Look Who's Back, Open

It had been a long while since he had been seen anywhere near Buffalo Creek Bay. When he first emerged he was immediately arrested, nearly burned down the jail house, escaped, had a thing for one of the local women in town then seemingly disappeared. It all seemed to happen within a matter of few months, then nothing, no sight of him...nothing. Isaiah had made himself into a ghost to let the heat die off on him, let Deadshot take off and make sure his status as an outlaw all but vanished.

So where had he been, it was a mystery really, a mystery only he at the present time even knew about. Perhaps, perhaps someone would soon find out or perhaps maybe even he himself would keep it a secret from anyone and everyone near him, anyone and everyone whom asked. Wherever it had been, he found himself coming back into Buffalo Creek Bay the same way he did the first time...except this time was a little different...

Yeah, this was a familiar sight. The sun was setting and he had just made it under the sign into the town, dirty, sweaty and stinking to high heaven. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days and for that matter drank something in the last few hours. Being it the summer and all, sure was hot outside under the sun too and it didn't make matters worse. When he saw the sign for town his jaw almost dropped, "You gotta be kidding me." Those words were about the only ones he said to himself that weren't in his head as he talked to himself for days...Hey at least this time Zay wasn't in shackles like he was the first time he wandered into town...

When he crossed the imaginary line that went from one building to the next he sank to his knees, tired and winded, parched beyond belief and collapsed onto his side as the sound of footing was heard scurrying toward him, all his eyes caught as they went blurry and fluttered to stay open were boots in the dirt...

TBC: Anyone

It had been the day that Ida Mae dreaded more than anything. It was the day that Ida Mae had to buckle up and drive her wagon into town in order to purchase and order any needed supplies that would last her through the month. She didn't do this often as she wished to appear invisible to the world. Thus far she was doing a mighty fine job as keeping herself low and under the radar. Since running away to this small town Ida Mae had only had one dangerously close encounter to someone finding out her true identity. She only hoped the Marshal wouldn't pursue her any further less she be arrested, tried and then hung for her actions. The thought of dying for her crime always churned her stomach, making her face go pale. Nobody would listen or at least believe her side of the story. Nobody.

Now the day had rather turned out to be a pretty successful one. There had been only a few places she had needed to stop in on so Ida Mae had not left home until past lunch hour. It would have been smarter to hitch up her horse and ride into town during opening hours, but for some reason she had woken up way late. No one seemed to have taken notice of her however, as she finally made her way down the main road leading straight through the middle of town. It was the way she had wanted and wished that it would be. No longer did Ida Mae need human interaction or companionship like in her past life. In fact she near dreaded the thought of having to strike up a decent enough conversation with a complete stranger to appear less conspicuous.

After having paid for all that she needed and after loading it all up herself, Ida Mae allowed herself a few minutes to peek in through the window of a small tailor shop. The dresses were exquisite. The material looked fragile and smooth like the dresses which she use to wear back home. Now all she ever wore were cheap button up blouses and simple itchy skirts. No ruffles or lace or anything fancy for that matter. More than anything Ida Mae wished to walk into the store and at least touch the beautiful pieces, but instead she turned and walked away heading right for her buckboard.

Ida Mae got lost in her thoughts of home as she held the reins, leading Fuego back on down the dirt road. Had her horse not had any sense about him Ida Mae and her wagon would have ran over a man who was nearly passed out right there in front of them, but when she came to a dead halt Ida Mae looked up in wonder. Although she always tried to keep herself secluded from the rest of the world Ida Mae would never pass up to help someone in need - if there weren't others around to help instead that is and it appeared as if this was one of those times.

