Young Guns: Fire and Steel

Chapter 17: "Dresses Like A Dandy"

The next morning Billy was washing up by the river. The water was frigid, but refreshing. The cold did the trick and woke him up. Sleep had not been the easiest lately, but at least once he did fall asleep, he slept like a rock. Still, he was a lot more tired than he let on. As much as he really didn't care to lead the Regulators, he knew no one else could. Dick was gone. And despite how much he liked to butt heads with their fearless leader, he did miss him. His cornflower blue eyes scanned the horizon looking for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. Good.

Taking in a deep breath, he continued to watch the horizon. This wasn't exactly what he wanted. What he had wanted died with Tunstall. It ate at him every damn day. He had the chance to have a good life. Settle down some day and have a ranch like Tunstall or maybe a farm. Being under Mr. Tunstall's employment had helped him see a future. He had wanted a family one day, but now it just didn't look like it was in the cards for him. His future died with Tunstall. It was a rather depressing thought if he wanted to go down that road, but he didn't like to think about it. Tunstall was gone and any shot he had at a life and a future was now gone with the British man. Especially now that he seemed to be wanted. Hell, he had a rather large reward on his head. As proud as he was of it, what woman in her right mind would want to spend a future with a wanted fugitive?

Without warning a green eyed blonde entered his mind. Damn! Why had she popped into his thoughts with his line of thinking the way it was? And even worse, why couldn't he get her off his mind? He was fixated on that hellcat of a woman like he had never been fixated on a woman before. Whores were his usual. They were easy. No strings attached. There was nothing beyond sex with them. Each of the boys had their share of a paid woman. Steven probably more than he had. Then again, he wasn't too sure about shy Charlie. He seemed to lose all sensibilities when talking to a woman. Well, any woman that wasn't Kristal. He had no qualms in talking with her. And there it was again. His mind kept straying back to Kristal.

"Shit! She ain't even my kind of woman!" Billy grumbled in a pouty tone to the air. No, she may not be what he normally preferred in a woman, but she was unique, different and quite striking in appearance and personality. Hell, he thought she was beautiful. Yet, it was her individuality that stood out to him. He had never met any other woman like her. Still, she wasn't no feminine portrayal. She didn't even wear a goddamn dress. What was so wrong with wearing a dress? He didn't understand it at all. However, what stood out the most to him was her tenacity, and loyalty, it was greatly attractive. He had to remind himself again that Kristal Starr was not his type of woman. It was just strange that he couldn't get her off his mind. Her firecracker attitude amused him making it so he wanted to ruffle her feathers more. He enjoyed it. His thoughts were gratefully interrupted as Steve appeared from around a bush.

"Ah, Billy! We uh... we got a situation."

A confused and frustrated Billy turned to Steve, pushing back some hair that was falling into his eyes, "what's wrong?"

Dirty Steve shook his head, "well, it's Charlie." He rocked back and forth on his feet impatiently before starting to walk back towards the camp expecting Billy to follow.

With a frustrated sigh, Billy started following briskly back towards their makeshift camp. He ended up passing Steve who had slowed his pace some. "Well, what the hell's the matter with him?" Billy called back.

"I... uh.. I dunno." Steve frowned, shaking his head trying to catch up with Billy's swift pace. "Well, he's jus'... he's jus' bellyachin' about somethin' or another." The dirty boy tried to make it seem like what Charlie was upset over didn't bother him. He played it off, but inside, he was just as upset as his friend. "Doc was readin' the newspaper. He got mighty spooked."

As they walked across the desert, Billy noticed Kristal. He frowned as she turned towards them a look of confusion in her eyes. She had been brushing down her horse, but had stopped to watch them. As they started to pass her, Billy heard her shout, "what the hell's goin' on? Yer movin' like ya gotta a fire up yer ass!"