Riding in With Guns Blazin', Daniel Helm | J.J. Brannon

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it The bright sun in the dull, blue sky made the air hot and tangible. The bushes in the canyon rustled as the wind rushed threw the crevice. The earth shook and there was a sweet holler. Then, out of the end of the canyon, a horse leaped out of the opening, bucking like a wild thing. The man on its back was standing in his stirrups, holding the reins with one hand and shouting into the wind, holding his hat. The horse collected itself into a trot and started threw the thick plains that would lead over the hills and into the town of Buffalo Creek Bay. Buffalo snorted and bellowed at the pair, keeping a safe distance. The cowboy firmly placed the hat on his head and tipped it at a cow and calf just a few yards away. The calf stated curiously, but the calf bumped it away and snorted, threatening the horse and rider. Jared Jesse gave a crooked grin and said, "Pardon, ma'am, just moseyin' along." J.J. urged his mount into a canter. The horse loped over the rolling hills and then pulled short when he finally reached the town. He stood on the hilltop looking down at the bustling town in the early morning sun. Dust fluttered behind chuck wagons and stagecoaches. A posse of men on horses trotted out of one section and up to the mercantile. The sheriff was making his rounds by the bar, and the bath house was taking in another customer it seemed. He clicked to his horse and squeezed with his legs, the horse took the cue and moved into the lopey canter and he trotted down to the mercantile to check in and see if there was anyone looking for work. He walked his horse up to the hitching post and with an elegance and grace of years of experience, the man swung out of the saddle. The sheriff glared at him and he tipped his hat with a respectful smile and firmly tied his thoroughbred to the post. "Behave Donte," he told the horse, grabbing a small pebble from the ground and walked to the door. When he turned around the horse was attempting to undo the knot. He tossed the pebble at the horse and he snorted warily. "I told you to behave," he said with a smile at the horse. The horse gave him an innocent look and started to hit his chin against the post out of boredom. "I'll be a moment ole boy, hold down the fort for me." He stripped through the door and into the warm store. It was just as hot in here than out,... If not hotter. "Howdy do," he said to the assumed owner of the store. "Do you know if any of the ranches need a ranch hand around here?" I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: open

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hanna’s Mercantile
1:30 pm

Summers in Colorado were never mild affairs. Holding a rather prestigious reputation for their stark heat and stale winds this particular early August day did not disappoint. It was nearing midday and already distorted waves of fever blurred the horizon, creating hazy mirages of the town of Buffalo Creek from the backcountry trails. The insipid breeze kicked up flurries of dirt, chalking the forelegs of the burley buckskin Percheron’s as they lumbered dutifully before the large buckboard. They were toting the Hellfire Ranch owner that day and an empty load toward Hanna’s for a much-needed stock run. The Colorado branch of the esteemed Helm ranch had been up and running for a good year now, the true anniversary of the magnificent spread when the last nail was laid in the barn just at the turn of winter of last year. Since then Daniel Helm has been working diligently to meet the prestige of his father’s ranch back in Carson City, now reaching near half the stock herd that his father currently runs back home and in only a third of the time. He’d made a good life of himself so far out there in the plains, made a good life for some other folks too. Daniel Helm was a generous man and on days like this he’d put his men on an easy schedule, let them have a break from the sweltering heat and let them have some time to visit friends or the Saloon for a cool drink.

While most of his men were out checking the herd this particular afternoon, Danny hitched the twins to the buckboard and set for town. While the month was young he thought best to start stocking up his materials for the coming winter months. This particular town wasn’t known for it’s calm winters and the last thing Helm needed was losing half of his cattle because of a shortage of feed. Hitting the main drag of town there weren’t many folks to behold, surprisingly for the time of day. Leading the geldings to the Mercantile he took time to reflect just how much his life had changed with this town. They had both began from such humble beginnings, both barely anything above average. The biggest income the town saw when Danny first showed up was the Saloon but now it had a train tracks not to mention an entire shopping district off the main road. Danny didn’t start off much different. Road into Buffalo Creek as a Pony Express rider before taking the position of Land Officer before finally getting his bearings together to start his own ranch. Goes to show with time and hard work nearly anything was possible out in the prospective industry of the west.

Daniel hitched Zeus and Apollo up at the loading dock before hoping into the stockyard. After giving his list of supplies to the men there he went inside to get a few little things for the ranch house while they loaded. Never one to miss the chance to snag a bar of chocolate he was browsing through the shelves of sweets when he heard an unfamiliar voice at the counter. Curious he peered over the edge of the shelving unit, listening carefully and observing silently. The man was a big son of a bitch, one that even the infamous Daniel Helm temper wouldn’t want to tangle with. He scoffed a little at himself and turned back to his shopping before he heard the man ask for nearby ranches. Well hell, if he was looking for work Daniel sure as hell was interested. Having a man like that ride for his name? It was a one in a million. Dropping his goods he walked up front, clearing his throat as he appeared behind the man. “S’cuse me, sir, couldn’t help but over hear you looking for work.” He offered his hand with a friendly smile, “The name’s Daniel Helm, I own a spread out in the plains- Hellfire Ranch. I’m always looking for more hands, you think you’d be interested?”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it August 2nd, 1869 Hanna’s Mercantile 1:30 pm The owner was about to reply when the man struck in, the owner pointed at the man and went back to his post. J.J. Brannon, formerly known as J.J. Parks, turned and looked at the man. He held out a warm hand, very warm, he wiped it on the cleanest part of his Levi's and reextended his hand. "Actually, if you would have asked me about six months ago, maybe. But this is for my little brother." Well, kind of little, considering the fact that he was maybe an inch smaller and a hell of a lot stronger... And younger for that matter, probably just what this man needed. Jared was already feeling the pains of becoming an old timer. His back hurt near constantly, hands, despite gloves, we're rope burnt, feet ached and stank just from the boots, and there was a pounding in his head that would linger on the best days. "He's a bright kid but for some reason wants to work in the saddle like the rest of us." David had been offered a job at Rocking R Ranch, but he didn't want it, he went off in a big speech about honor and dignity and the right of becoming a man through his own work, not the charity of a sheltering brother. "Oh I'm Jared Brannon, but most everybody calls me J.J.," he said with an easy smile that spoke elegance. The man behind the counter seemed puzzled, then a sudden realization came over and his eyes grew big with understanding. Brannon was the name of a big family outfit in Texas that Output the finest Hereford and Short horn in Texas, and at least well known throughout the countryside. But the man hadn't any arrogance about him, but maybe something of sadness, maybe a sort of regret hidden beneath the surface. "My brother in question is David Brannon. He's in Texas at the moment, but he should be here this sabbath. Last time he wrote to me he mentioned wanting to work," that speech he was thinking about earlier, "like a man." With his easy going smile and quiet demeanor he seemed friendly enough, but to an ignorant child so could a sleeping rattlesnake. Not to say that his fellow here was ignorant, or that he himself was a rattlesnake. He thought back through the previous months and realized he wasn't a snake, and of he was, he was a pretty damn bad at it. Aw hell, he was bad at everything, he messed everything up in the passed few months, with Nora with Bernie, well Bernie was forgiving him, but Nora.... He didn't know if she ever could forgive him. He snapped to the present when he heard the door close on the store front when a customer left. (sorry about the date, I told myself not to forget that and I totally did xD and I know the owner isn't the guy I totally just made up xD well just say he was the assistant, who isn't taken at the moment in the job listings xD) I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: open

