From the dusty journals of the OutLaw, LadyVashe..the beginning....
The creak of well~used doors announced my arrival into a pit of man's slough. I walked straight to the well worn bar, letting my eyes adjust to the dim as I went. My dusty lizard skin boots softly disturbing the sawdust and ashes coating the floor. The Bartender paused in the wiping of his beer glass, giving me the once over. Slowly removing my leather gloves, I ignored his rudeness. "Bourbon, Neat." I placed a coin on the worn wood, smoothly taking in the motley assortment of occupents. The bartender poured my shot, placing my leather gloves down, I picked up the glass, keeping my right hand near my belt. The sweet burn traveled down my throat, wet my eyes, and sent warmth flooding through my veins. I heard noise to my left, sensing the usual first, stupid drunk.
"Thanks, another; and, a query.." The bartender answered with a raised eyebrow. I started to reach for my drink, "I am looking for a man, 'The General'..."
I was interupted by a filthy hand reaching for the braid laying on my back. Moving swiftly, the tip of my blade was under the offender's chin. My left hand grasping his shirt front. "Touch me again, I'll gut you, like a fish from my father's pond." I stared into the yellowed whites of the drunk.
"Hey, Sweetheart, I didn' mean nuthin...."
"No," I cut him off. Looking into the same eyes I had seen my life over, in every city I traveled, "You ARE nothing." I pushed him away from me, he stumbled backwards, falling over his own stupidity. I looked more directly across the room, daring another advancement. Smoke hung in a fog around the dingy saloon. I watched many sweat rimmed hats hide averted gazes. I resheathed my father's hunting knife, pushing aside my duster, I placed my hand on my hip, revealing the firearm resting there. I turned back to the barkeep. Though I saw my answer, I repeated my question, lifting my drink. Pushing my coin back to me, the man pointed to a dark corner. The same from where I watched a man of impressive height and girth resettle after the conclusion of the little outburst. I reached into my vest, pulling out a dark beauty. I pulled out my knife again, slicing the end. I accepted the wooden matches from the barkeep, and toasted the end of my cigar. I pushed my empty glass, he refilled it. Blue smoke curled up between us, gathering under the brim of my hat, I blew it up to mingle with the hanging cloud. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the glowing red circle of The General's smoke. Clenching the maduro between my teeth, I picked up the bottle the barkeep offered, and advanced to The General's table.
"General, I am LadyVashe, now called OutLaw. I need your help."
I accepted the chair he pulled out for me. "It doesn't seem you need anyone's help, young woman."
I drew on my smoke,"Yes, a woman can go only so far. My ranch is in jeopardy, my father's land is being swallowed." My words waited, we assesed each other. He was impressive. He must have been six feet, muscles moving under the stretch and release of his dark gray shirt. Silver~grey hair glinted at his temples, and the opened top of his shirtfront. Deep brown eyes looked me dead on, without guile or malice. I watched him draw on his cigar, strong jaw and days growth of beard. Besides the obvious strength of his thighs, I noticed two guns; a slinger. I thought, He is the one.
"I have been besot with poachers. Theives on every side. My next crop of Tobac is in danger. I am an independent woman, some would like to see me fail. Since my father and brother were killed in the War, I, realistically, need the voice and power of a man."
The General slowly removed the cigar from his lips, I anxiously waited. "So, Lady, what are you offering?"
I drained my glass. "Well, my offer is real. My offer is protected. Another will be joining us, let's wait for him. Another drink?" I lifted the bottle, and welcomed the fire......
.......They call me Fast Freddy, because I ride fast, shoot fast and talk fast. At least that?s what the one who live call me. My enemies just call me Angel Eyes, because that?s the last thing they see before they buy that 6 foot ranch on boot hill.
I?d ridden this trail before. Dusty and hot, littered with cattle carcases and buzzards. The year before I?d help break Indio out of prison down in El Rey. Indio was a madman, but the pay was good and besides, it was just one group of b@st@rds killing another group of b@st@rds.
Mexico had been a mess since they overthrew Maximillian, but for Gringos like me it was a land of opportunity. This was the trail we took back, just me, the Cheyenne Kid, Tobacco Joe and the one they call Harmonica. I?d lost track of that posse and was in need of some work. The General had gotten the word out that there was some lady in need of protection. I didn?t know the General all that well, having avoided the war by fighting as a mercenary in Mexico. I always figured it?d be better to fight for myself than for some cause.
I bit into a cheroot and lit it up. The taste of smoke mixed well with the dust in my mouth. I strode into the bar, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. I knew the Federales still blamed me for busting Indio out of El Rey, and there had to be quite a few pesoes on my head. Any scalawag who?d see me would be looking to pick up an easy bounty for my scalp.
As I stepped in, I saw them, or should I say her. Long and tall, with brown hair tied back into a pony tail. I?d never seen a Stetson look so good on a head, or a pair of chaps look so elegant. Annie Oakley meets Calamity Jane, with some Belle Starr thrown in for good measure. Tough and strong, but every inch a lady. I said to myself 'Angel Eyes, don?t get involved with the clients. It always ends badly,' but I told myself to shut up. Besides, I had a wife back in Chino and I wasn?t that kind of guy. As for the General, you couldn?t miss him in his Blue Coat. Once the Union?s man, always the Union?s man. Whatever. Pay is pay, and I was in need of a taste. Badly in need.
Just as I approached they looked up, half expecting me. I drew on the cheroot. The General stood and turned towards the lady. "Lady Vashe, this is the one they call Angel Eyes." I smiled, held out my hand and said "Fast Freddy, at your service. I hear you need some protection for your farm. Pay is pay, and I?ll do what I can." Lady Vashe rose, looked me square in the eye and said "I ain?t no lady anymore. After what they did to my kinfolk, I?m an OutLaw." Then she punched me square in the gut?