Bearer of Bad Tidings

It was early in the day

when Brandy went to find Brody

She was surprised he turned deputy

He wasn't at the hotel or the jail from

What she could see.

She felt even worse

when she discovered at the saloon

That someone close to Brody

was shot by some goon.

When she stepped outside

She heard people cry, "Mudslide,

Down by the docks some waterspout.

Took some people out."

She'd seen the Doc get out his wagon.

"Do you mind if I hitch a ride?"

In the chaos, he was spied.

"Brody! Brody Delaney!" Brandy had to yell.

This place looks like hell.

Brody turned to a sight he never thought he'd see.

"Oh MY GOD! BRANDY!"

Brandy swallowed the nervousness she felt.

She had to deal with what needed to be dealt.

"Hi, there Brody. Yeah, it's me."

"What in God's name brings you to BG?"

"Let's first help Doc get these folks to safety."

The two worked tirelessly to get some trapped people

and animals free. Thankfully there were no serious injuries.

"You got them Doc U.B.?"

He nodded and thanked them for their help.

They used the water from a nearby well

To get them back to looking swell.

Brody turned, saying "Now what can I do for you?"

"I needed to talk to you, you know, about Lou?"

"Of course. Come with me."

He took her for a walk since

there weren't many places

they'd get privacy.

"So, I'm guessing you know."

Brandy nodded that she did.

"I'm so sorry Brandy."

Her true feelings she hid.

"Brody, there's no easy way

for me to say, what needs to be said.

Shamus... he's...dead."

Brody stopped still in the middle of the road.

His shock at her words clearly showed.

"What do mean dead? Rosetta left to tell him.

She said, she wouldn't leave him out of her sight."

"Rosetta never saw him, he and Lou died the same night."

"What?! How can that be?!"

"He killed himself. I'm so sorry, Brody."

"Oh God! I knew he would if he found out about Lou.

But how did he know?"

Brandy knew her next words would be a hard blow.

She took him by the hand. How to make him understand?

"Brody it was Shamus who killed Lou."

Brody pulled her hands away. "NO! There's no way!"

"He was hired to kill Pearce Wade,

he didn't know the bullet strayed.

He hit Lou and then he finished off Pearce too.

He must have been hired by someone who worked for Domain."

Her words exploded Brody's brain.

He stumbled a bit.

Brandy steadied him.

His features set.

He looked so grim.

"Where is his body?"

"Gone off the ledge of a cliff's edge."

Brody's hands ran over his face.

"So your saying Shamus' body lays broken

at the bottom of a canyon someplace?"

Brandy could only nod her head yes

As that would be her guess.

"How is it you learned all of this?"

She purposely left out Bruce's involvement,

Though she knew it was remiss.

"Brody you know I have my ways."

She found it hard to hold his gaze.

"Thank you for telling me."

"Brody, are you going to be okay?"

"In one fell swoop, I've lost my entire family."

Brandy stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.

"That's not true, you still have me."

Brody held on to Brandy tight. Wishing her words

And actions could put his world right.

"I've been looking for you all over town.

Since you disappeared.

And here you are with this clown?"

Brandy stepped away.

"Bruce?!" Brody did say.

"That's right."

Brandy stormed over to Bruce.

"You really have a knack for showing up

where you're not wanted."

Bruce just grunted.

"I had to tell Brody the news about his brother.

How he died. You know... suicide."

So for him, she had lied? Well partially anyway.

Since it didn't exactly go down that way, per se.

"You were there when he died?"

"I won't lie, Brody, I wanted him dead 

but he threw himself off the cliff instead.

Shamus didn't know he killed Lou,

He didn't intend to, but I doubt

That will be a comfort to you."

Brody couldn't talk about this with Bruce.

His anger he wanted to let loose.

He didn't expect anyone in this town

To understand his loss or the feeling that

He let his cousin down.

He promised his mother to look out for him

They've been through it all, thick and thin.

He gave Brandy a kiss on her cheek

before he walked away.

He'll talk with her more some other day.

His thoughts once again drifted to Bella Fray.

Thank God at least she was okay.

Bruce looked at Brandy, "You care to explain?"

"No." Came her answer and it drove him insane.

"You know I'm really trying to decide

if you're worth all this trouble."

Brandy began to walk away

Too many emotions today

She felt herself struggle.

"You seriously going to walk away from me?"

"Bruce please, just let me be."

He caught up in a step or two.

"What is this I hear you'll be working for Rue?"

"I got a job to tend bar.

I start tonight so I can't say

How it's going so far."

"Why are you trying to settle down

in this crumby old town.

Come back to Oh Aces with me

Once I'm settled in and running the place

You can get back to Destiny."

"One problem with that, Lou wanted to

move her operation to BG."

"Come on Brandy! In case you haven't notice

Lou is no longer here!"

Brandy spotted them before they saw

She grabbed ahold of Bruce,

Dragged him down an alley

And pinned him against the wall.

"What are you...?"

"You're right, you no longer have Lou.

So I guess we're both forced to make do."

She silenced Bruce's next words with a kiss.

Brandy didn't hold back and Bruce gave in with a hiss.

She didn't expect them to track them this fast.

She kept it up until the men had passed.

Bruce looked more than confused when she pulled away

"If you wanted me to shut up, you could just say."

He smirked at her with that grin.

And Brandy had to fight the urge to strangle him.

"I know you don't understand all that's at stake

Or when a woman kisses you and it's completely fake.

But your life is in danger, bounty hunters

probably on retainer.

That's the worst excuse I've ever heard.

"Why not just admit you want me?"

He heard Brandy swear a curse word.

As she stormed off, he grinned

Knowing he was getting under her skin.