Simon Hawke - The Six Gun Solution

“How is it different?” Jenny asked.

“It arises from shared values and mutual respect.” said Drakov. “And your values and Neilson’s could never be the same, Jennifer. You are not human. If Neilson knew that, he could never respect you. He would, in fact, be furious at having been deceived. I have told you that if he suspected your true nature, he would kill you. The only reason he treats you as he does is because he does not know what you really are. And even believing you to be human, like himself, he wishes to manipulate you, to use you to help him on his mission. If he truly loved you, he would be honest with you.”

“I had not thought of it that way.” she replied, softly, still looking at the floor. “I was afraid you would he angry with me.”

“Why should I be angry with you?” Drakov asked “Have you failed me in any way? I created you. I gave you life. And it is I who care about you, enough to tell you the truth. I have no wish to see you hurt.”

Jenny nodded and swallowed hard, torn by conflicting emotions. “Thank you. I do not wish to disappoint you.”

“You won’t. Enjoy yourself with Neilson. Indulge those feelings and you will soon find they are not nearly so profound as you suspect. He uses you. Use him in return to explore the depths of your sensations. But don’t deceive yourself with thoughts of love. Love is for humans

All Scott wanted to do was sleep. The posse got back to town without catching the outlaws. Head, Leonard and Crane had led them on a merry chase throughout the countryside and they were never able to catch up with them. They had ridden so hard one of the horses died. They were tired, they were thirsty, they were sore, and they had simply given up. On their return, the Earps had received even more had news. Luther King, the prisoner they had taken back at the Redfield ranch, had managed to escape.

The whole thing was ludicrous. He had simply stepped out the back door of the jail while the deputy was engaged in selling his horse. Accusations were flying back and forth. The Earps were convinced that Behan and his deputies, being involved with the rustlers, had simply allowed him to escape. Which certainly seemed likely. Behan and his men were claiming that King had help, that Doc Holliday had been waiting behind the jail with two horses and had spirited King away.

Holliday, conveniently, had been out of town when the stage was robbed and the posse left. He was known to have been acquainted with one of the outlaws before, Bill Leonard, when the two men were in Las Vegas, New Mexico. On the strength of that association, Behan and others in his faction were claiming that Doc had been involved in the robbery and had helped King to escape. (Though no one explained how Holliday knew that King would have a chance to simply stroll out through the back door of the jail while the deputy’s back was turned, or why he hadn’t been locked up in the first place. Behan was even spreading rumors that Wyatt Earp and his brothers had been involved in the robbery, tipped off by

Morgan, who, in his capacity as a Wells Fargo guard, would know when silver shipments were going out. The town was becoming polarized, with the hostility between the factions rapidly growing worse.

Scott wished that Priest and the other, would show up. He couldn’t understand what was keeping them. He felt certain now that the Network was behind it all, but he couldn’t take them on all by himself. That would be crazy. He felt exposed and vulnerable. He felt the situation was completely out of his control.

There was a soft knock at his door. He quickly grabbed a gun from the holster rig he’d hung up on the bedpost.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jenny. Scott. Can I come in?

He opened the door. She was alone. She saw the gun and her eyes grew wide.

“What’s that for?” she asked.

“I had to be sure you were alone.” said Scott.

“Who did you think might have been with me?”

“Well, I did make some enemies in this town.” he replied. “Man can’t be too careful.” He closed the door behind her and eased the hammer down on the Colt.

“Did you really think I’d be part of anything like that?”

“You might have had no choice, Jenny. Someone might have been holding a gun on you, or a knife.”

“That wouldn’t make any difference.” she said. “They’d have to kill me before I’d go along with doing anything to hurt you.” She suddenly started crying.

“Jenny! What’s wrong?”

“Hold me, Scott.”

He put his arms around her. She was trembling.

“What’s wrong, Jenny?” he asked, with concern. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“Everything’s wrong,” she sobbed. “I wish I were dead!”

“Jenny!” She was holding onto him as if for dear life. “What is it? Tell me! Is it something I’ve done?”

She shook her head. “No.” she said, quietly. “It isn’t anything you’ve done. It’s me.”

He took her over to the bed and sat down with her. He took her hands in his.

“Whatever it is, Jenny, you can tell me. I’ll understand.”

“I don’t think you would.” she said.

“Try me. At least give me a chance. If there’s anything I can do to help, you know I will.”

“I don’t think anyone can help me.” she replied, sniffling.

He kissed her “If I possibly can, I will. I love you, Jenny.”

“Oh, God,” she said, her voice barely audible. “How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true, I love you.”

She pulled away from him. “Scott… there are things about me… things you don’t know. And if you knew, you’d hate me.”

“I could never hate you, Jenny. I know what kind of life you’ve led. It makes no difference to me.”

“I wasn’t talking about that,” she said, not looking at him.”There are things, she bit her lower lip. “Oh. Scott, if you really knew the truth about me, you’d want to kill me.”

He stared at her, astonished. “How can you say that? That’s crazy! What could you possibly have done-”

“It isn’t anything I’ve done,” she said. “Well, yes, it is, but it’s also what I am. If you knew…” She got down on her knees before him and took his hands, holding them tightly. looking up at him with fear and confusion. “If I tell you the truth, I know I’ll lose you. You’ll hate me and you’ll want to kill me. but even if you do. I don’t care anymore. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. You have to leave. Scott. You have to leave Tombstone as quickly as you can and go back where you came from, before it’s too late!”

“Jenny, what are you talking about?”

“Scott… before I tell you… kiss me. Please, kiss me one last time.”

“Jenny…

“Just do it. Scott. Please.”

He kissed her. She clung to him with desperation and he could taste the saltiness of her tears.

“Oh, God, I love you, Scott,” she said. “I don’t care if it’s not possible. I know I love you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

“I love you too, Jen,” he replied, bewildered

She shook her head and placed her forefinger up against his lips. “Maybe you think you do.” she said. “But you can’t You mustn’t.”

“Why?”

She stared at him with fear in her eyes. “Because…” she swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “Because I’m not human. Scott.”

“What?”

I’m not a real woman. I only look like one. And. God help me, somehow I feel like one, too, but I’m not a human being. I wasn’t born. I was created. The Master made me in a laboratory.”

Scott simply stared at her, speechless with astonishment.

“I know he’s your enemy, she continued, “I know who you really are. I know you’re from the future. I know why you’re here. And no matter what you do to me. you will go back. Please, you must go back before it’s too late!”