Chapter Three

Night had fallen. The temperature had dropped and supper was served. The ranch hands ate outside while Eugene was brought indoors to eat with Gaston. Jealousy was beginning to infect some of the men like a deadly disease.

"Well, you gotta admit the Yank's a damn good shot with a long rifle." Coogan said.

"Oh, sure. But, you know, you give me a weapon like that and I could beat him with my eyes shut." Varian nearly spat as he paced on the porch of the house across from Gaston's.

The older men lightly laughed at the boy's comment. "Easy to say, Varian. You've got a lot to learn." Coogan said.

"I've got a lot to learn?" Varian asked. He looked around at the group of men sitting at the table. "Well, look at you, Dobkin. Why, you've been here 12 years, and all you've got to show for it is cold mutton." He said. He looked at Gaston's house and pointed at it with his gun. "He's even getting a fancy dinner."

Dobkin looked at Varian. As arrogant as the boy was, he was right. He had been here for over a decade and never got the treatment Eugene Fitzherbert was getting. It didn't seem right in this lighting.

xxx

"You were actually in Dodge City?" Gaston asked, looking down the table. At the opposite end was Eugene. Gaston was very impressed with his guest. He had many interesting stories that intrigued him. Eugene knew more than Gaston figured. "William Hickok must have been there."

"Oh, spent a night there once. I was pretty tired." Eugene said. "Dodge City's a nice place to get some sleep." He was still trying to figure out Gaston. He couldn't read him very well. He seemed genuinely interested about his life, but Eugene couldn't get that scene out of his head. How could Gaston kill a person and be so proud about it?

An Aborigine came over to the table, filling Eugene's glass. Eugene was also confused by this. The Aborigine looked strong enough to take on Gaston. Judging by his gray hair, Eugene guessed he had been here a long time. But he couldn't tell if it was by choice.

"Are you familiar with the Army revolver, Mr. Fitzherbert?" Gaston asked, reaching for his gun on the table.

"Well, sir, I never had much use for one." Eugene said.

"It's a recent invention of your countryman Colonel Colt." Gaston said, leaning forward. He was quite proud of his weapon. It was so handy and suited him well.

"God created all men. They say Sam Colt made 'em equal. More or less." Eugene said, watching Gaston.

Gaston chuckled, shaking his head. "You see, that's what I like about you Americans. You're people of action, not words." He smiled. He pointed down the table. "That mint jelly on your lamb. It's my own creation." He then sat upright, taking a deep breath. "No, I'm a student of your American West. I've read a great deal about it."

"Tell me about dingoes." Eugene said, changing the subject. He wanted to know about the animal he would be shooting. He guessed he would be here to keep them off of the property. "£10 a month for shooting wild dogs seems like a whole lot for not much." He said. "Besides, you got enough men and guns outside to kill every dingo within ten miles of here." He added.

Gaston stayed silent. Eugene continued on, staring Gaston down. "Unless you're taking about deserters."

Gaston circled his jaw, thinking about how to respond. "Did you know that your American Indian is a race that has no word for 'wheel?'" He said. Eugene tightened his jaw, wondering where he was going with this. "No concept of farming. No understanding of land ownership."

Gaston looked at the Aborigine and pointed towards the fireplace. "Is that a fact?" Eugene asked.

Gaston hummed, nodding his head. "But from what I hear, you found a solution to that problem in your country."

The Aborigine grabbed a box and walked over to Eugene. He lifted the lid, showing him the cigars. Eugene shook his head and looked at Gaston. "I guess that depends on whether you're an Indian or not."

The American Indians were currently being pushed out of their old land. They were being forced to do things they didn't want and move unreasonable amounts of miles. So, they fought back. But so did the Americans, but with guns.

"You see, in many ways our two nations are quite similar." Gaston said. The Aborigine offered Gaston a cigar, which he gladly took. "We both brought civilization to the Stone Age."

He bit off the end of the cigar and spit it at the ground. The Aborigine bent down and picked it up as Gaston continued talking. "Unfortunately, in this country we have failed in one regard." He leaned over, lighting his cigar from the candle on the table. "We have been unable to domesticate the most backward people in the world, the Australian Aborigine."

Eugene looked over, watching the Aborigine at work. How did he feel hearing that about his people? Didn't that make him angry? How could he stand listening to this? "Don't mind him. He's harmless." Gaston said.

Seeing that Eugene's gaze didn't move, he continued on. "My parents were slaughtered by Aborigines, Mr. Fitzherbert. They attacked so fast my mother was found dead still holding her sewing." Eugene looked down at the table. "Nowadays they butcher sheep and cattle. Her Majesty's government allows the local settlers to deal with the matter their own way."

This caught Eugene's attention. He looked up, studying Gaston's face. "It's official policy. It's called 'pacification by force.' But the real issue is that, primitive as they are, the Aborigines have learned to keep out of rifle range." Gaston paused. "Which brings us to you, Mr. Fitzherbert." He softly spoke.

Suddenly, Gaston flew through the front window. The glass shattered everywhere and caught the attention of everyone.

"What the hell?" Coogan asked.

The men rushed to put on their boots. They jumped from their seats and ran to Gaston. "No! Stay right where you are!" He shouted, pointing at them. The men skidded to a halt, listening to Gaston panting. "No man knocks me out of my own house." He mumbled.

He turned around and stumbled up the stairs. Everyone looked at each other, unsure what to think. A punch echoed through the front yard as Gaston came flying out of the house again. He smashed on his back. He quickly sat up and flipped around. "Well, don't just stand there! Get him!" He shouted.

He stood up and leaned against a pillar. The men walked up the front steps then stopped outside the front door. "Has he got the rifle with him?" Coogan asked.

"He keeps it right beside him." Broody added.

