in the pines [Rio]

[Lewt McConnell]

Today was a celebration. Many times Lewton had accompanied the Blackbird Saloon’s long evenings of drinking and gambling. He had grown accustomed to the looming clouds of tobacco smoke stagnant in the high ceiling. Or the lingering stench of every type of alcohol being exhaled back into the atmosphere by drunken individuals. Too many times he had seen bar fights break out into full on brawls from one end of the building to the next. Lewt had shared many laughs in this old saloon alone. The Les Coureur Enfers had enjoyed their stay the most in the town of Del Fuego when it had been in the comfort of the Blackbird Saloon. Today had been particularly celebrated because it was Lewton’s twenty-sixth birthday. As he didn’t think anything of it the others encouraged him to celebrate as they always did.

Lewton took a seat in the far back of the Saloon around a table nearest to the stage. The stage remained empty. The dancers busied themselves about the Saloon by seducing men to their rooms. Lewton refrained from any sort of action. In the past, he had spent most of his time being helplessly seduced by women. He was taken. As tempting as it seemed to give in to the beautiful women about him he could not come to betray Rio. Fresh with their relationship Lewton had begun to adore her to the point he wouldn’t think of doing her any wrong. Women no longer could think of Lewton McConnell as the womanizing type.

One problem he still had was drinking. While he could refrain from multiple lovers he could not keep himself away from alcohol. Upon this night he drank a especially fine bourbon imported from Paris, France. It certainly had power and a decadent taste about it. Lewton eagerly washed down the sultry, amber substance as he played a slow game of cards. He had been waiting on Rio almost the entire evening to arrive to Del Fuego. She had preferred to stay at the hide-out a little longer while the rest ventured off into Del Fuego. As the minutes slowly passed he anticipated her arrival. However, the alcohol slowly begun to demolish his short-term memory.

He excused his game from a couple of Les Coureur Enfer members in hopes to look around for Rio. Cutting across the groups of individuals gathered about the bustling Saloon he made his way to the end of a set of stairs. His light cornflower blue eyes looked up at the large stretch of steps and he looked away. Before he could react and walk any further a women, tightly corseted came forward. She hadn’t been a woman he had seen before in the Saloon. She had bright red hair, and rosy red lips. Her brown eyes peered at him curiously. “My, ya lookin’ for somethin’ handsome?” Her auburn eyebrows arched with curiosity as she touched his shoulder with her hand.

He looked down at the petite woman and frowned. Shaking his head he attempted to make his way around the woman. She easily slid her body in front of him. Wrapping her arms around him she lightly pecked kisses upon his neck. “What’s the matter? Ya don’t want me?” As he struggled to push her off, she wound her arms tightly about him. “No, no...wait a minute.” Lewton hoarsely protested. Before he could respond the woman held onto him tighter, kissing him fiercely.

[Rio Daniels]

She sat quietly in the room that she was given inside the hide out of the Les Coureur Enfers. Her blue eyes stared at the gift that she had actually purchased for him instead of stealing the merchandise. She wanted him to be able to keep this without worrying about anyone recognizing it as their own piece. The old style Colt revolver was something that she had her eye on for a while now. She wasn't sure if Lewton would want to trade the guns that he used now for it, but it didn't matter to her. The simple idea of being able to give the man she was now smitten over was something that made her heart skip a beat. She tried imagining what his reaction was going to be. A small smile worked its way onto her rather pretty features and she tried picturing him. It wasn't good enough. She needed to see him in person.

Rio had hung back from the rest of the group as they left to celebrate Lewt's birthday at the Saloon. She had needed time and space to get this gift for him and now that she had it in her possession, she couldn't be happier. Wiping the barrel of the gun once more, she made sure it was unloaded and then placed it gently into its holster. Placing the gun into one of the very many saddle bags she owned, she stood up from the bed she had been perched on. Rio was trying to surprise him in every way tonight, and instead of wearing the pants that she could move easily in, she was now wearing a longer, flowing red skirt. Red wasn't really an acceptable color for the women in the society, especially the ones in Del Fuego. However, that hadn't mattered to her. Staring at the bright color, she sighed softly. It wasn't really her style, but she hoped Lewt would appreciate it. On her torso, she had actually managed to tie a white corseted shirt around her tiny waist. It only made her smaller, and it made her chest stand out a bit more, which she wasn't too comfortable about. But he had to appreciate it, right?