No one else was around and seemed to take notice of the man who was now hunched over. She hadn't been quick about it, but Ida Mae soon hiked up her skirt and hopped down from her wagon to help the poor man. When she knelt down beside him she gasped as she recognized the face. "Zay.." Ida Mae lightly shook him by the shoulder, "Zay, are you alright?" She didn't know the man very well, had only ran into him a few times in the past, but they at least knew each other by name. Now, she wasn't exactly an intelligent woman when it came to diagnosing what was wrong with a person, but from what she could see she figured he was at least thirsty. For only a moment did she leave his side in order to retrieve her canteen from under the bench of her wagon. "Here, drink this.." Ida Mae removed the lid and carefully poured a small amount of water to his overly dried lips, hoping that he would soon come to.

Hmm, Ida Mae...You know there was one person in this WHOLE place he actually got along with and that was her. Maybe it was because he could tell she wasn't whom she said she was exactly, that day they met in the woods outside of town. Maybe it was destiny, maybe just a serious of unfortunate or in this case fortunate meetings. Hell, the poor guy took a fancy to her and maybe she was aware and maybe she wasn't.

Being a man outside the law, he could easily spot those whom were also. Isaiah knew Ida was a woman wanted by the law but he never actually asked why. He figured if she wanted him to know why then she would let him in on it. Zay on the other hand, you had to be living on a tepee or in a cave to not know who he was, an outlaw as of a few months ago and probably still was for that matter.

Dying of thirst when he was nearly passed out, the wagon nearly ran him over and at that moment would have been a better death than starving to death or of thirst. Lying on the ground when she turned him over and poured the water in his mouth, it almost didn't seem to work at first. Maybe he was too far gone and the reaper had already come to take him on and his destiny lay in a pine box.

Not the case, a second or two more of water and his eyes bolted open and Zay shot upright to a seated position panicking almost with a grunt. His eyes wide as he looked over at her almost blankly, it was like something had happened to him since he had been gone from BCB. What that was would be a mystery for the moment though.

Glancing around for a moment his eyes came back to rest on her as he tried to calm his breathing when he spoke finally.

"It wasn't a dream."

To that point he meant wandering back into BCB almost the exact same way he had the first time, dejavu anyone?

Was he breathing? For a moment there Ida Mae wasn't too sure of this, but as she looked him over it was easily seen that his chest was rising and falling, although not steadily. She appeared worried over the man's condition and had thought about calling out for someone to come and help, but then he moved suddenly. Ida Mae got spooked, which in turn caused her to spill a bit of the water, as she jerked back when Zay jolted and sat up rather quickly. Sitting back on the haunches of her legs Ida Mae looked him over. He said something then, something that had made no sense, at least to her. Perhaps he was too far gone.

Without a reply of any kind Ida Mae stood up and did her very best to pull him up by the arm. Then carefully, with a bit of a struggle, she helped him on over to a nearby bench if only to get him out of the road. "Drink more." She passed off the entire canteen this time figuring that he could now hold it all himself. While he took a sip Ida Mae looked on, curious about where he had been and how he had turned up suddently into town and in such poor health too.

Ida Mae gave him a minute before speaking back up. "Are you okay?" It was a rather amatuer question since obviously he wasn't.

ooc: OMGosh! Shortest post ever Dx I'm so sorry! It's so early.. I may try to add more if you don't reply to it soon.

The help up was appreciated and he couldn't take his eyes off his feet trying to stay up right as she helped him toward the bench. No food or water and that would do that to a person, make them dizzy, weak, and otherwise sick if it got worse. Thankfully she came across him when she did and had at least water for the moment. Passing off the cantine to him as his hand shook badly as he drank from it then poured some over the back of his neck to try and cool down.

"I got away, I got away before they tried to execute me in cold blood."

Yeah he was rambling alright, at least to her. His words were in a mid story of sorts like he had already told her the beginnings. Unfortunately for her, it would be harder to piece together what he was talking about until he gathered his wits about him. Tilting his head back to drink again, the rumbling in his hand forced some water down his chin with the other successfully into his mouth. He took a large sigh of relief looking back at the ground hunched over before looking up at her standing over him.

"Out there for days trying to find some civilization..."

He pointed back out toward the prairie beyond town as he sounded exhausted. That would explain the way he looked, if he had been out there for a few days wandering desolate land.

