As Benny led Willow towards an alleyway, she hesitated only a moment. She wasn’t one of those “readers” and didn’t have any illusions about being one, but picking up non-verbal cues was part of her training, both as a doctor and a companion. Benny seemed to have a decency about him that was at odds with his rough exterior and diminished circumstances. Much like his possible half brother/cousin, Lao Tsu...

Willow lost herself in a short reverie, thinking about the charismatic leader of the Tong, while seeing the same familial features, the same image through a different lens, in the man before her. Funny I didn’t see it earlier she mused, as Benny explained about the sheriff and Pearson.

“Pearson?” Willow nearly squeaked, shaken out of her decidedly adult daydream,” That’s the lawman we came to ferry back to Frisco! We have to warn the Captain...and tell Blake about Jimmy!“ She muttered more, but it was in a gutter form of Hindi that would have scandalized her mother.

In her agitation, she grasped Benny by the arm and began urging him out of the alley, not remembering that she had no idea how to get to the ship. She had visions of Lao Tsu and his family dying at the hands of this Pearson fellow, and Jimmy’s bloodied face rose in her mind’s eye to stare accusingly at her.

Newhouse, Beylix, Outside Jailhouse, 1:00 pm, Day Three Moments passed in the standoff between the sheriff and the Captain; the Frisco gentlemen not sure if they should move while the sheriff had guns drawn. Pearson attempted to make peace by immediately handing over his sidearms to Wyatt by unclipping his gunbelt and handing it over. But there was a tension in the air.

Then the deputy walked up to the scene with a large bundle in hand. He seemed obvious to the incredulous stare of the sheriff. Weaver nodded politely to the captain and the men on the mule. “Gentlemen. Thought you might need this.” He said and rolled out a clean while linen blanket to wrap the body.

“Ken!” Sheriff Arness yells, “Aren’t you suppose to be somewhere?” He makes a head gesture to the jailhouse.

“Think there’s been enough killing Sheriff? Why don’t you tend to Darla and I’ll take care of these gents, see them on their way. “ Ken says as he quickly but respectfully wraps up Chad’s body with the skill of a man who has done this before many times. He lifts up the body and hands it over the railing to the folk waiting there, “Truly sorry for your loss.”

“Right.” The sheriff lowers his guns and starts to back away. “Remember Weaver...”

“I know, kill em dead if they stray.”

“Right.” And without a nod, the sheriff walks backwards toward the jailhouse and the bar called Emmett’s.

Ken sighs deeply, “Mr Bowman. I hope you found the work you wanted. I think it would be best for all if you got to moving.

With the body loaded on the mule, and in a minute everyone who was coming as well, the hovercraft swayed a bit but stabilized under Wolf`s steady hand and moved down the street and towards the spaceport. Behind you, the deputy goes from family to family, asking how they are doing and if their youngun`s are okay after seeing the death of Chad Sloat.

Newhouse, Beylix, Beside Edgar`s Place, 1:00, Day Three
Willow pushed Benny out on to the McClarrin Ave. Down the street was the tall towers of the spaceport and the shrinking back of a hover mule that was oh so familiar to Willow. Too late to call for a ride, Willow looks both ways out of habit and sees a familiar person entering the bar they have come out beside. It was Sam!
Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Edgar`s Place, 1:00, Day Three
Sam entered the bar and looked around. There were a dozen men in the room, four ladies and a thin tall man behind the bar with dark eyes and a greasy apron. Of the patrons, six were smelters by their overalls, flannel shirts and small burn holes all over. The other six were ranchers, with dungarees and chaps, big hats and fancy belt buckles - probably from the outskirt farms in town looking for cheap drink and women. A few from either party size you up, but don`t seem too interested. Six of them, 3 and 3 of each sit at a table playing poker while the others look on with the ladies in tow. The women are whores, and not the good kind, heck not even the average. If Sam were to be so inclined, Willow would be pumping him with immunization shots for a week.

“What y’ll have?” Asked the bartender in a tone that suggested no nonsense or tabs was allowed here.

(assuming you order whiskey)

Bartender puts a shot glass down and pours you a glass, half way and then waits until you produce coin, after which he fills it all the way and even gives you a fleeting smile.

There is a scrape of the chair behind Sam and he looks over his shoulder. Seems one of the smelters doesn’t like the hand he’s been played.

“Gorram it!” he says and pushes away the girl leaning on his shoulder. “Git off Mary! You messing with my luck.” He says and pushes her away. As he does, she loses her footing and crashes to the ground hard.

“Hey! You stoopid ijit! Don’t hurt her!’ one of the ranchers leaps up and pushes the smelter hard. He stumbles backward.

Then the other smelters are on their feet, “Go back to humping cattle ranch-boy!” one of workers punches the rancher hard in the face. He stumbles backward and bumps hard into Sam, knocking the drink out of his hand. Without a word to Sam, he goes back and the men begin to fight. Fists only, no one is drawing a weapon or pulling a knife and by the distance the girls are giving, and the bored look on the bartender’s face, this isn’t the first time either.


