Red Rock II:- Chapter 1:- Rumble in the Big Easy (A Story by Rufusluciusivan and Stormtrooper1990)

[Stormtrooper1990]

In the first chapter of Rufus and I’s joint collaboration, Red Rock II Nancy and Co journey to the bright lights of New Orleans to find Maximilian DeBeers, the corrupt titan of industry who bankrolled McClaine's operation in Red Rock. But behind the bright lights of the Crescent City, corruption reigns. In order to infiltrate a party at DeBeers’ luxurious casino at the heart of New Orleans historic French Quarter and find evidence of his guilt, the gang must get reacquainted with some old friends from New York. However, what our heroes don't know is that they are walking into a carefully conceived trap devised by a new cunning enemy; DeBeers’ chief enforcer and bounty hunter Victoria van der Laar…



Broussards Saloon, Dumaine Street, Tréme/Lafitte, New Orleans LA, Friday 6th November 1884, 19:03pm


In one of the biggest saloons of New Orleans, Clinton, Nancy, and Sand were careful to keep their faces obscured by their hats. When the owner’s eldest daughter – a cute half-Mexican half-Caucasian young woman with tanned skin, black hair and brown eyes – gave them their drinks, they thanked her with brief nods, but otherwise didn’t talk until she was out of earshot.

The mood was somber.

“DeBeers made his move faster than I anticipated.” Clinton commented. “Those posters are already everywhere in the city.”

In the middle of the table, there was a poster with the printed faces of Nancy, Sand, and Clinton. It said they were suspected of robbery and armed assault, and needed to be brought for questioning. The DeBeers Company offered a hefty sum for any information about their whereabouts.

$500 for Nancy, the same amount for Clinton. And $1000 for Sand.

The three companions of course saw the irony of them being wanted for things they did commit – albeit to stop McClaine and save Red Rock – by the very accomplice of McClaine. But they mostly felt disgust towards Maximilian DeBeers. Sand’s description mentioned she was a “dangerous savage suspected of bestiality and ravishing women”.

“Soon those things will be in every town of the State and even further…” Nancy glumly commented. “This town belongs to DeBeers in everything but name. His company and associates provide many of the jobs. The judge and the mayor are on his payroll.”

“Then how do we deal with him?” Sand growled. Her hand was caressing the cross of her revolver.

“I have a plan.” Nancy pointed at a name at the bottom of the poster. DeBeers mentioned an official marshal was assigned to the investigation. Marshal Brett Stockton. “I know Brett. He was my father’s partner and best friend. If we manage to contact him directly, I’m sure I can convince him to help us. Hope you won’t mind the scheming, Sand.”

“I’m getting used to white folks’s convoluted ways. How do we get to him?”

Nancy smiled, and pulled out another poster. This one was announcing DeBeers was hosting a grand reception for the city’s upper-crust and visiting marshal. Apparently, he had even hired famous singer Eleanor Cavill.

“Hope you don’t mind a gathering of rich folks… Or reconnecting with old acquaintances…”

Sand smiled back. “You think she still employs her pretty maid?”

“She caught your eye, uh? Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

The Royal Sonesta Hotel, Bourbon Street, The French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, 19:25pm

"Ugh. Sound vulgar displays of wealth and opulence, Nancy. Why you white folk place so much value on frivolous things I will never understand.” Sand groaned as she and Nancy stood in the lavishly appointed foyer of The Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of New Orleans French Quarter.

"It seems I can't take you anywhere nice, Sand." She winked sardonically, setting the young navajo at ease.

Nancy was concerned about her best friend, her native American looks had been drawing too many stares, the $1000 dollar reward this DeBeers asshole had on Sand's head had done nothing to improve Sand's mood. She had been jittery ever since they had left Red Rock, the train ride not agreeing with her at all, it took both her and Clint to convince the young native that they were not going to fall off the edge of the world once the train had passed the Arizona state line into the New Mexico Territory. She gently squeezed Sand's shoulder. "It's going to be alright my friend. This is the first time I have been in a big city and it's overwhelming to me too. Lets just wait until Eleanor and her maid show up, take their dresses and get to the bottom of all this. We'll be back in Red Rock chowing down on your world famous rattlesnake roast before you know it."

Sand didn't answer as she stared straight ahead at two very familiar young women who were walking across the foyer to the elevator banks.

"It's her. The sweet maid..." she gestured with her head as the two women passed through the bustling foyer.

Nancy smiled. "Well, well, well. How nice it is to bump into old friends and fortuitous to boot. I think we've found our invitations to the casino. Sand? Sand!?"

She waved her hand in front of the young navajo, who was busy staring at the pretty brunette french maid dressed in a conservative silk black gown with no ornamentation but still managing to look more prettier then her shallow vacuous blonde mistress Eleanor Cavill, who hadn't changed one bit from the precious little brat they had held up not 3 months ago. The woman was wearing a sumptuous low cut dress of red silk, heels and matching dress gloves, adorned with silver and diamond jewellery, that only served to make her look that much more vulgar.

