#short stories about Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo
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Short Story:
Whispers of Curly Bill's Devotion
馃┑Curly Bill has a crush on the reader and believes she is out of his reach and sees him as nothing more than an old rustler who does nothing more simply amuse her.
馃┑But....When the reader enters a saloon and sees two prostitutes sitting on Curly's lap, the old cowboy comes to realize how much she really cares.馃┑
The afternoon sun settles on the Palo Verde trees that frame the town of Tombstone. A gentle spring breeze makes its way through the area, spreading the warm aroma of a new season.
The people of Tombstone move about tending to their business. Some went to the hotel for breakfast while others dined at the restaurant. Women carried baskets of eggs to sell to the mercantile and other folks went into town to sell other items such as freshly caught fish, homemade tortillas, flowers and handmade items such as vases and baskets.
Curly Bill sees you across the street and sees you talking with friends and looking beautiful.
He wants to approach you, but feels a little awkward as he understands you're a woman of substance and you show the old cowboy kindness because that's part of your personality. You display kindness to all the Cowboys, asking how they're doing and your concern is always welcome and very appreciated. You simply don't care what others think. Curly amuses you and he's grateful that he can at least do that.
Before Curly can get close to you, you retreat with some ladies and he with a painful heart watches you disappear with your companions.
The following day when you're enjoying the amenities of the town, you bump into none other than Curly Bill. Although the old cowboy would love a chance to court you, he understands you're more than likely out of his reach. And like forbidden fruit, he needs to have you now that he feels he can't have you.
Curly feels a sense of defeat, but also one of realization; he's never going to be good enough to court you and you probably find him funny and familar and enjoy his practical jokes and big personality. But Curly Bill knows it cannot be anything more than that. He knows he amuses you and has decided he can be acquainted with you, but he's clearly not going to win your heart.
Curly thinks about you and how out of his reach you are and curses under his breath. He was making a fool out of himself over you and hasn't secured your courtship. He comes to the conclusion that he is nothing more to you than just a jovial cowboy who can make you laugh every once in a while.
However, he's about to be proven wrong...
Curly is enjoying his ill-gotten gains on a few whores who laugh at everything the old rustler says and they also pretend to understand what he's saying and take turns marveling over his stories. Curly hates their insincere banter and wishes their words were sincere. Curly takes it in stride and resolves that at least there's a lady listening. Curly experiences intolerable loneliness like everyone else in the Wild West and will pay handsomely for some lady comfort. An insincere woman is better than none at all. He understands what they're doing; they just want Curly to throw money their way and they'll do and say anything to get it. It's while they're sitting near him that everything changes.
You walk into the room just as one of the whores gets up off Curly's lap. You enter with a smile on your face that suddenly dies when you see a whore on Curly's lap. She's cupping his face and grabbing the dough he throws on the table. She stuffs the money in her bra and continues giving the old rustler insincere compliments.
You enter the saloon and you don't see Curly immediately. Another girl lays on his lap while he throws a few bills on the table. As soon as the girls see the money, they begin laughing at every joke Curly makes.
"Well, YN!" Tom McClaury announces. "Just in time! You can sit on Curly's lap!'
You look over at Curly Bill, who has a ramera practically wrapped around him. Curly Bill taps his free leg and motions for you to come sit. "I got one free leg!" Curly Bill shouts in his drunkenness, his ability to control himself is diminished and with the room spinning from the rot gut he's been drinking, his head spins with drunken confusion.
You look over at Curly, who seems suddenly taken aback by your coldness towards him. Your large eyes grow wide with a sadness Curly has never seen on your face. You close your eyes and tears fall while you turn away so he can't see your reaction. But before you turn, Curly sees those tears and it rips his heart. He suddenly feels disgusted with himself and with the saloon girls, insincerely vying for his attention...And money.
"Awww, come on now! It don't mean nothin'!" Frank Stillwell declares. "Don't go gettin' your dander up!"
You slowly shake your head while staring at the floor. You care for Curly Bill and desire more than just a casual acquaintance. And all this time, he assumed your kindness stemmed from your upbringing and that you do not hold a space for contempt for anyone. You seem to treat others in the way they treat you. And everyone in town seems smitten with your sweet smile and friendly disposition.
"No thank you," you answer, pain in your voice. At this moment, Curly realizes your feelings for him.
"Aww! Come on, sweet pea !" McClaury shouts. "Curly's got enough room in his lap for you!"
You turn and see Curly, the smile gone from his face with the realization that you do care for him and do not see him in the same way these whores do. His heart sinks and although intoxicated, he's sober enough to know he's really hurt you. He didn't entertain ideas about you being interested in him enough to let him court you. Curly felt nothing would ever blossom between the two of you because you come from a family of substance and his background is chaotic and wild.
Now he sits, drunk and confused, his arms at his sides, no longer interested in holding the prostitute counting the money he threw at her.
"Come on, Curly!" The girl says, trying to pull his face away from you. "She can't give you what I can!" Curly looks at her with disgust and she quickly gets up. Curly Bill would never cause harm to any woman whether a whore or a woman of substance, but feels tempted to curse her.
Curly stands and his head moves in an imbalanced rhythm caused by the whiskey and the look on your face and the tears that he cannot believe he caused. He staggers to his feet and moves closer to you and tries to put his arm around you in an attempt to let you know he understands. He goes to kiss you and his confidence is shattered when the whiskey on his breath infiltrates your nostrils along with the stink of horses. You turn away and he can feel his face grow red.
"Stop it, Curly. You're drunk!" You shout, your voice cracking. You move past the big rustler who looks around at his gang who stares, not knowing what to say. The whore sees the madness in Curly's eyes and quickly leaves.
"What are y'all lookin' at?!" Curly growls loudly. He heads to the bar and takes a swing of whiskey directly from the bottle. He turns to face his cowboys who look at each other not sure what to make of Curly's sudden rage over you.
"I don't need her! I don't need nothing or nobody!" Curly slurs. "Hell! She was just messin' with my head anyhow. I don't need her! A fellow needs a woman who can take a little funnin' and havin' no sense of humor! She don't mean nothin' to me anyhow!" Curly pours booze into a shot glass, downs it and pours another, feeling disgusted by his own embarrassment and shame. But he continues spewing out his anger.
"Hell! I don't want no woman who can't handle some funnin'! I don't care about her neither and I never really cared. I don't need anything!" Curly staggers drunkenly to the table where Barnes and Stillwell are sitting. The two cowboys glance at one another and Stillwell gives Ringo an inquisitive look. Ringo shrugs.
Ringo, who witnessed the entire event was the only cowboy willing to say anything.
"She's not a whore, Bill. You didn't know that?" Ringo shakes his head while looking at the floor, his arms folded across his chest, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. "She's a lovely lady who happens to care about you."
Curly stares indignantly at Ringo and takes another sip of whiskey. He removes his hat and takes a bow before Johnny.
"Well, ain't that mighty fine, Juanito. I don't need her and I don't need nobody! She don't care about me anyhow! You think you're better than me, don't you? You always thought you was better than all us boys, readin' damn books and showing off quotin' everything from Willy to the damn Bible. Sides, you don't know nothin'! Nobody spoils the fun for old Curly Bill Brocious! Specially some self righteous lady who don't mean nothin' to me! Hell, I don't even care I ever see her again!" Curly Bill can't think clearly and his head begins to pound from too much drinking. He growls and keeps sucking back shots.
Ringo glares at Curly, not believing how angry the old cowboy is. Ringo knows Curly is crazy about you and deeply hurt and confused. Curly Bill had no idea you liked him; he just assumed you treated him with kindness because it seemed your natural tendency. Curly Bill feels like a fool.
An old fool.
"I think she's right. You're drunk." Ringo responds.
"Well, I don't care. I've seen you throw back more whiskey than anyone. So you wanna go and ruin all my fun too? Maybe you two should go on together!"
"Curly Bill." Ringo clears his throat.
"A lady like her is special and maybe so much so she's once in a lifetime."
Curly continues drinking. He shoots a glance at Johnny. "That more Willy Shakespeare?"
Ringo stands, a frustrated look in his eyes.
"You're a damn fool, Curly."
"I'd be a damn fool iffin' I let some woman spoil my good time. I don't care what she thinks! She ain't nothin'! She don't mean a thing to me! Isn't that right boys?" Curly barks. "A real man ain't gonna let some woman tell him what to do!"
"All women ever brought me was misery anyhow!"
Some of his drunken cowboys cheer and whistle while others observe their boss, losing his mind over a woman and declaring his freedom from her.
"I've had enough," Ringo says, looking directly at Curly.
"Well, then you can go find YN and tell her old Curly don't need her!"
Ringo leaves through the batwings. Curly staggers drunkenly to the exit, wanting to finish his conversation with Ringo, who is walking across the street with his signature gait. Curly hears the sounds of sobbing and turns his head. He sees you, leaning on a tall lamp post, your face buried in her arms, tears streaming down your face.
Curly stumbles backwards, almost losing his balance and falling. He can't believe the site before him and he regrets everything he said about not needing you. He needs you like he needs air to breathe, but he's too much of a horse's ass to admit it. The sounds of your sobbing cause him to grow fearful and then angry. He would delight in comforting you, but cannot because his actions caused you to fall into this state of sadness. Curly feels his heart sink with fear and that fear grows into rage. He suddenly fears you may have heard everything he said.
Who needs women! All they do is cause a man a damn affliction!
He watches you for a few moments and then heads back to the saloon that's becoming increasingly crowded. The sound of your crying floods his ears and drowns out the noise of the bar. He can't shake the sight of you standing there, clearly heartbroken and confused. He wonders for a moment why you never made your interests known.
Because women play games! He screams in his mind.
The Hawkins boys walk in, four men in their thirties. Slim, the oldest was sporting one pistol with a tied down holster. He was the most attractive of the four, standing just over six feet with steel blue eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache. He seems almost regal, although a seasoned outlaw. His brother, Bob was shorter with a stout and strong body. He carried two pistols and was known for never using a shot gun that wasn't sawed off. Then Martin, the tallest and biggest, known for his ability to break broncs, looks around with dark eyes and his face is adorned with a full beard. A cigarette hangs from his mouth. The fourth brother, Angus, who hardly ever spoke stood just under six feet and had a wide face with a beard that always looked untrimmed, follows his brothers to the bar.
"Howdy, boys!" Curly announces. "First round is on old Curly!"
The Hawkins boys shout while the bar dog keeps the whiskey and beer flowing in the place which is starting to fill up with thirsty patrons.
"Hey, boys! We don't need women who take our funnin' away, do we?" Curly laughs through his broken heart.
"Hell no! We do just fine with them sportin' ladies!" Martin Hawkins agrees.
After a time of drinking up the place and playing poker with the Hawkins boys, Curly returns to the camp to sleep. He curses under his breath due to his head pounding and the cold, hard ground he's forced to sleep on. He envisions your soft, voluptuous body wrapped around him and a feeling of warmth and safety. He quickly dismisses it, falling into a drunken sleep. In his dreams, he can see you crying, your face buried in your arms. He can hear you whisper, "Curly Bill...hold me. Just hold me."
He wipes your tears and then awakens to the sound of the Clanton's shouting and shooting at empty whiskey bottles.
Curly cannot recall a time when he felt worse. He stumbles to his feet and notices he forgot to take his boots off before going to sleep. After getting coffee and chuck, he sits and removes his boots, rubbing his toes which ache from being cramped in his boots for so long. The stink of horse shit, tobacco smoke and horrific body odor permeates Curly's nose and he feels like vomiting, but is able to keep it down. He finishes his breakfast and looks around for Ringo, knowing the younger cowboy was right; Curly was drunk and made a fool out of himself.
