@Kelewen

"Ah, yes, ma'am." Taylor shifted in his seat, slowly sliding back into his usual routine he saved for swindling people. "I collect bounties. It's not a pleasant job, but it keeps food on the table and the good side of the law on me. I do recall a couple of windbags that are just begging to be trussed up and brought back to the sheriff's around these parts," shooting an annoyed glance at whatever goddamned Bible study the rest of the party was cooking up now. "Verrry dangerous parts 'round here, ma'am. I, uh, hope you're bringing protection?"

The boy was running around again, encouraged by whatever the Indian said to him. "Hey kid, pipe your ass!" he yelled. "Where's your damn momma, or papa?" He had also noticed that Petunia was not related to him.

Petunia Krump's eyes widen at the news that there may be unsavory types hiding out at her destination. "That must be...um... exciting." she says, but in a tone that suggests the entire idea of him being a bounty hunter makes her almost faint.

The odorous man with the mutton chops looks over at the group, scanning them briefly as if sizing them up before returning to staring out the window. He's not very old. Maybe 19 or 20. He's stick-thin, his jacket hangs loosely from his boney frame, and the scraggly mutton chops seem almost a ridiculous attempt to make himself appear a bit older.

As first Sergio and then Mistihkoman encourages the child's antics, Petunia nearly rolls her eyes. "Discipline should be instilled at a young age," she states matter of factly.

Meanwhile, the kid scrunches up his face at Sergio at the bank robbery comment and seems pleased to have Mistihkoman's attention. "Did you ever kill anyone with those?" he asks as Misti shows off his weaponry.

When Taylor chimes in, it's Petunia that jumps in first. "Please, sir, watch your language!" she scolds Taylor as he swears... not only in front of the child... but in front of her! How uncouth!

The boy's eyes narrow, giving the distinct impression he's harboring some anger over this particular topic. "No one's the boss a me..." he retorted rather than answer the question.

Mistihkoman turns to look at this woman who's been speaking all this time. He hums, "Is that why you are so stuck up moniyeweskew? Discipline was instilled within you and you were unable to be a child? And now, you have no child in you, that you are unable to let others have fun?" He tilted his head to the side his braid shifting. He nods slowly as if understanding something, "I think that explains alot of things about the white man. They are so rigid and strict. Not allowed to have fun, because it was beaten out of them." He snorts, and looks around, "It explains a great deal indeed."

He turns back away and looks to the boy, "Tell me awâsis, where are your guardians? Mother? Father? Uncle? Auntie? Or are you alone?" He looks at the boy curiously, waiting, letting the boy choose his time to answer. Mistihkoman hums, "A gunslinger still needs a posse. Where is yours?"

He nods to the boy, awaiting his answer curiously.

@Kelewen @BigPapaBelial @Landain

SERGIO WESTWOOD

Sergio thought of how he could respond to the native’s questions; “Well to put it into layman's terms Jesus was brought onto earth to forgive all the sins of mankind; but you do make a good point what of the other sins committed after his death. Well it’s all metaphorical on how we should forgive those who have wronged us” Was the best answer he could give to try and answer his question; turning to Mistihkoman and the kid. “I got your back too kiddo” Smiling at the kid showing off his revolvers in his holster.

Turning his head towards Tyler glaring at him; starting to find him quite annoying. “Where is your mom and dad kiddo? Why are you all alone?” He asked the kid; feeling a bit worried that this subject was a bit touchy for the kid.

Phineas became uncomfortable with the religious conversation, refusing to comment. He came from a very religious catholic family from north of Boston and knew everyone was a sinner and that he need only confess his sins to his pastor, and attend regular mass in order to receive Mary’s graces to get into heaven. He had always tried to live a life free from sin, but this world was very different. It was more like Satan’s temptations of Jesus in the desert out here in the… desert.