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hanna’s Mercantile
1:30 pm

There was a pang of disappoint in the Rancher’s emerald eyes, his mouth pursing into a fine line with a shrug. Well it was worth a shot, he reminded himself, quite disappointed that the man wouldn’t be riding for his brand any time soon or ever for that matter. He looked a good worker, his hands were stained and calloused from what Danny could only assume years of hard labor. His clothes didn’t fair much better, crusted with the fine soot of the Colorado dirt, looking that they could use a fine laundering. Oh well, couldn’t rightly blame the man for turning down a position at the ranch despite Hellfire’s prestige. The Helm’s were well known for their premium Black Angus, the largest spread in Colorado and Nevada, there name was known as far as Illinois and even Ohio. If the man had loyalties elsewhere he was more impressed he kept them instead of switching brands. That was sure the sign of a good man.

“Your younger brother then, huh,” He put his hands on his hips and looked thoughtful. Well just maybe the kin to this man wasn’t much different; Helm was sure that that height and burliness just rain in their blood. He needed more men on his ranch that were like him, large enough to do the work and just scare off any potential rustlers that would think of pilfering with the Helm cattle. “I could use a some more bright hands on the ranch, maybe another leader. You think he’d be able to handle that kind of responsibility?” Rusty was the foreman and there would never be a man that could possibly replace him, he was far better a man and a worker he could ask for. But maybe, just maybe Daniel could use someone else amongst the men to keep things in line, maybe just someone to be their voice to come to Rusty with problems and concerns. “Tell you what, J.J., when you brother finds himself in Buffalo Creek you send him my way and I’ll just see what I can do for the lad.” Daniel Helm was true to his word.

He seemed rather impressed after the man had told his name, but he tried to keep it to himself. The Brannon’s were another good family of ranchers; though they dabbled down in Texas with their short horns they weren’t any less as great as the Angus ranchers here in Colorado. His Pa had wanted to try his handle in short horns but thought best of it. They had their hands full with the Angus cattle, the last thing they needed was another herd of five hundred, which would mean more hands and more pay. They were just fine with what they had.

“Whatcha you doin’ in Buffalo Creek then, J.J.? I’m sure you had some more to do than just find your younger brother a job. You work near here?” He took in the man’s appearance, he’d be hella surprised if he didn’t.

||You're perfectly fine, no worries. ;)||

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it The man noticed the name quietly, remembering something of angus cattle. From what he understood, the Helms had the finest angus around, in two states, not just one, impressive, just as he'd thought at the time, and he was no less impressed then than he was now. The Helm family had a good reputation and the character standing before him seemed to stand up to his name. The man's eyes flickered with intelligence and respect, and "To be quite honest, my brother is bull headed, tempermental, and just as stubborn as me, if not worse. But, that being said, he's very intelligent, great with animals, and I've never once seen him mistreat any living thing, except for a cowhand who pulled a gun on him, which we don't tolerate, obviously. My brother talked the man out of the gun and helped him on his merry way," the older man said, though the last two words he said somewhat bitterly, as if he'd have much rather put a bullet in his head than let him go, and for a good reason, the son of a.... Well that's another story. "Alright, I'll let my brother know and steer him your way, sounds like a good deal to me," he said. Though he barely knew this man from Adam, he was already taking a shining to him, he felt maybe a sort of understanding with this man, he didn't quite know why, whether it was the passion for raising top quality cattle, or just the fact that he got along with the mans personality, he couldn't help but enjoy this mans company. This was, until he asked what he was doing in these parts. His face lots it's vibrant hue, and any sort of emotion seemed hard pressed to find. His eyes were glassy with the remembrance of the past few months. The man was bound to hear gossip in a few days, once the crying choir girls got around to it. Just as he was about to avoid the question, there was some yelling out front, instantly he put his hand on his hip to the colt where it rest in its holster and headed to the front. He laughed when he saw his horse walking up the steps of the mercantile looking for J.J.. The horse bickered eagerly when he saw him and backed off the steps and stood back where he was supposed to be. Then he grabbed the reins in his mouth and started to shake his head, as of saying, 'I don't know what happened but they just fell off.' J.J. bit his lip to repress the smile he was fighting. He wiped the sweat off his brow and smothered a deep chuckle before clearing his throat and walking up to his horse. "Now you're gonna make me look a fool boy, can't even keep my own horse tied." As if in response the horse went back to untying his handiwork again. "Quit it there smarty, I just tied that." as if to draw attention the horse hollered and J.J. Was starting to blush. Then he said under his breath in a threatening tone, "If you don't quit it I won't even THINK of getting you carrots for a week from Nora's lovely garden, I mean it!" the horses ears caught the tone, he bumped his chest roughly with his muzzle. J.J. pay the horse's neck and jogged up the steps. The horse was already hitting his chin on the post by the time he walked in the store. "Sorry about that, he has abandonment issues." His neck was still flaming red with causing such a scene. "I raised the horse since he was a colt," he explained. His dam had twins and when he was born his twin got stuck and the two didn't make it, so the colt stayed the winter in his cabin while he raised him. The colt was fed three eggs and at least a gallon of cows milk in at least one day, depending on how old he was and hungry at the time. The stallion was a big puppy dog, though teaching him to saddle and bit was hard, that had been the toughest. But soon the horse was trotting along like the others. "I here you raise top quality Angus? Is that right?" he asked changing the conversation up. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hanna’s Mercantile
Around 1:30 pm

The rancher couldn’t help that good-natured smirk that grossed his chapped lips, chuckling as he ran his calloused fingers through his hair, “Sounds like you and your brother shoulda been born in the Helm family.” He gave J.J. a friendly smile as he gestured out the door, “My temper in town is quite well known, especially in the bar. I think I’ve thrown more drunks and drifters out the place than the owner has. Us Helms have ourselves a might bad temper.” Daniel Helm was the most volatile man that Buffalo Creek had come to house in recent years, hit harder than a bull and bellowed louder than a late night summer storm. When he’d first showed up those few years ago he was a young man rearing for adventure and mishaps, picked more fights than he could count and suffered his fair share of suffering too. But despite all those times folks had to drag him off of a drifter looking at his friends the long way, or having to take his gun before he blew a hole clean through a drunkards head for touching his woman- they loved him. Truly loved him. Daniel Helm was a well liked man, dedicated to the people of Buffalo Creek and they knew it. He’d put more blood, sweat, and tears in than any man his age had and the town praised him for it.

