Protector

By Peaches


Cort never thought his life would be like this. He went from being a gunfighter to being a priest, now a lawman. Cort looked at the destruction that the Lady had left. The town needed to be cleaned up. These people needed a fresh start on life.

After weeks of cleaning up and rebuilding the town, Cort was still doubting himself. He didn't know if he could handle this job. But he knew he had to try. Jose ran into the new sheriff's office. "Senior Cort! You need to come!" Jose yelled as he stopped in front of Cort's desk. "What is it?" Cort asked as he grabbed his gun and headed out of the office. "There's trouble, some men just rode into town." Jose said as he walked next to Cort. They headed for the Saloon.

When they walked in, Cort saw some of the men sitting at a table and the rest were standing by the bar. Jose pointed out one of the men saying he was the leader. Cort told Jose to leave, he didn't want Jose getting hurt if there was a gunfight. Cort walked over to the man in charge. "Well I heard this town got themselves some law." The man laughed then took a drink of his whiskey. Cort really didn't want to get into any kind of fight with these guys, but he didn't think he would have a choice.

"I don't want you or your boys causing any trouble while your in town." Cort said as he looked down at the man. The man just looked up and laughed at him. "My boys can do as they please and no two bit sheriff is going to say different, so why don't you run along, before you get yourself killed." The man said as he stood up and his boys all turned toward him. Cort looked at all the men. "Hey Mr. Adams, let me teach this boy a lesson." One of the younger men said as he stepped forward.

Before Cort knew what was happening, the kid reached for his gun. Cort reached for his, and shot the kid, dead. Everyone looked at Cort, then at the kid lying on the floor. "I said I didn't want trouble, I meant it. Mr. Adams, I suggest you get your men out of here, I don't want to have to kill another one." Cort said as he kept his hand on his gun. "You'll pay for that!" One of the men yelled but before he could do anything about it, Mr. Adams stepped in front of the him. "No, his time will come. Let's go." Mr. Adams said as he picked up his hat and headed out the door. Jose came running back in. "Senior Cort are you all right?" He asked as he looked down and saw the young kid on the floor. "Yeah I'm fine. Get him out of here." Cort said as he walked up to the bar and poured him a shot of whiskey.


Cort couldn't help but feel guilty for killing that kid. He knew he was faster than him, but the kid didn't. Cort slept restlessly that night. He couldn't get that kids face out of his mind. He only hoped the morning would come quickly.

In the morning Cort thought it was a good idea to walk the town. He wanted to make sure that Mr. Adams and his men left town. He knew he didn't see the last of them. He knew he had to be ready for what ever they had planned. Cort was left in charge of this town, a responsibility he wasn't sure he wanted or could handle. So far there wasn't any sign of Adams men or him. He decided to head over to the Saloon, he wanted to see if anyone there knew anything about Mr. Adams or his men.

When he walked into the Saloon, Jose was talking to his sister Maria. He didn't look to happy. "I told you, I don't want you to leave town. Those men might see you." Jose said as his temper grew. He loved his sister and she was all he had left, he didn't want to see anything happen to her. Jose saw Cort and said. "I'm trying to talk some sense into her, but she won't listen to me, will you tell her how dangerous it is." Cort looked at him and saw the desperation in his eyes. "I don't need him to tell me anything, I am going and that's final!" Maria said as she stammered off.

Cort ran up to her as she started to get on her horse. "Maria, Jose is right its to dangerous out there for you right now." Cort said as he grabbed her down off the horse. "Senior Cort I do not need you or my brother telling me what to do." She said as she broke free from his grip. Cort sighed, he knew he had to do something, so he did the only thing he could think of. "Put me down!" Maria yelled as Cort picked her up and carried her over his shoulder. "I can't have you going out and getting yourself killed because your so damn hot headed." Cort said as he carried her to the jail. Cort placed her in a cell and closed the door. "You can't do this!" Maria yelled as he walked away. "Yes, I can, I'm the sheriff and I'm here to protect the people and if that means locking some foolish young girl up because she's to stupid to realize that she could get herself killed by going out there!" He yelled back pointing at the horizon through the window. He then stormed out of his office.

