Simple As Dirt, Gabriel

[Wyatt Tanner]

Fall 30th, Year 1868

Since just a few days after her departure, Wyatt had been busy. He had gone back to that place, that abandoned cabin where Jane and himself had taken refuge during the cold rains and waited out the flood back last Autumn, after all that heavy rain had subsided. It was in bad shape at the first, he knew this, but the more he thought on it the more he wanted this place for his own. Looking thoroughly over the house itself and finding the foundation was, actually, surprisingly sound and then also riding around to investigate the surrounding land, he'd gone into town the next day to purchase this plot of land from the Land Officer. It had been easier than he'd thought, really. After ordering supplies he'd need to fix the place up, and other things he knew may take a while to get here to put in the house, once it was ready.

He'd borrowed a wagon, piled the planks and equipment in, then headed off again. Without ever saying a word to anyone expect Michael, who he had ordered these things from. He wasn't so concerned about taking time off from work, now. Nathan was back in his right mind, it seemed, since Jeanine's return, and with the other Deputy – Luther, he thought his name was, or something like it – well Wyatt knew things would be well covered. He was entitled to a week or two off, himself. He had a lot of work ahead of him with what he planned to do to that old place.

Wyatt had spent the better part of the Autumn season there, working on his newly purchased land. The old homestead had pretty much needed to be gutted; new floors, new roof, lots of repairs to the walls...and, Wyatt was adding on a room at the back, so there would be the kitchen/living area, then a separate bedroom beyond that. He was also gonna add on a front porch and put a roof over it, too. He hadn't quite gotten to that part yet, but he'd been so surprised; a few weeks ago, Michael had told a few folks in town that Tanner was up to something. Ramona had probably weaseled it out of him some way. Not that Wyatt minded anymore, their help had been invaluable. Ramona had dragged Seth over to help, bringing with her some good eats, Michael himself had come and even Clint, who had somehow gotten word, had shown up to offer a hand.

Work had gone much faster once they'd all shown up. Wyatt did sure appreciate their help 'n all, but...he jus' really didn't know how he could ever repay 'em for all they done. Well, they were 'most finished with everything, now. It looked like it would all be set up and waiting by the time she returned. Not that he was just going to tell her his plans right away; he'd only just crossed the 'friends' boundary, letting her know she was more than just a friend, right before she'd left. But, let's just say – he was beginnin' to think on family terms, and, he was not planning on needlessly wasting anymore time. Simple as that.

Today, Wyatt had saddled up his bay and rode on over to the lake. He was giving not only the horse a nice rest, but he planned on savoring the nice, quiet moment for 'long as possible. Long as he could stand it, really; he didn't like being idle for too long. While Wyatt found him a seat against the trunk of a nice big tree and made himself comfortable, Equinox was grazing upon the lush grass growing along the far bank of the lake. Due to the past few weeks of going and going non-stop, exhaustion was now setting in. Eyelids growing heavy, Wyatt lowered his hat over his eyes, crossed his arms, and set in for a little nap.

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[Gabriel Creed]

Fall 30th, Year 1868

Gabriel was out today. Maybe it was the chill of the morning. Or the fact that the sun was actually out today that made him want to get out. He was just riding around the area becoming familiar with the landscape again. Since this town was going to be his home he thought it best to know the land. His horse, Satinka, was riding at a good gallop. He hadn't seen anyone around as he rode. He was following around the lake. He was also enjoying the land. That is when he heard the commotion. But as he wheeled the horse around he saw it. A bear. Oh Hell. Not 20 feet away he saw it standing there on it's hind legs and it let out a loud growl in his direction. He cursed slightly but as he reached down for his rifle something else happened. The bear sat back on all fours and came lumbering toward them at a run. And just as soon as that happened he realized that he had three options. One: He could wait for that bear to come over here and completely destroy him. Two: He could get the hell out of there. Or three: He risk it, shoot the thing, and then have to find a way to lug the huge animal back to town. He made his decision. He drew the rifle and made sure there was a round in the chamber. He steadied the horse and took aim. As the bear continued toward him he took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves. And then there was the loud sound of the rifle going off as he pulled the trigger. The bear moved a few more feet and then slowly dropped to the ground. He lowered the rifle and watched the huge animal. He shook his head for a moment before moving the horse toward the dead animal. He was trying to figure out how he was going to get this animal back to the town. As he looked around to see if there was somewhere that he could go with the large animal. He slid down off the horse and walked over the animal. "Sorry big guy. It was either you or me." He said apologetically before walking back to his horse. He spotted a guy who was leaning against the tree. The gunshot probably would have awakened him if he was sleeping. When he made his approach he slid off his horse and walked over toward the man. He had seen the other horse down by the water.