So despite the messes he’d made and the drama he’d caused in the quaint little place he was quite popular. So well known and liked in fact that any man daring to call out Helm in the saloon would be met with a wall of silence only punctuated by the resounding clicking of pistols and rabbit-eared shotguns. Daniel Helm was as much a part of Buffalo Creek Bay as the buffalo. The town had almost lost the dear lad the past winter though, much to their horror as the drifting miscreant Mason Radley had rammed a buck knife so far into his belly it seemed that no amount of stitching could ever mend it again. But after three months of healing and support from the local folks Danny had taken his rightful place back as Mister Hellfire, the only testaments to his ordeal was the white scar on his belly and the faded blood stain on the Saloon’s floor.

It didn’t take much to notice that bitter tone that welled up in the man’s voice as he spoke of his brother’s attacker, feeling his own scar through the flannel of his shirt. “The boy seems a bit naïve, if ya don’t mind me saying. It takes a lot to be that kinda man to talk a man down from shootin’ ya, but sometimes it’s better to put a man down than let ‘im walk away.” Danny seemed quite serious as he returned his hands back to his hips, “A man desperate enough to pull a piece on someone once is gonna pull it again on another, no doubt in my mind o’that.” But that was Danny’s own musings, though he was compassionate himself, there were times when a man just needed to be put down. Before Danny had a chance to ask J.J. again of his business in town a ruckus began outside past the steps. He couldn’t help but notice the man immediately go for his gun, narrowing his eyes a little skeptically as he followed him out to the porch nonchalantly, colt securely fastened in its holster. The sight that greeted him turned his look of ease into a wide smile again, unable to help the memory of when Henry Scarborough’s stud Wabash had wandered into the Saloon. He’d been upstairs at the time trying to sleep after a three day Express run, though even his sleep deprived mind could has sworn he’d heard hooves downstairs on the clapboard floors. Later Henry did confirm his suspicions; Danny just wished he could have been there to see Sam Felix’s face when the paint Appendix strolled in like he owned the place.

“He’s a good horse. I raised a colt myself, Buck, He’s the best friend I got in this whole place, let me tell ya. Best damn horse I ever did own.” Buck was a perfect match for his rider, feisty, ornery, quick and just as stubborn. But lately the quarter thoroughbred cross had been spending his weeks in the west pasture as Danny worked on taming the black percheron beast that Henry had left him about three weeks ago. “Seems like he’d be great for ranch work, J.J. He gelded is he? If not he’d probably make quite the stud.”

Once again the situation got turned and now it was J.J. asking the questions and Helm was all the more happy to oblige him. “You’ve heard right, sir. Best black angus in this part of the west, let me tell you. We got selling contracts all the way back east. Hellfire is my ranch, just out in the plains. It’s a branch of my father’s ranch in Carson City. I’m best with breeding cattle but I’ve been dabbling my way into mustang breeding for local cowpoke and rancher’s alike. ” Danny turned when a few men showed up from the loading dock, handing Helm his purchase receipt and informed him he was all ready to go. “I was breaking horses since I was a boy, always had a better connection with ‘em compared to the cattle.” He paused as he finished his thought, looking J.J. over again. Whether he worked for another ranch or not, he’d be a good man to have around just incase a deal or contract needed to be struck up between the two ranchers, or just an extra man looking out for him on the streets.

“Say, J.J. you eaten yet? I’m heading back to the ranch now if you’d like t’join me. I’m sure Ming has lunch all cooked up if you’d like to join me and maybe even my foreman for some good home cooked eatin’. What’da say?”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it J.J. smiled softly at the mans remarks. It brought him back to his own family and their common traits. His poor mom and her sweetness was no match for his father and his brutality. It was such a relief to know that Ellie had never been touched by the harshness of his father while he'd been gone. But the one thing he did feel was the loneliness, like a cold stab of a knife in his gut. The bridge that should be there with kinship and family was gone. All that left was a brother who hated him and a sister who barely remembered him. David was the only one who really treated him like family, and even then things were tough between the two. David was the most understanding and typically level headed man there was. Horses just flocked to the man, the typically shy and wary animals just followed him like a puppy. Even when he broke the young horses, they would buck around for ten to thirty minutes, and then act like they've always been a trail horse. But when other cowboys got on it was a week long battle of brains and brute strength. In fact, the only time J.J. could ever remember his brother coming off was when he was four and they had that awful pony, but David had insisted on riding. The pony spooked at everything and nothing, just for shear enjoyment of hearing little kids scream. J.J. honestly had been afraid of that pony up until he was 15. "Sometimes a name doesn't even make people family, so perhaps we really are kin," the man said, for the first time really feeling his loneliness. If Daniel was really all that they said around town, he had no doubt that everything was true, though that being said, J.J. based a man off of his actions, not the hearsay in town. So far Danny had some pretty good actions. J.J. smiled sadly, "I know, but he's young and I can't say I wasn't like that once as well. And... I actually pulled the irons on the man first," J.J. admitted. "But he'd done something unexcusable, something any man would have been hung for, no matter what his excuse or status in society." But J.J. had been truly surprised in David, especially after what that horrible man had done to Ellie. He had hated his brother for the first time that day. He had been so furious, he'd fired and then had to rehire their best foremen on their best ranch in Texas. And J.J. did NOT apologize, EVER. Though it hadn't exactly been an apology, it had been a 'come back to the ranch you have a raise'. "But I had been surprised at how adamant he'd been." That had also confused him, it was almost like he'd known something J.J. hadn't, like none of them had known. David's behavior with that one particular man had been strange, and foreign, as if he were pretending something he wasn't. J.J., in his furious maelstrom, had threatened that if that sick man ever said, thought, touched, smelled, or did anything remarking toward his sister he would make his last hours on Earth so terrible he'd have to remember it in the fiery hell of damnation. He realized his face was reflecting his thoughts and he blinked and wiped a hand over his features, clearing his head. "I don't know, man is a strange animal." He smiled, "I like that, most men don't count on the little ones to break through, a man patient enough to help an animal that young, is a good enough man in my book." Sometimes just that small bit of a man's personality was all it took to convince J.J. a man was good. Most men would put them down, not wanting to waste the time or money on a sick animal. But J.J. also respected a man who put down an animal when there was no coming back from an injury, and making the animal stick around would be cruel. "Horses have a way of being brutally honest, it's good for the soul." He smiled at the mans questions about his mount and replied, "He's a stallion, he's excellent with the cows, and despite being uphill in the shoulders he is quite well at getting low with the ground. He's a good boy, he just... gets bored." He glanced at the horse who was still battling the knots that Jared had tied. "Well what a pleasure it is to be in the company of such a fine outfit," and J.J. meant it, he wouldn't just say things to blow air into people's egos. He was truly enjoying this man's company. It wasn't often he found someone he could talk to, actually, he normally didn't talk, he was mostly the strong silent type. But god, all the things that have happened in the past months are just so crazy that maybe he just needed someone to talk to. But he had to be careful what he said, if you said one thing wrong, it was already out there, and he didn't want that affecting him badly. When he heard about the horses he instantly thought of David. "Actually, David is pretty good with horses. I don't know how he is with breeding and such, I've been... away from my family for quite a few years, so I've been trying to catch up, but I know that he's pretty good at starting unbroke horses." He hesitated at his offer. Nora had hinted at lunch, and every moment he had to redeem himself was vital, but at the same time she was cold and hostile and lunch was usually very... vicious lately, so a break would be nice. "Sure, that'd be great. I have to pick up something real quick though at the post office." He grabbed his reins, which were already untied and the horse had them in his mouth and was weaving. He gripped the horn and reins in one hand and the seat of the saddle in the other. Then elegantly swung into the saddle. The stallion at first had seemed average sized, 15'3 nothing big, but with J.J. in the seat, the horse seemed to muscle up an grow in size, and J.J.'s tall physique fit nicely and he didn't seem to swamp the horse in an unequal picture. They seemed like two puzzle pieces coming together. The horse arched his neck and pawed the ground eagerly, clipping the bit in his teeth with anxious chatters. His ears prickled to every sound and his veins swelled under his skin, ready to go, anywhere. "I'll be right back," J.J. said with the tip of his hat. The horse pranced with big comfortable gaits, his tail swishing with flair and he almost seemed to be dancing down main street with his fancy strides. J.J. held the reins in one hand with a firm connection, unlike the other horses, who were rode on little to no rein contact, Donte was one hombre that was nasty and needed the connection, it also seemed to settle the horse too, made him feel comfortable in his skin and not have to worry about anything, he relied on J.J. to keep scary things from him, just like J.J. relied on the horse to keep him safe. The horse halted squarely at the post and waited patiently, working on the knots as he did. J.J. was only about a minute before he arrived back. He stuck the small box in his saddle bag and trotted the horse back over. The horse seemed to move faster than he really was, his big strides deceiving, just like the mirages in the deserts. "Ready to go," he said, with the nod of his head. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hanna’s Mercantile en route to Hellfire Ranch
Around 1:30 pm

