Vengeance at Red Rock Pt 3:- Mining for Trouble

[Stormtrooper1990]

It's been a couple of days since Nancy's successful infiltration of McClaine's manor and armed all with the information she needs along with a unexpected ally in Clinton, Nancy is ready to begin her campaign against 'Four Fingers' McClaine. Her and Sand's next target is the Red Rock Gold Mine located just outside of town. Crippling it should put a huge dent in the outlaws operations and serve to weaken him for an eventual final showdown. But in order to infiltrate the operation, the duo must put their trust in Clinton O'Hara who as a strong reason to see McClaine brought to justice...


Red Rock Flophouse, Outskirts of Town, Sunday 22nd August 1884, 08:00am


Nancy Cooper sighed with pleasure as she scrubbed herself, feeling the cold water caress her slim naked body. It had been a good couple of days since she last bathed and there was nothing she enjoyed more than a cool wash on a hot morning. Cleanliness is next to godliness Nancy, so make sure you bathe often. Her father's words echoed in the back of her mind. She smiled at the memory despite the pain she always felt in her heart whenever she cast her mind back to that dreadful night. I wonder when Clinton will be around. The note said he would meet us this morning, I hope he shows up. I don't mind gazing at that sweet handsome face again or that tight firm ass of his. The thought came unbidden as over the last two nights she had dreamed of nothing else but him and sleeping with the guy. Despite not knowing the man for five minutes, Nancy had a feeling she could trust him and as her uncle had taught her always her; Always follow your gut. Suddenly, Nancy heard the approach of footsteps behind her followed by a man exclaiming. "Oh my dear Lord! I'am so sorry, Miss Cooper!"


Instinctively Nancy pulled out her Peacemaker from her gunbelt hanging on the wooden beam above, covering her modesty with the other hand and fanned the action with her finger. "Mr O'Hara! Didn't your mother teach you not to stare at a lady whilst she's bathing?!" She screamed as Clinton as the man tried to advert his gaze. "Ma'am! I'am so sorry!" At that precise moment, Sand had walked around the corner clutching two dead rattlesnakes. Her gaze lingered on Nancy's nakedness before she dropped their breakfast drawing her bow, aiming an arrow right at Clinton. "You will do as she commands, man!" Nancy put her gun down reaching for a towel. "Sand! It's alright you can trust him put your arrow away." She tied a towel over her bare breasts as Sand reluctantly obeyed. Picking up breakfast she walked past her into the flophouse. Nancy then turned to Clinton. "Sorry about that she's quite protective of me. Look, Mr O'Hara you better go inside and let me make myself decent. I will be along in a minute." Clinton flashed her a wry smile as he followed the Navajo. "You better hurry, Ma'am. She looks ready to kill me." Nervously chuckling she reassured him with a smile before she began drying her hair, getting a very good view of his well formed rear.


08:20am


Now fully dried and dressed in the outfit she had stolen from the outlaw woman at the manor, Nancy entered the small room she shared with Sand finding Clinton standing over a small table pouring over the documents she had taken from McClaine's Study two days previously, all the while Sand sat in the corner glaring at him while she tailed and skinned the rattlesnakes. Clinton looked up smiling as she approached. "Forgive me for saying so, Mrs Cooper but you do look beautiful." Nancy blushed slightly as Sand groaned, rolling her eyes. "Why thank you Mr O'Hara. Tell me, does McClaine suspect anything after my little...visit?" Clinton shook his head. " Not a thing. For all intents and purposes, ol' Four Fingers believes Sally knocked out Mary the maid and stole her clothes, took his documents and made for the hills to sell to the highest bidder." Nancy nodded breathing a sigh of relief. "Good. Well what's our first target? From what I read he has a casino, a brothel and the Gold Mine just outside of town." Smiling the man picked up the deed to the mine.


"I'd choose the Gold Mine just outside of town first. The operation has been here since the gold rush and was one of the reasons why McClaine moved in. It brings in quite a lot of scratch for him and a lot of investment from outside of town too. If we sabotage the whole thing that it gives us a fighting chance to cripple his operations." Nancy nodded as Clinton passed her the mining deed. "Then the gold mine it is. Do you have any thoughts on how we go about it, Mr O'Hara?" Clinton folded his arms, ignoring the looks Sand was shooting him as she peeled the snakes skin off. "We must make it look like an accident or else we risk Four Fingers taking out his anger on the innocent folk of Red Rock." Nancy leaned against the table. "How about getting in? Sand and I will need disguises" Clinton glanced at the Navajo girl chopping off a snakes tail then turned back to Nancy. "Well, I can help with that. I know that men and women are routinely sent to work into the mine at nine every morning and where they gather for the cart. There's your way in." Nancy grinned. "Excellent! Sand and I can knockout a couple of the women then steal their clothes. That work for you, Sand?" Rising from her seat in the corner, Sand nodded smiling before going outside to dice up their breakfast. Before she could follow, Nancy felt a gentle hand on her forearm. Turning she faced Clinton. "Excuse me, ma'am. May I have a word, now we are all alone?" Nancy glanced nervously to the door before nodding. "Sure. What's on your mind?"