Ringo knows Curly made a huge mistake and he also understands that the old cowboy really didn't know about your feelings for him. You kept it to yourself that confused Curly. Ringo gets that his friend was probably shocked when he realized your desires for him. Curly told Ringo at one point, "she's mighty fine and pretty. Any fellow would be damn lucky to have her. But she's a lovely lady I don't think she wants to be around cowboys who stink all the time. Hell, sometimes I can't stand the smell of them boys! She deserves better than me anyhow. I know she don't like me the way I like her."
Curly meant nothing he said last night and begins to regret not simply going after you. Perhaps he could have gotten you to change your mind about him. If he just left, he may have been able to be the one to comfort you. But he stayed and ran his big mouth, which is something the rustler is known to do. He told everyone listening that he didn't care about you when nothing could be further from the truth. He feels like a fool for not defending his feelings and admitting how his heart wants you, but he was too drunk and proud. And now how would he be able to court you after declaring he didn't need or even want you?
Curly Bill mounts his horse and heads into town for more partying and poker. The stable kid takes Curly's horse and leads it to the livery while Curly walks through town, hoping it would cheer him up. He felt like a dog without a pack and the soft drizzle didn't make him feel any better.
And then he sees you... You're exiting the mercantile, holding a basket covered in a towel. You stop walking and run your hand through your unbound hair, appearing more lovely and beautiful than ever. You look over and see Curly Bill. He starts removing his hat, but you turn and continue walking in the opposite direction. Now that he feels he can no longer have you, being with you is all he cares about. He decides to go to the restaurant for a slice of cake and a cup of coffee. Something, anything to get his spirits up. While he eats his cake and sips his coffee, one of the dishwashers, Four Fingered Jake, comes over to collect some dishes left on the tables from previous patrons and looks at Curly.
"Feeling alright, Jack?" Four Fingered Jake, who lost a pinky during a handkerchief duel a few years ago, called every cowboy Jack as in "jackeroo," and sometimes it just annoyed old Curly.
"Fine. Everything is just fine," Curly lies, focusing on his cake. He looks out the window and hopes to see you again; not to talk, but just to see you. He can't shake the sight of you crying or the sound of your sobs. He takes his last bite and downs his coffee.
"Well! You surely look afflicted by something," Jake stands by Curly's table, his arms full of dirty dishes.
"Why don't you just leave me alone?" Curly groans.
"Sure thing, mood you're in right now."
"Hold on a minute," Curly begins. "Hey, you ever been in love, Jake?" Curly asks, not looking up from his coffee.
"Hell! How you think I lost my pinky? Defending a lovely lady! Oh boy was she sweet! Worth it. I done lost that duel, but she was such a good woman, she stayed by me anyways. Even wanted to give up everything just to build a life with me. Imagine that!"
"What happened?" Curly growls.
"The Pox got a hold of her." Jake stands, shaking his head. "Why you asking, jack?"
Curly looks up at Jake and then back at his coffee cup. "Nothin', no matter."
Curly leaves some money on the table and leaves the restaurant. The drizzle began to subside and the sun began peeking out from behind the jagged looking clouds that lazily move across the Tombstone sky.
While walking through town, he feels he has lost everything. Although he still has his rustling enterprise and his cowboy companions, he can't shake the fact that all along, you desired him. If you wanted him before, doesn't that mean you still care? His heart begins to burn with a small ember of hope. All he wants to do is make you happy.
You return to your small one bedroom cottage that resides about a ten minute walk from town. The drizzle causes moisture in your hair and you grab a small towel and wipe your damp head with it. You toss the towel aside and begin putting your items away. Curly's face enters your mind and a sharp pulling comes from inside you, almost knocking you over. You recall the content look on his face when the whore sat happily on his lap. The way he expected you to sit on his lap like you were some calico queen. You care for him so much, but always felt he showed you sweetness because of his chivalrous cowboy code. You feel Curly isn't the settling down type so you simply resigned to just enjoying his company whenever you could. So often, you wanted to share with the old cowboy how much you care for him, but you feared he would discourage your feelings; telling you not to waste your time with such a nomadic fellow. You couldn't bear to hear his rejection so you followed his lead. You just never expected to see him indulging in the company of prostitutes and it solidified the fact that he doesn't want you because he probably feels your life couldn't provide the excitement he seemed to want. You felt as though you couldn't provide for him the daring and adventurous lifestyle that seemed to embrace Curly's life and you often felt you may prove to be dull and boring for the old rustler.
You know how you feel, but the mystery of Curly's feelings about you spin around in your mind. You believe in his drunkenness that he tried to overtake you and have his way with you only to toss you aside. You didn't realize he was trying to console you. Tears fall from your eyes again and you fall to the ground, holding your knees against your chest.
He never cared about me.
I should have known!
There's no way I could ever make him happy anyway!
It was right of me to assume someone like Curly Bill could ever care about anyone but himself!
You would like to fall into his arms, but you feel he would turn you away.
He needs a woman who can satisfy him and I can't! I'm boring and have nothing to offer such an adventurous and natural man.
You continue sobbing, your face buried in your knees. If you could be bold and daring, maybe Curly would want you. But you cannot become someone you're not...
You begin to feel you lost any chance with Curly Bill. You recall how he slapped his thigh and expected you to sit like a lady of the line and you never felt more exploited in your life. You wanted Curly Bill to treat you like a treasure and instead, he treated you like a nanny, just wanting you for the moment. He would use you and then toss you away and the only difference between you and the chippies is that you didn't charge the old cowboy.
You wipe your tears and take a deep breath. Your attention goes towards the front door as if you're waiting for it to open. You blow your nose and run your hands through your hair.
The door slowly opens and you move slowly, a rolling pin in your hand, waiting to bash the unsuspecting thug.
When the door is fully opened and there's no one there, you blow the breath out of your lungs and lean against the wall, your head looking up. You replace the rolling pin and decide to make yourself some tea.
While sipping your tea, you wonder what Curly Bill is doing at the same moment. You smile to yourself. Then the memory of his face when he slapped his thigh and motioned for you to sit.
Like I'm a dog!
You shake your head and decide to do some gardening after you finish your tea. The last thing you want to do is venture into town. Your fear of running into Curly Bill scares you.
He just wants one thing and once I give it to him, I'm nothing but a whore to him! I will never let him lay a hand on me!
You cry these thoughts in your mind.
You begin by pulling the weeds out of your fruit and vegetable garden; you've planted carrots, peppers, potatoes, eggplant and tomatoes. You also planted basil, green beans and peas. While harvesting your small crop, you decide to make a soup. You'll be able to stretch it into at least five days worth of meals. You also think about making some dumplings or biscuits and then make the choice to invite a friend or two over to enjoy your freshly made soup. You delight in growing your own food and you really love creating delectable dishes you can share with others. You smile to yourself and feel good that you're not consumed with thoughts about Curly Bill. Maybe you'll be over him soon.
After washing and chopping your freshly picked delights, you feel it would taste better if you made it with already prepared vegetable stock. You clean yourself up, put some color on your lips, brush your hair and get your shopping basket. You slowly walk into town, touching some of the flowers and taking in the fresh air. You witness dandelion fuzz and small butterflies flitter through the air in a peaceful and whimsical nature dance. You smile and enjoy the moment, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
When the sounds of town begin to rise into your ears, you welcome the social scene performing before you.
The mercantile owner, Mr. Wilks, tips his hat while taking a break from sweeping the front porch.
"Good afternoon to you, YN," He says and then continues sweeping while you enter the store.
Mrs. Wilks wipes her small hands on her apron and climbs down from the step stool she was standing on while cleaning some shelves.
"Well, hello, YN! How nice to see you." The little woman scurries towards you with her small, mouse-like shaped body. "What can I get for you?"
"Oh, just some stock if you have any." You answer.
"Oh, of course!" The older lady responds. "Stock and broth. You're just in time too! The Simms just dropped off stock and bone broth. In fact, it's still hot!" The little old lady hugs you. "Oh, darling! I sure hope you're alright!"
You shrug. "Yeah, well I'm doing alright, I guess."
"I've seen you talkin' with that there Curly Bill Brocious and I'm here to tell you he ain't nothin' but trouble. Don't go wasting your time on some worthless cowboy!" The shopkeeper puts your items in your basket and you look at the floor, your heart broken and your head spinning. Nobody ever seemed to miss an opportunity to inform you of how you are wasting your time with Curly Bill. You really like the old cowboy; you love his smile, his deep voice, his willingness to protect you and how his hair curled around his forehead and oh!
You catch your breath and give the lady what you owe for your items.
"Don't forget what I said, love."
You look out the window and see Curly Bill on the other side of the street talking with a few cowboys. You stare out the window and wonder what the conversation consists of. Curly frowns while talking with Johnny Ringo and Pete Stillwell. You can see Curly take his hat off and continue gloating over something. Your trance becomes interrupted, "Don't forget, I said, dear."
You suddenly snap back into what you were doing. You clear your throat and pick up your basket. You nod at the shop keeper. "Of course," you whisper. "Oh, um...where do you keep the apples and pears? I just forgot I needed some." You hold your basket while keeping your head down.
"Oh, yes. Just down that hall and down the steps." The old lady motions towards the way.
Just as you're walking down the steps, Curly enters through the cellar door located on the other side of the house. He was hoping to swipe some fruit. When he sees you close the door behind you, he sneaks around and after You've gathered your fruit, you turn and see him standing before you. You gasp, completely surprised.
"YN," he swoons.
You try to move past him and open the door, but Curly blocks your way with his arm. The fear in your eyes causes Curly to grow weary with guilt, but he's not letting you leave until you allow him to at least apologize.
"Curly Bill," you whisper. "Please let me go. Please."
Curly continues blocking the door for another moment and then steps aside, allowing you to decide whether or not you're willing to talk to him. Your eyes look up at the cowboy and then you turn away. Curly wants to hold you, but when he moves towards you, you pull away.
"Please, YN," Curly begins. "Please give me a chance to tell you I'm sorry."
You nod your head, still convinced the old rustler just wants one thing and only wants to save face for his cowboys.
"Ok," you whisper. You quickly move past him and he watches you quickly leave.
The Hawkins boys see you coming and whistle as you pass and it infuriates Curly who is in no mood to fight.
Later that day, while you're cooking your soup, the door opens again. You go to close it and Martin Hawkins kicks it open. He enters your house with the other Hawkins. "Well, so here's where you live!"
"Who are you?" You ask, your voice shaking.
"I'm Martin Hawkins and these here are my brothers." The other boys tip their hats to you. Angus takes a fresh apple and bites into it and then winks at you.
"What do you want?" You implore.
The boys look at each other and then you. Martin and Bob move closer to you. Bob quickly holds your wrists and Martin takes a small piece of rope and binds your hands together.
"Please!" You beg. "Please! What do you want!?"
"You."
Your mouth falls open and you struggle to get away, but the men are big and burly and you're easily overpowered. They bring you outside and Martin pulls you up on his horse and they ride out.
The Hawkins boys bring you to their shack.
"So, old Curly thinks he can cheat us, huh?" Slim asks when the boys throw you onto the floor, your wrists still tied.
"Who are you?" You beg.
"I believe we already introduced ourselves. Curly owes us and what better way to get him to pay up than to take what matters?" Slim lights up a cigarette. He motions for Angus to retrieve something and the younger brother brings out a camera.
"You got it wrong. Curly doesn't care about me! I know that so you're wasting your time if you think he'll care!"
All four Hawkins boys laugh.
"That's not what he said when he was so drunk, he could hardly find the door. And he was still sober enough to cheat." Martin Hawkins scoffs.
You lower your head. *It can't be. He thinks I'm nothing but a..." You begin to sob uncontrollably.
Slim recalls Curly from the night before:
"You know something, boys? Even old Willy Shakespeare couldn't write about her with the right words cuz there ain't no one like YN!" He slaps his cards on the table and calls for three cards. "If you ever wanna see an angel, just look at her, boys! And I've gone done it like a damn fool!"
Curly doesn't care who's listening, he's usually running his mouth. The Hawkins boys share glances while playing.
