The group spent nearly a full day evading and escaping John Kinney. It wasn't easy. Especially since the only woman in the group seemed somewhat distracted, and yet somehow also incredibly focused on where they were headed. They weren't sure what was up with her. It unnerved them. Her normally cool and calm head put them at ease, but now she seemed anxious and distant, it was making them nervous. And the only other one they could turn to, the crazed Bonney, had his mind elsewhere so they couldn't even look to him for guidance or reassurance. Billy's thoughts were mostly focused on the events of leaving that saloon back at Fort Sumner --- to which also didn't help the group's frayed nerves. They were being hunted down like dogs and they had no one to turn to.

For some strange reason, Billy couldn't get Kristal grabbing his arm out of his mind. Warmth had exploded up his arm at her touch. That had been strange alone. But then when that man had called out her name, Kristal had purposely ignored it. What had that been about? She knew him in some way. Or at the very least he knew her. It was odd and he wanted to find out more about it. Mostly because it seemed to put her in a sour mood as well as distract her and he didn't like that any man had that sort of affect on her.

Still, they needed to get away from the current threat - John Kinney and his Dona Ana bunch. The Regulators, currently led by the woman, had switched course, riding through tall, spike and thorn ridden grass that concealed them. But it was all most of them could do to keep from yelping as the thorns dug into their clothes and skin. No matter how hard they tried, they either got scraped, jabbed, or stuck by the thorns. It was miserable going, but Kristal led them forward without a word.

After miles of the torturous plants, they veered down into a ravine, riding along a creek bed as their pursuers ended up completely turned around in the tall, thorn infested grass. They finally could let out a breath of relief.

However, as much as they all wanted to stop and rest, Kristal drove them further into the wilderness. Something had triggered her to continue their ride into the night and she urged them forward. It wasn't until nearly dawn when she finally allowed them to stop and make camp.

Steve had complained about who was really leading their outfit, to which mumbles of Billy's name echoed out. The only one who didn't respond was Billy. The blond man may be leading them but it was the woman who always found the perfect places to camp safely. And the one she found this time was perfectly suited for their aching and tired bodies. A hot springs, not far from the town of Las Vegas. They had circled around in order to keep any more bounty hunters and lawmen off their tail --- at least for a time.

The Springs were littered with low shrubs and hot rocky pools of mineral water. It was perfect to recuperate and tend to their minor injuries from the ride. Poor Charlie had received thorns in his backside and Steve had scrapes along his arms.

As they settled into their temporary camp, Charlie had coaxed Chavez into pulling the needles out of his ass. Nearby Doc lounged in a hot spring, tending to the wound on his hand. The hot water was relaxing and for a brief moment, if he closed his eyes, he could pretend to be somewhere else. And be with someone else. He longed for Yen Sun. His heart belonged with her. It hurt not being near her. He needed to think of some way to be with her.

A splashing sounded and Steve popped out of the water across from Doc. Somehow, the man did not appear any cleaner than he was before. The dirty man drizzled water over a wound on his elbow to help alleviate some of the pain. Steve winced, chewing on a wad of tobacco, but otherwise lounged in the water to alleviate his body aches.

Doc, however, was watching a female figure crouching on a large ridged rock in the distance. She was staring back the way they had come. He figured she was making sure John Kinney had lost their trail. He was grateful for her diligence. In his eyes, she was one of a kind. He admired her, hell he had crushed on her until he fell in love with Yen Sun. And yet he still couldn't get it out of his head that Kris didn't believe in love. How could someone he admired so much be against something he felt so passionately about. He wanted to scream from the mountain tops of his love for Yen Sun. It saddened him that Kristal seemed so cynical of the wonderful feeling and emotion. He wondered if something had happened to cause her bitter view. And if maybe he could change it. She deserved happiness and love like anyone else.

Looking back up to the ridge, the feminine figure was gone and he sighed. He wanted to talk with her about it, but when? He doubted she'd want to talk about it in front of all of them. Especially Billy with the way he had acted. He had made it seem like she was some kind of monster when it came to her belief, or lack thereof, in love.

Minutes later a figure rounded a tree, jumping from rock to rock until she was on solid ground. The lone woman strolled towards them as Billy started reading from a pamphlet that looked similar to a dime novel --- maybe it even was, Doc couldn't be sure. Doc ducked under the water a little as Kristal walked by, which was ridiculous since it wasn't like she could see anything anyway. Still, he was trying to be polite. To his relief, he had nothing to worry about, she had barely even noticed him.

"See anything?" Doc asked the blonde woman, watching her distracted form walk passed Billy.

The woman didn't respond. In fact she made no notion she had even heard anything until the painful shouts from Charlie startled her back into the present.

Chavez glanced at her as he pulled bristled thorns from Charlie's backside. They all could tell she had her mind elsewhere and it concerned Chavez. Something was wrong. At Charlie's yelping, he shook his head, "I know. I know. It breaks my heart too." He rolled his eyes and poured some Whiskey over the wound and then took a long swig himself before Charlie reached for it.

Taking a long drink of the Whiskey, Charlie too was eyeing Kristal, grateful his bare ass wasn't facing her way. He was trying to keep some shred of decency.

"Chiquita?" Chavez called out to her. His questioning tone caused her to look up.

"Hmm?" She glanced at him. It was clear by the expression on her face that her thoughts were miles away. "Did ya need somethin'?"

Raising a hand, Doc drew her attention. "I did. Was wondering if you saw anything? When up on the ridge?" He hesitated, afraid to ask, but he swallowed his fear. "Is Kinney still following us?"

"No..." It came out a little too quick and she frowned. She then continued, slowing her words, but the boys were already concerned by how she was acting. "No Kinney ain't followin' us no more. Seems he got turned around and went southwest towards Arizona Territory. He ain't a worry fer now."

Doc frowned. John Kinney wasn't a worry and that was a relief, but then why did he get the feeling she was worried about something else. "Ya alright, Kris? You seem... distracted."

"Hmm?" Again she had stared off into the distance, a far off look entering her eyes before she looked at Doc. "Me? Yeah, I'm fine. You?"

Doc just nodded. He didn't buy it. Her behavior was off. Glancing over to Chavez and Charlie, he knew they noticed too. They all gave each other knowing glances, except for Steve who spat out some tobacco and focused on his injured elbow.

The only other boy not noticing her behavior, or so everyone thought, was Billy. He came forward laughing, "listen to this." He started reading from the page that caught his attention, "his hat was covered with gold and jewels. It sparkled and shone in a dazzling, blinding manner when one looked upon it." He glanced over to Kristal who was staring at the ground again lost in thought. Was she even listening to him? She was worrying him too, but he wasn't about to make a big deal out of it. At least... not unless it grew worse.