"Where's Maria?" Jose asked as he saw Cort come back into the Saloon. Cort drank a shot of whiskey then turned to Jose and said. "I locked her up in the jail." Jose looked at him at first with a shocked expression then started laughing. " I guess that'll teach her!" Jose said as his laughter grew. Cort himself started laughing. "Yeah I guess it is pretty funny." Cort said as he laughed even harder.

Just as Cort was starting to relax a little, Ben Holden ran in. "Hey Cort, we got company coming!" Ben said as he threw Cort a shot gun. "Its some of that Adams feller's guys!" Ben continued as he and Cort walked toward the Saloon door. "Hey Lawman get out here, we have some unfinished business to take care of!"


Cort looked out the Saloon door and saw about 12 men on horses. It was just him and Ben. That wasn't enough. They were greatly out numbered. Ben wasn't exactly the best shot. Ben had volunteered to be Cort's deputy. He was the only one.

"Are you coming out or are we coming in!" The stranger yelled. Cort looked around at all the people that were in the Saloon. He couldn't risk all their lives. Cort took a deep breath then looked at Ben and nodded. Cort ran out of the door firing off his shot gun, and hitting one of the guys. They all started firing back. Cort dodged behind some barrels. Cort looked to see if Ben was all right, he didn't see him. The men were still shooting at him. He took both of his guns out of their holsters, peeked over the barrels then started shooting back. One after another they fell from their horses. Some had gotten down and took cover. Cort reloaded his guns as they fired back at him. Cort heard a sound to his left turned and shot, hitting one of them who thought he could sneak up on him. Cort then peeked over the barrels again, he wanted to see where the men took cover at. Cort then counted them, then stood up and let loose on them.

"Your lucky that guy was a bad shot, Cort, or else he would have killed you." The doctor said as he patched up Cort's right shoulder. He took a bullet just a few inches above his heart. "Now I want you to rest, no more excitement for you." Doc Jekins said as he headed out of Cort's room. Cort was weak from the loss of blood. The pain wasn't that bad, he was use to it. Cort closed his eyes and fell asleep.

When Cort awoke a few hours later, he heard some commotion going on outside. He slowly got up and walked over to his window. He looked down to the streets. Some of Adams men were here. They were shooting up the town and taking what ever they wanted. Cort knew he was weak, but he had to do something. He couldn't stand by and let this town and its people be destroyed. He got dress and put his guns on. His shoulder was very sore and he was in a great deal of pain. He knew he wouldn't be able to shot as well as he did before, but he had to do something.

"So you think your going to stop us?" A big ugly man said as he stood in front of Ben. In the gun fight before Ben manage to keep himself from getting shot and killed. He stayed in the Saloon. He felt very guilty for not helping Cort out. Now his friend was hurt. "Yes. Now leave town." Ben said as he held a shot gun in front of him. He was shaking and it showed. "Hey boys, this little fat bald guy thinks he's gonna stop us!" The big ugly man yelled to his friends. He then turned to Ben and took his shot gun away. Just then a bullet hit the big ugly guy and he fell to the ground. His friends all turned to see who fired it. But they didn't see anyone. "Who they hell fired that shot!" One of the men yelled. They all looked around and still no sign of the person who fired that shot.

"Ben grab the shot gun!" Cort yelled as he came out of the hotel firing off more shots at the men. Ben reached down and grabbed the shot gun. One of the men noticed him and turned to draw on him but before he could fire, he was shot down dead. "Take cover!" One guy yelled out. Cort had taken cover behind a wagon. Ben took cover in the Saloon. Ben saw a man sneaking up on Cort and fired the shot gun, killing the guy. Cort looked at Ben and nodded. Ben smiled. "You can't take all of us on!" Another one yelled. Cort's wound had started bleeding again. Cort tried to figure a way out of this, but there was no easy way out.


With his wound bleeding, he was growing weaker by the moment. He had to think of something. There was only five of them left. The gun fire had stopped. Cort looked around to see where everyone was. They had spread out in every direction. Cort looked down at his wound and saw the blood. He had to finish this, no matter what.

