𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒅 & 𝑰 - A Billy the Kid western romance

Resistance

Accompanied only by my own thoughts, I remain seated by the table for a couple of minutes, before Tom re-enters.

"Please, accompany me. Dakota will take care of you" He says.

"I can take care of myself" I grunt silently, because their shift in treatment makes me feel helpless, worthless. A damsel in distress. I don't need their help. They act like I can't fathom the issue at hand, when in truth, they are the ones failing to understand it's source. Regardless, I abide.

We pass the wanted posters, out toward the opposite end of the establishment, where Tom opens a gnarly door to our left.

Behind it sits a beautiful, relatively young lady, in a room furnished with a table set and two mean beds. Her hair is obsidian and pin-straight. A pair of equally straight bangs fall before her eyebrows. Her amber eyes gleam in the light as they meet mine, and she smiles warmly. "There you are, look at you! What a piece of art. I am Dakota Carter" She stands from her chair, and her smooth hand reaches out toward mine. As we shake, the frailness of my hand becomes even more apparent, in the vivid contrast to her glowing colour.

Eventually I lower my guard around her, the way she carries herself reminds me of Jane. We spend a lot of time together the following three days, and she earns my trust. Accordingly, I eventually let go of the lurking thought that she sees me as someone in need of saving. She cares for me, for everyone, but doesn't coddle me because of my current state contrary to my prior beliefs and expectations. Dakota is an honest and genuine person, with a familiar and careful touch. Conveniently she is the only fellow female around too, hence why we get along. 

It's been a few days since Billy and I spoke last. The usual barrier remains between us despite what was said. Some days I catch him eyeing my way from the other side of the yard, and if looks could be felt, his burn me up. 

Despite Dakota's kindness I am getting sick of the environment enclosed by the fence. Sick of feeling like a toddler, locked in like I'm incompetent. I'm headed toward where He resides, at the other end. I've been a prisoner for about two weeks, and have put on some reliable weight. I really miss Jane and she is surely wondering where I've disappeared to. I have to leave, therefore I stubbornly decide to sledgehammer my way through the barrier. I bring myself all the way to the other side of the residence.

He glares at me for an instance from under the brim of his hat upon my entrance, sat at a desk with his legs up, then his eyes return to inspect the steel revolver in his hands.

"I am going to leave you alone from tomorrow onward" I state, upon which he raises an eyebrow nonchalantly.

"No"

"What?" I huff harshly, at his unexpected reply.

"You are not well yet" He claims condescendingly.

"Yes I am" I scrunch my eyebrows at his remark. Our conversations always seem to play out the same way, like two puzzle pieces that don't fit. He hasn't even analysed me properly before drawing his rude conclusion. A tension takes on the atmosphere, as he chooses not to respond. 

"Avoiding me the way you have been won't change our situation, Billy" I change the subject. "You don't even know me. Perhaps speaking to me will kill whatever internal battle you have going on"

Silence hangs in the air.

"Your behaviour flips like a switch, you know. One second you act like I matter, the next I don't". I breathe out through my nostrils, "I am not going to be manipulated by you any further" I disclose. 

"Venus, you are not well. Therefore you are not leaving tomorrow". He proclaims sharply. "In a week I'm happy to have you out of here".

(Author's note: This feels shitty & uneventful sorry, next part will be better)