Sand blinked, coming to her senses.

"I am sorry, Nancy. I don't know what came over me..." she said in a low faraway voice still glancing at the pretty maids rear as she waited for a lift alongside her mistress.

Nancy smiled, she knew exactly what this was about. Shortly after McClaine's defeat when Sand had returned to Red Rock, having declared that she had decided to leave her tribe for good, Nancy had tried to introduce Sand to some of the local girls in the saloon, to try and ease the loneliness in her friend’s heart but it hadn't worked. The young Navajo had awkwardly brushed them aside, saying that there was only one soulmate for her and that was the “French maid”.

"I never thought I'd see her again. She looks so innocent, so pure, so beautiful.." Sand said wistfully watching the pair board the elevator before turning to Nancy. "I-I don't know if I could bring myself to hurt her, Nancy. Not again..."

Sighing gently Nancy took her friends shoulders, rubbing them. "Sand. No-one said anything about hurting anyone. We are just going to ask them to take off those dresses, at gunpoint. Like the last time, okay? Are you with me?"

Sand fervently nodded her head.

Patting the Navajo's shoulder, Nancy turned to watch the elevator. "Alright, they are heading to the 3rd floor. If we take the stairs we can head them off and follow them right to their room. Let's go!" With Sand right behind her, she took the stairs two at a time.

**************

"New Orleans. Such a boring drab little city, not a patch on New York. Come along Sylvié. I can't believe you forgot my purse. You know I can't bear to be without it!" Eleanor grumbled as she swept off the elevator, ignoring the elderly black elevator operator who stooped for a tip.

Flashing the man a sympathetic smile, Sylvié reluctantly followed in her mistress's wake. In fact she loved New Orleans, it reminded her of the streets of her native Paris where she grew up in the famous Red Light District. Sylvié had felt nostalgia walking the streets of the French Quarter, catching the smell of freshly baked beignets but unable to sample them thanks to lady Eleanor's constant demands. She had even hoped to catch sight of her dusky native with the mismatched eyes, but even that was too much to hope.

"Sylvie!" The shrill voice of her mistress shook her from her thoughts. "Stop dragging your heels, my purse is more important than your thoughts!"

Glancing behind her, getting the distinct impression she was being followed, Sylvié shook her head. "Sorry, Miss Eleanor. " Sighing, she picked up the pace.

Reaching their hotel suite, Eleanor unlocked the door first walking through but before Sylvié could follow she felt a gentle if calloused hand clamp around her mouth, followed by the clicking of a revolver in the small of her back. "Shh! Don't be afraid. " Sylvié blinked and she recognised that voice! 'Could it be my dusky native, the one from Red Rock?' The dusky voice continued. "Just walk us through the door and you'll not be harmed. This I swear.” Sylvié nodded, smiling. 'It IS my dusky goddess!' She thought excitedly as she led the voice through the door.

"Sylvié!? What is taking you so-oh!" Eleanor gasped as Nancy and Sand forced their way in, Sand still holding a hand over Sylvié's mouth.

"Greetings, Miss Cavill. Don't you remember us! I am hurt!" Nancy smiled as she closed the door, revolver pointing squarely at Eleanor's ample bosom.

"You!" Eleanor pointed an accusing finger at the duo. "You are the miserable ruffians who robbed me the last time! I recognize your voices! Mr DeBeers has quite the reward on your heads!"

Nancy flashed her a wink. "He has a reward on us masked, dear Eleanor. He has no idea what we look like. Sand, why don't you take the lady’s maid next door and relieve her of her dress? Lady Eleanor and I need to have words."

Nodding, Sand gently released her hand from the maid’s mouth leading her into the adjoining room. Nancy noted the girl went willingly.

Eleanor's eyes followed her maid till she had left the room. "Are you just going to let your savage ravish her?"

Nancy cocked her revolver menacingly, silencing the young singer. "If I were you I would hold off on calling my friend a savage. She has more guts than you ever will, you spoiled two-dollar singer. Now strip. Take off everything and throw it on the bed. I'm not in the mood for games."

Instead of complying Eleanor started to stamp her foot like a spoiled brat. "No! No! No! Not this time, this dress cost me more than you make a year you ruffian!"

Nancy sighed pointing the gun at her chest. "Please be reasonable, Eleanor. You wouldn't want me to stain this lovely suite with your blood. Would you?"

Eleanor pouted, folding her arms across her breasts. "If you shoot me bandit! This whole floor will hear it and you and your uncouth savage will be swinging from the gallows by the morning! I'm warning you if you touch me I will scream and scream until someone comes running!" The singer shouted with the air of a spoiled schoolgirl.

Something inside Nancy snapped, she could feel her temperature coming to a boil. She had always had a fierce temper but ever since she had found out she was to become a mother, Nancy could feel that her fuse was considerably shorter. And this spoiled little womanchild had finally driven her over the edge. "That's enough Eleanor! I tried being civil but you just had to choose the hard way!" She said through gritted teeth, quickly holstering her revolver and balling her fist advancing on the singer.