"I lost her and now....well I may never get her back! Aw hell! I don't deserve her anyhow! I just kept makin' a damn fool of myself, thinkin' she didn't care none and then I saw her so sad and well, shit!" He takes a shot of whiskey.
The Hawkins boys didn't say much. They were amused watching the big gunfighter squirm from his broken heart. They continued letting Curly talk.
"You boys wouldn't understand anyhow cuz you never met an angel like that! And you never will neither!"
"Sounds like you're in love, Curly!" Bob Hawkins scoffs, a cigarette hanging from his wide mouth.
"Yeah, well I guess I am, boys! You're sayin' I shouldn't? You ever see her, you'll be in love too!"
***You swallow hard and cannot believe what you're hearing. All this time you and Curly both misunderstood
"Tie her up to the post,"Martin says, focusing on his cigarette. "We'll get a nice little picture for our friend, Curly Bill Brocious."
Too scared to speak and too outnumbered to escape, you are quickly overpowered by the boys who tie your arms up onto the post and then wrap rope around your legs to keep you still. Tears flow from your eyes.
"Awww, don't cry none. It's Curly Bill we really want," Martin says, touching your face. You try to turn away and they all chuckle.
"Now, see Bob there is gonna take your picture so we can show Curly."
"Please don't hurt Curly," you cry.
"You ain't concerned for yourself?" Slim asks, taking his last drag of his cigarette. "Make sure it's tight. I don't want her getting away."
"Oh, it's tight. She ain't going nowhere," Martin answers while Bob gets the camera ready.
"Smile, princess. This is for Curly Bill. Now, look at the camera," Slim barks.
You look into the lens and the flash causes you to flinch.
When the picture is ready, Slim rides out to town, the picture in a large, sealed envelope.
"Hey, deputy!" Slim calls for Billy Breckenridge.
"Howdy, Slim," Billy says.
"You know where Curly Bill is?"
"I think he's back at camp. He said something about having to brand some cows "
"Take this to him and don't open it. It's for him, you hear?"
Breckenridge takes the envelope and rides out to the cowboy camp. Curly is drowning his sorrows with rot gut while the Clanton's are branding a small calf.
"Curly! Something for you! From the Hawkins!" Breckenridge brings the envelope to Curly who opens it.
And falls to his knees. He bites his hand to maintain his control. He stares intensely into the photograph and the image of you tied up like that will be etched in his mind forever. Curly resolves to save you. He doesn't care if he never sees you again; he'll do anything. His rage grows into mind numbing fury, but he knows he needs to plan very carefully.
Ringo comes over and Curly Bill hands him the photograph. Ringo's eyes grow narrow and his lips begin trembling. He balls his hand into a tight fist. He returns the picture, not wanting to look at it.
Ringo begins thinking up a plan to rescue you. He knows the shack that the Hawkins have been staying at and it sits behind a grove of large trees. As a seasoned guerilla raider, Ringo starts thinking who will go along and how they will position themselves.
"We're with you, Curly," Ringo whispers. "We gotta wait. They're planning on us busting the door down. Indian Charlie and Pete Spence and Stillwell are gonna go out first and hide in the brush."
Curly Bill, too angry to speak, simply nods his head, knowing Ringo is the best one to plan this.
"I can't stand the thought of those damn thugs alone with her and her tied up like that. Shit, Johnny!"
"Curly, I don't think that's what they're after. Not long. Not too long. Me and the Youngers did guerilla raids over a dozen times. We gotta make sure everyone of us has at least three pistols. We can easily fire off sixty or seventy shots in less than a minute."
Keep going," Curly growls.
"We wait for one of those sons of bitches to come out. They can't hold onto their shit forever. They may even go two at a time."
"When do we ride?" Curly asks.
"Let the others go first. We'll follow, two boys at a time. Real slow, Curly. They're waiting for us right now, expecting an ambush and they're prepared for that. But I know the Hawkins and they're not guerillas."
Curly nodded. He watches Spence, Stillwell and Indian Charlie ride out. They secure their horses about 50 feet from the shack and crawl on their bellies to the trees and hide carefully. They have three pistols each and Stillwell has a sawed off shotgun.
Curly Bill and Ringo ride out together. They, like their fellow gang members scout the area carefully. They catch up with Indian Charlie and the others. While riding out, Curly tells Ringo:
"You're right, Johnny. I'm a damn fool! I had no idea YN felt that way about me. Hell! A man like me havin' a beauty like that goin' on and havin' them kind of feelings. She's so damn special and cute and hell, Johnny, what would you think?"
Ringo pulls the reigns in for a moment. He looks at Curly Bill, who is waiting for an answer.
"Curly Bill, you're right. I would have reservations about her too. Not that I wouldn't want her, but to make a damn fool of myself and then find out she was just being pleasant, well, I would feel awful." Ringo shakes his head, imagining what that would be like.
"It's a damn curse, Ringo. You find the woman of your dreams and know damn well she's out of reach cuz she don't care too much. Then you find out she cares a whole lot." Curly fights the tears forming in his eyes as he recalls that damn photograph of you. "That's what makes this whole thing so damn miserable. I swear right now I'll do anything to make her happy iffin' she gives me a chance and iffin' she don't, at least I saved her."
"Either way, you'll be a hero, Bill," Johnny claims, not looking at Curly.
"Yeah. But I won't care iffin' I can't be with YN."
Ringo and Curly secured their horses and crawled towards the trees where the others were waiting.
""None of em have come out to shit yet," Stillwell remarks. "What the hell are them boys waiting for?"
"They can't hold on to it forever." Ringo says, no expression in his voice.
"Are we ready?" Curly growls.
"We're ready, but damn that shithouse is ripe!" Spence adds.
Ringo recites sonnets in his mind while the others hold their pistols. They are the door open and like Ringo predicted, two of the Hawkins boys came out.
"Damn, he ain't heeled," Stillwell declares.
"Real slow, boys," Curly whispers.
Once the Hawkins boys are in the shit house, Ringo and Curly go close, almost holding their noses because of the stink.
Curly opens one of the doors and Bob Hawkins looks up in shock. "No! No! No!" He shouts before Curly fills him full of lead. Ringo does the same to Angus, who also pleads for his life.
"You never should've messed with her," Ringo remarks before killing Angus. Slim and Martin come running out, their pistols blazing in all directions. Ringo moves like a ghost, remembering everything Quantrill taught him about guerilla raids. The Hawkins were outnumbered by men and bullets as Curly and his boys were all sporting three pistols each. In a matter of seconds, the Cowboys fired off over 50 shots and all the Hawkins were meeting their makers. The Cowboys laugh and some twirl their guns before entering the house.
Curly Bill sees you, your chest heaving furiously and fear shows in your teary eyes. You gasp and struggle to get free as you're still tied to the post.
Curly replaces his guns and scans the area for anyone else. "We're clear, boys! Ain't no one else here!"
Too shocked to speak, your face gazes at Curly Bill and you can't believe he just risked his life to save you. He walks towards you and your chest continues breathing heavily and tears begin running down your face. Curly wipes your tears and takes his Bowie knife from his belt. He goes to cut the ropes and then pauses, just soaking up not only your beauty, but the fact that he at least redeemed himself and became your hero. He cups your face and kisses you and to his surprise, you do not resist. He smiles at you and the fear in your eyes begins subsiding.
"YN... Will you please forgive me for hurting you? You're all I think about and I'm a damn fool for lettin' you leave like that."
You nod your head. "Please let me go," you beg. "I... thank you for saving me! I didn't think you cared at all," you answer, your face gazing at the floor.
"YN... Curly Bill takes his hat off. "I love you," he whispers, sucking back tears. "I never meant to hurt you."
You look up your cowboy. You continue struggling.
"I'm gonna cut you loose after one question..." Curly's voice is just above a whisper. He smiles sheepishly.
"Please..." You answer.
Curly Bill doesn't take his eyes off of you.
"Will you marry me?" Curly asks.
Your eyes well up with tears. You nod your head.
"Yes!" You say in a soft voice.
Curly kisses you one more time. He takes his knife and cuts you loose. When he does, you fall into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Curly feels such a sense of relief and gratitude, he picks you up and holds you tight.
"I love you, Curly Bill. I always have."
He kisses your hands and rubs your wrists which appear raw from your tie ropes. He hates seeing that...
Curly Bill takes your face again and kisses you ever so gently.
"I never thought you'd kiss me like that," you whisper, wrapping your arms around him and holding him tight, your head on his strong shoulder. You close your eyes while the two of you enjoy a delightful and wonderous moment of pure love. The other Cowboys leave, giving the two of you some time alone.
When you conclude your kiss, he picks you up, his eyes locked with yours.
He carries you out and all the way to his horse, all while you keep your head in his chest. He can feel you trembling and he tightens his embrace, wanting you to feel safe and protected. Once he mounts his gelding, he pulls you up and he rides out at full gallop, his cowboys following and hooting with celebration.
Curly Bill brings you home and helps you get dressed into a warm nightgown. He tucks you into bed and caresses your face until you fall asleep.
After a few moments of watching you slumber, he removes his boots and falls into the bed.
He delights when in your sleep, you turn and rest your head on his chest.
The End...
#Curly Bill#curly bill brocious#tombstone movie#tombstone characters#stories about tombstone characters#wild west#Johnny Ringo#tombstone movie cowboys#what would Curly Bill do?#curly bill head cannon stories#Johnny Ringo head cannon stories#Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo fanfiction#tombstone cowboys#curly bill brocius#western fiction#stories about Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo#curlybill headcannon#Curly Bill Brocious head cannons#head Cannon Stories about Curly Bill#Curly Bill short stories#stories about curly bill brocious
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I'm working on a short story about Curly Bill and Ringo on a cattle drive. In the process of OCs development:
1. Rattlesnake Charlie - A seasoned cowpoke from Kansas. Worked various jobs such as hired gunman. He earned his name by his ability to decapitate rattlers and make necklaces out of their teeth.
2. Pistol Pete - Can shoot, rope and ride and only carries one pistol.
3. Russell Lebbert - A greenhorn from Texas. This drive is his third. He rides in the back and likes to show off his shiny new six shooters.
4. Bob Fillard - Bragged about how he rode with Billy the Kid. Was known for telling tall tales. Can't shoot worth a damn, but can rope well. Willing to work for almost nothing!
5. Grizzly Bill - Earned his name due to his talent for loading buckshot into grizzlies. Quiet and hard working.
#creative writing#historical fiction writing#cattle drive#short stories about johnny ringo and curly bill#tombstone cowboys#stories about the cowboys from Tombstone movie#original character development
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WIP:
FROM THE WEST TO THE FUTURE:
The Cowboys Journey Through Time
JOHNNY RINGO AND CURLY BILL CAUGHT IN A 21ST CENTURY TIME WARP.
While outrunning a group of renegade Indians, a blinding light stabs the eyes of Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo and when the dust finally settles into reality, they come to understand they've been pushed through a time warp and become stuck in the present time. They return to Tombstone to see the town unchanged. Except that everyone is half naked (even the women) and unbelievably clean. Will they find a way back to 1881? Will they fall in love? What happens when they meet up with the other Cowboys stuck in our time? How do they find each other and what will their adventures be like?
*I'll be updating at least once a day*
"Ride, Juanito! Comanches!"
A group of renegade Comanches follow the two cowboys at full speed while Curly and Ringo rise faster than they ever have before. An arrow wizzes by Ringo's head, barely missing him and Curly hears the booming voice of the natives behind him.
Suddenly, they see a light so intense, they both cover their eyes while continuing to outrun the Indians hellbent on taking down the cowboys.
Ringo and Curly stop riding, the desert blooms look unfamiliar and strange and a few houses occupy the area.
"What the hell? Where's the desert? There weren't no houses here before!" Curly shakes his head.