Billy did not want to go on about religion with Misthikoman too, his Baptist teachings were not sufficient enough to continue. He could talk about the bible, but didn’t want to continue that conversation. Then he noticed most of the people Grainger hired back in Sweetwater were fixed on the little boy. At first Billy didn’t understand why, then understood when the rebel asked the boy where his momma or poppa were. “Hey boy! You might be right,” Billy intoned. “No one is the boss a’ you, but where are yer momma and poppa?” It seemed as everyone was now curious about the boy. Even Finney picked up on it, looking at the boy.

The train gets up to speed and leaves Sweetwater behind. It travels about 30 mph on the straight stretches of track and drops down to about 20 mph on curves and turns. The trip to Odessa is expected to take about 9 hours with no stopovers. One guard is stationed inside the passenger car at the front... which is the side toward the express car.

---

Petunia Krump’s mouth tightened, offended by Mistihkoman’s, in her opinion, uncalled for name calling.

“I’ll have you know, sir,” she started, emphasizing the word ‘sir’ as if to remind him of polite society, but she was obviously getting worked up. “…that I am a schoolteacher. Children with no discipline and no respect for adults do poorly in their studies.”

Meanwhile, the kid responds to the barrage of questions about his lack of guardian by crossing his arms over his chest and giving an exaggerated shrug. "Gotta go live with my Aunt Millie..." he mumbles, then kicks the leg of the wooden seat.

"Is you all a posse?" he asks, obviously thinking about Mistihkoman's explanation.

"It's 'Are you', child..." Petunia just can't help herself from chiming in to correct him.

"Oh, I'm very sorry miss, very sorry indeed." Taylor slunk back into his seat with a faux sort of schoolboy penitence, learned from many years scamming old ladies not dissimilar to Ms. Krump - though that was often the job of other gang members. Taylor was usually the one to wave a sawed-off in their faces when they weren't buying it. Jesus, I've known nannies with fouler mouths. "It's just that where I'm from, we, uh... we're a lot more stringent with our young'uns." He shoots a fuming glare towards the kid. "No, we are not a posse. And don't yer Aunt Millie got a friend or two to take care of you here?"

At Taylor's apology, he was quickly back in Petunia Krump's good graces. "Well, just do be more careful in mixed company," she reminded him anyway, looking victorious that she'd brought a bit more civility to the world today.

"I ain't a baby..." the kid glares back at Taylor, as if that was the implication by suggesting he needed taken care of. "How should I know if she got friends? I never even met her 'fore!"

At this point, the friendly conductor gets up from where he'd been quietly chatting with the well-dressed fellow at the back of the train and moseys up the aisle, perhaps having overheard some of the questions or perhaps just worried that the boy is bothering them too much. "All alright here folks? I can have Zeke here come sit with me."

"I ain't even doin' nuthin'!" the kid (Zeke) whined. Then proceeded to make subdued gun-shot-like sound effects out of his mouth as he mocked shooting all 6 of them in turn.

@Kelewen @BigPapaBelial @Landain

SERGIO WESTWOOD

“Is she gonna meet you at the train station in Odessa?” Sergio asked but thought maybe he should not push the subject. “Do you know where she lives?” asking him feeling concerned about the boy’s wellbeing. Turning towards the conductor; “It’s quite alright we’re just concern about the kid” Sergio smiled at the conductor. “We’re just worried about his well being” Turning to face the kid keeping the smile on his face; “Look kid if for some reason your aunt is not waiting for you at the train station; then me and the sheriff can help you find her” Wondering if all of what he was saying was a too strange.

Mistihkoman hums sitting and watching the child. He nods slowly, "He is a strong soul. Very good medicine." He then turns to the woman, pursed lips and clipped words. He narrows his eyes, "okiskinwahamakew ci? What does it matter you are a school teacher? What ability or power does that give you? We are not in a kiskinwahamakewi kamik we are on one of those iron wagons, an iskotêwitâpân. Does your power as a school teacher apply here?" He looks at the woman and shakes his head.

He turns to look back at the child and gives him a nod, "A Posse? Us? Well not quite. But we do work together." He nods and waves to him, "Fare well young friend."

