarrassed, but I just about leapt with joy. "Maud, of course, I'll teach you to read! It'd be my pleasure."

"Beautiful," she grinned as we hoisted ourselves onto our horses. With a yi-yip, she steered her horse out of the ranch, and I followed her onto the dusty plains.

Sunstone Ranch - Five hours later

It was nearly evening now and Maud and I sat together in the living room, cradling cups of tea while we chatted. As the soft hues of the setting sun painted the room in warm golden light, we exchanged stories and laughter, as if the weight of the world outside didn't exist for those brief moments.

Just then, a faint sound caught my attention. It was unmistakable: the sound of hooves.

"Looks like we've got visitors," Maud said as she lifted herself from the couch and moved to the window to check who it was.

I knew even before I saw his moustache. From the silhouette in the dying light, I knew it was Sheriff Thomson and his posse of six bounty hunters all mounted on their horses. Looking for me.

"I dunno," I say, surprised at how steady I've managed to keep my voice. "I'm just going to the bathroom, Maud."

"Aight, Sadie. I'll see what they want."

When she turned her back to me, I raced up the stairs, skipping them two at a time. Shutting myself in the first room I came to, I saw Sheriff Thompson dismounting from his horse through the dusty window. He strolled over to the front door of the farmstead and knocked sharply.

Maud answered with a simple "g'evening."

"Evening. My name is Sheriff Thompson - me and my men are looking for a fugitive and are wondering if you had any information."

My heart beat in my chest so loudly that I felt it would burst from my ribcage. I sat with my back to the door, listening to their conversation downstairs.

"Oh, yeah. We read about that in the paper this mornin'. Come in, Sheriff, I'll fix ya some tea."

I heard him agree and enter the farmstead, his spurs clanking on the wooden floorboards. I hear them making small talk as they milled about in the kitchen below, waiting for the kettle to boil.

My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the sound of their conversation downstairs.

There had to be a way out without raising suspicion. I looked around the room for anything that could help me ...

But it was a simple guest bedroom with no way out but the door that I was leaning against.

-

Thanks again for reading guys and hope you enjoyed this one! I'm going to try and update once a week :~)