Outlaws in Time - Billy the Kid x !Reader

Chapter 4. Acceptance

As you walk through the town with Billy, the afternoon commotions are unable to distract you from your thoughts. How does one get back to their own time, you wondered, recalling various media depictions of time travel. In Back to the Future, they time traveled with a DeLorean, while you had initially traveled with a car that was now gone. Did that make Jackie, Doc, and you the equivalent of Marty McFly? Jackie wasn't a mad scientist, and her car wasn't exactly the epitome of reliability, to have it be capable of running through time would be crazy, but this whole situation was already crazy.

A dreadful thought occurred to you, what if you were already dead? Was this the afterlife? Not sure why the afterlife is a Wild West theme, was this some type of purgatory? You definitely still feel alive, you still have needs, and feel physical pain, as well as emotional ones. Or maybe, to get back to your own time, you must die in this time? This was a theory you're not sure you would be willing to test.

"Who's your new friend Billy?" a voice interrupted your thoughts, a man slightly older than Billy, his hair blonde with hints of orange with a rugged goatee, blocked your way. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he greeted you, "I don't think I've seen you here before."

Billy positioned himself protectively in front of you, explaining, "Ruby, she's lending a hand at Ma's restaurant."

The man grinned, "Ah, a pretty lady like you?" the man attempted a flirtatious conversation as he peaked over Billy's shoulder to get a glance at you. Uninterested, you mustered a friendly smile in response, not eager to engage in banter.

"We really gotta be on our way, Jesse," Billy said as he ushered you ahead, but Jesse followed.

"Already?" Jesse says playfully, "Let's talk a bit more."

"I don't reckon so," Billy replied coldly.

"You soft on her Billy?" Billy stopped in his tracks and gave Jesse an annoyed look, causing him to chuckle and back off. "Hey, I'm just joking. Look, I got a new riffle you want to test it out?"

"Perhaps another day."

"Alright, I know when to back off." Jesse took your hand and gave it a small kiss, "I'll be seeing you, Ruby." he said before turning in a different direction leaving the two of you.

Giving Billy a pointed look, you remarked dryly, "real friendly."

"Jesse Evans, a friend of mine. Helped me through a lot, though he fancies himself a bit of a ladies' man."

"I hadn't noticed." You replied sarcastically.

As you both continue your journey home. Billy mentioned a pit stop at the local general store to refill his ammunition supply, interested you agreed. Curious about what items a general store would have. The creaking doorbell chimed as you entered, announcing your arrival to the storekeeper. The man at the register familiarly greeted Billy but gave you a second look, before he continued his conversation with Billy asking about his Ma and brother.

Billy headed toward the gun section, leaving you with a chance to look at the merchandise. The store, no more spacious than a typical convenience store from your time, contained bins filled with produce and nuts, while shelves held an assortment of household items—soaps, medicines, and spices. Your eyes widened in fascination at the antiquity of the items, and a box of colored pencils, priced at a mere dollar for a set of six, beckoned to you. Red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black. You smiled as you picked up the box, wondering to yourself if Joseph liked coloring. It was a hobby of yours when you were younger, though you had trouble coloring inside the lines. Deciding to keep the colored pencils, you imagined the joy they might bring to Joseph. It would be a good gift for Joseph, or maybe a bribe, as you will be in their family's graces once again.