"Excuse me?" He said loudly as he stood where he was letting his horse walk down to the water for a drink. He looked down at the ground for a moment as he awaited for man's answer. Then he heard the guy shift and he looked up. He watched the man for a minute. He looked familiar. He had seen the man around town when he was there. He had thought he had seen the man at the sheriff's office. Was he the deputy? He shrugged slightly to himself before looking back to the man. "Hello. Sorry if I'm interrupting. I seem to have come into a bit of a problem. I've got a bit of a load over there. Could I, perhaps, happen to ask for some assistance with it?" He said pointing to the large bear that he had just killed over there. He was grateful that he was a sharp enough shot that he could kill the animal before it killed him. He looked at the man. The man might recognize him being that he was a former infamous outlaw who had just basically gotten out of jail. He hoped that it wouldn't prevent the man from helping him with this fierce beast. He wasn't completely sure what he was going to do with the meat and the hide yet but he would figure that out when the situation arose. He watched the man for a moment as he awaited the man's answer.

[Wyatt Tanner]

It was a dream, it had to be.

He was back in Mississippi, in their home town. The day had just ended, he was in the barn with his father and they were taking care of the horses. He was almost finished brushing down 'Nox – who would have been years younger, yet was the same size he was today, uh-huh – when the barn door opened and in came his sister, Issy. Sometimes he called her Kallie, 'cause her middle name was Kalista. Anyway, she announced that Ma had supper on and it was time to come and get it. Jacob, Wyatt's father, had been in the tack room in the back, and was only now coming out. He'd asked what Issy was doing – shouldn't she be helping with supper? Issy got an impatient look on her face as Wyatt held by a snicker, but then Issy opened her mouth and out came a growl not unlike that of a bear on the prowl. Wyatt blinked at this, but Issy only glared at him.

Then, the gunshot brought Mr. Tanner to full awareness right quick. Sitting up straight lightning fast, Wyatt quickly tossed his head to both sides as he reached for his own handgun. There had been a gunshot, what had happened?! He quickly ascertained that he himself had not been hit, but what-? That's when he saw the bear lying a little ways down, and also another man (the shooter no doubt) and a horse. The man was walking towards Wyatt and addressed him with an, 'Excuse me?', so Wyatt got to his feet just before the man had reached him, Wyatt keeping a hand down close to his sidearm.

"Yes, sir?" Wyatt replied and inquired himself, wondering what was going on. This guy had just killed a bear, it would seem. … Oh, that growl in his dream – the man had probably been attacked. Wyatt had to fight to keep a smirk off his face as he realized that, in his dream, he'd thought his sister had made that terrible noise. And then a tide of grief swept through him as he remembered being in the barn with his father, whom had passed away about ten years ago. He still missed him, a lot. But that was another matter and was in the past.. When the stranger said hello, Wyatt lifted his head to look the stranger in the eye as he spoke. Taking in the stranger's appearance, Wyatt began to think that he looked awful familiar, but Wyatt didn't know yet from where.

Looking over to where the man had indicated, Wyatt saw the bear. Nodding his head slowly as he then returned his attention to the stranger, Wyatt said, "Yeah I c'n help ya with it...I got a wagon back at m'place, not far from here. What're you plannin' t'do with it; where were you wantin' t' take it?" Wyatt asked, shifting a little as he glanced from the bear to the man and back. His wagon was only a rental, for now, so Wyatt didn't want to take it far but they needed it to be movin' something that was that heavy. Depending on how far the man wanted to go with the animal, Wyatt would offer the services of his wagon. Just then, another thought occurred to the deputy, and looking the man over again, Wyatt asked, "He didn't get ya, did he?" He hadn't asked to make sure that the man was okay. He looked all right, though.

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[Gabriel Creed]

Fall 30th, Year 1868

Gabe watched the guy for a bit. He was glad that he hadn't been recognized right away. But eventually it would sink in who he was. He nodded and smiled. "I'd be much obliged. I hadn't quite thought about what to do with it yet. I'm still fairly new to town so I don't know many people. Was thinking if there was someone who could use the hide and the meat." He chuckled softly and then looked at the bear before looking back to the guy. "Nah. He didn't get me. He was about two steps away from tearing me up. He said with another chuckle. He reached out to shake guys hand. "Names Gabriel." He said with another nod. He looked the man over for a moment. He then looked around at their surroundings before looking back to him. "Think I saw you in town the other day. Your the deputy right?" He asked curiously as he stepped away for a minute. He looked down at the horses. They seemed to be getting along really well. He smiled again and nodded toward them. "Seems those two have already gotten to like each other. Whihch is pretty unusual. Satinka usually a pretty picky lady." He said looking back to the man. It was interesting to see how animals seemed to bond and interact as quickly as they can sniff each other. He nodded and looked around for a moment.