It was going on a year since Daniel had last visited his kin back in Nevada. His latest trip out to Carson City though was on much less good terms that the rancher ever readily liked to admit. He’d fled to his hometown and to the familiarity of his brothers and father after the death of his mother’s murderer of eight years prior. Ezra Walker was a dastardly man that when Daniel Helm had just turned eighteen shot him and his mother down in Carson City’s local mercantile, leaving Rose Helm dead and her youngest son not far behind, lingering on the drafty stoop of death’s door. The drifter had gotten away and after a rather rocky recovery Daniel had set out on his twenty-first birthday to find his own life out in the vast West. He rode around for the Express for the next few years until he was stationed in Buffalo Creek Bay permanently and the rest was history really. Ezra had made the dire mistake two winters back to waltz into town and ran into Helm. After a bloody scuffle and a few days locked away in jail Ezra was finally tried and sentenced to hang for his heinous crimes. It was the same time that Daniel Helm’s best friend, Henry Scarborough, had appeared out of the woodwork after a whole winter gone missing, leaving the whole town to believe him dead and leaving Danny to pick up his mess and care for his wife and business while he was gone. His return was welcomed by all except for Helm whom hated the man for what he’d done. After busting Henry’s nose with his own forehead Danny fled to Carson City for a reprieve before returning later that spring.

Returning home wasn’t much better a welcome as Danny found out that his now wife had been cheating on him while he was away and the lot of his friends hadn’t even told him despite the letters he sent both to Darla and them every week. To say the least Daniel had his fair share of shit thrown at him his entire time here in Buffalo Creek Bay, but despite those hardships that would drive any sane man to put a bullet in his brain and wind him up in a shallow grave out in the prairie, Daniel had pressed on. Not more than a two years now and he was running one of the largest spreads in Colorado, married to a beautiful woman and repaired all those broken friendships, especially with Scarborough.

That smile returned and he patted Jared gently on the shoulder, “That, sir, is the god’s honest truth. Ain’t got no need for blood to make brothers outta someone.” There was no doubt in his mind that he loved Henry Scarborough like he was a Helm, respected him like any man would his brother and treated him as such. They’d had their rough patches, nearly got each other killed numerous times and thrown each other’s lives in the shitter- but they’d overcome that. They were brothers in every sense of the word. And to be honest, times when Henry’s wife Bella was in one of her moods and gave Henry nothing but bullshit, when Sam was prying, Davion was just being an ass, or even Rusty angsty with his cousin Danny truly believed that he was the only one that cared for the sorry son of a bitch unconditionally. Henry had ruined Daniel’s life more than once the past few years, condemned him in ways that would tarnish even the bonds between families, yet Daniel was there. For Henry when the only thing left for him during his detox was Helm’s guesthouse and his cousin, he was there. Sat with him until he rode out the worst of it even after being tossed out a window and losing his temper in one of his most terrifying shows of rage, he returned to help Henry find his way back to normalcy. Henry was not beyond his compassion for his ranching counterpart either, something that showed dearly after the loss of the first Helm child due to a miscarriage. Still recovering from that crippling depression it never failed for Scarborough to show up on Hellfire ranch, quarter til ten in the morning on the dot every day just to make sure that he was okay, still kicking and giving life his all. “You’ll have to meet my friend Henry too, he’s my foreman’s cousin. Crazy son of a bitch but honestly the best friend I ever had.”

Before he could let himself delve further into his past memories he turned his eyes back to the mischievous horse outside the doors, “If you’d ever like to make an extra penny or two you bring that stud to Hellfire and I’ll be glad to pay you handsome for some breeding. He looks sturdy, good temper, he’d make some healthy cow horses I’m sure.” Daniel was well educated in horses, having been breaking them ever since he could sit a saddle he had a keen eye for good creatures and with as highly Jared spoke of him the stud’s offspring would make good herding companions for long nights on drives. This man was courteous, calm, polite and Danny couldn’t help but keep that smile from his lips. The man was entertaining to talk to and unlike most of the folk around here he knew a thing about ranching and cattle and Danny was ecstatic he didn’t have to explain each and little phrase he used like he normally had to. “Thanks for the compliment, with only been running a year that is great t’hear from someone who ain’t from these parts. Good t’know I haven’t ruined my name yet.” Daniel sniggered and nudged him lightly, “yet.”

“Well I’m glad t’have you, J.J. You do what you need and I’ll just bring the buckboard ‘round front and we can be on our way.” Watching him ride off to the post office Danny was distracted from his musing of his past as an Express rider just watching the man handle the horse. It truly was a shame that he couldn’t have that man working his ranch, he had the expierenced, the build and certainly the personality. Maybe one day he could just settle for his brother, he supposed. Paying for his order at the counter Danny leapt down the loading dock and climbed into the driver’s seat, urging Zeus and Apollo to a steady walk out to the front of Hanna’s as he awaited his lunch time guest. The massive buckskins eyed the rider and mount as they approached, nudging forward at the call of their driver, “This way. It ain’t far a ride.”

