The Fire Within a Ninjago Cowboy

Chapter 3 - Closing Time

Chapter 3 - Closing Time

Kai had been sitting by himself at the corner table for the past two or so hours. Jay had left the saloon early to ride back to Garmadon Ranch alone. It was right after that loud crash when Nya dropped the drink. From Kai's vantage point, it looked like Nya had yelled at Jay. Jay, who was normally a talker, actually did not want to talk about what happened when he had returned to the table. Instead, he ordered a whiskey from Sam and downed it quickly, then departed.

Kai was a little frustrated. Tonight was the first time in weeks that he was in a good mood, thanks to the pretty blonde saloon girl who seemed to like him as much as he liked her, but now his friend was the one having woman troubles. Kai decided to confront Nya at closing time to find out what had happened between her and Jay.

At five minutes to midnight, the punctual Sheriff Lloyd strolled through the swinging doors into the bar and loudly announced that the saloon would be closing in five minutes.

The size of the crowd had thinned by that time, but enough patrons were still around such that the scraping of wooden chairs on the floor, as they stood up, created a din of sound.

Cole walked up to Kai with a big smile on his face.

"Lucky night, I'm guessing?" Kai asked.

"Thaaat's right!" the cowboy with the black kerchief responded, in a cocky fashion. "I got me a few more dollars in my pocket now than there were a few hours ago!"

Just then, Sam walked up to Kai with a glass of beer. "Here's one for the road, cowboy...on the house!" She winked at him as she walked away. "See you next week!"

Kai grinned. "You can bet on it!"

When she was out of earshot, Cole let out a whistle. "I see you had a lucky night, too!"

Kai's face reddened.

Cole looked around for their fellow Garmadon Ranch men. "I see Zane, but where's Jay?"

"Jay left a few hours ago, actually. Something happened between him and Nya. He wouldn't tell me what it was, but I'm going to find out from Nya. You and Zane go on back to the ranch without me."

"All right, but don't be too long. You know how Mr. Wu gets when we stay out too late."

"Yep," Kai said in between chugs of beer. "I do."

At midnight, Sheriff Lloyd strolled back into the saloon. "Closing time!" he hollered. The few patrons that remained in the saloon headed toward the door.

Cole said goodbye to Kai and went to find Zane.

Kai saw that Nya was carrying a broom and was walking over to a corner of the room in order to sweep the floor after the evening's festivities. Kai followed her.

"Howdy, Nya," he greeted her.

"Howdy back, Kai," she responded in a civil manner, not necessarily warm and friendly. She could guess why he was standing there and she did not want to converse with him.

"So how is Jay?" Kai asked. His question confirmed for her why he was standing there.

"Look, Kai, I don't want to talk about it," she said as she turned away from him and began to sweep.

He put an arm in front of her, blocking her progress. "Why not?"

Nya sighed. "I'm forbidden by Mr. Morro to talk to any of you Garmadon Ranch boys."

Kai's jaw dropped. "Since when?"

"Since I heard Doc Julien talking with him in his office."

Just then, Nya looked over Kai's shoulder and gasped. Kai turned around to see Morro standing there.

"Hey, Garmadon boy, stay away from my saloon girls, y'hear? I saw you making eyes at my new girl tonight."

Kai was not intimidated by the saloon owner. Morro was a man of few scruples and would sell his own mother if he could make a buck.

"Last time I checked, Ninjago was still a free country. I can do what I want," the cowboy with the red kerchief replied.

A second later, Morro's gun was pointed at his head.