To her surprise the man blushed. "I feel I must apologise for seeing you...in an indecent manner, Miss Cooper. It was rude of me to gaze like I did. But I wasn't lying when I said you were beautiful...Nancy." She felt her own temperature rising from he using her given name. "Well, well Mr O'Hara I didn't take you for a gentleman. It's a refreshing change truth be told." She replied awkwardly biting her lip, feeling waves of tingling pleasure through her body as Clinton gently caressed her forearm with his thumb. "Why is that? Haven't you heard this from anyone before?" Nancy found herself staring into those big brown eyes of his. "I'am embarrassed to say this but many men back home are intimidated by my tomboyish ways and my looks." Clinton smiled leaning in to whisper into her ear. "I think you'll find that I'am not like most men, Miss Cooper." He pulled out gently looking into her eyes. "You remind of someone I loved a long time ago." Nancy cocked her head in curiosity. "Who was that? If might enquire Mr O'Hara." Clinton gently withdrew his hand but still he was smiling. "One day I will tell you. Come let's get some breakfast. You'll need all your strength." With that he walked out of the room, leaving Nancy wanting to know more.



Workers Meeting Spot 08:45am


"There we are, these two should be suitable. Their even disappearing behind that rock out of sight." Nancy said pointing to two pretty young women resting shovels over their shoulders, as the group took cover in an alley way behind the women. One was an attractive girl with heart shaped features, slender cheekbones and pale green eyes framed by long brown hair underneath her black floppy wide brimmed hat. Her slender but toned body hugged by black denim dungarees, laced work boots a size too big and underneath a loose white shirt. While her companion was tall with knotted ash blonde hair, blue eyes and slightly squared features, dressed in a long grey sack cloth dress completely unsuited for mining and brown cowhide booties. "Okay, I will take the brunette with the dungarees she's just my size. Sand, the blonde is all yours." Between them Clinton nodded. "Just remember don't kill them. They are innocents after all, victims of McClaine's lawlessness just like the maids back at the manor." Sand sighed shaking her head. "It would be safer just to kill them and be done with it. We remain hidden if they were silenced." Clinton rounded on her. "They are not responsible for what's been done to your people, ma'am." Before Sand could retort, Nancy got in-between them feeling her respect for the man growing. "Clinton's right, Sand. If we take their lives we are no better than bandits. Save our rage for McClaine and his gang, you hear?" Sand withdrew bowing her head but still glared at Clinton. Nancy turned back to Clinton. "Wait here, Mr O'Hara. This won't take us long." With Sand at her shoulder, Nancy crept silently on the unsuspecting girls who were beginning to squat behind the rock.


Leaning their shovels leaning against the rock, the two women brunette Grace Hopkins and her friend blonde Emma Grainger squatted down. "I hate working at this damn mine Emmy, what I wouldn't give for a shift at the saloon like the good old days." Grace said loosening the straps of her dungarees peeling them down to expose her firm plum shaped ass to void her bladder. Next to her Emma sighed, hiking up her dress and petticoat. "Tell me about it, Gracie. I used to work at the general store earning a tidy sum before that horrible man showed up, now I barely get enough to eat. I wish some brave handsome man would ride in and give him what for!" They sat emptying their water for a moment and were just about finished when they felt two arms snake around their slender necks, pulling them into the bushes. "Shh! Don't struggle dear, it will all be over soon. And McClaine will get what's coming to him. I'am sorry for hurting you like this but you look like you could use a break." Grace heard a woman's voice hiss into her ear. Feeling hands pushing their heads slightly forwards, the two young women choked as the blood flow was cut off to their brains then letting out strangled rattles they slumped unconscious into the arms of their attackers.


"Ugh! They smell of urine. Why do you apologise to them, Nancy Cooper?" Sand asked as they stripped out of their clothes, kneeling beside the stricken women. "Because it's the most decent thing to do Sand. We are trying to save these good people after all." Looking away from the exposed small womanhood of the brunette topped with a triangle of brown hair, Nancy smiled to the approaching Clinton who's eyes briefly glanced over to the sleeping women. "I know these two. Grace there was a barmaid at the saloon and Emma worked in the general store. They're good women and where friends of my..."' He paused briefly before turning away. "You didn't hurt them too much did you?" Nancy shook her head, unlacing Grace's boots before pulling off her dungarees. "They're just sleeping is all." Clinton nodded flashing her a warm smile as he kept watch. Rolling Emma's on her side to unbutton her dress, Sand glanced over to Nancy. "What?" She shot pulling Grace's shirt over her head, exposing well rounded buoyant breasts with perky pink areolas. The Navajo merely shrugged peeling the dress from Emma's slim body, a small smirk on her face.


