Locked up. (open)

[Jeremiah Benjamin Atkins]

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“Don't get yourself killed!” he growled as the man shackled him to the jail bars. He tugged hard, thinking his strength could break the chain. That was not going to happen. “I don't want to die here!” He yelled as the man went away.

“damn it all,” he cried in his voice. “Like can escape by unlocking the shackles and get out the cell,” he leaned his head against the bar. It was cold to the touch. There was not a soul to hear him. The back of his left shoulder had a itch. He tried to move his shoulder to try to scratch it.

Jeremiah shift his weight from one foot to the other, leaning against the bars. He could not get comfortable. He sure heck did not want to go to prison either. He heard stories about Yuma prison. That place was bad, he was bad, but he would not have a gun.

The kid wanted a drink too. Whiskey, he could use one right now. A cigar would be good too. He felt sick in his stomach, his body was aching for liquor. He was crying for it. He licked his lips.

[Tully]

Tully had only been in town for a few hours -- she had spent the better part of the day before watching the comings and goings, getting to know the rhythm of the place -- and she was moving through the alleys, headed to the back of the cafe to see if there was any food she could get when she saw the sheriff dragging, well, whatever his name was to jail. Curious, she watched, wondering what he had done, although she could imagine any number of things, as volatile and surly as he was.

At first she was inclined to ignore it, she didn't owe him anything and he'd threatened more than once to kill her, but still...

She couldn't say why, but she made her way to the jailhouse, standing outside the window where she thought he might be, then hissed, "Hey! Ya in there? It's me, Tully...Curl..." Her nose wrinkled at the nickname, although somehow she liked it...in all honesty, she liked him, in a way, like they were kindred spirits or something.

[Jeremiah Benjamin Atkins]

“Make the world stop movin',” he was mumbling as his head was against the cold bar. His head felt it was solid as a heavy rock. He heard Tully call him. It was a dream, he tapped his head against the bar. It was a dream. She was talking again, he turned his head to the window with his head still against the bar. “Eh? Yea, Curl...Is that you?” He asked. “damn girl, you missed the train?” He asked. Hold on, she was outside. “How did you find me?” He asked.

“I told you this was a bad town, the law is shifty,” he told her. It was true. He did not like the law. That was for sure. Was she going to help him? Would she want to help him? He was mean to her, but he tried to send her back on her two feet. He turned his head, placed his head against the bar, he closed his eyes, and his lips moved. He whispered he was damned.

[Tully]

“Make the world stop movin',” he was mumbling as his head was against the cold bar. His head felt it was solid as a heavy rock. He heard Tully call him. It was a dream, he tapped his head against the bar. It was a dream. She was talking again, he turned his head to the window with his head still against the bar.

"Ain't movin'," she grumbled, shaking her head. "Ya been drinkin'?"

“Eh? Yea, Curl...Is that you?” He asked. “damn girl, you missed the train?” He asked. Hold on, she was outside. “How did you find me?” He asked.

"It's me...I seen ya get dragged across th' street." She didn't answer his other question.

“I told you this was a bad town, the law is shifty,” he told her. It was true. He did not like the law. That was for sure. Was she going to help him? Would she want to help him? He was mean to her, but he tried to send her back on her two feet. He turned his head, placed his head against the bar, he closed his eyes, and his lips moved. He whispered he was damned.

"Where ain't th' law bad?"[/i] Hell, the law mostly seemed to do whatever they wanted simply because they could, but she'd learned a few tricks over the years. She'd watch herself here, get what she could and then take advantage of the train ticket to move on.

"Whach'ya do ta get in there, anyway? Sheriff done run off...there anyone else in there?" If not, she'd risk going in."

[Jeremiah Benjamin Atkins]

"Ain't movin'," she grumbled, shaking her head. "Ya been drinkin'?

That was a brilliant observant. Tully liked to ask questions. He smirked she was smart, sassy and had wits. She was not bad looking either. He had enjoyed her company in a way. Lord knows he had treated like crap, but he was not allowing her to see him weak for her. Hell no. He turned his head to look at her direction, “Sureeely, Curl,” he admitted to her. “Its what I do best,” he rolled his eyes. The one thing he did not mention the best thing he liked to do was...sleep with women. The way Tully felt about men, he was better not mention it. Tully was like a key for him to get out. There was no way he could afford to mess up. One mess up, he find Yuma a new home. That gave him a chill up the spine.

"Whach'ya do ta get in there, anyway? Sheriff done run off...there anyone else in there?" If not, she'd risk going in."

“Look, Curl, I need your help. No need to tell you the details. I don't have all lot of time. You need to be haste, darlin. Go to look for Lewt McConnel at the Black Bird Saloon or ask for him around the town. He's a buddy of mine, there are others who know him too. They will help me,” he told her. “Don't say I am here to loud,” he sighed. He placed his head against the bars. Gossip would go around, people will talk. What was the chance Lewt can help Jeremiah leave jail looking like a free man? That would be better than breaking out. Breaking out he will be forced to lay low. Laying low was something he did not want to do. damn there where damn dressy girls in that Blackbird saloon!

Should he go through trial and see if he could win. Show he was not guilty front of the Judge? There was a huge chance that he would be found guilty. The sentence guilty would be on him like the ten commandments engraved by God's finger! He was a goner. The ten commandments was something he broke. No chance to heaven, he a Devil's child.

[Tully]

"Lewt McConnell..." Tully nodded, then frowned. She wasn't one to frequent saloons, unless she was working a con, but she had a task, should she decide to do it, so it wouldn't be so bad. As for what he'd done, she was certain that it hadn't involved attacking a woman, and otherwise, for the most part, she didn't care, except for one thing...

"Ya didn't kill no one, didja?" she asked, trying to see him in the dim light. She had limits...

[Jeremiah Benjamin Atkins]

“Yes, I killed thousand of people,” he said sarcastic as he shot her a look. “Curl, just go! Every minute counts,” he hissed at her. He shifted his feet, trying to get comfortable. He will be damned he be standing longer. He need to sit down. The law said there was a person(s) who reported his robbery. How he want to seek that person, tie them up against tree, take a knife, cut out their tongue out, toss on the ground. Wait to wake up from the shock. He would tell what a jerk the man or woman was, then he cut one eye out. Take the man or woman, leave them tied up on the dirt, and explain the vultures are gonna pluck at him alive and sure gonna hurt like hell. Yea, that what he would do? When he find who rat on him. The odd he will never find the person. They are lucky!

[Tully]

"Yeah, sure, don't get yer britches in a knot!" Tully sighed and shook her head, then chuckled. "Hey, don't go no where, awright?"

Sticking her tongue out at him, she turned and trotted for the saloon. Despite how he'd treated her, there had been moments when he'd actually been kind...and he'd let her live, hadn't molested her. Not that she owed him, but it wouldn't hurt to help...

(Cont at the saloon)