Feeling rather busty, she ran her fingers through her naturally wavy brunette hair, which had only gotten longer in the past months. Wanting to tie it back, she refrained, knowing he'd rather see her like this. Furrowing her brow, she slammed her cream colored hat on her head and turned from the mirror, her worn brown boots scuffing the floor below her. Feeling foolish, she hurried down the stairs, tying the belt around her waist as she went along. Her pistol was still in reach on her hip, and she slung the saddle bag containing Lewt's gift over her tanned shoulder. Hurrying to the barn without being seen by any stragglers, she started saddling a rather surprised West, shushing him with her voice. Once he was ready, she stared at the predicament in front of her. She had never ridden side saddle in her life and she wasn't about to. Giving up her manners for the time being, which had never been a problem for her in the past, she mounted up, slinging her leg over the saddle. This was awkward.

Ignoring that, she asked West to move forward, and they reached Del Fuego in the matter of minutes. Slow had never been a speed recognized by Rio and her stallion. She tied him up outside of the saloon, making sure West was situated before going inside. Leaving Lewt's present with West for now, she stepped into the rather bustling area, feeling eyes drawn to her as she made her way in. Her blue eyes ignored everyone else, looking for one form in particular. And when she found him, her jaw dropped.

All she could see was them kissing. That dirty, rotten cheat! She couldn't believe this! The other members of the gang watched her fiery reaction, a little dumbfounded by her appearance at the moment. They couldn't even react to control the little she devil as she strode quickly across the room, grabbing the hussy by her shoulder. Yanking her roughly, she threw a punch so hard that it silenced the room around them. "Keep yer dirty, diseased hands offa him!" She shouted in insult, watching her with rage in her very heart. She had trusted him, she had given him her heart and he had crushed it. Turning her heated gaze to Lewt now, she lost all sense of control. "I trusted ya, Lewt! Yer...ya...ya just stay away from me, ya hear?" She shouted viciously, feeling betrayed by the sight of his arms around this woman. Unable to control herself any longer, she pulled her gun from its holster, firing without aiming. Lucky for Lewt too. She didn't know where her bullet landed, but she was suddenly being pulled away from the bar area, a pair of strong hands gripping her around her middle. She dropped her gun with a clatter, struggling against her captor with a renewed vigor.

"Git offa me! Take yer hands offa me!" She shouted, feeling a hand go to cover her mouth. She was pulled out of the saloon, her tiny body thrown to the ground, causing her to scrape her knees and her hands. Standing with defiance, she threw her form at the man who had thrown her out, her fists flying into his forms. That only got her a strike across her face and she landed on her butt, completely stunned, nursing a swelling eye. "Ya nothin' but touble, ya devil. Stay out." He informed her harshly, getting nothing from Rio. She stayed where she was, pulling her knees up to her chest. How could she have been so stupid?

[Lewt McConnell]

The redhead’s arms were bound so tightly about Lewton’s torso he could hardly pry her off of him. It was apparent, the stench of heavy wine on her breath. Her rosy lips eagerly roamed across his flesh. He cringed at each kiss. “Listen now, I got myself a girl. I can’-” He exclaimed struggling to pull her off of him as respectfully as he could. Anyone that had seen the events only seconds prior would easily understand that Lewton had gotten himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. A puzzled, half drunken look begun to bloom across his features as he looked around the bustling room. The woman hushed him by planting a unexpected kiss on his pursed lips. As he yanked his head back, he caught a glimpse of Rio. He watched her ocean blue eyes ignite with fire. His heart thundered fiercely as she neared.

She knew that it looked as if he had been unfaithful. As his mind went blank and his heart sank, Rio yanked the woman easily from him and gave her a powerful blow to the face. So powerful he could hear the soft crack of her knuckles against her bones. Stepping back unsurely he shook his head. His long tawny hair dangling loosely about his face as he struggled to speak. How could he explain to her that it wasn’t what it seemed? Hell, she would never trust him again for something he didn’t do. “Rio. Don’!”

It was too late. Before he could duck or dodge the bullet she fired. The bullet seared through his flesh, through his upper right arm. Stumbling backwards he fell against the rail of the stairs. Stunned, he looked at Rio. Watching her being torn away by a massively large man he hesitated. His throat was dry, almost too dehydrated to speak. “Rio, wait! It ain’t what it seems!” The crowded room of the Blackbird Saloon was hushed. Each individual stared at either Rio or Lewton. A couple of Les Coureur Enfer members raced up to help Lewton. Lewton paid no attention to them. One of the men quickly store a strip of cloth from his shirt and tied it tightly around his arm. “Let’s get ya to the Doc, Lewt.”

