Inell's Fanfiction Archive

The smell of sweat and horse are nearly the worst combination of scents imaginable. It's one Ben's used to, though, and a damn sight better than shit and horse, which he smells much too often on the trail. The sun makes it worse, beating down on his back as he rides through southern Arizona. He's been riding for three days on a fool's errand. He should be back in Mexico having a siesta instead of risking his freedom to fulfill an unspoken promise.

It's taken him six months to get back. After he escaped the train heading to Yuma, he had to hide out until the trail grew cold. Always intended to come back, make sure Butterfield kept his promise to Evans. Figures the slimy little shit turned tail and ran without looking back, which is one reason he's bothering to make this ride. In that twisted way of justice, he owes Evans, if only cause his crew failed to listen to him and kept right on shooting.

New crew's much better. Course, that might be because they've heard what happened to the last one. He ain't too worried 'bout them stepping out of line, either way, and that's the only important thing. Once he finishes this mission, he reckons they'll ride into California. San Francisco's getting a lot of gold, he hears, which means there'll be people to meet and fortunes that he can acquire as his own. Maybe something more enjoyable than robbing stages; he's bored with that routine and they're never a challenge any more.

He should probably consider retiring; if only the idea of settling down didn't sound like Hell on Earth. It might be suitable for some men - men that aren't Ben Wade. He clicks his tongue and rides harder when he sees cattle grazing. Drought might have ended but it's still dusty as fuck and too dry for this ranch to ever be a success. He shakes his head and wipes sweat off the back of his neck. Isn't none of his concern whether this ranch ever makes any money. He grins when he sees a house in the distance. Maybe pretty little Alice with the stormy green eyes will invite him to stay for dinner.

End