Within a couple of minutes, Nancy and Sand where fully dressed in their stolen clothes the two women lie naked in the bushes bound with rope and gagged with thick white rags, Sand having helped herself to Emma's cheap lace chemise and petticoat. Leaving the blonde with her smaller breasts with fuller light pink puffy areolas, full womanhood crowned with thick blonde strip of hair and peach shaped ass, exposed to the blazing desert sun. "Right, the cart is on it's way. Get into position." He said handing them their shovels. "What about those two? We can't just leave them here naked, Mr O'Hara." Clinton glanced back to the bush. "I will give them some money as compensation and loosen their binds so they can go home. Don't worry, they shouldn't rat us out. They have no love for McClaine or his goons. See you soon at the mine." Nodding Nancy gestured to Sand to follow her to the cart, leaving Clinton behind the rock. As the cart stopped, heavily laden with workers an armed overweight bandit clutching a double barreled shotgun glanced down at them. "More ladies to break rock for the boss,eh? Get on up before I blow you away, the day's wasting away." Doing as they were bid, Nancy and Sand tossed their shovels onboard clambering onto the the waiting cart. With the snap of the reins, Nancy glanced back to Clinton who bade her farewell with a small wave.


His eyes briefly lost on the beautiful site of Nancy's firm ass through Grace's clothes as she clambered onto the cart, Clinton turned to the bound naked forms of his wife's old friends Grace and Emma. Averting his eyes to preserve their modesty, he took out a hundred dollars splitting it down the middle between each woman, before cutting their binds. "Sorry about this, ladies but my friends had a need. With luck we will have our town back. Hopefully this will be just compensation for your clothes." Scooping up Nancy's and Sand's clothes and weapons, Clinton made his way back to the flop house leaving the women stirring in the bushes.


Red Rock Gold Mine, 3km from town, 09:35am


"Alright you townies! Off the cart, on the double. We don't have all day!" Yelled the bandit jumping from the wagon, gesturing with his shotgun. Keeping up appearances the pair picked up their shovels before leaving from the wagon, feet crunching on the sand. They formed an orderly line waiting while a female bandit with a male guard ran a head count. Tilting her hat to keep the sun from her eyes, Nancy took in her surroundings. They were overlooking a vast seam cut into the earth where men and women, townsfolk where pushing cart loads of ore from four separate sites at gun point under the blazing hot sun. Some with a lash towards a large rock breaking machine at the centre, which got her attention. Hmm? I may not be much of an engineer but if we toss a few spanners into that thing then this place is as good as done. I will point this out to Sand when we're alone. Either way we need to change clothes, they're not letting anyone but guards near that thing. "Alright you scrubs!" The call of the woman bandit fixed her attention forwards. "Let's you settled for another day of hard labour!"


After five minutes, the queue had been whittled down to Sand and Nancy the forewoman looked them up and down. "Well you two look a little more seasoned then what we're used to and pretty to boot. I think I will send you to site three, they're a little short handed. Hey Earl! Get your butt over here !" The man with the shotgun waddled over. "What?! Quit riding me, Annie!" The forewoman rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't if you weren't such a lazy fat ass. Escort these pretty little things, red and the mexican with the funny eyes, to site three." The man sighed. "Alright fine. Hey, girls fall in now!" Doing what they were told, Nancy and Sand fell in front of him as he lead them down the ramp at gunpoint. "Okay, everyone! Shows over! Who's next!" They heard the woman cry.


Red Rock Mine, Site 3, 09:45am


Arriving at the mouth of the mine entrance Earl gestured at them with his shotgun. "Alright, bitches! Get to work or I might just pay you two a visit!" He sneered through a mouthful of broken teeth as the two headed into the mine. Seeing their chaperone disappear, Nancy turned to Sand as they began to mine. "Did you see the machinery in the centre of the crater?" Sand nodded shifting particularly stubborn pile of Earth. "Yes. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of damage your people do to the land, Nancy Cooper. All for useless pieces of metal." Nancy sighed keeping an eye on the mine entrance. "You'd be surprised what 'civilised' people kill or enslave others over, Sand. Anyhow, we destroy the machinery and McClaine's mining operations are finished and we buy these people a few more days of freedom. But first we need a change of clothes and there's plenty of women around here that fit the bill." Sand rested her shovel between her shoulders. "But how do we seek them out, Nancy Cooper without attracting attention." Nancy smiled as two pretty female gang members walked in through the mines entrance heading deeper in. "Sometimes, my friend. The opportunities come to you." She gestured to the young women as they walked past.


