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They call them trinity (chapter 10)

"Tin can shooting challenge?" He says, smiling with all his teeth.
Grace thinks about it for a minute, and shrugs saying "Well, I'm taking my horse for a ride out of town. She's been at the stable for too long... you can join me. And we can even play fetch if you want."
"Jesus, wait a second!" Chester shouts as his horse struggles to keep up with Ty.
"C'mon! Ty has been locked up for too long! And so have I." Grace didn't need to encourage her mount to go faster. The animal was just so happy to stretch her legs that as soon as they reached the fields outside San Francisco, she just bolted ahead and they nearly lost the sheriff.
He defiantly digs his heels into the sides of his horse and does his best to keep up with her, but Grace and Ty seem made of the same substance - moving in perfect unison towards a bunch of tree in the distance.
When Chester reaches them, Grace is on the ground, gently patting Ty's neck before letting the horse roam around.
"You leave him trotting around like that?" Chester asks as he dismounts, and ties his horse to the trunk of a tree.
"Her." Grace corrects "Yeah, she deserves a bit of freedom... she never runs away."
Chester pulls out an empty can from a bag that's been rattling on his saddle for the whole trip, holding it up, and asks "so, how do you want to play this?"
A bullet makes the tin can fly to the ground, leaving a burning sensation at the tip of his fingers. He jumps to the side and shakes his hand in the air, squeaking: "Whoa! Easy."
Grace chuckles, her gun still smoking. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
He raises an eyebrow and the silence they find themselves in is suddenly dense with his smile. Grace wobbles a little, confused, and breaks away from the long, heavy eye contact.
"Mh, so. Why don't you line up those cans over there. 20 feet too much for you?" She asks.
"Ehm, excuse me. Who do you think you're talking to? 40 feet."
"Go ahead. Who hits the most wins?"
"Sure thing." He says before jogging cheerfully to a fallen down tree. He lines up eight cans divided in two groups and runs back, holding his hat with a hand.
"At the count of three?"
"Stick to your side" he says as he nods.
They both take their positions, planting their feet firmly to the ground.
"One... two..." he counts "Three!"
It takes less than the blink of an eye for both of them to shoot their bullets and put the guns back in their slipcases, and for all the cans to jump and fall to the ground.
"I think I won!" Chester affirms, proudly.
"You sure?" Grace asks, casually.
"Yeah. We both shot all the targets, but I only fired four bullets. You shot all yours."
"Mh." She quirks her head "Let's check."
She walks calmly towards the targets, and stands arm crossed on the fallen down tree, looking at the cans.
"You see?" She asks the man, who's now standing close to her. She points towards two cans that fell way further than the others.
"What?"
"Go pick them up." She encourages.
Chester looks at her, diffident, and jogs to the cans.
"Fuck me!" He lets out as he picks them up, spotting two holes in each can. "How did you even..."
But she's turned already, walking back to their shooting spot.
"Another round? I got an extra gun and spare bullets in my saddlebag. You'll have to buy me some when we're back in San Francisco though. They don't grow on trees."
- - -
"I give up" Chester lays on the grass under a tree after their third round "You win."
Grace takes a sip of water from a flask, and offers him some. "You're not bad yourself. But I'm better. Fact."
He nods, and smiles, and Grace thinks he smiles a lot, with all those teeth he has.
"So, are you really here to apologise?" She questions, still unconvinced of the man's intentions. "You are not planning to bring me back to jail?"
Chester stares off into the distance, and scratches his beard "Well, to tell you the truth, I should." He says, and Grace's hand moves to her gun. She's aware she just shot all her bullets, but so has he, and she mentally searches for other weapons. There's a knife in her belt. A rifle on her saddle. And her good ol' knuckles.
"But I won't. You can stop that" He says staring at her fist, closed tight, and ready to punch. "Two were enough."
She opens her hand and rests it on her thigh, open, still tense. "Alright."
"Want to sit with me?"