With an intent stare Ida Mae watched as Zay used up as much of the water as he wanted, drinking some and then drenching himself in some as well. He looked hungry and tired, in desperate need of some food and rest. If she trusted the man she might have extended an invite for him to come and stay at her place, but Ida Mae still trusted nobody. He was the closest thing she had to a friend though, out here in the wild west away from the big city where she grew up, but still she could not put her life in danger in any way, shape or form.

After having gotten his fill of water Zay rambled on some more. His words confused Ida Mae only further, as they made no sense when paired up with what he had said before. "It wasn't a dream," and now, "I got away, I got away before they tried to execute me in cold blood." What was he talking about? Ida Mae knew he wasn't totally loony when his next sentence reached her ears. He'd been wandering around out in the wild, for days he had said. Ida Mae leaned forward and looked to where he had been pointing. Well that explained his current condition at least.

Ida Mae took a moment to look down the boardwalk, hoping to come up with some sort of solution of how to help Zay. "I'll be right back," she spoke softly while patting his shoulder, "don't go nowhere." She left him then and made her way down the boarded planks, heading straight for the saloon. It had been awhile since Ida Mae had last stepped inside any sort of establishment that served alcohol. After her deceased husband had started to drink heavily she made sure to stay plenty far away from the stuff.

After walking inside Ida Mae went straight for the counter and ordered up a plate of whatever they had available. While she waited Ida Mae felt more than one pair of eyes set upon her. It was hard not to leave then, but she kept herself waiting for Zay's sake. None too soon was she served with a plate of cooked beef and a side of vegetables. Then after paying and whispering a simple 'thanks' Ida Mae left and made her way back to where she had left Zay. Thankfully he had stayed put just as she had ordered.

"Eat this.."

Food, it was about time he got something in his stomach other than dirt that kept blowing into his mouth from the walk...or the bugs that kept flying in every time it hung open for a few seconds. He smelled bad most likely and his breath probably smelled no better. Food, it tasted good and felt better to actually taste something someone made.

She was generous, not having to do all this for him when she barely knew him; though, as it had been mentioned they were closer than anyone else she was close to in BCB. Maybe that was why, maybe she actually felt a need to take care of him in this state. Maybe she actually felt something for him...then again maybe it was the good Samaritan routine. You know, come across a stranger in need and help them out. Unlike those time however, this one was going to come with unpleasant news at some point.

Johnson downed everything on the plate, in less than a few minutes too, leaning back on the bench with another sigh of relief. Eyes closed for a moment before opening them to look at Ida.

"Why are you helping me, I never did anything for you?"

Well that wasn't exactly untrue, the day they had met he kept her from eating those poisonous berries...

Watching Zay eat made Ida Mae think of large filthy stuck hogs who stopped at nothing until their trough was emptied. She didn't judge him though, as she easily assumed he had not eaten in days. His stench was rather apparent as well, but out here in the west most everyone carried some sort of odor with them, at least Ida Mae thought so. In her past life she had been accustomed to having a bath ready at all times of the day if ever she felt like taking one. Expensive oils, salts and soap had also been available, jasmine and lily being her most favorite of scents, but out here owning a porcelain tub was something of a rarity. Ida Mae wondered if perhaps the mayor owned one. Her lack of wanting to socialize got the better of her though, keeping her from ever getting the notion to ask.

While he ate and even after Zay had finished all of that she had given him Ida Mae sat by silently. She wasn't one much for conversation less someone get curious and ask questions about her. Removing her hat Ida Mae leaned back against the bench and sighed heavily. Now what? Was she just to leave him sitting here on the bench? Surely once the water and food settled he'd be well enough to find shelter all on his own.

Her attention was caught back as Zay spoke up and asked a question which Ida Mae knew not how to answer. Biting down on her lip she still said not a word, although searched for some sort of answer which she could give him. Really, why had she helped him? He was a man after all and Ida Mae no longer trusted any of his kind. Going out of her way to help others had never been something she had done before. She had been a selfish being, but perhaps this town was changing that in her. "I uh.." Ida Mae looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap as she stumbled over her words still not exactly sure what to say. "I-I really don't know."