"The shoes worn by this young, left-handed prince of the plains," Billy chuckled and continued without missing a beat, "were low quartered with pattened silver spurs in the heels." Charlie yelped out again, but it didn't phase Billy. His eyes scanned the words, a slight frown working its way onto his lips. "I ain't left-handed."

"Why d'ya read that shit? Papers exaggerate or flat out lie." All eyes turned to the woman, who they had assumed wasn't paying attention.

The blond man just smirked, "ain't the paper."

"Shit! Dime novels and those damn penny dreadfuls are even worse. They treat us like fictional characters. As if we're some form of entertainment. Thought ya figured that out already, Bonney." Kristal grumbled.

Chuckling, Billy eyed her. "I take it ya don't wanna hear what they wrote about you?"

"Nope! I ain't even curious."

Billy's smirk grew into a full fledged crooked grin and he started reading, "This dashing and charismatic Prince of Pistoleers has claimed the breathtaking but wild beauty of the Outlaw Princess, Kristal Starr. Hair like spun gold, glistening in the sunlight makes a man want to claim her on wealth alone. She has left a long wake of broken hearts in the dust filled plains, for her wild ways have only been tamed by the boy bandit king." Billy pointed to himself, his grin somehow growing wider,"that's me."

"Ya do have..." Charlie began but winced and yelped, "... golden hair..."

A scoff left her lips, "it's blonde not gold. Ain't no value ta it." She rolled her eyes not fond of being admired as an object of value. "An' I ain't tamed by no one, nor will I ever be." Hell, she felt everything that was just said was a bunch of lies. "None o' that's true."

Billy simply looked at her, "no, ya don't need to be tamed." He almost added that she was perfect the way she was, but bit his tongue. He had already gone down that road and he wasn't going to do it again so soon, especially in front of the others. He lifted the paper back up to read more when Kristal approached.

"Let me see that." Clearly she had ignored his comment.

For a second he was taken aback by her close proximity before he realized what she was doing --- trying to take the book from him. He blinked and shook his head, turning away from her.

"Just a minute, I ain't done." He continued reading again, "this blonde wildcat happens to be a curious blend of native American descent to which most just guess at. Though, she can speak their language fluently. Her skin tone, a unique shade of bronze..." Billy had to turn again as Kristal tried to grab the billfold. Her arms were wrapped slightly around him and a silly smile crept over his face. Why did it make him feel so giddy?

"That's enough, Bonney." Her tone was unamused. She wanted that paper and for him to stop.

Blue eyes shifted to her and she immediately backed off a little. A sense of longing washed over him, wanting her arms around him again. Not bothering to acknowledge her demand, he continued. "Born unique among her kind and cast out for not fitting the traditional womanly roles, the young Starr was consumed by hate for both men and women alike. Until Belle Starr and her husband Sam Starr stepped in..." He had to stop again as those strong arms went around him. This time, however, he had turned at the last moment so she was flesh against his back. Warmth exploded over him. Damn! No woman had ever made him feel this way.

"This is bullshit. Nothin' but lies. Why read this nonsense?" Kristal growled.

A shiver went through Billy, Kristal's growl had been directly at his ear. He hoped she didn't notice. But to his dismay she released him again.

"It's amusin'. True or not, they surely got a way of describin' people." Billy laughed seeing her wrinkle her nose in disgust. "Especially when they're so far wrong."

"Billy, I think you should stop." Doc's voice announced that the other boys were watching and listening, but neither Billy or Kristal cared. Kristal just wanted the book and Billy was enjoying the game of it all.

Not about to quit now, he again read more, "Taken in and raised by Belle Starr, she has become a wildfire. Apparently done with robbing trains and banks, she now takes vengeance on those who wronged her and the Kid. Her weapon of choice -- a knife or bow, but she is no stranger to a gun. The fiery woman is jus-... Hey--!"

This time she had managed to snatch the paper, only to have Billy holding on tight. Her eyes narrowed as he yanked it back towards him, pulling her along with it. Their bodies were almost touching and his breath hitched. "Bonney, I'm warnin' ya, let the damn thing go."

That crooked smile reappeared on his lips, "why? It's got such interesting information on you. And since ya don't indulge us with details about your life, figured, might as well read this... maybe we'll learn somethin' even if it is a bit fantastical."

To Billy's surprise, Kristal moved in closer towards him. Though, her eyes were flashing with that wildfire the novel spoke of. "Bonney, don't get on my bad side again... ya'll never leave it this time." And with that Kristal snatched the paper from his hand, shifted away from him and cast it into the fire with a deep frown on her brow.

Speechless for a moment, Billy finally shook his head. "I was readin' that," he grumbled.

"Not anymore." Kristal was staring at the fire licking at the pages. "Ya'll want ta know more 'bout me, so be it. But I ain't gonna put up with those shitty lies and wild made up stories. 'Specially when not a word of it's true." Her tone had softened and become distant.

"Ya mean ya don't really got golden hair?" Dirty Steve asked, confused.

The green eyed outlaw turned to look at him with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. "Yeah Steve, my hair's fuckin' gold. Cut some off ya'll be a wealthy son of a bitch." Her tone had switched to dark sarcasm, now glaring at the man. Seeing his face light up, she rolled her eyes, "no Steve, ya'll just be a stupid asshole 'cause m' hair ain't gold... it's jus' blonde."

The man just frowned, disappointment crossing his face, unphased by her dripping sarcasm, "huh. Guess they ain't got even that right."

A frowning Charlie watched as she rolled her eyes and moved towards her bedroll, "it ain't all lies. Ya are pretty, Kris." He paused, swallowing nervously. "Least, I think so."

"Yo tambien, Chiquita," Chavez agreed with a small smile in her direction.

"I agree, Kris. Don't sell yourself short." Doc felt the need to add. He then nudged Steve who looked up.

"What? Oh... yeah sure... guess so." Steve stammered, catching a glare from Doc. "You're pretty enough." He then yelped as Doc smacked him. "What? She ain't my type. She'd probably be downright beautiful if she dressed like a woman should."

"Just shut up, Steve." Doc grumbled with a disappointed shake of his head.

The only one who didn't say anything was Billy. He just watched her. He wanted to say a hundred things. Hell, he could easily charm most women, but Kristal was a whole lot harder. He knew she'd probably just roll her eyes. However, he saw Charlie staring at him as if telling him to say something. Fine.

"Doc's right. Ya sell yourself short. We all see your beauty an' it ain't just what's on the outside. Though, ya are beautiful. It's who ya are as a person. Honest, dependable, loyal, tough. Sure ya ain't charmin' an' charismatic like me, but ya got a lot goin' for ya." What he said came from the heart even though he tried to make light of it. He did mean every word though. Yet the way she was looking at him made him wonder if he said something wrong. His heart was still pounding from being in such close proximity to her, maybe it had addled his mind. Damn! She drove him crazy!