"To be honest, I've been sitting for far too long. You do the talking, I'll stretch a bit." She says, holding her shoulder to extend her back muscles. Chester seems uneasy, but she's too busy enjoying the fresh air of the countryside to care. She's never liked big cities, and even small villages put her patience to the test. People. They seem to be everywhere.
"So... what do you like?"
"Mh?" She mumbles, her cheeks heating up from the exercise.
"What do you enjoy, in life?"
Grace thinks about it, and then figures it should be easier to answer a question like that.
"Horse riding. Running. Swimming... shooting."
"How about... cooking?"
Grace changes her exercise and bends down, touching the ground. "Nah" she answers, "Nobody would want that."
"I'm sure you'd do great" he says chewing on the skin of his thumb. "Do you like kids?"
"I like dogs"
"Kids, dogs... it's the same thing"
Grace is too focussed on grabbing a horizontal branch to perform a series of pull-ups to pay too much attention to his words, so she just hums a vague approval.
- - -
"Are you saying you didn't touch my butt?" Grace's laughing, and Ty snorts every time her body is shaken by a fit of giggles.
"No! Of course not! I'm a gentleman." Chester's glad the woman decided they didn't need to race back into town. The early afternoon sun is scorching hot, and he just doesn't get why they'd want to sweat any more. "It was that guy with the gold tooth."
The horses are keeping a relaxed pace and they can therefore comfortably talk from their respective saddles.
"Well, I'm sorry. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time." She apologises, but it doesn't sound like she really means it.
"I'm glad you did it though."
"Excuse me? What sort of things are you into?" She asks quirking an eyebrow, and chuckles again.
"You, among others" he smiles again and shrugs, casually. Grace's laughter dies in her throat, and her body stiffens. He looks ahead, and continues: "If you hadn't punched me, I wouldn't have to take you to jail. And we wouldn't have... that moment." He swallows, looking ahead.
"Yeah, well... I was drunk and... you know, in jail. Sorry about that." She mumbles.
"I was angry." he states, serious "That's why I shot you. I was angry you left me in that room after I trusted you. I felt stupid... and betrayed."
Grace rolls her eyes in silence, because this guy is just a big child, and apparently that's how they raise them in Mametown. Christ.
"But the real issue is," he adds "I can't get it off my mind. I can't get you off my mind."
He's getting more confident, now that his interest is out in the open, while Grace feels like sinking with every word that makes the whole situation clearer.
She's relieved that they finally made it back to the saloon, where they both get off their horses and let them drink at the water trough. Her eyes quickly do a survey of Ty's saddle, inspecting every detail - Hannah sewed it back together perfectly.
"Look..." she tries to string some words together, but she's definitely out of her depth now. She wonders if shooting him would be an reasonable option to get out of that awkward situation.
Before she can finish, two big and surprisingly delicate hands are tying a red silk band around her wrist. She looks up at him and down to her wrist a few times, puzzled.
"I know this probably sounds nuts to you" he sighs "but have you ever been so close to killing someone, only to realise you're kinda in love with them?"
Grace nods, unsure, because it would be rude not too. He chuckles nervously, and continues: "And when you learn they haven't died, you feel so overwhelmed with joy you sort of just want to cry?"
Grace nods again, more convincingly this time, and her eyes widen as if she finally grasps a concept that has been lingering for some time now.
So that's what it was - she thinks.
"When Mamrie came back to Mametown, and told me they managed to get you here... I swear to god, I cried like a baby." He lets out a short, nervous chuckle, and his cheeks redden a little. He is holding her hand now, playing with the stray ends of the ribbon.
"In another time, in another life... I'd ask your father for the chance to court you, I'd bring you flowers every Sunday morning and finally buy you a ring worth two months of my salary. But there's no time for that so... Grace Helbig, would you marry me?"
The shock travels through Grace's brain and does at least three full rounds of the inside of her skull, making her head spin wildly. She manages a slanted, awkward smile, and says "Must've been a good punch."