"I said, get him!" Gaston commanded, grabbing Coogan's shirt and throwing him towards the door.

Coogan stopped beside the door. He leaned against the wall then bent down. He peeked his head in, trying to see Eugene. Suddenly, the candle went out in the house and it grew dark inside.

Eugene tipped back his drink and let out a loud sigh. This wouldn't take long.

"He's just sitting in there with that big gun." Coogan whispered.

Eugene stood up and flipped the table over. He would need some type of protect from these idiots. Why would they think he would be up for killing Aborigines just to keep them off of Gaston's land? It wasn't right.

He perched his gun on the table, using it as a resting spot so he wouldn't have to hold it. He listened to Coogan giving out commands for spots for men to go. He couldn't wait for this to start.

Suddenly, he was hit on the back of the head. Standing above him was the Aborigine.

The men rushed in and pulled Eugene out. They stood around him in a circle in the front yard and began throwing punches at him. One after another after another. One man grabbed his hair and held him upright. "Fancy American shooter." He spat before punching him in the gut.

They threw him to the ground, starting to kick him. "Eating real fancy, eh?" Another man scoffed before kicking him.

Gaston stood on the porch, watching in delight as he wiped the blood from his lip and nose. Eugene Fitzherbert would pay for this. He would pay for the day he treated Gaston Myers wrong.

"Go on, kick him in the back!"

"Give it to him in the back! Come on! That's it."

"Leave Jack alone!" A voice shouted out. She jumped into the middle of the men, tackling one to the ground.

"Get her off me!" He shouted as the men laughed. She dragged her nails down his face, leaving two long marks, which began bleeding immediately. He pulled back his arm and punched her in the face.

She fell to the ground, landing on Eugene.

Seeing that Eugene was taken care off, Gaston walked over to the men. "Take him in the wagon. Haul him two days from here and dump him. Let Australia kill him."

"And that crazy woman, too." Coogan declared, pointing at Rapunzel.

xxx

The fiery red sun burned bright in the sky. In the back of the wagon was an unconscious Rapunzel and nearly dead Eugene. A bandana was wrapped tightly around her mouth, acting as a gag to prevent her from screaming. Her hands were tied in an expert knot to stop her from escaping if she ever woke up. Eugene's right eye was a deep shade of purple and blood pooled down from his face. It was a surprise he was still breathing.

The wagon came to a stop in the middle of the dusty desert. Coogan walked to the back and flipped down the gate. He grabbed Rapunzel by the shoulders and dragged her out, her limp body crashing to the ground. A small groan came from her as Coogan went to retrieve Eugene. He grabbed his shoulders and dragged him out too, tossing him on the ground beside Rapunzel.

Now that his job was finished, Coogan tightened the end of the wagon and hopped up front beside Miller. They clicked the reins then began to trot back to Gaston's.

"You forgot the gold." Eugene strained to whisper.

Coogan pulled the horses to a stop. "What'd he say?" He asked. The two men turned around, looking at Eugene.

"You forgot the gold." He repeated.

Coogan looked at Miller. "Gaston."

"He paid him in gold." Miller finished.

Coogan nodded his head. "Gaston." He muttered to himself. He looked up. "He's right."

He then jumped out of the wagon and marched to Eugene's body. But on his way over, Eugene used all of his energy to reach into his boot. Carefully, he slipped out his knife, prepared to fight.

A grin was wide on Coogan's face as he looked down at Eugene. He couldn't wait to get his hands on that gold.

"Leave us some water and you can have the gold." Eugene said, hiding his knife against his thigh.

Coogan tipped up his hat with a smile. "I can have the gold anyway." In this light, you could clearly see the scratch marks left on his face from Rapunzel.

"That's what I thought you'd say." Eugene sighed.

Coogan set down Eugene's rifle and knelt beside Eugene. Just as he began to flip Eugene's body over, Eugene stabbed him in the guts. Coogan let out a loud groan and Eugene tossed him to the side.

Miller let out a loud yell and cracked the reins of the horses. They took off in a sprint, running away from Eugene.

Eugene struggled to keep his head up, but forced his body to sit upright. His ribs screamed in pain and he bent forward, reaching for his gun. Eugene crawled on his belly, gripping his rifle. He had to perform this shot.

He loaded the gun, his arms and stomach throbbing in pain. But he pushed on. He propelled himself to Coogan's dead body. He pulled out a bullet from his belt and shoved it into the gun. He only had a few more seconds before Miller was out of range.

Miller continued to scream at the horses, urging them to move faster. He had to get out of Eugene's aim. And unfortunately for him, there was nothing to protect him from Eugene. They were in the middle of the desert.

Eugene rested the gun on Coogan's body and brought it up to his swollen purple eye. They had hit him in his good eye, making it hard to see out of. And now, since he started to move, blood began to pour from the open cut open it, blocking his vision.

He took his knuckle, rubbing the thick red blood from his eye then aimed again. He had to make this shot. He fired, the bullet taking a few seconds before hitting Miller in the back. He fell of the wagon with a groan, instantly dead while the horses raced away into the distance.

Eugene let out a sigh of relief then crawl on his hands and knees to Rapunzel. He had to make sure she was okay. She took a beating for him and was now paying the price of being trapped out here with him.

He grabbed his knife and her hands and began to saw away the rope tying them together. She groaned awake, blinking her green eyes at him. "I wish people would quit hitting me on the head." He said.

"Don't worry," she spoke up. "On a new job it's quite common for things not to go well at first."

He stopped and looked at her. She began to laugh, a smile growing on her face. Eugene began to laugh as well, wiping the blood from his eye. As crazy as she was, she sure knew how to make a situation better. He fell on his back laughing as she sat upright giggling.

~~~~~~~~~~