They were both attractive; the girl to the left had dirty slightly tanned oval features with sloping cheekbones, bright hazel almond shaped eyes and long black hair tied into a ponytail under her wide brimmed black stetson with a rattlesnake braid around the base. Underneath her red patterned poncho she wore a tight white shirt, black denim jeans and tan spurred cowboy boots. She was clutching a breach loader Henry Rifle, the bandolier for which was strapped over her poncho. While the right hand bandit was a pretty auburn haired tomboy with short cut hair under her grey fedora, freckled rounded features and piercing green eyes. Her slim figure highlighted by a tight buttoned blue flannel shirt, black long skirt down to her ankles and matching buckled booties, a colt 1851 holstered in a quickdraw holster below the small of her back. Crouching behind a mine prop, the duo spied the women go deeper into the mind. "Looks like the poncho is just the right size for me. You okay with the tomboy?" Sand nodded hefting her shovel. "Yes, she'll do. Let's track them and when they are alone we take them." Gripping each others wrists with a grin, the two followed their quarry.


Deeper into the Mine 10:00am


Following the women for fifteen minutes, Nancy and Sand watch them approach two men who were too busy chatting their pick axes leaning against the rock. One was wearing the tattered remains of an expensive suit and was bald with an handlebar moustache while the other was an heavy set man wearing a blacksmiths apron. "You two slacking off again!? Come on I'am not in the mood, doc." Poncho said bashing the mans stomach with her rifle sending him doubling over in pain, as the auburn haired girl drew her revolver on the blacksmith. "Please we were just taking a brea-" "Shut the fuck up! You men were slacking off and Mr McClaine don't like shirkers. What you reckon, Rattlesnake Rose? We oughta teach them a lesson, yeah?" Rattlesnake Rose smirked planting her boot on the doctor's head. "I say that's a mighty fine idea, Red Lucy." She said kicking the man in his stomach. From their position behind a mine cart Nancy gritted her teeth. "That's it! We are saving those men and crossing those bitches off. Besides we need their clothes. You with me, Sand?" The Navajo nodded hefting her shovel. "Just say the word and they die." Retrieving a length of rope from the cart and flexing it, Nancy creeped silently towards the bandits with Sand in tow.


They took them without warning, Nancy looped her length of rope over Roses head pulling tightly around her neck and forcing her to her knees, rifle clattering to the earth. "W-what the fuck!" Was all Lucy could say before Sand hit her over the back of her head with her shovel, with a dull heavy thunk and a sickening crack. Her skull shattered, Lucy fell to the ground where she lay still. The blacksmith helped up the doctor has Nancy tightened the rope around Rose's neck, the woman choked desperately trying to pull the rope lose. "Just die, bitch!" Nancy hissed in the bandit's ear, crossing her hands like her uncle taught her hearing the satisfying crunch of bone as Roses' throat was crushed. Panting heavily from the exertion of the kill, Nancy pulled Roses limp corpse onto her back, her eyes cold, dead and staring accusingly. Next to her Sand had already dragged Lucy's body towards her and was already stripping out of her stolen dress. Nancy looked up to the two men.


"Are you alright?" The blacksmith nodded holding up the winded doctor. "Yes, thank you for your aid strangers. I see you bare no love for McClaine or his brutes. I'am Clayton Dawes, blacksmith and general livery." The doctor straightened himself up. "And I'am Dr William Meadows, Red Rocks physician. M-my god you're stripping her? Why?" He said as he saw Sand remove Lucy's hat and gunbelt then unbutton her shirt. Nancy held up her hand. "We're here to bring justice to McClaine and return the law to Red Rock. We intend to shut down this mine first and for that we need their clothing as disguises." Meadows and Dawes glanced at each other. "Well it's probably best we don't enquire further. These two had it coming as it is. We'll keep watching while you...work. We would like to help wherever we can, after all we're in your debt." Replied the blacksmith as the two ambled past crouching near the mine cart. Crouching next to Roses' body, Nancy closed the dead woman's eyes then began to strip, admiring the tight rope burn left behind around Roses' slender neck.


