Along the edges of the Agua Negra river, a pair of riders appeared. Kristal watched them from her hidden position, only glancing every so often to where she knew McCloskey was. The man's advances had increased after the night in the woods. Billy, Chavez, and now Charlie barely let her out of their sight, even though the only one who knew of McCloskey's advances was Bonney. It was growing increasingly annoying and she was about to stick her Bowie knife in the man's chest if he didn't cut his shit out. The only reason she hadn't done anything was because surprisingly, Dick had laid off her some. Killing one of their own, even though Kristal didn't feel that McCloskey was in any way a true Regulator, would surely cause good old Dicky boy to shit bricks. So, for now, she was trying to restrain herself. And, she had to admit, she was rather proud of herself for being able to hold back.

Now, she sat, hidden among the brush waiting for the signal. They had been trailing two of Murphy's men for a day and a half. Morton and Baker, if she remembered their surnames correctly. And now, here they were. Walking or rather riding right into their little trap. They would have caught them sooner, but because of her little fall, and the headache she had been dealing with, Dick had decided to stay an extra day at their camp. It had been a rare move of kindness by him and she half wondered if it was because he felt bad about hitting her. Either way, she was grateful. It had given her time to recoup so she was up to par.

The two men edged their horses closer. It was only minutes before one, she didn't know which, got off their horse and started talking about horse shit. This is why she felt men were idiots. Perhaps not all; she had grown a deep respect for Chavez, and Charlie had become a dear friend as well as Doc, even though the blond man was often distracted as of late. Hell, even Steve wasn't so bad. Billy and Richard still managed to make her temper rise, but oddly enough Kristal knew she would watch their back, even if they didn't watch hers. However, McCloskey she'd let bleed out if it came down to it.

Loyalty and devotion was something she favored most among others, and sadly it was also sorely lacking in the majority of people she knew. And yet, she couldn't help but be loyal to those she respected and cared for. And somehow, even Dick and Billy fell into that category. How, she wasn't quite sure. Maybe because they had been one of Tunstall's boys and she felt obligated to watch out for them no matter how annoying they were.

Yet, McCloskey never even crossed her mind when it came to loyalty and comraderie. He had never struck her as loyal. Nor as one of the Regulators loyal to Tunstall. In her opinion, he was expendable. Maybe that made her cold, but she didn't care. McCloskey was not someone she trusted, at all, ever.

Chavez's voice drifted to her, and on cue she rose from her spot only to lean against a nearby dying tree. Chavez had his knife around the shit head Murphy man, while the other bastard, still astride his horse, was stopped by Doc's rifle aimed at his chest.

"Buenos dias, shitheads." Richard greeted nodding his head to them, the only Regulator still astride his horse.

To Kristal, Dick appeared like a goddamn king, reigning over his subjects. It annoyed her, but she said nothing as Chavez made Morton stand, removing the knife from his neck to dig it into his back.

Frank Baker still sat astride his horse, turning his gaze on all of them, lingering on the woman before stopping on Richard. "You don't understand, Dick. By killing Henry Hill you all started a war." He shook his head as if it bothered him. "Murphy wants your heads. All of you. Hers included, despite her being a woman and all."

Anger sparked in Dick's eyes and he snarled in response to Baker's words. "By killing Mr. Tunstall, you all started the damn war, Baker."

Morton just scoffed, not at all worried about the boys that were standing around them. After all, they were just that. Boys. "All the same, we're talking 50-60 men against your what 6 or 7? We're with the ring, Dick. What do you got? A few boys and a outlaw whore?"

"Strike one, Morton... call me a whore again an' I'll kill ya." Came Kristal's voice from behind the others, knife now twirling in her hand, menacingly. Goddamn! Why did everyone always refer to her as a whore? It irritated her. Just because she was an outlaw, didn't mean she didn't have some kind of morals... and standards.