Out to the plains and past Henry’s own little farm Daniel lead Brannon to Hellfire Ranch, a name he’d picked after his first ride with Henry Scarborough. It was a perilous journey to Denver for the Express, both pony riders not leaving unscathed. And after catching an infection to his shoulder from a rogue arrow from and Indian Danny near died on that road if it weren’t for Scarborough and the random act of kindness from the strangers that passed by. The most prominent moment that had stuck out for the rancher was when they’d loaded him up in the back of the buckboard and Henry tucked his fevered body away, the only thing he could hear was Henry’s voice in his ears. ” He may look like hell, prob’ly because he’s got a hellfire in ‘im, I’ve never seen a man take as much shit as he has an’ live.” Throughout the next few years Henry had brought that up countless times and it only seemed right after his ordeals that fateful winter that he named his ranch after the hellfire that kept him alive. Pulling up to the front gates Danny lead the buckboard to the barn where a few of his men were waiting to unload the new stock, eyeing the stranger warily. “Boys put the horses away and get the stock away,” He turned back to Barnnon with a nod, “I can’t let you leave without some good old fashioned country hospitality. Come take a load off in the ranch house, Warren,” Danny called out to one of his ranch hands, “Take Mr. Brannon’s horse and put him in the paddock, give him some water and treats will you.” Danny paused, looking back to J.J., “That is if it’s alright for one of my men to handle your horse.”

After the horses had been taken care of Danny lead J.J. back to the house, pausing when a shrill sounding whinny came from the fencing along the barn. Standing along the line was a massive Percheron cross, the black gelding throwing his head up and down trying to get Helm’s attention. He just laughed and shook his head. “That there is Asher. Henry gave ‘im to me after he bought him from the auction in Denver, ‘bout went to the slaughterhouse because of his temper. He weren’t really angry ya know? Just scared senseless. The poor boy was a cab driving horse and he has the worst scars on his back. Scarborough couldn’t handle breaking him so he gave ‘im to me. Bites like hell but he’s gotten to like me, kinda attached really. He rushes any sort of man who’s with me. Protective son of a bitch,” He put his hands on his hips, “Asher now you behave yourself! I’ll be back later.” He continued up the stairs and held the door open for his guest, “So, J.J. cravin’ anything special for lunch? Got a whole kitchen full of food, you name it, I wouldn’t doubt it being in there some place.”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it J.J. smiled, "Henry Scarborough? Did I say that right?" He made a funny face before he asked, with a glint in his eyes, "Isn't that the man who had a horse walk into a bar after him...?" He was just wondering if that had been bar talk or an actual event. The only way he'd found that out was from Bernie, after all the shit that went down with him and Nora, and then when Bernie found out J.J. had bought the house from under him, unknowingly, well... kind of, the man had gone off to the bar and J.J. had gone after him. When he arrived the man was already three sheets to the wind and blabbering about some lovely woman who'd offered him... unmentionables, and how Henry's horse had walked into the bar. It had been a bunch of rambling words and J.J. had just agreed to what ever the drunken man had said, just to get him in the buckboard. Apparently everyone had been shocked to see Bernie in the bars. Bernie was a church goer who'd sworn to be sober, he supposedly went on a mysterious binge about thirteen years back. J.J. hadn't caught the whole story, but he'd caught that it was about his late wife and how the man had never gotten over her and his unborn child's death. J.J. had never dared to ask about the painful event in the man's life. J.J. knew how it felt and wouldn't dare bring up something that painful. "I sure wouldn't mind breeding him, but you've got to watch his pasterns," he said, pointing out the horse's very long pasterns. "It makes for a comfortable ride, but it's better to breed to a horse with short pasterns to even it out, I find that cow work is pretty hard on his legs, and when his legs start hurting he gets a little sloppy, but his work ethic is possibly the best thing he has, and he throws that in his offspring. He's got first generation racehorses at the moment in Texas, none of them have won anything yet, but most trainers are very pleased with their temperaments. He also has third generation ranch horses that are hitting the ground this year, but I haven't gotten around to inspecting them, so we'll see." J.J. laughed at the man's comment on his name being ruined. That brought back the seriousness of his own situation. He let out a little laugh and rubbed the back of his neck worriedly. J.J. "Well, you can ruin your name as many times as you want, but as long as the good god knows you've tried to stay straight, it doesn't matter much, I figure." J.J. was in a bit of a rough spot and he was just hoping that he could take his own advice and believe it. But something didn't sit well with him about losing Nora. He realized only then how important she really was to him. She'd been his only friend for the past three years, and his only real friend for his whole life. He thought of that package in the post office, and it suddenly seemed like that last ditch effort might just work. If not... god forbid he'd have to seduce her. That made him smile and want to laugh, but he held off for the laughter. Nora... seduced, and he'd probably have better luck seeing a T-bone by sticking his head up a bulls ass, but that wasn't an option, so neither was the first. Though very tempting... no. That would make things worse, god he was so lost on this whole... mess. When they started after the buckboard, Donte started to trot in place, wanting to be ahead of them. It was that great drive that he instilled in his children. J.J. sat loosely in the saddle and pat the horse's withers. "Its ok buddy, just follow." The stallion went from trotting in place to canter, then back to trot. It took the horse about thirty minutes of repeating the following before the horse relaxed into following the horses. It was odd, the horse was so hell bent on being first and then like the snap of fingers he just went into a trot and sighed, giving in like nothing. The horse was lathered in a thin sheen of sweat, his coat glistening to distraction. By the time the two men made it to the large spread the horse was just as easy and carefree as the two horses leading the buckboard. "I don't mind you handling him. But don't let him see a mare, and if he gives you any trouble just holler, the worst he'll do is walk up to the house," J.J. said, swinging off his horse and handing the reins over to the man, trustfully. Donte seemed to bulk up as he scented the air. J.J. clucked and smacked the horse under the belly. The horse flicked his ears at J.J. before the stallion's tense muscles relaxed and he stuck his 'magic marker' back in its cap. "Behave," he warned the horse. As if in answer the horse bumped J.J.'s chest and then leaned his head in his lap. "He doesn't jump, so don't worry." The horse was positively silly when it came to jumping. He laid down branches around the horse that were not even a quarter of an inch high and he didn't leave the box the whole night. He'd just done it to see what the horse would do, but he knew his job and took it seriously. But that being said, J.J. had once put a wheel barrow in between paddocks while he was cleaning one year, and Donte had climbed, not jumped, but literally climbed over the wheel barrow fearlessly, to get to J.J. so they could 'play'. And by play, that was 'bite J.J. and run as fast as you can-play'. "Nothing in particular, but a nice cup of iced tea would be mighty fine," J.J. said with a smile. "I'm really curious about your cattle. Do you have rotational pastures or do you do free range?" J.J. asked. Most people did free range, J.J. had only resorted to pastures after his herds had been stolen by mexican rustlers. He'd go out to his land and find the make shift pens and the still hot ashes where they'd rebranded his cattle so they could be sold at a market for money. J.J. had gone back for his cattle of course, the rebels did not get away with stealing his precious, high bred shorthorn cattle. He watched the men take the horses as he made his way to the house with Daniel. J.J.'s only worry was that the man would hear the gossip and the friendship would be estranged by it. No matter what, any man who is low enough to buy a man's property from under them is not good. Even J.J. had a hard time respecting himself, in fact, as of late, he was down right disgusted with the man he'd become. Just moments before he'd even considered seducing the woman he loved into marrying him. Damn, all he seemed to be doing was thinking of more ways to trick that poor family and ruining what ever trust he'd built. J.J. was by far confused in his actions as a man. Turns out he was more like his father than he thought. That pissed him off and he stuck the annoying thought to the back of his mind. Damn Jesse, and Junior! Although maybe that was unfair for him to stick his younger brother in the same boat with his father. His mother had hinted at a tragedy in Jesse Junior's past, but she wouldn't say, and then there had been a weird argument following that between his mother and Junior. Everything was strange and he was pretty determined to stay away from his messed up wreck of a family. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hellfire Ranch
Around 2:30 pm

