"NINE MEN LAY DEAD OR at death's door yesterday noon following a gunfight between Lincoln resident, Henry Hill, 45, and what patrons have called 'the kid'. A local miner has identified 'the kid' as one Henry McCarthy, also known as William H. Bonney, 19 or 20. In a flaming shootout 'The Kid' - Billy - killed Mr Hill then took on an onslaught of Hill's partisans bringing the damage to six verified slayings. Bonney is believed to be the captain of a deputized gang, which consists of 6 young men and 1 young lady," Doc read from the Daily Journal. 

The group of rookie deputies were perched behind a brick wall in the Lincoln town centre as Doc stood, leant against the wall with the newspaper in his hand. Belle was pacing around in front of them, her adrenaline still pulsing through her veins. 

"Captain?" Dick asked, sounding gutted. 

"How come it doesn't say nothing about the two I closed out?" Steve mumbled. 

"Shit, Dick, you sent a lamb into slaughter and he walked out a king sheep," Charley added.

"El Chivato," Chevez tested the term, twirling his knife between his gloved fingers. "Billy The Kid, eh?" Belle landed next to Doc, leaning against the wall. Josiah ran his hand through the girl's locks, scratching at her scalp. Belle hummed with content, opening her eyes turning her head to peek out of the gap in the wall. 

Belle's eyes widened when she saw a little Chinese girl dressed head-to-toe in black walk by. Belle ran around the wall, Doc catching her wrist before she could go. "Belle, where are you going? You know they'll be looking for us,"

"I know, I'll be back in a minute, I won't do anything stupid, I promise," Belle assured her partner with a smile.

"Belle -" Doc began, but Belle cut him off with a passionate kiss on the lips. Belle flung her arms around his neck, pulling him further down to her. Doc took a few seconds to respond until he circled his arms around her waist. Belle pulled away with a smile.

"I love you, Josiah, but I'll only be a minute," Belle pecked his lips once more before rushing around the corner. Josiah simply stood still watching the girl run around the corner. He heard the boys whistle at the scene that just happened, and turned to face them with an eye roll.

Belle caught up to the Chinese girl. "Yen Sun!" Belle called out, running up to walk beside the girl.

"Oh, hello, Belle," Yen Sun replied with a timid smile. The two girls were very good friends, although they kept it a very good secret as their guardians would go mad at the fact, for Yen Sun's guardian was Mr Murphy. The two young women meet when Mr Murphy decided that it was a good day to harass Mr Tunstall on his property again, bringing his house entertainment with him. Belle pitied the girl for having to spend her days with the dreaded Mr Murphy, so she asked Yen if it were possible for them to spend time together in town, thankfully Yen agreed. They've been the best of friends ever since, even though they hardly see each other. "I don't it's wise for you to be in town in daylight, the Sheriff is looking for you and those men. He's been patrolling the streets every day in hopes to find some leads," 

"Yen. Why don't you leave Murphy, please? You're not happy -"

"Belle, in China, girls are not necessary. When we have floods, fathers let the girl babies wash away. My benefactor has made me necessary," Yen argued, holding her umbrella tightly, her pace never faltering. 

"He's not made you necessary. He's made you a slave, Yen. He stole you from your mother and is using you for his own pleasure. Yen, a wise man once told me that necessary is something you can't do without. Murphy can live happily without you, whereas, I cannot. Even though we don't see each other that often when we do, I feel happy. And I know you feel happier when you're with me too," Belle argued, stepping in front of the little woman. "Please, wake up from this spell that Murphy's cast upon you," Belle allowed her friend walk past her, turning around to watch her speed away. "Yen. I'm sorry," Belle apologised, regretting her harsh statements immediately, but her apologies were cut short as soon as the Sheriff rounded the corner with four of his deputies on their horses. Belle ran back around the wall, avoiding the men completely without being seen.

Belle came back around the wall, crashing back against the wall out of breath. 

"So, Dick, who's next?" Billy asked from his spot beside the dark-haired man. 

"You," Dick narrowed his eyes at Billy.

------

Belle was sat by the riverside, running her hand through the rushing current. The ginger girl had slipped one of her long skirts over her trousers and removed her hat from her head and jacket from her arms, tying her long hair into a messy bun and a few of her blouse buttons were undone. Dick had instructed her to do so as the next two men they were going to catch like seducing vulnerable women. 

Of course, Belle didn't like the position she was being put into, but she did what needed to be done. But Josiah was livid, he didn't want any man to look at Belle in such a state, even if were pretend. 

Charley and Steve had to hold the man back from ruining the illusion as the two men spotted Belle alone, giving each other a suggestive look. "Hello, little missy, what are doing out here all by your lonesome?" One of the men asked from behind Belle. 

Belle faux whimpered. "I'm lost, could you two gents help me?" 

"We can help ya, we'll help ya real good," one man kneeled behind Belle, but before he could touch her, Chevez approached him quietly from behind and held a knife to his neck. The rest of the boys approached from their hiding spots, pointing their guns at the two men. 

Josiah pushed Belle behind himself, along her to look decent without prying eyes on her. Belle buttoned up blouse back up and slid her skirt off of her trousers. 

Belle decided to stay behind Josiah, seeing that all her boys held their guns high and at the two defenceless men. 

"You don't understand, Dick. By killing Henry Hill you have started a war," Baker kept his hands up as he spoke.

"By killing Mr Tunstall, you have started the damn war, Baker!" Dick argued.

