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Rating: C for Countdown to Beach Trip Blues
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em, but write about ‘em.
Warnings: Okay, everybody can blame Kim for this. She made the
mistake of saying NEXT! in
one of our emails. I want to apologize beforehand to any that I may
use and if you object please
email me and I will publically grovel for you forgiveness. ;-D
Who ever said sequels weren’t fun????????
feedback appreciated-eagleimaggs_7@yahoo.com
*******************************************************
The night was clear in the small town. The moon was glowing and the
people were in a jovial
type mood. It seemed chaos and tragedy had taken a vacation from the
protectors and they were
enjoying the new release on life.
Well, as they say, nothing is ever as it seems.
The alleyway was dark due to the shadowing of the boardinghouse. The
only patron in that
general area was the town’s healer, Nathan Jackson. He had went up
to his make shift clinic to
double check his supplies, just in case something happened to go wrong.
Even though there was a blackness, that didn’t mean there was nothing
in it. Unfortunately, a
black dressed figure was waiting patiently near the entrance, poised
with gun in hand and
anxious to see the approaching form of the doctor.
“Come on already. How long does it take to see if you have enough white
strips of cloth to poke
in a bullet hole.” The person growled at no one in particular, but
still kept their vigil.
“Margarett, what are you doing?” The black clad woman jumped at the
voice coming from
behind her.
“Cassidy, don’t you know its not safe to sneak up on people?” Maggie
turned to see her best
friend glaring at her.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Cassie put her hands on her hips and
gave her friend a
penetrating stare.
“I’m waiting for someone.” Maggs quickly swung back around to the entrance.
“Who?” The blonde was getting frustrated.
“Oh, alright. I’m waiting for Nathan. Happy now.” The dark haired girl
through a glare over her
shoulder.
“Why are waiting for Nathan in the alley? Why don’t you just go up and see him.”
“Well, I don’t want him to know its me.”
Cassie quirked an eyebrow at her ever strange writing partner. “Your making no sense.”
Maggie sighed and swiveled back to her friend. “If you must know, Nathan
was complaining to
Josiah the other day and Kim over heard them. She said that he thinks
we don’t like him,
because we never torture him or do any of the angst stuff to him. So,
I thought I would show him
just how much I care.” The woman let a small smile cross her lips.
The blonde knew that look and got a sinking feeling in her stomach.
“And how are you gonna do
that?” Cassie held her breath waiting for the answer she knew she wouldn’t
like.
“I’m gonna show him I love him to ‘death’.” Maggie raised the pearl-handled
six shooter for
Cassie to see.
“Your gonna kill him!” The woman almost choked on her words.
“Well, yeah. I mean I haven’t had any evil plots to write about lately,
because we’ve been
packing and getting ready for the beach. So, I thought I could relieve
some of Nathan’s worries
and do something mean at the same time.” Maggie grinned at her devious
scheme.
Cass stared at her friend in utter disbelief. “Its only one more day,
Maggs. And you can’t kill
Nathan, who’s gonna take care of the guys in our stories. You know
you left Vin and J.D. out in
a rainstorm and there’s no telling where that can lead. Not to mention,
I just got through shooting
Ezra and beating up on Vin. And then theres Carolyn, Nancy, Penny......”
“Okay, okay. I get the picture, already. But I’m sorry, it just ain’t
happenin’. I may think of a
miraculous way to bring him back later, but as of now, he’s a deadman.”
Maniacal Maggie’s
eyes shown with glee in the bright moonlight.
“Your sounding like Magdeline. Whats gotten in to you?” Cassie started
walking backwards
from Maggie.
“I’m just having a little fun here. If you can’t handle it, go back
to your sappy ways and let me
alone.” Maggs shook her head and returned to her post.
Cass stood in silence wondering what she could do to prevent what was
about to transpire. *I
need help.* Suddenly, an idea hit her, so she quickly turned and left
the alley hoping she would
be in time.
*******************************************************
She ran as fast as she could, praying they would be where she could
find them. She reached her
computer and quickly signed-on. *Come on guys, please be on-line.*
She typed in the addresses
and sat back waiting for the replys. Finally, one, two, three, and
then four. *Alright.* She quickly
sent a message to rendevous at the saloon for an emergency meeting.