The blond head of Billy's rounded the man Chavez was guarding before leaning in to speak in Morton's ear. His gruff voice was soft but cold. It held all the hate he had for the men responsible for Tunstall's death. "We're gonna burry you, you can believe that."

Dick's eyes shot to Billy, a frown curling at his already dour expression. "Quiet Bonney!" His gaze then shifted to Kristal, "you too, Starr!" The man then turned to Morton and Baker, hoping to keep some semblance of justice, "we're taking you to jail. No killin'."

The expression on Billy's face shifted, a dark frown appearing on his normally jovial features, while Kristal merely rolled her eyes. She would do what she wanted. If the man called her a whore again, she'd make good on her promise.

"Objection your honor! These boys are going to the grave in the name of John Tunstall." Billy argued, wanting swift justice.

"I said quiet Billy, I don't need that kind of talk." Yelled Dick, growing heated. He would not have this, not when they were bound by the oath they made. Mistakes happened with Henry Hill, he hoped to rectify it now. McCloskey glanced his way, but Dick paid no never mind. "The law don't talk like that, Billy."

Now it was Kristal's turn to scoff, still casually leaning up against her tree. "Hell if they don't."

"Shut the hell up Starr. The Law don't talk like that." Dick snarled, not even bothering to turn his gaze toward her.

The woman shrugged, her knife twirling effortlessly between fingers. She was growing bored. "Think what ya want, Brewer. I've come across many a lawman, and quite a few o' them would put a bullet 'tween yer eyes as soon as look at ya. They don't really care fer trials an' justice. Jus' the damn reward." Her gaze was on Morton, eyeing the bastard as she spoke. "They ain't as upstandin' as ya think they are."

"That so? How do you know so much then? Wouldn't they have just killed ya?" Richard countered with a smug expression pleased with his comeback.

With a roll of her eyes, green orbs turned on the dark haired man lording over them like the king he apparently claimed to be. "Not at all, Dick darlin'. I'm jus' good at what I do."

This time it was Dick that scoffed, "what's that? Kill people? You certainly have a hankering for it."

An amused smirk pulled at Kristal's lips, "tha's only one o' m' many skills, Dick. A gal can't reveal 'em all." She brazenly winked at him and bit back a laugh at the look of disgust that crossed his face. "Jus' believe me when I say, I've been around enough lawmen ta know that they're assholes --- crooked fucks who want money, power, and fame."

"I think she might be right, Dick. The law don't kill innocent merchants either do it?" Steve spoke up growing tired of their incessant bickering. They had a job to do and he was leaning towards Billy and Kristal's point of view.

Doc, who had been glancing between Dick, Billy and Kristal and their quarry, growled at Steve, "shut up dirt face."

Shaking his head, Billy spoke up. He wanted to deal justice --- his kind of justice. "We're gonna take these son of a bitches up to Capitan Mountain and blow their brains out." He glanced at Kristal, his manic smile returning before turning to Steve, "ain't that right Steve. Kris can come too since she's got more balls than all y'all apparently."

Steve was nodding with excitement agreeing with Billy's plan. Kristal opened her mouth to respond to the blonde, when McCloskey decided to speak. "Hey, Billy, easy." The man seemed to be trying to calm the situation, but also apparently was siding with Dick.

As soon as she heard the sound of McCloskey's voice, Kristal cringed and turned to glare at the former Murphy man. She still had her doubts. He had been stalking her and annoying her since Tunstall's death and it was getting old. Just the sound of his voice grated on her nerves. She glanced around to see if anyone else noticed anything weird about McCloskey's sudden decision to get involved. To her relief, Chavez was eyeing the man with suspicion.

Turning to Dick, McCloskey appeared thoughtful, "hey, Dick...?" The man began, offering his opinion on the direction they should take next. "I don't think we should take them by way of south fork."

To his credit, Dick looked remarkably confused, even a little suspicious. "Why's that?"