It was funny how he had been meeting people left and right since he got to back to Buffalo Creek. He was enjoying it actually. It was a change of pace from his previous life. Then again he was not exactly a reputable sort previously. He shook the memories from his mind. He watched the man for a minute before looking back to the two horses. "It's kind of nice to meet you." He nodded and thought for a moment. "I'm wondering if some of those indians I saw on my way into town could use some of this meat." He knew some of the tribes around here and that some had fallen on hard times. He thought about it for a moment as he moved to walk toward the bear. He looked over at the man and waited for a moment.

[Wyatt Tanner]

Drawing in a quick air of breath through clenched teeth, making a 'hissing' noise as he did so, Wyatt looked at the bear and shook his head. He'd been only two steps away? "Awful close cut," Wyatt observed aloud, returning his attention to the stranger as he reached out a hand and introduced himself. Wyatt took the proffered hand and shook it, smiling thinly with an answering nod. "Wyatt Tanner," the white-hatted man went on to introduce himself, though perhaps there was little need to. It seemed this man, Gabriel, seemed to already know of him. "Yes, I'm one of the acting deputys of Buffalo Creek Bay." Wyatt confirmed, again taking in the man's appearance and racking his brain as to why the name and face seemed so familiar...

Then it hit him. This man is – or was – an infamous outlaw. He'd been caught and thrown into jail several years ago and had severed out his full sentence. Wyatt had not known of his dealings in the time in between his release and now, but as no more 'infamous' reports could be confirmed, in this case Wyatt was willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. This did not mean, however, that he would be trusting the man any. No indeed, he would be keeping a close eye on him just in case. Right now, the other man was watching the horses...which also drew Wyatt's attention.

Seeing the animals were actually getting along okay, or at least not fighting anyhow, Wyatt snorted. "'Nox is usually the same...he's one onr'y beast, loves t' be stubborn an' make lotsa trouble." It seemed for the moment, however, and for whatever reason, that Equinox was behaving himself. He must be planning and plotting for something, was all Wyatt could come up with. The bay was bidding his time until he could carry out his devious plans. When Gabriel started to speak once more, Wyatt again turned to him. And, smirking a little, he nodded his head in agreement, thinking at least the man was honest. 'Kind of nice.' Then, he'd gone on to speak of perhaps sharing his bounty with the Indians.

"You can go over there to see for yourself, if you'd like. Lemme warn ya, though – they ain't takin' too friendly to most white folk visitors." Wyatt said carefully, then thought for a moment. "Might be friendly if yer takin' a gift, though." He had to add, to show he wasn't just going to discriminate against the whole tribe...he'd just had bad dealings with a renegade in the past, so he found it hard to trust, well, any of them really.

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[Gabriel Creed]

Fall 30th, 1868

Gabriel smiled and nodded watching the man for a moment. "Nice to meet you Wyatt. I saw you talking over at the Sheriff's office the other day. So I just kind of put the pieces together." And then it happened. He saw the look in the man's eyes. It had clicked who he -was-. And he knew that people would have a certain untrusting bent toward him when they did figure it out. But he didn't let it phase him. He had a lot to prove. Since his release from prison no 'infamous' acts had been reported because he hasn't done anything. No robbing, no killing, no kidnapping. Nothing, He didn't have the urge to and honestly he wasn't going to. He wasn't the man that he used to be. And while he did carried guns with him it was either for hunting or protection. He looked over at Wyatt before looking back to the horses as he listened to what the deputy said. "Oh believe me. Satinka, while she is a beautiful lady, would join him in creating trouble. She's a pretty rebellious one she is. And she can be stubborn as well. Might be why they get along so well." He said with a laugh before turning back to Wyatt. As he spoke about the local Indians and how they could be not so friendly. He nodded. He could understand. "I understand. Yeah if I bring it as a gift they should be more receptive." He couldn't blame the Indians for being unfriendly. In many cases he could sympathize with them and understand where they were coming from. He had heard some stories about raiding parties and renegades wreaking havoc in this area periodically. He nodded. "Can you blame them for some being hostile? I mean you basically have a group of people moving in on land that these Indians have known as their home and their hunting ground for thousands of years. And also you have, in many cases, people trying to push on them and make them change the only way of life that they have ever known. So of course some of them are going to show hostility. Imagine how you would feel if someone did that exact same thing to you." He said honestly. He wasn't going to beat around the bush. He wasn't the kind to keep his tongue like that.

