Original Wild West Stories

Chapter 7

Heather,
It might be strange for me to continue to talk to this dead memory, the worst kind of witchcraft is necromancy, but letting it go seems stranger still.
Yours,
Charlotte

*******************************************

The desert heat was almost a reprise from the all-encompassing swamp. Almost. They'd made camp to rest only once. Everyone was ill-tempered and tired.

Charlotte wiped the sweat from her brow, "Tara. We're making excellent time, let's take a break. There's a small town just west of here. I know I could use a drink. So could the horses."

Tara turned, her blue shirt stained with sweat, "You're right. I'm sorry." With a click Julian changed direction, the others turned to follow excitedly.

The desert town was not much to behold, but they had a saloon. The group hitched they're horses and took up just about the whole bar. The barkeep eyed the women's clothes and guns with distaste and turned to Rex.

"Uh. Whiskey's all around please." Rex muttered.

"What? My money ain't as good as these gentlemen's?" Charlotte hissed.

Tara put a hand on Charlotte's shoulder and she bit her tongue, "I'm tired too Char."

The four of them sat quietly enjoying their drinks and the break from the searing sun.

"What is it we're picking up?" Rex asked.
"Guns."
"Why all this for them? Why not just have them shipped to New Orleans?"

Tara smiled at him, "These guns are for select eyes only. So just consider yourself lucky."

Warren reached out to still Rex when he looked like he might push the topic.
"Quiet ones are always the smart ones." Tara winked at Warren.

"Warren and I will go check on the horses. Make sure they're drinking." Rex huffed and Warren followed him out the saloon door.

Tara turned to Charlotte, "Are you okay?"
"Are you okay?" Charlotte countered.
Tara sighed, "Don't care for the desert. Don't care for the heat in general, if I'm being honest, but at least there's rain and greenery in the swamp.

"I like the desert," Charlotte mused into her whiskey, "Life is so different out here. It's like it's own little unique world."
Tara ordered another round and they cheered to their differing opinions.

"We should get moving we're only about two hours out now."
"Ah. Do we have to?" Tara whined, a glimpse of the girl Charlotte knew before this trip.
"Unfortunately. Come on." Charlotte held out her hand.

The men had fed and brushed the horses, they looked rejuvenated. Ready to push on.

As the border came into view Tara stopped everyone, "Charlotte, Warren you two head up to that ridge over there. Keep your scopes on us, see anything suspect you take them out."

"Is splitting up a good idea?" Charlotte asked wearily.

"If there is any trouble then I want the element of surprise. I don't want them to know how many of us there are."

Charlotte nodded and turned to Warren, "Let's go then."
He followed her up onto the ridge. They tethered their horses just out of sight and lay prone, rifles in hand.

Warren gave a long sharp whistle when he saw the wagon appearing over the horizon and Tara nodded in Charlotte's scope.

Shire's pulled the wagon. They looked uncomfortable and out of place amongst the cacti. Charlotte's mind drifted, only for a second, to Heather's shire and then to Heather herself.

Three men jumped from the wagon as it pulled up to Tara. While she stood unarmed, as a gesture of goodwill, Rex had his finger on the trigger of his double-barrel.

Charlotte's finger sat tight on the trigger too, her scope hovering over one of the men's heads. Warren was quiet, likely focused on the same thing.

The group talked amicably for a while. A note exchanged hands, some sort of proof of payment. Tara moved to the side of the wagon and lifted the tattered cloth, after a few moments she nodded to Rex. He hopped onto the wagon and pulled her up.

The other men unhitched their horses that had been trailing the wagon and went on their way.

Charlotte realized she'd been holding her breath. She released a sharp exhale. She stood and dusted herself off before offering Warren a hand up. He still looked uneasy.

"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Just glad that it went smoothly.

Charlotte nodded and started to the horses.

"Charlotte! Wait." Warren called suddenly. She turned back an inclined her head for him to speak.

"Rex. He-" Warren stalled.
"What?"
"He wants us to rob ya'll. Take the guns."

Charlotte's vision narrows, "He what?"
"I know crossing the Cabarros is a huge mistake, more than that, I know crossing you will be our last. Miss Locke."

Charlotte grabbed the big man's shirt and put her knife to his gut.

"Please. Wait." He squirmed, "I'm sure you have your reasons for this new identity. I used to follow your story in the papers. I'm not going to tell a soul. I don't want to get on you or the Italians' bad side. Rex is an idiot and I'm not dying because of it.