Cort check his gun, making sure he had enough bullets in them. He then looked over in Ben's direction. Ben was in the Saloon and was now peeking out of the door. Ben saw Cort looking at him. Cort was trying to tell him something but he couldn't understand what. Ben looked around and spotted most of the men but it wasn't all of them. Two were missing. Ben knew he had to do something to help Cort get to safety, but what. Ben looked around trying to find an answer. Then an idea popped into his head. He went over to the bar and grabbed a couple of bottles of whiskey. He then tore pieces of cloth off his shirt. Then he stuck the pieces of cloth into the bottles, with some of it sticking out. He walked back over to the door. This would create a diversion but would he have time enough to run out there and grab Cort and bring him into the Saloon.

"You throw, I'll go get him." A voice said. Ben turned around quickly and saw Jose standing there. "It might get you killed." Ben said as he looked at Jose. "I know, just throw." Jose said as he went to the door and looked at Cort who was almost passed out next to the wagon. "All right on three." Ben said looking at Jose, then back out to the street. He spotted three of them. He hoped he could throw it right and good. He looked at Jose, he nodded at him, telling him he was ready. "OK, 1..............2............3!" Ben said as he threw the first bottle out by the guy closes to him. As soon as he threw the bottle Jose was out the door. A couple of shots were fired at him. One hitting him in the arm, but he didn't let that stop him. When he reached Cort, he knelt down by him.

Cort looked at him, he could barely move. "Don't worry, Senior Cort, I will get you out of here." Jose said as he lifted Cort up. Jose wasn't to big of a man, but he had to get Cort out of there. The first bottle landed right in front of the first guy causing him to catch fire. Ben threw the second bottle toward a guy who was near some barrels. When it landed it caught the barrels on fire, making the guy run. By the time he was ready to throw the third one Jose was about to come through the door. He saw a guy take aim at them so he lite the cloth and threw it, landing right on the guy.

After they were safely inside, Jose laid Cort on the floor. He didn't look good. "How are we going to defend ourselves if he dies?" The bartender asked as he looked at Cort's almost lifeless body. "Hey don't you talk like that!" Ben said grabbing the bartender and pushing him away. Jose was kneeling next to Cort. "We gotta get the Doc, he doesn't look to good." Jose said pushing some hair out of Cort's face. "How can we, there's still two of Adams guys missing, and the Doc is out by the Anderson's place." Ben said as he watched the life slipping out of his friends body.

Cort opened his eyes and looked around, he was laying on the floor in the Saloon. Last thing he remembered was Jose picking him up. Cort started to get up but found it very difficult. "Hey don't try to move to much, you ain't doin to good." Ben said as he helped his friend lay back down. "What happen?" Cort asked as Ben helped him. "You don't remember the fight?" Ben asked looking very worried. "Yeah I remember that...but....what happen to Adams.......men?" Cort asked as he felt himself getting ready to pass out again. "Well we got all but two. Can't find them, we figure they took off." Ben said as he looked up at Jose who had just come in. Jose looked as if he'd saw death himself. "Mr. Adams is just a few miles out of town, and he's got a lot more men!" Jose said as he looked at Ben, who was now looking very pale himself. "How are we going to fight all those men?" Jose asked as he walked over to the window and looked out.


As all hope started to drift away, someone walked through the door. Everyone looked up, Ben grabbed his shot gun. Then they noticed who it was. Marianne, one of the new locals. She hardly ever came to town, only when she needed something. She walked over to Cort and bent down next to him. "He looks bad, where's the doc?" Marianne asked in her slight Irish accent. "He's not here, we can't find him, thought he was at the Anderson's but they said they haven't seen him." Jose said as he starred at her. She had a S&W 6 shooter and a sawed off shot gun. Jose had never met a woman who carried guns, let alone, a woman who could shot.

Ben and Jose told Marianne about the men coming. She nodded and then left. Telling them not to worry about it, she'd hold them off for a little why. Ben and Jose looked at each other in shock. They couldn't believe this, a woman taking on all those men. Ben and Jose moved Cort up to a room in the Saloon. If something was about to happen, then they didn't want him to be in the middle of it. "Hey, Stage Coach is coming." A young man said. Everyone looked out the window. "Better go out there and let them know what's going on." Ben said as he headed out the door.

