I'm Not Just a Pretty Face

As soon as Talulah heard Denver's instructions to Conan, her mind was on fire and formulating plans to usurp him.

She knew it would be relatively easy to outsmart Conan but taking the risk of double-crossing Denver would be far trickier, but she relished the challenge of proving to the arrogant son of a b****, that she was not just a pretty face.

Dashing off ahead of Conan, she was soon in a conference with her most trusted girls. She told them it was more than obvious, that Denver's primary intention was to put on a show. With the aim of fostering the opinion he was angered by the bank's robbery and needed to protect his investment. And that it was also clear, he intended to make sure the varmints escaped with their swag.

When it was time for the call to arms, she and her girls were ready to volunteer, their willingness fired by greed, not revenge on men who had been, both the previous night's best customers and high rollers at the gaming tables.

They flocked to the road where it went over the bridge, like a gaggle of aimless sheep, or at least that's how it seemed.In truth, every one of her chosen band had a role to play, and in the apparent commotion, it was easy for a few of them slip into the dark, unnoticed and await the outcome of her clever, but risky plan.

When the first of the wagons came out of the dark, it was met by a hail of hot lead. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was a miracle no one was hit.

But, with a steely determination, Talulah stood her ground and aimed, she took her time, she would only have one chance to get this right.

Slowly squeezing the trigger until it fired, the recoil from the old buffalo gun nearly dislocated her shoulder, the pain unbearable.But, through her pain, she could see her aim was true as one of the leading horses stumbled and the wagon veered off the road and into the dark on the far side of the bridge.

The girls were ready and waiting as it capsized when plunging into the river.

Without hesitation, they entered the water and saved its driver from drowning. He was stunned by the rescue, and even more so when one of them gave him a bag of loot and showed him where he could wade safely across the river, by hanging to the broken linkage of the surviving horse, he didn't hang around to ask why when she kissed him goodbye.

Talulah was one smart woman, she knew his spending would cast doubt on how much money he'd got away with.Now that's what she called, a good investment.And just for good measure. they opened another bag and threw its contents into the air to float away on the river, before disappearing into the night. With as much loot as they could carry, they travelled knee deep, until way up the river, to a point they would leave no trail.

They cleared the scene just before the gaggle arrived, bringing chaos with it, from the bridge. To enhance the confusion, her faithful girls still in the gaggle were whispering false rumors, that the river was infested with Alligators.

Only the Sheriff it appears was wise to this deception, and when passing he yelled back at Denver and Talulah, in his usual gruff manner.

"Stop pussyfooting around in your fancy clothes, and get that wagon out of the water, before everything is lost."

Not even Denver saw the smile warming Talulah's face, at the thought of a successful plan.