Chapter One

Eugene grinned, his brown eyes watching the land grow in the distance. After traveling from California, he finally made to his destination; Australia. He had read a job offering in the paper asking for a long distance shooter. Knowing he was the best around his parts, he applied for the job. Somehow, he was chosen and requested to immediately leave for Fremantle, Western Australia.

When they finally arrived at the port, he grabbed his saddle and threw it over his shoulder. He had already packed the rest of his belongings. Beside him, an older couple gasped and jumped. Behind them was a tall, scruffy man with fur cap on his head. "Either hurry up or let a man pass." He grumbled.

"Partner," Eugene began. "These people have come a long way too, so I know you won't mind them going ahead." He looked at the old woman and nodded his head with a smile. "Ma'am."

They grinned as a sign of thanks. The older man rested his arm over his wife's shoulders and led her out of the boat. "Watch your step, ma'am." A crew member warned as they giddily waddled away.

The other man rolled his eyes and began walking forward. Eugene stepped forward, slightly cutting him off. "Excuse me." He said. "I'm next." He faced forward behind the old couple.

It was taking a while for the old couple to get off, especially since it was a long drop from the boat onto the dock. It didn't help that the wooden boards were slippery from the waves crashing on board.

The scruffy man scoffed. "Old people should go last or get the hell out of the way."

Sick of his attitude, Eugene swung his gun back, hitting the man behind his legs. He let out a groan as a smirk grew on Eugene's face. He began walking forward as the old lady began talking to him.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Fitzherbert. We seem to be holding that man up." She said.

"No, ma'am. I just spoke to him and he ain't in that big a hurry after all." Eugene assured, following behind them.

Eugene walked down the dock, watching the people around him. This sure was different than America. People had different accents and dressed differently than him. As he walked, his eyes immediately landed on the red coats. The British were here and taking control. The prisoners trapped between them had chains clinking around their ankles and they were dirtier than pigs in mud.

He turned the other direction, trying to avoid conflict. "Where are you from, mate?" A man from the sidelines said. There were two men, one wearing a straw hat and the other with a long beard.

"Wyoming." Eugene said, stopping to speak.

"That near Sydney?" The straw hat man asked.

"Bit further north." Eugene answered. More like a whole country away. Wyoming was definitely not in Australia.

Eugene was just starting to walk away when an older man jumped up and rushed to his side. "Hey! I can tell you're a bloke who's looking for somebody." He said. Eugene continued walking, ignoring him. They have plenty of these people in America too. "No? Something?" He pressed.

"I could use a good horse." Eugene said, keeping his eyes forward.

"Oh! It's a gentleman from the land of the free and the home of the brave." He grinned. Eugene shot him a glance. Really? This guy couldn't tell just by looking at him? "A drink, sir? A place to rest your bones? A woman, perhaps?"

Just ahead of him, a woman let out a ear piercing scream. She wrestled to get out of the men's arms. She pushed and scratched as they laughed held her tight. A crowd began to form as they watched the scene unfold.

The woman looked insane. Her blonde hair was tangled in knots and her green eyes were crazy. She leaned forward, biting one of the men's ear. He let out a loud groan and shoved her away. She fell into the arms of another man who was laughing.

The man touched his ear then pulled back his hand. The woman had bit him hard enough to make him bleed. He scowled, rushing towards her but she stopped him with a swift kick between his legs.

He groaned, leaning over. The crowd gasped as she reached back and pulled on the other man's ears. He let out a howl as she flipped around and scratched his face.

A third man rushed in and pulled his arm back for a punch. She whimpered and protected herself with her arm. When the punch didn't come, she turned around, looking.

The third man's arm was stopped by the butt of a gun. On the other side of the gun was the most handsome looking man she had even seen. His dark brown eyes and his striking brown locks all underneath his cowboy hat. "I don't reckon the lady's all that anxious to get in your wagon, mister." He said.

"Jack?" The woman asked, stepping forward. "Oh, Jack, it's you!" She cried out as she ran to his side. Her arms wrapped tightly around his body as he began to stutter.

"I'm not Jack, lady." He said, confused.

"Every time there's a ship from America I come down here looking for you. Thank God you've come for me!" She explained, her chin resting on his chest. Her arms were now wrapped under his arms, holding onto his shoulders.

He tried pushing her to the side as she continued speaking. "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." She rushed behind him, hiding from the men staring at her.

Eugene stood taller, realizing something wasn't quite right in her head. But he couldn't deal with that now. Right now, he had to protect her from the men trying to drag her into that wagon with other women.

"Does Raving Rapunzel belong to you?" One of the men asked, watching her. Ever since Rapunzel got to Australia, she got the nickname Raving Rapunzel. She hardly ever made any sense and nobody wanted her around.

"Didn't say that." Eugene said, answering their question. "I said she don't wanna get in your wagon." He explained as he felt her hand sneak under his arm and hold onto his shirt.

"Well, the boss says we can take some white tarts back to the station, 'cause we're sick of black ladies." One of them fired back. "So you just tell Rapunzel to come real quiet and we'll feed her regular and everything."

"Please take me home, Jack." She pleaded. Eugene looked down, knowing he couldn't give her to these men. He knew what they wanted to do to her and he couldn't let them do that.