Tracking up the sand dusted clapboard stairs, kicking off the clinging clods of soil from his weather frayed work pants Daniel peeled back the screen door for his guest. “Iced tea? Well that shouldn’t be too hard to come by in this house,” He smiled gently as he lead J.J. to the kitchen where he motioned to a seat, “Please sit, take a load off.” He rounded the long, dark mahogany dining table, shuffling through the cabinets for a glass, noticing an already fresh brewed pitcher of iced tea sitting on the counter. “Like I said, not that hard to come by in this house. My house servant here is Chinese and after I told her how much I enjoy tea she never stops making it for me.” Daniel was grateful for the petite woman, knowing that if he hadn’t of hired her he’d be eating down at the saloon every night or having to pull Rusty from his foreman work to make all their meals. Daniel Helm loved his wife with and untarnished dying love, don’t get him wrong, they’d have their rough patches that’d hurt them, but he’d never hate her or dislike her for anything. But that being said her cooking was completely and most utterly disgusting. What she managed to “cook” if you’d even be inclined to use that to describe the charred remains that would come scraping out of the pan and tainting their fine china. Daniel had tried to choke down the disgusting gruel but often times would just end up gagging and spitting it out the window. He’d tried to feed it to the dogs too, who spend most of their days picking and rolling around in cow shit and they wouldn’t even go around Darla’s attempted meal. Ming was a blessing to say the least, a wife that knew nothing of cleaning, cooking, or anything else most women folk knew of it was a much anticipated filled job position. Speaking of which he moved to the storage cellar to the side, that lead down a flight of stairs where Ming usually put his lunch to keep it cool while he was out working.

Returning up the stairs not much longer he had a plate of sandwiches, she always did make extra knowing that Danny liked sharing with the ranch hands. Sitting the plate on the table followed by the two iced tea glasses he took a seat to J.J.’s right, leaning back with a content sigh. “Help yourself my friend, there’s plenty t’eat and drink.” Finally easing forward and grabbing a sandwich of his own he held it in his hand with one hand propped up on the table. “Well I considered free range at first, but the Helm cattle are notorious for rustlers to attempt to take so I decided rotational would be good for me and my men. Besides the land I have at the moment is too close to other plots to really be able to free range safely without barging into someone else’s place.” Daniel had lost count of the number of rustlers he’d killed over the years, some may consider him cold blooded for it but honestly if a man came to threaten another man’s livelihood there was only one means of handling that situation and Daniel had. There wasn’t room for mercy in the west, it was fight your way to survival or die trying and Daniel Helm was too f*cking stubborn to go out now.

The last month had nearly driven him to an early grave, the loss of his unborn child had left nothing but abandon in his heart. It was a difficult loss for the young man, at only the ripe age of twenty-six it was utterly devastating for the both him and his younger wife. But with taking care of his new horse and needing to run his ranch, not only for the sake of himself but all the others who relied on the ranch as a job and a place to live he’d pressed on. There wasn’t much to life if you just spent it feeling sorry for yourself or thinking about what could’ve been. The past was the past, and there was no means of fixing that, only thing that you could fix was your future and that was exactly what Helm was planning on doing.

Turning to his company Helm couldn’t help but notice a vague sense of trepidation on his features, clearing his throat wondering just what was causing Brannon so much discomfort. “I’ve heard a lot about your family’s cattle, my Pa wanted to get into the business with those shorthorn a while back and he was even fixin’ on contacting ya’ll but we talked him out of it.” Daniel smiled and gave a laugh, “Besides we’d never be able to compete with your cattle so we thought it’d be best to stick to what we knew best.” Helm was about half way through his sandwich when chose to speak up again, “You know it’s a damn shame you already work for another ranch, I really could use a man like you around this place. But I guess I can settle with being friends,” He laughed again and took a drink of his tea before finishing his sandwich, “You seem like an alright, down to earth kinda fella. You should go fishing with my friend Henry and I sometime. It’d be a load of fun.”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it J.J. moseyed into the house after dusting the layers of dirt off himself and his hat. He placed the hat on the end of his chair and took a seat. J.J. smiled, "You don't have a wife?" Jared remembered his mother's home cooking. Oh the biscuits were the best. He could just remember the smell. They were only on special occasions. Like when his father wasn't beating her or on christmas. Mostly when the ranches were making money. He looked over his comrade and thought maybe he'd been wrong for pegging this man for a tie down. That was what J.J. and David called the married types, tie downs, because they were sure as hell tied down and led by their nose like a calf. J.J. didn't hesitate on waiting for the man to sit down. Sure Jared was technically an Eastern Gent, though he didn't look it in his rugged outfit, but he'd never been one for the proper society rules. Besides, when ones stomach was eating itself, one didn't care. The iced tea went down like heaven, and the sandwiches were just astonishing. "Is there any chance I can steal your cook?" J.J. asked with a longing look to the real food. Lately J.J. had been given the burnt ends of all the food, and for the food that couldn't be burnt, Nora managed to give him something he'd rather wished was burnt. He hadn't had a truly fitting meal in a couple of months, in fact he'd been all but starved out of the house, which, he was pretty sure was her plan. But every night J.J. had forced himself to eat every piece of the bile, hard... 'meal'. He almost laughed out loud at her antics. She was a fighter, that one. He had to force the smile off his face before Daniel noticed. J.J. had been the same, killing all the rustlers who stole the cattle, and at first it worked, it was so different than his father's lazy cattle ranching that the Mexican rustlers had been afraid at first. But J.J. had killed one rustler too many one night and a mean group of hombres had ridden to his ranch and lit the barn and house on fire before almost sticking a bullet in his brother's head and Elle had nearly been... well that was in the past. Jared had felt horrible because he'd disappeared on one of his binges. After that J.J. had been careful about just who he shot. His brother had paid a grave price for Jared's foolishness. "The world is changing, most people laugh when I say I rotate my cattle, but I show them my profits and that shuts um up well enough," he said with a faint laugh. J.J. heard the request and felt guilty all over again, "Everyone looks good in the sunshine." Jared almost considered telling him, but somehow that would be too awkward. "I've made a lot of mistakes in the past, especially the last few months. In case you happen to hear something in the next few weeks, just remember that my brother is nothing like that in those respects," Jared said. "Once you meet my brother, you won't feel bad about losing me. David is twice the man I am and he's got less wear and tear on the ole muscles," J.J. said, stretching his sore left arm. It was true, despite the obvious disfigurement of his brother, not one person had met him that hated him on sight, David made friends with everyone, even the meanest men could soften around him. Obviously that was a small lie, there were some who didn't like David, but J.J. hadn't really met any of them, and if he had, J.J. was sure he wouldn't have cared much for the men. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hellfire Ranch
Around 2:30 pm