Ringo feels a cold chill and looks around. Nothing looks the same. A few people move about the houses and from a distance, the boys can't tell if they're injuns or Mexicans or Union soldiers. They both back up their horses, waiting for the odd looking people to approach them and tell them they're moving on Yankee land. But no one approaches them. Curly noticed there were no horses. Not a single one. Not an animal in sight!
They ride a few more moments, trotting while scanning the desert for something familiar other than the boulders and cactus. A soft breeze whirls around them and they can hear birds singing in the Palo Verde trees, dogs barking in the distance and seeing a row of telephone poles they would swear on the Bible were not there before! The aroma fills their nostrils and the fragrant wild flowers smell delightfully different. Their horses begin grazing on some of the plush green grass that pops up in small pockets on the desert floor. The cowboys continue looking around, hoping to see someone or something familiar. But everything, even the breeze feels very different.
The whirring of a machine echoes in the distance and the two men quickly look at each other, wondering what the hell that could be. They see a man walk around one of the few houses. He wipes his head with a cloth. Then he proceeds to take a green colored hose like object and to the shock of Curly and Ringo, water flows from it. Their wide eyes lock on the scene before them and they ride a little closer. The man waves and the Cowboys wave back. Since the man looks innocent enough, the boys feel they may be able to get some information about where the hell they are.
"Where the hell are the damn Comanches?" Curly bellows. Them boys was right on us! There ain't nothin here they can hide behind! Where the hell are we, Johnny?"
Ringo continues pondering while staring with blank eyes at the scene before him. "There's no Comanches anywhere. And what was that light?"
Ringo's heart drops.
Are we trapped in hell? Did we just die?
"Who are those people?" Curly inquires, squinting his eyes from the sharp sun. Ringo shakes his head slowly. He turns his horse and begins to trot towards one of the small houses and there were only four houses that the two rustlers could see. A small child comes out of one the houses and begins running around the property.
"I don't remember any kids bein' at these camps! Hell, they ain't even dressed like injuns!"
"I don't think they're injuns, Curly. I don't even see a gun in any of them! No horses, no cows, no chickens. Where the hell are we, damnit?" Ringo brays.
"So, they ain't carrying firearms and they're living out here?"
Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo continue to watch what seems like a pleasant scene. They didn't hear the battle cries of Comanches or hear and firearms going off. They continued scoping out the area, watching from all sides. A dirt path winds towards where the houses sit about fifty yards away. Boulders frame the area and trees stand around the path.
Suddenly, two little girls approach the rustlers. Dressed in unrecognizable attire and wearing shoes that sparkle with stones.
"Who are you? Can we pet your horse?" One of the girls asks.
"Please? Our daddy said it was ok!"
"Where's your daddy?" Curly asks. "He lets you talk to strangers before he does? He must have a lotta trust in this wild country!"
The girls look at each other and giggle. "Can we pet your horse?"
"Well," Ringo begins. "Do you live at this camp? Comanches giving you trouble?"
"What are coman cheesers?" One of the girls asks. The two continue smiling.
"You see any injuns out here? Did you see some riding around here just now? There was a whole bunch of em! Did you see where they went?"
The girls look at each other and shake their heads slowly. They appear so clean and sparkling barrettes nest in their hair. Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo couldn't believe how clean the girls were.
The girls run away, holding hands and laughing. Curly and Ringo look at each other.
The men ride slowly towards one of the houses. The road changes and it's a black street instead of dirt. A man without a hat on, wearing jeans, sandals and a dress shirt without a tie comes towards them from the house. The two little girls come out from behind the house and begin running back to Curly and Ringo who still stand with confusion running through their minds. Like the little girls, he was remarkably clean.
"Hi there, fellas!" The man says. "My daughter said something about warning us about comb cheese? I apologize, they may have said it wrong." He pats his daughters on the head. One of them looks up at her father. Her blond hair up in braids and like her sister, wasn't wearing a dress. In fact, they seemed to be in their bloomers! Tight shirts with gemstones on them and butterflies and the pants they wore were above the knees. Ringo wondered how the father would let his cute daughters dress like that with wild Indians in the area. But come to think of it, there wasn't an Indian in sight.
"Have you seen any Comanches anywhere?" Curly Bill asks, looking around."
The man, who stands just under six feet starts chuckling. He puts his hands on his waist and shakes his head. "Not that I've seen. Just a few of us live here now. Where are you boys from?" The man looks inquisitively. Curly and Ringo look at each other.
"Tombstone."
"Is there a wild west show?" He wonders. "I heard it was cancelled!"
"Wild West show?" Ringo ask.
"Yeah. That's why you're dressed like that? I have to say those costumes look very authentic! Love the spurs and six shooters too. Those aren't real bullets are they?" The man asks, walking in between the horses.
Our costumes?
Ringo thinks to himself. His heart pounding and his mind racing, he finds himself at a loss for words and his confusion grows with each passing moment. Everything seems so.... Peaceful.
"Well, we don't fire these pistols at anyone we ain't got no beef with," Curly responds, his horse backing up a bit.
The man starts laughing again. "You even sound like you're from the wild west!" The man slaps his knee. This causes the two rustlers to grow increasingly uneasy. Things seem peaceful, but odd. The man seems to keep talking about them in the past tense.
"We ain't green horns," Curly remarks. "We're seasoned cowpokes and we drive cows from Arizona to Mexico or Colorado to Texas. I don't see no animals here," Curly mentions.
"Oh, I see!" The man answers. "I guess I got confused. Well! Do you ever entertain like, oh who was that guy," the stranger snaps his fingers, trying to think of the name. "Buffalo Bill!"
Ringo, trying not to sound completely aloof nods and answers, "sometimes we do pistol tricks or teach people how to rope."
"Cowboys and entertainers! I love how you talk. You do lots of shows?"
"Sure," Ringo responds.
"Can I pet your horse?" One of the girls asks. She moves closer to the boys. Her soft brown hair is pulled into two ponytails and her big brown eyes stir the hearts of the two rustlers.
"Ok," Ringo answers. Confusion on his once unreadable poker face. He and Curly keep looking at each other and then all around, growing increasingly uneasy.
"Who else lives around here?" Curly Bill asks.
"Well, I just bought this piece about three years ago. We moved from Chicago after my wife passed. Just a few homes here. Mine and three others. It's not so bad. Definitely a change of scenery from Chicago. Hotter! Well, it's nice to see other people out here!"
"Yeah, our mom got sick and she died," the girl with the brown hair mentions. "i like your horse!"
Ringo smiles. The girl with the blonde hair starts petting Curly's horse and Curly feels a sense of peace. The girls look at the rustlers with adorable faces and sweet smiles.
"As you can see this is really an up and coming community like Murrieta in California," the man continues. "Not much here now and only a few of us live here." The stranger lowers his head. He's such a friendly fellow and that intrigues the cowboys. He doesn't look like someone worried about wild Indians. "We're hoping after another five years, we'll have a real town here."
"It don't look like no boom town," Curly remarks. This causes the man to begin laughing.
"You really take your parts seriously. You'll be a hit!"
Curly's mind bends into a state of confusion so intense, he begins to feel dizzy and shakes his head as if to ward the feeling off.
"Who are you?" Curly asks.
"I'm Larry Fields and these are my daughters, Jessica and Marin."
"I'm Curly Bill and this here is Johnny Ringo."
The man claps in applause. "I've heard of them. So that's who you're playing in the show? You're free to practice your act on us!"
"What act?" Ringo asks, his face turning red with frustration. "Oh, uh.... maybe. We're hoping to meet some other boys. Thinking about heading to Texas for work."
"Cowboying is some job and it's still around I think it's great you take it so seriously. Are you just out for a ride?"
"Yes. You could say that," Ringo answers, uncertainty in his voice.
"Well, I heard the show was cancelled since some of the actors came down with Covid."
"Covid?" Curly Bill asks slowly. What in the hell is that?"
The man smiles again. "Method actors, huh? Would you like to come inside and enjoy a latte? I've never met a real cowboy before!"
A latte?
"Tombstone, that's not far from here. So you must be here for a wild west show. We've been there a few times. Watching actors play out cops and robbers dressed like the Earps and the Cowboys!"
At this point, the minds of these cowboys begin to spin into an unfamiliar dance of wonder. Why was this man talking about actors playing parts from the past?
Nothing looks like it did before and why is this man asking about wild west shows? Thoughts of what could be the cause of the sudden change in reality flood their heads and stabs at their perception. The friendliness of the strange man, the absence of animals, the cleanliness of the man and his daughters.
"Well, where do you stay when you're doing your shows?" The man asks. His hair, blonde like his daughters looks freshly washed and he's clean shaven with bright blue eyes. He didn't appear to possess the same grit they usually see in other men.
Not knowing what to say, they just nod.
"Do you want some cookies? We made cookies!" One of the girls announces. Her father smiles. Suddenly, a medium size golden retriever comes running towards them.
"Toby!" One girl shouts, turning her attention to her dog. "This is our dog, Toby."
The men tip their hats.
"Well, come on in, fellows. Let's have that latte."
Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo enter the modest, three bedroom house. Beige, lush carpet blankets the floor and a small kitchen rests to the right of the front door. A small table with six chairs sits in a corner and a vase of freshly cut wild flowers lounges on it. A painting of apples hangs over a sink that doesn't seem to have a pump, but there's clearly a faucet. On the other side of the house, a flat, black rectangular object hangs on a wall. One of the girls grabs a black contraption and the black turns to a colorful burst of wonder. A window of moving pictures race across the rectangle and music the rustlers have never heard before begins playing. Words and colors fly across this mysterious window and it feels as though they are right there.
Ringo moves closer and his eyes, like Curly's grow wide with curiosity. People move about on the screen and Curly touches it as if it's a window, but he just taps it and the people in the window don't appear to see him. Curly looks around to see who's talking and looks behind the rectangle. "Who are you? Do you know where we are?" Curly and Ringo feel like ghosts, unable to be seen by the people and even the animals in the window. Phrases burst from the weird looking people in the window and Curly Bill and Ringo can't understand because they're talking so fast. They hear bits and pieces of sentences such as:
"Fix your credit!"
"An easier way to buy a car!"
"Need a vacation? It's affordable now!"
"Suffering from insomnia? Talk to your doctor about..."
*Side effects include..."
The boys stand, their mouths agape.
"What in the hell is this?" Curly whispers. "What are they saying?" Curly feels like he's dreaming and hopes he wakes up in his comfortable and familiar cowboy camp.
"We need to know where we are!" Curly barks at the man on the window screen. "Can you hear us?" Curly shrugs with frustration and feels queasy from the constant movement on the screen. His stomach feels nauseous.
He looks into the rectangle and everything moves so quickly and the voices speak so fast, saying phrases and words that almost seemed like a foreign language.
"What the hell are they saying? Why can't they see us?"
Curly begins getting dizzy watching the screen. The boys see dogs in the window and call for them, but like the people, the dogs can't see them either. The little girls laugh.
Ringo looks over at the odd screen and can understand a few words here and there. High pitched singing fills the room and colorful orbs seem to burst and pop in the window. They cannot comprehend what the hell this device is and why can they see people and animals, while they appear invisible?
"Here we are, boys. Three lattes. Let's go in here so the girls can watch TV."
Marin, the older of the two girls brings a plate of cookies over to where Ringo and Curly are.
"We made these with daddy!" She announces as she skips back to the couch to watch the mysterious window. Ringo and Curly both take a cookie and munch it. A clean and refreshing aroma surrounds them; it's the cleanest place they've ever been in. A fresh and citrusy smell combined with the freshness of flowers floods their nostrils and fills them with comfort even though they feel they must be dreaming.
Ringo and Curly sip the warm beverage and it tastes like sweet, creamy coffee. They lick the foam off their mustaches. It's unbelievably delicious.
"What you say this drink is?" Curly asks, sipping it quickly.
"Lattes! Not too many Starbucks on a cattle drive!" Larry says, sipping his drink slowly.