Charlotte took a steadying breath, she rolled her head on her shoulder's trying to dispel her anger.
"Fine. Let's go."

Warren trotted after her like a kicked dog. They rode down to the others. Tara was chatting with Rex.

Charlotte cocked her cattleman as she walked up to them.
"Rex." Was all she said before she blew his brains over the back of the wagon.

Tara clapped her hand to her mouth before cursing in Italian.

"Warren, here, filled me in that Rex intended to Rob us. He'd have died doing that too, so I figured I'd save everyone the trouble."

Tara looked from Charlotte to Warren and he nodded.
"Well that's certainly taken care of then, isn't it." She wiped a drop of blood from her boot. "Warren my father will reward your loyalty. Handsomely I'm sure. Hitch the horses to the back and let's go home.

If Charlotte's rash actions had shocked Tara she didn't let it show. She joked with both Charlotte and Warren as they drove into the night. In truth, she'd meant to threaten him, not kill him, but playing nice had apparently been wearing thin. She pulled the trigger without even realizing.

The ride back home was long. The horses needed regular breaks from the heat and the heavy wagon meant sticking strictly to well-worked roads.

When city lights finally came into view several days later the three of them were quite worse for wear. Charlotte longed desperately for a bath. She'd swim in the river with the alligators if she had to.

"Tara. Love, we're home." She stirred Tara who'd fallen asleep in the back of the wagon.

"Oh, thank God. My back is killing me."

Warren pulled the wagon onto the Cabarro estate. Mr. Cabarro must have been waiting because his men were outside almost straight away to unload the wagon.

"Bellisima!"
"Daddy!" Tara jumped down and hugged him.
He offered Charlotte a hand down and to her surprise hugged her as well.
"Did everything go okay?" He asked as he noticed Rex's absence.
"Yes. Thanks to Charlotte and Warren." Tara smiled up at him.

Her father didn't ask about Rex. Instead, he handed Warren both his own and Rex's cut of the promised payment, "Come to me if you find yourself in need of work again, Kid."

Warren nodded and packed up his bag. Charlotte doubted, very much, that he'd be back.

"I have to take a bath." Tara sighed.
"That you do. You both do." Mr. Cabarro laughed and wrinkled his nose. "I'll have two tubs made up." He headed back inside yelling at maids in Italian.

"Tara." Charlotte began.
"Go get some rest. Take the weekend too. It's been a long few days." Tara kissed her cheek and trotted after her father.


*****
Chapter 8

Heather,
To say I'm moving on from you feels sacrilegious. Instead, I'll say, I sometimes god from day to night without your shadow on me.
Yours,
Charlotte

*************************************************

After a long bath Charlotte wrapped herself in the robe she'd evidently forgotten to return to Tara. As she made her way upstairs she heard Mr. Cabarro talking in his study. She didn't recognize the replying voice. She tiptoed soundlessly up to the doorway.

"These guns will give our men every advantage imaginable. This will be the kind of war no one survives."

"Our families have managed peace for so long in Italy. Is this massacre really necessary, Gio?" The stranger replied. He addressed Mr. Cabarro respectfully but casually. Charlotte had never heard anyone call him by his first name.

"This land is ripe for the taking. We could single-handedly control the criminal world of this whole country if we play our cards right." Though he spoke quietly Charlotte could hear the excitement in Mr. Cabarro's voice.

"The Romano's are playing nice, for now. I believe Kane is the only one here, but have no doubts, my boy, they will take us down given half the chance."

The other man sighed, he sounded annoyed. Charlotte jumped when she heard footsteps turn towards the door. She scurried upstairs.

She paced her room slowly. Kane. The Cabarros aimed to take out their competitors. Kane and his family? Her reasons for being here were becoming more clear now. Kane was doing the same thing. Instead of importing destructive new guns, he was fishing for information. Something he could use to bring the Cabarro family to its knees.

Charlotte thought of Tara and how fond she had become of her. She thought of the night with Kane. She also thought, briefly, of whatever affect these families would have on her country. America had crime as it was now, but she had a feeling that a few gangs and wayward cowboys were nothing compared to the kind of organized crime that these families promised. The guns were proof of that.

This thought passed though. Replaced by curiosity and hunger. She could be coming in at the ground of something incredible.

She threw on some clothes and made her way to Tara's room. Tara stirred when the door creaked.

"Oh. I didn't mean to wake you, Darlin'. I just wanted to let you know I'm riding into town. I'll be back tomorrow. Do you need anything?"

Tara pulled her blanket over her head and groaned, "Don't forget Loverboy's jacket."

