Cowboys & Ghosts

5. Mob Mayhem

The lynch mob had approached the town, on horses full speed ahead. Daisy pulled her gun, with her other hand squeezing the reins. Slim stayed motionless, as his men, alongside Cody had their own weapons out. Before Daisy knew it, she was in the middle of a crossfire. She ducked, with bullets racing inches above her head. Slim's men had spread out, but the mob had followed them. Daisy finally pointed her revolver out, and a bullet of her own shot one outlaw square in the head. More than one bullet was screaming through the air, more outlaws following. Daisy gestured her horse to gallop, while shooting at two more members of the mob, who fell dead from their own horses. At the while, she witnessed it all. One man from Slim's group had been shot, a bullet piercing the inside of his torso. One of the mob had thrown a torch, which set a nearby building on fire. It was now night, the sky as dark as the massacre Daisy was seeing. A bullet shot her hat, which was sent flying. She fired back and another outlaw fell from the side of his saddle. She saw two more outlaws on the ground, pointing weapons at her. In a reflex, she replaced her revolver with her pocket knife, jumping simultaneously from her saddle. The outlaws were surprised to see her ten feet in the air. So high, they didn't have a chance to fire. Daisy landed feet first on one of them, slicing his throat. She quickly turned, throwing the knife at the other. The blade stabbed right into the upper part of his chest. Daisy went over, yanking it out so fast, that the outlaw's blood was spilled onto her face. With her free hand, she reached for her revolver. She then shot another mob member, who was about to kill Cody. Daisy had never felt so alive in a battle she had never seen before, her first time in the outside world. Meredith had told her how it was dangerous, for those like her out of Batesville. Daisy whirled to see an outlaw aiming a rifle at Slim's head. She held up her own revolver, and with a single pull to the trigger, she shot a bullet into the right side of the outlaw's face. Slim looked over at the teenager, utterly surprised. After a matter of seconds, Daisy turned, kicking another outlaw square in the face with her boot. Then, she shot him dead. She gasped, finding herself surrounded by two more mob members. "You're dead, sweetheart!" One of them said. Daisy flipped straight in the air, and the two outlaws realized too late that they accidentally shot and killed each other. Daisy landed on her feet, instantly diving out of the path of incoming bullets. A scream caused her to whirl, and another outlaw was holding Cody hostage at gunpoint. Cowboys and horses were everywhere. Fire lit up the darkness of the town. Cody struggled, but his captor was a lot stronger. Daisy ran up, jumping on the outlaw from behind. He let go of Cody, who reached for his own gun. Daisy took her knife, slicing the outlaw's throat, more blood following. She jumped from him to another outlaw, stabbing his chest. The last outlaw was in her sight. She quickly lifted his gun up, bullets firing into the sky. Daisy then twisted and kicked the outlaw with such full force, that he was hurled ten feet away from her. With her gun, she shot him in the back of his head. Finally, it was over. The building that was on fire kept burning, followed by drops of flame hitting the dirt floor. Dead bodies were everywhere, horses having gone away. Daisy looked pale, but relieved when she helped Cody to his feet. Blood of the outlaws she had killed was dried on her face. "Who are you?" Asked Cody. "A local from Batesville." She put her gun away, wiping the blood from her knife with a handkerchief. "Thank you, Mrs..."
"Martinsen. Daisy Martinsen." Including both her and Cody, the rest of Slim's group assembled. "Are you alright, Mr. Harrison?" Cody asked. Slim brushed dust from his jacket, as he answered, "Yes. Someone put on quite a show, that I did not appear to enjoy." He looked from his henchman to Daisy, who looked like a mess after that kind of show. "Not one of them, are you?" Asked Slim. His men had their guns out, pointing straight at Daisy. "Hold your fire!" Cody snapped quickly. "She helped us!"
"But, was she helping herself?" One of his men retorted. Slim cleared his throat loud enough, for his men to listen. "Don't get your emotions high up, boys," he mused. "She saved my life." He smiled, turning to look at Daisy. "By God. For this kind of gratitude, there will be a place for you here. Welcome to my gang, Mrs. Martinsen." Daisy was surprised. Unexpectedly, she was accepted into a gang she barely knew about, but she had saved them, due to gratitude. No, heroic act. "Wait just a goddamn minute!" One of the men snapped. "You're seriously hiring a child?" The rest of them started to bicker as well. Daisy pulled her revolver and shot a round into the night, silencing the clamors. Slim looked down at her, impressed. "Thank you, Mrs. Martinsen," he said. "After I deal with them, you and I talk; first thing in the morning." He eyed Cody. "Take her inside and find a room, that is suitable. She belongs with us now."
"Yes, sir," Cody obeyed, sliding his arm through Daisy's. "Come."