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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 7, 2023 11:39:03 GMT -8
Morgan would untie Aim and get into the saddle, he had a small little house with a four stall barn near the ranch. He had to make sure that Aim was safe he couldn't loose the black gelding not for any price. He put Aim in a stall with fresh hay and all the things he might need, he then grabbed a spare horse that Bud had given him just for the job. He could right away tell this horse was one of the horses they had stolen he sighed nervously as he tacked the horse up and climbed into the saddle. This horse looked a lot like Aim but had a wide blaze on it's face. He made his way carefully towards the ranch. " I promise you fella you will be back home soon" Morgan said to the horse feeling sorry that he had stolen this very horse he was now riding. He would ground tie the horse and walked to a spot where Bud had told him alone to meet him. A shiver went down his spine as Bud came into view riding a tall chestnut horse " you better be ready Morgan cause if you get caught I ain't planning on being here to bail you out" Bud said. Morgan sighed "What about the lady surely you would care for a pretty thing like her" Morgan said back. Bud looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "I don't care for anyone of you, do your job that's all I ask now go meet the lady" Bud said. Morgan walked back towards the horse and waited for the mysterious lady to get to the ranch. He wasn't pleased to be doing one more job for a guy who used to have his back but it was too late now to back out and foil Bud's plan.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 7, 2023 13:42:25 GMT -8
Avalynn mounted Grace as she headed to the area that she was supposed to meet Bud and Morgan. Once there, Avalynn dismounted Grace as she took off her black duster, cowboy hat, holsters, spurs, and her gloves and laid them on the ground. "Alright, I will distract the ranch hand that is in the barn. Once you see that he is distracted, you can make your move," Avalynn announced as she revealed a white off the shoulder peasant top with a corset wrapped around the bottom of the top. She then mounted Grace again as she undid her braids so that her hair rand down her back in a wave. Totting down to the barn, Avalynn found the ranch hand grooming a grey mare.
"Excuse me...I think I need some help," Avalynn announced in a sweet Texas accent.
The ranch hand looked only a few years older than Avalynn and handsome had blue eyes that could make any girl faint. She almost wanted to when she saw him but kept her cool as she looked at him.
"What can I help you with, ma'am?" the ranch hand asked as he placed the brush he was holding in a bucket.
"My horse is limping a little and I thought I felt some heat in her right pastern...But I am not sure. Grace is a special horse to me, and I know I could not be happy if I did anything wrong to her," Avalynn sniffed as she ran her hand down Grace's neck.
"Sure thing. She is a pretty filly I might add," the ranch hand announced as he walked over to grace. He ran a hand down her leg until he came to her pastern. He stopped for a moment and felt with his hand as he checked for heat. "I am not feeling any heat...but I can check to see if there might be a rock underneath the horseshoe that is causing some discomfort for ya."
"Thank you. Like i said, Grace means everything to me. My daddy gave me her two years ago before he passed away. And she just means so much to me since my daddy and I were so close," Avalynn answered as she watched the ranch hand grab a hoof pick and then pick up Grace's leg. He began to pick out the hoof. Once he was done, he grabbed Grace's reins and lead her around the barn a little and noticed that her horse was "no longer limping" anymore. She clapped her hands together as she smiled. "Oh, thank you, sir! I can tell she is walking much better!" She then wrapped her arms around the ranch hand as she hugged him. She then leaned back a little as she looked deeply into his eyes and then suddenly kissed him. That was the distraction that she had in mind for Bud and Morgan to get to the barn and take the horse.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 7, 2023 13:51:00 GMT -8
Fernella would look up to see a man enter the stable she stayed quiet not wanting to alert the man that someone was in the stable. She watched Bandit put his head over the stall, she then saw the man pet Bandit and give him a treat. Her green eyes fell upon the man god he was handsome she had to stop herself from running into him on purpose. One of the horses reached over and tried to bite him but it was as if he had been around horses a lot and knew to avoid that certain horse.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 7, 2023 14:10:58 GMT -8