Seeing his hesitation, one of the men stepped forward. Eugene tapped out his gun, stopping the man from coming any closer. Rapunzel and the crowd gasped. Nobody has ever done that.

"Bugger off, mate." The man growled.

Eugene just gave him a soft smile. "Excuse me." He said. He walked away, Rapunzel still tightly holding onto his arm. He stopped and set down his belongings, Rapunzel standing closely them.

"I'm new here, so I ain't rightly certain." He began as he placed everything down but his gun. He turned around, walking towards the men. "Is everybody in this country as butt-ugly as you three?"

One the men pulled back his arm and swung. Eugene ducked then hit him in the face with the butt of his gun. The crowd gasped as the man fell to the ground. The second walked forward but was shut down with the butt of the gun to his face. The third one got ready to swing, but Eugene hit him too.

Men began shouting at Eugene to hit them again. They loved a good fight. It didn't matter who it was or the reason as long as it was exciting.

Thinking he was in trouble, Rapunzel grabbed an oar off the ground. "Look out, Jack!" She cried as she swung it. She missed everyone but Eugene, hitting him square in the face.

He fell to the ground with a groan. "Sorry, Jack!" She exclaimed. She rushed forward and began beating one of the men with the oar.

The first one jumped to his feet and kicked Eugene in the guts. Soon, it was a full blown fight. It was Eugene and Rapunzel against the three men. Rapunzel was working on one while Eugene handled the other two.

Somehow, Rapunzel got thrown against Eugene, knocking him to the ground. "You stay out of this!" He shouted, frustrated with her.

"I'm sorry, Jack." She said as he jumped to his feet.

"My name ain't Jack. It's Eugene Fitzherbert." He said. Suddenly, the men stopped and stared.

"You?" One of them asked.

"You're the fella Gaston sent us to bring back." A different one spoke up. Eugene furrowed his eyebrows, slightly confused. What were the odds that he was in a fight with his new coworkers?

"We sure showed them, didn't we, Jack?" Rapunzel said. He turned around, looking at her.

She scrunched her small nose and grinned at him. Well, she might be crazy, but she was attractive. Now, if only she could learn his name.

xxx

So the group took off to Gaston's. They hopped into the wagon and began the long journey to the homestead. "You got somethin' against ridin' horses in this country?" Eugene asked as they traveled over a hill.

"We ride 'em when it suit us. Bullocks eat and drink rougher." One of the men explained. "You can put your saddle on one of them if you like." He teased. The other men laughed at the joke while Eugene shook his head with a smile.

"Riding in the back of the wagon with the women." He said. "Should have known to bring my own horse."

A crazy laugh came from the back of the wagon. They looked back, seeing Rapunzel peeking out from under a blanket she used to block the wind.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Eugene shouted, annoyed with her.

"Don't worry, Jack. Everything's gonna turn out just fine." She said. Eugene rolled his eyes at her. How he had gotten mixed up with a fella named Jack he had no idea, but it seemed like everything he told her went in one ear and out the other.

xxx

The group had stopped for the night. Eugene sat by his own small fire as the rest of the men tended to their wounds. Eugene heard a ripping sound then feet walking towards him. He looked to the side, seeing Rapunzel walking to him with a piece of her dress. "What the hell are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm gonna bandage your head." She said, bending down beside him.

"Oh, no you're not." He quickly denied, jumping to his feet. Couldn't this woman leave him alone?

"Oh, but it must hurt real bad." She pressed as she chased after him. "I wanna help it get better."

"Quit!" Eugene shouted as he backed away from her like she was carrying some type of disease. He just wanted some peace and quiet. He definitely didn't need a bandage. She frowned, stopping. "You've helped me enough already." He said. "I'm much obliged." He added, making her smile.

He walked away, sitting by his fire again. Slowly, she walked up behind him. "I don't know why you're being such a big baby about this, Jack." She began. She pulled the bandage over his face, pulling it tight. "Just... Hold still!" She shouted as he struggled to free himself.

"Quit!" He exclaimed, standing up. She toppled over, her face landing on the ground. "Now who the hell is this Jack, anyway?" He asked.

"Hey! Do you need a hand with Raving Rapunzel?" A man called out. Everyone else began to laugh as they looked at the two. It really was a scene. Rapunzel was all over him and he wanted nothing to do with her.

Rapunzel looked up, her cheeks a soft pink in embarrassment. Seeing that he was being harsh with her, he held out his hand. "Here." He said, helping her upright again.

"Thank you." She said. She jumped to her feet, looking up at him.

"Now look, lady. I don't know no Jack, so you just leave me alone." Eugene calmly said.

She nodded her head with a soft smile. She reached out and patted the dust off of his shirt then slowly walked away. "Go on." Eugene encouraged.

He walked back over to his fire, mumbling to himself as he fixed it up again. She sure made his life here very interesting. He groaned, sitting down again. "Yoo-hoo." A soft voice called.

What could she want now? He looked over his shoulder, seeing her quietly sitting on a log. She twiddled her fingers at him as a wave and smiled. "Goodnight, Jack."

He let out a sigh. "Goodnight, lady."

~~~~~~~~~~