Glancing over to Sand, who had already stripped Lucy down to her white lace trim blue vest and shorts, Nancy removed Roses' hat and boots before unstrapping her bandolier then pulled the poncho up over her head. Unbuckling the gun belt, she unbuttoned Roses tight white shirt folding it open to review well formed buoyant breasts enveloped by a peach coloured chemise, nipples peaking through the thin fabric. Sliding Roses' shirt off her shoulders, Nancy unfastened the woman's jeans working them off her hips and whipping down her long legs, exposing the outlaws matching panties covering her modesty. Nancy quickly got dressed in Roses clothes, unsurprised that Sand was already wearing Lucy's outfit standing over the completely naked corpse of the redheaded outlaw eyes taking in the dead girl's trim figure, her smaller youthful freckled breasts with puffy pink areolas and full womanhood decorated with a small strip of auburn fuzz, an air of detached curiosity about her. I know she saved my life but their are moments she just scares me. Nancy regarding her friend as she picked up Rose's fallen rifle. Patting the young Navajo on her shoulder, the two now fully dressed in the outlaws clothes approached the two townspeople.


"Huh, you both look the part of degenerate outlaws if you don't mind me saying." Said Clayton with a wry smile as Doc Meadows glanced over their shoulders to the stripped dead women. "While I don't approve of you killing them and defiling their bodies, you did save our lives. We will take their bodies and bury them deeper into the mine where they will never be missed. It's the least we could do." Nancy flashed the men smiles. "Thank you, both of you. When your finished get to safety." Clayton nodded as the two walked past them then he looked over his shoulder. "And when you get to McClaine, be sure to put a bullet in his head because he sure doesn't have a heart." Watching the two men drag the stripped corpses of Rose and Lucy over to the mine cart, tossing them into the mine cart, Nancy and Sand walked out of the mineshaft into the warm Arizona sun.


Red Rock Mine, 10:25am


Pulling her hat low to shield her eyes from the sun, Nancy nodded in the direction of the machine house below the headstocks. "Over there's the machine but. Looks like only the one guard but since we're too exposed out here we need to be careful." Nodding Sand followed her approaching a solitary bandit flanking the door, a young man wearing a white stetson, blue shirt and black trousers with matching boots clutching a Winchester rifle. He looked to be fidgeting and a look of relief flooded his features when he saw them. "You guys are my relief, right? Damn that came out wrong." Nancy and Sand glanced at each other, chuckling slightly. "Man you look like you need relief." Nancy joked as the man clenched his ass. "Come on, lady. Don't leave me hanging. Are you here to take my shift or not?" Nancy nodded smiling slightly. "Yeah, we're here to relieve you. Don't sweat it." The bandit let out a grateful sigh. "Oh thank god! Finally, I can go off for a shit. You know what you're doing right? Just keep the locals from getting in and fucking everything up." Standing aside, they let the outlaw walk gingerly down the slope to the outhouses. Once he was out of earshot, Nancy turned to Sand. "Keep an eye on things out here. I'am going to see about putting a spanner in the works." Flashing her a smile, Sand stood by the door. Handing over her Henry rifle, Nancy slipped through the wooden door.


Machine House, 10:33am


She entered to the sound of grinding gears and turning wheels. Glancing at the complex machine Nancy glanced over it weighing up her options. I never was good with machines. Give me a rifle or a pistol and I can shoot the entire row in under a minute. Hell, I can cook a rattle snake. But like Uncle always said "Anything that is a mess of gear, wheels and pulley always has one weakness Nancy: Shove something in the mechanism and everything goes to hell in a handcart. Spotting a spare rod of iron, Nancy picked it up and rammed it home into the gear assembly. The mechanism suddenly ground to a halt emitting an awful screeching sound not unlike the sound of nails being drawn across a blackboard, followed by billowing back smoke. Not standing around to admire her handiwork, Nancy fled from the machine house bumping into Sand on the way out.

The Mine

"I think we've outstayed our welcome, Sand." She said catching the rifle her friend had tossed her. "Then let's go and quickly, while there's chaos." Around them work had suddenly stopped has everyone, guard and worker alike stood to watch the smoke rising from the machine house as fire took hold. Then all hell broke lose as guards screamed to workers to put the fire out, instead the townsfolk downed their tools fleeing back in the direction of town with outlaws hot on their heels. Using the chaos the two women worked their way towards the horses, lashed near the foot of the entrance ramp. Glancing up, Nancy could see the figure of Clinton sitting astride his horse waiting for them. Smiling despite herself, Nancy mounted the horse and with Sand right behind her galloped up the slope towards a waiting Clinton who doffed his hat grinning at their approach before he turned leading them back towards town.


