The outlaws

Max Cooper (16/12/2021)

Please be advised that this story is recommended for people aged 14+

“Miles, if we hit the bank in the town of Oregano we could be out of the state in a half day.” Said Ford, pointing along the route the gang would take from the frontier town of Oregano. Miles McCarty, the famous leader of the McCarty gang frowned thoughtfully.

“We have the damn sheriffs from all the way up North East in Meadville to all the way South in New Bromwich alerted ‘bout us, hunting us and all that,” he paused and took a breath before continuing, “Oregano is still too close to our last hit in Denver where you and Jesse damn nearly took out the whole town. The only place left is New Birmingham, I hear their bank is loaded full of gems and money, ripe for the takin.”

Ford took off his hat and scratched his night black hair as he waited for Miles to make the decision. Around Miles and Ford, the McCarty gang was beginning to pack everything of value away into wagons, ready for the journey West.

“Alright, we’ll do Oregano, grab the usuals and the kid.” Miles stood up fully and began to roll his map up as Ford spoke. “Jones is too young though, we need the best guns and brains you got and you be makin’ me take the kid, he’s too young.”

“Take him or we’re doing New Birmingham. Leave Colt, Bear John and Billy with me that leaves you with the Austin brothers, Wolf John, Arthur, Jesse and Jones. Should be enough for somebody of your skill, no?”

Ford frowned but accepted the list and began to move out into the camp as Miles tucked his map away into a nearby wagon. As Ford made his way over to the Austin brothers and Wolf John he felt the sadness of leaving Morgans Point creep in, the campsite had been a good safe haven for them, Julia had given birth to Daniela here, they had buried Dave twenty metres or so out in the woods after the TB took him and they had met the Austin brothers while here.

“Dash, Amos and John we’re gonna hit Oregano tomorrow. Y'all are comin with. Follow me while I gather the rest and then we can head out ahead of the gang.”

The three men nodded and quickly followed after him, “so good money in it for us?” Asked Dash the taller of the Austin brothers.

“Think so, bank wagon came through week back or so, gold, money and gems.”

Wolf John, named after the animal that had nearly taken his life, grunted in pleasure at the thought of gold, money and gems and the Austin brothers grinned with Ford as they neared the tent of Arthur.

“Did you wanna take it or should I, boss?” Asked Wolf John, watching Ford uncertainly.

Ford waved him off and used one arm to open the tent flap a sliver, “Arthur? Let's go cowboy, we gotta show to put on.”

“Go… away.” Came the sleepy reply.

“Do ya want me to come in there and get you or are ya gonna get up on your own?” Dash and Amos gave a chuckle while Wolf John took a swig from a brown bottle.

“I’m coming, yep. I’m coming.” Arthur said, a light flashed on in the tent and Ford took a step back from the tent.

After a few minutes of waiting Arthur stepped out of the tent and promptly tripped on a rock in front of his doorway, “you help him, get him a coffee for the hangover while I go get the kid and Jesse. Amos nodded as he helped Arthur up off the ground, both Dash and Wolf John then put their arms around Arthur to help him walk.

Soon Ford was at Jesse’s tent, “Jesse, come on out we gotta job over in Oregano, meet me at my tent in a few, ok?”

“Yeah, alright.” Came the response so Ford left her and continued on towards his last stop, Jones one of the youngest and newest members of the gang who Miles had picked up in the last town the gang had hidden around, Blackberry.

“Kid, Miles wants you to do some work for once, we gonna rob a bank West in Oregano. You're in… For some reason.”

Jones looked up from his gun polishing at Ford and nodded quickly, “alright, when we going?”

“Slow down boy, we gotta regroup before we go anywhere, follow me.” Jones finished up his polishing, holstered his gun and followed behind Ford towards his tent. Soon the whole bank robbing gang was there, they all stood around in front of Ford as he began to explain the job and where it was.

“Ford, Ford! Where the hell’s Wolf John?” Shouted Miles, he urged his grey roan back along the line of the gang's carts as gunfire and shouting came ever closer.

“He fell a way back, damn sheriffs gunned him down soon as they saw him.”

Miles swore quietly and quickly spoke, “alright take Jones, Amos, Dash, Jesse and Arthur and either lead them away from us or shoot ‘em.”

Ford nodded as Miles gave the order to the nearby gang. Quickly Jones, Amos, Dash, Jesse, Arthur and Ford were galloping back down the trail to intercept the law. As they rode silence descended on the group broken only by the horses hooves drilling into the dirt ground. The shouting of the law grew louder and louder and soon lights were visible through the dark night. The gang came to a stop at Ford’s command and hitched their horses.

“Alright gang, this could be our last stand so let's make it count. Jones and Arthur I want you two behind that rock there. Jesse hide your weapons and step out in front of them and ask for their help or somthin’.” As Arthur and Jones hid behind the nearby big rock and Jesse tucked her guns into her pants Ford led the Austin brothers behind nearby trees that in the darkness of the night would aid them in hiding.

“This way, damn hoofprints all long here! Must be this way sir.” Called out one of the sheriff's deputies.

Another voice joined the first in claiming it was along the path that Ford and his outlaws waited along. “Alright let's follow the prints, hopefully we can finish this nasty business all up and get back for supper before all the stew’s gone.” Called out an authoritative voice.

The gang members clutched their weapons as the lawmen came along the path at a steady pace. Jesse stepped out into the middle of the road, “Hey, mister can you lend me a hand, my horse fell ways back. Was wondering if you could lend me a hand home to Oregano.”

There was a chorus of horse neighs and orders from the lawmen up on their horses. They only numbered five and with surprise on Ford’s side he was beginning to feel confident that this would not be their last stand at all.

Two of the lawmen stepped down from their horses as the other three watched the surrounding darkness with fear glinting in their eyes at what could lurk out there in the dark night.

“Now! Shoot em boys!” Jesse dived to the side as the rest of the gang came out of hiding firing. Two of the lawmen on horses were shot and fell while the other was bucked off by his terrified horse. Quickly Jesse drew her revolver and shot the man three times before turning her gun onto the two remaining lawmen.

The rest of the gang quickly surrounded the two lawmen and quickly forced them to drop their weapons before looting the three dead bodies and the two living lawmen.

“Folks we won’t tell no one ‘bout you. We saw nothin’. Swear.” Arthur laughed and Jesse jeered at the lawmen who cowered in fear.

“Ford we can leave ‘em. Knock 'em out or something. We’ll be long gone by the time they wake up.” Ford tapped his finger against his cheek before quickly holstering his pistol. “Alright, Jesse and Arthur give ‘em a knock on the head and let's get back on the road.”

Both Arthur and Jesse regarded Ford with contempt but after a few seconds they complied and clubbed the two lawmen with their fists before holstering their weapons and following the rest of their gang to their hitched horses. They quickly mounted and begin to gallop back along the trail back to their fellow gang members and hopefully freedom in the West for a gang of outlaws from the states.