PG 13 for language
People and Places are made up.
Time: 1886 Dead River, Texas
Feedback: Yes, Please


He knew it was coming. He held his breath for a second. He didn't
want to open his eyes. He could hear it, smell it, coming. It
wouldn't be long now. Then like a crack of a whip it shattered into
his eyelids.
Like clock work thru the same crack in the wall of his office the sun
would penetrate. He knew he should fix the crack; it let in the
sunrise and the cold in the winter. But it was a constant reminder.
Sheriff Toby McAllister stretched long and hard. He stopped suddenly
when another constant reminder cramped up on him. He stood up
quickly and rubbed his thigh. He could feel the bullet hole still
left in his leg. Toby grabbed his pants and put them on. He walked
over to the jail cell and smiled. He had only one guest and he
secretly enjoyed his prisoners company.
Feisty, beautiful, great sense of humor and could rustle up the best
surprise trail stew. Lexi Bradshaw lay in the jail cot. Her long
reddish brown hair lay over the side. Curls seemed to strategically
caress over her shoulder and around her face. Her lip was slightly
bruised and her eye was a little black. Toby chuckled as he recalled
the events from last night. He made his way to the stove and started
his morning ritual. Memories came back from last night.

"Matt, I'm going to do my rounds." Toby said as he reached for his
hat and headed out the door. "Yeah! Alright Sheriff." Young Deputy
Matt Smith replied. Toby walked out of the jailhouse and stepped
casually onto the street. He looked to his right and looked at the
signs that welcomed everyone to his little town of Dead River, Texas.
Below the welcome sign was another sign with a list of rules to abide
by when you came to town. They were still in place and no new bullet
holes. It took him two year to settle this town down, but it was
coming along.
He turned his attention to the sudden crash of window across the
street. LuLu's front window was just smashed wide open from the
thanks of some drunken fool. Toby made his way slowly to the bar,
assessing the situation. But then a second gent came flying out the
same window. Comically the drunk tripped and fell over the horse
hitch rail and unceremoniously landed in the water troth.
Toby ran up and helped the guy into a sitting position before he
drowned. "Sheriff! Don't you help that cheap skate, foul mouthed,
son of a bitch out of that tub." Toby stood up quick and the only
thing he saw was reddish brown hair flying and something along the
lines of a small anvil hit his jaw. Lexi Bradshaw stood over him
rubbing her hand. Toby was sent straight back onto his backside. He
propped back on his arm and rubbed his jaw. He looked up and
standing there in all her beautiful glory was Lexi. She was holding
the sweetest smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled and she was an imp
personified.
"Lexi." Toby said to the assailant. "Yes Sheriff." She answered
with a purr as she squatted down and checked his jaw.
Everyone was silent. Sheriff McAllister was a good man, but had an
unpredictable mean streak. "Your under arrest Darlin." Toby said as
he grabbed her arm and she helped him up. Her smile never
disappeared except when the man in the troth got out and stood there
looking at Lexi and the Sheriff. "Sheriff, I want to press charges
on this damn whore." But before Toby could reply or react Lexi's
face dropped into an instance whirlwind and gave the guy a good kick
in the balls.
The crowd chuckled, laughed, gasped and some even appauled. Toby
rolled his eyes and gave a little grunt as he threw Lexi over his
shoulder. Deputy Smith came running up to the scene, hand ready on
his pistol.
Toby was wrestling with Lexi, who was cussing and slapping his
backside. He gave her a good crack and a "Settle Down!" Toby looked
at everyone and then looked at Deputy Smith. "Matt, get these men to
the Doc and then meet me back her so we can get to the bottom of
this." Matt grinned from ear to ear and tipped his hat.
Toby stared into the crowd. All he did was look at them and they all
went back inside. Toby turned with a now calm Lexi and strolled back
to the jailhouse. Toby walked in the door and went straight to the
cell. He placed Lexi slowly down enjoying the feel of her next to
him. His hands trailed up her sides and rested on her arms. Their
eyes held for a moment. His green eyes gazing into her dazzling
hazel ones.
"Lexi, darling. What happened?" Toby asked softly. Lexi took in a
deep breath. Her smile faded. She looked back up at him. "They
came in waving all sorts of cash around and started drinking the
expensive stuff." Toby chuckled. Lexi looked at him and smiled.
She then went to the cot and sat down. She fussed with her lip and
eye. Toby stood against the cell wall and patiently waited.
"Well." She continued. "They started picking on LuLu and her heft."
Lexi looked up at Toby and he just stood there waiting for her to
finish. "LuLu took it all in stride of course, but then they just
started getting really nasty, vulgar even." Toby shifted and nodded
to her letting her know that he got the picture.
"I spoke to them nicely and they started in on me and well I let the
first five insults slide, but then enough was enough." Lexi said as
she smashed her fist into her hand. "Only five insults? Huh." Toby
asked with a devilish grin. Lexi gave him a mocking evil look.
Lexi gave a tired, frustrated groan and ran her hands thru her thick
mane. Toby just watched her in appreciation. He moved away from the
wall and walked out of the cell. Lexi recovered quickly and lazily
placed her elbows on her knees and flipped her hair to the side.
Toby caught all of this and grinned to himself. She looked at him
and giggled. "Am I in here for throwing those bastards out the
window or for knocking you on your ass?" Toby held onto the bars
with one hand and the other thoughtfully caressed where she had
punched him.
"Good shot by the way." Toby complimented. Lexi took her two
fingers and gave a small wave and a confident grin. "Your in here
for both. At least till I get things settled down and get other
versions of the story." Lexi clapped her hands and whipped herself
into a laying position on the cot. Toby grinned and nodded. "Don't
go anywhere, now." Lexi waved him off and just as Toby got to the
door Lexi sprang from the cot and rushed to the bars.
"Hey! Toby." Toby had his hand on the doorknob and turned to look at
her. Her hair bounced in the most carefree and seductive way. "Yeah
Lexi." "That was a good punch huh?" She asked with the biggest
smile she could muster. Toby chuckled. "Yeah Lexi. Too damn good."
Lexi squealed with delight and spun on her heels and made her way
back to the cot. Toby chuckled again and headed out the door. What
a fun night this was going to be.


Toby floated back to reality when Lexi, behind him, snored as she
rolled over. He shook his head and chuckled. One thing about Dead
River that he hoped would never change would be Lexi Bradshaw.