The Outskirts of Red Rock, 11:05 am


"Whoo-wee! You can see the smoke from here! You've simply outdone yourself Miss Cooper, and Miss Sand." Clinton whistled doffing his hat to the women, turning in her saddle Nancy smiled. "We're only just getting started, Mr O'Hara. Soon McClaine will regret ever crossing us." Sand nodded looking at them with those curious mismatched eyes that seemed familiar to Nancy but again she couldn't quite place it. Clinton himself had been looking at Sand with the same odd luck. "Not that it was in any doubt, ladies. How about we hit the saloon later this evening and have a drink? I'll be buying and it will be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other." Making them both jump, Sand snorted pulling ahead cantering in the direction of the flophouse. Clinton blinked eyes following the Navajo girl. "I have a distinct impression she doesn't like me, Miss Cooper. Why do you suppose that is?" Nancy shrugged gazing instead at the handsome man before her. "I wouldn't worry, Mr O'Hara. She's pretty much like that with everyone, well except me. But I find you very charming...Clinton. And I would love to have a drink with you." Clinton smiled coyly leaning closely to her shoulder. "The feelings mutual, Miss Cooper. What do you say I collect you around seven this evening and we take things from there?" Biting her lip, Nancy leaned in brushing his shoulder. "That would be mighty fine, Mr O'Hara." Giggling they cantered towards the flophouse, right behind Sand.


The Township of Red Rock, 18:55pm


Sitting on the wooden porch outside the flophouse, Nancy took out her knife carving her initials into the wood as she waited for Clinton. There. Should I die in the attempt at killing that bastard McClaine, at least I left my mark. "Hmm? Looks like your a dab hand with that blade as well. Is there no end to your talents, Miss Cooper?" Nancy grinned hearing the dulcet tones of the rugged Clinton. "Maybe you should stick around, Mr O'Hara. There's more I could show you." She flirted rising from the porch and sheathing her bootknife into her gunbelt. Laughing Clinton held out his arm. "May I ask for the pleasure of your company, Nancy?" Flashing him a warm smile she accepted it, holding her hand in the crook of his arm. "Lead the way, Clinton." Giggling the pair walked arm in arm towards the Lucky Star Saloon.


The Lucky Star Saloon, 19:10pm


"So if may ask, Miss Cooper? What brings a gal like you to a town like Red Rock? You must have some beef with McClaine." Asked Clinton placing a tumbler of neat whiskey in front of her. The two sat opposite in a private booth in a corner of the bustling saloon, which was awash with news and rumour about the 'accident' at the mine. Taking up the tumbler, Nancy took a small sip to fortify herself. "When I was 11 years old McClaine rode with his gang to my families ranch in California and murdered my parents in cold blood. My daddy was Marshall John Cooper and had been hunting the bastard throughout the State. He killed McClaine's baby brother Wyatt during a stage robbery and that marked my folks for death." Feeling a lump in her throat, she downed the amber nectar in one. Reaching across the table, Clinton took her hand squeezing it. "My god, Nancy. I'am so sorry. How did you survive?" Nancy didn't take her tear stained eyes off him. "My uncle Wade found me a day later and helped me bury them. Then he raised me, taught me everything I know about shooting, riding, using disguises and killing bandits quickly." Clinton smiled before downing his whiskey before refilling their glasses. "Sounds like he's good people Nancy. He taught you well." Nancy grinned gently returning the squeeze. "So what about you, Clinton. What's your story?" The man paused suddenly looking distant before taking a sip of his whiskey. Taking a deep breath, he recounted his story.


"Like you I'am no stranger to tragedy, Miss Cooper. You remember when I told you that McClaine gunned my father, James the Sheriff? Well he wasn't alone, he outnumbered us 10 to 5. It was him and his lieutenants, including that bitch Wild Marge against dad, myself and our deputies. It wasn't even a fair fight. McClaine shot dad before he could draw and the lieutenants fixed the deputies. And there I was was, alone, afraid. I still remember what he said to me. "Dying ain't much of a living son. You either draw and die a brave man like your dear old dad, or join me and live the life of a coward." So here I am." Nancy squeezed his hand a little bit tighter. "Don't say that! You're not a coward, Clinton. If you had have drawn you would have died, you did what you could. Hell, I held a gun on him when I was eleven after he killed my parents and I did nothing. I know what it's like to live with that guilt. We both survived to put an end to that bastard, once and for all." Clinton held her hand close to his face. "You know you really do remind me of my Katie. She would have said the same with that same look too." Nancy gently took back her hand to swallow her whiskey. "Who's Katie?" She asked.