"Then you can consider it early payback..."

Early payback, for what? Running a and through his ahir as he pushed himself up and walked toward the edge of the boardwalk, peering off into the night as the sun had just set and darkness had fallen. Only lanterns liting town at this point, music from the saloon and various lights from building here and there. Payback, how was she to take that little bit of news he just brought up, and what the hell did it mean?

The forth comings news he was going to drop on her would explain exactly what he meant, where he had been, why he looked like he did, and where just what the hells was going on. Not turning to her, his head turned slightly to catch her out of the corner of his eyes, He already knew more about her than she had told him, no thanks to someone outside of town, someone she herself never had a run in with.

"You got someone headed this way I expect, lookin' to take you in for a nice reward."

Finally, turning back toward Ida, Zay made his way over and sank back down on the bench, arms across the back of it still looking out at the darkness beyond the town limits. Someone after her huh, sounded like She had been found out more or less.

"Seein' as how I have a tie with the man and knon' he'll probably rape and kill you before turning in your body. Can't let somethin' like that happen to someone like you."

His head finally turning to Ida Mae, if he had ties with whomever it was that knew she had a bounty on her head...chances were it was Deadshot Davis. A ruthless bounty hunter who made his way through BCB a few months ago and made sure to cause some ruckus along the way. Now came the explanation of how Isaiah knew he was headed back for her, and what had happened to him.

"He caught up with me after I left town, looked to turn me in but I caught wind he was going back for some woman. Now seein' how that name wasn't yours I paid no nevermind, then I saw the poster."

So he came back for her, but why. The two hardly knew one another and only had a few encounters so why had this man in front of her cared enough to come back to tell her this?

Early payback, he had said. For what exactly? Ida Mae didn't like the sound of that, whatever he had meant. She was beginning to wish to she hadn't stayed after leaving him on the bench. She knew better than to trust or help any man and up until now she had stuck to that principle. Lesson learned. The atmosphere between the two thickened greatly as Zay stood up and walked off by a few paces. She had cornered herself into an uncomfortable situation and what seemed like with no way out. He was better now with food and water in his system. If she were to try and walk Zay would no doubt try and stop her. This she assumed.

Frozen, glued to the bench Ida Mae said nothing nor moved an inch as he spoke up once more. He mentioned something about someone looking to collect a reward for turning her in. She sat there, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. How did this someone know where she was? Ida Mae had been doing her best to keep a low profile and thus far she had been doing alright. Only a marshal had hinted towards knowing who she was, but he had failed to pursue her since then therefore she figured he had either forgotten or given up. Ida Mae wished to ask exactly who it was, but before she found the courage to speak Zay continued.

Ida Mae's eyes grew large in fear at the sound of this man who Zay breify described. Rape and kill her. It all sounded so familiar to the last year she had spent being married to her now deceased husband. There had been times where he had beat on her so much that she had feared for her own life among other things. There was no way Ida Mae was going to go through anything remotely close to that again. Why she'd rather turn herself in and be hung by the neck until dead. It was a much more sound way to leave this earth behind, at least in her opinion.

Zay didn't seem to be finished yet as he went on to explain how he had gained such information. When he reached the end of his short story Ida Mae hung her head and closed her eyes. What was she to do now? Could she even believe that Zay's story was the truth or was he the one she should be looking out for? Ida Mae began to tear up, although she refused to let Zay see her in such a vulnerable state, just in case. Wiping the tears away before they spilled down her cheeks Ida Mae looked to the side and forced a smile. "I thank you for telling me. I'll definitely be keeping my eye open for any such man." Her voice had been a bit shaky, but Ida Mae didn't want to leave without saying a word less he come to find out she figured he was in on it too. "It's getting late. I really should be leaving now." Another forced smile made it's way onto her lips before she stood up, replaced her hat upon her head and walked off towards her buckboard.

