4 years. That was how long it had been since Millie fell into Cole’s life, and had begun teaching him how to be the gunslinger he always wanted to be. Now sixteen years old, Cole still lived on that same old farm, doing his same old chores, just with more added on with her lessons. But today was a day he would be getting a break from the ordinary slog. His mother Alice had asked him to go to the town over, Dip City, for a special feed they needed for the Bigalisks. Their normal shipment hadn’t arrived on the train, and they were told it was given to a saloon by mistake. So it was Cole’s job to head east and get it.
Of course, that didn’t stop Dill from volunteering to come along. The two boys agreed to meet at Nell’s Saloon, that being the reason that Cole was walking into that oh so familiar city, with the bustling carts and people going about their everyday lives. The gentle morning sunlight washed over every building, soft shadows on the cool brown earth. Cole couldn’t help but smile at the comforting sight, even as he walked down the wooden decks to the saloon. The saloon was quieter than usual, a scant few voices inside, and the creaking wooden fan up above.
Cole threw the doors open, pointing right at his and Dill’s usual spot. “I’m callin’ you out pussycat!” He announced, a playful smile crossing his face before he noticed someone else with Dill in the corner. A laugh escaped his lips, as the rabbit boy made his way over quickly to the usual corner booth. “Well shoot me down and call me a trophy, Carson! It’s been forever!” Cole greeted happily, getting ready to give the mutual friend of Dill and himself a hearty slap on the back, before stopping himself short and deciding to rather gently place a hand on his shoulder.
Carson stood next to the corner booth of the saloon next to Dill, and his features were much more… delicate. The boy had shoulder length golden blond hair that would almost shine in the light. Atop his head, fit through two holes in his hat were a pair of Coyote ears, flicking around every so often in response to the noises of the saloon. He wore a reddish-brown vest, a color similar to dried blood. Beneath his vest was a light brown shirt colored like dead grass, with the same shade to his pants. His boots were plain and brown, much more like a workman or a soldier than Cole or Dill’s own riding boots. Lastly, poking out from above the beltline of his pants was a long blond Coyote tail.
“That it has Cole, I’ve been spending some time down South with my pa.” Carson replied, his voice deep like a large bass guitar, in spite of him almost being the same age as the two boys he shared the booth with. He was only around 2 years older than the other two, putting him at a solid eighteen. “Been doing my best to train up to join up with him in the Cavalry myself.” He added, grinning as he gave a half hearted flex of his arms. Cole returned to the smile, looking towards Dill while he pointed at Carson.
“And just when did you plan on tellin’ me Carson was here’n tha first place?” Cole teasingly accused, the amber eyed boy raising his hands defensively. “He only got here this morning! What, you think I’m as Lucky with predictions as you are?” Dill joked back with a particularly wide grin on his face, his now rather sharp Canines easily highlighted with how he smiled.
Cole rolled his eyes at the return of that nickname, and turned back to Carson even as the blond boy laughed along with Dill. “How long do you plan on stayin’ anyhow? Me ‘N Dill were ‘bout ta get goin’ down to Dip, but we’d be back after a day ‘er two.” Cole asked with a flick of his ear, resting his elbows on the table behind him as he leaned against it. Carson chuckled and shook his head a bit.
“Ah, I’m not planning on stayin’ long fellas. I gotta get moving North myself, pa was called there a few days ago ‘n he took this stop so I could say howdy to you both.” Carson said with a chuckle, shaking his head. “But if ya’ll gots to get goin, don’t let me hold you up. I’ll have to be headin’ out here shortly myself to join my pa.” He added on, giving a small tip of his hat to the other boys who returned the favor themselves, turning and walking towards the door with a click of his heels.
Cole remained leaning against the table, turning his gaze back from the door to Dill. A sigh escaped his lips, putting his hat further down his face to block out the light. “Shame he had ta go so soon, woulda been nice to chew the fat a bit longer.” Cole said with a shrug afterwards, his ear flicking as he listened for Dill’s reply.
“Eh, I had a while to catch up with him. Apparently his dad made Colonel, so they’ve been living on a bigger budget. But, his unit has been getting a few of the more dangerous assignments. I’m just worried that one of them might not go so well.” Dill said back, sighing a bit as he stood up. “Anyhow, you got your wallet on you? Madeline was done with fixing our stuff today. I’ll spot you if you need, but you’re paying me back as soon as we get back home.” Dill said, rolling his shoulder for a moment as he looked over to Cole for his response.
