Madness: The MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

TWO: SPHINX

SAM AND EMMA HAD RUN INTO A girl known to them Edeline Smithe. Edeline was in truth a bounty hunter Sam knew from Nebraska. The three arrived at a run-down cabin.

"What the hell?" Edeline spoke up.

"Emma, stay here. Edeline, come on." Sam instructed the two women. Emma tied up the horses, while Edeline loaded her pistols.

Sam and Edeline entered the cabin. It was dark and Edeline gasped once she made out a figure. A dead body. Edeline stumbled backwards as a rope caught her legs and dangled her from the ceiling. 

She struggled with the rope. "Damnit!" She shouted, clearly frustrated. She managed to loosen the rope a tiny bit so she could barely sit on the floor. A man with a thick beard and a girl with short brown hair came through the door.

Edeline immediately stopped struggling and froze with terror.

Sam explained why they needed the pair's assistance. The woman seemed relaxed until he mentioned Evelyn's name.

"Evelyn Adams sent me."

"Evelyn Adams? What's she up to these days, other than collecting money for people like us."

"She's a kind woman." Sam replied cooly.

"Is that so?" Evangeline squared off against him, shaking in anger. Vasquez gently nudged her shoulder, signalling her to calm down. 

"And the chica?" Vasquez asked.

"She's with us."

"Còmo te llamas, senorita?" Vasquez asked as he went to untie Edeline.

"I don't speak Spanish, Señor. And even if I did, I still would not answer."  Edeline sassed him before getting up and walking out, ignoring Evangeline.

"Senorita, I did not mean to offend you!" Vasquez followed her.

"Oh, please. If I were you, I'd stay away from me, Vasquez." She hissed.

"What do you have against me?"

"I..."

"See, you just need to get to know people before you judge them. Let's start over. My name is Antonio Vasquez. I would prefer Vasquez, if you wouldn't mind." He held out his hand. Edeline shook his hand smiling.

"I suppose I overreacted. I am Edeline Smithe. It is a pleasure to meet you Antonio." She said smiling before walking towards Emma.

"I said I prefer Vasquez!" He shouted after her looking at her retreating form.

***
DYNAMITE AND BULLET

EVELYN RODE TOWARDS A HORSE PEN with two men in it. The first, a fat white man, who was clearly drunk, was shooting at a card against a tall, thin, Asian man.

"The Dynamite is the least dangerous. Just don't do anything stupid around her. She has a short temper. The Bullet is dangerous. Don't mess with her." Evelyn told the two men.

Faraday, Evelyn, and Teddy reached the edge of the pen as the two men shot towards the cards. Both hit their targets. The judge declared the Asian man the winner.

"That's bull and you know it. I wanna do it for real." Evelyn looked around noticing two women, one blonde and one brunette, standing at the edge of the pen with none other than Goodnight Robichaux.

The Asian, known as Billy, took off his gun belt and hat, leaving him defenseless, or so Evelyn thought. 

The countdown began counting down from ten. She turned away looking towards Faraday, who noticed her discomfort and pulled her into his arms. Around five Evelyn turned her head towards the pen. She shut her eyes at the last second. She flinched as the gun went off. Faraday nudged her and she opened her eyes slowly. She saw the fat man lying dead on the ground with a hairpin in his chest. Goodnight began collecting money in his hat. A man protested and his friend apologized reminding him that it was Goodnight Robichaux he was speaking to.

"Just pay me double, son." Goodnight replied before reaching them.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Evelyn Adams, the Mystery." He kissed her hand gently.

"Oh, please. Sam sent me."

"Sam? What for?"

"A town called Rose Creek is plagued by Bartholomew Bogue. He is taking our land, slaughtering people in the streets." Teddy Q answered him.

"Well, wherever I go, Kira goes, wherever we go, Billy goes, and wherever Billy goes, Delia goes. We're in." He nodded towards Evelyn.

"Shall we, gentlemen?" She smirked.