He laughs, glad that the tension is relieved, and quietly answers "Yeah. It was a great punch."
Grace steps back, and the only thing she can think of is that it was a perfect set up, he could've said he was 'lovestruck', or that she 'hit his soft spot' or something. But he didn't.
"I know this is very sudden" he adds, "but we could be really happy. With some money in the right hands, we can clean your name. You could finally have a proper life. No more killing, no more running... "
Grace shakes her head, smiling, because the thought is somehow amusing.
"Don't answer straight away" he begs, hopeful, "meet me here at the bar, tonight, give me another chance to convince you?"
"I..."
"Please" he says, and brings her hand to his lips, before taking a few steps back. "Tonight" he saddles up, and before leaving he just adds "I'll bring new bullets."
- - -
"Sweetheart."
"You're the only one who actually uses that nickname, you know?" Mamrie is sitting on the roof of the Black Pearl, throwing pebbles inside an empty can that somehow found its way there. Mr. Borg took a good half hour to figure out where she was hiding.
"I don't understand... I was thinking things were okay."
"You don't get it... you went to my father! The father who used to beat my little sister up? You asked for his permission?" Mamrie's red-rimmed eyes are looking at him, full of accusations.
"What? No! I did it out of respect... Zat is how it is done..."
"What if my father had said no? Would you have backed off without his permission? Huh?"
Mr. Borg straightens his back a little, and pulls his elegant waistcoat down.
"In zat case, I am sorry Mamrie but I'd have had to kill him."
"I don't believe you." Mamrie pouts "you're just saying that to cheer me up."
"Zat is true, aber..." he picks up the tin can and lets the pebbles fall out "I would have beat the krap out of him." As he says so, his hand clenches around the can and reduces it to a crumpled mass of metal. A lustful look passes over Mamrie's eyes for a split second, before she remembers she's angry at the German.
"C'mon, zucker" he says as he sits down close to her "Zere is something I have for you on my person." He grabs her wrist and guides her hand to his trousers, while wiggling his eyebrows indecently. Mamrie tries to keep her frown but his face is just ridiculous, and when her palm lands on what feels a small, hard box through his trousers, her face lights up.
"Well," she protests "that's a bit disappointing."
"If you say yes, we'll get to that other thing, I promise."
She chuckles, her anger dispelled.
"I didn't want to do zis straight after your father's death, I thought it'd be inappropriate" he explains. "Und dann Hannah left, and the buziness started to drag..."
"Well, about fucking time then!" she says picking the box from his pocket, and placing the simple ring on her fingers.
"Emh..." he says looking at the ring.
"Honey, this ring is huge." she says, surprised.
"Ja, it was my granma's. Everybody in my family is quite big... I'll get it resized"
"Yeah, you do that. Also, let's consider adoption, shall we? For the sake of Red Velvet."
- - -
As Grace walks around the town streets, she notices something's different, but she can't quite pin it. Two people have already looked at her for an unreasonably long time and she's pretty sure she saw a kid running away from her. As she approaches the church, she notices a piece of paper nailed to a wooded board.
"Oooh, shite" she whispers as she rips the paper. Her face is staring back at her, her scar accurately drawn on her right cheek and a bold $10,000 right under her chin. She quickly turns into a familiar street - then, three steps at a time, she climbs up to Tyler's parlour and knocks.
"Who's there?" Tyler asks, like he does when he has one of his rare afternoon clients.
"Ty, it's me."
The sound of a latch being open tells her the barber is on the other side of the door, and as soon as he opens it, she quickly slides in.
"That's it, Ty. I gotta go."
"What? What do you mean?" He replies, confused.
"Signs are up. $10,000 - as usual. I thought I'd be worth a bit more in California, to be honest." She says as she enters the closet.
"Wait - " Tyler tries to stop her but Grace is already in the room, standing open-mouthed among neatly lined clothes.
"...Han?" She asks, tentatively.
The person standing in front of her is surely the right size to be Hannah, and has the same unmistakeable blue eyes, but the posture, the clothes, the moustache... that's a man alright!