The streets were dark and uncharacteristically quiet as Charlotte rode. She was not concerned, she knew these streets well enough, she could make this trip blindfolded.

Kane's house stood dark when she arrived and she wondered if she should have waited for morning, but Kane answered only minutes after she had knocked.

"Charlotte. What an unladylike time to visit a suiter." He teased.

"I had to talk to you."

Worry sullied his neutral expression, "Are you okay?" He looked her over.

She shooed his hands, "I'm fine. I overheard a conversation Mr. Cabarro thought was private. I think it's time you tell me exactly what is going on here."

Kane sighed, "Cazzo. Fine. Let's go to the kitchen."

Charlotte leaned against the counter and Kane moved to stand over her.
"I admire your ability to get straight to business, Miss Locke, but can't I tempt you with a distraction?" He purred.

She pushed him off in part to make a point but mostly to stop that very distraction from working. Kane rolled his eyes which made her laugh. He waved her into a chair and poured them each a drink.

"Have you ever heard of the Mafia?"

Over several hours Kane explained in detail the two families that had a stranglehold on all of Italy's most elicit trades. Police called them, the Mafia and acronym of an old Italian warcry "Morte Alla Francia Italia Anele" - Death to France is Italy's cry.
The two families had a tense and fragile truce. With both their sights set on America that truce was wavering.

When Kane stopped his explanation Charlotte refilled their glasses, "So why not just have them killed. I've had ample opportunity."

Kane's eyes darkened with something she could only call lust, and Charlotte felt genuine fear again, like the first day they had met. She realized just how much he enjoyed all of this.

"Miss Tara may be Gio's only heir but there are plenty of people willing and able to step up to her position. It's not enough to pick off leaders one by one. I need to destabilize their whole organization. Besides, with what you've told me I am in no position to go picking fights. I have a few men, and dare I say, you, on my side."
Charlotte only nodded in response.

"It sounds like Gio has, not only, his very capable heir but also his Caporegime. His right-hand man." Kane added when Charlotte looked lost, "Not to mention a small army."

Charlotte tried to process all the information that he had just dumped on her.
"Mr. Cabarro called this war." She said, sounding more afraid than she cared to admit.

"It is. I wouldn't blame you if, after our deal is done, you cut and run." He held her gaze looking for an answer to a question he hadn't asked. Her calm demeanor returned.

"Kane. I want in."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I want in. Not as a way to sort out my idiot brother's financial fuck ups, but as a fully-fledged member. I've already proved myself as a loyal informant and I happen to know you're in need of a good Caporegime."

She was deadly serious but her haughty American accent made the Italian word sound absurd. He could barely hide his smirk.

"I have good Capo's, and when they get here they will not be impressed to find a little blonde girl stepping on their toes."

"I can make believers of them."

Kane did laugh this time, but he knew she was right. The news of the guns was big. The Cabarros were preparing for a hell of a fight, and it'd be a while before his men joined him.

"I can't give you that title, not yet. But consider yourself a trusted employee. Your brother's debt will still be covered, as promised."

Charlotte was thrilled but kept her face stoic. This must have been how Heather felt working again. She felt guilty now for not understanding at the time, but she was starting to think everything had lead her right to where she needed to be.

She hadn't noticed Kane standing or moving behind her chair. He draped her long hair over one shoulder and kissed the exposed skin of her neck.

"Don't think that what we do behind closed doors means you will be treated any differently than the rest of my men. I will kill you if you fuck up or fuck me over." With that, he offered his arm and lead her upstairs.


******
Chapter 9

Heather,
I'm weathering the kind of storm that makes me miss you.
Yours,
Charlotte

********************************************************

The sun woke Charlotte. Kane's arm was draped lazily over her waist. He stirred when she moved, "Darling." He murmured. The word she used so often sounded strange on his lips, with no lost syllables.

"Stay. Paulina won't say a word."
"She's sweet on you. Did you know?"
He laughed, "She loves me and I her. It is completely plutonic though."

"You said, last night, That you have a few men. I've never seen them."
"That's part of their training. I'll introduce you to them today before you leave. Be warned they are a prickly bunch."
"Must be an Italian trait." She teased.

Paulina knocked and entered expertly balancing a tray with coffee and fruit on it, "Ricky said you had company- Oh! Miss Russo. What a pleasant surprise." Her smile was genuine as she handed them each a steaming cup.

"Mr. Romano. I have collected your mail and set it in the study. I will be in town most of today running errands. Do you need anything before I go?"

