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The Untamed ( Katy1008 & CrimsonMaster )

It had been a long and busy day while JP helped Katie clean up and out her new office. Victor & Marshal Blackwell sure had the town under their thumbs. Nothing happened in this town unless Victor had a piece of the action and Blackwell was his collector. Between the information in the ledger and in Jimmy's dairy.....they could undo everything that the Crenshaw's had done over the years. The shopkeeper's wouldn't have to pay taxes plus pay extra for protection. The girl's working at the whorehouse would finally be able to earn some money for themselves instead of working as sexual slaves.

The town it's self seemed to change. It was like a huge black cloud had been lifted from over the town. People returned to the streets walking freely knowing that the law was there to protect them......not to hurt them.

JP sat behind the desk which was used by the Deputy Town Marshal.....his feet were up on it as he watched Katie toss her wanted poster into the stove. He smiled as pride swelled inside of him....Katie had her second chance at life and from where JP was sitting.....she was making a great start.

" Have you given any thought on adding a deputy? " JP said as he dropped his feet from the desk onto the wooden floor with a thud then he stood up walking over to the stove grabbing the coffee pot. He poured himself a cup then poured one for Katie. JP handed her the cup while she was thumbing over the other wanted posters.
 
"Thanks" She took the coffee and sipped at it. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I hadnt really thought about it... don't suppose you'd fancy the job would you Marshall?" Katie laughed as JP simply shook his head slowly and said that he already had a job.

"Yeah... well... I'll keep my eye out around town. Maybe I'll bump into someone who might be interested. But I don't really know the people around her right now. I'll give it a few weeks." She finished sorthing through the papers and then stood up. She walked across to a cork board on the wall and pinned three of the posters onto it and then walked back and sat on the edge of her desk, right next to where JP was standing.

"Anything else we have to do this evening then?" She smirked and took another sip of coffee
 
While Katie & JP were talking a young cowboy entered the office. He was average size about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 170 lbs. This cowboy was handsome and looked to be about 18 or 19 years old. His hat was dirty grey....his leather vest was brown with a tan shirt & dark colored pants...he also carried two pistol.....one on each hip.

The young cowboy introduced himself as Colorado Ryan....he then pulled a letter from his shirt pocket then handed to JP who was watching this young man carefully. Upon opening the letter JP found out that it was from Charlie the saloon keeper in Barstow. Charlie's letter explained to JP who Colorado was....as it turned out Colorado was the son of an old friend of both Charlie and JP.

JP read the letter so that Katie would know who this young man was. " So you're Rocky Ryan's boy.....your father was a damn good man.....I'm sorry to hear of his passing. " JP said as he stepped forward taking Colorado's hand then shaking it. JP then introduced Colorado to Katie....explaining that Katie was the Town Marshal. Colorado held out his hand to Katie then shook his. JP asked why Colorado had come to Victorville while pouring him a cup of coffee. Colorado explained that he was riding guard on a herd of cattle. The herd belonged to a man named Pat Wheeler who JP also knew. A group of outlaws hit the herd killing Mr. Wheeler & 6 others before they were driven off.

Since Wheeler was dead and most of the cattle had been run off during the attack Colorado was out of a job. He said that Charlie told him that there could be work to be found in Victorville. Colorado continued by saying Charlie told him to find either Marshal Wright or Katie Brooks....he then smiled. " It seems that I found you both. " Colorado added then he took a sip of coffee.
 
Katie sat quietly on the desk as the young man walked in and through the initial conversation between him and JP. She wasn't too sure about him; beneath the dirt she thought he was probably just a kid, but his holster tended to suggest otherwise. At first instance, Katie couldn't help but wonder if this was someone looking to make a name for himself by taking on Marshall JP Wright. But then someone like that was hardly likely to just walk on into the jailhouse. During all of this thinking, Katie suddenly heard mention of Charlie's name and her views changed When JP formally introduced him, she stood up and held out her hand, nodding a polite hello and then sitting back down in the Marshal's chair... her own chair. She smiled at little to herself at her own mental self-correction.

