A deepening male voice cries, "Yeeha, run boy, runs!"
Seeing virgin clay soil, Xena slides off Argo handing Gabrielle the reigns as Gabrielle plummets to her knees. "Stay here."
"Yeeha!", echoes louder.
Xena draws her broadsword, crouching low. "I'll return."
"What is it?" Gabrielle pets Argo's main.
"Reason to zip your lip!" Xena creeps to the ridge slyly peeking left, right, then down.
Only 50 feet below, she spies a towering curly blonde man whipping his muscular palomino with a flopping ten-gallon hat. Seeing tight leather chaps blending his legs against his saddle, she remember a centaur warrior, she killed. Moments ahead of him, Xena unwillingly acknowledges Joxer tumbling over a stone. Though the rider commands no army, Xena cautiously ducks. Around his ankles, metallic pedals kick his horse racing faster. As he approaches, Xena spies his unusual saddle with a long horn suspending a thick coil of hemp rope.
"Yee! Hey Joxer!" He raises his lasso, whirling and whirling, then tosses it swiftly tightening a harmless noose around Joxer's shoulders. "It isn't right to steal." In seconds, he runs off the side of his palomino skidding to a mild gallop. Within moments, he hog-ties his captive, then struts in circles, slapping dust with his flaccid hat. "Hot damn, that's my best time yet."
Clutching her chakrum as the rider leans over Joxer, Xena stares at his hands gingerly taking a silvery stick from Joxer's shaking grasp. Though, Xena misses what is said, she releases her grasp watching the rider casually stretch. A moment later, he straps on his ridiculously hat, then races after his horse instinctively galloping without him. Amazed, Xena almost stands to stare as the rider elegantly soars, grabbing that large saddle horn. Using the moving ground, he briskly jumps, whirling his legs about the saddle. Then, he charges across the canyon-plain for a woodland town billowing domestic smoke in the southern sky.
Gabrielle tiptoes behind her. "Trouble?"
Seeing Joxer looking around, Xena pulls her down. "He's been stealing from folks again."
Inching forward, Gabrielle peeks over the ridge seeing a dust cloud where the cowboy had been, then Joxer rolling on his stomach with his feet kicking the air. "We better help him out."
Sliding her sword back into its sheath, Xena grins. "Eventually. I think his friend is teaching Joxer a good lesson. Let's have lunch."
"How do you know it was a friend?"
Xena marches to Argo, tugging latches to release the saddle. "Joxer's breathing."
Advancing a half-day's ride, Xena saunters into a crowded tavern. Vacillating, Gabrielle steps frequently bumps close behind. It is a large two-story place: a singer tunes his lyre on a raised platform, rowdy ranch-hands dressed in silt-filled togas arm-wrestle. Glancing around, Xena notices most men and woman wearing high red leather boots with a scorch "K" near the top. Reaching the bar, Xena raps for service though she can't see the bartender past a legend of leaning heads and empty hands.
Carrying his drink, a stocky patron rushes from his seat groping Gabrielle. "Aren't you a pretty piece of meat."
Pulling Gabrielle back, Xena treads in between. "You want to try that with me?"
A melodious voice carries from behind her: "Pardon me, Darling." A tall blonde fellow dangling a familiar ten-gallon on his back struts up to the patron then firmly slaps his shoulder. "Apologize to the ladies." His dark brown eyes frown below a prominent stern brow. "Make peace, or leave my tavern, Lox."
Glancing across the cowboy's stare, Lox boisterously chuckles then spins on one heel, swinging a wild right-hand fist. Instinctively, Xena grabs his forearm while the cowboy ducks. Seeing Lox reach for a belt dagger, the cowboy pushes in between.
"Stand back, Ma'am!" The cowboy punches Pete in the gut.
Amused, Xena steps aside.
Using a jab the a crash to the stomach, the cowboy smirks firing a powerful left-jab across the face. As Lox falls, the cowboy casually bows, catching his body. "Excuse me, ladies." Glaring at crowds quickly parting, the cowboy carries Lox outside. "Show's over."