Sensing her intent, Eleanor started to rear backwards. "No! Wait?! Y-you wouldn't dare-ugh?!"

Launching a fearsome right cross, Nancy laid out the young singer, who let out a pained squeak as the blow sent her sprawling over the bed unconscious

Breathing hard with a mixture of adrenaline and rage, Nancy gripped her belly. “Oh my? The baby has some fire in them.” Looking down on the unconscious singer, Nancy sighed, stripping off her clothes. "For what it's worth I am sorry for the outburst. But you should have just handed over your dress, like a good girl."

Now naked, Nancy sat by the sleeping body of Eleanor, her beauty somewhat marred by the big red bruise forming on her cheek, and started by removing her jewelry and putting them on herself. After slipping off Eleanor's heels and pulling off the dress gloves, Nancy rolled Eleanor onto her side, unlacing her dress from rear, loosening the straps from the shoulders and peeling from the singer's petite body exposing her firm breasts with circular pink areolas. Taking a deep breath, she whipped off the girl's white satin petticoat in one smooth pull revealing her full womanhood crowned with a trimmed triangle of golden fuzz. "Ugh! I forgot how much I hate dresses, but if Clint were here..." smiling at the thought of her boyfriend she pulled on Eleanor's petticoat followed by her dress then copied the singer's hairstyle, an elegant knot pinned to the base of her skull.

Taking some rope from her bag, Nancy bound Eleanor with rope and gagged her with a strip of white cloth before dragging the unconscious naked woman under the shoulders, over to her wardrobe, stashing her inside. Sitting by Eleanor's vanity, Nancy helped herself to some of the makeup, wondering how well Sands' reunion with her maid went.

**************

As Sylvié entered the room, she turned and smiled at the dusky beauty before her revolver lowered slightly.

"It's you. The native girl from the stagecoach. I'd recognize those pretty striking eyes anywhere."

Blushing slightly, Sand lowered her revolver. "You find my eyes pretty do you? Sweet maid?" She asked a slight husk to her voice that made her less frightening. Sylvié nodded gently, approaching the young navajo. "Mhm. It's all I have dreamt about since that day when we first...met."

Sand looked away, shamefully. "I am sorry that I touched you without your permission." Sylvié gently raised Sand's head to face her, allowing her to continue. "I-I have these feelings about other women and they are all new to me. I dishonoured you and myself, I humbly apologise." Giggling Sylvié looked her dusky goddess in her mismatched eyes biting her bottom lip. "There was no dishonour, it's the most natural thing in the world for women to have these feelings for each other. I had already forgiven you." Sand breathed a sigh of relief as Sylvié caressed her cheek. "Besides, I liked it, you have very gentle hands. It was the first time that anyone, man or woman has ever noticed me. You see, my position means that I am invisible." Sand took the maids hand gently squeezing it. "Then those people are blind as well as stupid. You are as radiant as the sunrise." The young navajo blurted out on impulse.

Sylvié's face went bright red, big blue eyes glistening with tears. "Please, take me with you! I-I can't stand another second with that stuck up cow, Eleanor. But with you I feel a connection. I think I am falling for you!" She pleaded with Sand who reluctantly backed away.

"Please forgive me, sweet girl." She said her voice choked with tears. "But I must ask you to remove your clothes."

Sylvié nodded smiling, tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's fine, I understand, that's why you came. I still forgive you!" She said unbuttoning her dress from the back, shucking it off her shoulders and kicking it towards Sand, now wearing only her white chemise and matching petticoat. Sand could feel her nipples perk up at the beautiful sight before her.

Wiping her eyes, Sylvié smiled feeling aroused. "Here, take it then. I suppose you would be needing my underwear too?"

Sand nodded as if shaking herself from a trance "Uh...yes. If it's not too much trouble, sweet girl."

Sylvié giggled as she unlaced her chemise. "No it wouldn't and please call me Sylvié." She purred in her french accent that made the navajo's heart sing with joy.

"And you may call me Sand...Sylvié." The French maid grinned, dropping her chemise to the floor, exposing her small but supple breasts with puffy dark pink areolas that were heaving with desire. " I know. It's what your friends called you, it's a pretty name for a pretty woman." She winked, dropping her silk petticoat to the ground, standing completely naked in front of the young Navajo.

Sand felt her loins burn with desire as her eyes took in Sylvié's elegant petite form skin white as porcelain. Eyes tracing the curve of her bare breasts, slender hips, and small trimmed womanhood. Sand was simply enchanted once more by the girl's natural beauty and elegance.

Sylvié giggled as she noticed Sand's eyes appreciatively on her naked body. " You can touch me if you want, Sand. You don't need to be afraid."

Unable to resist her urges any longer, Sand approached the beautiful naked maid gently clasping her hand before walking behind her and caressing her naked body, her soft breasts, her slender hips and the curve of her buttocks. Letting out soft moans of arousal, Sylvié leaned into the touches relishing Sand's tender touches.