"I... uh..." Kristal began glancing at each of them before stopping on Billy. Her eyes narrowed slightly, confused by his words. "Thank ya fer yer kind words. I weren't bein' self deprecatin', though." She shrugged, "jus' never felt that way. But y'all are sweet."

"See, she thinks I'm sweet too." Steve sent a glare back at Doc, bothered by his treatment.

The woman shook her head, a ghost of a smile on her lips amused. "Ya speak truth, Steve. I guess I can appreciate that."

"Damn straight!"

Again Kristal rolled her eyes and knelt down on her bed roll. Her features once again lost to whatever thoughts going through her mind.

***

A pouting Billy watched her as she sat down. Once again that distracted expression crested her features. She was thinking about that man again, he was sure of it. Who was he? Someone from her past? A thought flickered over him --- what if it was an old lover? She claimed she didn't do love, maybe a jilted lover had hurt her in some way? For some reason, something told him that wasn't true. And yet he felt a little jealous. Why the hell would he be? She wasn't his goddamn type he had to remind himself!

Doc interrupted Billy's thought process without realizing it. The fellow blond was fiddling with the wrapping on his hand, "Billy, I was thinkin' about our course. It looks like we've just done a big circle twice."

"And?" Billy questioned glancing at Doc. His eyes couldn't stay off the woman long. They easily gravitated towards her.

"Well, it also looks like we're going back into Lincoln. And I know we ain't goin' back into Lincoln, so..." Doc was hesitant to bring it up, afraid it was true. In fact, he seriously hoped it wasn't true.

"We are." Billy confirmed, his voice succinct and straight to the point. It left no real room to argue. It was his plan. And even if he had to do it himself he would.

"Ain't a good idea, Billy," Steve mumbled amid a mouth full of chewing tobacco.

Panic quickly overcame Doc. "Christ in heaven, Billy, what are you thinkin'?"

In disbelief, Charlie gaped at the man. Had he finally lost his damn mind. "Billy, we're lucky to be alive. I mean, going back to Lincoln. Why, that's crazy." He motioned in Kristal's direction. "Kris found us a good enough spot to lay low for a little while, let's just relax and think this through."

Kristal glanced over at Charlie at the mention of her name and frowned. She could see the fear and worry on his brow. "Nobody'll come for us here, least not for a while," she felt the need to say, adding a half shrug, not really paying much attention to their conversation.

Pressing his lips together, Billy wouldn't budge. They were going to end this one way or another. "Lincoln's where we'll find the rest of the men who killed John." He shook his head, not really wanting to stay longer than necessary. "We can stay here for a couple days, but then we need to be skinning out of here."

Doc shook his head trying to make sense of what the man said. Did he realize what their odds were? They were going to get killed and that was not what he wanted. He had dreams and aspirations. "It's a hundred against six."

The blond man's cornflower blue eyes darkened some. "So, it's a hundred against six," Billy mocked childishly. "We take Murphy and the ring falls. We take him and we win this war." Nodding, he knew what needed to be done. "Then it'll be over."

"We cain't even get to him Billy," Steve added, for once making sense.

Chavez then spoke up, shaking his own head. He had gone with Billy this far, there was no way he could do it any longer. "It's not just a hundred men. There's bounty hunters too. Everywhere we go... but not west."

Turning abruptly to look off into the distance, Billy let out a frustrated and annoyed groan. "Aw, Christ, here we go again!"

Now, Kristal hesitated, glancing between Chavez and Billy. Somewhere she had missed something. It seemed they had this conversation before.

Anger shifted over the Mexican Indians face as he glared at Billy. "No, I followed you. I chose your way, Chivato. But I don't trust it anymore. Now, California's where we have to go."

The other boys were glancing between Chavez and Billy, uncertain how this was going to play out. They agreed with Chavez against Billy though. Kristal, however, was keeping her full attention on them all now. Things were getting heated and if she had to stop them she would.

The curly haired, meek and mild Charlie agreed with Chavez. "Dang on the money, I believe in that spirit world stuff, Chavez. Let's go." He was rambling clearly afraid of what might inevitably come. "Yeah, California sounds about right to me. Kris, will you come with us to California?" He had hope in his eyes. He wanted a friend he could trust by his side. Sure there was Chavez, but he wasn't too sure Chavez thought very highly of him.

With furrowed brows, Kristal turned to Charlie, noticing Chavez eyeing her as well. She hated to disappoint either of them. But what could she do? She gave a defeated sigh, "I can't. I gotta keep m' word."

Disappointment swiftly flooded Chavez's deep tanned features. He felt like she had slapped him. So, this was the path she chose. To follow Billy. His heart ached and he turned away from her.

Charlie too looked upset. He wanted to question her, to ask her why she chose to follow Billy into death. He understood keeping her word, but that only went so far when their lives were on the line.

Surprise flicked over Billy's face. She had agreed to stay with him?! Relief and something else filled him. He wasn't quite sure what it was, but it made him all warm inside. "See! Kris understands the meaning of Pals --- of wanting justice and holding to your word." Billy was proud to have her by his side but also disappointed in his friends.

"Then will you at least talk some sense into him?" Doc spoke up, rolling his eyes at Billy's words. He was terrified. He hoped Kris would at least show him that heading back to Lincoln so soon was a death sentence.

"He's a stubborn ass, Doc. He won't listen." Kristal sighed, "but I can try. Not sure what good it'll do."

"I'm standing right here," Billy grumbled, frowning at the two of them.

The woman just shrugged, "not like it ain't something' yer unaware of."

A laugh escaped Doc and he quickly turned it into a cough as Billy looked his way. The boy looked offended by Kristal's words, but it was short lived. Billy was already grinning again, "good ta know that yer observin' me so closely Kris." The boy winked at her and she rolled her eyes in disgust.

Steve was still nursing his wound by dripping water on it. It burned and the water helped it feel better. He glanced at Doc, worry in his eyes before he turned to look at Billy.

The crazy blond's cornflower blue eyes shifted over each of them, lingering a little longer on the woman before he let out a sigh, "You're all scared..."

Steve jutted out his chin, offended. He weren't scared... on the outside. Inside he was a basket of nerves.

Across the way, Charlie nodded. Hell yeah he was and he wondered why Billy wasn't.

"And you're gonna fail the test," Billy added with a shake of his head and adding another sigh, this one filled with disappointment.

A frown shifted over Doc's face, but taking the bait he bites and asked Billy, "what test?"

Happy that Doc questioned him, he eagerly continued, "you have to test yourself every day, gentlemen." He didn't include Kristal since she had already sided with him. Or so he thought. "Once you stop testin' yourself, you get slow. And when that happens they kill ya."