Ringo was tempted to ask about this person Starbucks, but feels awkward not knowing anything about where they are.
Hell wouldn't smell this clean or be this bright!Ringo thinks.
Maybe we took a wrong turn while riding, maybe the Commanches fired a poison arrow that causes hallucinations? Maybe I'm just dreaming...
"So, when does the show start? Larry asks.
"What show?" Ringo asks.
Larry smiles. "Will it be in Tombstone?"
Ringo simply nods and both cowboys grow anxious to be somewhere else, somewhere familiar. A rough and dirty cowtown would feel more welcoming than this.
"Glad we got to meet! There's not It sure is nice meeting you both. Too bad my wife isn't here. I think she would get such a kick out of you two! She always enjoyed western movies or books about the wild west! A different time back then?" Larry sips his latte and takes a cookie.
Back then? Ringo thinks...
"I'm guessing you stay at the hotel in Tombstone?"
"The hotel is there?" Curly asks. "The Grand Hotel?"
"Sure!" Larry answers. "It's nice that Tombstone hasn't changed much. Still looks the same as it always did. It's a fun place to spend the day. My wife used to like Big Nose Katie's saloon."
"You know Kate?" Ringo asks.
"Not personally," Larry winks. "But there's a saloon named after her!"
Curly and Ringo finish their coffee, desiring more of that scrumptious drink, but want to leave and find out what the hell is happening. They stand up and head for the door. They turn and look at the odd window and spectacular bursts of pink and purple flow with strange little characters that appear like drawings that move and speak. The voices of these creatures deliver a sweet and soft sound and the music feels soothing.
Ringo sees a newspaper on the counter near the sink. He takes it and looks over at Larry.
"Oh, keep it! All nonsense anyway."
"Thank you for the coffee," Ringo says, tipping his hat.
"You're welcome. Anytime."
Curly and Ringo leave, mount their horses and gallop off. Ringo looks all over the newspaper.
"Where the hell are we, Juanito?" Curly asks, sharply.
All the blood drains from Ringo's face and he looks at Curly, his face white as a ghost.
"What the hell, Juanito?" Curly shouts.
"It's not where we are...
It's when."
Ringo's signature poker face has gone and Curly Bill can see for the first time, genuine fear in Ringo's eyes. Curly takes the paper.
"What am I looking at, Johnny?"
Ringo points to the date:
March 20, 2023...
Curly's heart sinks..
Ringo sits on his horse with a frustration so intense, he feels his heart swell and his face grows hot. He wants to ride as fast as he can, see that light and go back to 1881.
Both rustlers spurred their horses and bolted through the desert, hoping their speed could recreate that blinding light they saw just before they flew through the time warp. They rode for several minutes, slapping the backsides of their horses to get them to run at that same flight, but no light showed and the horses were getting tired.
"Shit! We're stuck here! Feels like a damn nightmare! We ain't got nothing or no one to help us! What the hell are we supposed to do?"
Both men remain quiet for several moments, taking in the reality that they are very far from home.
"I wonder what Tombstone looks like," Curly shrugged.
"Let's go find out." Ringo says, his voice is still as the air. "That man Larry said it's the same."
"Well, wouldn't that be something?"
They ride into Tombstone and feel somewhat elated that the town looks surprisingly the same. More shops have been added, but the Oriental still stands, along with the Golden Nugget and they see the famous Bird Cage theater.
"Damn, Juanito. It ain't like it used to be! There ain't hardly any cowboys here! Fact, there ain't no cowboys here. I see families. Everyone here is dressed in their damn bloomers! I ain't never seen men wearing pants above their knees and damn sandals! Hell, they ain't worried about rattlers or scorpions I guess."
"I need a drink, Bill. Clear out heads."
"Let's see what the Oriental is like in, what the hell year are we in?" Curly scratches his head.
"2023."
"Well, shit! I'm glad to see people never tore this town down." Curly says, securing his horse to the posts that still stand outside the famous saloon.
When they enter, they see more people wearing their bloomers and Curly just wants to see a man wearing chaps or boots with spurs. All the patrons begin clapping and Curly Bill and Ringo look at each other and then look behind them, wondering who the odd people are applauding.
"Hey! Here they are! You're from the wild west show!" The men start hooting and holding up their drinks. Ringo and Curly feel a bit important and feel their best strategy was to simply be honest and that they were in fact seasoned jackaroos who drive cattle since cattle driving is still around in the 21st century.
Some of the women look stunningly gorgeous. Hair that shines in the light and looks as soft as butter. Luxurious, lovely locks that flow freely. Long, delicate eyelashes frame wonderfully made up eyes that sparkle, with perfectly done make up. They also seemed to wear very little clothing and some of them were showing their legs! Curly Bill and Johnny couldn't take their eyes off of them. They appeared like goddesses sitting there, sipping wine.
Curly Bill and Ringo tip their hats and that causes the beauties to smile. They start playing with their glamorous hair and smile, showing beautiful, white teeth.
"We're so bummed the show was cancelled, but at least you're here to make our trip a little more authentic!" One of the patrons states. He stands, a little taller than Ringo, wearing a blue T Shirt with the words, "One Cool Dude." Like some of the other men, his pants are cut above the knees. The cowboys believe the weather is too much for these green horns and they don't wear tenacious shirts like cowboys do. The man's green eyes dance in the light and his eyebrows and hair appear perfectly trimmed. He's holding a bottle in his hand and standing next to a few other dudes who are dressed in similar clothing and like the man with the blue T-shirt, they look cleaner than anyone the cowboys have ever seen. Curly Bill and Johnny felt awkward and dirty standing near these clean shaven men.
Them duds wouldn't last a day on the range, Curly thinks.
Another tall man, at least wearing long pants stands and calls for the bar dog. Much to the cowboys surprise, the barkeep looked just like Milt; wearing the same white shirt and apron and he's sporting a mustache similar to theirs.
"A round for these boys!" The stranger says. "I'm Dave and you'll never pay for a drink in this town!" All the people start cheering and whistling and Curly Bill and Ringo can't decide what to do.
The man called Dave has brown eyes and a full beard that looks freshly trimmed. He's almost as tall as Curly and Ringo and looks stocky with large, muscular arms. His dress shoes look newly polished.
"I invested some dough in Tombstone real estate. I'm looking to add to this town. Bring in some more outside business. What are you boys drinking?"
"I'll take a beer and a shot," Ringo answers.
"I'll take the same," Curly grunts. They all move to the bar and have a seat on the stools. Curly looks around and can almost hear the sound of Campton Races playing in the piano while rustlers, businessmen, cattle ranchers and other types drank and played faro. Damn, if only he could see a familiar face! He closes his eyes for a few minutes and recalls moving through this crowded saloon to quench his thirst for rotgut whiskey and faro or poker. He can almost see Milt pouring drinks, cowboys getting rowdy, whores moving about, showing their merchandise, the back parlor where pretty ladies would sing and the distant sound of gunfire. One thing he didn't miss was the stench. Curly Bill can remember that ferocious odor that permeated the saloons that lacked ventilation or even insulation and so it was biting cold in winter and scorching hot in summer. And he didn't see communal towels for men to wipe their mustaches and beer foamed beards. The aroma whirls around the two rustlers and they can't imagine going back to when places like this stunk of horrific body odor, horse shit and bad whisky. The cleanliness was something both welcomed. They both wanted to take baths and have their clothes laundered, but felt awkward asking about things like that.
More half dressed people walked in and following them, a man wearing cowboy attire strode in. Curly and Ringo could tell he wasn't a seasoned cowpoke since his shirt and pants didn't sustain the tenacity of a real cowboy's duds.
"Howdy, everybody!" The cowboy declares. "Whiskey's on me!" He takes his jacket off and starts drinking with the other patrons.
Curly Bill approaches the cowboy in disguise.
"What outfit have you rode with?" Curly Bill asks.
The stranger laughs and Curly Bill and Ringo wonder why people laugh when they say certain things.
"I'm not really a cowboy. I just dress like one when I come to Tombstone. I'm not a part of the wild west show, but my girlfriend says I look cute in cowboy garb."
"Damn! Check out those guns! Where the hell did you get those? I didn't know you could buy those anymore!" One the men says. Curly Bill, who is usually never at a loss for words, suddenly doesn't know what to say.
"We've moved cattle a time or two," Curly Bill remarks.
"So, you're real cowboys?" The man in the blue T-shirt asks.
Ringo nods.
"That's awesome! I'm Chuck!" Says the green horn cowboy. "Nice to meet you both! Why'd you say you were in the wild west show?"
Curly shakes his head. "Well, we ain't! We just moved a herd of cows from Texas. We're off for a little while."
"Is that a seasonal job?" One of the women inquires, twirling her dark hair. Curly can't believe she's talking to him. But her eyes fall over the old cowboy and he swears he's never seen women so damn gorgeous. The ladies he thought were lovely like Josephine Marcus, Red or Sad Sally from the Dead End saloon. But now it seems he can't even remember what they look like. Every lady Ringo and Curly see appear more beautiful than the previous. A heavenly array of unbelievably pretty women.
Curly moves a little closer to her and the glitter makeup causes her eyes to sparkle and dance. Her full red lips part as she gazes up at him.
"Well, we don't drive during the winter months too much. But come spring, we'll be real busy again."
"Hey, what are your names?"
Curly Bill and Ringo look at each other.
"I'm Bill Graham and this here is John Ringold."
"Howdy there, fellas!" Chuck announces. "This is so fucking cool! Having real ass cowboys here!"
Ringo's face grows red.
Swearing in front of ladies!
Ringo would have liked to deck the guy for disrespecting the women, but thought better of it. They had no way of knowing what to expect and did not have a clear understanding of the social norms. People seemed friendly and jovial and relaxed. And none of them were carrying pistols.
"I'm Bob," the man in the blue T-shirt says, holding his hand out for the rustlers to shake.
"Tombstone was a wild town back in the day! Damn, wouldn't that be something to be alive back then?!" Bob sips his beer from a small bottle.
"Tombstone was queen of these boomtowns," Johnny Ringo answers. "Sho'ly a bit more refined than Dodge."
The ladies smile and giggle, thinking the cowboys are amazingly brauny.
"Yeah, I heard Dodge was like the worst place!" Bob finishes his beer and waves for the bar dog to give him another. "But, we've got some fucked up gun laws."
Curly Bill and Ringo wish the man would stop swearing, especially in front of women.
"What do you mean by that?" Ringo thinks out loud.
"We need stricter laws so kids don't get shot to death at school!" Bob shakes his head. "I'm not downing having guns, but military assault rifles? Who the fuck needs those?"
MORE SWEARING! THIS IS HOW PEOPLE TALK IN THE FUTURE? Ringo rages in his mind.
"Times sure have changed since the days of Wyatt Earp," Bob declares, pretending to be pulling a pistol. He chuckles and says, "Hey, I'm Wyatt Earp, mo fos!" He sticks his tongue out and continues his charade. "Gimme yer pistols, feller or I'll fill ya full of lead!" He looks over at Dave and a few others and they all begin laughing.
"You know about Wyatt Earp?" Curly beckons.
"Of course!" Dave shouts. "Guy was a freakin' idiot!" Dave, Chuck and Bob clink their beer bottles together.
Curly and Ringo chuckle and want to hear more about what these modern day people think of the Earps and the conflict between the Earps and the Cowboys. Curly feels amused and enjoys hearing the boys bash his old rival.
What has history had to say about us and what happened to us?
"What makes you say that?" Curly inquires.
"Going up against Curly Bill Brocious and those others! Now that guy was a force to be reckoned with. Anyone would be a fool to call out a man like Brocious. That dude was bad ass!"
Curly Bill stands with his arms folded. He flicks his tongue as he does when amused by something. He begins to guffaw loudly, causing the patrons to laugh along with him.
"You think so?" Curly grunts.