Lewton shook his head. “Not, not yet.” Before the men could respond, Lewton raced in the direction Rio was headed. He watched the guard make his way through the crowded Saloon from where he had thrown Rio out. Lewt made his way out into the open street. His cornflower blue eyes made his way to Rio on the ground. He frowned as he looked down at her. “Rio, freckles, ya okay?” He made his way closer to her but kept his distance. “Look, please, Rio. It ain’t what it seemed. I wasn’t cheatin’ on ya I promise. Even folks in their will tell ya that harlot wouldn’ leave me the hell ‘lone. I tried to git her away, I did.” Before he could continue he could feel sharp pain pierce through his arm.

He looked down at his fresh wound and grunted, cupping his hand over the wrapped bullet wound. “Good God almigh’!” He said through his gritted teeth. He fell to his knees and looked back at Rio. “Please, I swear. I ain’t ever cheat on ya, freckles. I’d...I’d be might’ los’ without ya.” He titled his head as he refrained from yelling. The pain was worst than he expected. “I love you.”

[Rio Daniels]

Her head was spinning. She didn't know if it was from the shock of seeing Lewt cheat on her or the hit she had sustained from the rather large bar man. All she wanted to do was cry at the moment but she refused to let the tears flow. That was not who she was. She wasn't a weak individual. She wasn't a woman who gave into her weaknesses. She refused to let them show and she wasn't going to lose her composure in front of the men who were staring at her warily. It was a good thing she had dropped her gun in the middle of the saloon or else she would shoot them down as they stared. She wasn't some freak on display here. Sure, she shouldn't have done what she did but she had lost all control. Lewton had promised. He had promised that he wouldn't stray from her and he had. It was plan as day! He was wrapped up in that red haired prostitute and Rio would never be able to compare. She wasn't like that. She couldn't just throw herself on some guy because she had the whim to do it.

Feeling utterly betrayed, Rio stared at her hands, looking to her left knuckles as they bloomed and swelled from the punch she had given that hussy. Apparently she had broken her nose with that hit and normally she would have been proud of the damage. But she had done nothing more than cause a scene and she felt no satisfaction. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she loved Lewt. She didn't know when it had happened, she didn't know when her heart had chosen to betray her, but it had. She was utterly, hopelessly in love with a man who couldn't be loyal. She couldn't do this. She couldn't pretend to be okay with his wandering ways. But why had she shot him? Shooting him was something that she would have never imagined doing. She wasn't trigger happy. She had never been that way. She always thought out her shot unless the situation called for quick gun action. But she had let her emotions lead her plight and now Lewt was suffering for it.

Taking a shaky breath, she remained where she was, her knees held tightly to her chest as a man approached her. Her blue eyes didn't leave the ground that she was staring at, but she felt his arm enclose around her upper arm. "C'mon pretty. It ain't worth it. He ain't worth it. I'll take care of ya sweetheart." Rio didn't move as he pulled softly at her, trying to get her to her feet. Clenching her teeth, she remained where she was, feeling him pull more vigorously at her tiny body. His efforts were doing nothing more than pulling her through the dirt and it was a rather comical sight to anyone who was watching. However, she wasn't amused. Her jaw tightened in despair as he almost managed to get her to her feet. "I suggest ya git yer hands offa me. I ain't no body's girl." She stated stubbornly, eying him with her vicious gaze. He just laughed uproariously and tugged her to her feet. She stumbled clumsily from his efforts and pushed him hard on his chest. "Stop it!" Rio shouted in opposition, feeling his arms encircle around her waist. She felt sick and used and fed up with the entire race of man. There would be no happiness for her where there were people concerned. Slapping him hard across the face, she was suddenly pushed back again, landing flat on her back with a grunt. He shouted curses at her up and down about how she was an ungrateful wench, but Rio just managed to sit up, trembling as she did so.

