Contention

[not_his_pa]

The last days of the drive go by quickly enough, a heavy rain falls on the last day but they keep together. When they come in sight of Contention, Mark glances at his brother more, they've been here since it all got bad as they have to, but he worries. Their father was killed at the train station and he knows William saw it from the stockyards.

They're not the only herd coming into town and William ends up yelling and arguing before the stock is finally penned in.

Within sight of the stockyards, William finds a place for them to dismount and he leans against a hitching post, "I'll have to make the sale final and then I'll be able to pay you."

Comments

[not_his_pa]

The way the man just drops is unnerving and makes William think about Katya with all her coiled power.

It takes him a moment to get his thoughts together as his stomach hurts and he can taste blood in his mouth.

As he's thinking, the hotel owner starts to come towards them and William swallows before heading to the door saying, "Sorry, we're leavin', hell."

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's attention turns to Jack - his cold eyes softening slightly when he replies with the slightest hint of regret; "I'd rather drop a man from lack of oxygen than beat him senseless."

He barely tosses a look over his shoulder when William turns to leave - following him without question. As far as he's concerned, the Evans boys are why he's there - and he's willing to go a hell of lot further than knocking a guy out to keep them safe.

[jack_f_twist]

"Don't seem much point to droppin him at all," Jack mutters, but it's low, and mostly to himself, and he takes up the rear with a glance back at the owner that slants around the room, takes in the hardened eyes of the people standing by, watching them go.

Family trouble. Ain't nothin too new, but it mighta been good to know before, considerin they coulda got jumped at any point, here in Contention, over a squabble Jack'd know nothing about.

Not that he'd have to, but a man likes to know why somebody's takin a swing at him, most days.

Still, he clumps out after William and Michael, sparing a last glance before he slides a cigarette out from behind his ear, lights it on the way out.

[not_his_pa]

Its old trouble and isn't usually this much of a problem.

Outside, he looks along the street but Mark seems to be in the general store.

So he moves between two buildings and leans against the wall, "I'm sorry. It happened a few years ago, but some folks just never forget."

[luvs_yogurt]

"You don't have to explain yourself," Michael's quick to reply - thinking about the guy that jumped him in the men's room back in Miami. Not once did William question him - not about anything. "All that matters is someone tried to pick a fight and you stood up to him. Me and Jack had your back."

Again, his eyes dart back to Jack, searching for some sort of resonance in what he's saying but seeing only the twitch of his lips around the cigarette.

"I can go get Mark if you don't want to go in there."

[jack_f_twist]

Jack sucks at his teeth, spits. Scuffs a derisive toe at the damp spot, like it might be that asshole's face.

"Ain't our concern," he says, brusque, but not unkind. "Your business's your business. Ours is workin for you til we get back."

And past that, sure. He likes the kid, all stubborn, fiery determination.

"Some people just make it a point a shovin their noses where they don't belong."

[not_his_pa]

"I'll get Mark, but I should explain. You should know why it happened. A couple years back, Ben Wade and his gang stole the payroll from the railroad not far from our land. They briefly got away before being caught in Bisbee and he was goin' to be put on the 3:10 to Yuma from here. My Pa said he'd help take him for some money, they hid Wade at our place before leavin'. I went after 'em and it didn't go well. We passed the railroad tunnel, they were buildin' that back then, the foreman caught Wade when he'd escaped from us and were torturin' him. We got him away cause he was goin' to stand trail but Doc Potter got killed. Then when we got here, my Pa was the only one who would take him the last half mile, he told me to stay with the Pinkerton. I got out in time to see Pa get Wade on the train and then Wade's gang killed him. Wade killed his gang and got on the train."

He says all the words to the ground and quickly, telling this story never gets any easier and its harder being here.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael listens quietly, expressionless, as William tells his story.

It's not the worst he's heard, but it does make William's relationship with his father make a little more sense.

He shakes his head and reaches out to pat William's shoulder; "Thank you for telling me... us, I wish I could make it easier for you."