The boys just looked at each other in disbelief. They knew the blond boy was crazy. But this... this beat all. Did he truly believe what he was saying? Or was this a ploy in getting them to keep going along with him.

"You fellas don't feel that?" Billy lets out a quick breath of air, hyped up. He was envisioning it first hand in his mind's eye. "Like when John Kinney's ridin' up on our ass and the balls are flyin' and the blood goes right to your head?" He pulls his gun quick as a wink and fires letting out a laugh.

Doc flinched at the sound of the gun shot, glaring daggers at him. Yes, the man had finally lost it.

A slew of cursing sounded over by Kristal and she glared at Billy. "Why not jus' announce our damn location ta everyone out their lookin' fer us," she grumbled under her breath. Billy didn't hear her, but Doc did and smirked at her animosity.

"Whoo! It's quite a sensation." Billy was grinning from ear to ear. He did truly believe all that he had said. Every day he practiced with his guns, every day he tested himself. He loved the rush, the adrenaline of it all. And he knew he wasn't alone. His eyes landed on the blonde woman to see her rolling her eyes. "You know what I mean, don't'cha Kris?

"Don't drag me into this argument, Bonney." Kristal turned her gaze away, not answering him, irritated by his display.

"Yeah, I knew ya did." Billy let out a loud guffaw. Maybe he and the outlaw woman were more alike than he realized.

"Whatever ya say, Bonney." But she wasn't denying it.

Irritated, Doc turned darkening eyes on Billy, "yeah, I bet it is. And I'm sure in your mind you hear trumpets sound and angels singin' a fargin' hymn." He starts shouting purely upset. His face grew a shade redder as he continued, "I shit my god damn britches! Okay!" He was angry and had every right to be. They had gone too far. Now they were wanted everywhere and there was no way out. And he blamed Billy for it. His thirst for vengeance had led them all down a deep and dark path that they couldn't get off of.

Realizing what he had said, he paled and glanced at Kristal. "Apologies. I was out of line talkin' like that 'round ya."

The woman shrugged, "yer a'right Doc. Ain't nothin' I ain't seen or heard before. Been 'round crude an' disgustin' men m' whole life. Yer all saints compared ta that." She gave him a nod and a small smile to show there were no hard feelings.

Relieved, Doc nodded back appreciating her words before turning back to Billy. Just the sight of him caused his blood to boil. "We've taken enough god damn Murphy scalps! We cannot win this war, not the six of us. Do you understand?" He felt like he was talking to a child and had to enunciate each word for him to truly understand. The man had to take a deep breath in order to calm himself down. "No... Billy, you want to get the president's attention, go ahead. You wanna keep on testin' yourself? Fine. Let me tell you something. I'm gonna rest here for a few days and then I'm riding to the border, I'm gonna get myself a hot meal, clean up good and get a good night's sleep. By the next morning, I'll be a Mexican."

Across from him, Dirty Steve spat some tobacco considering Doc's words. He then nodded his agreement. Mexico sounded better than getting dead.

"Yeah, Billy." Charlie added, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, me too."

"Mexico, huh?" Billy questioned thoughtfully. The idea was intriguing to him.

Charlie nodded again, thinking that sounded like the best idea he had heard in a while, "yeah."

However, Doc was watching Billy curiously. He didn't like how Billy seemed to be considering something. It made him uneasy. "Yeah..."

Still nodding, the blond boy continued to contemplate in his head. "I see." He then grew quiet before a grin broke out on his face. "Y'all are testin' yourselves and you don't even know it. Tryin' to make it to Old Mexico - that's a hoot!" Laughing, Billy was nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet.

A deeper frown broke out over Doc's face, this time his brow crinkling with annoyance. What the hell was Billy going on about now? "What do you mean?"

Billy shrugged, this was another challenge for him and his skin tingled with excitement. "They'll be covering every possible which way in from Texas to Arizona. John Kinney knows everyone down along the border. There's a full-day's ride through them thorns we all love so much, which also makes a good hiding place for scalp hunters and renegade Indians. The chances of making it to Old Mexico... Well, hell, that's the test of all tests, if you ask me. I'm in." He let out a shrill whistle of excitement. "What about you Kris?"

"Yer serious? Mexico?" She shook her head, a frown working at her features. "I dunno... I ain't here ta go joy ridin' 'round the country. I'm here fer justice."

"I think we've all hoped ya were here for us by now too, Kris." Billy's tone was mild but there was a sharp edge hiding the hurt he felt at her apparent dismissal of them. "Kinda hoped we were all pals now. Ya know, friends? But if yer only here for justice..." he couldn't bring himself to tell her she could leave. He didn't want to put ideas in her head, but at the same time her words bothered him.

"That ain't true. We are yer friends right Kris?" Charlie asked.

"That ain't what I meant Billy." Kristal gave an exasperated sigh. Her gaze turned to Charlie, "course y'all are. It's jus'... I dunno."

"Are ya afraid then?" Billy asked genuinely curious. "'cause ya don't know the language real well or the culture?" He didn't bother to wait for an answer, "me an' Chavez know it. We'll take care of you." He was smirking letting the implications linger.

"Eres un dolor en mi culo, Bonney. Conozco el idioma. No tanto la cultura, pero puedo salir adelante. No tienes que preocuparte por mi." The Spanish words flowed fluently from her mouth. Her words were grating, and annoyed with Billy's assumption. The only two men who understood was Chavez, who was hiding a grin under his hand and a gaping Billy.

"Wait... what'd she say?" Steve asked curious. Nobody responded, even though Charlie and Doc were wondering the same thing.

"Shit. You are a remarkable woman." Billy finally replied, surprise in his light eyes. "Even if ya think I'm a pain in yer ass."

Another compliment from Billy. And the confusion returned. She stared at him a moment. "I suggest we sleep on it. Let's figure out what we're doing after tomorrow comes. We're all exhausted and need to relax a little."

"I'm game." Billy said with a grin. "Mexico... should be a hell of a time. If that's what we decide."

Frowning, Doc stared after Billy as the boy clapped Charlie on the shoulder. They had been swindled somehow. His gaze went to Steve who was looking at him with worry in his eyes. Finally, Doc shook his head, "I'm really not liking him."

***

As they all settled down during the early afternoon, Charlie approached Kristal. She was sharpening her knife on a wet stone but paused as the curly haired boy came forward. "Can I... talk to ya, Kris?"

"Course Charlie. Ya don't need ta even ask. Now, what's on yer mind?"

The curly haired boy glanced around to make sure the others were all out of hearing. He sat down on a small boulder near her and fidgeted. "Well... I feel like I need to tell ya... back in Santa Rosa, I didn't..."

Kristal stopped him with a wave of her hand. "Ya don't need ta explain yerself ta me Charlie. Yer a grown man. Ya can do as ya please."

