4. Lover

Dodge walked calmly out to his companions, Ade and Wyane. His left hand shook as it always did, he would always curse his father for that… 

“How is the lady?” Dodge asked as he looked towards Wyane. Wyane stood and wiped his hands with the bloody rag, sweat dripped down his face -even if Kansas was cooling down, summer sure the hell ain’t over yet. 

“Fine,” He sighed and glanced down at the woman. Dodge, after saving her and her companions lives from a rowdy bandit bunch, laughed at her attire. A woman wearing pants was definitely something new, the revolver that once kissed her hip now hung on his own for the time being, but what confused him the most was her partner… He seemed too uptight for a pant-wearin’ lady.

“I got her sew up,” Ade now spoke, moving from his position over the lady and now stood up. “Just needen’ some whiskey to clean it,” Ade walked back to their overnight space, Thomas watched from afar. 

“Get her some water, she’ll be needen’ it.” Wyane nodded and chased after Ade, Dodge bent down and placed his hand on the pale face of the lady. No fever. She winced. “Y'all be ‘right, just stay calm,”

Cassidy heard a voice after a warm hand touched her face, and opened her eyes. Above her crouched a handsome man, complete with eyes so green they reminded Cassidy of oak leaves and hair that reached the back of his neck, slightly curled, and black like Death’s robe itself.  

“I’ll get ‘ya feelin’ better, ‘ya hear?”  Cassidy wanted to respond to the rugged voice, but her throat was dry and all that passed her lips was a small noise. Placing her hand flat by her side, Cassidy groaned as she tried to sit up, the stranger helped with one arm around her back, his hand in hers. 

Dizziness struck as Cassidy sat up, not a moment more did her head turn and bile came rushing out and onto the ground. He patted her back twice, then rubbed soft circles to comfort her sick self. 

Ade and Wyane came back, one with whiskey, the other with water. 

“Here,” Dodge clutched both cups, and intending for her to take the water, held it closest to the girl. 

Cassidy, after wiping her mouth, took the whiskey and downed it. She noticed her hands and wrists were bruised a dark purple and green, dried blood caked her hands. What the Hell happened last night…

“Damn girl,” Dodge laughed, nodding towards Wyane to go get more whiskey. “I ain’t never seen one with the likes of you,” 

“Nor I, you,” Cassidy coughed, now as she struggled to stand, faced him. But once she managed her feet and self upwards, the man stood. She took in his all black attire, from his black long-sleeved shirt tucked in decently to the black pants, his boots dusty. But her eyes stopped on his hips. Her gun… 

“What you doin’ with my gun?” Standing straight now, Cassidy licked her dry lips as the taste of both bile and whiskey filled her mouth once more; but being her stubborn self, she placed her hands on her hips and walked, stumbling a few times, up to the man.

Dodge watched her carefully, her movements were sloppy, but his would be too if someone almost raped him… Spitting out some chew, he put one hand on her gun that resided on his hip. 

“She need’a home for time bein’, and since yous was outta order, I thought she’d rest at my beck and call,” Dodge smiled, noticing how her ocean blue eyes started to turn to ice. The black-eyed susans beneath their feet swayed. 

“Well, I sure the Hell-” Cassidy, now right in front of Dodge, fell to her knees and gripped the grass, dried heaved. Wyane looked away, scared he might vomit, while Ade rushed forward and helped the glass of water to her parched lips. Cassidy drank the water greedily and once the glass was empty, Ade went to fetch another. She struggled to stand, Dodge gave her a hand. Thomas, now fully awake, rushed towards Dodge and his friend. Wyane watched the show before him unfold.

“Get your hands off of her!” Thomas yelled before flinging himself on the back of Dodge, who acted quickly; throwing his back to the side and flinging Thomas off of him, Dodge pulled out his own revolver, cocked the hammer, and pointed it straight at Thomas’ head.  

“I reckon you shut that big mouth of yours, bible boy,” Dodge spat another ball of tobacco out. “Or you’ll be meetin’ God a lot sooner than ya’ think,” Wyane cracked a smile at Dodge’s comment. Cassidy coughed, grateful for another glass of water that Ade had just brought her. Once finished with the cup, she gave it back to Ade, then cleared her throat. Dodge, gun still locked and loaded, looked towards her while Thomas stared at the barrel. 

“I suppose you, sir…” 

“Mr. Dodge Moore, ma’am.”

“I,” Cassidy started. “Suppose you, sir Moore, are more of a gentleman then to shoot someone one blindly, like such.” Dodge laughed, as did Ade.

“And I, suppose you, ms…”

“Cassidy Young,”

“And I suppose you, Ms.Cassidy Young, that you’re poor lover over here ain’t gonna get shot blindly, for I ain't blind.”

“You’re fixin’ to be, if you shoot him,” Cassidy snarled and halfway surprised she just met someone who seemed to have the same fire as she did. 

Dodge pulled the hammer on his gun all the way back, letting the bullet unload from the chamber. Wayne glanced between the three, Ade held back his laughter. 

“Oh yeah, darlin’,” Dodge walked up to Cassidy, so close she could see specks of gold in his green eyes. “You and what army?” 

Faster than lightning, Cassidy yanked her gun out of his holster, pulled the hammer back and held the barrel underneath his jaw. Wayne gasped loudly from behind them, Thomas didn’t even move. Ade’s smile dropped and he stepped closer until Dodge held up a finger, stopping his movements. 

“Me and the single action army, Mr.Moore,” Cassidy smiled, her head thumping. Dodge smirked and backed up a few steps. 

“Alright, Ms.Young… I’ll let your love-”

“He is not my lover,” Cassidy interjected. Dodge raised one black eyebrow, glanced at Thomas, and back to Cassidy.

“Does he know that?” Cassidy sighed and lowered her gun; it was no secret Thomas liked her. Dodge lowered his hands, readjusted his hat, and nodded towards Thomas. Thomas scampered to his feet, his hand going straight to the holy bible that rested in his pocket.

“Well, Mr.Moore,” Running a hand through her tangled blonde hair, she sighed and met Dodge’s eyes. “Can ya’ least tell me what happened last night?”

“Yeah,” Dodge nodded. “Yeah, I can.”