Swiveling his hips in his chair Daniel arced his brow at Jared like he was droning off in Chinese like Ming did when Danny broke that big mixing bowl last week, that spark in his emerald eyes looking like he was pinning his guest to be crazy. The perplexed look faded though and soon the rancher’s nostrils was flaring, then he was sniggering under his breath, breaking his thin lipped chuckling he guffawed at his new found friend’s question, hardly breathing half hunched over the table. Beaming back at the older man like the Chestier Cat himself he shook his head, fighting the rest of his laughter with a hand on his chest and deep, ragged breaths. “Oh boy, you sure have got to to come around a lot more often. My wife, well, I’m surprised that her cooking ‘expertise’ ain’t known all across the territory.” He leaned back in his chair, still laughing as he propped the ankle of his left boot up on his knee, “The last time that woman cooked for me I was sick for a week.” Darla, bless her heart, tried her best to be the best housewife she possibly could, but her skills and looks made her fit more for a trophy wife. After the loss of their son two months ago she’d taken to helping around with housework, dusting and waxing the floors, but even she knew better than to even tread near the kitchen. “Don’t get me wrong, J.J., she’s a lovely woman. Beautiful woman, best girl I ever did meet but dear god Darla cannot cook to save her life. That’s why we have Ming.” The petite Chinese woman was a blessing, to say the least. She was so caring and nurturing of the Helms it was more like she was related by blood than just working for the Irishman and his wife. She’d been a tremendous help especially these past weeks, helping to nurse Darla back to health after the miscarriage and helping to cope with the loss. Daniel wasn’t so sure if the Helm’s would have made it out of that rut if it weren’t for Ming helping his wife and Henry helping him.

Feigning a stern look, “If you wan’ ‘er you’re gonna have to scrap for her,” He rolled up his fists like those bare-knuckle brawlers did, “And let me tell ya, I may look old but I can still pack a pretty nasty wallop.” He did a short little jab in the air, his shoulder giving a grinding snap an Danny winced a little. “Well I ain’t as limber as I used to be, but trust me. I can throw down with the best of ‘em.” Daniel wasn’t really trying to talk himself up, in all honesty he’d always been a scraper, from the first fight back in school he’d always been good at fighting. Must have been in his blood and all, fighting Irish and the like. Helm was a man of old traditions and if a man threatens another, his honor or his woman, or anything in between, he was either fixing to get shot or start a brawl. At least fighting with knuckles and punches taught a man a good lesson without having to end him, a good black eye was more a warning and sully to a man’s pride than any bullet could ever do. In recent years Danny had been trying to ease back off his fighting days, but he still got into shit all the time, like last winter with that fight with Radley that eventually lead to the degenerate plunging his buck knife deep into Danny’s belly. After that it was kicking Henry’s ass after he’d tackled Helm out a window and well, since then, Danny had miraculously stayed clean. For now, at least.

After mentioning the rotation of his cattle, Jared seemed to get rather dismal, talked himself down and went on to praise his brother for being twice the man he could be. Well Helm could understanding talking up a man, hell half the men in Buffalo Creek Bay he wished he could be like, but that didn’t make one any less a man, especially if he’d gone and made some stupid mistakes. “Jared,” He spoke his full name to make sure he was listening good and hard, “What man in the west hasn’t gone and made himself a few mistakes? Don’t make them any less of a good person. I can’t tell you how many fights I’ve been in, how much friendships I’ve done torn to shreds in this town and they all love me like I’m a god damn saint.” It was a little unnerving how much the citizens in town were on him, loved him and forgave him like nothing. Maybe it was his good intentions that kept him good standing, but whatever it was, he hoped it didn’t leave any time soon. “For Christ’s sakes, my best friend shot me and left town for two months leaving most of us t’think him dead and we still get along great.” Not like they used to, but Helm was meaning to fix that. “As long as you keep your heart and your head in the right place it don’t matter how much you f*ck up, as long as you mean t’fix what you broke.”

Helm was a young fella, but he was wise, experienced and most of all understanding. Maybe that was the reason folks tended to flock to him, why he made friends so easily and how most men who became his enemies eneded up on the entire town’s shit list. Daniel Helm wasn’t perfect, was far from it but he was righteous and he was humble. A good friend to have in tough times. “As for your brother, if he’s twice the man you are I won’t be surprised t’watch him walk on water here then, that is, if he wants t’work for Hellfire.” He sniggered, giving a little shove to his company. “Now enough about all this nonsense, ya know it’s my birthday soon? November 11th, you should swing by the saloon for a drink or two if you don’t have any other plans. I can introduce you to some real fine men, men who helped build this town.”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it J.J. laughed outright, then stopped abruptly, as if he'd surprised himself at his laughter and began to laugh a little harder, half embarrassed at his surprise. It had been a while since he'd laughed, it hurt a little, in his belly, muscles he wasn't used to using. But damn it felt good again, to clear the cobwebs. "Oh, you mean THAT 'Mrs. Helm'!" he teased, not actually knowing of any Mrs. Helm, he was just playing along. He saw the man and put up both hands, "Oh no, I might be tough but I'm not stupid! I know how men fight when it comes to a good cook," he said. "No way! I'll go find my own!" he said, smothering a snicker. Although J.J. had been teasing, he had no doubt that a fight with the rattler like man would leave him crippled, for days if not weeks. They looked about the same build and they seemed to have similar weaknesses, especially when the man winced, J.J. had the same pain, and surprisingly not from bronc busting or anything noble, but actually from doing the continuous movement of lifting hay bales. At the mention of Jared's name, his eyes snapped up in alarm. Jesse senior's face flashed in his eyes and the man felt bile in his mouth. Despite the story of Helm and his best friend Henry's antics, a dangerous glint flashed in J.J.'s eyes, the kind his father would get before a brutal beating was to be served. J.J. glanced away quickly, fighting that everlasting beast. He let the man speak and considered things. "Yes but, the difference between me and you, is that you have people you love who can love you back." Jared paused before speaking again. "I have many I love, who don't love me back, because of the things I've done." Like Jesse Junior. His brother hated him, and Nora. Bernie, too. J.J. looked at the man before him, his eyes condemning Danny to the same group of people. Eventually Danny would feel the same. "I know you think I'm talking my brother up to get him a job, but he doesn't need much talking up, I'm just doing that, I guess, because he deserves it, and I haven't done much for my brothers, but I intend to work on that." At the mention of the saloon J.J.'s eyes got dark with malice, "I don't... uh... well sure, that sounds good." Not really. Considering when he wasn't drinking he was threatening the ones who did, and when he was drinking it was one big bar brawl, and J.J. the ring leader. Normally he was stuck in jail for about a week, if they caught his wiley ass, that was. "I just suggest not letting me drink.... But I'll be there," J.J. said, speaking the truth fully. It had been a while since he'd celebrated anything... well anything actually. Well he had celebrated his mother's birthday, but that was several years ago.... "Oh, and... one more thing. David has... an interesting friend. I'm not sure if he's still around, but... just be prepared if the man is unmoving to part from him." His brother was strange, thought he was half wild or something sometimes. That was his only real quirk. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)