McCloskey continued, shrugging for added effect. "I think Murphy will be watching the trail there and ambush it. I think we should go straight through to Lincoln. It'll be easier anyhow taking in these two."

The blatant way that McCloskey had said that caused Kristal's mouth to drop open for a moment. Was he serious? Or was he just that stupid? God, she hoped no one else was buying into his bullshit. "Ya gotta be kiddin' me right now..." She muttered under her breath. "Yer not honestly thinkin' of listenin' ta that dipshit are ya, Dick?"

"If you can keep your goddamn mouth shut for two minutes I can think on this, Starr. And you might wanna stop calling your allies names." Dick replied merely waving a hand of dismissal at her.

"It's alright, Dick. She's been chasing my tail since the funeral. It's endearing really." McCloskey said smiling at her.

Several of the boys suddenly turned to look at her with brows raised wondering if it was true. What hurt the most was that Doc and Charlie were among them. Dick's gaze was practically expected, except there was something else in his eyes. Was it disappointment? How the hell was she disappointing him? And Steve's amused gaze and his waggling of his eyebrows was not unusual, but the implications were annoying. The man could be a bit lewd.

Still McCloskey's accusation rubbed at her already grating nerves. "McCloskey, yer the biggest fuckin' prick I know. I'd rather kiss a rattler than even think of you let alone chase yer ass. Yer delusional! As well as deviatin' from the fact that it's actually been you who has been tryin' ta take advantage o' me." Now all the boys were staring at him. A few even frowning. "Tryin' several attempts ta drug me, stalkin' me, harassin' me... need I go on?" She just couldn't hold it in any longer.

Trying to take advantage of the distraction, Morton tried inching away. Chavez caught him and placed his knife blade deeper into his back. "Why didn't you say anything sooner Chiquita?"

Kristal just gave him a pointed look and before she could speak, Dick's voice boomed. "Why should we believe you? McCloskey is a Regulator. He stood with us as we buried Tunstall." The man shook his head as if in disbelief to what she had said. "And why the hell would he even want you? You don't even dress how a woman should. You're acting like he would have taken advantage of you. That is a grave accusation, Starr and I don't much like it."

Shock flickered over Kristal's face. This was why she hadn't wanted to say anything in the first place. But she got tired of McCloskey's idiocy and facades. He may have the rest fooled, but she knew he wasn't a Regulator. He didn't have their backs like she did. McCloskey, in her opinion, was still working for Murphy and if they followed his idea, they would surely perish.

Still, her own devotion and loyalty to the men did nothing to ease the pain she felt at Dick's words. Hadn't she stood with them, as well when they buried John? Mourning the man that had been almost like a father figure to her, along with the rest of them? "Yer serious, Dick? Ya don't believe me? I was around longer than McCloskey-"

"Yeah, but he didn't lie to us about who he really was. We knew he was turning a new leaf, coming to us from Murphy's." Dick snarled, cutting her off.

"What the fu-...?" Kristal stared at Richard, incredulous, unable to even finish her sentence. She was honestly speechless. He was still angry about that, after all this time?

"Yer still goin' on 'bout this? I'm a fuckin' outlaw Dick! Get the hell over it! So what! I didn't fuckin' tell ya. I had m' reasons! But I also never claimed ta be anything other than what I was either. I never denied it." Kristal shook her head pushing away from the tree to move around Dick so she could see McCloskey better. "It was fer everyone's own good. This may surprise ya, but I was doin' it to protect y'all. An' yet ya believe this dipshit over here. How d'ya know he ain't still workin' fer Murphy?" She waved her hand at the man with vehemence.

"It's alright, Dick... I understand that not everyone likes me. Though, she's had me fooled. All this time, I thought she was making subtle advances... " McCloskey said acting disheartened by the fact and then added a look of disgust crossing his face, as if it was unwanted. He then turned to her, "how dare you accuse me! I've been loyal through it all. Unlike you, killing up that shack at Bluewater Creek."