He looked around at some of the scenery before looking back to Wyatt. "Know anyone looking for some help? I'm in sore need of some work." He asked with a smile and a nod. He would incredibly grateful to anyone who would give him work. He reached his hand into his pocket pulling out a silver coin. One of the few that he has. "I can pay you for the use of the wagon. I know it isn't much but it's what I can afford right now." He honestly wasn't going to let the man help him without paying for the use of the wagon. He was a man of his word and recently found his sense of honor. He handed the coin to Wyatt and then turned letting out a low whistle. As soon as he did that Satinka came trotting toward him. He reached out and took her reins giving her a few strokes on the mane. He looked back to Wyatt. "I suppose we ought get started." He looked back toward the bear finally realizing that he could have easily been killed by that big beast. That is could have caught him with a paw and he would have been none the better for it. He was pretty lucky and he said a thankful little prayer that he was faster with his gun than he was. He smiled to himself.

[Wyatt Tanner]

"Two peas in a pod," Wyatt commented on their two horses with a somewhat sarcastic tone and ended with a snort. They were both ornery tricksters, it would seem. Well, wasn't that just dandy? The pair of them were probably planning together, working on some scheme that would unseat or otherwise injure their masters. They'd end up flat on their backs and the two horses would be standing over them, their bodies quivering in full-blown horse laughter - Wyatt could see it now. … And then they started talking about the Indians.

"Can you blame them for some being hostile?" Gabriel had asked.

Yes, he could, 'cause it was only the hostile ones he'd run into thus far. … Okay, so maybe that wasn't entirely true – there was that young squaw who had led them to where Jane had been held, but still... As Gabriel went on speaking, he actually gave Wyatt a pause for thought. He'd never really considered about them moving onto the land the Indians had known and had roamed for all their lives, and their forefathers beyond. How'd he like strangers cropping in on his own land? If they were unwelcome, he'd get out his shotgun is what he'd do. Though it was different with the Indians, they had no land deeds and no legal, paper-wise, claim to the land. There'd been no need for it, before. Wyatt lowered his head, almost feeling as if his views of the Indians were changing even then, but regardless he now had some stuff to think on later.

"Guy by the name 'a Daniel Helms started up a ranch not long 'go called Hellfire Ranch. He may still be needin' some hands." Wyatt offered with a small, one-shoulder shrug. That was the first thing that had come to his mind, other than various small and not well paying odd-jobs that other residents might need help with, but he'd figured Gabreil wanted something a bit more long-ish standing than just a little repair work or what not here and there. Wyatt glanced at the silver coin and waved it off, turning away a little.

"Ain't after yer money, I ain't gonna charge ya for usin' m' wagon." Wyatt started to say, but then blinked in surprise as he felt a sudden weight in the hand that was supposed to have waved off the idea of payment. Looking down, Wyatt discovered that he now held the silver coin, the payment for use of his wagon. Frowning, Wyatt glanced up at Gabe, watching as he whistled and the mare came trotting up. "..Er not. Fine." He mumbled to himself, pocketing the coin and already contemplating what he could do with it. He didn't make much money himself, but a silver coin was worth a lot around here. Still, he didn't like using the other man's money, so actually he was considering what he could do anonymously for the other man. He seemed like a nice fella, wanting to do right, so why not surprise him with somethin' good? If he was still provin' a nice fella after this, anyhow. Keeping it under wraps though, of course. Always. Wyatt hated any kind of a scene and would do anything to avoid them.

When Gabriel's whistle had sounded, Equinox had lifted his head up and perked his ears in their direction. He waited, watching them. It wasn't until after Wyatt had put the coin away and lifted two fingers to his mouth, letting out a shrill whistle of his own, that the big bay gave a toss of his head and started prancing after the mare. He purposefully passed close behind the mare and, lowering his head, he gave a little nip at her heels, and then skidded off to Wyatt's side, acting as if he were the innocent. Wyatt barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes but hoped the other horse was all right as he lifted 'Nox's saddle from off the ground and went about fastening it once again to the bay's back. Glancing over to the bear, he hoped that Gabriel had already bleed it or was going to right now, before they left, otherwise the meat would spoil and it'd all be for naught anyway.

"You c'n stay with it if'd you'd like. Won't take me long t'get back here." Wyatt said, staring one last time at the bear. Then, without looking back to see what Gabriel was going to do, Wyatt swung up into the saddle and he and Equinox started off in the direction of the forest, the, almost, direct opposite way from the town and into the thick of the trees.

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