Dagger to the Heart

Chapter One

"We need a horse, and a nurse."

Bobbie just laughed, looking up at the man on his literal high horse, showing off his power by pointing a gun directly in her face.

"You're going to have to be nicer to me than that if you want my help." She had turned to walk away but stopped short when she finally realised that his whole gang had made a circle around her on their horses, hands on their belts. She just scoffed and looked at them all individually as she slowly turned to look back at who she supposed was their leader, but hesitated just about half way when she had locked eyes on one face.

It was only for a second but in that moment she knew everything was about to change.

"I'll ask again." He leaned forward in the saddle. "A horse and a nurse."

She sighed, nodding over to where the barn was where at least eight horses were enjoying their supper.

She looked down towards the soft brown dirt then back up to the man who still had the nerve to have his gun pointed at her.

"Wasn't so hard, was it sweetheart." He had smirked at her then rode off in the direction she'd nodded in.

"Whoever needs the medical care, follow me." She started off in the direction of her home, through the gap in the circle where their leader had just been.

By the time someone had eventually joined her in the kitchen, she had set up a sort of makeshift medical station. Her back was to the door as she poured some alcohol on some cotton, so she had no idea out of all the faces she'd seen who had walked in wounded.

So when she turned and found the dark skinned man she had been drawn to locked eyes with leaning on the door frame she was pleasantly surprised, it was like the air got knocked out of her lungs.

"What's your name?" She pointed to the chair she had set up by the table for him to sit so she could get started.

"Chavez." He winced out in pain but managed to give her a slight smile. "Yours?"

"Bobbie Ryder but people usually call me Bo" She walked back over to the table and in front of Chavez who had extended his bloody hand out onto the cloth she'd laid down.

She looked at it closely. Gunshot wound, most definitely. "How did you get this?" She looked up to find that he was already staring at her. "Or do I not want to know?" She smiled at him, but it slightly fell at the look he was giving her.

"Sorry for interrupting but I just wanted to apologise for Billy." Their heads both shot to the door way where a man now stood with hair the colour of straw, He looked so young and innocent as he fiddled with the bottom of his shirt. "We've had a rough past couple of weeks and well he's not really all there anyway. My names Doc."

"Nice to meet you Doc, don't worry about it. Unfortunately, living out here I'm use to it now." She set to work cleaning Chavez wound and making sure to remove every tiny bit of shrapnel so it wouldn't get infected. "So what brings you out here in such a large group?"

They chatted some more and the boys told her all about their teacher who had been murdered and they were supposed to be the law and arrest all the boys that had committed the crime, but then Billy had taken matters into his own hands and executed them instead. So now they were all on the run.
She knew from the moment she's set eyes on Billy that he was a bad egg and up to no good, and she didn't like him one bit, she couldn't wait for him to be off her land.
When Bobbie had finished dressing Chavez hand he stood, towering over her. He thanked her but she brushed it off, thanking the both of them for being so well mannered and polite.