"Ya better shut yer goddamn mouth McCloskey 'fore I cut yer fuckin' tongue out." Kristal's temper was rising. She hated the fact that she felt so hurt by Dick's accusations. Sure, she and Richard Brewer didn't get along at all, but she had been with them far longer than McCloskey. She could have hightailed it and disappeared, but she didn't. And the fact he didn't see that, hurt.

Slowly, Kristal strolled towards McCloskey, knife still in hand. "Ya act all innocent. But yer not on our side. Yer a rat. Ya've been with Murphy from day one. I bet that's who gave ya the drug ta begin with." She turned suddenly to Dick, "An' you! Believin' this shit-head over me. I ain't a whore. I don't chase assholes. I'm jus' stupid enough to ride with 'em."

Dick opened his mouth to reply when Billy suddenly shouted, "hey!" The abruptness of the blond's call surprised them all. Billy was now glaring at McCloskey.

"What?" McCloskey questioned, once again acting the epitome of confusion. Though, he was beginning to sweat at Billy's gaze and Kristal's closeness with that knife of hers.

Shaking his head, Billy frowned. "I saw that. Kristal ain't wrong about you is she?"

Kristal only rolled her eyes. She was done arguing. And she was done with McCloskey. One false move and he would be dead. She couldn't deal with it anymore.

It was then Charlie who broke in, chocolate colored eyes turning on Billy before flashing with paranoia to McCloskey. He felt somewhat guilty for not sticking up for Kristal. But what did he know? "What? What'd ya see?" He queried in response to the manic blond. Again his eyes flashed around. "What'd ya see?"

"What?" Was all McCloskey again said, confusion pulling at his brow. He swallowed and suddenly felt a knife point poking his back.

"Yer goin' down McCloskey. One way or another." Kristal hissed quietly in his ear behind him.

Billy's eyes narrowed on McCloskey. His gaze barely flickered to Kristal seeing her looking at him before they went back to the man he was questioning. "He knows what I just saw."

Licking his lips, McCloskey didn't move, "What are you talking about." He started to back up when that knife dug a little deeper.

"Kris..." Doc said, as if in reprimand to her, noticing the knife. He watched as she swore and lowered the weapon. Doc then turned back to Billy wondering what he was getting at.

"Where's the ambush McCloskey? In Lincoln? You're trying to steer us away from Capitan because you know your men, MURPHEY'S men are waiting to jump us in Lincoln." Billy growled, nearly shouting that contemptuous name. "Kristal ain't wrong at all... In fact, she's been wary of you from the beginnin'. Maybe we all should have."

Atop his horse, Dick let out a frustrated sigh. "Billy what are you talking about? McCloskey's with us, he's a Regulator."

"Nice ta know he's a Regulator... all I've ever been called has been that outlaw." Kristal growled loud enough for most of them to hear, anger and angst in her voice.

Billy didn't give anyone else time to speak. He simply answered Dick, "yeah, but he used to ride with Murphy that's what I'm talking about. He tried offering Kris a drink at the New Years party too. And then again the other night, in the woods, when he was stalkin' her." His eyes narrowed on McCloskey, "I got the feeling she weren't tellin' me everything. If you touched her or hurt her..."

"I didn't!" McCloskey cried out. "Why would I want to touch her."

Kristal stayed quiet not wanting to say anything about that. It was a memory she wanted to bury deep inside and never think about again.

"That was a long time ago." Dick argued to which Kristal rolled her eyes again that familiar pain gripping her heart. "And what the hell are you talking about? What drink? And what time in the woods?"

"He's a spy!" Billy yelled, and again everyone jumped in surprise. The man pulled his gun and aimed it at McCloskey's head not bothering to elaborate further.

"He's been with us. We made a pact. Right McCloskey?" Dick continued trying to reason with Billy. This was getting out of hand. If he didn't do something, Billy was bound to kill the other boy. "He ain't doing nothing to Kristal either, right?"