A dark haunted look washed over his handsome face as he leant back into the booth. "The love of my life. She was my wife until six years ago. Katie was pregnant with our first child but she died during labour, along with our unborn son." He sniffed, eyes full of tears. Nancy gasped putting her hand to her mouth in shock. "Oh, Clinton. You have my condolences." Reaching over to hold his hand again. The man nodded. "Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate that. You know you really do remind me of her." Nancy cocked her head. "What was she like, your wife?" Clinton paused for a second deep in thought before answering. "She was smart, funny, beautiful but had a courage all her own. My Katie had the most wonderful red hair. I hadn't met another woman like her since, well before you that is...ma'am." Nancy blushed at the compliment. "And you're the first man who's ever sat down with me without running away. In fact the only one." She awkwardly downed her whiskey allowing Clinton to refill it. "So what's the deal with Sand? She doesn't say much. How did the two of you meet?" Nancy recounted the story of how Sand saved her from outlaws and her rather vague reason for accompanying her. "So she just said she's hunting McClaine to avenge her mom. Nothing else?" Nancy nodded. "Yeah. I can't shake the feeling that she's holding something back and that I know her from somewhere, but I can't put my finger on it. Still I trust her." Clinton refilled their glasses. "I'am glad I'am not the only one thinking that. Well best not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Here let's have a toast..." He raised his glass. "To revenge, may it be served swift and cold." Repeating the oath, Nancy clicked her glass and downed the amber liquor, feeling the alcohol burn the back of her throat.


"Well, I think it's best we got back, before she starts looking for me." Rising from the booth Clinton once again offered her his arm. "Then allow me to escort you home, Miss Cooper." He said slightly slurring his words. Feeling a little tipsy herself, Nancy swayed a little as she got to her feet. "By all means -hic- Mr O'Hara. You very charming, attractive -hic- man." Laughing drunkenly, the two leaned on each other batting through the taverns wooden doors.


Outside the Flophouse, 20:13pm


Giggling as they approached the exterior of the flophouse, Nancy and Clinton stumbled on the stairs. Nancy fell giggling onto the wood, holding out her hand she let Clinton pull her up into a embrace. "So strong..." She slurred running her hands across his strapping chest, then she gazed into those big brown eyes of his feeling a moment of clarity. Clinton gently encircled his hands around her waist, the two exchanged smiles before drawing in closer together until their lips brushed each others, so close that Nancy could smell the whiskey on his breath. They leaned in... "There you are, Nancy Cooper! I had feared for your safety!" Looking sheepish both went a bright shade of red pulling out, Clinton drunkenly doffer his hat. "Well, I will take my leave Miss Cooper. Thank you for a wonderful evening. Miss Sand." He added shortly before turning on his heels, stumbling back towards the saloon. Biting her lip, Nancy watched his ass all the way as Sand manhandled her inside their room.


"Damn it Sand, get off me." Nancy cried sitting on her bed. "You're -hic- really just jealous aren't you. -Hic- you want me for yourself." She slurred drunkenly pulling off her stolen clothes. Standing over her Sand shook her head. " You are possessed by the firewater and don't know what your saying. Just get some rest and we can plan for tomorrow." Sitting in just her small clothes, Nancy blinked her eyes bloodshot with drink. "That's it! I know who you remind me of. You're his da-hic-, ughhh..." With that she keeled over onto her side and fell into a drunken sleep. Sighing the young Navajo tucked the sleeping flame haired girl into her bed. "There is so much I have to tell you, Nancy Cooper. You have a right to know everything but not yet, not yet." Sitting next to her prone form, Sand caressed her cheek. "So beautiful...." She whispered before rising from the bed, leaving Nancy to her sweet dreams about Clinton O'Hara.


Epilogue, Red Rock Mine The Same Moment


Looking at the smoking remains of his mine, 'Four Fingers' McClaine growled turning on his heels to face his four lieutenants; Wild Marge, 'Mad Dog' Brannigan, 'One Eyed' Jimmy and Ike Banner. "First the break in the manor now the mine. Someone's fucking with me and I don't like it." The lieutenants swapped glances with each other. It was the redheaded Marge, who had been with him the longest that spoke first. "Maybe that O'Hara boy is behind it? I did tell you it was a mistake to leave him alive, Bart." McClaine hadn't heard his Christian name for a long time and she was the only one with the balls to call him by it. Next to her the portly Butch, with his fine wide girth garbed by finer silks. "Or perhaps it's like O'Hara said. Sally knocked out the maid, stole her clothes and swiped the documents handing them over to the Pinkerton's." The hawk like Banner snorted. "Come on, Butch. We all know that Sally was your gun-" "Enough with your incessant yammering!" McClaine cut across them, the four lieutenants immediately fell silent. "We will find out soon enough. For now beef up the guns at the Casino and the Brothel, I want nothing or no one getting through, you hear!? Or it's all your hides!" As his inner circle filed away, McClaine fixed his eyes on the small squat Butch's back. You always were ambitious Butch. Maybe I should be keeping my eye on you... Turning he glanced back towards the smoking minehead, spitting out a huge wad of tobacco before walking away into the night.