Cole scoffed while lifting a hand back up to his hat to adjust it so he could look at Dill from under it. “Oh come on now, you must take me fer a-”
“CHESTNUT! IF YOU KEEP STRAINING MY POOR TABLE I’LL COME OUT THERE AND-” The rabbit boy nearly jumped to the second floor balcony at the saloon owner's agitated chiding, raising his hands up quickly, glaring at Dill as the boy starting wildly cackling at his friends shock. “That’s what I thought, boy! And don’t you let me catch you doing it again!” The voice called again over Dill’s boisterous laughter. Dill stifled his laughter and wiped a tear before turning to the origin of the voice. “Apologies Mr. Nell! We’ll be out of your hair right away sir, I’ll make sure Cole follows.” Dill called out while quickly shuffling back towards the front door, wildly waving his arm for Cole to follow behind.
The rabbit boy readjusted his hat with a huff and quickly ran up behind the cat boy, passing through the saloon doors with a cross ‘tch’ escaping his lips. “Darn table weren’t even stressed…” He huffed as he walked, Dill chuckling in response. “Maybe not, but you certainly were with how high you jumped. Are you sure you ever came back down to earth Cole?” The boy said before letting out an even louder laugh at the shoulder jab he received in retaliation.
The two boys walked for some time, idly chatting until they reached the familiar train station, and the once empty shop now simply labeled “Crafty Gunners” with a finely made wooden sign above the door.
The two boys walked inside, a small bell ringing as they pushed the door open and saw the inside. It was a cozy brick interior with a hand made ceiling fan and a solitary lightbulb in it. There were two chairs on each of the side walls, and a countertop directly across from the entrance with a silver bell on it, though it appeared that they wouldn’t need to use it. Sitting at the counter was Madeline’s father, Daniel Crafty. The tall man looked up from the newspaper he had been reading, folding it and placing it down. A smile crossed his face as he laid his eyes on the young boys, standing up and spreading his arms.
“Ahhh, your tools are in the back boys! Madeline is making the last minute touches.” Daniel greeted the boys, walking around the counter to open the door to the back for them. His dirt stained boots clacked against the wooden floor as he walked, the duo in question following after him.
“Thank you kindly Mr. Crafty.” Dill offered his gratitude as they walked through the now open back door, the green haired man chuckling at his polite tone. “Oh come now Dill-boy, you don’t have to spare all that courtesy on little old Danny. It’s plenty enough to see you come around as often as you do.” The tall man retorted, a kindly smile on his mustached face.
“Is that them Pa?!” A familiar voice called from the back, Madeline walking out in a brown leather apron and a set of overalls with sleeves. “There you two are! Get on over here! I got your stuff right there.” Madeline ordered, pointing one of her six arms at the nearby workbench, whereupon laid a pair of shining silvery revolvers alongside a long rifle with a wooden finish.
The rifle was unique, in that it was not lever action, but instead pump action, with a revolver mechanism rather than a normal loading function for a rifle of it’s type. On the side of the rifle was an inscription in italic, the name Madeline with a heart symbol to dot the I.
“I shined up those revolvers you wanted fixed up there Lucky.” She said, an idle snicker at the recurring nickname she assigned the boy so long ago before turning to Dill. “And for you, I made this piece of hardware. I call her lil’ Maddie.” Madeline proudly stated, a pair of her right arms grabbing the rifle and handing it to Dill.
The boys tail swayed slowly as he took hold of the sturdily crafted rifle, the boy inspecting it slowly before turning it over in his grasp, admiring the rifle and looking down the sight. “How much do I owe you?” He asked after looking over the rifle, turning to Madeline as he slung it over his shoulder with the leather strap it had.
“S’much as I’d love to give it to you for free, a girl’s gotta make a living. For the parts and labor, it’ll be 23 Notes.” She said, raising her middle left arm to her face in a thinking pose. “I’ll give you a discount and cut off the cost of that being a custom job.” She added with a small wink, before turning to Cole. “As for you Lucky, it was just tuning up some old Irons, so it’ll be a 5 note from you for the labor.” She said, putting her bottom pair of hands on her hips. “You got the money this time right?”
Cole looked to the six armed girl with a drama filled gasp of indignation. “What kinda cheapskate do ya’ll take me fer? Course I got the money!” Cole replied, reaching down to his pocket and pulling out a small coarse leather wallet, withdrawing two blue Notes and a red Note.
Dill took out his own wallet, withdrawing a pair of green notes, and then a blue and a red note. With the money handed to the woman, she grinned and clasped four of her hands together while her remaining two put the money in a nearby drawer.
“Now, before you two get going, I got you a pair of gifts. These ones’re on the house. Dill, you mentioned your belt chafe’s your tail, so I made this one with a softer rim, and much better storage for you.” Madeline said, reaching under a nearby workbench and pulling out a fine piece of leatherwork, placing it on the table between herself and Dill.
“As for you Lucky, I made some bracers for your arms and legs, since you mentioned those thorn bushes getting you all messed up when you went berry picking. These things will stop a bullet in it’s tracks, so a bush shouldn’t be any problem.” She said with a grin, placing down a beautiful brownish-red set of bracers for the rabbit boy.