"Right." McCloskey says fear in his eyes, visibly shaking and staring down the barrel of Billy's gun. "Jesus Billy. Come on." He held out his hand in an offer to shake, hoping to rectify the situation. "Come on. We're friends. Kristal's just misreading things. Thinking things that ain't happening. I ain't doing none of that. I'm a Regulator."

Billy looked at McCloskey's hand considering. His gaze lifted to the accused man then to Kristal who was now standing a few feet from him. The look in her eyes pained him and he knew what he was about to do, was going to make that even worse. "Ah, shit. I'm sorry, McCloskey." Billy sighed, and put his gun away to shake the offered hand. He tried to avoid looking at Kristal who was shaking her head as if in disbelief. "I'm sorry I didn't sniff you out sooner, ya goddamn traitor." All acting aside now, he shook his head and pulled his other gun with his left hand and lifted the gun to McCloskey's head.

The man didn't have time to move as the gun sounded and the bullet entered McCloskey's skull. Billy merely smirked with satisfaction, his gaze returning to Kristal. She had splashes of blood on her face, but otherwise stared at him with shock. The woman only moved when Billy, feeling a bit smug, winked at her. Turning he saw Doc splattered with McCloskey's blood as well and then raised his gun to shoot the already dead man in the chest. McCloskey's body fell back into the river and was drug down stream.

Horror ridden, Dick shouted after a moment of complete surprise, "BILLY!"

Charlie joined in, shock written on his face."Billy! Shit! What the hell! Jesus!"

Doc merely stared in shock, his mouth parted not even noticing the blood spattered all over him.

Among the chaos, the two Murphy men tried to take their chances in trying to escape. Kristal, easily brushing aside her own surprise, noticed one of the men bolt on foot and immediately threw the knife that was still in her hand at Baker; Chavez followed suit and threw his knife as well. Billy still with gun in hand, shot Baker, even as the man was already falling to the ground.

"Shit!" Richard shouted realizing that everything had quickly gone to hell. "Hold your fire! Halt! SHIT!"

Finally coming to his senses, Doc noticed Morton trying to kick his horse into motion in order to ride off. Taking his rifle in hand, with calculated precision, Doc aimed and fired. Morton jerked and fell from his retreating horse.

Dick was growing annoyed now. Not one of them was listening to him. "Hold your goddamn fire."

Seeing Morton manage to get up off the ground and try for the river, Doc swore. "Get that son of a bitch!"

Turning at the sound of Doc's voice, Steve saw Morton splashing through the river trying to escape into the brush. Gun already in hand, prepared for this moment, he fired at Morton and felt a little giddy at seeing the man fall. He came back up, floating face down in the river.

A panicked Charlie was now rocking back and forth thoroughly freaking out and repeatedly uttering, "Oh God!" He was terrified. This was not what he signed up for.

Not far from Charlie, Chavez quietly moved to retrieve his knife. He pulled both his and Kristal's knife, impressed at where she had hit the man. Neither Billy or himself had needed to help bring the man down. Her knife had gone through the back of Baker's neck, killing him near instantly. Wiping off the knives on the dead man's clothes, he turned to head back to the rest of them.

"Court adjourned." Billy finally said, his tone smug. He nodded his head as if in satisfaction. He glanced at Kristal and was about to speak to her when Dick rode over.

"Moron!" Dick shouted moving to Billy's side. "You're out of line, you son of a bitch." He glared at Billy before rounding on the blonde woman. "And you! You only added to this mess! All your accusations and bullshit!"

"Richard," Doc spoke, glancing at Kristal, noticing her gaze narrowing before turning to Dick. "They were right. McCloskey was acting strange."