[meditions142]

Loved the Emma and Grace scene. Kind of a twist on the bathroom ambush in that they were not in a bathroom but squatting behind a rock.

And love the discussion between Nancy, Clinton and Sand about not killing them. Sand's cold comment is the best "It would be safer just to kill them and be done with it. We remain hidden if they were silenced." Just love the idea that the two unsuspecting women, as the go about their business, have no clue that there is debate going on about whether to kill them or knock them.

Then we get the great double attack chockout. Great description: "the two young women choked as the blood flow was cut off to their brains then letting out strangled rattles they slumped unconscious into the arms of their attackers."

Then love the little discussion between Clinton and Nancy: "You didn't hurt them too much did you?" Nancy shook her head, unlacing Grace's boots before pulling off her dungarees. "They're just sleeping is all."

Just an excellent scene!

[Stormtrooper1990]

Loved the Emma and Grace scene. Kind of a twist on the bathroom ambush in that they were not in a bathroom but squatting behind a rock.

And love the discussion between Nancy, Clinton and Sand about not killing them. Sand's cold comment is the best "It would be safer just to kill them and be done with it. We remain hidden if they were silenced." Just love the idea that the two unsuspecting women, as the go about their business, have no clue that there is debate going on about whether to kill them or knock them.

Then we get the great double attack chockout. Great description: "the two young women choked as the blood flow was cut off to their brains then letting out strangled rattles they slumped unconscious into the arms of their attackers."

Then love the little discussion between Clinton and Nancy: "You didn't hurt them too much did you?" Nancy shook her head, unlacing Grace's boots before pulling off her dungarees. "They're just sleeping is all."

Just an excellent scene!

Thanks my friend, I'am glad you enjoyed the scene with Grace and Emma. I thought it would be an interesting twist to have a bathroom ambush but not exactly in a bathroom itself. Like the old adage says, when you've gotta go, you've gotta go. Although for poor Grace and Emma they certainly picked the wrong time to go.


Indeed, I wanted this to be a scene were we develop the characters attitudes more and their interactions. Sand is more a rough and ready character, she's spent most of her life living amongst her tribe and is used to doing things in the more direct manner. Contrast this with Clinton and Nancy who don't want to hurt innocent women, instead saving their rage for bandits like Lucy and Rose. After all they gave desire to become that who they are hunting. And it's fun to imagine Emma and Grace doing their business while this debate about their lives in taking place. Fortunately for them, reason won out.


You know how much I love my chokeouts, although not as much as say neck chops or pinches. And what's better then one chokeout but a double when our victims are at their most vulnerable.


Yeah, it says a lot about Clinton and Nancy that their first concern was to the welfare of the two women they just grabbed and put to sleep, after all Clinton knew them. It's also shows the mutual respect and appreciation for each other's abilities that is the foundation of a budding relationship.


Thanks very much for reading and reviewing. Up next, the gang head to Mclaine's casino to further hinder his operation.

[meditions142]

And it's fun to imagine Emma and Grace doing their business while this debate about their lives in taking place.

Indeed, I think that is what made the scene so much fun for me. The two pretty young women had no idea they were being watched and targeted or were the subject of discussion. I love the idea of the team discussing them as the women remain totally unaware.

I like Nancy's comments: "There we are, these two should be suitable. Their even disappearing behind that rock out of sight." Then "Okay, I will take the brunette with the dungarees she's just my size. Sand, the blonde is all yours."

There is something I really like that kind of matter of fact comments about women they are about to send to sleepyland the steal their clothes.

[Stormtrooper1990]

And it's fun to imagine Emma and Grace doing their business while this debate about their lives in taking place.

Indeed, I think that is what made the scene so much fun for me. The two pretty young women had no idea they were being watched and targeted or were the subject of discussion. I love the idea of the team discussing them as the women remain totally unaware.

I like Nancy's comments: "There we are, these two should be suitable. Their even disappearing behind that rock out of sight." Then "Okay, I will take the brunette with the dungarees she's just my size. Sand, the blonde is all yours."

There is something I really like that kind of matter of fact comments about women they are about to send to sleepyland the steal their clothes.

Thanks, I like these scenes myself and they bring me back happy memories when I wrote my SI stories when Group 6 used to debate which pretty Darkwatch sentry they were going to become.


Me too, it shows deeper aspects of Nancy's character that yes while she doesn't want to kill these women she has to show degree of detachment in order to attack these women and steal their clothes. For me detachment and professionalism are a key component of any infiltrator, without it they wouldn't function.