"Just let Ricky know to gather the boys and meet in the study in thirty minutes. Thank you, Paulina."

"Whatever shall we do with thirty minutes, Mr. Romano?"

When they finally made their way into the study four men sat drinking coffee. They stood when Kane entered, "Morning Boss."

Kane nodded, "I want to introduce you to our newest-" He paused, searching for an English word, although they only spoke English for Charlotte's sake. "Recruit."

The men looked from Kane to Charlotte and back again.

"This is Miss Charlotte Locke, although she goes by Russo in the Cabarro estate which is where I planted her as a spy of sorts."

The men nodded and the largest of then stepped forward. He shook her hand firmly instead of kissing it. Treating her as equal, not a woman.

"I'm Ricardo, Ricky to most. These buffoons behind me, acting as though they've never met a pretty woman, are Leo, Frank, and Alex." He had the same easy swagger as Kane. If his flirting bothered Kane he didn't show it.

"A pleasure to meet ya'll."
"Is that what they call a Southern drawl?" Jack mused aloud and they all laughed.

"I should get going before I'm missed," Charlotte said to Kane.
"Of course. I will walk you out."

It was not lost on his men that she wore his shirt, but they knew better than to question him.

On the way back the Cabarro estate Charlotte stopped at her uncle's store. He loaded her satchel up with sweet treats and a bottle of her favorite whiskey before sending her on her way.

When she got to the estate Mr. Cabarro's carriage was gone. Tara sat reading in the lush gardens.
"What a lovely way to spend your afternoon," Charlotte said, then laughed when Tara jumped. "You should be more aware of your surroundings, Miss Cabarro."
"And you should stop stealing that poor man's wardrobe." Tara eyed the blue striped shirt.

Where is your father?"
"He left early this morning on some secretive errand. Said he'll be back tomorrow night."
"Well, that's convenient." Charlotte gave her a conspiring wink and laid her uncles spoils on the grass between them.

Tara's eyes lit up, "You know me so well."

They sat in the sun and gorged themselves on chocolates and sweet fruits. A blissful afternoon of pretend. Pretending that they were simply young women without the weight of both the past and future on their shoulders.

"I'm dying to know who he is!" Tara said suddenly. Charlotte turned to see her flushed and murky eyed from the whiskey.
"As am I, dying to know who she is."
Tara flushed more than one might think her olive skin could, "I can't say."
"Then, I suppose we are at an impasse."

"Would I like him."
Charlotte downed her drink, "No. No, I don't think you would."
"That's a shame." Tara replied, then to her discrete bodyguards, "A little privacy." They nodded and headed for the house.

"Charlotte, you've been such a wonderful addition to my life."
"I'm honored."
"I haven't figured out how I'm going to move forward with everything, but I know with you at my side I can handle it."

Charlotte felt guilt prick at the back of her eyes, "You would manage just fine on your own, Darlin'."
"Maybe."

Tara leaned her drink-heavy head on Charlotte's shoulder, "You have such beautiful hair."

Charlotte laughed, "Thank you, Darlin'. Come on, I think you've had enough of both sugar and whiskey for one day. Let's get you out of the heat."

Tara stood, wobbling only slightly. They packed up their impromptu picnic and went to the sitting room. Tara curled up on a large soft chair and Charlotte made them both tea, when she handed Tara her cup she looked different, the light mood from earlier gone.

"Tara. Are you okay?"
Tara looked up at her, "Oh Charlotte. I fear I've gone and done something incredibly stupid."
"What is it?"
"I've fallen in love with a woman who does not feel the same way."
"How do you know she doesn't, have you spoken to her?"
"No. Her heart is elsewhere. I'm well aware."

"Love doesn't run linearly." Charlotte said, "It's a winding, unstable path, full of pitfalls and crevices. There is no way of predicting how someone might feel looking in from the outside. You have to jump in and find out."

Tara sipped her tea and stared out of the window, "I suppose that is true, but I have too much on my plate as it is to worry about heartbreak. I don't know if you've noticed, but I do not like being bad at things, love is no exception."

Charlotte could tell Tara needed a moment. She went to ready her bedroom for the night. Laying out a nightgown and putting water beside the bed. Tara appeared at the doorway a few minutes later. Charlotte unlaced her corset and then made to leave.

"Charlotte. Would you lay with me?"
"Of course."

Tara fell asleep almost straight away. Charlotte lay staring at the ceiling. She couldn't imagine who Tara could be talking about. They spent very little time apart, other than church and events with her father. She was wondering if it could be the wife of one of her father's friends. That would be a right mess.