Gabrielle tugs Xena's arm. "Do you know him?"
"Not yet." Xena adores the cowboy's strut as he returns with his dusty blonde curls sparkling.
"He's cute."
Glancing at Gabrielle, Xena frowns. "He's twice your size."
Gabrielle shrugs. "I'd be willing to work around it."
"Right." Xena peeks back, seeing the cowboy toss chopped logs into a stone fireplace. "Let me do the talking."
As the cowboy approaches, Gabrielle hops forward. "Excuse me, who are you?"
Xena glares at Gabrielle avoiding her. "My friend hasn't met villagers like you."
"I'm not surprised." Gallantly, he bows to her then Gabrielle. "I'm just an ole cowboy, Ma'am. That poor fellah ain't gonna be bothering, y'all." Reaching with a opened palm, he teasingly messes Gabrielle's hair. "You can call me, Ken. Can I gitcha, something to drink? It's on me." He struts closer with an odd jingling sound from metal propellers attached to his boots.
Xena quickly sits. "Two wines. Where you hail, Ken?"
"Texas." He stands beside her, faintly grinning.
"I don't remember meeting you, last time I was here." She sees his hands crisp with scared rope burns and enjoys his novel mannerism too gentle for any normal brawny figures.
"I'ma filly lost its fold."
Xena offers a handshake. "I'm Xena and this is my friend, Gabrielle."
"Folks call me, Texas Ken. TK to my friends." He methodically rotates her hand, gingerly kissing her knuckles. "My pleasure, Xena."
Glancing among tavern patrons, Xena recognizes a swarthy warrior. "Mine too. I see an old friend. Will you watch my friend, a moment."
"Certainly, Ma'am." As Xena leaves, Ken raps the bar for service, then winks to Gabrielle.
Losing sight of Xena disappearing in the crowds, Gabrielle tensely smiles. "Where's Texas?"
"A country, I'm sure you've never heard abouts." He sinks onto a three-legged stool letting his long legs stretch into the aisle. "Y'all ain't from around here. How many in your group?"
Suddenly tapping his shoulder, Xena steps in between. "Do you know a Wizard named Tasha?"
Pensively, the cowboy slips a cigarillo in his mouth. "Tasha? Well, now Ma'am, my mama done raise me to be a gentleman about such things." He slyly grins. "I don'ts kiss and tell!"
Accepting a mug of wine, Gabrielle laughs. "You don't talk like Tasha."
"Maybe when my chaps ride too high." He vacuously stares at the bar. Then, he gazes at Gabrielle crinkling her forehead. "My, you sure are as perty as a bunny." Sipping his drink, he glances at Xena smiling with a narrow stare. "I beg your pardon, Xena. It's been months since I've seen women under fifty. Most of these guys are nomads. Only head ranchers keep family."
Diminishing tensions, Gabrielle tugs on Xena's arm. "Ken, how long you lived here?"
He bends-over, striking a match across his boots. "I don't rightly know. Half-year, I reckon." He lights the end of his cigarillo. "If I told you what happened, you'd never believe it."
Instantly, Xena slices off the smoking edge with her broadsword. Noting Gabrielle stunned, she slowly sheathes her sword. "Pity is worthless."
Without flinching, Ken casually removes the remaining half from his mouth. "You're right, Xena. I oughta cut down."
As a corner of the tavern oddly quiets, Xena locks glares with a second Draconian scout easing into a seat by the door. She watches Ken spryly reach behind his bar, yank an odd belt with two triangular leather holsters, then buckle it dangling low about his waist. Peeking up to watch the tavern hush and part, Ken quickly ties each holster to his thighs.
"Gabrielle, get under the table." Xena draws her broadsword, moving into the cleared path facing the nervous scout watching the tavern entrance. "Ken, is there a back entrance?"
Texas Ken lights another cigarillo. "Relax, darling." He flips a smoking match forward. "These fellahs foolishly packed swords to a gunfight." He winks to Xena, then struts to the door, letting the Draconian warrior scramble out, first. "Make your move."
