oom: bisbee, part 2
Jul. 7th, 2008 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lasthalfmileThe town is quiet, today.
Between the funeral and the heat, most folks are either inside or busy with things. The main street is nearly deserted, as they head down, horses stirring up the soft dust beneath their hoofs as they walk.
The office is at the end of town.
Dan can only hear Mark's voice in his head. So young. So confused.
He keeps one hand on the reins, and the other slides down to his hip and the pistol, fingertips brushing the holster, checking to be sure that familiar weight is still there. He's not planning on killing anyone, but he won't hesitate to threaten with it if he has to.
They head around the back of the office, and Dan signals for them to be quiet. He can hear voices from inside.
"So you say the coach should be in this afternoon?"
"Butterfield himself ordered a new one sent out. I guess he had a back up in case Wade took out the first."
"He's not worried about him now that he's out?"
"He doesn't know. Figured might as well just let him find out when he gets in from Fort Huachuca this afternoon. Guess he wanted to ride with it to make sure it got here in once piece. With Wade's gang gone, should be in right on time."
Dan turns his head and gives Ben a look, as if to ask if he caught all that. The fort was to the west of Bisbee but there was only one way into town through the canyon that was north of Bisbee.
And Ben knew that canyon well.
Between the funeral and the heat, most folks are either inside or busy with things. The main street is nearly deserted, as they head down, horses stirring up the soft dust beneath their hoofs as they walk.
The office is at the end of town.
Dan can only hear Mark's voice in his head. So young. So confused.
He keeps one hand on the reins, and the other slides down to his hip and the pistol, fingertips brushing the holster, checking to be sure that familiar weight is still there. He's not planning on killing anyone, but he won't hesitate to threaten with it if he has to.
They head around the back of the office, and Dan signals for them to be quiet. He can hear voices from inside.
"So you say the coach should be in this afternoon?"
"Butterfield himself ordered a new one sent out. I guess he had a back up in case Wade took out the first."
"He's not worried about him now that he's out?"
"He doesn't know. Figured might as well just let him find out when he gets in from Fort Huachuca this afternoon. Guess he wanted to ride with it to make sure it got here in once piece. With Wade's gang gone, should be in right on time."
Dan turns his head and gives Ben a look, as if to ask if he caught all that. The fort was to the west of Bisbee but there was only one way into town through the canyon that was north of Bisbee.
And Ben knew that canyon well.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-09 06:04 am (UTC)Dan's look also tells Ben that if Mr. Butterfield didn't make good on that deal, well.
That isn't for polite company.
Then again, Ben isn't polite company.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-09 06:34 am (UTC)He's infamous — famous — for that.
The hard look in Dan's eyes makes Ben think Dan could be (could've been) his own brand of infamous, if life had been just a little bit different.
"I know. S'what I like about you, Dan."
Ben swings into the saddle, taking one more look around the canyon.
"Headin' back to the bar now?"
no subject
Date: 2008-07-09 06:44 am (UTC)He feels solid enough, still.
Dan loops the reins off the branch and pulls himself up into the saddle, and once he's set, he looks around at the coach and the bodies lying in the dirt.
In the dust. Blood soaking red.
The image doesn't bother him, like it would have the day before.
He's not sure why.
(Maybe it's because he was the one doing the shooting.)
no subject
Date: 2008-07-09 07:01 am (UTC)He turns his horse toward the south, toward Bisbee.
Toward the Evans ranch.
If he rides hard, he might even catch that son of a bitch Butterfield while he's paying Alice.
(If he is, which he damn well better.)
Ben adjusts his hat.
"Well, now."
A grin.
"This was fun."
no subject
Date: 2008-07-11 03:58 am (UTC)Dan nods a bit as he adjusts his own hat. He'll head north, back towards the top end of the canyon. Catch a door near Contention, maybe. He's not sure why but that's where his heart is telling him to head.
He smiles, just a bit.
"Maybe we'll do it again sometime," he says, and he means it.
Fingers curl around leather reins, and he holds Ben's gaze a minute before he turns his mare around and then digs his heels into the stirrups, clicking to her quietly, moving to head towards the north.
Then he stops, and turns to glance at Ben over his shoulder.
"Thanks, Wade."
A nod, a smile, and then he turns and rides out.