"Aaah, Grace. Hi." her shoulders bend a little and the embarrassment reveals that under the waistcoat and facial hair there is definitely Hannah. Grace shakes her head, amused, and smiles.
"Wow" she lets out "look at you."
"Do you... mh." Hannah tries to make her voice deeper "Do you like it?" She says jokingly, and pulls both ends of her bow tie. Grace takes a couple of step towards her, until they're close enough for her to whisper in Hannah's ear "More than I'd like to admit."
"Okay, gals!" Tyler shouts form the other room "I'm going to be over here reeeeal quiet, but I'm here. Just sayin'."
Grace places a kiss on Hannah's lips, put quickly pulls away, bothered by the moustache.
"Do you have to wear those? Actually, don't get me wrong, but why the whole ensemble?"
"I was just curious. Tonight I want to try and go to town dressed like a man, see how it feels!"
"Don't you always do that?" Grace asks, puzzled.
"No. Usually I look like a boy... today I look like an incredibly short man."
Grace giggles lightly, and then takes a deep breath, suddenly serious.
"Han, I have to leave town."
"What? Why? I mean... already?"
"My face is all over San Francisco." Grace shows her the paper she ripped from the wall.
"Can you just... I don't know, wait until tomorrow?"
"I need to leave with the dark, Han..."
"Tomorrow's dark?" Hannah asks pulling a flawless puppy face.
Grace smiles and looks away, not knowing what to answer.
"Sorry, I know... I know." Hannah apologises.
"It wouldn't change anything. This is my life, gotta run with it." Grace states calmly.
"I know, it's stupid" Hannah giggles nervously and rubs the back her neck - suddenly, she's unmistakably a girl in man's clothing.
"What's stupid?"
"Nothing, I was just hoping that... if you were up for it... although maybe I am getting ahead of myself here..." Hannah mumbles, unsure, and Grace quickly grows impatient.
"Han. Paper. Reward. Wanted criminal."
"Ok. The thing is.... I've never woken up next to someone." Hannah says looking at the floor "I was just hoping we could spend one night together. That's it."
Something happens in Grace's chest, a thump, she thinks, or maybe earthquake would be a more accurate way to put it. And she cannot believe that she's actually considering to... and to ask Tyler for... no. No way. No fucking way.
- - -
"This is the best day of my life!" Tyler squeaks in excitement and he mixes two liquid creams in a small plate, trying to get the exact hue that matches Grace's skin tone. "Stop flinching!" He orders as he smears some over Grace's right cheek.
She frowns, and is promptly admonished by Tyler's disapproving look. She's sitting on a barber's chair, her hair covered by some pungent cream that's making her eyes watery.
"Perfect." He congratulates himself, and proceeds to cover Grace's face with the pinkish mixture.
"Hey!" Grace protests as he opens her shirt.
"Honey, I'm sorry but we need to cover all these too. And that binder has to go."
Grace rolls her eyes and removes her shirt, and as she unravels the binder she peeks at the mirror to spot Hannah staring from the other room, then quickly looking away. Tyler lets her finish and goes in the closet to grab a couple of dresses for her to try on.
"Are you having fun in here?" He asks Hannah as she tries all his hats on.
"Yeah, dude! Thank you so much for this!"
"Anytime sweetie. I'm going to close this door, so you get the surprise effect -ok?"
"Great thinking!" She confirms, flustered, and turns to the mirror to try a velvet top hat.
- - -
"Whoa."
Hannah wobbles slightly, and holds herself to the frame of the door. Tyler jokingly rubs the side of his mouth, miming that she should dry the drool.