Morgan would enter the stable a bay tobiano horse reached his head out from the stall he pet the horse and gave him a treat "Bandit huh well i'm sure your a great horse but i'm not here for you" Morgan whispered to the bay tobiano. Before walking further along a horse reached it's head over the stall and tried to bite him luckly he saw it coming and avoided getting bit. He finally reached the right horse's stall he stopped admiring her coat "I'm sorry beautiful but it's time we leave" he said to the mare. He quickly put a halter and lead on the mare and quietly opened her stall door, he lead the mare out without alerting any of the ranch hands and carefully made his way over to Bud. "It's done I got what you asked for..now take her" Morgan said to Bud. He looked at Morgan "Nice work you and the lady can leave I will take it from here" Bud said as he walked the mare over towards his horse. Morgan walked over to the lady and whispered in her ear "Bud said the job is done we can leave now" he adjusted his cowboy hat as he looked towards the ranch stables. He was certain he hadn't been alone in there but he wasn't going to say that out loud. He then walked over to the horse Bud gave him he checked the hooves and legs of the horse. He could just make out a faded brand on the horse's left hindquarter. He wanted to do the right thing but that would mean he would be in jail for multiple thefts so what couldn't be worse then being branded a horse theif for life he thought as he climbed into the saddle and galloped towards the small farm he had.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 7, 2023 14:42:02 GMT -8
Avalynn pulled away from the ranch hand as she faked a blush. "I-I am sorry. I have to go. My daddy is waiting for me back at home..." With that, Avalynn mounted Grace and urged her into a gallop as she headed for the direction of the meeting spot. She slid to a stop at the meeting spot and dismounted as Morgan appeared with the horse. She dismounted and listened to Morgan as he whispered to her that they were free to go. She then waited for Bud to be out of earshot and leaned towards Morgan. "It's not over just yet..." She grabbed her duster, hat and other items and placed them back on. "The Marshall will be looking for him in a matter of minutes. I gave him the info on the theft and cleared your name. Now, you must fulfil your end of the bargain. That leader of the outlaw gang that you got messed up with, his name wouldn't happen to be a man named James Williams?"
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 8, 2023 6:42:43 GMT -8
Fernella would leave the stall she then went to groom Bandit and tack him up as she climbed into the saddle Bandit looked at her then back in front of him. "Were going for a ride boy" Fernella said as he urged him into a slow gallop. She wouldn't say this out loud but Bandit's great grand sire had been one of the fastest horses on the ranch. She wasn't planning on keeping Bandit but when he was in a pen full of colts ready to be sold he had looked at her and only her. "That colt made your choice for you my little fern he is yours" said Fernella's father. That was the day when she had found her horse. She knew Bandit would eventually get old but for now she was going to take care of him till he retired. She would guide Bandit towards the town she saw Sam the blacksmith of the town. He was busy shoeing a tall bay carriage horse. She let Bandit slow to a walk as they made there way to the general store. She needed new supplies for the ranch, she dismounted and tied Bandit to a nearby hitching post before entering the store.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 8, 2023 7:00:00 GMT -8
Morgan shook his head "I'm sorry but it wasn't James williams ma'am I never crossed pathes with them on my travels" Morgan said he then told her about a small rival gang and described the leader the best he could. "He was taller then me had green eyes and odd blonde hair wore a dark brown cowboy hat he wore black cowboy boots that's all I can remeber I never caught his name either" he said to the lady. He wanted to know her name but somethings were better left unsaid. "Can you help me make out the brand on this horse I can barely make it out" Morgan said moving towards the horse Bud had given him. He wanted to do the right thing and return this horse to the rightful owner, he was tired of trying to outrun his past and was now trying to make things right even if that meant he could face jail time. He knew a freind of his would take care of Aim if anything happened to him he had helped Aim when he got bitten by a rattlesnake so he trusted this freind with his very life.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 8, 2023 9:55:42 GMT -8
Anger ran through her body for a moment as she realized she had kissed a man she did not know for any reason, helped to steal a horse for no reason...Sighing, she let go of that anger as she heard Morgan ask her about the horse brand that was on this horse. She then nodded as she walked over to the horse. "Easy, boy. I am right here."
