outlaw

Hi everybody! Here’s another chapter to Outlaw! You know disclaimers .. Not mine ….
Warnings: violence….language.

 
 
Outlaw

 
Chapter 9

 
 
 
Duo stretched and walked out into the bright sunlight. He glanced up at the sky, knowing Hilde would be back today. He exited from Heero’s old house. It was ready for winter and visitors, the little house was stocked with wood and tinder. Heero had cleaned it before he had left, so it was ready for any passerby that was in need of a place to stay. Duo pulled the door shut and moved toward the barn. As he entered he picked up the hammer and a few nails. He wanted to fix the hole in the back wall. They didn’t keep any animals here but it still let in a lot of cold air. He found a small piece of old wood and placed it over the hole, nailing it into to place. He checked all the kerosene lamps, making sure they were full and the wicks were trimmed. There was a small stove in the center of the back room. It was seldom used, but Duo made sure it had plenty of wood stacked beside it. He checked the feed stalls, making sure all the horses that were there had plenty of bedding and hay. Mutt ran between his legs, trying to get his attention. He reached down and petted the dog. He went to his horse and petted her as he talked to her a bit. He went over to the other horse and talked to it ,too. It whinnied and stomped it foot. He checked the stalls for the two that were with Hilde’s wagon, filling them with straw and hay. He looked in the oats bin and saw there was very little left. He knew Hilde would be bringing more back with her. After he doubled checked everything , he brushed his hands off and went out into the sun shine. He closed the barn door ,latching it. He scratched his head, trying to remember what else he was suppose to do. He stood for a few moments , glancing around the yard.
He turned as he heard horses coming into the yard. He didn’t think it would be Hilde this soon. She wouldn’t be back until dark.
His mouth dropped open when he saw who was sitting on the horse.
“What do you want?” He demanded, his hand reaching for the gun he had taken off. He gulped as he looked at the riders and then at the house.
The blonde man looked at him and grinned. “Well, well, Duo Maxwell. Who would have thought I would have met you here. I see you are unarmed. Such a foolish boy. So you’re Schbeiker’s new lover. Is she here? ”
Duo grinned, “So what’s the matter ,Marquise, jealous? No, she‘s getting supplies.” He tried to take an easy stance so the other man wouldn’t see his nervousness.
“Where’s your boss?”
He shrugged and turned away from the man on the horse. “My boss? I don’t have a boss any more.”
“Don’t walk away from me ,Maxwell.”
“I have no more to say to you. I don’t know where the hell Treize is. If I did , I would kill him.”
Suddenly two men grabbed Duo. He hadn’t even heard them get off their horses, so they must have been waiting for him. They dragged him over to stand in front of Zechs.
“You will tell me what I want to know.”
“I don’t know where he is. I ran away.”
“You’re lying.” He nodded and another man hit Duo in the stomach.
Duo grunted in pain as the man hit him again.
Every time Duo didn’t answer the question as Zechs liked, he was hit. Soon he was incoherent and sagging in the arms of the other men. He gasped in pain, knowing he had at least 2 broken ribs.
“Say, Sheriff. He doesn’t seem to know.” One of the men said.
“He’s being stubborn. Hit him again. ” One of the men hit him again. Duo sagged even more.
Zechs growled as he watched Duo start to drift toward unconsciencness. “Take him to the creek and dunk him. If he doesn‘t talk soon, I‘ll start breaking bones. ”
They drug him to the creek and dunked him, holding him under for a few minutes. Then, they pulled his up. He was gasping and spitting water and blood.
“Tell me where is Treize.”
“Fuck You.” Duo half croaked, half whispered.
Zechs dismounted and walked over to Duo and pulled up his chin. “You tell me where he is or I’ll burn down this place.” Then, he slapped Duo across the face. “TELL ME!”
“I don’t know. He has to be in his fortress in the mountains.”
Zechs shook his head. He looked at his other men. “Burn it.”
“No.” Came Duo’s anguished cry.
“And Kill him.”
One man let go of Duo, letting him fall to the ground. Several men pulled brands from their saddlebags. He struck a match and went around lighting all of them. Just as the first was was going to throw the burning torch, an arrow struck him in the chest, dropping him to the ground in a heap. His torch rolling away and going out.
The rest stepped back and pulled their guns. Zechs yelled, “BURN THE HOUSE.”
As one man reached to toss a torch, an arrow went through him. Zechs growled as he pulled his gun, aiming it at the semiconscious man on the ground.
“I’ll still kill you, Maxwell.”
Duo tried to struggle to his feet. “You would kill an unarmed man? What kind of sheriff are you?”
Zechs grinned and raised his gun, aiming it at Duo’s head .He pulled back the trigger slowly. Duo stood defiant as He faced the man with the gun pointed at him.
There was a shot and Zechs gun went flying from his hand.
“No, I do not think you will.”
Zechs howled in pain as he grabbed his wrist. He looked up and saw a large man standing off to the side of him with a rifle in his hands.
“Chief.” Duo muttered.
“I think you should leave. Take your dead and wounded. Do not come back.”
“You can’t make me.”
“Then I will kill you.” Zechs stepped back as the big man raised the rifle he had in his hands and aimed at his head after cocking the gun, putting another bullet in the chamber.
“You wouldn’t.” He said, incredulously.
“Your body can join the others who are in these woods. And no one will know what happened to you.”
“I have a sister.”
“Then she will grieve for you if you do not leave.”
Zechs growled as he looked at the chief, then to Duo. “This isn’t over, Maxwell.”
“LET’S GO!” He shouted to his men. They mounted and rode out of the yard in a mass of mud and snow.
Duo dropped to one knee as they rode from the yard. The chief stepped up beside him.
“Are you well?”
Duo grasped his side and got back to his feet. “I’m ok.”
The chief studied his face. “You do not look “ok” .”
Duo chuckled at those words. “See right through me, huh?”
The chief looked at him oddly. “See through you? No, I Do not see through you.”
Duo shook his head, ”Never mind.”
“Is the Shaman here?” He asked looking around the yard and then at the house. “She must not be . She would not let her man be beaten so bad. We would be burying several bodies.”
Duo grasped his side as he started laughing. “Ow. No doubt about that.” He sobered. “Thanks ,Chief. I owe you my life.”
“Is nothing. Come, let’s go in. We know she went for winter supplies. We will help when she gets here. She always brings us some .”