One calls from outside. "Today you die, TK."
Ken blows two smoke rings. "Yeah, yeah." He bravely struts into the street.
Moving to the door, Xena watches a horde of racing horseman, with crossbows raised, clear the corner for a 3-block race toward Ken. "Move out of the way!"
"I can handle this, darling." Ken calmly smokes his cigarillo.
Pushing through the tavern doors, Xena tosses her chakram. "You're an idiot!"
Ken watches a silver Frisbee knock four riders from their horses. "Wirey, ain't cha, Xena?"
With eight more riding fast, Xena races into the street to Ken's left. Then, she catches the chakram as it returns. "Or you're crazy."
"No, Ma'am." Ken spits right, then draw his six gun firing thunder in the air. "Yee, Ha! Scadattle!"
All horses buck, ejecting their riders then gallop away from Ken firing another round in the dirt between them.
"Y'all under arrest!" Ken spins his gun twice before landing it back into his holster.
Pulling short-swords and axes, three mercenaries charge.
"Shoot them!"
"That wouldn't be fair, darling."
Not seeing Ken move, Xena twirls her sword, fixed for fight. "Then keep out of my way!"
"I didn't send an invite, Hun." Watching for a quick opening to weak chins, Ken leaps ahead, boxing.
The first swings an ax, Ken dances left, then winds a left-upper-cut with his tree-sure legs. The warrior collapses. Seeing two more riders exiting the woods behind, Xena leaps to battle. An arrow misses her chest by a whisper. Diving another, Xena launches her chakrum, slashing two throats. As the chakrum returns, Xena catches, flipping around. Surprisingly, Ken carelessly plods among seven moaning bodies.
"Here boy!" He grabs one of the small mercenaries then twirls him over his shoulders. After a few spins, Ken launches him into a charging horseman. As he glances back , Xena is standing right behind him.
"You could have been killed." Xena whips blood from her sword off one of his victims.
"It's my job, darling." Raising two fingers into his mouth, Ken whistles. "Watch yourself, now."
Suddenly, a palomino charges down the street barely slowing as Ken twirls up into the saddle.
"There's over a dozen warriors waiting."
Ken woes the reigns. "I'm sheriff of these parts, little lady. When I've caught the rest of these here, desperadoes, I'll be back!" With one hand holding his reigns, Ken kicks his horse, pulling his left gun from holster. "Wait for me, Xena!"
"Get some help!" As Ken gallops off, Xena turns her face from flying dust, sauntering into the tavern for her drink. "Ale!"
"Are you all right?" Gabrielle scrutinizes Xena for scraps or gashes. She notices a blood droplet on Xena's boot. "Where's Ken?"
Xena guzzles a full goblet of ale. "Him against a dozen? Says he's the law here."
The bartender laughs. "Don't fret none, Ken does it all the time. The rancher loves him. Keeps the poachers at bay. Just this morning, Ken caught one who snitched one of his metal crackers. Guns, he calls them. I feel sorry for that guy."
"I don't." Xena remembers untiing Joxer then watching him run for Athenians with no usual desire to follow her. "We've a lot of road ahead. Come on, Gabrielle." Xena tosses a coin on the counter.
The bartender waves. "Take care, ladies."
Outside, Gabrielle jogs in front of Xena's large strides. "Aren't we going to wait for him?"
Seeing curious villagers watching from the stable, Xena stops, folding her arms. "We have a half- days ride to our next job."
Gabrielle raises a sunfast smile. "Then, we'll have to cross back this way."
Irked, Xena struts around her. "Not if you're going to go on like this!"
"Like you?" Seeing Xena stop again, Gabrielle stands back. "Wait for him, Xena."
Xena doesn't turn to face her. "We have a duty."
"This Corinthian prisoner isn't going anywhere." Then, Gabrielle boldly adds, "You know you want to."
Surprisingly, Xena chuckles. "One day, then we go." Xena struts ahead to visit Argo.
Gabrielle grins. "Not much time, but I've worked wonders with less."
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