He turns back to look out the window, done with talking to the school teacher it seems. Better things to think about, and concerned for the young boy. Hoping he will ge tto his destination safely.

Zeke shrugged at Sergio's question, so the conductor answered. "She is to meet him at the station in Odessa tonight," he confirmed.

The kid rolled his eyes, then ambled away, apparently heading off to pester other folks on the train. "Lost his parents just recently," the conductor added. "As I understand it, his mother's sister has agreed to take him in."

"The poor dear," Petunia chimes in, as if she hasn't been berating the child the entire time so far. "I do hope his aunt can instill some proper manners into him," she added, obviously trying to get in the last word even though Mistihkoman has turned away.

The well dressed gentlemen sitting two rows behind the party shakes his head. Earlier, he'd been in conversation with the conductor and now seems to want to insert himself into this conversation. "That is the problem with the west," he has a British accent. "Barbaric and uncivilized."

@Kelewen

SERGIO WESTWOOD

Sergio was saddened to hear that the boy’s parents had passed away; he was reminded of his father and his sister who was disabled by their mother. Waving goodbye to the boy with a smile and going back to reading his bible. “Well i’m glad he’s got a family that is going to look after him” He said to the conductor. Giving Petunia another scold; turning his attention towards the British man who spoke up.

“You're not wrong mister; hopefully Mr.Grant can exterminate the outlaws and bandits out here” He chimed in finding it ironic since he was once a outlaw himself.

The train rolls on steadily throughout the afternoon. Despite the windows being opened to get some air flow through the passenger car, it's uncomfortably warm.

Zeke continues to make a nuisance of himself by wandering up and down the aisle and pretending to shoot at everyone with his toy gun, even the woman with the baby who just tells him to 'please go away.' The little girl in her arms fusses and cries only a little, thankfully. Mostly, she sleeps.

Petunia Krump keeps inserting her overbearing opinions and comments whenever the opportunity presented itself. The fellow that had commented about the west being barbaric is Mr. Arthur Charles, a businessman with big plans to open a high class saloon and smoke parlor in Odessa.

The two dirtier men (one of which is sitting across the aisle from the lady with the baby, the other halfway between her and the party hired by Bailey Granger) both stay mostly silent.

And just as nearly everyone was likely getting quite tired of the trip, a gun shot rings out from somewhere outside the train, quickly followed by several more. The passengers begin to scream and duck for cover under the seats while the two express car guards run to the windows and level their rifles.

“It’s a robbery! One Eyed Bobby! Shit, it's One Eyed Bobby!” shouts one of the guards as he lets lead fly at the outlaws that have ridden up alongside the train.

Windows shatter as bullets fly and ricochet around the car while the outlaws fire repeatedly, yelling, “YEEEEHAW!”

Taylor didn't even have to think. As smoothly as a flowing river, his hand immediately swept down to his holster, drew out his six-shooter, and fired all six shots at the bandits straight through the train windows. As he ducked down again he briefly made out one of the riders drop his rifle and clutch his shoulder.

"Everybody get down!" He forced Ms. Krump down by his seat as he reached into the bag compartment at the top of the car, and yanked back down his Winchester rifle.

Shit. One-eyed Bobby. The bastard probably heard about the botched robbery at Jorgensen's and was out for the Black Mask's catch. Did he know he was here?!

He chambered the first round in his rifle and took aim. "How many of them are out there?!" he yelled to the guards and the rest of the party at the opposite side of the train.

@BingTheWing @Kelewen

SERGIO WESTWOOD

Sergio was startled by the sounds of gunshots and glass shattering; ducking down where he was sitting pulling out one of his revolvers. Peeking over the seat to see they were One-Eye Bobby’s boys. The emotion Sergio was feeling was of both anger and annoyance; the reason being was because he was friends with one of his gang members.He noticed there were about seven robbers outside of the cart. “Looks like there's seven of em” He yelled out for all of them to hear.