 
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Duo was sound a sleep on the couch when Hilde Pulled up into the yard with the wagon full of supplies. The Chief stood and went to the door , opening it wide. He stepped out onto the porch and smiled at her broadly.
She frowned as she looked up at him.
“Has something happened, Chief?” She asked fear striking her heart as she jumped from the wagon.
He nodded, then waved the braves he had with him to start unloading the supplies. He waved her into the house and pointed to Duo’s sleeping form.
“What happened?” She asked, kneeling beside the sleeping man.
“Sheriff.”
Hilde frowned as she looked at Duo, her fingers gently touching his bruised face. “What did he want, I wonder?” She askeoftloftly.
Standing up and moving toward the door, she picked up the rifle, her mind set on one thing only. Finding Zechs and finding out what he had wanted. The chief reached out and grasped her arm.
“Now is not the time, Shaman. You are needed here. It is too late for you to go. The snows will come soon and he needs you.” He pointed to the man sleeping on the couch. “My people need you.” He paused as he looked at her. When the snow melts and the days are warm. We will hunt both of them.”
She nodded, knowing he was right.
“Come, let us see what you brought my people back from town.”

 
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Duo opened his eyes and stretched. How long had he slept? Why didn’t any one wake him? Why was the house so quiet? He sat up slowly and suppressed a groan as he moved. His hand went to his ribs, gently grasping the aching bones.
“Oh, so you’re finally awake, huh?”
“Hilde! When did you get back?”
She looked over at him as she finished drying her hair, “Oh hours ago.” She turned her back to him as she said. “There is hot water in a tub there if you want a bath.”
“Hilde?” He asked as he got to his feet. “Is something wrong? Have I done some thing? Did I miss something you wanted me to do?”
Hilde smiled as she listened to the slight panic in his voice.
“No, nothing at all.”
She could hear him relax, but only slightly.
“Then, what’s wrong? I…..”
She turned to him and stood from kneeling in front of the fire. Her hair slightly damp, now glimmered in the pale light. She dropped the towel and watched as Mutt ran to it and sniffed it over. Then she walked over to Duo. She stepped up to him and reached for the buttons on his shirt. “Seems I just can’t leave you alone. Some one is always trying to hurt you.” After she released all the buttons she pushed his shirt off his shoulders and poked his chest. He let out a little cry of pain. “Why was the sheriff here?” She asked, poking him again. “I thought you said you didn’t know him.”
“I never said I didn’t know him. I told you he and Treize were friends. So I saw him a lot at Treize’s fortress.”
“I see. What did he want.”
Duo grimaced in pain as she poked him again. “To hurt me. To kill me. To find Treize. I don‘t know. ” He caught her hand as she poked him once more. “That hurts, Hilde. Stop.” He looked at her as he said these next words. “If You want me to go, I’ll go. I….”
“No. I don’t want you to go. I wanted to find out how much damage he did to you. And I’m a little miffed that you got into a fight without me.”
Duo blinked. “I ….ah….”
“Come on, take a bath and I’ll treat your wounds.” She sighed, “Here you are laid up again.” She helped him over to the tub of hot water and helped him in. “What will I ever do with you?”
“Kiss me?”
She laughed as she dumped a bucket of water on his head.
He sputtered as the water ran off his head. She took the wash cloth and started to wash him, gently brushing over his cuts and bruises.
She leaned in and kissed him.
“You’re too good to me.” He sighed.
“I know.” She replied. “Must be love.”

 
To be continued…..

 
 
Chapter 10 will be all about Treize and maybe the little item Duo has stolen. Well tell me what you think….