Re: Never Look Back - Part IV -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:12:15 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Never Look Back - Part IV
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Never Look Back - Part IV" on 13:10:06 11/18/02 Mon

From Sue:

McKay looked uneasily towards Hank while being jostled lightly back and
forth by the constant movement of the train along the tracks. It was dusk
now, and the car they were riding in was dim; illuminated only by a few small
oil lamps placed strategically towards the back and front of the train
car. "Why do ya keep looking at me?" He finally asked.

"Yer just different." The saloon keeper replied.
McKay stared down at the dark blue flannel work shirt and the light tan
corduroy trousers he had acquired at Loren�s store, remembering the
shopkeeper's inquisitive glare when he plunked down his purchases along
with the money for them upon the counter.

"These ain�t for ya, are they McKay?" The older man couldn�t help asking.
"Ya thinkin about givin up the army, and settlin down to do a honest
man�s work?"

McKay returned the proprietor�s questions with only a cool stare, wishing
that what the other man was saying was the real nature of what he was
about to do. Suddenly thoughts of Alison and Amy back on the farm filled
his mind along with the question, "Would he ever see them again? If
things went wrong.... " Shaking his head he tried to place such thoughts
from his mind. "Dammit, McKay. Ya can�t be goin into a situation expectin
to fail...This had been one of the first cardinal rules he learned upon
joining the military, and replied to Loren. "Nah, I need them for a
prisoner."

"Got yerself another one of �em deserters or somethin?"

"Somethin like that" he bit out quietly, wondering if a small amount of
what he had just said might be true while shaking his head in dismissal
when Loren inquired if he should wrap up the purchase.

It was when he was walking from the store that he met up with Hank, his
gun belt slung over his left shoulder. McKay�s steely gaze questioned
why, though he knew the answer without having to ask. Now he stared back
at the same man, sitting across from him, rocking back and forth in
motion with the train. "It�s the clothes" He answered.

Hank took a moment to consider his words. "Nah...it ain�t that." He
responded while withdrawing a cheroot from the case within his pocket. It
was something else. Something in the other man�s gaze. Hank reached over to
strike a match against the arm of the chair beside him. The stick quickly
igniting as he brought it towards his face, suddenly illuminating the
meager space between them. McKay felt a quiver of unease wrestle through
him as he saw the clear intent present in the other man�s eyes.

A few hours later, McKay saw the lights of the Manitou station
approaching from the tracks in front of him. Staring back at his
companion, he watched him now in an easy slumber. The hat he wore upon
his head pulled down over his eyes to shut out any last trace of light in
the car around him. He was almost envious of Hank�s ease with the
situation while his own body reacted in protest; the beat of his pulse
quickening with each mile of track they covered. As the train slowed,
Hank began to stir, moving his hat back away from his eyes; the opening
blue slits glancing towards him once again as he uttered. "Guess we�re
here." He made to stand while the train came to a rattling halt, reaching
up towards his right shoulder momentarily as if to work out a kink before
moving out towards the aisle and down it in the direction of the door.

McKay followed suit a few feet behind, making his way down the platform
steps until finally drawing up beside his partner in this uneasy
alliance. Not bothering to look towards him, Hank spoke up for the first
time since leaving the train. "I�d say the St. Regis would be our best
bet....don�t know of any other establishment �round these parts that
could pass �piss water� off as good whiskey though there�s quite a few
saloons in this city..."

"The St Regis..." McKay repeated.

"Don�t let the name fool ya." He replied, his lips twisting into what
might be called his first attempt at a grin since leaving Colorado
Springs. "Ain�t much about it that could be considered saintly..." He
continued as he reached down to adjust the gun belt around his slim hips.

His action spurring McKay on to respond. "We goin to take him
alive-remember? Won�t do Ty and Virgil any good if we return with a
corpse."

Hank�s eyes glinted dangerously back at McKay in reaction to what his
words had invoked .

"Yeah, I remember..." He drawled. "...It�s just never a bad idea to be
prepared..." and then turning to stare at the large city before him, he
spoke up again. "If memory serves me correct, it should be two or three
blocks from here." Not waiting for McKay to respond, he headed off,
leaving McKay with only one option; to follow.

Not five minutes later, the two men stood across the street from their
intended destination. Making a quick move into the darkened shadows of a
now vacant store front beside them, Hank made an attempt at the first
real conversation between the two of them since embarking on this trip.
Staring at the man before him, he instructed. "Try to look natural,
McKay, so as not to draw attention to yourself. For Christ�s sake man,
relax! Yer as stiff as a board. This ain�t no bloody role call or
inspection yer goin to. Ya got to ease up... play the part...look like
one of the crowd unless you take kindly to the idea of gettin a bullet in
yer back" and reaching for his cigar case, he withdrew one last cheroot
while finishing with, "Just follow my lead and for Christ�s sake whatever
ya do, keep yer mouth shut and let me handle all the talkin..."

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Never Look Back - Part IV -- CCCook, 15:20:56 11/18/02 Mon
- Re: Never Look Back - Part IV -- CCCook, 15:24:49 11/18/02 Mon