Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 9: Forty-Seven

I pulled on the reins, stopping Junior right outside the store. I hopped down from the small wagon circling it to head towards the store's entrance, opening the door I was greeted by the smell of sweets and liquor. I walked over to a few bags on shelves listed as Caramel creams, Circus "peanuts", Chunky bars and Bubble gum cigarettes. I grabbed a bag of the Caramel creams and a bag of the Chunky bars, making my way to the counter.

I was greeted with a nod placing the bags on the counter, I looked around admiring the place for a moment. "Is this everything, miss." I returned my gaze to the man, looking at the cases behind him. "Sorry, uh- I'll need two cases of beer and then two cases of whiskey and a little bit of just about every fruit or vegetable you got." He nodded, opening the cash register. "That will be forty-seven dollars." I tilted my head, shocked at the price. "Forty-seven dollars?" He nodded, turning around and grabbing a case of the liquor.

"The liquor you asked for came overseas," I shook my head before handing him the money. He spoke sitting another case on top of the other one on the counter. "You take these two cases out, I will grab the other two and the rest of your purchased goods." I nodded grabbing the two cases, I pushed the door open, swinging around to face the street. I walked out around behind the wagon, placing the crates on the back of the wagon. I heard a few voices, glancing back around my shoulder I saw two figures drag a small girl back into an alley.

I thought for a moment before realizing, 'Iris' the store owner stepped out of the store with the other two crates. "You finish putting the stuff on the wagon, I have some business to attend to." I said to him, he tilted his head before nodding, I walked over to the alley she was dragged down taking a few glances before walking down the alley spotting them.

One of the men held her against the wall, the other with a knife to her throat said. "Where's our money?" She wriggled around, trying to escape the man's hold. "I don't have it! I never took any money from you." She wiggled a little more, turning her head, she spotted me causing the men to look in my direction.

"What are you looking at, get out of here." The man removed the knife from Iris's neck, stepping out to face me. "Leave her be, or this might get ugly fellas." I said, earning laughter from both men. "And what are you gonna do?" I rolled my eyes before quickly pulling my revolver from my holster shooting the man's hand, the knife fell to the ground as the man winced in pain and held his hand.

I stepped forward holding the revolver in my hand, the one man scurried down the alley holding his hand retreating. "Get back here you coward!" The other man yelled, removing his grip on Iris. She ran over behind me. "Listen, I only want my money back." He stepped back a bit, stepping forward I shot at his feet causing him to dance backwards trying to avoid getting shot. I stopped, pointing the revolver at his head.

"If she says she didn't take the money, she didn't take the money. Am I clear?" I spoke, my tone harsh and threatening. "Y-Yes miss, clearer than the sky." I placed the gun back in my belt, the man stepped back a few times facing me before turning and running down the alley as well. I sighed making my way back to the wagon, Iris ran up to my side before speaking.

"Woah, how did you do that?" I kept my gaze on the wagon, continuing to walk as I spoke. "Practice, lots of practice." She looked up at me walking at a fast pace trying to keep up. "Thank god you were there, or I don't know what might have happened to me." She said, I stopped at the back of the wagon turning to the small girl.

"You need to be more careful, next time I might not be around to save your ass." My tone was rougher than intended, she tilted her head before speaking. "Are you like a- a gunslinger?" She questions, unfazed by my tone. I sat on the back of the wagon, turning my gaze to the street. "Not really, some people refer to someone like me as one, most don't." My tone softened, she looked up at me with a sweet and curious gaze. "Have you ever heard of some of the famous ones?" She asked, I turned my gaze to her.