She sat quietly and listened while Ryan told his story.

"Well... maybe give it a day or two, but Im sure there will be plenty of work around now that the Crenshaw's and their men have gone. You got any experience in mining?" Katie asked him, more as a joke than anything else.
 
" No ma'am. " Colorado said shaking his head when Katie asked if he hand any experience in mining. " I'm pretty handy with a gun thought.......if you're looking for a deputy? " Colorado spoke.....he was young but he knew how to handle a gun since his father had been at one time a former lawman. JP had known Rocky Ryan for years.....Rocky had been an Arizona Ranger for most of his adult life. The Arizona Rangers were like the more famous Texas Rangers.....state law officers who would sometimes travel the west hunting down outlaws on the run.

JP sat down on the corner of Katie's desk as he listened to Colorado. He remembered back to when JP & Rocky served together during the Civil War...Colorado sure did look a lot like Rocky in those days. " You know. " JP started as he turned his head looking at Katie. " We were just talking about that......and Charlie wouldn't send Colorado here looking for work unless he was good. " JP knew that Katie trusted Charlie with her life....as did he. Obviously Charlie was still trying to help Katie out.....he had been one of the very few who was always there when she needed him.
 
Katie stared up at JP. Then she looked at Colorado - he did look awfully young - then back again. She didn't know this kid and here was JP and Charlie trying to get her to employ him to watch her back. She wanted JP to watch her back. She wanted to have his. But she knew that that wasn't going to happen. So maybe this was him just trying to look after her. But did he really know the cowboy. Sure he knew his father apparently, but sometimes the apple does fall a long way from the tree. She mentally chastized herself. She wasnt being fair and if she knew that JPs instinct was pretty damn sound. She opened a drawer on the left hand side of her desk and took out a five pointed silver star. She looked up at Colorado for a moment and then stood up.

"Well the first thing you can do is stop calling me Ma'am. It makes me sound ancient. And second... well... Are you... erm.. you sure about this. Im no Ranger. So... you sure you wanna work for... with me."
 
Colorado could see the doubts Katie had......it was easily seen on her face. She was worried that he was to young.....or that she couldn't trust him. But if given the chance Colorado would show Katie that placing trust in him was no mistake....he was a hard worker and very loyal. " Yes Ma'a........" Colorado started to say then it hit him that Katie didn't want to be called Ma'am. " I mean yes Marshal......if you'll give me the chance I won't let ya down. " Colorado said as Katie was looking up at him holding the Deputy Marshal's star in her hand.

JP reached his hand over the desk then into the same drawer that Katie had pulled the star from. He pulled out a bible then laid it on her desk. " If you're gonna swear him in.....you'll need that. " JP said while leaning close to Katie.......he was grinning at her.
 
Katie looked at JP. And then she grinned.

"Ok..." She looked at Colorado. "Last chance to change your mind... And it's not that I don't trust you... but I don't know you. Fortunately for you, the only two men I do trust right now seem to want you here. And maybe the best Marshall in the Territory if not the country is telling me to sign you up. But I have a feeling that if... you're not what you say you are... Im not the one you are going to have to worry about. So..." She picked up the Bible and handed it to him. The she looked at JP. She could pin the badge on him but she didn't have the first idea of what he was supposed to say.
 
JP started to chuckle as he reached out taking the bible. It was one of those small details that didn't cross JP's mind until now....but he forgot too look around and see if there was an oath of office written down somewhere in one of the desks. JP told Katie to pin the star on Colorado and he would give him the oath from memory. JP then told Colorado to raise his right hand and place his left on the bible which he did. " Do you solemnly swear to up hold the laws of the State of California and the Town of Victorville? " JP asked to which Colorado answered. " I do. "

" Congratulation........you are now Deputy Marshal of Victorville......what your pay is will be up to your new boss. " JP said shaking Colorado's hand then he pointed at Katie when he said about the boss.
 