“If you don't want to meet beelzebub; then I suggest you put your guns back and you're holster and ride off” Now yelling towards the raiders having a feeling they would not listen. Looking outside and wondering how he could take them all out; a worrying thought about the well being of that kid from before.

The First Nations man sat looking out the window, running his fingers down his braid. He could hear that woman trying to be preachy, and trying to get the last word in, but he paid it little mind. It was of no import.

Mistihkoman took some time to look about the passenger car. his eyes slipping over the people, examining them. He hummed softly spotting the two of the scruffier men, dirty, slightly unwashed. He wondered about them. The rest of the passengers would be of no worry he figured.

And then the shooting started. He looked out the windows, "Outlaws." He growled out. Then grabbed his bow, quiver of arrows and his gun-stock club. Tying the quiver to his back and slinging the bow over one shoulder, "The Wild West..." He growls, and starts towards the front of the passenger car, holding in his hands the gun-stock club. He calls to the others, "If they try to board at the front of the car I'll do my best to stop them." Oh he did not sound happy, "Two fights in the span of two days. I'm going to take someone's scalp for this." He reaches into his vest to thumb the bone handle of his large knife.

Petunia Krump let out a terrified scream from the floor by Taylor's feet and she throws her hands over her head to protect it from falling glass.

On Taylor's side of the train, he counts 6 total riders. Well... now essentially 5 since he winged one bad enough to make him drop his gun. The man in the lead is pushing his horse hard and he's wearing an eye patch: One-Eyed Bobby. While his crew are popping off shots at the passenger car, Bobby is making a beeline for the Express Car in front of it, where the items of greatest value are stored (including Bailey Grainger's crate).

On Sergio's side of the train, one of the 7 outlaws looks up as the yell is barely heard over the pounding of hooves and the rumble of the train. There's recognition in the dark-haired man's eyes. Sergio might even notice a slight hesitation. "Not today, man!" he yells and shoots, but the bullet goes very wide. It doesn't even hit the passenger car, let alone Sergio's window. Fred Linch is usually a pretty good shot and it's a safe bet that he missed on purpose. Also on this side, is a dark skinned man of Navajo descent. He's wearing the clothes of a white man, but some might recognize him as Sparrow Hawk: One-Eyed Bobby's right hand man.

Similar to Bobby, Sparrow is pushing his pinto steed ahead, racing toward the Express Car.

Zeke has frozen in the middle of the aisle, right in Mistihkoman's path, his eyes wide as saucers. "Kid! Get down! Get down," yells the scruffy man with the mutton chops. From his vantage point, Misti can see both One-Eyed Bobby and Sparrow Hawk racing ahead... past the passenger car. But two other riders are quickly approaching the little platform on the front of the passenger car.

When Taylor looked up again to assess the situation, he counted the riders on his side and caught One-Eyed Bobby making a break for it. It was him, all right, and Taylor could have sworn he caught a chuckle and an sinister grin of recognition coming from him. He heard another horse whinnying from behind him and also noticed the other riders and Sparrow Hawk, Bobby’s perennial right-hand Indian, moving forward with him. Is it just me or did that bastard get a lot more popular down west?

Taylor then noticed why Bobby and Sparrow were spurring their horses into a faster gallop: they were going for the front of the car, where the cargo they were all supposed to protect was located. No way in hell would Taylor lose those sweet, sweet dollars he was promised.

“Stay back here and shoot at the rest! I’ll make a break to the front where the cargo is,” Taylor yells to the others. Clutching his rifle tightly, he starts crouch walking through the aisle towards the express car in front as broken glass and bullets fly all around him. Bobby was one dangerously accurate gunslinger for someone with no depth perception, and Taylor only trusted himself to take him on.

@Kelewen @BingTheWing@BigPapaBelial

SERGIO WESTWOOD

Sergio cursed himself and Bobby when they returned fire on him; he was optimistic that they would leave. However he knew better and that they would continue with their goal of robbing the train. Firing back at the rider’s on the side of the train; making sure to aim for their horses to lower their numbers. Ducking down behind the seats and firing as best he could at their horses; while he was firing he noticed Zeke was frozen in the middle of the isle. “Damn it kid keep your head down” He moved quickly to grab the Zeke and pull him down behind the seats.