He waved a hand of his own, and lowered his voice. "I wanna tell you, though. I don't want ya thinkin' badly of me."

"Charlie, I could never think badly o' ya. Jus' 'cause yer with a whore. I may not like whores, but yer a dear friend. Before all o' ya... I didn't really have any." He meant a great deal to her. They all did... well... maybe not all... She didn't hate Billy, not like before. But he still drove her absolutely crazy. And sometimes she still found amusement in the idea of slitting his throat.

Clearing his throat, the boy just kept shaking his head. "Well ya see... that's what I wanted to tell ya. I didn't sleep with no whore. I just wanted comfort... to be held.. my momma used to do it when I was a boy. Reminds me of her. It was comfortin'. Made all the bad seem ta kinda go away, ya know?"

Kristal blinked, "like huggin'?" She sighed, her gaze falling. Did she know? Belle had not been the most comforting of mothers. No, it had been Iliyani who had given her the most comfort, as short lived as it was. The old Indian woman who had watched her for Belle on occasion, when she was a child.

With a nod, the boy looked down with a sigh. "My momma would do it every time I was upset."

Her heart went out to him. "Ah, I think I understand. I didn't have a mother like that." Kristal bit her lip to keep from saying more. "Did ya lose her? Yer ma, I mean?"

"Hmm?" The boy blinked and shook his head. He was stunned by her response. "Oh no. She's still alive. Probably still thinks I'm workin' a cattle ranch. She can't read, thank God. I left the farm my folks worked, wantin' somethin' more to life.... Not much the life I expected. I had wanted to do good. But, here I am instead."

Blonde brows furrowed as Kristal contemplated a response, "darlin', ya are doin' good. Yer gettin' the justice fer Tunstall that he deserves. May not be exactly legal. But if the law weren't in the pockets of Murphy and Dolan, those that murdered Tunstall would be hangin' at the gallows. The law's corrupt, crooked... y'all are doin' what the law should." She then sighed and lifted her gaze to Charlie, "as fer yer little confession, ya ain't got nothin' ta be ashamed of."

Considering her words, Charlie felt a little better. He then blinked and shook his head. "If the guys knew I didn't sleep with her they'd laugh at me."

"Who the hell cares?!" She blurted and then bit her lower lip realizing she had said it a little loud when Charlie grimaced. "Sorry, but ya don't need ta be ashamed fer what ya do or not do. I think it's sweet ya jus' wanted comfort. Ain't nothin' wrong with that." A hint of a smile curled along the edges of her mouth and she winked at him. "But yer secret's safe with me."

Charlie just nodded, grateful she understood. In fact, it was a huge weight off his shoulders. He chanced a glance at her, curious about the things she had said in Santa Rosa. Would it be so bad if he asked her? There was no doubt that it had been on all their minds. Maybe not Steve. That man seemed to be lost in his own world half the time. He noticed Doc approaching, and ended up blurting out. "Kris, do ya really not believe in love?"

Leaning back against the rock behind her bedroll, Kristal sighed. She knew they were going to question her about it eventually. There was no way to get around it now. "Yeah..." she breathed, a sigh on her lips. "I really don't believe in love."

Now Charlie was frowning, his eyes growing sad. "But... that's so... sad... Why not?"

Sad? How was it sad? Kristal didn't understand. "Never seen it work. All it does is make folk bitter, resentful, angry, and hateful. Normally starts off great, I s'pose. But then once all the fake impressions and infatuation wears off, yer left with two miserable people."

"But that ain't how it's supposed to be," Doc chimed in, unable to stay out of the conversation. He had been walking by when he heard Kristal reaffirm that she didn't believe in love. "Love is beautiful. It makes you feel light, like you can do anything. All you want is to be with that person. They're the only one who makes sense to you. The only one who has the key to your heart." He was of course speaking from experience.

"Yer poetic lyrical prose has reached me..." Kristal responded a bit bitterly. "Yer a romantic, Doc. It's sweet. It's jus'..." She let out a frustrated breath, "it's hard fer me to explain."

"Well try..." Doc pleaded, wanting to understand. "Please... Is it because someone hurt you before?" Doc asked, not bothered by the bitterness in her voice. He sat down across from her, so he could read her expressions. "They break your heart or something?"

The conversation had caught the other boys attention and they all casually took seats around the fire but close enough to Kristal to be able to hear her. Though Steve was sitting, picking his nails as if the story didn't interest him at all, when it did. Billy and Chavez shamelessly turned their full attention on her, putting the weapons they had been cleaning aside. The entire group of boys were now listening to her, curious as to what her response would be to Doc's question.

To everyone's surprise she laughed. Though it was dry and bitter. "No... I ain't ever been in love. Don't wanna be neither." Her gaze was tilted toward the ground, staring at a lonely weed blowing in the breeze. "I've seen what heartache is... what it does. I'm better off without." She shook her head, "no one's broken m' heart..." She didn't bother to answer his question on if anyone had ever hurt her and those now listening and gathered around noticed.

"But someone's hurt you?" Doc repeated, not about to let it go.

Pressing her lips together, she noticed Billy watching her intently, now sitting a few feet away from Doc. He could clearly hear her. She knew if she opted to not respond he'd go off on his tangent about how secretive she was being again. Instead she tried to work her way around the question, "I've been hurt many times by many folk. Y'all saw the bullet in me when Tunstall offered sanctuary. An' again when Billy shot me."

Billy's expression hardened, realizing what she was doing. He wasn't going to let her off that easy. "That ain't what Doc means and you know it."

A bitter anger washed over her features as she turned her gaze on Billy. "What d'ya want me ta say, Bonney?" Kristal snapped. "Yes? I have? I've been hurt too many damn times too count. Either physically or emotionally... why bring up old wounds? Why complain about shit that's already happened? I can't change it. I can only move forward."

Watching her, Billy's eyes were narrowed on her. He didn't mean to be so harsh, but it seemed like it was the only way to get her to open up. Though that angry outburst did give him more questions than answers. He wanted to ask her about what she had also said when they were in Santa Rosa --- about whether or not she had ever had sex, but he felt it was a bit too personal and she'd end up becoming closed off. For the moment, they had her talking and that was enough.

So, why not ask her something a little less risky, but something he still wondered about? Deciding to change the subject, for her sake, he questioned instead, about their first meeting. "When we first met ya, you never explained how ya got shot? What happened?"

The anger on Kristal's brow subsided as she turned her gaze to the fire a few feet from her boots. She was grateful to shift off the topic of love. But this new topic didn't hurt any less.

Though, Doc was a bit disappointed. He wanted to know more about her issues with love. He had wanted to convince her that love was a wonderful thing. Sure it may hurt at times, but it was always worth it. However, he was also curious about that bullet wound she had in her side that day Tunstall stopped her, and left the subject of love for another time.