But Hannah can barely notice the barber making fun of her, because Grace's wearing a long, green velvet dress that covers her shoulders just about enough to deceive her round scar, leaving her collarbones deliciously exposed. Tyler did a great job hiding all the little scars, and her skin seems perfectly even now. Hannah's eyes run up and down Grace's figure, registering the fact that her hair is now lighter, almost blonde, and tied up in a loose bun. Tyler applied a delicate layer of eyeliner to form tiny wings on the side of her eyes, that now appear slightly bigger and infinitely warmer. But the real shock comes from the perfectly smooth cheek he managed to achieve: the long scar, that became so familiar, completely disappeared - so much that Hannah takes a couple of steps towards Grace and looks curiously at her skin, frowning. They're a bare inch apart.
"Han..."
"It's Hans for tonight" she corrects absent-mindedly, still staring at the invisible scar she knows must be there.
"Hans," Grace says patiently "please stop." She grabs the girl's chin and pushes slightly, forcing her to make eye contact.
"Yes, sorry" she says in disbelief, and takes a step back "God, Grace... you look stunning."
Grace inevitably blushes, and quickly turns towards the mirror because for some reason she feels the change in temperature in her skin might ruin the make up.
"You guys..." Tyler squares both from the distance, satisfied "are two masterpieces."
The women look at each other, then at the mirror, and barely recognise themselves.
"This should do" Hannah adjusts her waistcoat, cheerfully "I bet my own sister won't recognise me. Or you."
Grace turns, giving her skirt a half whirl, and looks satisfied and weirded out in equal parts. Hannah places her chosen hat - an elegant, light brown round hat with a dark silk band and flat ribbon that coordinates with her suit. Her ears bend slightly under the weight of the headgear, and Grace points it out by touching one with the tip of a finger. Hannah shrugs, too excited to care.
"I have an idea" she says, smiling "Let's pretend we're a couple! Just for tonight. C'mon."
Grace stares at her, deadpan. "What?"
"Please! We can go out and be entirely different people... how are you not excited about this?"
"I think it's a great idea" Tyler comments, yawning "I mean, the going out part."
"Ok" Grace sighs, and wonders if she finally lost her mind "Tyler, I know you must be tired, but join us for a drink later? I am leaving tomorrow... I don't know when I'll see you again."
Tyler nods, and for a moment the three of them share the silence that falls in the room.
"Sure, Gracie." Tyler says.
"Mhf, Gracie" Hannah giggles, and is rewarded by a slap on her nape, her hat falling slightly over her eyes.
"I regret nothing." She finds the guts to say.
"Let's go, Hans" Grace says, making her way out, followed by an overly excited Hannah "See you later, Ty."
"See you, Ty!"
- - -
"This is so weird" Hannah whispers as they walk down the street, and the sunset hits the roofs with orange and pink.
"What's weird?" Grace asks patiently.
"Take that guy" she explains "he looked at me, straight in the eyes. I stared back. He looked down."
Grace thinks about it, and then she gets it. She gets that Hannah is enjoying a completely new sort of respect. On the other hand, Grace is getting a whole different type of attention. A couple of miners walking in the opposite direction whistled at her and she had to hold back from punching them in the face. But when Hannah looked at them disapprovingly, they just tipped their hats and raised their hands in a silent apology.
"I'm not used to this either" Grace mutters, and instinctively checks the small revolver Tyler lent her, hidden under her dress.
"Do you want to wear these?" Hannah pulls two fake wedding bands from a pocket, in the hope that a ring would spare Grace any unwanted attention.
"That's not the point."
The point is that Hannah's the one in control, right now, and it's making Grace incredibly nervous. She can't react, risking to give away her disguise. She has to count on her 'man' to protect her.
"I'm not very good at behaving like a proper lady" She adds.
"Yeah, no kidding" Hannah giggles.
"So, Hans..." Grace steps closer as they walk towards the Black Pearl to prepare Grace's frugal luggage for the journey "still want to pretend to be a couple?"
Hannah thinks she can hear a touch of irritation in Grace's voice.
"What was that?" She says, amused.
"What was what?"
"Grace Helbig, are you maybe upset I said 'pretend to'?"
But the woman just looks ahead, and sneaks an arm under Hannah's.
"Eat shit, Hans."