Suddenly the door adjoining the room opened. "What the hell? Sand what are you doing? We don't have much time." Nancy snapped walking in dressed in Eleanor's dress.

Not covering her nakedness Sylvié looked over her shoulder. "So this is the part where you knock me unconscious and we part ways again?" She asked, her accent tinged with disappointment.

Sand sighed nodding. "Sorry, sweet maid. But yes." Sylvié smiled letting down her long silken brown hair where it touched her bare shoulders. "Just be more gentle this time please, no blows to the head..." she parted her hair baring her lovely neck.

Sand gently snaked her arms across Sylvié's neck pressing her head gently forward.

"Oh my..." Sylvié gasped as Sand lowered her naked body to the carpeted floor where she lay sleeping.

Looking back to her friend kneeling over the maid's body, Nancy approached her.

"...could you tie her up, Nancy?" Sand said after a while, turning wiping her eyes. She had never seen Sand so emotional before. "I...I can't bring myself to do it."

Nancy nodded, laying a hand on her shoulder, averting her eyes from Sylvié's naked form. "Yeah, sure. You can get dressed. And I'm sorry for snapping at you."

Sniffing the young Navajo nodded as she walked over to Sylvié's clothes, stripping off her own before getting changed.

They spent the next couple of minutes in silence as Sand got dressed in Sylvié's plain but elegant outfit while Nancy bound the young maid with rope and gagged the peacefully sleeping maid.

"Her name is Sylvié. And I know she's my shikeyáh. I'm in love with her." Sand suddenly said, breaking the silence, fully dressed in Sylvié's clothes.

Nancy rose to her feet turning to face Sand, she was familiar with the Navajo word having traded with a tribe that wandered around her uncle's farm. "That's your word for soulmate, right?"

Sand nodded, smiling. "It's a beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Walking past Nancy she scooped up Sylvié's naked form then approached the bed, tucking her in and covering her with the sheets before kissing her forehead. "Sleep well, sweet sunrise." She moved the blanket to conceal Sylvié completely – she still needed to make sure people wouldn’t suspect the maid had willingly helped them.

Getting up she turned to Nancy. "I found her in the east… Just like my vision told me… And we must already part ways… Do you think we'll see each other again?" Sand asked her voice soft and choked with emotion.

Nancy thought about Clinton and the time he was abducted by McClaine. She gently squeezed her friends hand. "If I know anything about love Sand, it's that love always finds a way."

Sand smiled returning the gesture. "I hope you’re right."

Nancy winked approaching the door. "You know me, I'm right...most of the time. Now let’s go. It would be rude of us to keep DeBeers waiting."

Nodding the young navajo spared Sylvié one last backwards glance before falling behind her friend. "Right behind you!"

Together, they swept from the hotel room.

The Fleur-de-Lys Casino, Dauphine Street, The French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, 19:50pm

"Well DeBeers certainly doesn't do things by halves does he?" Nancy said as they exited the carriage outside the main entrance to the Fleur-de-Lys Casino on Dauphine Street, the three storey gold leaf marble façade shining like a beacon in the night. The place was a hive of activity, with the upper crust of New Orleans high society just lining up to get in. Clinton scoffed. " Now we know where all the gold from the mines went? This prettied up dump. This place has nothing on The Silver Streak." He said with a sneer to his lips. Behind them, Sand just shook her head. "Vulgar..." was all she said under her breath. Nancy then held out her arm to Clinton

"Time to get into character. Would you be much obliged to be my escort? You handsome fine figure of a man, Mr Morgan?" She said his cover name, mimicking Eleanor's Brooklyn accent with a flourish. "Don't mind if I do, Ms Cavill." He winked accepting her arm as they approached the front entrance, flanked by two armed DeBeers company gunhands with a pretty blonde girl dressed in a blue silk dress checking invitations. A quick glance confirmed she was armed with a derringer tucked into a black lace garter, on her right thigh.

Nancy couldn't help but check out Clinton's fit body and ass through the smart black suit and silk cravat he was wearing. "Do you like what you see, Nance?" He whispered suggestively, catching Nancy's roving eyes. She flashed him a wink. "You always look great in a suit, my love. But this looks fancy, I have never seen you wear it before. Did you bring it with you from Red Rock?" Clinton shook his head. "While you and Sand were...acquiring your dresses, I took the liberty of buying this fine looking suit. You'd be surprised at how quickly city folk bow and scrape after you when you say you're JP Morgan's nephew." Nancy nodded impressed. "Well it fills you out...in all the right places, love." She pinched his ass through the trousers. Behind them, Sand rolled her eyes. Clinton caressed her forearm grinning in reply.

"Well truth be told honey, I didn't just get it for one night only. In fact there is something I want to run past you." Nancy's interest was piqued. "Oh? Now you have piqued my interest, Mr O'Hara. What's on your mind, my love?" But before Clinton could elaborate further, they had arrived in the line behind a bickering young couple, the pretty brunette girl wearing a shocking pink dress and parasol that hurt Nancy's eyes to look at them. "Clinton kissed her on the cheek. "Hold that thought." He smiled as the couple moved on.