Running a hand through her hair, she looked towards Doc. Her gaze was sharp, accusatory. The man couldn't look at her long, which was just fine. She was not happy with the whole lot of them. The only one who stood up for her was... Dear God, it was Billy! A muscle in her jaw tightened, but she didn't turn away. If any of them wanted to look her in the eye, then they damn well could. As for Dick, she felt he could kiss her ass. How dare he treat her like she was the problem!

The man still astride the horse swore. Shaking his head, Dick looked at Doc, "then that means we just killed three more Murphy men, right?"

Doc merely nodded. "Right."

A still hyperventilating Charlie, was standing off to the side staring at the dead bodies floating on the river's surface. "Oh Christ, Jesus. Brady's gonna hang us for sure now."

Spitting out some tobacco, Steve shook his head while holstering his weapon. "What do we do now?"

Annoyed with the lot, Kristal didn't bother to wait. She moved passed them, her head high. She wasn't going to cower like she had done something wrong. "Perhaps leavin' would be the smart bet." Kristal snarled, her anger with them brimming to the breaking point.

Chocolate eyes turned to her, fear still in their depths. He moved to reach for her and then dropped his hand when she glared at him. Swallowing, he swore under his breath, more fear gripping his heart. Charlie was now not only afraid that they were going to get found and hung, but that he may have ruined a friendship. He watched as she continued walking passed them, before lowering his gaze to the ground in shame.

Dick glared after the woman and lifted a hand. "Quiet! Everybody close their fargen lips for a goddamn second and let me think."

Green eyes rolled in irritation. The sound of Dick's voice grating on her last nerve. "Piece o' shit needs silence ta think." She grumbled under her breath. "Thought I already said what we should do..."

"Kristal's right Dick, we better skin outta here." Doc agreed.

Muffled swearing sounded from Dicks direction, before he finally nodded. "Okay, everybody. Skin up the river." Not one of the boys moved. "Now!" Dick shouted, gaining their attention and they immediately started to move. Turning to Billy, Dick's gaze narrowed. "You! You better stop believing newspapers. And blonde outlaws who don't know shit. You ain't no Captain and you sure as hell ain't no Robin Hood."

Billy defiantly looked up at Dick, raising a brow at him. He was inwardly bristling, but on the outside he appeared cool and collected. "Whatever you say, Dick."