Seeing two of the riders moving towards the cargo section of the train; and hearing that Taylor was going alone he shook his head. “The hell you are i’m going with you” He yelled out for him to hear; “You're coming with me too; I ain't gonna lose that cargo” He said towards Mistihkoman. “And you keep your head down and stay here until I come back and tell you it’s safe to stand up; don’t worry you're gonna be okay kiddo” He now turned towards Zeke with a smile.

Moving towards the cargo section of the train while crouching; making his way toward the cargo bay.

Billy and Finney were surprised when the shooting started. This was the first time he had ever seen or heard gunfire, aside from the little bit of practice shooting he did during his trek through the desert to Sweetwater. He stared out the window as bullets flew past him. It didn’t dawn on him he should duck, until Billy yelled at him, “Finney! Get yer stupid ass on the floor!”

Finney woke up. He was shocked by what was going on. He didn’t realize he could die during this exchange of gunfire. His bowler was knocked off his head by a whizzing bullet. He heard it fly by, with a loud hi-toned whine, “Whizzzzz!” It took off his hat and impacted with a wall towards the front of the car.

Billy reached for his Henry rifle. He opened the breach to see it was loaded. He turned to Finney and said, “stay low, follow me. We are going to the back door of this car to take a few of these bastards out. You are going to be ok!” Billy ordered Finney that he would be fine as long as he stayed with him. He didn’t give him an option. Stay with him and you will be safe.

The two bent over and worked their way to the back of the car. Billy looked out the back doorway, which had been propped open to help with the airflow. He saw riders on both sides of the train. He scooted back a bit to the right to not expose himself. He stayed on the right. “Finney, you get on the left side and shoot at the riders on the left side of the train. I’ll stay on this side and shoot at the riders on the other side. This way we are only exposed to those people we are shooting at.”

Finney thought that made sense. He pulled out his .45 peacemaker, extended the pistol into the limited area where he could see someone. The first rider came into view. He didn’t think about it. He lined the sights up with the rider. He was scared. He jerked the trigger quickly. The pistol barked in his hand, sending the bullet high.

Meanwhile, Billy leveled his Henry Rifle in the other direction. When the first rider he saw came into view, he lined the sights up on the rider, led him about a half inch, exhaled, stopped breathing and slowly squeezed the trigger. The .44 caliber cartridge exploded like a cannon. It struck the man in the ribs and tossed the rider into the dust behind him. He had killed men before and today was no different. In fact, he believed he was hired to kill men who threatened Mr. Grainger’s package. He was doing his job.

Billy saw Finney fire his pistol. “Relax, Finney,” Billy cooed. “Don’t be in a hurry to shoot. If you are in a hurry, you will die because you will run out of bullets and they will shoot you after you miss every time.”

Finney was scared. He finally realized they were in a fight for their lives. It was nothing like the fist fight in the saloon. These lead bullets could kill him. One already put a hole in his favorite bowler. A bullet whizzed past his head striking the back of the bench-like seat behind him. Billy extended his firing arm again and slowly squeezed the trigger after taking aim. The hammer fell on the firing pin, surprising the young Amherst College graduate. The .45 caliber projectile struck the rider in the right side of his neck, causing arterial spurt to spew blood across the desert floor. The man slumped over and dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, dead. Finney, felt a pang of dread. ‘I just killed a man,’ he thought to himself. ‘I am a murderer.’ The thought scared him more than the possibility of dying in this fight. The morality of his predicament weighed heavy on him.

Billy could see it written on the young man’s face. “Don’t give him a second thought, Finney my boy. You can go to confession tomorrow as long as you shoot a few more of these bad guys. Because if you don’t, they will most certainly shoot you. Then you can go to heaven and plead your case to Jesus.” Billy focused on the riders outside the train looking for another target.