"Not sure what difference it makes, but fine..." The fire danced in Kristal's green eyes, as she finally spoke up after a moments hesitation. Her gaze was haunted, reliving the painful memory in her mind. "I was workin' a job."

"Job? Ya mean a heist? Like robbin' a stage or a bank?" It was Steve who broke into her thoughts. He made a grunt as Chavez kicked his boot.

"Yeah, we was robbin' a stage. Though it weren't no ordinary robbery." Closing her eyes she remembered the adrenaline coursing through her veins as they stopped the stage, killing the driver. "This time was different 'cause Belle was there."

"Tu Madre?" Chavez questioned, curious.

Kristal nodded, her eyes roaming over each of them. They were all intently listening. She shifted a little nervous at being the center of attention. "Belle claimed ta be m' ma, yeah. She ain't though. Guess she's more an adopted ma? I dunno, but she raised me an' tol' me ta call her ma." It was a slight diversion from the story they wanted but she felt it was better, in order for them to understand things more.

"Anyway... Belle rarely ever came on jobs anymore, after she felt I was old enough ta take charge an' do 'em myself. She'd find 'em an' then send me with the boys ta take care o' it. Been doin' it for almost two years now. Started right after I turned sixteen." A little backstory so they understood. "So, this time... this stage... was different from our other, more usual robberies. Not only was it carryin' a few thousand dollars in valuables an' a high dollar payroll, but it also held a passenger, a man that Belle wanted dead. Grant Trask."

"Grant Trask? Why does that name sound familiar?" Doc broke in curious.

"Weren't he some kind of spy?" Charlie offered.

Kristal shook her head, "he was a reporter an' a sharpshooter. Damn good one too. He was also a damn good conman. Fooled Belle somethin' awful. Made nice with her. Hell, he acted like he was sweet on her every time Sam weren't around. He charmed her, got her talkin', then disappeared with over two hundred dollars an' some o' Belle's favorite jewels. Few weeks later there was a lengthy article in the Gazette 'bout her. Trask's picture, dressed all sharp an' wealthy at the bottom claimin' he wrote the damn thing. Belle was" she paused remembering the woman's anger like it was yesterday, "...ta say she was angry doesn't do it justice. I never seen her so furious. Even though she claimed everything he wrote was nothin' but lies, I knew the truth. Lotta what he said, was actually true, jus' a bit more elaborate, flourished in that fancy way o' his."

"Shit! I remember now! He was that reporter that went under cover, infiltratin' unsuspectin' folk!" Charlie exclaimed snapping his fingers as he recalled the memory. "He uh..." he shook his head still trying recall what he had seen in the paper, "Mr . Tunstall had us read it. Remember? Trask, he wrote that article... Oh! It was 'bout the James boys and another on Ol' Calamity Jane an' her affection for Wild Bill."

"That'd be the one," Kristal agreed with a nod. "'Cept he tol' Belle his name was Mordecai. Belle never suspected him."

"How'd she not know he was lyin'?" Billy asked and then frowned at himself. He was deviating from the actual story.

"An' what'd he say? I never saw no article on Belle Starr?" Steve added, grunting as Chavez kicked him again.

"That's 'cause yer ignorant," the Mexican-Indian man said with a roll of his eyes. "And you were only just learning to read." He shook his head. He hadn't seen the article in question either, but didn't feel it was important to the story.

A sigh blew through the woman's peach colored lips, "Trask had swept Belle off her feet. She had been fightin' with Sam 'cause she found out he'd been unfaithful... again. Trask was smooth, charmin', a gentleman. Somethin' Sam weren't. He even had Belle's men eatin' up his words... She never suspected... Even as he went about casually questionin' everyone. They were all fooled."

"You too?" Billy intervened, curious if she had been caught up in the man's supposed charm.

Scoffing, Kristal shook her head, eyes landing on the blond, Bonney. "Hell no. I knew there was somethin' off 'bout him. He tried bein' all sweet ta me. Showed me some magic tricks he knew, offered me candy and trinkets he thought I might like. Like I was a child ta easily sway. Thought it'd win me over. I told him right where he could shove his magic tricks and the rest o' his shit and avoided him after that. He didn't like that too much." A smirk twisted on her lips. "That fool wouldn't let up, though. He still tried ta get info from me. Guess he pro'lly figured I knew the most outta anyone. He finally stopped after I threatened ta shoot him where the sun don't shine." The boys chuckled or laughed as she continued, "I tried warnin' Belle. She didn't believe me. Tol' me I knew nothin' 'bout love. She was right, I guess, so I left it alone after an' kept m' distance."

"That ain't fair. How old were you when this happened?" Doc queried, wondering if that was the start of her issues with love.

"'Bout a year 'fore I came across Tunstall..."

Billy's eyes lit up, "I think I remember reading that article on Belle Starr. Was in the Western Gazette weren't it." At her nod, he swore and shook his head. "If I remember correctly it was not a flattering article about her. That was the first I heard about you too. It didn't say much, but that ya were a dangerous spitfire who had no qualms in shootin' a man's tallywacker so he can't reproduce." He chuckled and slapped his leg. "Ya intrigued me even then."

Kristal rolled her eyes, "he weren't wrong on that, but what he said 'bout Belle got her mad. An' when Sam saw it..." She grew quiet slowly shaking her head at the memory. The hell storm that had followed the articles publication and Sam's reading of it had been terrible. Eight of their men had been killed that day and Kristal had been bedridden for nearly two weeks. "It wasn't a good time "

The look they gave her was filled with sympathy. It made her uncomfortable. She knew they wanted to know about what that had been like, but she couldn't. She just wasn't there yet. "Anyway, Trask apparently had been approached by the law. They wanted ta take down Belle and Sam and me too, I guess. That damnable man betrayed Belle's confidence, and told the law everything." She winced, once again remembering that time. "They had come to our current hideout and ambushed us. We fought like hell. Belle, Sam, and I had managed to get free. It was every man for himself at that point. 'Bout half Belle's men made it to our rendezvous. The other half..." Kristal's voice had quieted and she couldn't finish. She had lost a few good ones that day. The few that she actually, sorta liked. She had saved a few from being killed, like Wilkes and a few others, but that day had been a massacre.

The boys noticed her sorrow and Charlie reached out to touch her hand. The gesture was surprising and she lifted her eyes to look at him. His warm friendly smile was soothing to her aching heart. She nodded, set the wet stone down and placed her hand over his. Knowing she had a true friend in him helped heal her battered heart.

With a sigh, Kristal continued again, "because o' the ambush and the elaborate tale written about her, Belle wanted Trask taken care of. That... was normally my job, but this time she wanted to be the one to torture the shit outta her victim herself. It took months o' plannin' an' watchin'..."