Katie took the Bible back off of JP and looked at him, straightfaced.

"Does the town of Victorville have any laws that werent made by Victor Crenshaw. I don't know about you, but I would really rather not be obliged to enforce those laws."

The she turned Colorado and held out her hand. She smiled as she shook it. "As for pay... I don't have the first idea of what a fair wage is for Town Deputy Marshall so... how about we say... £10 a week plus room and board at the hotel." She looked around at JP. "Does that sound about right."
 
JP knew meant any laws made by Victor Crenshaw....he was talking about the laws that were laid down when this place first became a town.....which was before Victor & his brothers showed up. JP watched quickly as Katie talked with Colorado about his pay. He wasn't going to say anything unless asked....which happened when Katie turned and said does that sound about right.

JP shook his head slight saying that a Deputy Marshal gets about $25 dollars a week while the Town Marshal gets $50 to $ 75 dollars a week depending on the town. He did say that the room and board was a nice add on since most towns didn't offer that.
 
"Really? Wow? So... 25 bucks a week then plus the room and board. I'll square it with the Mayor tomorrow. As for right now... you look pretty beat. Why dont you go across to the hotel. Pick yourself a room out. Tell the manager that I'll cover the tab later. Get yourself a hot meal and a bath and then get a good night's sleep. You can find your way around the place tomorrow... maybe JP will help you out."

As she moved over to the stove and topped up her coffee cup, she was aware of JP looking at her a little puzzled.

"I want to ride out... go up and see the land where the mine is... then take a look at... well at the land Ive gotten back. I might take a ride out to the Crenshaw's place too. That place has to be deserted now too and we're gonna need to decide what we're gonna do with it. " She shook her head a little as her mind started to drift back. "If it's still standing, you should seen inside the house they lived in... " she whistled a little.
 
Colorado thanked Katie & JP then left for the hotel where the manager who was more then willing to do anything for the town's new Marshal gladly gave Colorado a room.

JP crossed his arms as he was sitting on the corner of Katie's desk. He watched her standing at the stove filling her cup with coffee and listened to her plans. JP thought that what Katie had said was a good idea. She needed to see the mine for herself....and it wouldn't hurt to visit where her home use to be. JP said that Calvera told him there was no one left alive at the Crenshaw place. He also said that earlier that morning JP sent the undertaker out their to take care of the bodies. " Something will need to be done with their animals......I'm sure they have horses and cattle out there.....which I'm also sure they didn't but them all. "
 
Katie walked back over to JP and stood in front of him as she sipped the coffee.

"The undertaker was a good idea...thanks for that... " she smiled at him. "... and for Colorado too. He erm... he seems keen.... and I'll check out the livestock tomorrow too. So... what else do we have to do tonight?"
 
JP was happy to help Katie out....he knew how hard it was to be a Town Marshal for the first time. Although he admitted that Colorado was Charlies doing and that Katie should thank him. JP said that it had been sometime since they last made a patrol around the town. They should check all the shops to make sure that everything is locked up then check the saloon. He reminded Katie of the fight in there last night between those two cowboys.
 
She sighed. Reaching around JP, she placed the cofee cup down on the desk.

"So... i wander around the town... come back in here.... have a couple of cups of coffee, then wander around the town again. Is that it. 24 hours a day. Every day. God. I might just die of boredom."

She turned around and made her way to the front door.
 
JP again chuckled when Katie said that she might just die of boredom. Sure it wasn't all guts & glory with heroic gun battles between the forces of good and those of evil. Any way being bored as a Town Marshal meant you were safe and that's what JP had wanted for Katie. He quickly moved in behind her at the door. " Always make your patrol with your deputy....that way you can cover each others backs. " JP said as he reached for his hat which was sitting on the hat rank near the door.

JP remarked that he liked the way Katie was wearing her gun belt...and that she seemed to be getting use to wearing it.
 