Lewt had never been forceful with her, ever. She suddenly missed his tenderness, his jokes, his concern. She couldn't. She just couldn't think about him anymore. Rubbing her hands over her face, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was then that she heard a commotion coming from the saloon, looking up as Lewton made his way over to her. Seeing the blood flooding his shirt, she furrowed her brow. She had shot him. She couldn't believe that she had actually shot the man she loved. "Lewt.." She whispered softly, hoping he didn't hear the desperation in her voice. Feeling horribly guilty now, she watched as he struggled, kneeling down in front of her. Her bright blue eyes searched his face now, seeing nothing but honesty and sincerity. Here he was trying to prove his innocence to her while he was bleeding and hurting. She could read the pain in his eyes. As he asked her if he was okay, Rio refused to let him see that she was hurting. She was independent. She was always independent and she'd be damned if she let him see her struggling. "Of course I'm alrigh'. Ya ain't though...yer bleedin' everywhere. Ya should get that looked at."

She finished quietly, keeping the apology that he deserved from her lips. Listening to his explanation, she studied him, furrowing her brow. He was right of course. She didn't know the situation. She didn't know what led up to that, she didn't even see him fighting to get her away from him. "If I hadn't shown up when I did, she coulda had ya upstairs Lewt! And then what? Ya woulda slept with her, wouldn't ya!?" She was being irrational and unreasonable, she knew, but she couldn't help it now. She was hurt, she was betrayed, she was in shock from shooting him. She couldn't believe she had done to that him. Feeling absolutely horrible, she looked at him as he gazed to his wound, wincing when he shouted out. Looking down to the ground, she stayed where she was as he dropped to his knees, refusing to meet his gaze. And then he said it. He promised he'd never cheat on her, he said he'd be lost without her. But those weren't the words she heard. He just said he loved her. Glancing to him now, she sat there in a stunned silence, and then suddenly inched forward to him, rising to her scraped up knees.

Her hands went to cup his face and she looked him in his eyes. "I wanna trust ya Lewt, I do. I just....God dammit Lewt." She sounded frustrated, she sounded upset because she was. She couldn't get the image of that woman making out with him out of her mind. "I...ya jerk. I love you too ya stubborn, impossible cowboy. I'm..I'm awful sorry for shootin' ya." She whispered quietly, her eyes wide with the fear that she had just confessed her love for him. Trying to change the subject, even though she meant those three words with all of her heart, she rose to her feet, her hand taking his good one. "C'mon. Ya gotta git to a doctor. Yer men should take ya. I'll wait while ya get checked out."

[Lewt McConnell]

Lewton hadn’t seen the man that stood only several feet away in the darkness push Rio. However, he suspected by the man’s demeanor that he had put her through some stress. He hadn’t noticed the man until his eyes narrowed. He snatched his prized colt, reflecting in the subtle light from the saloon, he pointed the barrel of the in the strangers direction. The stranger inched away as he noticed. Disappearing into the vast darkness. “Did he hurt ya?” He furrowed his light brows in concern. “I’ll kill him, ya just say the word.”

She had shot him. He was still in shock of it all. Hell, he was starting to feel the burn now. The splintering, horrible burn. It had happened all within a matter of seconds he didn’t have a chance to react properly. Lewt had a flood of thoughts run through his head. Furrowing his brows he begun to run through future apologies to Duke for his woman shooting him in the presence of his customers. At that moment, it all begun to become hysterically amusing. He couldn’t help but smile. His own rogue woman had shot him down in his favorite Saloon. In stead of crying out of sheer pain he laughed. He laughed long and heartily until his lungs felt exasperated without air. Lewton shook his head as he looked at his limply hanging arm. He looked back up at her ocean blue eyes and shook his head. Barely breathing air he choked out his response. “Y-a, y-a shot me! Freck-les, ya shot me!” He appeared so overjoyed it was unbelievable.

Perhaps, it was because he finally emitted the truth to her. He loved her. As dull as he was on affection, she had ignited him with the emotion. Once again the sensation was fresh within his mind. It appalled him how strong their bond had grown over the passing weeks. He had grown so accustomed to her presence he felt attached. In such a way he couldn’t imagine going back to his old ways. Sure, he couldn’t help but notice a beautiful woman. It was a man’s very nature. However, Rio was almost always in his thoughts.

“It really ain’t that bad.” Truth to be told he was a liar. A good one too. The cloth cut some circulation off from the wound. Wasn’t like she hit a artery. It wasn’t life threatening at that very moment. His light eyes narrowed. He shook his head and exhaled a deep sigh. “damn, ya got me good. Righ’ on the bone. Ain’t ever pissin’ ya off again. Hell, I ain’t do anything wrong this time.” He teased her, in hopes to get make her feel slightly better. He was slightly taken aback at her next comment. It was to be expected. Hell, she walked in at the wrong time. He knew, as did the others, it really wasn’t what it seemed.

