oom : out the back door

[scurlock]

Billy was always persuasive.

This was no exception. Doc had gone upstairs and changed into clothes that would be more suitable for riding around in the half-darkness and cold and then rejoined Billy downstairs, and took his coffee with him as they crunched along the dirty layer of snow towards the stables.

It was quiet. Almost a familiar quiet.

New Mexico was quiet too.

"So how far's the place where we can hole up for a bit 'fore Garrett comes near again," Doc asks, as they enter the stables through the smaller side door and head for the stall with their horses.

He was already smiling though. Maybe it was the prospect of doing something he was used to with a pal for a change.

Comments

[young_gun_billy]

Billy is laughing too. But not the wild laughter that is his reputation. This is the laughing that they used to have back on Tunstall's ranch.

Boys being boys.

[scurlock]

That? Is a very welcome sound to Doc's ears, after nightmares full of that crazy, wild laughter.

Something moves in the distance in the trees and Doc thinks he sees red eyes...

[young_gun_billy]

"Fallin behind Doc." Billy warns, not aware of what Doc sees. "Gonna make it easy on me to win this one."

His horse seems to notice and let's out a nervous whicker.

[scurlock]

"Y'bring your guns out tonight?" Doc laughs a bit as he spurs the horse in the ribs and they charge after Billy.

[young_gun_billy]

"Course. How come?" He asks, looking back at Doc. And then he sees the first pair of eyes and lets out another laugh.

[scurlock]

Doc grins. "We might be in for a bit of target practice tonight too," he yells.

[young_gun_billy]

"Sounds good to me." He calls back, drawing one of his guns. "Bet I get more then you."

[scurlock]

"How much y'wanna bet on that?" Doc draws his own gun, not the rifle but the pistol since he didn't bring the rifle out. This is most definitely shouted in the tone of a challenge.

[young_gun_billy]

"Let's go with a bottle of tequila. I'm sure you can afford that when you lose." Challenge accepted.

[scurlock]

"I'd shake but I'd rather shoot instead."

Which he does.

Demon bunnies? Make little explosions when you shoot them!

[young_gun_billy]

"Yeah Doc!" He cheers and then picks off three in a row himself. The explosions are an unexpected bonus.

[scurlock]

The horses don't really like the explosions but since they've been trained not to be gunshy, well, it's easy enough to control them as they streak through the woods in pursuit of fluffy prey.

[young_gun_billy]

Billy uses all five shots in the first gun (having left the sixth chamber empty at Doc's request), holsters the weapon in a quick motion and draws his second even quicker taking up the game again.

"Got a perfect count so far Doc an gettin pretty thirsty." He calls out.

[scurlock]

"Don't mean a damn thing," Doc calls back, laughing, as he grips the reins tight in his hand and then charges after a pack of the rabbits, shooting and hollering as they explode.

(Billy, however, is winning.)

[young_gun_billy]

He goes through the second gun and finally pulls his horse up, watching Doc go and laughing on the back of his horse as he reloads.

[scurlock]

Doc only has one gun, so his shots have to count for more. He's hit four out of five and once he's done he glances over his shoulder at Billy.

"Y'got two guns...y'can shoot twice as many of the furry things."

[young_gun_billy]

"Be prepared Doc, always be prepared." He smirks, twirls one of the guns and re-holsters it. "Tell you what, I got myself nine out of ten. You reload an see if you can match me."

Billy is all about playing fair.

[scurlock]

Except when he has the chance to make a profit, get ahead, get the girl, the money, the prize, save his hide, or get the glory...

"Alright," Doc nods and then quickly loads five rounds into the weapon and clicks the cylinder shut, before he rides off at the rabbits.

[young_gun_billy]

Billy sits back and watches Doc hunt, smirking and grinning and having a hell of a time as he waits for Doc's last shot.