Her response was met with
post haste and so off she went to the tavern.
Cassie entered the darkened room and waited with bated breath for the
lanterns to be lit. As if on
cue, they began flickering, illuminating the interior and its expected
guests.
“Man, am I glad you guys are here. We’ve got a crisis.” Cassidy rushed
to the table were the four
sat waiting.
Carolyn saw the palor and knew it must serious for Cassie to be scared,
she worked with Maggie
afterall. “What’s wrong, Cass?”
The woman looked around the table giving each woman a long gaze. “Its
Maggs. She’s really
done it now. I’m afraid the evil has finally took over. She’s at this
moment, hiding in the alley
outside the boardinghouse with a gun. She’s planning to kill Nathan.”
Unexpected gasps erupted from the four.
“Your kidding, not Maggie. She likes Nathan. Who else is going to fix
Vin when she hurts him?”
Judy gave the blonde a quizzical look, knowing Maggs would never leave
the Vinster in peril
without having Nathan around.
“I know, Judy. It caught me off guard too. But, its the stress from
the show not being aired, and
then the wait for our beach trip. She’s not thinking straight. Thats
why I need your help. You’ve
gotta help me figure out a way to stop her.” Cassie gave each a pleading
look.
“She just can’t kill Nathan, now. I’ve got Buck with an open chest wound.”
Carolyn threw up
her hands in exasperation.
“Well, we could go get Vin and have him LEAN against a post. That may
distract her long
enough so we can get the gun away from her.” Penny spoke up with a
sigh. Not being able to
believe they were plotting against one of their own.
“That would never work. Remember, she’s immune to the LEAN.” Kim shook
her head at the
thought. Why Maggie? She seemed so stable.
“Kim’s right. But we can try the Vin slow grin, that might work.” Judy
bounced a little at her
sudden idea.
“No, she’s past the smile too.” Cassie gave a sad sigh. “We need something
she wouldn’t
expect.”
The five women sat in silent thought. Then, it hit her. Cassie had a plan.
“We need Chris.” The blonde blanched at the blank stares.
“Yeah, like he’s gonna help.” Judy sat back in her chair with a snort.
“You guys blew him up
and Carolyn’s got his two best friends’ being held by a madman.”
“I know. But its the only chance we have. Trust me, if we explain whats
going on, he’ll help.”
Cassie tried to smile reassuringly at the others, but failed.
“I hope your right. Or otherwise its gonna ruin all our stories now
and in the future.” Penny
started to rise and follow the others out the batwing doors. The church
was needing repairs and
they knew Josiah would enlist the help of anyone and everyone, so that
was their immediate
destination.
*******************************************************
“Hey, Chris. Do you think we’re really safe for a while?” J.D. stopped
his hammering and gave
his hero a quizzical look.
Larabee glanced up from the board he’d been repairing in the floor.
“Yeah, J.D. A vacation for
them, means a vacation for us. So, stop worrying and enjoy it while
it lasts.”
The youth nodded and resumed his task of hanging a picture, but halted
once more as the church
doors banged open.
The six men inside reached for their sidearms, but instead raised their
hands in surrender. “I
thought we’d at least get sanctuary in a church from you.” Vin threw
down his sandpaper and sat
heavily on the front pew.
The five women gave them sheepish grins. “Sorry to interrupt, but its
not like that. We actually
came for help.”
Buck jumped up and walked to the ladies. “Well, in that case, I’m at your service.”
Cassie stared dreamily at the gunslinger, but shook herself as the reasoning
for their venture
came to mind. “As much as that would appeal to me, Buck, its Chris’s
help we need.”
Wilmington looked crest-fallen, but didn’t let that stop him. “Okay,
but you remember ole Buck
if you need anything in the future.”
The blonde nodded afraid her voice would betray her.
The silence began to hang around the group until Chris asked the fatal
question. “What do you
need me for? Got another cabin you need to blow up and need a guinea
pig inside.” Larabee
glared at the gathered females.