[Daniel Helm]

---

August 2nd, 1869
Hellfire Ranch
Around 2:30 pm

The rancher’s company seemed rather insistent that he wasn’t a good man, no he had made mistakes that were too grave to be forgiven and honestly Daniel called bullshit on that. Man was a fickle creature, strange and complex in the most peculiar of fashions. In the eyes of the beholder a man could be the best one to have ever graced the earth, walked and acted like a saint, yet he would think himself just as malignant as the devil himself. Helm was just as guilty of this particular quirk as his guest, but it didn’t mean he was any less right about what he said. Brannon was a better than he thought, despite all the shit he’d churned up in his past, and there really wasn’t anything he could say or do short of shooting Helm right there to persuade him otherwise. But like Danny the older man was dead set in his ways and completely convinced that he was no good. “You believe what you want to about yourself, Brannon,” Helm took a drink of his tea after along moment, sighing as he gave him a smirk, “You’re a lot better man than you think and there are plenty of people in your life that’ll be able to tell you the same damn thing.” Now that Danny didn’t believe that about himself didn’t make him wrong, just a big damn hypocrite. But instead of ruining their afternoon with the never-ending battle of trying convince the other they were just as good as god and what have you, Helm turned away from it, deciding it was probably a topic best for a last night with a glass of scotch.

“Believe me, J.J., you can’t do anything to my birthday to make it worse than last year,” He chuckled a little at himself at the memory, but deep down it stung something awful. “Some degenerate had to ruin it with getting all grabby which ended up in a big ‘ol fight between ‘im and me.” Subconsciously he rubbed his stomach again, that fading white scar a constant reminder that he still had a man out there somewhere fixing to put him in his grave early. “Kicked his ass, but he didn’t rightly take to it. Came back that winter and ran me through with a buck knife in the saloon, that’s the big blood stain in the saloon….well one of them.” And that was enough of that sore subject. Helm had no qualms with remembering his time he was laid up on death’s door for three days, saw his stain in Sam’s saloon as a sort of sick trophy. He’d been stabbed, left bleeding to death in the middle of the floor and he made it. Not many men could say that. But the other stain that accompanied it on the floor made Helm’s stomach do flips, churning the food in his belly like he’d get sick all over the table. Darla had lost their child in the saloon, started bleeding right next to that spot where Helm had nearly lost his life just months before. Sam Felix had carried his wife over to the clinic only to make it official, they’d lost their son at only five months. It was a bitter memory that Danny was still having quite the time trying to sort out in his own ways. Most folks in town were fearing the man was just losing his mind, keeping to himself and his work, the only news they ever heard from him was after Henry came back to town and told everyone about his regular visit with the depressed rancher.

But since getting Asher the horse and he had been healing together and meeting and inviting a stranger to his house for some laid back times was a big step for him. “Believe me, I doubt I’ll be drinking either. I don’t need a repeat offense to the clinic if that bastard Mason Radley comes back to finish the job.” Not that the man could even set foot in that saloon without the entire bar going silent. It was like Helm was one of the buffalo calves out on the plains, when any sort of danger loomed in the distance the rest of the town circled around him like the big burly beasts did to protect their young. It would just get deafeningly quiet before someone would bury a bullet right between Mason’s eyes and go about their business. No one f*cked with Daniel Helm.

“You keep talking your brother up, believe me, I’m quite convinced he’ll be a good addition to the ranch.” Helm smiled before stretching again, looking at the grandfather clock in the corner with a thin lipped frown. “Well I best be getting back to the herd, it was a nice time with you J.J.” He stood up and shook the man’s hand, “You’re more than welcome to stay here and relax if you’d like, we have an open room in the guest house too if you need a rest before you go back home.”

[Jared Brannon]

CAN'T TAKE ME Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it J.J. couldn't argue that his family members... well select family members, did say such a thing. David, Elle, and Ma were always saying how good a man J.J. was. Pa didn't matter much, the old snake, but Junior.... Junior was an entirely different story. J.J. hadn't figured out what was up that animal's ass but he was damned determined to find out. Junior had been as bristly as a cactus since Jared had returned home a few years back. "Well, I guess you've got me on that," J.J. say with a sad sort of smile. J.J. listened to the story of Daniel's last birthday with a brow raised in interest. "Damn. You sound like my family," he said with a faint laugh to his voice. Birthdays were a notorious No-No on the Brannon farms. When J.J. came back David helped Ma and Elle make a birthday cake for J.J. as a surprise. David had a black eye and Ma and Elle had a messy kitchen, the knives were locked away after that... at least for a weak. Then they tried the same thing on Junior, J.J. having no part in it because he hated birthdays as much as Junior. Junior pitted the whole damned scheme on J.J. and broke his nose! J.J. had been too surprised to deflect the hit. He'd been innocently leaned up against the dining room wall with arms folded in the early morning air, and POW! Even David had given Junior a funny look. Then Ma started crying hysterically and well.... No more birthday celebrations in the Brannon house. J.J. didn't quite know what to say about the next comments, especially the Bradley comment. He was glad the man kept talking, for fear of the awkward silence to start creeping in. He smiled at Danny's assurances of his brother's goodness. J.J. was sure that somehow that devil would find out how much J.J. had been talking him up, just as sure as he knew that David would never let it go that Jared had finally done something good for someone other than himself for once. It was surprisingly a nice thought. "No sirree, I think I've over stayed my welcome. I best get back to my work as well, I'm quite too far behind as I'd like to be with Winter approaching soon," he said. Standing up and grabbing his hat with his big beefy hands, mostly just swollen from use. Just as they stepped out of the house into the hot air, he saw a familiar horse in the distance, riding to the ranch. "That would be my cue," he said with the nod of his head before he stuck his hat on his head and walked to the paddock where Donte stood patiently in the shade. Donte perked his ears and lift his head. Then nickered and bellowed deep before trotting eagerly to the fence popping a little buck somewhere in the middle of it all. J.J. opened the gate and the horse went charging out, for a second it seemed he was going to leave and never come back. But the horse turned, snorting, tail lifted elegantly and waited for the man to grab his reins and the horn before sticking his foot in the stirrup and swinging on. "I'll see you later Mr. Helm. You just let me know about that birthday and I'll send my kin on over on Sunday. Pleasure to meet you," he said, with all the courtesy of an eastern gent and the tip of his hat. With that, J.J. turned his horse on his haunches and peacefully left the ranch, meeting up with the Cowhand who came looking for him. I'M FREE word count: ? ? ?    ||    tagged: daniel helm

thank you april (myfairtardis)