"Fuck yeah! I wouldn't go up against Brocious. That dude was so cool! Rumor was, he could shoot rabbits running from 20 yards away! I wouldn't mess with a guy like that! Too bad there's no photos of him. Just a few drawings that aren't very good!
"What about Doc Holliday?" Ringo inquires, his heart racing, waiting to hear.
"Loser!" Dave and Bob say in unison. This causes Ringo to smile and he even lets out a laugh which causes Curly to look over in disbelief. Chuck sucked back his shot and started on his beer. He laughed along with the others.
Bob holds up his hand with his palm flat and Dave slaps Bob's hand with his open palm. A gesture the rustlers have never seen, but enjoyed watching.
Bob starts walking like a refined gentleman. "Yeah, I'm Doc Holliday. I quit being a dentist so I can spend my life cheating at poker and avoiding my health!" The two men clink their beer bottles together and laugh.
Curly Bill looks at Ringo, whose eyes are wide with delight and curiosity. He laughs under his breath. He's clearly amused by the two 21st century men. He's almost afraid to ask,
"what about Johnny Ringo?"
He decides to wait.
"Another round!" Dave shouts.
Curly Bill and Johnny feel a bit more comfortable drinking with the men they just met and are eager to ask more questions about Tombstone history.
"Hey! There's more cowboys!" Chuck announces standing up and ordering more drinks for everyone.
Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo look out the window.
"I'll be damned..." Curly whispers.
Ringo looks out and his heart lifts when he sees the Clanton's, McClaury's, Barnes, Cruz, Stillwell and Indian Charlie all riding together, walking slowly through town, looking confused and out of place. They dismount and secure their horses to the posts that still stand after all these decades.
"Hold on a minute," Curly growls, finally feeling the effects of the whiskey and beer, which is the best tasting he's ever had in his life. He exits the saloon and Ringo follows.
"Ike? Billy?"
Ike and Billy turn and see Ringo and Curly and gaze upon their friends as if looking at a mirage. The other Cowboys mouths drop.
"Curly Bill! Johnny Ringo!" Ike announces.
"Hey, do you know what's going on?" Ringo asks.
Ike shakes his head.."We was being chased by them injuns! You and Ringo disappeared! We saw a light that almost blinded us boys! Next thing we knew, everything was changed!"
"We met some people along the way," Billy Clanton swoons.
"Yeah," Ike responds. "Have you seen the women around here? I saw a lady's ankles!" Ike blushes.
"Well, I saw a lady's legs and her arms too!" Stillwell brags.
Curly Bill smiles. The best part of this new world they were experiencing was the women.
"Everyone's in their bloomers!" Frank McClaury chuckles. Men wearing pants above their knees!" The men start laughing; they couldn't help but find it incredibly funny that the men dressed like that since none of the cowboys would be caught dead wearing sandals and pants above the knees!
"What about money?" Ringo asks. "We don't have any!"
"No, we do!" Ike announces. "Everything changed, even our money. Look!" Ike pulls out bills that look unrecognizable.
"What's this? Where did you get this?" Curly asks.
"Check yours!"
Curly Bill and Ringo take their money out and sure enough, the bills are modern cash. "How the hell?" Curly muses. He counts over six hundred dollars, money left from the stage they robbed.
Ringo pulls his money out and like the other boys, it's completely different. "I'll be damned...This just keeps getting stranger."
"There's the Oriental!" Billy Clanton bellows. "Damn! It ain't no different. Everything here looks the same cept folks ain't dressed. Everyone smells so damn clean!"
"We stink boys!" Curly guffaws, almost feeling like he's back in 1881. "Let's get to the hotel and see about some baths!"
The Grand Hotel still stood, except more rooms added. They enter and the hotel clerk is dressed in 19th century fashion. His mustache curls up.
"Howdy, gentleman. How many rooms?"
"About 5. We can sleep two in a room." Curly states.
Upon receiving their keys and fresh towels, they head up to their rooms. Another sparkling clean area with that wonderous citrus aroma.
A laundry area was just outside the hotel, but was filled with machines instead of large baths of hot water.
Ringo figured out to use these odd machines and the boys spent the better part of the afternoon cleaning themselves up. They also visited the barber shop and had their mustaches, beards and hair trimmed. Later that day, while the orange sun melts behind the mountains in the distance, they feel ready to experience this 21st century Tombstone.
Curly Bill walks in front with Ringo strolling right by his side. The warm spring breeze washes over them like a mid day bath and they tip their hats to the tourists wandering through the streets. The gang of Cowboys start to feel a hot blooded ache in their souls and almost wish the Earps were there to try to take their guns away just for fun!
"I'm wanting to see more ladies!" Ike whines. "Damn, these women look like nothing I ever saw!"
Billy Clanton looks over at his brother with Cheshire Cat grin and nods his head.
"Let's head to the Crystal Palace and see what those girls are like," Curly growls.
Ringo looks forward, trying to grow more acclimated like his fellow gang members. Although he too appreciated the beauty of these goddesses, his fear and guilt seem to overtake him. He can imagine the soft, sparkling liquid eyes gazing upon him, desiring to please him. But these women resembled pictures he'd seen in fairy tale books or like the China dolls he'd seen in toy stores. They appeared almost...
Untouchable.
Just to stroke their glowing skin could send Johnny into such a bath of delight and wonder and he feared he could never please or pleasure any of them.
He could see his fellow Cowboys, strutting through the streets, people giving them modern day gestures the boys didn't understand, but seemed to know the meaning behind these gestures. These 21st century people provided a friendly atmosphere and they all seemed excited about having the Cowboys around, although they had no idea these men just flew through a time warp. Ringo still entertained the thought that the Indians struck them with arrows that caused hallucinations or perhaps a very deep sleep and that soon he would awaken back in 1881.
While the sun begins to creep behind the mountains that frame Tombstone, people begin filtering through town. The Cowboys see families going in and out of the various shops and single men and women hustling about, looking for some fun. The boys seem amazed at the feeling of the town and that it appears so unchanged. The streets still dirt, are lined with new establishments and older ones. Curly Bill wondered if the Dead End saloon was still standing on the other side of Allen Street. At this moment, they didn't care; they were free from the yoke of the law that pursued them and the modern day people didn't appear to have any fear of bounty hunters and wild Indians. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
As they strolled through the 21st century town, they noticed a few greenhorns wandering around. It was clear to the boys, these dudes were never in a cattle drive. But they embraced the familiarity.
The boys enter one of the newer establishments, Big Nose Kate's saloon. They moved through the batwings just like in the old days, commanding the attention of every man and woman in the room.
A few men hoot and whistle and the women stare at the boys as if they've never seen a man before.
"Hey, it's cowboys!" One man shouts. The stranger stands just under six feet, a round face with a full beard and dark eyes. His large hand held a beer while he shook the hands of some of the other boys.
"Howdy, fellas! I'm Mike. It's so cool to have real cowboys here!" Mike finishes his beer and orders another. "What's it like being a real life cowboy?"
"It's a dirty job that don't pay well!" Stillwell remarks. "It ain't a job for no tenderfoot neither."
Mike smiles. "Let me introduce you to some other dudes.
Mike introduces the boys to a few other men.
Marcus, the tallest of the group stood a little taller than Ringo. His clean shaven face and stoic features gave him an almost regal appearance. His blond hair fell just below his shoulders and his piercing blue eyes seemed cold.
Next they met Simon, a shorter man with a stout body and his fave adorned with an uneven beard. His brown eyes danced in the light, his disposition a little friendlier.
Matt, a short fat man with baggy pants and a shirt that was not tucked in nods at the boys, his brown eyes friendly.
A few other men come in, wearing dress pants and fancy shirts that wouldn't last a day on the range. A few wore boots that looked new and did not have the tenacity of a real cowboy's clothes.
The Cowboys begin engaging in small talk, mostly answering questions about cattle driving.
The Cowboys begin experiencing hunger pangs and start asking where to find the best eating establishments. They have one more round with their newfound friends and leave the bar to find a restaurant. They strut through town while it continues getting dark. The town doesn't have the sound of pianos in various saloons, the jingling of spurs, the neighing of horses or the clinking of the blacksmith iron. In a way, they long for that familiarity and a sense of adventure, but everything in this new time period felt almost dull to them. They hadn't entertained the idea of venturing out of modern day Tombstone and the uncertainty of life in this new time period begins to weigh a bit.
What else are there we boys haven't seen? There's gotta be more in this new space.
Their focus shifts and they go into a restaurant called, "The Chuck Wagon Grill." When they enter, they see a bar similar to that of the one at the Oriental. The same mahogany wood appeared in all the bars and other establishments. Tables with black and white tablecloths and booths. The waiters all dressed in black suits and long aprons moved about, carrying trays of drinks and hot meals. People look over at the cowboys. Some laugh and others lift their glasses. The place embraces an elegance the boys aren't used to.
A stunning looking brunette, wearing a pink and black dress that showed off her curves walks over quickly. All the Cowboys take their hats off.
"Howdy, ma'am," Curly Bill says, holding his hat and feeling a tingling in his groin he couldn't resist. He still can't believe how beautiful these women are.
"Right this way, please." The boys follow her, not taking their wide eyes off her curves. The large restaurant looks busy and Curly and the others can see some people snickering at them while some of the other patrons smile.
The men are seated at a large table.
"I'll take a beer," Ike says shyly, not taking his eyes off the hostess. He can feel his face turn red when she smiles at him. He notices the curves of her breasts and imagines kissing her right there. Ike continues staring at her until Ringo nudges him. Ike snaps out his trance while the other cowboys laugh.
"Your server will be right with you," she smiles.
They all watch her head back to her station. The only man not reacting was Ringo, who once again saw these angelic beings as untouchable delights.
TO BE CONTINUED...
I've got major writer's block on this!!!
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SHORT STORY:
Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo:
How They React When the Cowboys Get Rowdy Around You...(in progress)
CURLY BILL:
Cowboys get rowdy and that's no surprise. After a long cattle drive, all they want to do is hit the cow towns and raise some hell. The Red Sash Cowboys were a different breed...They drove stolen cattle and robbed stage coaches. They didn't hit the railroads or banks like the James Younger Gang as their best talents were stealing cows. Curly Bill and his group of thugs encountered all sorts of dangers; vengeful Apaches or Comanches, rattlers, grizzlies and the law if they were being pursued. Rustling was dangerous work and they did it well. When they weren't stealing, they were spending their ill gotten gains on booze, calico queens, gambling and other common indulgences. These men all came from fractured families and found a brotherhood among each other. It was for that reason they remained so loyal to one another and when someone comes down on one of them, they come down on all of them. That's the cowboy way. They don't ride for the brand like traditional cowboys do.
A cattle drive could take weeks to complete and along that drive Curly and his boys suffered from insect swarms, dust, dust and more dust all without bathing or changing their underwear or washing their nether regions or under their arms. Cowboying is a dirty, dirty job. The chuck wasn't great either and Curly's gang didn't have a bean master on their drives so they prepared their own meals which was anything from small fish from whatever water sources were available, rabbit, beans, biscuits, bacon, dried fruits and maybe some canned tomatoes.
But the worst part of the job wasn't the vengeful injuns or deadly grizzly bears, it was the mind numbing loneliness these men suffered. On the range, women were as scarce as clean water sources. And if they happened across a shack occupied by a family of squatters, the women were not much to look at and didn't have a kind or gentle demeanor. How could they in an environment like this? Survival was a way of life. These pioneers and travelers were hoping if they could build something in the land, that they could make a better life for themselves. And since the railroads didn't come through some of these areas, the settler's could remain without the threat of having their land suddenly uprooted by vicious railroad barons. The settlers were not the friendliest, but did offer some food for the cowboys such as flour, rice or arbuckles. Curly Bill and his gang were thankful for such stops along the way since there weren't very many. And the rustler gang always expected a lovely woman to prepare a basket of fresh fruits and breads, but they were met with a woman who's faces were puffed out like biscuits, tattered clothing, hair that was so dried up, they kept it up all the time and of course in those harsh conditions, these women usually didn't have much in the way of a sense of humor. Even so, a drive was so lonely, Curly and the others would share a bed with them just to alleviate their desperate loneliness.