"Good evening, sir and madam and welcome to The DeBeers Fleur-de-lys Casino!" The blonde tittered, flashing them a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Might I see your invitations please?" Back in character, Nancy snapped her fingers to Sand who produced the invitation in record time. "I am Eleanor Cavill, and I have come to this damp mudhole to sing for Mr DeBeers!" The greeter’s eyes widened in surprise

"So you're the famous Mrs Cavill!? Mr DeBeers will be so pleased you've arrived." Her eyes then turned to Clinton. "Um, apologies ma'am. But who is the gentleman and where's his invite?" Nancy and Clinton exchanged glances with each other then suddenly the redhead stamped her foot.

"You stupid little ruffian! Don't you know who this is? This is Clint Morgan, the nephew of JP Morgan as in New York royalty! And he happens to be my boyfriend!" Clinton buffed out his chest for effect as Nancy continued. "So he can go anywhere he pleases without a bloody invitation!" The blonde looked at the guards nervously, then opened her mouth to speak.

Nancy didn't even give her the chance. "No! Don't even speak, don't even think! Just let us through you odious stupid little woman! Unless you want to be the one to tell Mr DeBeers why it's so quiet during his party. Or why by the morning, he'll be a few dollars lighter because of one little telegram I can send tonight!" Clinton flashed the flustered blonde a wink while Sand was having trouble keeping a straight face

The blonde greeter flushed a dark shade of red before stepping aside. "Sorry to have been such a bother, Mrs Cavill. Do have a lovely evening, and please don't mention this little incident to Mr DeBeers." She asked with a desperate look on her face. Ignoring her, the group walked up the stairs into the casino. "Nice one my love." Clinton said, caressing his lover's forearm. "Our baby is going to be something else."

**************

As Nancy and Sand made their way across the crowded floor, weaving through the upper crust of New Orleans' high society, they caught sight of the impeccably dressed DeBeers. A handsome young man, blonde haired blue eyes and wearing a red silk suit. There was something about him that rubbed Nancy the wrong way, that smarmy arrogant smirk as he charmed a group of shallow young women while holding a glass of bourbon. 'Clinton is a 100 times the man he is' she thought with pride. It was then they heard his southern drawl.

"Yes, I spent time with Colonel Aldous Foster, officer commanding Fort Connors up near Baton Rouge. We hunted the 'noble savages' up and down the great Mississippi, with rifles in hand. We happened across a small encampment if you could call it that and by God we shot them all down like buffalo on the plains! It was glorious!" The man said in his southern drawl that set Nancy on edge, next to her she could see Sand's knuckles turning white, eyes stinging with rage.

"Oh my! You are so brave, Mr DeBeers." Tittered one of the young women, a pretty but vacuous brunette in a green dress, waving her fan.

" I say sir. Isn't one of these frightful outlaws from that dusty hole of Red Rock a fearsome savage? Who manhandled a woman!?"

DeBeers smirked, sipping on his bourbon. "Yes! An uncouth savage. A female of their race no less. But rest assured good ladies, the DeBeers company will hunt the bitch down and string up its corpse for all to see!"

Sand’s clenched fists were shaking. Nancy put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“You can’t start a fight here and now.”

“That… man.” Sand spat the word as if it was a slur.

“Calm down. You won’t achieve anything if you attack him.”

“You’re right. I need some fresh air.”

“I’ll go with you.” Clinton proposed. He looked at Nancy. “I’ll return to you later.”

Nancy nodded, and looked at them leave, then began to mingle once more with the guests. However, when she heard DeBeers begin another callous mocking rant about Sand’s people, she took her own advice and went to another part of the reception room – lest she punched the rich prick in the face.

She stopped when she almost bumped into someone.

“Hello. You seem to be as new as me at this kind of event, aren't you?”

Nancy didn’t know that woman – though she wore the elaborate dress and jewels and had the chignon of a grande dame. She was probably in her early- or mid-thirties, although it was difficult to pin down her age. Nancy couldn't tell if her hair was a very light shade of brown or a very dark shade of blond. She was tall, fit, had a white skin, and icy blue eyes. Her nose was crooked – as if broken – but it was adding a strange wild charm to her face instead of lessening her good looks.

Nancy got in-character. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced, Miss…?”

“Victoria. Like the Queen.”

“English?”

“No. Cruel parents.” the woman joked.

“Eleanor.” Nancy lied. “Pleasure to meet you, then.”

“Pleasure is all mine. Really.”

There was something in Victoria’s smile that Nancy couldn’t quite interpret.

Before she could comment on it however, Victoria pulled out a pocket watch. For some reason, the device looked familiar to Nancy. The device was both sturdy and finely-crafted, with elegant carvings.

“Uh? You don’t see women carrying those often...”

“In my line of work, precision is the key to success… And I don’t see why women can’t take control of their own time..”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Victoria closed the watch. “Happy to hear we’re on the same page. Lone women like us should stick together at this kind of event.” she added.