With Ida headed back for her horse and wagon, Zay would do what he always seemed to do, disappear like a phantom or ghost in the night. This evening was no different. He was gone the minute she turned to head off and if she looked back, gone without a trace like a ghost. With one exit brought another; however, Ida crossing the street yet another man was about to cross her path.

Robert had drifted into town after roaming out of one and across the plains for a few days. Making his way from place to place on a whim for cash, work, anything to occupy his thoughts from bad memories. The last place he was in was probably Mexico. Heading across the border and not really stopping other than to sleep. His first stop back in the United States ended up being Buffalo Creek Bay. Coming in just this morning he stopped off at the Saloon to get himself something to eat and drink before spending most the day playing cards and getting some cash to move on.

As her bad luck would have it, or maybe luck, Robert was headed out of the Saloon and glanced back once to see Zay slip off then took another quick glance back only to find him gone. The two were cousins and he didn't expect to even see a familiar face within miles of this place. Taking the second glance back was only to make sure if whom he saw was whom he saw; unfortunately, the second glance back ended with him not seeing the man and a collision in the middle of the road with Ida Mae herself. His arms went out, grasping hers to make sure she didn't fall. In the commotion he dropped the coin he had been flipping in his hand as he glanced down at his own feet, then up to her face as he spoke up.

"Pardon me ma'am."

Ida Mae had only one thing on her mind now that Zay had alarmed her. Whether she was to trust him or not she figured it wouldn't hurt to be prepared, just in case this so-called bounty hunter was real. Zay didn't go into much detail about what he looked like. Even just a brief description of the man would have been quite helpful. Either way she needed to get on home and stay there. For now it was the safest place on earth for her, but poor Ida Mae was beginning to feel like such a hermit. It was such a rare thing for her to go out and about past her own fence. Truth be told it was wearing her down. She was tired of hiding away, fearing for the safety of her own life, but there was not much she could do other than what she was doing now.

What Ida Mae was waiting for was a plan. Some sort of plan to get her off the country's wanted list. How did one go about doing that? Ida Mae had attended a great school and had learned much, but not much about how the law was run. For sure, she couldn't just walk right into the sheriff's office and explain her side of the story. Nobody would believe her. Her arms were no longer marked with the bruises he had left. All they had was her word and more than likely that wouldn't be enough. It was a scary thought to be thinking she'd have to live out the remainder of her years cowering in the opposite corner. Perhaps she could sell her small bit of land, take the money, buy some men's pants and a good horse and just ride. She could easily adorn a third identity, cut her hair and make herself look as different as possible. It was probable, but Ida Mae was already beginning to lose her true self.

With her shoulders weighing heavily upon her and her head hung low Ida Mae continued her way to the wagon. She was so lost in thought that she failed to look where she was going and collided with yet another man. Without thought her own hands grabbed onto the stranger's arms and had he not reached out himself, Ida Mae probably would have created a dust cloud in falling to the ground. At first she kept her gaze locked in on her feet, but as the man spoke up, his voice was deep and gentle, and apologized Ida Mae felt inclined to lift her eyes upward. The man was someone she had never seen before. This was not a good thing as some man out there was now looking for her, but for whatever reason Ida Mae didn't feel threatened by him. "Oh no, excuse me." A faint blush covered her cheeks as the man was rather handsome. "I wasn't looking where I was going." Ida Mae did not realize it, but she continued to stand there with her hands resting upon his own arms as she continued to stare up into his face.

She hadn't seen him before, well because he hadn't been here before. Buffalo Creek Bay was all new to him. Drifting from place to place was what he was really good at and keeping himself off the radar for the most part. For most people he could be considered someone who was never even born, unless you knew him well. His last venture had seen him arrive back in these United States off a long boat trip from the east. Through California, over the Rockies and into the Bay. With what she had just been told she had every right to wander exactly whom he was and be very cautious for that matter. A Bounty Huinter was after her and someone now just wandered into town, sounded suspicious really; though, nothing to be suspicious with about him even though he would understand why.