When he got to the Stage Coach he watched as two women and a man got off. "You might just want to get back on that stage and head out of town." Ben said as he walked closer to them. The passengers looked at him then back at the Stage Coach driver. "Why what's going on?" The Driver asked. Ben looked at him. "Well we got trouble coming and we don't know if we're gonna be able to handle it." Ben said as he noticed the driver's expression. The driver looked like he was ready to leave without anyone on the stage. "I'm not afraid of a little trouble." One of the woman replied. As she headed toward the Saloon. "Hey Miss you really should leave." Ben said as he caught up with her. "I'm not afraid, besides if you need help, I'm willing to help you out." She replied as she continued to walk toward the Saloon.

Ben went back over to the Stage Coach and looked at the rest of the passengers. They all looked at him then got back on the stage. When Ben got back to the Saloon, he asked Jose were the girl disappeared to. Jose told him that she went upstairs to change. "Change, for what?" Ben asked disbelieving all of this. When the girl came out and headed down stairs, Ben and Jose stood there starring at her. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. When she came down and stood in front of them she said. "My name is Michelle, so what kind of trouble we lookin at?" Ben and Jose looked at each other then sat down. Michelle wore strap that held throwing knifes and she had a Colt 45. Another woman defending us, Ben thought as he shook his head.

Marianne found Adams and his boys. They were just out side of the town. They had stopped. Probably to work out a strategy, she thought. She walked over to her horse and reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a couple sticks of dynamite. She got as close as she could then lite and threw one stick near their horses, causing them to run in every direction. Then she took the other stick a dynamite and threw it towards the men. They all ran and took cover. "Who the hell is throwing that!" Adams yelled as he searched for the person. "I don't know I can't see anything." One of his boys yelled back. Marianne went back to her horse and took off back towards town. That ought to keep them away for a while, she thought, while laughing.

 

When she got back to town she headed straight for the Saloon. When she got there she noticed Michelle right away. "Glad you could make it, pard." Marianne said as she walked over and greeted her friend. "Well if I knew visiting you, would be this exciting I would have come sooner." Michelle said smiling. "You two know each other?" Ben asked as he watched the two. "Yep, Marianne and I go back sometime. Gotten into some good fights with her." Michelle said as she winked at Marianne. Marianne smiled with amusement. "So how did it go?" Jose asked, he couldn't take the not knowing any longer. Marianne laughed and said "Well they won't be here for a while, you'd be surprised at what a good stick of dynamite will do, besides they'll be looking for their horses for hours." Marianne and Michelle started laughing. Jose and Ben looked at each other and smiled.


Marianne and Michelle worked on a plan, while Ben and Jose starred at them, not knowing what to do or say. Night was coming soon and it would be harder to fight Adams and his men. So Marianne and Michelle decided they would build fires along the street, this way if anyone was coming they would at least see them.

While they were building the fires, Marianne noticed a rider coming. She pulled out her gun, she wanted to be prepared for anything that was coming her way. When the rider approached her, she looked up at the rider and asked "Can I help you, pard?" The rider got down of the horse and looked at Marianne. "Yeah I'm looking for Cort, you know him?" Liz asked looking at the woman holding out her gun. "I know him." Marianne answered staring at this woman before her. "Can you tell me where he is, need to talk to him." Liz said as she looked around. "He's in the Saloon, he's hurt, got shot." Marianne said as she tried to figure this woman out, was she on their side or was she working for Adams. "Shot? By who?" Liz said as her shock showed on her face. "Ah, the guys dead, Cort killed him, but there's been some more fights, that have left him, pretty weak." Marianne said watched Liz's facial expressions. Without saying a word, Liz turned around and headed for the Saloon.

When Liz entered Cort's room he was sleeping. She walked quietly over to him and sat down on a chair by the bed. She took off her coat and hat. He didn't look that good. She reached into a bowl that was sitting on the night stand next to the bed and grabbed the rag that was in there and started whipping his face. Liz was a very good gun slinger. She had met Cort when he first became a priest. He tried to talk her out of being a gun fighter but he couldn't it was in her blood. She had three other girls that rode with her. Nisey, who was very good at handling a gun, and handling a situation that arise. She was the one who was always calm in a situation. She was also very trust worthy. Liz trusted her with her life.