“Now, now. I didn’t do anything’. Why in the worl’ would I touch that harlot when I have a beauty like ya? I don’ feel a ounce of attraction to’ards her. I swear it, freckles. It looked wrong, I know it did. I didn’ wan’ her to kiss me, she just wouln’ get her hands off of me.” He drawled. His heavy accent enunciating his tone of voice sincerely. “I ain’t a violent man. I wasn’t raised to hurt a woman. I didn’t wan’ to hurt her. I certainly didn’ wan’ her to kiss me.” He watched her near.

He touched her face in return. Allowing his rough fingertips to trace her smooth cheekbones with his index finger. “It’s alrigh’. Your qui’ the romantic, shootin’ me an’ all.” He moved his face in closer. As she stood, he looked up at her slightly disappointed. Sighing as he stood. “I reckon yer righ’.”

[Rio Daniels]

The man had sent her to the ground with a hard shove, but it had done nothing more than knock the wind out of her and ruin her pride. She was a woman who was supposed to be able to protect herself, but she wasn't pulling her gun out for the second time this evening. What a fool. She had shot him. She hadn't even bothered to ask any questions. She hadn't given him a chance to explain, not really. She had followed her assumptions and her instincts and had punched that woman without a second thought in the world. It was better that way anyway. She wanted to kill that filthy harlot but that wouldn't have done anyone any good.

Taking a deep breath now, she exhaled softly and looked over at Lewt as he knelt in front of her. Her blue eyes were shining with the light from the saloon and from the unshed tears that she refused to cry. She wasn't going to cry. She was stronger than that. She was done looking weak in front of Lewt. Enough was enough. She needed to be the person that she was before she fell hopelessly in love with this man. She needed to find that strength again. Sitting quietly in the dirt now, her skirt draped around her knees, she shook her head. "He ain't done nothing I can't take care of mahself." She was being stubborn, she knew, but she didn't need Lewt getting in trouble over a situation in which she knew she could handle. She had been handling herself for eleven years now.

However, confusion etched her strained features as she heard him start to laugh. What in the world? Why was he laughing? Staring incredulously at him, her lips parted slightly as her jaw dropped in shock. Here he was, bleeding rather profusely from his arm after having just been shot by his girl, and he decided to laugh. Rio looked around at the gathered crowd, seeing their confusion as well. He was hysterical. She had to think that. He was hysterical because he didn't know how to handle being shot by her, that was all. Still sitting there in shock at his reaction, she heard his stuttered words as he seemed to regain some of his composure. "Why in the world are ya laughin', ya crazy fool?" Still staring at him in disbelief, she shook her head. Only Lewt.

"Oh, it ain't that bad, huh? Yer a liar, ya think I don't know ya by now?" It was true. They hadn't been together for very long, but she knew him. She knew his tendencies and his personality, his little quirks and habits by heart. She supposed that was what happened when you loved someone. You couldn't help but notice everything about them and her memory allowed her to memorize everything about him. Watching him with her brow furrowed, she shook her head. She was about to speak some more about the subject when he piped up about how she had gotten him good, and it wasn't even his fault this time. Sighing, she gave him a look and tried to loosen up. She knew that was what he was doing. Forcing a smile on her face, she spoke up. "I'll tryta give ya a warnin' next time." There was no jest behind her voice, but she was trying to lighten up, for him.

Hearing him defend himself, Rio knew that he was right. He was being as much of a gentleman as he could be to that harlot without hurting her in the process. Rio watched him carefully for a moment, wanting nothing more than to be in his arms again. She really just wanted to crawl into his lap and stay there until the world was right again, but that wouldn't do him any good. He needed to get looked at before something bad happened to that arm. So as he finished his explanation, she only nodded. "Okay, I believe ya. I'm sorry, I really am. But I ain't sorry for punchin' her." She finished quietly, shooting him a look as they both got to their feet. Seeing the disappointment flash across his features, she sighed and stepped closer to him, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek. "I do love you."

She finished with a blush and then stepped back, her hand going to his good hand. "C'mon. Yer men will take ya to the doctor. I'll wait outside." She informed him, leading him to the group of his men that had gathered. They looked at her apprehensively, but she just stopped and handed Lewt off to them. Adjusting the red skirt around her slim waist, she stepped back from them all and made her way back over to her horse. Furrowing her brow, she started stroking his neck, trying to distract herself from the guilt that she felt.