“Oh, I’m not alone. In fact-”

However, she was interrupted by Clinton’s arrival. “I see you’ve found-” He froze when he saw Victoria’s face. “You?! What are you doing here?!” He didn’t raise his voice, but his tone was both defiant and rough.

Nancy went immediately on alert. Clinton was usually such a gentleman with the ladies. His change of attitude could only mean one thing.

Victoria was trouble…

“Dear Clint, ruining all my effects again…” Victoria complained.

Nancy eyed her suspiciously. “Who is she?”

“Victoria van der Laar. ‘Crook Nose Victoria’. Bounty hunter. DeBeers’s favorite lapdog, though she’d take any job as long as it pays well. The greediest bitch you’ll ever come across.”

“You do realize I was hoping to make her drop her guard and lure her partner out?” Victoria pocketed her watch. “I even made sure we’d fit the guard’s schedule.”

Nancy attempted to grab the gun concealed under her clothes.

“I wouldn’t do that, sweetie. You want to be arrested for murder?” Victoria shook her head. “I do believe even a sheriff will have a hard time justifying shooting me… I’m an official representative of the DeBeers company, and as legally clean as one can get.”

Unimpressed, Clinton narrowed his eyes. “And I’m pretty sure no bribery was involved.”

“Does it matter? The Law decided, you comply.” Victoria tutted. “Poor Clint… You still haven’t gotten it… Justice and morality are… relative. Always as dumb as a brick.”

“Watch your tongue, bitch.” Nancy growled – though she was smart enough to keep her voice quiet to not catch the attention of a DeBeers sympathizer among the guests.

“And yet you managed to snatch quite the woman, Clint. I’m impressed…”

Clinton intervened before things could turn ugly between the two women. “Cut the chit-chat. What do you want, Victoria? Even you must realize these accusations are ludicrous.”

“I said it already. Everything is relative. Those warrants are legal enough. I don’t know what you did exactly, but given the amount of zeroes I don’t care much. There’s nothing personal Clint. It’s just business.”

“Greedy bitch… Law isn’t a business…” Nancy retorted.

“You’re one to talk about law.” Victoria eyed Nancy’s dress.“You’re not wearing your own dress, sweetie. Last time I checked, assault and robbery are crimes. What’s your excuse?”

Clinton lost patience. It was his turn to be protective. “You better not begin your games with her, Victoria!”

“Ah! Watch me!” Without warning, Victoria suddenly took a step back, and began to scream: “GUARDS! GUARDS! Those ruffians are bandits! I recognize that dress! It belongs to famous singer Eleanor Cavill! She must have attacked her and stolen it!”

“I’ll wring your neck!” Nancy growled, her temper and pregnancy getting the better of her. She attempted to jump at the bounty hunter. However, Eleanor’s dress wasn’t exactly made for combat, and Victoria proved to be quite the slippery eel. She expertly moved away, and Nancy ended up crashing into the back of an old guy who of course made a fuss.

The guards were already swarming the place.

Victoria was smirking. She patted the hidden pocket in which there was the watch. “Right on schedule.”

Nancy pulled out her gun.

The bounty hunter immediately ducked out of the way, and all the guests stared in horror at her weapon. She looked like an aggressor.

And Victoria was hamming it up: “Help! HELP! She’s got a gun! HELP!” Nancy wished she could punch her in the face.

The guards surrounded her and Clinton. Nancy couldn’t shoot in the middle of the crowd – and she suspected those guards weren’t outlaws. DeBeers wouldn't be stupid enough to hire wanted people for a public gala including a marshal…

She dropped her gun, and allowed herself to be surrounded.

Nancy suddenly spotted Sand in the back of the crowd. Her friend was analyzing the situation, trying to find a plan to rescue them.

Nancy shook her head, and silently mouthed: ‘Later.’

She saw Sand hesitate, but then nod, and swiftly leave the room before the guards could spot her. Intervening now was too risky. The young Navajo would try and rescue them later.

The Casino Exterior, Dauphine Street 20:36pm

Sand knew it was only a matter of time before the guards would chase after her. Too many guests had seen her alongside Nancy and Clinton – they’d give her description. Her description, and the description of her clothes.

Leaving the main building, she arrived in an inner court that doubled as a small garden and park – with grass and trails, as well as a few trees and well-trimmed bushes at the center

When she heard some voices, she immediately hid in the bushes.

Thankfully, it wasn’t guards. Just a man and his wife – two guests on a stroll, looking for some fresh air. The woman was in her twenties and wearing black shoes, a pink long fancy gown adorned with white ribbons and lace, a white hat decorated with a pink ribbon and flowers, and white gloves. She was carrying a light pink parasol adorned with white lace. The young dame was a curvy girl with a heart-shaped face, shoulder-long honey brown hair with ringlets, hazel brown eyes, a soft round nose, and white skin.

“Melanie dear, I heard there was a commotion in the reception room. Some outlaws have been caught! We should hurry and see it!” the man was saying.