As she stepped outside, she turned to face him, walking backwards along the sidewalk. The truth was she felt like she was walking on cloud nine. For more than two years, she had been laden down with hatred and revenge and anger. And now that was gone. In the last few days, she had killed the men who had ruined her life and she had found a friend, a man she had fallen in love with. A man that she lusted after more than any other man. And in the last 24 hours, she had cleaned up a town, gotten rich literally overnight, found a home and a job and a place in the world.

"Do you... really... want to watch... my... back... Marshall"
 
JP waited until Katie had gone out then he stepped outside taking in a deep breath. He looked up the street then down to the other end of the street....the town had a different look during the nighttime hours then it did in the daylight. They had a lot more places to check over since everything but the whorehouse was closed and all those place that one could see in the day were now dark....like the alleyways and around the corral.

JP smiled when Katie asked if he really wanted too watch her back. " Yes I do Marshal......you have a very nice back to watch. "
 
"Aaarghhh.... ok fine... you win... work... " She turned back around and put her attention on the job in hand. The two of them walked from one building to the next, checking the doors to every store. They said nothing to each other. Walking first up one side of the long main street and then down the other. It probably took them nearly 45 minutes.

When they arrived at the main door of the saloon bar for the whorehouse, Katie turned to JP.

"There's no reason why you shouldn't go and enjoy the evening. I can finish up and I'll stay in the jailhouse and then get an early start in the morning. Maybe you should show Colorado what he's doing in the morning. "

With that she turned to cross the street and head back to the jailhouse
 
It seemed that Katie missed what JP was getting at when he said that she had a very nice back to watch. He was trying to be playful and say that he enjoyed watching her back since she had a great ass.

Once the patrol was over JP & Katie stood in front of the whorehouse then Katie left after saying that she was going to stay at the jail then get an early start in the morning. JP looked in through the swinging doors.....everything was fine in there. He turned seeing Katie walking up the street then he walked over to the hotel.

JP went up to his room got undressed.....took a bath then slipped into his bed.
 
Katie went back to the jail and sorted out a fresh pot of coffee. She unpacked one of the new glaciers and pulled her chair around near to the stove. She'd also had bought a handful of books which had also been delivered and so she settled herself down. Coffee. A book. Some biscuits. The blanket near to hand in case in got chilly.

After a few hours sh found herself steadily falling asleep. She put the book to one side but stayed in the chair. If she woke around Dawn, she'd get an early start on her tour of some of th regional sites.
 
JP laid there for a while in his bed thinking about Katie......Victorville......her becoming the first woman law officer in the country. His mind was swarming with those thoughts and what could happen. He would feel better when the time came to leave now that Colorado was around.....then Katie wouldn't been alone. It wasn't long before his eyes were just to heavy to keep open then JP slipped off to sleep.
 
The following day Katie woke early. She went back to the hotel and had an early breakfast that the manager was more than happy to get her.
She went upstairs and washed and then changed into some of the new clothes she had bought the previous day. New black denims. A crisp red blouse. Clean underwear. She felt so much better.

On her way out she thought about seeing if JP was awake...but she decided to let him sleep. She went over to the livery and headed out first towards Victor's place. She thought she would spend a few hours there sorting the place out and making sure the livestock was ok.
 
JP woke in the morning cleaned himself....shaved then once dressed he headed down stairs. While eating breakfast JP found out that Katie had just left the hotel 10 minutes before he came downstairs. It was long before Colorado showed up sitting down joining JP for breakfast. While they were eating JP explained to Colorado what he needed to know about being a Deputy Town Marshal. After breakfast JP took Colorado on a patrol of the town where JP pointed out all the major targets which would draw outlaws into Victorville.

JP & Colorado ended up at Katie's office once the patrol was over. They walked in Colorado sat down at his desk while JP sat down at Katie's. JP explained to Colorado that he was to do whatever Katie wanted since she was the boss. He also said that when it was time for JP to leave he expected Colorado to watch over Katie.
 
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