It was hard to make out, but Avalynn could see the faint outline of the brand. She ran her hand over it for a moment. There was no doubt that she knew exactly who's brand this horse had on it's hindquarters. Her eyes widened as she took a step back. It was the brand of her father's ranch. It was a Twin Rivers Ranch horse. There was a M on it with two squiggles running through the M to represent the two rivers that ran on her father's ranch. Memories ran through her. Days spending with her father on the ranch. Watching the foals run in the pastures. The day that she was betrothed to Vincent, the wealthy business man from back east. The fake kidnapping that she had planned with the Williams Brothers, the fake death..." So much flooded through her. She took a step back as she felt breathless. But that was all the way back in Texas. It could be that this horse was bought from there and transported here and then stolen. But she would need to have to look at the records that she did not have access to. After a moment, Avalynn looked at Morgan. "It's my father's brand."
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 8, 2023 11:28:43 GMT -8
Fernella greeted the store keeper and paid for her things she put them in Bandit's saddle bags and untied Bandit. She was just about to get into the saddle when a scared chestnut horse flew out of no where and knocked Fernella to the ground. She quickly got to her feet and checked on Bandit making sure he was alright before seeing if she could calm the chestnut. The chestnut horse stopped it was then that she saw it's injuried rider it was clear they had been shot. How they exactly rode here was a mystery she made sure the chestnut horse was secure before she checked on the rider. "Can you hear me nod once for yes" Fernella said. The rider nodded there head it was then that she saw that the rider was a teen girl possibly a runaway no doubt. "My name is Rina" said the rider she looked at the girl "Rina stay still okay I need to examine your wound" Fernella said, as she bent down to examine the gunshot wound. "Who shot you I can help you" Fernella said she was concerned for the girl's safety " one of the outlaws shot me I think it was one of the Williams brother" Rina said. There was a silence in the air before Fernella spoke again. " I will take you to my ranch you will be safe there" Fernella said as she helped Rina get into the saddle and swung onto Bandit. She would stay by Rina's side as they made there way to her family ranch.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 8, 2023 11:57:20 GMT -8
Morgan looked at the lady " Twin Rivers Ranch huh I know the place" Morgan said as he looked closer at the brand he had seen a somewhat similar brand on Aim but the brand was diffrent it had a M with a arrow underneath it. He never really knew where Aim come from only that the colt had chosen him as his rider and caretaker. He looked to see Aim trotting towards him, he was puzzled wasn't his stall locked. He suddenly became hyper aware "Someone else is here" he then heard the sound of footsteps multiple footsteps. He looked up to see James Williams and the rest of his outlaw gang followed by Bud who had somehow evaded capture "Sorry to do this to a dear freind but you crossed me Morgan" Bud said. He then saw one of the outlaws take Aim away from him then he saw James walk towards the lady he wanted to protect her but he was no match for the mass amount of outlaws even with a gun and his fighting skills. He could only watch Aim vanish it felt like every piece of him was being ripped apart he then saw the stable and the house being set alight .
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 8, 2023 12:52:33 GMT -8
"James..." Avalynn announced as she reached for both her guns. She did not draw them just yet as she was not sure what would happen next.
"Well, well, well. If it is not Avalynn Marshall. We thought you had died on that train during your last robbery," James announced as he walked up to Avalynn. He then smiled at her as he reached for the knife at his side. Before Avalynn knew it, James pushed the knife into Avalynn's stomach. He then whispered into her ear. "I was surprised to see you. Now I will be surprised if you even survive this." With his other hand, he reached for his gun and pulled the trigger before Avalynn knew it.
When the knife had entered her stomach, a sudden pain emerged that felt like a hot knife being run over her. She could not speak as she was surprised by the sudden attack. Her eyes widened in despair as she was not aware of the pain after the sudden burn. She then heard the sound of the gunshot and felt another pain for only a second as the bullet entered her chest. Luckily it had missed her heart. But James did not know that. Once the knife was pulled out, Avalynn fell to the ground. Blood stained her shirt. It was warm and she could feel her life being drained as she laid there. Her skin began to pale in her face as laid there. James turned to look at Morgan as he raised his weapon to shoot the other man.
