Busted Gulch vol 9

One Bad Turn (baileygaines)

One Bad Turn

Miss Hannigan's was still laying down tracks,

Annie was still tied up in the back.

She had woken up and tried to get free,

but was being watched closely by Clancy.

Annie did what she knew best -

tried to flatter and tease and jest.

Clancy rolled his eyes, irked by her voice,

then told her quite brusquely that she had a choice.

"Just stop talkin'! Shut up, just stop!

Stop or I'll give you more drugged Cocopop!"

That quieted Annie for a moment or two,

She wanted to stay awake, but wanted to annoy Clancy too.

"You can't make me drink it," she challenged the man.

He smirked. "Oh, little lady, I can."

He was moving towards Annie, bottle in hand and a smirk on his face,

when a shot from outside froze him in place.

The wagon jolted and came to a stop.

"Clancy?!" Miss Hannigan's voice made both people hop.

Clancy poked his head out from under the canvas top,

and what he saw made his eyes pop.

Brody was holding a gun to Miss Hannigan's head.

"Let the girl go, or this woman is dead."

"Brody?!" Annie squealed from within.

"Do as he says, Clancy," begged Miss Hannigan.

Brody motioned with his gun. "Clancy, down you get.

I'll free her. I don't trust either of you a bit."

Keeping one eye on the two scoundrels, Brody ducked inside.

"Brody!" Annie looked up, her eyes wide.

He lifted Annie up and out into the light.

Annie blinked, taking in the welcome sight.

"Now..." Brody watched the two miscreants with a frown.

"What to do with you...shoot you down?"

Clancy gulped and Miss Hannigan gasped,

but Brody silenced them both with a laugh.

"Annie, how much of their supplies are drugged?"

"What? Oh...a third, maybe?" Annie shrugged.

"They were only coming to get me,

so there are only rations for three."

A slow grin spread over Brody's face.

"You know what? I'll show you two grace.

I'll leave you alive; that's more than you deserve.

But Annie and I will be taking your rations - two thirds.

Annie gasped, and then she let out a giggle.

"Leave them with the drugged food! Oh, Brody, you devil!"

The two began pleading, but Brody wasn't done.

"Feel this heat? Feel the light of the sun?

We'll be taking your water as well.

A few days, and you'll be thirsty as hell.

Unless, of course you want to drink your precious Cocopop?"

Brody grinned and leaned against the canvas top.

Miss Hannigan's powdered face grew even more white.

"T-this is ridiculous! This isn't right!"

Brody's eyes hardened. "Neither is stealing a girl from her home."

He bent over to cut Annie's bonds, his eyebrows dangerously low.

He caressed her face and whispered in her ear,

"Let's get the supplies, then get out of here."

Annie gathered the supplies while Brody stood watch;

Miss Hannigan and Clancy squinted in the sun bright and hot.

Annie got on Brody's horse and Brody took Clancy's gun,

then got up behind Annie and the thing was done.

They rode away, leaving the two scoundrels in the dust.

And had a long talk about the importance of trust.

Annie fessed up to her deal with Shamus and his plan to get back Lou,

and straightened out the story about Lou and Bruce leaving town, too.

They paused to have a meal at the fall of night,

and fell asleep, holding one another tight.