Then there was Peaches. Peaches had been a loner most of her life. She had lost her mother at an early age and when she was about 12, she lost her father. She didn't have any relatives left. She spent a few years in an orphanage, but then left when she was about 14. She quickly learned how to handle a gun and anything else she needed to survive. When she met up with Liz and Nisey, she was wounded. She had been in a gun fight. And they saved her life. The three formed a quick bond together. On their way to go meet Cort, they had met up with Loria. She was running from a group of men who were out to lynch her. She had shot a man down in self defense and now his family was after her. Liz decided to go ahead of them, and let the three handle the group of men.

When Cort finally woke up he noticed Liz sitting there. She had fallen asleep in the chair. He was feeling a little better but not much. Some of his strength was back, but not much. "Liz." Cort said trying not to startle her. Liz slowly woke up. "Cort, how are you feeling?" She asked as she reached over and grabbed his hand. "Better, what are you doing here?" He asked looking at her with a puzzled expression. "You asked me to come, don't you remember, you said that there was something you needed to ask me." She said not believing he didn't remember.

Cort tried to sit up but was having a hard time. Liz reached over and helped him out. "Oh yeah, guess I forgot." Cort said smiling at her. Liz wondered what was so important that he had to have her there right away. She knew it couldn't be the situation now, this was a couple of weeks ago that she received a telegraph. She made it a habit of letting Cort know where she was, just in case something happened. "Actually I was wondering if you and your friends would do me a favor?" Cort said grinning at her. Liz looked at him and wondered what that cute man was thinking. "What's the favor?" Liz asked not knowing if she wanted to know the answer to it.

"Well this town ain't got much protection, besides me. We do have a couple of men who can be brave at times, but their not gun fighters." Cort paused as he watched her facial expressions. "The favor is, would you and your friends be willing to help me out." Cort finished looking at Liz who looked like she was about to laugh herself right out of her chair. "Are you serious, you mean make us Deputies!" She said as she started laughing. She looked at him, his facial expression turned into a serious one. "I'm serious, just until I get the town in order." Cort said watching her. "I don't know, Cort, Me yeah I wouldn't mind sticking around, But I can't say anything for Nisey and Peaches. And Peaches well she doesn't exactly like the law." Liz said grinning at Cort. Who smiled at that last part.


While Liz was upstairs talking to Cort, Michelle and Marianne continued with their plan. They weren't sure if Adams and his men would strike tonight, but they wanted to be prepared.

"So what's the full plan?" Michelle asked as she watched Marianne light the last fire. "Not sure yet, all I know is we need to keep these guys away." Marianne answered as she looked down the street. The fires had created some light, but it might not be enough. "You have any more of that dynamite left?" Michelle asked grinning at her friend. Marianne nodded then smiled. "What do you have in mind?" She asked as they headed toward Marianne's horse. "Oh I just thought we might rig a special surprise up for our guests." Michelle said as she started laughing.

Cort had fallen asleep, so Liz thought she'd go done stairs and see what was going on. She wanted to help her friend out. When she got there Ben was sitting at a table by himself drinking whiskey. Liz walked over to him and sat down in a chair. "Why don't you and your friend ride out to where this Adams feller is and keep an eye on him, if he starts heading our way or is on the way, ride back as fast as you can and let us know." Liz said as she grabbed the bottle of whiskey and took a drink. "I ain't leavin Cort." Ben said as he glared at her. "If you want to help, that's how you can, other wise I don't want the two of you in the way." Liz said as she stood up and walked out of the Saloon.

Liz decided that she would take watch on one of the top of the buildings, if anything was going to happen she wanted to see them coming. She didn't think that they would strike at night. Adams was a smart man and she knew that he knew it would be just as risky for him as it was for them. Liz was on top of the Hotel roof. It was the tallest building there. She set herself up and laid there looking out at the horizon.

Dawn was approaching and the night sky was fading into the mornings light. Ben and Jose had did what Liz suggested. Then left a few minutes after she was on the Hotel roof. She looked at every direction, she didn't want Adams and his men sneaking up on them. Michelle and Marianne had disappeared. Liz didn't know what they were up too, but she hoped that they didn't abandon Cort and this town. When she looked out toward the West, she saw dust being kicked up. When it got closer she noticed that it was Ben and Jose. And they were riding fast. Liz gathered her stuff and got down off the roof. She wanted to protect Cort as good as she could, and she decided the best place to do that was near the Saloon.