A bounty on her head, he hadn't yet learned this or even knew whom she was or previously was. If she had a price on her head it wasn't anything he was interested in and he'd have no use for turning her in even if he did. To sum it up if he DID know, she had nothing to worry about him saying anything. Robert knew how Hunters worked, spent a little time here and there traveling with a few. He picked up the tracking skills, the gun slinging skills, the shadowy like mystic they seemed to have when one minute they were in town and gone the next with barely even letting anyone know a thing about them. It was one of the many things he picked up among his travels, for he too had a past very little or if any knew about him...like her.

Those eyes, as she was stuck gazing at him, not letting go his head cocked a bit sideways. Never would he have guessed eyes like those hid a killer behind them, whether on purpose or not. Never would he have guessed she had a bounty on her head, a wanted posted hanging up anywhere she had been known to go. She kept a hold of him, and it was really the only physical contact he had with another person in some time. Sure he had come across people, had conversations, but physical contact was rare for him.

"You okay?

He glanced down at her hands gently holding his arms and realized his own hands were still holding her. Slowly he let go as if he was made of poison and didn't want to hurt her, yet her hands remained as he glanced down at them then back up into her beautiful innocent eyes.

Ida Mae was lost in a daze as her eyes danced over the man's rugged features. He appeared in desperate need of a shave and some clean clothes. It was safe to assume he had been out on the trail for quite sometime. He smelt and looked nothing like Zay though. For this her nose was thankful. She was also all out of playing the good samaritan. Therefore he would have to go without any help from her, not that he had asked for it.

For a moment Ida Mae danced backwards into the past, remembering her younger years of running around and doing nothing but having fun. It had been the life. No worries to dwell on or any of the like. Money had been of an abundance in her family and she could have any amount of it at any given time. It didn't matter what she wanted to spend it on. She had been a materialistic girl back then. Every new dress she saw and liked she bought, that went for shoes, hats and whatever else her eyes laid upon. Half of the items she purchased were worn only once, but that had mattered none to her. She just had to have it all.

A part of herself wished she could go back to those days, although now she had a different outlook on life. What she truly wished to go back to were the days she could walk around worry-free. Before having to hide or runaway in tears from an abusive husband after he came home with the stench of alcohol on his breath and another whiskey bottle in his hands, back to the days where she could go where she pleased and not have to worry about being arrested for a crime she did not commit. Well, not to the extend they made it out to seem anyways.

Ida Mae snapped back to the present as the man spoke up once more asking if she was okay. "Huh? .. Oh, I uh.. uh.." As she stumbled over her words Ida Mae realized she still had a grip on him. Quickly she let go and allowed her arms to fall down at her sides. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. Yeah. I'm fine." She seemed to be trying to reassure herself of that. Was she really fine? Well she was still alive and still free. So she really was truly fine, for now.

"Are you okay?"

"You sure, you're kind of stumbling over your words there...."

Checking to make sure she wasn't in shock or something. He hadn't come across too many people in the last few days camping out and keeping to himself. For being someone with no REAL means of cleaning up he really wasn't all that dirty either, then again like his cousin whom she'd just run into, Robert wasn't on the run so it wasn't the first thing on his mind. No Robert was just coming through town, maybe stay for a few days, take up a small task or two for come quick money then head out and onto the next. What he didn't know though, this place seemed to catch anyone like a sticky trap. You wander through town and you're most likely to stay.

Glancing over at her wagon, it was packed full of the things she had picked up. Most people did it during the day but in the evening, it seemed a little odd. The sun had now gone down and the only thing giving off light were the lanterns along the boardwalk, if she had someone looking for her now was the time to NOT be out and around at all.

Forgetting about the coin he had been flipping that had dropped to the ground, Robert pointed over to her wagon and nodded without taking his eyes off the woman. Eh, he couldn't really help it at this point for certain reasons.

"You need some help with your things?"