The two men stared at each other for a moment. Challenging each other to try something. Finally Dick spoke to Doc, but didn't take his eyes off of Billy. "Get this idiot on a horse." Hearing an approaching horse, Dick turned to see that blasted woman nearing them. He muttered incoherently under his breath before shouting, "hah!" His horse spurred forward leaving Kristal, Doc, and Billy behind.

~~~

After a sleepless night of riding, the Regulators and the outlaw woman rested the horses among the barren wilderness. They all stood around close to Doc who had a current newspaper in hand. The blonde woman stood back away from them, still upset by how things had played out the day before. It bothered her that the only one who had stood up for her was Billy, and even that was half assed. The whole night she had been quiet, thinking over every detail of what happened at the Agua Negra River.

Ignoring any effort of a conversation her way. She didn't want to talk to any of them. Chavez had been the only one who said nothing, simply offering her knife back in a silent offering. She had taken it, but still remained tight lipped. Her heart and mind were warring against her. Her mind wanted her to leave them all. Yet, her heart cared for them. She was going soft and getting stupid. How many times had she cursed herself and her own foolishness for letting her heart get in the way of making friends? These men, who she had backed up time and again, but seemed to throw her to the wolves just as easily... were they her friends? Maybe. It still hurt though. Goddamn did it hurt! And it shouldn't have. This was why she was hard! This was why she didn't let anyone passed her walls. She should leave... so, why couldn't she?

"Advices from Lincoln say the young lad of lightning rapidity, iron nerve and marvelous skill apparently singlehandedly took down Morton and Baker of the Murphy-Dolan faction including a miraculous shot of 50-yards. There's a picture here. It says Billy the Kid, but it ain't Billy." Scurlock read the words from the latest edition of the newspaper, an amused smirk lighting his eyes.

Dick was kneeling by the campfire making food, listening to Doc. Lifting his eyes to see the blond man's expression, he frowned and stood. In a few strides he was at his friend's side. Glaring down at the paper he swore, "let me see that." Doc chuckled next to him, watching as Richard looked the picture over. Dick was clearly astonished, "Well, that's me." The picture was indeed Richard Brewer, even though they claimed he was Billy the Kid. "That's just bullshit. Papers can't get anything right." He flung the paper back at Doc, disgusted.

"What's wrong Dick? Don't like being labeled an outlaw? Guess yer no better'n me, now." Kristal finally spoke, standing on a boulder a few feet away. He could hear the icy smirk in her voice.

Dick didn't even bother to look at her, however he did bristle in response. "Shut your farging mouth, Starr! I don't need your shit."

Billy, Charlie, and Steve ignored the two and hurried over to try and get a look at the paper. Doc decided to continue, "Advices from sources say, a kid, a left hander, is tall and handsome and unequaled in the elements that appeal to the holier emotions." He paused and shook his head. "Jesus Christ this country needs a hero." He scanned the words and his brows rose, "this young man with cunning prowess and charisma has singlehandedly coerced the wild outlaw, Kristal Starr, into remaining with him. The two have been rumored to have heated and scintillating relations and some sources claim, the woman, is the Kid's mistress. A dangerous mistress indeed." His gaze flicked to Kristal who was staring at him in shock before her green eyes darkened. Her hands were clenched into fists at her side and she looked like she wanted to hit something. He wouldn't doubt if that something... or rather someone was Billy himself.

"My mistress?" Sounded Billy's voice, laughter ringing in the depths of his tenor. "Well, damn! I've been missing out this whole time."

"Billy..." Charlie's voice warned.

"Wouldn't it technically be Dick's mistress? It is his picture." Steve commented matter-of-factly.

"Damn, fuckin' papers." They all heard Kristal growl.

Doc quickly hurried on, reading the rest. "However Murphy of Lincoln has hired none other than John Kinney and his Dona Ana bunch to hunt down Billy the Kid, Starr and gang."

A fearful groan exited Charlie's lips. "Great, John Kinney."

Forgetting Kristal for the moment, Billy looked to Charlie and then Doc. "Well, who's Kinney?"

Shaking his head, Doc's gaze raced over the words. "Says here he's an ex-soldier that suffered an injury and is now a bounty hunter."

Dirty Steve still looked confused, "well what's that mean?"

The mild Charlie, swallowed. "It means he can whoop some ass, that's what it means."

Kristal gave a disgruntled grunt and jumped down from her boulder, moving away from the men, and especially Billy. They claimed she was Billy's mistress? Or was it Dick's like Steve said? She had to pause a moment about to be sick. Her stomach felt queasy just at the thought. She heard Dick call over Doc, leaving the other three to read the rest of the paper. Kristal was done with the papers. She had hated them for as long as she had been old enough to be in the limelight --- which had happened when she was thirteen. Reaching back, she pulled her hair together and then over one shoulder. Her hair was getting long again, nearly reaching her backside. For a moment she was distracted with the thought of cutting it, but discarded that line of thinking. Focus Starr, Kristal thought to herself.

Still, she didn't want to think anymore about Billy or Dick and being thought of as their mistress. Her gaze turned on Brewer and Scurlock talking off to the side wondering what they were discussing. She had half a mind to go interrupt. A soft chuckle left her lips thinking of the scowl that would form on Dick's face if she joined in. God, that man hated her. And she didn't even know why. Her gaze narrowed on the two men before Chavez walked between the two. Her gaze watched the mixed-breed, who had a hat full of plants and herbs. She shook her head and walked off to the small creek below to cool off and hopefully clear her annoyingly bothersome thoughts.