“I’m quite enjoying the fresh air. If you want to gaze at the spectacle like some vulgar ruffian, go ahead. I won’t lower myself to your level.”

“Suit yourself.”

He hurried up inside the building.

Melanie scowled to herself. “Uncouth oaf. Can’t believe Father married me to HIM.”

Sand rolled her eyes. Typical of the rich settlers – treating love and marriage like a business transaction, selling their daughters like cattle. Still, since it gave her an opportunity to grab a new disguise, she wasn’t complaining.

Melanie resumed her stroll – mumbling complaints under her breath. She went near the little grove of trees and bushes where her predator was hiding.

Sand jumped out of the bushes and pounced on the woman’s back when she passed near her.

Melanie squeaked a: “Wha-” but the rest of her shriek was muffled by Sand’s hand clamped onto her mouth, and a vise-like arm wrapped around the throat. As she was squeezing, Sand also dragged the flailing dame into the bushes, ignoring her struggles and muffled cries for help. Melanie was a pampered girl who never had to fight once in her life, so she was easy pickings. A little pathetic even. By the time they were concealed behind the leaves, she was already unconscious.

Thanks to her adventures with Nancy, Sand now had some experience with formal dresses, and was able to strip Melanie without damaging the garment. She also removed the woman’s lace-adorned white bloomers and her matching lace-adorned white sleeveless top – leaving her naked. Sand glanced over the girl's naked form, taking in her young well endowed breasts with puffy pink areolas and full trimmed womanhood with a strip of brown pubic hair. While she was pretty to look at, this girl had nothing on sweet Sylvié who simply had the body of a goddess. Smiling at the memory of her sweet maid, Sand left the bushes.

Sand felt a bit sad at the idea of parting away with her current outfit – something which greatly surprised the pragmatic woman in her. Then again, those were Sylvié’s clothes…

Sand chose to cut a few strips of her former dress to bind Melanie’s wrists and ankles, and to gag her. She then hastily put on the dame’s gown and accessories – the hat and the parasol would be perfect to hide her head, and the gloves would conceal the skin of her hands.

When Sand exited her hiding spot, leaving the real Melanie concealed in the bushes, she heard a commotion. A group of armed people were exiting the main building. She quickly opened her parasol, and mimicked Melanie’s way of walking.

Weirdly enough, the gunslingers were led by a woman. Sand recognized the crook-nosed lady who had sicced the guards on Nancy and Clinton. Except she was expertly holding a gun with the same mastery she had many times witnessed in Nancy – perhaps even more.

Sand used her parasol to hide her face.

The group passed next to her without paying her a second glance. Her change of outfit had managed to fool them.

Exiting the courtyard through the front gate, she noticed a commotion in the street nearby.

What she saw made her blood boil.

Nancy and Clinton were carried in chains on a chariot, paraded in front of the crowd. Officials of DeBeers were claiming they had caught the outlaws.

Had she not been wearing an impractical dress, Sand would have grabbed her gun and rushed to their help. But she was painfully aware she would be caught and restrained without accomplishing anything.

She asked the first passerby she came across. “Where are they taking them?”

The man barely glanced at her face – he only saw the fancy clothes that showed she was an important lady. “The outlaws? Mr DeBeers will detain them in his main warehouse, until the time their accomplice is caught!”

That was all Sand needed to know. She immediately left to go to her inn’s room. With some luck, her enemies hadn’t yet found out where they were staying. She may still be able to recover the equipment she had left there.

[rufusluciusivan]

Now, the saga begins.

Once again, some behind-the-scenes: If I recall well, during the early stage of the writing there was actually no prologue, so for quite some time Chapter 1 was the actual introduction of the two main antagonists of the saga - DeBeers and Victoria. Hence why their scenes here are just as "introductory" as the ones in the prologue. In early drafts, this was the first time they appeared.

One aspect I especially like about Victoria is that she feels like a character from my own sagas (with the assorted larger-than-life attitude and banters) who's been bombarded into stormtrooper's more grounded and realistic world, but it still works. For the plain reason that in-universe she's actually "hamming things up" - she's having the time of her life, like some performer on stage, but it's a mask to conceal her true personality and outlook on the world, but more on that in upcoming chapters. As everyone can see, she easily gets under Nancy's skin... As a character, DeBeers is a lot more classic - the greedy corrupt corporate douchebag who's all bark and no bite.

Plot-wise, Chapter 1 works hand-in-hand with the prologue - we're still introducing all the pieces of the story. Not much to write about the characters' developments yet, it's mostly set-up for the main plot and call-backs to Red Rock I. The new stuff is coming later.

A funny part of the writing process was the back-and-forth between ideas, and catching them on the fly to expand on them. For instance, when stormtrooper wrote the scene with that unlucky blond greeter whom Nancy intimidates into letting them in, I got the idea to feature the poor blonde later in an other chapter.