"There coming!" Ben shouted as he approached Liz. "How many?" Liz asked as she got her rifle ready. "I don't know, maybe 40 or so, I don't know where he got all those men, thought we got rid of most of them yesterday." Ben said as he climbed down off his horse. "Aw 40 ain't bad." Marianne said as she walked up to them. "Where have you been?" Liz asked looking at the two. "Oh we just set up a little surprise for our guests." Michelle said as she started laughing again. "Well, I hope its a good one." Liz said as she looked at them trying to figure out what it was they did.

"All right we're gonna need some leverage on them, let's turn over some wagons." Liz said as she walked towards one. The other's split up and tipped over a couple of wagons. The one Liz, Ben and Jose tipped was right in front of the Saloon. Michelle and Marianne recruited some of the men from the town to help them. If they weren't gonna fight to protect their town, then they needed to do something, Michelle thought. Liz took cover behind the one that was in front of the Saloon. Michelle took the one across from Liz. Marianne took cover behind one a little more down the street. Ben and Jose took the other side of town. They wanted each side to be covered in case Adams and his men came from both directions.

"Rider comin!" Ben yelled at Marianne. Marianne looked at Michelle. "Got him covered!" Michelle yelled watching the rider approach. "That would be her." The rider said as she approached then got down off her horse. "See there's gonna be a fight, need help." She said as she walked up to Michelle. "Sure, we can use all the help we can get." Michelle said as she stuck her hand out. "Name's Michelle." She said as she shook the rider's hand. "Name's Teresa." The rider said as she went behind the wagon.


Hiding behind their wagons, they watched as Adams and his men started riding into town. They came from both directions. The girls got ready as the watched them come into town.

"All right this is it!" Michelle yelled as she perched her gun on the wagon and aimed at them. Just then you heard a loud bang. It startled everyone, except for Michelle and Marianne who looked at each other and grinned. Liz looked at the two and smiled. The explosion happened to the right of her, on the other side of town. She saw some of the men get thrown from their horses and other's were trying to keep their horses from throwing them.

Adams ordered his men to get down and spread out. The girls new this was the last show down. One way or another this would end. The fight had begun, Adams and his men fired upon them. Not letting down. The explosion had taken out some of Adams men but not many. Liz figured they had at least 30 or so men to deal with. One came up behind her but she didn't notice, she heard a shot then turned around. Cort was standing there and the guy was on the ground. "Thanks, you shouldn't be out of bed!" She yelled as she turned back around firing some more at Adams' men. "If I didn't get out, you'd be dead!" He said as he came to her side and started shooting at the men. He was still weak but this was his town and his responsibility.

"Damn, there's too many of them!" Teresa yelled as she continued to shoot. The fight seemed to be going in Adams favor. Adams men were over powering them. The more they killed the more they seemed to pop up.Liz didn't know how much longer they would be able to hold them off. Adams had them surrounded. "Might as well give up!" Adams yelled as he saw his men getting closer to defeating them. "There's no way in hell I'll give up to you!" Cort yelled as he shot at Adams who ducked behind the side of a building. Cort looked at all the girls and at Ben and Jose. Ben had gotten shot, but was all right. Jose was trying to keep Ben from getting hurt anymore.

Out of now where an explosion came. Michelle and Marianne looked at each other, they didn't do that. They heard more gun fire but it wasn't coming from them or Adams men, it was actually Adams men that were falling to the ground. "Thought you all might need a hand!" Loria said as she came up behind Cort and Liz. They turned to her and smiled. "Glad you could make it, where's Nisey and Peaches?" Liz asked as she watched Loria get into place. "Nisey is playing with some dynamite, I don't know where Peaches went." Loria said as she looked at Liz.

Explosions were going off left and right. Killing, wounding and scaring the hell out of Adams men. Some took off. Adams looked around to see if he could spot the person throwing the dynamite, but he didn't see anyone. After all the explosions and gun fire stopped there weren't many of Adams men left standing. The men looked at Adams, wanting to know whether they should leave or continue fighting. "There's more of them out there find them!" Adams ordered to a couple of his men. They took off in search of Nisey.

Nisey was on top of the Saloon. She thought that would be the best place to unleash the dynamite. And she was right. Adams men went around trying to find, Nisey and whom ever else there was. What they didn't know was that they themselves were being stalked. Peaches decided it was better to pick them off one by one. She followed one of them into the back of the Hotel. She hid behind the back door of the Hotel, then made a little noise to get the guys attention. When he walk she killed him. She continued to do this till they were all gone. She made her way back to the action. When she arrived there wasn't many left, she figured 8 left, 9 including Adams.