The cow towns offered soiled doves at a price and since men like Ringo and Curly had no other offers, they used the services these fallen angels provided. Sometimes Ringo or Curly would pay double, just so they could fall asleep with these ladies of the night and at least get a sense of what having a home would feel like...
Because of this rough and mostly lawless environment, men like The Cowboys were rough and lawless themselves. All they had was each other and they depend on each other for survival, a sense of belonging and inclusion and a brotherhood of tough guys. They would never sell each other out or leave one of their own to defend themselves. Wearing that red sash meant more than you were a part of a gang. That red sash set these men apart from other gangs...It meant that you rode with some of the toughest and most skilled gunfighters. The Cowboys were an elite force founded by one of the meanest men around; Newman Hayes Clanton, father to Ike and Billy Clanton. NH Clanton also known as "Old Man Clanton," was rustling cattle before his 13th birthday. He could rope and shoot better than most and had a questionable disposition. He could piss stronger stuff than most of the boys he went up against and his small cattle rustling empire dominated Arizona. He was a feared man who would slap the toughest men around and no one challenged him. He made his farm his headquarters where some other rustlers gathered to be a part of the operation. When NH Clanton met Curly Bill Brocious, he was immediately impressed by the younger cowboy. Curly, like Old Man Clanton could shoot as well he ropes and had a demeanor that communicated he was not a man to mess with. Curly Bill also had possessed the leadership skills and authority that Clanton was looking for and the older man put Curly Bill in charge of his rustling enterprise. Newman Clanton was impressed by Curly Bill and treated him like a son. There was no other man Old Man Clanton trusted to take over his rustling enterprises.
Although Curly Bill enjoys his title as King of the Cowboys, he also knows it is a title he needs the live up to!
When folks hear that Brocious is planning a visit at a certain town whether to sell or steal cows, they gather up the best stock to offer up to The Cowboys in exchange for protection. And the outlaw is never without gratitude! He owns up to his end of the deal and ensures his allies are always protected.
Curly is a man that always takes care of his own and if anyone upsets one of his own, Curly Bill will come down very hard. The Cowboys have each other and there was no one to speak for them or offer any time of advocacy.
Because these men were so naturally rough and gritty, they certainly didn't know how to behave themselves in the presence of lovely or refined ladies. They usually just made fools of themselves falling over each other trying to get their attention. So it was up to the calico queens to satisfy The Cowboys.
This is the only life Curly Bill ever knew. A peaceful and traditional family wasn't something he ever experienced a d so he valued his red sash gang of fellow outlaws and would ride to the death with them. Other than the rugged boys he rode with, Curly didn't have any other connections. He barely tolerated John Behan, the county sheriff who was an ally to the Cowboys and ensured their deeds of destruction would be swiftly overlooked. Behan also acted as an informant and knew the stage schedules, making it easier for Curly and his boys to get on the trail and rob the stagecoaches. The Cowboys certainly didn't respect Behan and couldn't understand why some of the more decent women in Tombstone seemed so impressed by the dashing officer. When he was engaged to Susan Wells, an actress who came to Tombstone with Josephine Marcus, Behan was more than happy to squander any funds his fiance's father provided.
When you arrive in Tombstone, your only friends are a few farmer's wives, the pastor's wife, a shopkeeper, a local reporter, Fred White and Billy Breckenridge. However, with your beautiful face and lovely smile and warm charm quickly elevate your status and your popularity. It seems everyone likes you and you soon find yourself being bombarded with all sorts of men looking for a chance to impress you. Although you accept a few invitations to dinner, you really are not impressed with any of them. No one tries harder than John Behan, who sees you as Tombstone's most desirable woman and with you by his side, he'll be able to accomplish just about anything. He views a relationship with you as a major step on the ladder of social status and relishes in the idea of being seen with you in public. Although it drives you crazy and you want nothing to do with the ambitious law man, he still believes he can charm you.
Tombstone is a tough town, but offers some alternative activities for those looking for culture. Past Fremont and Allen Street, there's a museum, a small library, two restaurants that feature fine dining, imported wine and freshly made cakes, pies and confectioners. In addition, there is an art gallery, a social club where local businessman can relax drinking Brandy and smoking imported cigars. This up and coming town went from a mining camp to a cultured community where the sophisticated and the down and dirty could find something to interest them.
Curly Bill and his gang didn't go past Allen Street to visit the more elite places. They knew they wouldn't be welcome and would rather spend their winnings on gambling, booze and ladies of the night.
However, one Sunday afternoon while you're talking with Breckenridge, Curly Bill sees you and is immediately impressed, intrigued and very interested. He wonders if you know who he is and if you've heard the news that he is the King of the Cowboys. Curly Bill wants to approach you, but doesn't want to come on to strong to scare you. Instead, he waits patiently for Billy Breckenridge to get up. When the young deputy parts ways with you, Curly Bill seizes the chance to get him to introduce the two of you.
"Well, howdy, deputy," the big rustler begins. "Who was that lovely lady you were just chatting with?"
Billy Breckenridge smiles and looks at the ground. Brocious isn't the first man in Tombstone to ask the agent to introduce them to you.
"Her name is y/n, and she's been here a couple of months. Mostly stays away from Allen and Fremont." Curly nods.
"A lovely lady like that don't belong around here, " the big cowboy answers.
Curly Bill looks at Breckenridge, waiting for him to take him to where you are. Curly Bill follows Billy to the hotel. Curly walks in and sees you sitting in a chair, reading a book.
Just like Ringo, Curly Bill thinks.
"Y/N," Billy asks which causes you to look up. Your smile melts Curly Bill's heart a bit and he can't help but smile.
"Have you met Curly Bill Brocious? He's King of the Cowboys!"
Your smile widens and you close your book and stand before the two men.
You hold your hand out for Curly to shake and he's tempted to kiss it, but dismisses the idea as he desperately wants to ensure your comfort as to not scare you away.
"Well, it sure is a pleasure to meet you, y/n," the cowboy says. You smile and seem shy and Curly will wonder if it's because you're charmed by the Cowboy King.
"I've heard of you," you say softly with your eyes to the ground.
"Just believe the good stuff," Curly Bill says, taking his hat off.
"I heard you were very daring," you respond, your eyes still gazing at the lush carpet in the lobby of the hotel. Curly Bill will flick his tongue and chuckle, without taking his eyes off of you.
"The hotel restaurant is open for lunch," Breckenridge states. "Join me and Curly Bill for a bite?"
Curly Bill suddenly feels a little flushed. He appreciates what the deputy is trying to do, but feels nervous about spending time with you. He may be the leader of some of the most wild men in the territory, but the only things men like Curly feared were trigger happy deputies, vengeful injuns and beautiful women. But he's daring and all of you move towards the dining room.
At first, Curly Bill feels a bit insecure; he can feel the stares of guests and can hear a few whispers, "isn't that Curly Bill Brocious?" He turns to meet their stares and he simply tips his hat and may wink. You are seated at a table for five so there is a little room for all of you. One of the waitresses comes over to give you menus. Curly Bill and Breckenridge already know what they're ordering, but you take your time looking over the menu.
Curly Bill looks around the room. You keep smiling at the big rustler and he can see the other guests beginning to relax and he will appreciate how you can do that for him and he will enjoy feeling that way.
When the waitress returns, you order and after a few moments, your meals arrive. While eating, Curly Bill will start scarfing down his food like he usually does when he's with his cowboys. He looks at Breckenridge who flashes Curly a look that says, "slow down, cowboy." Curly Bill appreciates the advice and slows his eating down. He notices how cute you are when you eat. The old cowboy can't take his eyes off of you and each time your eyes meet, you smile shyly and chuckle like a little girl. You're the last one to finish eating and have only finished half of what you ordered.
"That was yummy!" You say, still feeling intimidated by the rustler.
"Well, are you sure you don't want more?" Curly Bill asks. "What about some pie?"
"Um... sure, I love sweets!" You answer.
Curly Bill and Breckenridge start talking about business matters including talking with Behan about stage schedules. When Behan's name is brought up, you clearly look uncomfortable and Curly Bill will wonder if the sheriff has been flirting with you. He would feel like a fool of you went with Behan.
"Behan still sending you flowers every other day?" Breckenridge asks. You look down and the sweet smile you adored earlier is replaced by a frown and your liquid eyes look sad and annoyed. Curly Bill looks at you and feels somewhat confident about winning you over. If you don't like a man like Behan, maybe you would like a cowboy...
"Yes," you answer still looking at your half eaten dessert.
"Behan's troubling you,"Curly Bill asks, hoping he can make you feel better or at least not annoyed.
You finally speak. "Well, you see when I first arrived, I thought he was nice. And helpful." You shake your head and continue. "I didn't know anyone and he introduced me and then well, I met Billy and Fred-"
"Our town marshall?" Curly asks, surprised.
You smile a little and nod. "You see, I appreciated everything Johnny Behan did to help, but I didn't want to....And he made me feel..." You shake your head again.
"I'm sorry," Curly Bill begins. "Didn't mean to make you upset." Your big eyes look up at the old rustler. Your smile is so innocent and sweet, he just wants to take you into his arms.
"No, you didn't. I just...." Billy and Curly look at each other. Curly Bill feels for you and a lovely lady like yourself shouldn't be bullied by Behan. The dashing sheriff is expecting something in return for his gallantry.
"I asked Wyatt Earp to please talk to him for me and tell Johnny to leave me alone." This makes Curly Bill more angry, but he keeps it in.
"Well, did Wyatt help you?" The cowboy asks. You shake your head and look back down at your pie.
"Only once. But then I found out that Behan is letting the Earps stay in some cottages free of charge and well..." You eyes begin to well up with tears which only makes Curly Bill more angry.
"So, what happened?" Brocious asks. Billy Breckenridge sits there, eyeing Curly. He knows there is tension between the Earps and the Cowboys and the Cowboys aren't crazy about Behan because although he did help the rustlers, he is also a self serving slug.
"Wyatt told me to take care of it myself..." Now Curly Bill is angry as hell. Not only is Behan bullying you, you've got no one to protect you.
#tombstone cowboys#western romance#curly bill brocius#tombstone movie#western fiction#love#fantasy#johnny ringo#short story about curly bill#short story about johnny Ringo#clantons#rowdy cowboys#what would johnny ringo do?#what would curly bill do?#Curly Bill defends his girl#ringo defends his love#woman#curly Bill and Ringo protection#old man Clanton#cattle rustling#what would ringo do?
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HEADCANNON STORY:
SERENADED BY LOVE:
When Curly Bill discovers the reader's birthday is coming up, he desperately wants to find the perfect gift to how his devotion to her. What does he finally decide to get you?
It seems that your birthday is coming up and Curly Bill wants to impress you by getting you the perfect gift. He thinks about you and what you have talked about and what you seem to enjoy. He knows you love fresh flowers, candles, perfume and books, but he is determined to give you something truly special and from the heart. Curly Bill finds himself asking Ringo for advice and Ringo suggests Curly Bill write you a poem about his feelings for you.
At first, the big cowboy guffaws and thinks Ringo is crazy. Furthermore, Curly can't read or write as well as Ringo and doesn't want Ringo to write it for him.
All night, Curly Bill thinks about you while he tosses fruitlessly in his tent. He tries to put the right words together:
"The loveliest flower in Arizona..." He begins. He shakes his head and thinks it sounds stupid.
Curly Bill spends the next few days not only thinking of you, but thinking how he can tell you how he feels without looking foolish. Curly Bill likes to act tough and he is the toughest guy in Tombstone, but his confidence in writing a poem is shattered. He could shoot coins for you, shoot the flames off of candles and then twirl his pistol. But he wants to do something completely unique and wants to show you he does have a softer side.