“No, Cassie has another problem.” Carolyn stepped forward to block the
black-clad man’s
onslaught to Cass.
“Oh, in that case, I’ll think about it.” Chris resumed his place on the floor.
“But you don’t understand, its a matter of life or death. Tell him,
Cassie.” Kim shoved the
blonde toward the gunslinger.
The men waited.
“She’s right. If you don’t help me, Nathan could die.” Cassidy watched
the shock pass over
the sixs’ face.
“Whats wrong with Nathan?” Josiah came from behind the pedestal and
slowly approached the
women.
“Yes, what catastrophy is about to inflict our Mr. Jackson?” Ezra’s
color was coming back to his
face and he too started toward the girls.
“Well, you all know my best friend and writing partner, Maggie.” Cass
paused as they nodded.
“I’m afraid she’s gotten a little too evil. Kim told her about Josiah’s
and Nathan’s conversation
concerning how we never do anything to him. I guess she kinda took
that as a challenge.”
“But why kill him? Couldn’t she just give him a cold or something?”
J.D. stepped up beside
Penny.
“That would make sense to me, J.D., but I’m not writing this or I’d
have you more involved.”
Pen batted her eyes at the youngster, but before he could react Vin
forged ahead.
“Maybe, I can help.” The tracker reached for his coat but thought better of it.
“We thought about that, Vin. But I’m afraid she’s just to far gone for
you to have an effect.”
Judy smiled at the bounty hunter.
“Then what do you want me for?” Larabee questioned the five with a cold look.
“She wouldn’t be expecting you. I mean she would have thought about
us trying Vin, but never
you.”
The gunslinger glanced at his fellow protectors gauging their take on
the situation. As he saw the
doubt and the fear, he knew he had to at least try, for Nathan’s sake.
“So, what do I have to do?”
The five women yelped in glee, they may have saved Nathan yet.
*******************************************************
“If I didn’t know better, I would think he’s taking this long on purpose.” Maggie glared at the clinic above her and its occupant inside. She knew Cassie would be up to something and even though she was sappy, she did know her best friend.
As the dark haired woman started thinking of the many ways the blonde
could mess up her plan,
she heard it. The click of the door being shut. *Its about time.*
But Maggs’ happiness was short lived. The clink of spurs on the boardwalk
caught her attention,
and she immediately regretted it. For walking toward her in his black
duster and no hat, with
dusty-blonde locks falling over his eyes, was Chris Larabee.
“Damn her.” Maggie felt herself giving in. “No, I can be strong. Just
don’t look at the hair.” But
it was too late. The tresses were blowing in the night wind and enhancing
the man’s handsome
features more than ever. “I’m doomed.”
“Exactly, so give it up.” Cassie stepped out of the shadows and grabbed the pistol.
“That was low Cass. I was only trying to make Nathan feel better.” Maggie
tried to plead with
her friends’.
“You were going a little too far, Maggs.” Penny scolded her maniacal friend.
“I know, but I couldn’t help it.”
“Not good enough. Your gonna have to control those evil urges better.”
Judy swagged her finger
in disgust.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” The dark-haired woman sighed in surrender.
“Don’t worry about it, Maggie. I’m sure you’ll find a way to pay us back.” Chris sidled up to the entrance with the others behind him.
“And even though you had good intentions, I’d rather just stick to patchin’
these boys up.”
Nathan walked up and smiled at her.
“I didn’t want you to feel left out.”
“I promise I’ll be happy from now on just to worry about them.” Jackson
swept his hands in an
arch to take in the smiling men around him.
“Feel better now, Maggs?” Kim asked, giving the woman a reassuring smile.
“Yeah. I think I’ve got the evilness out of my system for now.” Maggie
grinned at her friends
and then the seven. “By the way, how far into Mexico have you guys
been?”
The men looked at each other suspiciously. “Only to Purgatorio, why?”
Vin LEANed against the
alley wall.
“No reason.” The maniacal grin spread across the evil one’s face briefly
and then vanished. “Just
thinking.”
*******************************************************
The End?????
PS: To all you loyal readers, I want to thank you for your patience
in my bouts of insanity. ;-D
CU,
Maggs
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