"Looks like your the one who needs to give up, mister." Nisey said as she walked over by Marianne. Adams looked at them, then at his men. Adams and his men gave themselves up. The girls all came out from behind the wagons, met up by Peaches. "Glad you joined the party." Liz said as they walked toward Adams and his men. "You know me, I never turn away from a good party." Peaches said as she walked next to Liz. With Cort leading the way they walked in a line that was spread out from one end of the street to the other side. When they started getting close to Adams, he brought out a gun from behind his back and was about to fire, but before he could, Cort and the seven women drew first and fast. All shooting Adams dead.


A week past after the fight with Adams. Cort was feeling a lot better. Of course he stayed in bed for quite some time, Liz not letting him get up.

The seven women were in the Saloon drinking. Liz, Michelle, Marianne and Nisey sat at a table drinking whiskey and telling stories. Loria and Teresa were at another table playing cards a swapping stories. Peaches was at the bar drinking whiskey by herself. "Yeah I bet you did!" Nisey said as she burst out laughing at one of Liz's stories. "I did!" Liz said as she too was laughing. Cort walked in and stood and watched the women talking and laughing, all except Peaches. Cort decided he would talk to her first. He walked over to her. "Liz tell ya about what we talked about?" Cort asked as he poured himself a shot of whiskey.

Peaches looked up at him then back down to her glass. "Yeah she did." Peaches said as she took another shot of whiskey. "So what do you think, think you'd be interested?" Cort asked her as he watched her. "I ain't no lawman." She said as she walked away. Cort watched her walk away, wondering what it was about lawmen she hated so much. "I'll talk to her, don't worry about it." Liz said as she walked up to him. Cort smiled. "I don't want her doing something she don't want to." Cort said as he took another shot of whiskey.

"So we hear your lookin for some Deputies?" Michelle said as her and the rest of the girls walked up. Cort smiled at them. "This really ain't a payin job, but if you want it, its yours." Cort said as he put his hand out. Michelle took it and shacked his hand. "Well looks like were the new law around here!" Marianne said as she put her arm around Michelle's shoulders.

Liz had left, she wanted to find Peaches and talk to her. When she finally found her, she was in the stables saddling her horse up. "You leavin?" Liz asked as she walked up to her friend. "Yep." Peaches said as she finished. "I really wish you'd stick around, we're gonna need you." Liz said as she watched Peaches lead her horse out of the stables. "I know how you feel about the law, but I could really use your help, you can handle yourself, this town needs all the good gun fighters it can get." Liz said as she walked up to her. "You have 5 other gun fighters here that handle themselves very good." Peaches said as she got up on her horse, nodded to her friend then rode off.

When they all were back in the Saloon, Cort held up a shot glass and said. "To my new Deputies!" Everyone cheered. Liz and Cort then walked over to a table and sat down. "So I guess that means you couldn't change her mind." Cort said as he took a drink of his whiskey. Liz looked at him and sighed. "Nope, she's gonna do what she wants no one can change her mind." Liz said as she looked out at the others.

When night fell Cort decided to walk the town. "I ain't being your Deputy because you want me to, I'm doing it for Liz, she and Nisey save my life, I owe her, not you." Peaches said as she walked out from the shadows. Cort was startled and jumped. "Do you always go around scaring people like that?" Cort asked as he looked at her. "Nope only you, its fun." Peaches said as she walked off and headed for the Saloon. When she walked in she saw Liz, who had a big smile on her face. When the other's saw her, they smiled and continued to do what they were doing. "Glad you changed your mind!" Nisey said as she walked up to Peaches and put her arm around her shoulders. Peaches turned and glared at her. "I'm only here cause I owe the two of you my life, otherwise I wouldn't be here." Peaches said as she took a shot of whiskey. "Oh you know you love us, and you just can't get enough of us!" Nisey said as she walked away, looking back at her and smiling. Peaches rolled her eyes then grabbed the bottle of whiskey and walked out of the Saloon. Oh, I now I'm gonna regret this, Peaches thought to herself.


THE END