"It's just the same. We're talking 50, 60 men against what? 7 or 8? We're with the Ring, Dick," the other man countered, trying to intimidate Dick.

"We're gonna bury you," Billy quietly spoke in the man's ear. "You can believe that."

"Quiet, Bonney. We're taking you to jail, no killing!" Dick ordered.

"Objection, your Honour!" Billy mocked. "These boys are going to the grave in the name of John Tunstall."

"Billy, stop," Belle spoke up from behind Josiah. "You're the Law. The Law doesn't talk that."

"The Law doesn't kill innocent merchants either, do it?" Steve commented, causing Belle to narrow her eyes in his direction.

"Shut up, dirt face," Josiah called out. Belle gently hit his shoulder, whispering for him to be nice.

"Take these sons of bitches up to Capitan Mountain and blow their brain out. What do you say, Steve?" Billy loudly laughed. Steve laughed, nodding his head. 

"Hey, Billy! Easy," McCloskey said, lifting his hand in Billy's direction. "Dick, I don't think we should go by South Fork."

"Why is that?" Dick asked, furrowing his brow.

"I think Murphy'll be walking the trail in an ambush. I think we should go straight through to Lincoln," McCloskey continued.

"Hey! I saw that!" Billy approached him, causing the accused man to start walking backwards into Josiah and Belle. Josiah pushed the bottom of his rifle into his back, stopping his movements from sending the couple into the river. 

"What? What'cha see, Billy? What'cha see?" Charley asked panickily.  

"He knows what I saw. Where's the ambush, McCloskey? In Lincoln. You're trying to steer us away from Capitan cause you know your men, Murphy's men, are waiting to jump us in Lincoln?" Billy shouted.

"Billy, what are you talking about? McCloskey's with us, he's a Regulator!" Dick yelled out.

"Yeah, but he used to ride with Murphy. That's what I'm talking about!" Billy shouted back, not taking his eyes off of McCloskey. "He's a spy!"

"He's been with us, we made a pact! Right, McCloskey?" Dick argued back.

"Right," McCloskey muttered back, shifting his gaze to Dick for a brief second before turning back to watch Billy's actions. "Jesus, Billy! Come on," McCloskey held his palm out, waiting for Billy to shake his hand. 

After a silent moment, Billy finally took McCloskey hand, apologising. "Shit. I'm sorry McCloskey,"

"Hey, it's alright. We're all upset about John," McCloskey accepted his apology with a smile.

"Sorry I didn't sniff you out sooner, goddamn traitor!" Billy reached for his gun, shooting the regulator in the head. 

His blood splattered across Josiah and Belle's face, causing both of them to gasp in shock. Josiah lowered his rifle, grabbing Belle's arm and pulling her away from the river.

Billy shot at McCloskey 's dead chest, throwing him into the river. The two criminals began to run away but the regulators shot at them before they could escape.  

"Court adjourned," Billy smirked, looking at the three dead bodies. 

"Moron! You're a lawman, you son of a bitch!" Dick shouted, pointing his finger at Billy.

"Richard, he was right. McCloskey was acting strange," Josiah sided with Billy.

"With that rubbish, we've just killed three more of Murphy's men, right?"

"Right," Josiah nodded. Charley and Steve began to panic more, shouting nonsense. Belle stood static, staring at McCloskey's limp body that was caught by a few branches in the river, refusing to allow him to travel with the stream.

"Quiet!" Dick shouted at Charley and Steve. "Wanna close those fargin' lips for a goddamn second and let me think!"

"We better skim out of here," Josiah quiet suggested, narrowing his eyes at the bodies.

"Okay, everybody. Skim up the river! Now!" Dick ordered. "You! You better stop believing newspapers! You ain't no Captain you and sure as hell ain't no Robin Hood," Dick pointed his pistol at Billy. 

"Fairly said, Dick," Billy smiled, jumping on his horse, following the other regulators. 

Josiah and Belle were still stood at in their spots, blood still splattered on their pale complexions. 

Belle tore her gaze away from McCloskey and looked up at Josiah. Belle shakily grabbed her handkerchief from her sleeve, rubbing it against Josiah's face. Josiah stared down at the girl, noticing her eyes were welling with tears. "Darling, it's alright, it's done, don't think about it too much,"

"It's not them, it's just the blood on your face," Belle commented, her voice shaking. "It's letting horrid thoughts to roam free."

"Doll, don't think like that," Josiah studied her face. He took the hankie in Belle's hands, returning the favour, whipping the blood from her complexion. "Belle?"

"Yes, Josiah?"

"Will you marry me?"

"Excuse me?" Belle's jaw hung low at the question, believing her ears had deceived her.

"Will you marry me?" Josiah asked, placing both of his hands on Belle's cheeks. "Hell, I even bought a ring the night I asked you to be mine," Josiah dug around his pocket, pulling out a small gold band, with a single diamond on the centre. 

"Doc, how on earth could you afford this?" Belle gasped at the sight of the shimmering ring.

"I knew the shopkeeper, he gave me a good deal on it, but I would've paid the full price if it meant I could call you my wife," Josiah grinned.

"Dear, I don't know what to say," Belle breathlessly laughed.

"You could say 'yes'," Josiah smiled, holding the ring between them both.

"Yes, of course, I'll marry you, Mr Josiah Scurlock," Belle kissed Josiah, swinging her arms over his shoulders. 

"I love you, Mrs Belle Scurlock,"