"What do you mean, your job?" Doc interjected, ignoring the eyes that flashed at him. The others were annoyed that he was interrupting the story again.

The woman sighed and lowered her eyes, "le'me jus' say, one o' m' skill sets specializes in hurtin' folk. Gettin' information out of them if needed or jus' prolongin' death till they beg fer it." She didn't need to look at them to see that they were all staring at her in surprise.

Swallowing, Kristal's eyes closed, "anyway... when we got word o' Trask headin' ta Colorado fer another story, Belle saw her chance." Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly before continuing. "We attacked the stage, with a half dozen men, not even noticing that the guard detail was slim. There were only 'bout four men paid to guard the valuables an' keep the occupants inside the stage safe. I should'a known better. But Belle pushed ahead. She was determined and wanted vengeance. As we stopped the stage and Belle had drug her prey out, a dozen men came from ahead an' a handful more from behind. We were outnumbered and surrounded." Her jaw tensed and her eyes opened.

The look in her green eyes was distant, but hard and pained."It was chaos. In the gang, we're told we fight ta the death. An' ta be fair, they all did. They fought hard. And yet, each o' Belle's boys dropped. There were only four of us left, plus Belle with her prey. One o' the men, Whiskey, in a desperate attempt, threw a stick o' dynamite an' it knocked all of us on our asses."

Shaking her head, she grimaced at the memory. The blonde hated dynamite, especially after seeing Ol' Whiskey with his arm and leg blown off trying to crawl away from the lawmen. One of them, a Marshall who had been looking for them for some time, had put a bullet in Whiskey's head. It was a kindness, if Kristal thought long and hard on it. But it still scarred her memory, even after all that time.

"Belle lost Trask, dead from hittin' his head on a rock from the blast. The damn explosion had thrown us all. Trask an' one o' Belle's boys died from bein' tossed into the rocks. As fer me, it threw me in the opposite direction o' the lawmen. As much as I hate dynamite, it pro'lly saved me from gettin' caught." She remembered how much her body had hurt and the ringing in her ears. She hadn't been able to hear a damn thing for a good while after too. "Me an' the last two o' the men we brought with us, Trey an' Carter, made it to Belle's side, the lawmen on our tail."

And here was the hard part... the betrayal she hadn't seen coming. "Belle was angry she lost the chance to torture Trask, her prey. She... shot Trey in the chest an' Carter in the leg hopin' they'd be a distraction for the lawmen. They went down as Belle an' I kept running." Kristal paused again, licking her lips, hesitating on finishing the story. This was hard. Reliving the nightmarish betrayal of the only mother figure she had ever known. "The hope Belle had, that the lawmen would stop for the injured Carter and dying Trey, had been pointless. They didn't even blink at the fallen men, just kept goin' for us. We were their priority. They wanted us."

Again Kristal paused. If it weren't for the gentle squeeze of Charlie's hand, she didn't think she would have been able to continue. Somehow, she found the words, "we almost made it to our horse's when another shot rang out. At first, I thought it had been one of that damn marshall's deputies... But they were still far behind. When I looked up, it was Belle that had her gun out... and it was aimed at me. An' I realized... that bitch... had shot me... to save her own ass." She shook her head, white hot anger burning in her eyes. "We could have made it to the horses. She hadn't needed ta shoot me. But she did... Ta save herself."

Kristal still remembered the woman's words as she fell to her knees. "Trust no one girlie. Anyone can throw ya to the wolves. Family, lovers, friends... If ya survive, find me. If not... maybe ya weren't as special as I thought."

Bitterness and anger threatened to overwhelm Kristal the more she thought about Belle's betrayal. Did the woman think she'd return so happily? "I collapsed as Belle got to her horse and rode away. I had two lawmen on me shortly after." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Kristal bit her lower lip. "I wasn't about to be taken back ta jail. All I knew was, Belle had shot me, left me ta die or be hung and I was NOT gonna let that happen. My gun shot wound hurt like hell, but in that moment I knew I had to do whatever it took ta get free."

Kristal sighed, avoiding looking at any of the boys faces. "Most o' the rest was a blur but I do remember, I shot the deputy as he grabbed me and whirled on the other, knockin' m' gun hilt into his skull. He went down, I got ta m' feet an' ran." The pain of that run and climbing onto her horse had been excruciating. She remembered every agonizing breath.

"I had thought I was gonna die... Midnight raced away from the men still comin' fer me. But by then it had all started to fade together. I don't remember much after that except for fadin' in an' out of consciousness an' tryin' ta stay on 'Nights back." The horse whickered in the distance hearing his person say his name. "That horse saved m' life... an' so did Tunstall. If it weren't fer me crossin' paths with him, I'd pro'lly be in a ditch somewhere, a meal fer coyotes an' vultures."

As her story concluded, all the boys sat with their mouths slightly hanging open. They knew she was an outlaw, but hearing her describe the heist and killing folk it took a minute to absorb. They just stared at her, working through this new found knowledge.

Not surprisingly, Billy spoke up first. "How long had ya been ridin' like that?"

Biting her lower lip, an expression they didn't see often from her, she shook her head, "I think a couple days. I remember bein' near the Rio Grande. Texas way... jus' shy o' New Mexico Territory. Trask had been heading to Colorado from Austin..." Her brows knit together trying to recall the area and how far she had gone. "I don't remember much after I got on Midnight an' he took off."

After a minute of silence, Chavez spoke up, "your mother betrayed you... she does not deserve someone so loyal, Chiquita."

"Weren't really her ma, Chavez." Steve pointed out.

The Mexican Indian man glared over at Steve, "I don't think that matters, pendejo," Chavez shot back.

"Do you even know who your birth parents are?" Doc asked ignoring the arguing boys.

A brow rose, as Kristal tilted her eyes to look over at Doc. "No, I don't. I got no idea. I think Belle does... at least she's got an idea." The blonde then shrugged, "don't think it matters though. They're either dead or think I am... ain't no point in dwellin' on it."

"Ain't ya at least curious?" Steve questioned.

Pressing her lips together, Kristal shook her head. "When I was little I used ta dream 'bout who they were... but those dreams died away a long time ago. It's pointless to question or wonder. I'll never know. Not unless Belle does know somethin' an' she has a hankerin' fer tellin' me." She let out a dry laugh, "an' that, will never happen. If I went back to her, I'd never get a chance ta leave again... so knowin' m' folks, it's a pointless cause."

Doc frowned and his eyes landed on Billy. The normally psychotic boy was staring at the ground in thought. What the hell was he thinking? Whatever it was, worried him. "That's truly awful. Not knowing whether you got family out there or not." Doc shook his head letting out a sad sigh, "and the betrayal of the only mother you knew... Shit. I'm sorry Kris."