"James...you think you can get away with this...You are wrong you son of a..." The last of her words were drowned out as Avalynn pulled the trigger six times on both her guns, putting a bullet into each one of the men that were standing there. Only half the gang was present so, once the gang found out what had happened, they would be after Avalynn if she survived. Once each man had fallen, Avalynn dropped her weapons as everything suddenly went black.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 9, 2023 6:44:46 GMT -8
Fernella and a ranch hand would help repair the gunshot wound on Rina. She took pity on the girl "does your horse have a name Rina" Fernella asked trying to distract the girl from the pain "yes it's name is Creek I got him from a ranch in Texas" Rina said to Fernella. She then looked at the ranch hand "why don't you take care of her horse I will look after her" Fernella said as she went to make a meal for Rina. She looked out the window to see a black quarter horse being lead by a man down the road towards the town. She thought nothing of it as the horse wasn't one of hers the brand was unique it had a M with a arrow underneath it, there was only one ranch with that brand on it Arrow river ranch. She stopped looking at the horse and went back to making the food. She then saw a orange glow and smoke a few feet away from her ranch. "Rina stay here your food is on a table go ahead and eat I will be back" Fernella said as she ran to the stables and quickly tacked up Bandit, she got into the saddle and galloped towards the orange glow. She then halted seeing that a house and a small stable were on fire her first instict was to help put out the fire but then she saw two people one she reconized the other one a woman she didn't know at all she could see the woman was badly hurt she grabbed some supplies she had from Bandit's saddle bags "Can you help me sir" Fernella said.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 9, 2023 7:00:42 GMT -8
Morgan would feel the shot hit him in the shoulder he ignored the pain and ran to the woman's aid when he heard a voice speak to him " what supplies you got we need to prevent her from bleeding out" Morgan asked as he quickly helped the lady carry some supplies. She seemed familler to him but he wasn't sure why in this exact moment. " I got all the things we need to save her life sir" the lady replied as they went to work trying there best to save the ladies life. He looked into the green eyes of the woman stranger " you seem really familler to me I'm Morgan in case you want to call me something other then sir" he said, well he tried to stop the blood flow from the knife wound. He was angry with the William's brothers and Bud they destroyed the one thing he had for a fresh start and took his horse probaly far away to be sold. He almost wanted to ask the lady if she had seen his horse but now was not the time after all a life was in there hands, it took them maybe twenty five minutes to wrap and dress the wounds. Morgan would stay by the ladies side he felt real bad that this had happened to her and he hadn't done anything to help her.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 9, 2023 12:32:48 GMT -8
It was lucky that when James had slithered away with his wounds that he did not take Grace. The paint mare stood in place as she watched her rider being attended to. But every few moments, she would give a whicker to see if that would wake Avalynn.
Avalynn could see a bright light as she opened her eyes. Turning around, she looked behind her to see her body laying on the ground, covered in blood as Morgan and an unfamiliar woman was trying to stop the bleeding. Turning to the light and away from her body and the others, she then looked towards the light that was in front of her. The urge to walk towards it was alluring. But doing so would mean that her physical body would die. Taking a moment, Avalynn took a few steps forward as she thought she could hear the sound of singing.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 9, 2023 12:58:23 GMT -8
Fernella would look at Morgan "My name's Fernella in case you want to call me something other then lady or ma'am" Fernella said. She looked at the lady she wasn't looking good. Her horse seemed worried for her which Fernella understood horses were very loyal to there riders. "It's okay girl were trying to help her" she said trying to reassure the ladies horse. She could see Morgan was trying very hard to help save her life, she wasn't going to let her die either. "Come one you can't leave us just yet" Fernella said trying to gauge if the lady was alert. She had lost a lot of blood but who knows how much more she could have lost if she didn't check out what was causing the smoke. She could see Morgan was getting tired " do you have a horse Morgan a black one?" Fernella asked him as they were still fighting to save this woman's life.
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