The highlight to me was of course the return of Eleanor and Sylvié - two of the most iconic damsels of Red Rock I who make their return here. I was really amused by the imagery of Eleanor stomping and complaining she was getting mugged again, and actually being smarter than your average USB victim when she calls out Nancy's bluff with the gun, only for Nancy to cut the knot and knock her out with one punch.

[Stormtrooper1990]

Now, the saga begins.

Once again, some behind-the-scenes: If I recall well, during the early stage of the writing there was actually no prologue, so for quite some time Chapter 1 was the actual introduction of the two main antagonists of the saga - DeBeers and Victoria. Hence why their scenes here are just as "introductory" as the ones in the prologue. In early drafts, this was the first time they appeared.

One aspect I especially like about Victoria is that she feels like a character from my own sagas (with the assorted larger-than-life attitude and banters) who's been bombarded into stormtrooper's more grounded and realistic world, but it still works. For the plain reason that in-universe she's actually "hamming things up" - she's having the time of her life, like some performer on stage, but it's a mask to conceal her true personality and outlook on the world, but more on that in upcoming chapters. As everyone can see, she easily gets under Nancy's skin... As a character, DeBeers is a lot more classic - the greedy corrupt corporate douchebag who's all bark and no bite.

Plot-wise, Chapter 1 works hand-in-hand with the prologue - we're still introducing all the pieces of the story. Not much to write about the characters' developments yet, it's mostly set-up for the main plot and call-backs to Red Rock I. The new stuff is coming later.

A funny part of the writing process was the back-and-forth between ideas, and catching them on the fly to expand on them. For instance, when stormtrooper wrote the scene with that unlucky blond greeter whom Nancy intimidates into letting them in, I got the idea to feature the poor blonde later in an other chapter.

The highlight to me was of course the return of Eleanor and Sylvié - two of the most iconic damsels of Red Rock I who make their return here. I was really amused by the imagery of Eleanor stomping and complaining she was getting mugged again, and actually being smarter than your average USB victim when she calls out Nancy's bluff with the gun, only for Nancy to cut the knot and knock her out with one punch.

That's right, Chapter 1 was where Victoria and DeBeers were first introduced before we decided to include the two of them in the prologue. Looking back I'm glad we made that decision, as Chapter 1 flows perfectly from the prologue and sets up our antagonists perfectly.


I agree, Victoria seems so at home in my more grounded universe. As rufus eloquently described, she has the bombastic larger than life attitude of a villian from his saga's who enjoys chewing up the scenery, and to great effect. But she wears a mask to hide her true nature, which fits into the gritty realism of my sagas. You could say she represents the successful fusion of our styles. And over the 6 months, I have grown to like her as I'm sure our readers will too. And DeBeers; he's practically the Donald Trump of the deep south, all bite and no bark with plenty of hot air.


I have to say that was one of the reasons why I enjoyed working with rufus, was bouncing ideas off of each other and using them as inspiration for the later chapters. I won't give away any spoilers but that unfortunate blonde greeter, is just one example. But she was definitely the most fun.


Yeah, the return of Eleanor and Sylvié was the centrepiece of this chapter. I remember when I wrote the scene where Nancy tries to intimidate Eleanor to take off her clothes, but instead our singer has a temper tantrum. It just seemed so natural giving Eleanor's persona and brought a smile to my face. And with calling Nancy's bluff, I wanted to give Eleanor a little more depth, so she doesn't suffer too much in being that spoilt little womanchild. However, it sure didn't help her any when Nancy answered her with a well aimed punch to the face.


And as for Sylvié, a character both Rufus and I have come to adore, her journey is just beginning.

[meditions142]

Very intriguing and sexy scene with Sand and Sylvié.

And the dialogue had some amazing moments. Particularly "So this is the part where you knock me unconscious and we part ways again?" She asked, her accent tinged with disappointment. Sand sighed nodding. "Sorry, sweet maid. But yes." Sylvié smiled letting down her long silken brown hair where it touched her bare shoulders. "Just be more gentle this time please, no blows to the head..." she parted her hair baring her lovely neck.

Then we get Sylvié's comment "Oh my..." Sounds like Sylvié might have actually gotten turned on a little bit by Sand putting her to sleep.

[Stormtrooper1990]

Very intriguing and sexy scene with Sand and Sylvié.

And the dialogue had some amazing moments. Particularly "So this is the part where you knock me unconscious and we part ways again?" She asked, her accent tinged with disappointment. Sand sighed nodding. "Sorry, sweet maid. But yes." Sylvié smiled letting down her long silken brown hair where it touched her bare shoulders. "Just be more gentle this time please, no blows to the head..." she parted her hair baring her lovely neck.

Then we get Sylvié's comment "Oh my..." Sounds like Sylvié might have actually gotten turned on a little bit by Sand putting her to sleep.

Thank you my friend glad you enjoyed that acene between Sylvié and Sand. Back when I first wrote that scene and discussed it with rufus I wanted to make Sand and Sylvié's reunion both memorable and special. And I can confirm that Sylvié did indeed get turned on by Sand's delicate touches and sleeper hold.


Without giving too much away, it won't be the last we see of little Sylvié.