Leslie was glad the badge stayed pinned to her chest; it still shimmered silver and new. She removed it and felt it's weight between her fingers, heavier than it looked with two revolvers pointed east and west.
They were supposed to represent the two great cities of Texionya. Sundown City in the southwest and Railford in the Northeast. Two guns are better than one, the saying goes...but these guns were hardly a pair.
The pioneers and the colonists were separated by one thing, she knew. One thing above the rest and that was Corodite. When the pioneers settled in the rich lands of the south, Luck Chuck prospected the lands settling mine after mine to extract the black-gold mineral.
Leslie remembered being told how Sundown City thrived over night from it's riches. Becoming as powerful as Railford. Both cities known for their riches-Sundown City for it's Corodite and Railford for its steam engines.
She rubbed the metal softly, feeling every groove and edge with her thumb. Suddenly she was overcome with a jealous heat that struck her hand as if she held a burning coal. Leslie squeezed the metal and gritted her teeth. What's the point of earning something if you can't keep it?
She waved a hand at the bartender and he slid her another frothy drink. "Thanks" she nodded.
The bartender lifted an enthused eyebrow, likely waiting for more than just a thanks; something made of copper or silver that shone like her badge, but she paid him no heed. He shook his head and ragged down a glass in a bout of frustration.
Leslie eyes lit back to life, brightening from their empty stare. They trailed down the bar to a wall where a picture hung. It fashioned the golden wallpaper, she thought: two horses basking beneath a tree bright with colors; leaves of oranges, yellows, and reds, in a field of gold with a dim orangish-red sun above.
Jacks words came to mind, we can restore your ranch, he told her. Another thing she's lost. Her life was filled with losses...she couldn't bear another.
After one last swig and a wipe of her lip, Leslie left a generous tip and found her way back to the room. Inside Rynan was in the lead by fifty cards, ready to collect several more. "Snakes!" he said picking up the pile.
Boone flipped the next card and sure enough a forest-green snake, that filled the whole card, fell to the table. "Dagnabbit!" He threw down his cards, "you're a cheat if I'd ever seen one."
"Am not!"
They both raised their fists.
Barrot tried to keep them from coming to blows, sounding authoritative as he spoke, "now boys, it's just a game."
Their ears only heard the woosh of fists, connecting to their shoulders; they tangled up, rolling like a barrel, over cards and nearly over Barrot. He leaped to his feet.
"Don't make me arrest the both of you."
Leslie laughed from the door and he drew his helpless eyes onto her. "You were never much at wrangling horses, neither."
He pouted, "stop gawking and give me a hand."
She didn't lend a hand just her tongue. "I'm hungry, you boys up for Blazers?"
Like two bear cubs being called by their mother, they responded with smiles, pushing and shoving as they found their feet.
"Are we ever," Boone said speaking for the both of them. Rynan looked as if he'd of said the same thing He nodded wildly.
"Well get ready and we'll get." They were still in their one-piece nightwear. She looked over at Barrot whose face seemed to have calmed. "Join us."
"Sure," he said while rubbing the back of his head, "I could use a drink..."
Blazers was a hidden gem if there ever was one: Lone Creek was known for its abundance of tall trees, streams, and of course the lake that was originally called a creek: and Blazers sat hidden in it's thicket. Off from the main city; it was surrounded by withered trees with limbs long, extending serpent-like, tangling in all directions even up and around the great log buildings that loomed as large as the treetops.
"woah, check it out," Rynan chuckled. He'd been there at least a half a dozen times yet still eyed it with awe, pretending like it was his first time everytime. "Last time they had a reenactment of the Battle of Bridgewater-"
The four of them stopped in front of the path that led up to the building hidden in the trees. Each one examining a sign with unfamiliar lettering and wording written on it.
"Baxters bar and brawl?" Boone read with confusion.
"What happened to Blazers?"
Barrot shrugged, "They must've sold it...The Blazers were getting old and had no kin to pass the place down to."
"Sold the place?" the boys groaned. Barrot stood a bit cautiously, readying himself as if the boys may throw an angry swing.
Leslie read the name over, bar and brawl? "Sounds like it could be a good time." She started down the path, "why don't we give it a gander."
They followed her without a remark. All curious themselves to see what had become of their favorite dining spot. It was hard to see down the trail. Torches burned on both sides of the path, flickering and waving like they'd entered some forbidden jungle or crossed over into the land of tribes.
"What was that?" Rynan whipped his head left towards a crack in the bushes then right at hissing laughter.
"There's something out there," Boone said straining his eyes while he squinted. The torchlight made it impossible to see into the blackness beyond. "something big, for certain."
Leslie lips raised higher with each hiss and shuffle of the woods. "I hope you boys will keep me safe," she said.
Barrot gave her a wink. Rynan took a long swallow. And Boone stood close, hands clenched into fists.
"I'm sure they're just trying to scare us-"
The torchlight died and the path went black. The four of them stood together backs to one another. Leslie's eyes warded of the darkness, pupils expanding, her vision hazy yet clearer than before. A rustle of trees around them. The torch light came on...
On either side of the path stood men, their skin black as the darkness that swallowed the wood, faces chalked bone white. Spears in hand,"Miek Koo Da," one yelled.
Rynan trembled, "they're going to kill us...we've stepped on sacred ground."
"Not if I have a say in it," Boone grimaced, standing like he was ready for a duel; legs crouched and wide-legged, arms at his hips. "You better come three at a time if you know what's good fer ya."
Barrot grinned at the Sheriff, "I could arrest them for unlawfully carrying a weapon."
"The jailhouse doesn't have enough chains-"
There came a pound in the wind that rattled the inside of her ears. Leslie's located a man strapped with round hollow wood, the top laced in elk hide, holding long sticks rounded at one end. He pounded on the drum, "Yook'a'took." Slow steady beats.
"Turn back," said the tallest tribes man who stood bald-headed with bloodshot eyes. Bone skulls laced around his neck. "Or you'll be a feast for the beasts."
"The beasts!" the tribesman spoke at once.
"Thanks for the warning," Rynan waved, turning around as quickly as the giant boy could; slow and with much effort. "we'll be headed back now." Boone flung his arm back and jolted the giant boy. "What was that fer?" He rubbed his arm and pouted.
"Wildgun and Mammoth the Kid don't run in fear, or have you forgotten?"
Rynan leaned in close to whisper but his voice boomed for all to hear. "I prefer my head on my shoulders...not around somebody's neck." He glared at the tribal chief. "That one there would probably wear it on his head if he wanted."
"Is there beer that way?" Leslie pointed towards the building. "Sure could use a drink."
The chief nodded. Arms crossed. "A drink that'll burn your spirit from the inside."
Leslie smacked Barrots chest with the back of her hand. "Who needs spirit when we got grit," she winked. "You up for one of them?"
"I am parched if I do say so myself."
Leslie gave the Chief a tilt of her hat, "much obliged."