Native Outlaw

Chapter IV

Billy whistles in our crouch, and somehow manages to bring both of our horses straight to us. Gun shots fire all around us, and the bullets whiz past us and into the dirt. Women scream and run for coverage, calling desperately for their children to come inside. Billy makes sure that I get on my horse before he gets on his, then we ride. Men with guns are everywhere, hiding behind barrels, getting on their horses to follow us, and one guy even tried to pull me off of my horse but Billy shot him. It hit his arm but didn't kill him.

We ride as fast as we can through the little town, and then I see my house and we are about to pass it. It's brown wooden boards holding up well, and they should with all the work I'd put into it. There are two figures standing on the front porch and as we ride closer, I see my grandpa and Rose. Rose looks worried and confused. She looks from me to my grandpa frantically. But he just stands there with a smile on his face, I smile back. As we are almost right in front of them, Billy tips his hat to him and he does it back. I hear another gunshot, so we ride faster just trying to make it out of the towns limits. I look back to see me grandpa one more time, still just standing there, and I could swear I saw him laugh.

~ * ~

The fire crackles and shimmers, only giving out enough light that I can make out the faces of the people around me. Their bodies just a black cutout in the already black sky. After we surpassed the men with guns, Billy lead us to his friends, "the regulators" he calls them. He told me they would tell me the story later. We rode up to a tiny abandoned village, and there were five horses out front.

"Who's here?" I asked, looking at billy.

"Just the guys, or you might know them as the regulators." He smirks. "Ya!" He yelled and his horse rode in. We hitched them beside the other horses.

When he introduced me to the "regulators", they all acted a little strange. I didn't blame them, most women stay home to cook and clean for their families. But I'm not that woman. We all shook hands, and I got a few once overs that made me blush. Later two of the guys made a fire and we all huddled around even though it was in the high nineties outside, it was our only light apart from the moon and stars. But they weren't bright enough for us tonight.  I sat on the hard ground and remembered that I had my money, gun, and knifes all tied under my dress and I decide to keep them there. I don't know if I can trust these guys yet. Soon all six guys were huddled around the fire, all sitting identical to me. The heat was uncomfortable, but having the fire made me feel better.

"So, I guess we better introduce ourselves to the little lady. " A man with short dark brown hair and a clean face says. "I'm Dick. " Then he nods to the man beside him with longer blonde hair.

"I'm Doc, nice to meet you. " He smiles, and the smile seems a little too warm. I look down, trying not to let my face blush.

"I'm Chavez, it'd be nice if you could stick around, we need something other than the smell of Booz and smoke. " A man with long black hair says, it looks like he's an Indian but I can't tell. All the men laugh.

"Well if that's what you were hoping for, you're outta luck. This one here, " Billy nods to me, "Sure will surprise you. " There's a gleam in his eye as he looks across to me through the blazing fire. After a minute, someone clears their throat. I jerk my head to a man with shaggy brown hair and a short beard.

"Charlie. Nice to meet ya ma'am. " I nod my head with a small smile. Then the man beside him speaks up. He has sandy brown hair, and his face is harder than the others. All he says is, " Chip. " And it's followed with a silence. All you can hear is the fire cracking and a few howls in the distance.

"Well I'm Jane Greathouse and-"

" Greathouse? As in your father is Richard Greathouse?" Doc interrupts me.