The two boys took their gifts and began trying them on, with Coke speaking up first. “Well shoot, how’re we s’posed to pay you back for all this?” He said, slightly upset he couldn’t do something as nice for her as she had for them with the impromptu gifts. However, the girl laughed in response. “Oh don’t worry, you’re doing plenty for me. You got the Crafty symbol on those gifts there, so people will know just who made those masterpieces, and I’ll get booming business before you know it.” She retorted, grinning happily as she turned back to her workbench. “Now get on out of here before I decide to charge for them.” She teased as the two boys gave her one last utterance of thanks before quickly leaving the building.
As Cole and Dill approached the dusty road outside the store, the boys looked to one another. A grin slowly crossed Dill’s face, before he punched Cole’s shoulder playfully and suddenly began to run down the wooden dock towards where they had left their horse and cart. “Dibs on the first gun watch!” Dill called back as he ran to the cart.
“Oh no you don’t! If anyone’s gettin’ the first shot at tryin’ their guns it’s me!” Cole replied, sprinting after Dill, his spurs clacking against the wooden porches he ran across. The two hauled themselves as quickly as they could to their cart, occasionally trying to mess each other up by sticking their leg out to trip the other. But as they reached the cart, their hands clapped down on it’s brown wooden side at the same time, the two pointing to one another in near perfect sync.
“You’re crazy if you think you won!” The two taunted in unison, before both clicking their tongues in annoyance.
“Bah, if yer so determined fer’ it, take first shift. I’ll get the reins.” Cole conceded while putting his hands behind his head and leaning back against the cart. Dill chuckled, shaking his head in reply.
“I’m good, if you want first watch you can have it. It’s not that big of a deal.” Dill returned while giving his friend a pat on the back, until Cole chuckled and looked at the cart.
“How ‘bout we both ride up front to start? Ain’t nothin to watch for this close to town anyhow.” The boy offered his compromise, since while both didn’t care, it would be an easy way to resolve the issue. After a moment of thought, Dill turned with a soft shrug. “That’s a good enough idea as any you’d have, let’s go for it.” Dill admitted with a tease thrown in, walking to the front of the dusty cart.
The cart itself was taller than the two boys, coming about a head taller than Dill, where Cole’s ears barely poked out over the top. It had a white and brown spotted horse in front, affectionately named Checkers by Cole’s mother. It was a well bred and phenomenally healthy horse, with a long mane and tidy tail.
The two boys hefted themselves up to the wooden seat at the front of the cart, Cole grabbing hold of the reins and giving them a flick to get Checkers moving.
It wasn’t long until the two were out of the city limits, with Cole leaning back on the wooden seat and letting Checkers trot along the dusty road. However, Cole was roused from his relaxation as Dill reached over and nudged him.
“Hey, ain’t that Carson over there?” Dill asked, turning and looking over to the northern path out of town. Cole let out a ‘Tch’ and began leaning back again. “You know I can’t see that far.” Cole replied while putting the shade of his hat over his eyes, leaning back on the bench again. “What’s so interestin’ ‘bout it anyhow?” Cole asked, looking back over a moment as his curiosity got the better of him.
“Nothing…. Well, didn’t he say he was setting out with his dad? He’s alone from what I can see…” Dill said, his slit eyes dilating back to normal as he looked back forward after a moment. “Maybe his old man is waiting for him further up north.” He suggested, before crossing his leg over the other.
The two rode in silence save for the soft tones of Dill idly strumming his guitar, for some time. before Cole piped up with a seemingly random thought. “Hey Dill, you ev’r think ‘bout how that whole Self stuff works really?” Cole asked, before continuing to elaborate as he turned towards Dill. “Like, we’re told we’re usin’ our Soul to protect ourselves, but ain’t that sorta backwards? Cuz yer body is s’posed to contain yer soul normally, and here we are, puttin’ it out there so we don’t get hit as bad.”
Dill took a moment to silence the guitars hum, turning his head to Cole with half lidded eyes, before raising an eyebrow. “Cole, try that again, but this time start the conversation like a normal person.” Dill said, looking back forward again, resting one of his arms on the wooden seat behind him.
“Oh get off yer high horse, I know yer thinkin’ about it now that I pointed it out.” Cole said with a roll of his eyes, still looking at the other boy.
“I don’t think too much about it in the first place Cole. Millie said that it’s more about feeling anyhow. Maybe you thinking about it so much is why you don’t have your Lot yet.” Dill commented back, finally turning to actually look at Cole. The white haired boy huffed in return, looking back at the cat eared boy with a roll of his eyes.
