milliways_bar | (no subject)

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After being scarce for awhile, Bill is finally down in the main bar again.

Boo's been doing better, and he's been feeling restless, so he's out getting some air.

Sitting at the counter with a Coke and a ham sandwich, he's keeping an eye out for people he knows, people who may or may not want to kill him, and even new faces as he hasn't been downstairs much lately.

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Kate shakes her head slowly.

"Y'gotta meet with him, 'fore the three days is up. I don't doubt if you don't he'll hold it 'gainst you 'til the day you die."

Which might be sooner rather than later.

(The thought makes her wince.)

"I can be there, if you'd like me to. Or somebody else y'trust more'n me. I wouldn't dare meet with him alone. He don't seem t'make mistakes unless he gits hisself real flustered an' angry, and y'shouldn't try an' get him t'that point. Not without a plan."

"I'm sure he will."

Not that giving the gun back will make things any better.

He thinks about that a moment, then shakes his head.

"I'm not gonna do it."

"Not gonna do what?"

"I ain't gonna give him his damn gun back."

She doesn't say anything for a long time.

"Y'sure that's entirely wise?"

No.

"He doesn't need that gun back. The point is to try an intimidate me, make me do somethin' he wants 'cause of what he might do. He already thinks I can't do anything to him, maybe this'll make him think again."

"I've been that route, Bill," she reminds him evenly. "Y'know how it ended up for me. From what I've heard, shootin' 'im hasn't made him so much as blink."

"I'm not plannin' on goin' after him. I'm just not gonna give in to what he's tellin' me I gotta do."

Maybe he'll be pushing his luck, but it seems to him that if he does what Ramon wants, the man will have even more control over them and the situation.

To be honest, not giving in to Ramon likely did more damage for Kate than 'going after him' physically did. But she's not about to argue that point with Bill. For one, she doesn't think she was wrong in standing her ground, and therefore can't presume to tell Bill he's making a mistake in standing his.

For another, Ramon doesn't need that gun back, or to get the idea that he can intimidate either of them.

She sighs, turning her attention out on the bar at large as she thinks, occasionally sipping at her whiskey. There's no right way to diffuse this situation. There's no easy solution for any of them.

Kate knows that things will never truly be over until one of them is dead.

(And she knows that person will be Ramon, even if it's the last thing she does.)

"Then I've got yer back, Sheriff," she mutters, not bothering to look at him.

She'll support his decisions, no matter how good or bad she thinks they are. She'll be there to clean up any messes that a bad decision might cause. She'll lend him her arm if things spiral out of his depth.

And she'll be sure he's out of the line of fire, even if that means taking his place.

"I appreciate it," He says quietly, easing back on his anger.

"Really, though, I'd rather you help me look out for Kate an' Boo. They're the ones I'm most worried 'bout in all of this."

She swallows, nodding slightly.

"You got my word on that, for whatever it's worth. I know I ain't done much for the either of them up t'this point, but so help me God I ain't gonna let Ramon harm a hair on either of them heads."

She couldn't stop Boo from being kidnapped or ill-treated; she couldn't even help bring her home. But she won't be making that mistake a second time.

She makes a vow to herself, then and there, eyes scanning faces and searching for weapons among the crowd --

'Maybe you'll end up saving some other girl's Sam.'

-- She's going to protect them all, no matter what.

"Thank you, Kate."

He means it. Any help he can get to protect Kate and Boo he's grateful for.

He won't let them get hurt in this.

[ooc: I think that's a good place for a wrap, what say you? :D]

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