He begins reciting in his mind and begins writing down ideas slowly as he is not the smartest guy around.
(Your Name)...
You are the most beautiful flower in Arizona.
I want to make you mine...
He crumples the paper and throws it out, cursing under his breath. He starts to think this is a bad idea, but Ringo was right; a love poem he wrote himself may be the special magic that it would take for you to see him as more than just a lowly cowboy who never amounted to anything in his life. Curly didn't exactly have a plethora of opportunities growing up and the aftermath of the civil war made him the outlaw he is.
He tries again...
(Your name)
How lovely your smile...
How I adore your sweet face.
I think you're beautiful and know I ain't.
Your hair flows in the breeze and takes my breath away.
I would do anything just to be with you.
Well, this old cowboy wants you.
You're like an angel to me.
Happy birthday to the most beautiful woman I've ever seen....
Curly Bill reads and rereads his poem and is tempted to throw it away. He fears you may think it's stupid. You may even show people and then he would be a laughing stock. A dumb and worthless cowboy with nothing but the clothes in his back is going to win you over; and he is just one of many suitors.
Curly Bill doesn't share his words with anyone. He desperately wants to show you his softer side and show you how much he cares, but his overwhelming fear of rejection and public ridicule makes it difficult.
He keeps his poem in his pocket and reads it over until he has it committed to memory. He whistled as he rode into Tombstone, knowing your birthday is just a day away. Curly Bill sees you going from shop to shop with some of your friends and he simply watches you. He takes his hat off when you see him and his heart is delighted when you smile at him.
"I know you're beautiful and I ain't..." Curly Bill continues whistling nervously. He knows other men will be showering you with gifts and he worries he may not ever get the chance to tell you how he feels.
Curly Bill decides to have a few drinks and fill up on some liquid courage. He doesn't want to share his poem with anyone but you because he fears they will just laugh at his feeble attempts to swoon you! Having you laugh at his poem and his vulnerability is more than he could bear.
So, Curly Bill decides to take you for a short walk and share with you the short poem it took hours for him to write!
He takes a deep breath and watches you and your friends move to the restaurant. He tries to hide his jealousy; he knows Behan will be there with fresh flowers and probably an expensive piece of jewelry. Curly Bill could steal whatever he wants to give you, but he can't bring himself to steal something for you...You mean too much to him!
Curly Bill decides to wait until he gets you alone and so he returns later that evening to his cowboy camp to get some sleep and share his poem with you on your actual birthday.
He tosses and turns in his tent, mulling over his poem again and again. The morning comes too soon and Curly Bill awakes and wonders if he slept well. He asks Ringo what time it is and Ringo looks at his pocket watch and says, "Just a little after 9."
Curly Bill gets himself ready to see you. He goes into town, takes a bath, has his clothes laundered and sucks back a few shots of whiskey before taking a deep breath and begins looking for you. He knows it's your birthday and he doesn't want to interrupt your special day with friends.
To his surprise, he finds you by yourself walking out of a dress shop. He walks towards you, feeling in his pocket for his poem.
"Well, happy birthday!" Curly says to you and his heart lifts when you smile sweetly at him. There are few things that can melt this old cowboy's heart and your smile is one of them! Of course he would never admit that his knees get weak when you're talking to him.
"Thank you!" You answer. "I wanted to treat myself to something new!"
"You must be real busy today," Curly says, holding his hat and shifting his feet nervously.
"Oh! My friends came from California to celebrate with me."
Curly nods his head, still holding his hat.
"But they left this morning! So it's just me today!"
Curly Bill's heart lifts and he is ready to read you his poem.
"Well," Curly begins. "Have you had lunch yet?" He immediately regrets asking.
You shake your head no and Curly smiles.
"Want to have lunch? For your birthday, I mean." Curly Bill's heart is pounding and he can't believe how nervous he is. Your big eyes look up at him with wonder and when you answer yes, it is music to his ears. He escorts you to the restaurant and asks for the best table.
Curly Bill tries to order for you, but he fumbles as he has never done anything like that before. You smile and he appreciates how you want to make him more comfortable. You eat slowly. Curly begins eating quickly like he always did and then realizes he needs to slow down so you don't think he's disgusting or has terrible manners. But you find it charming. It's not everyday this cowboy has a chance to impress a beautiful woman. He butters your bread for you and eats faster than anyone you've ever seen, but you can't resist his social ineptness. It's refreshing and adorable! You eat slowly and he says, "You ain't eating hardly nothing, YN." You smile sheepishly. You're a little nervous yourself. You're in the presence of Curly Bill Brocious, King of the Cowboys!
When dinner is over, Curly Bill insists you get dessert. He wants you to order the most expensive treat on the menu! When the decadent cake is served, Curly Bill clears his throat and pulls his poem out of his pocket. You can see his nervous and is even shaking a little! Your heart can't help but melt over his vulnerability and his courage to reveal it to you. He once again clears his throat and begins reading, his voice shaking uncontrollably, fearing you may start laughing at him and his foolish attempt to impress you.
"Y/N..."
"How lovely your smile..."
"How I adore your sweet face."
"I know you're beautiful and I ain't."
"Your hair blows in the breeze and takes my breath away."
"I would do anything just to be with you."
"Well, this old cowboy wants you."
"You're an angel to me..." Curly Bill finishes.
"Happy birthday to the most beautiful woman I've ever known..." Curly Bill pauses, unable to finish and shocked by his own weakness. He chuckles sheepishly, like a little boy.
"Happy birthday," Curly Bill says. You take his face and kiss him gently, not caring at all about who was watching. He takes your small and delicate hands and holds them with his big clumsy ones. He looks intently into your eyes and taps your nose with his index finger. You smile and look into his vulnerable eyes. You understand how tough it is for a man like Curly Bill to show any emotion. He can't believe he's sitting with you. At the end your evening together, Curly asks if he can escort you to the hotel where you're staying. Your smile says it all and as he helps you onto his horse, he notices the envious glances of some of the men who would have killed to be in Bill's position and the pride he is feeling cannot be described.
You hold him tight and thank him again for his poem. His heart lifts when you ask him for a copy.
#curly bill brocius#johnny ringo#tombstone cowboys#western romance#romance#historical fiction#headcanon#poetry#birthday#love#wild west#old west#whiskey#one shot#short story#love poem#curly bill writes#curly bill's poem#how curly bill would react#stories about curly bill brocious
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SHORT STORY
Tempted By a Gunslinger
Johnny Ringo is in love with a waitress and when he sees a drunken patron putting his hands on her, the gunfighter grows enraged and rushes to her rescue.
Curly Bill and his band of cowboys enjoy dining at the restaurant you work at as a waitress. They come in often and adore and appreciate a beautiful woman bringing them their chuck. You always have a smile on your face and an uplifting word and they feel so lucky to have you working there. The cowboys notice how some of the male patrons try to flirt with you and when you appear uncomfortable, all it takes is a look from Curly Bill or Ringo to settle them down and you appreciate that!
On this evening, the restaurant is more crowded than usual and Curly and Ringo see how busy you are and they can't help but admire how you gracefully move through your tables and how easy you make waiting tables look. They know you are tired and they often wish they could do your job for you while you rest; but they come to this restaurant for more than just the chuck. They enjoy you, watching you work and want to be there in case you may need their swift intervention.
"Well, how is the lovely lady today?" Curly Bill asks, trying to lay the charm on you. He sees how you look at Ringo and although he can't help but be somewhat jealous, he understands how tough it is for Ringo to let his guard down. In some ways, Curly wishes for Ringo to meet a lovely woman who will bring the gunfighter out of his darkness. Curly sees you as that woman and he hopes something can bloom for his best friend who he can't help but feel pity for.
"I'm great!" You answer. "How's the King of the Cowboys today?" You wink at Curly Bill and he is suddenly blushing with pride.
Ringo tips his hat and gazes into your eyes; the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen.
"What can I get for you boys?" You ask, with a winning smile on your face.
The boys order their usual; beef, mashed potatoes, beans and large buttery biscuits. You smile and head to the kitchen.
When you return with a tray of hot plates filled with the cowboy's favorites, they notice a drunkard touch your leg. Since your arms are full, you are unable to do anything and this causes the cowboys to become agitated and annoyed. Ringo and Curly flash the patron a look that suggests, "you mess with her, you mess with us!"
The brazen customer ignores their warning and scoffs at the cowboys. You smile as if to say thank you and they tip their hats and nod. You put their plates in front of them and leave, the buffoon taps your butt and winks at Ringo, who is ready to shoot the bastard.
Moments pass and the cowboy gang enjoy their dinner while keeping an eye on you! You return to check on the boys and when you turn, the same drunkard stands before you. Curly takes a napkin and wipes his mustache and then looks at Ringo, who is staring intently at the customer as if there is no one else around except the three of you. "What are you lookin at, rustler?" The man asks, putting his hands around your waist. At this point, Curly and the other boys know this idiot is as good as dead. The Cowboys all understand how touchy Ringo is when it comes to women; just disrespecting a woman who cause the gunfighter to take his rage out by beating the hell out of them. The other cowboys start to move, but Curly looks at them as if to say, "Ringo's got this, boys."
"I ain't looking at anything," Ringo begins. "Cept a beautiful woman being harassed by a saphead like yourself."
"And what are you gonna do about it?" The man answers, pulling you close to him. You resist and try to pull away, but the slug won't quit. He pulls you close and lays a sloppy kiss on you. "You like that and you know you like it!" He then tries to pull your dress up.
At that moment, Ringo stands up and faces his adversary. "We can do this in or out. Either way, you're never going to put your hands on Y/N again!"
"Them fightin words, rustler!" The man pulls your face and tries to kiss your lips. You pull away and move close to Ringo. The entire place goes quiet as people watch the two men facing each other. They all know who Ringo is and they almost feel pity for the poor gambler who made the mistake of disrespecting a woman...And right in front of him. Ringo adores women and believes women are angelic and loving beings who have the power to exorcise demons from a man's soul; women were the only people who ever truly showed him love and Ringo is not without tremendous gratitude. Women are delicate and lovely and Ringo would do anything to have a good woman in his life to free him from his unbearable guilt and shame.
"She don't belong to nobody!" The man says. "You wanna fight over her?" Ringo doesn't hesitate and some of the other customers get up quickly and leave the restaurant, knowing what could happen. Once Ringo was pushed enough, there is no turning back! Ringo pulls his pistol and shoots the poor bastard point blank. Blood exits the guy's head and lands on a customer standing nearby.
"OH!" He shouts. "You shot me too?"
Ringo shakes his head..."You ain't shot. But this poor fellow is never going to disrespect Y/N or any other woman ever again. He twirls his gun and puts it back in the holster. He then moves to you and you fall into his arms. Some customers look on in shock. "Isn't that Johnny Ringo, the deadliest pistoleer?"
You are trembling with fear and Ringo holds you closer. "It's alright. You're safe now." He whispers in your ear, "you will always be safe when I am with you." You look up at him with tears welling in your beautiful eyes. Ringo feels beyond blessed when he wipes those tears from your eyes while stroking your hair. "I always feel alright when I am with you," Johnny, you whisper At that moment, Ringo feels he can take on the world! He is as grateful to you as you are to him. Curly Bill stands up and cheers. "Three cheers for Ringo and Y/N!" The other cowboys join in and Ringo, in spite of himself finds he is feeling great; he dazzled you and made you feel safe and making women feel safe is something Ringo values over most of other things. He offers to take you home. You tell him that you still have two hours on the clock. He smiles and says, "You got the rest of the day off!" With that, you beam and jump into his arms. He is taken aback at how happy he feels. The two of you leave together and he ensures you are home safe.
#tombstone cowboys#johnny ringo#western romance#headcanon#fantasy#tombstone movie#love#one shot#rescue#restaurant#waitress#old west#wild west#western fiction#ringo#boomtown#rivalry
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