“Yeah right, I feel things way more’n you. My Lot’ll come soon, and it’ll be better’n yers.” Cole said with a grin, looking forward to the dusty road ahead of them.
Dill snickered in response, closing his eyes and strumming his guitar again. “I’ll admit that much, I definitely think more than you do.” Dill said, humming along with his guitar.
“Darn straight.” Cole said, before what was said fully registered. “Now you hang on a second there! You callin’ me dumb?” Cole asked with a frown on his face, his eyebrow twitching a bit when he saw the grin crossing Dill’s face.
“I’m not calling you shrewd~” Dill replied in a melodic tone along with his guitar, as Cole huffed in reply. “I don’t know what that word means, but I know yer bein’ a smart alec.” Cole retorted with a frown, looking back forward and grabbing the reins tighter.
“Anyways, you got any song requests? Or do you plan on us sitting in silence the whole trip.” Dill asked while holding his guitar up.
“Hit me with Wild Horse, we haven’t done that one in a while.” Cole replied after a moment of thought over which song they should sing on their way, Dill prepping his guitar with a few practice strums before getting to a rhythmic playing.
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Some time later in the day, Carson found himself riding through a path through a lightly wooded trail, the treeline providing some shade from the burning sun. The blonde haired boy wiped some sweat from his brow, sighing in the solitude of which he rode along.
The day had been long, and with the thoughts rampant in his mind, it felt even longer. But luckily for him, he was roused from his musings when something broke the monotony of the trip. Carson squinted to make out a figure in the distance, the air shimmering from the heat, but making out a dark figure despite the glare of the sun.
The figure drew nearer, riding a dark gray horse with darker black eyes. Atop the horse sat a well dressed man with long silver hair, and a pointedly fair complexion. He wore a fine black coat atop a black vest and a white undershirt. He also wore black slacks, and fine black dress shoes. However, the most notable feature of the stranger was that the man had some of the brightest green eyes that Carson had ever seen. Carson eyed the newcomer with some wariness, but believed him to be just passing by.
“Ah, there you are Carson! I’ve been looking to speak with you for quite some time.” The man said out of nowhere, Carson roused from his thoughts with a small start.
“Erm, I’m ‘fraid I don’t know you stranger. How d’ya know my name?” Carson replied, his deep voice showing his not so mild suspicion of the man. The interloper laughed some, looking at Carson with a smile crossing his face.
“Ah, I’m an old friend of your fathers. I… heard about the incident. I’m awfully sorry for your loss.” The man said as his face turned to a frown, placing a hand over his heart in a moment of silence, before looking back up to Carson. “I had been coming to Dive to say hello to an… old friend.” The stranger elaborated, but paused when he described who he was coming to see as if he were looking for the right term for their relationship. “But seeing you here, I can detour to speak with you. Of course, only if you don’t mind the company.”
Carson took a moment to think about it, eyeing the stranger carefully. If he knew about what happened, he probably was a friend of his fathers. Only a few people knew about that. Plus, the company would let him get out of his own head. “I don’t see much reason to mind it. Hope you don’t begrudge me askin’ yer name there stranger.” Carson replied, his horse starting to trot along the road once more. The man smiled in reply, turning his horse around to move alongside Carsons.
“Ah, my mistake, I had forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Michael. Michael Lalfen, if my full name interests you in some way.” He said, giving a nod of his head as gave a small move of the reins to get his horse to move just a bit ahead of Carson. Carson on the other hand, dipped his head in thought, leaning back as he tried to recall if the name was familiar.
“My pa’ never mentioned you b’fore.” Carson questioned, looking at Michael with a hum, wondering what the explanation of that would be. But all he got was a laugh in return, before Michael turned back with a smile.
“Well, I wonder just how many of your fathers fellow Cavalrymen he didn’t speak of. I’m sure he couldn’t have talked about all of us.” Michael replied, while Carson gave a half hearted nod, understanding the logic behind the statement, albeit only halfway accepting it as an answer.
“If you don’t mind me inquiring, I am somewhat worried for you. Now that your father is no longer with us, what do you plan on doing to sustain yourself?” Michael asked as they rode, turning his head to face the younger boy.
“Well… originally, I was comin’ by Dive to ask Mrs. Chestnut if she might have a job for me on her ranch… but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It ain’t something I can see myself doin’. So I’m riding back up to Duck city to try and join the Cavalry there.” Carson replied, glancing over at Michael, a little confused why he cared.
“Ah. Well, I’m sure you’ll make a great fit for them. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders for that much at least. They’d have to be fools not to accept you.” Michael replied with that same smile on his face, turning forward as they rode down the path. “I’ve got some business in Dive, so I’ll ride with you the rest of the way, save if you have any objections.”
“Fine by me Mr. Michael, I could use the company.”
Chapter End