A shrug lifted at one shoulder. Her other shoulder was healing nicely but sudden movement still hurt. "It's fine. I ain't bitter about it. Not like I used ta be. I'm sure my life could'a been a lot worse." She rather liked her line of work and who she was as a person. Now her shitty false parents she could do without, but she couldn't change the past.

"Or a lot better..." Doc whispered to which Kristal ignored. She didn't want to think along those lines.

"I think that's enough share time. I'm gettin' hungry." Her gaze trailed over all of them and stopped on Billy. He had been quiet. It bothered her. Had she said something wrong? Something he might not agree with? Then again, why should she care? "I saw a few pronghorn off in that direction. If we take one down, we'll have enough food for a few days."

The boys moved into action. Chavez and Doc offered to go make the kill. Charlie started a pot for stew. Steve gathered firewood albiet grouchily. He wanted to relax. And Billy... had merely moved to set up his bedroll still quiet.

The female outlaw stayed by Charlie chatting about books, horses and hunting as he prepared the stew. She was an awful cook, but she offered a few ideas on different herbs and spices that might be nice to throw in the pot. And soon enough, Chavez and Doc were back with a decent sized buck.

****

Hours later, the group was stuffed from the stew and relaxing in their bedrolls around the fire. Steve had worried that someone could see the fire from a distance and Kristal had put his mind at ease. They were in a small knoll with the hot springs spread around them like spots on a cow. Once his fears had eased he relaxed and fell asleep, snoring loudly.

After taking care of the meat and pelt from the pronghorn, Chavez was exhausted. He had tried sharpening his knives but felt his eyelids grow heavy. It wasn't long before he had fallen asleep too.

A short distance away, Charlie had fallen asleep once again to Kristal reading from Tom Sawyer. He enjoyed the book and he enjoyed her calm, husky voice relaying the story to him. Her voice soothed him. Much like his mother's used to. Her drawl was comforting and it helped him fall into a deep slumber.

Only Doc and Billy were still awake as well as the woman who was once again distracted. Doc had been writing in his journal. Another poem he hoped to read to Yen Sun when he saw her next. If he saw her again. Half the time he feared he wouldn't. If he went back to Lincoln he'd surely die. And if he went to Mexico, he'd have to start over and that meant no Celestial beauty. With a sigh, he too closed his book and lay down on his side in the hopes to sleep.

The night was silent with the occasional call of a coyote or the crackle of the fire or the bubbling water of the hot springs. It was calming for Billy. He whittled in the fire light. Nothing special, just an old horse. It helped the time tick by and kept his mind busy. Not that he didn't have enough on his mind. Justice for John was first and foremost, but Kristal's story had affected him more than he wanted to admit to. He was still trying to make sense of how he felt and what he really thought of all that she had said. However, it didn't last long when a rustling sounded and he lifted his gaze off the wooden animal to see Kristal moving to stand.

"Goin' somewhere?" Billy whispered into the night. His voice was loud enough for her to hear but not loud enough to wake those sleeping.

To Billy's surprise, Kristal jumped a little and turned dark eyes on him. "As a matter of fact I am. Why ain't ya sleepin'?"

"Not tired." Was all Billy said, his eyes narrowing noticing she had strapped her gun belts back around her waist. "Were ya jus' gonna leave an' not tell us?" He was a bit offended by that notion.

"I was hopin' ta be back 'afore ya all woke up," came her answer followed by a sigh.

"Then where are ya goin'?" Billy's suspicions rose and he couldn't help it. He wanted to trust her but she still kept so much from them.

"Gotta take care o' somethin'. Jus' go ta sleep, Bonney. I should be back in a few hours." Kristal turned to go to her horse.

"What if we ain't here when ya get back?" Billy threatened. He didn't know why he said it. Maybe to upset her? Maybe to see her reaction? But he didn't mean it. He didn't want to leave her.

Stopping midstep, Kristal slowly turned. What Billy saw in her eyes was not expected. There was pain and betrayal. "Are ya suggestin' ya'd leave me behind?"

Billy swallowed and shook his head, "I don't wanna do that Kris, but what choice do I have? You leavin' an' not tellin' us where your goin'... that puts us all at risk. I thought ya were gonna be more open an' honest with us?"

A muscle in Kristal's jaw tensed and flexed as she contemplated her words. "I thought I did jus' share a bit 'bout me. Anythin' more'n that is gonna take time. It's not easy fer me bein' an open book..." Her gaze fell to the fire, "but if ya wanna leave me behind then ya do what ya gotta."

A slew of swear words went through Billy's mind as she strolled off towards her hose. He was a second behind her, grabbing her arm before she could climb onto her horse. "Why can't ya jus' tell me where your goin'?"

"An' why can't ya jus' trust me? I'd never do anythin' to risk yer life or any o' there's. Everythin' I've done from the moment Tunstall died has been for him, for you, an' for them!" Kristal pointed in the direction of the firelight where the others slept.

Billy was taken by surprise at the emotion in her voice and pain on her face. He had a feeling it wasn't just the present situation. He wondered if talking about Belle's betrayal and not knowing her parents had bothered her more than she let on. "I'm sorry, Kris..." His voice was soft and he barely noticed her sudden hesitation. "But ya gotta understand, we worry about ya too. What if ya left and something happened to ya? We'd never know. Hell, we'd look for ya, but we ain't as good a tracker as you are."

He had her attention now. She was watching him and he knew he couldn't stop even though he knew he should. "You are important to us. You're part of this ragtag gang we got here. An' I don't know what we'd do without ya. So wherever yer goin', I'm comin' too."

Kristal suddenly frowned, shook her head and opened her mouth to protest when another voice cut through the air. "I'm coming too."

Both blonds turned to see Doc standing there, his rifle in hand. At first the two males thought she was going to protest when she finally relented. "Fine. But y'all better follow m' lead. An' I mean it Billy. None o' yer crazy shit."

"Me? I'll follow ya like a puppy with a new bone." Her groan made him chuckle quietly.

Doc then spoke up again, "where are we going again?"

Kristal turned to look at both of them, her gaze searching their features for something; what, they didn't know. After a moment, she pulled herself onto her horse, "we're gonna take care of a nuisance. Now hurry up."

---------------

For translation of the Spanish I use in the story:

When Chavez says,
"Yo tambien, Chiquita."

It means - "me too, Chiquita."

When Kristal responded to Billy in Spanish, "Eres un dolor en mi culo, Bonney. Conozco el idioma. No tanto la cultura, pero puedo salir adelante. No tienes que preocuparte por mi."

This is what she said. "You are a pain in my ass, Bonney. I know the language. Not so much the culture, but I can get by. You don't have to worry about me."