OOC: Wyatt and all will arrive at the ship and find Sam, Jimmy Blake and Willow are missing. Ma will fill you in on what she knows (Jimmy and Willow left together, heard the name “Emmett’s “, The dock workers are in the middle of fuelling Rocinante and will need a few hours more. Willow isn;t back! Sam isn’t back! Jimmy isn’t back and is that a ham hock? ).

Sam, your call but you are in a bar brawl and one of them spilled your drink and didn’t apologize.

Willow, which way? To the ship or after Sam. If after Sam, you will walk as the bar fight starts.

Wolf, you can go talk to the dock workers about speeding up the fuelling, or use the few hours to do more work on the ship.

Bowman, you get to meet Ma and settle into your new home.

Edgar’s Place, 1:00 pm, Day Three
Dash stepped through the door to Edgar’s Place with the idea that he’d have a drink to ease his nerves back before he headed back to Rocinante… Everything the pilot had seen today had done very little to improve his already sour opinion of Beylix… and the day’s events had gone a good long way to sending his thoughts into a tailspin buffeted up by the turbulence in his brainpan…

Ain’t no sense in goin’ back all bunched up an’ runnin’ th’ risk o’ sayin’ or doin’ somethin’ stupid… Ya do that sometimes… Sam…
He paused for a second, just inside the door, and swept the room with a wary eye… The clientele wasn’t of the highest caliber in the ‘Verse (mostly smelters and ranchers) and the girls wasn’t much to look at, neither, let alone grapple with (good thing too, cuz ya’d like ta catch more’n a smile if ya was drunk enough ta be so inclined). All in all, Edgar’s seemed to be your average, hole in the wall kind of place where them folks as was the hard-working, low-earning types tended to go after work in order to ease an ache with some alcohol or scratch (or maybe catch?) an itch and throw away their fun money with one of the haggard looking barwhores.

Kinda reminds me o’ Blansky’s, Dash mused as his feet clipped him towards the bar. That thought started, at least, to start putting some smoothness back into the rampant path his thoughts had been flying and, in remembering that tiny little saloon back on Jiangyin where a proprietor named Bob Blansky gave a new-born Sam Dash the first steps in a new life, the pilot’s scowling throttled back some…

“What ya’ll havin’?”

Sam’s eyes swung away from the room behind him for a moment, scanned the shelves behind the bar, and then fixed on the bartender; “Whiskey, I reckon.”

The tender plunked a shot glass on the counter, poured it half full, and then paused, squinting expectantly at him. Sam squinted back, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards a fraction, and then reached into a pocket and slapped a coin he found there onto the bar beside the glass. The tender nodded as quickly as he smiled and finished filling the glass.

As his fingers closed around the shot, the sound of a chair scraping across the floor caught Sam’s attention and he glanced back over his shoulder to see what was likely to be the beginnings of a tussle…

“Gorram it! Git off, Mary! You’re messing with my luck.”

“Hey! You stoopid ijit! Don’t hurt her!”

“Go back to humping cattle ranch-boy!”
Yup, Sam smirked, lifting the shot glass and preparing to pour the whiskey down his gullet, Reminds me o’ Blansky’s a’right…
Suddenly, instead of the whiskey ending up warming his throat, his drink was splashed on his shirt and the glass was clattering on the floor at his feet. The verbal sparring between the smelter and the ranch-hand had gotten physical and the first guy to take a punch had reeled backwards and sent Sam’s whiskey toppling… Dash’s features twisted up in a mix of disappointment and irritation before he looked to the guy for an apology, but the rancher hadn’t stuck around long enough to give one… he was already charging back into the melee.

Sam watched the girls back away in order to clear the floor for the fight and then flicked a glance in the bartender’s direction to see the narrow man looking more than a little bored with the whole situation. He reached into his pocket for another coin, slapped it down on the bar and nodded at the tender; “I’ll be wantin’ another one, here, in jus’ a minnit.”

Then, the pilot reached up to snug his bandana up, pushed away from where he’d been leaning on the bar, sighed… “Yup… Jus’ like Blansky’s…” and waded into the fight, set to release a little frustration by quieting the place down before he had that drink…

“A’right,” he growled as he grabbed the first one and spun him around, “You boys is damagin’ my calm…”

((OOC: Let’s tussle!!! I figure, what with Sam’s thoughts on Blansky’s and all, he’s liable to “play bouncer” in this situation… yeah, he’ll pummel a fella or two or six, but he’ll toss ‘em out in the street when/if he gets a chance…))

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Rocinante Bay , 1.00 pm, Day Three
With the sheriff clear and Ken’s semi-note of warning to get off planet as soon as they could, Wolf hit the speed pedal of the mule and headed everyone but Sam back to the Rocinante. As he pulled into the ships open bay he stopped and watched as the ship’s passengers debarked the mule. After a few moments of discussion the body of the dead Friscoian was manhandled from the Mule by his friends and placed in cold storage.

Quietly motioning to Wyatt and Bowman to wait he watched as the last of the passengers, Pearson, disappeared into the main part of the ship then turned to both men.

“Cap’n, Mr. Bowman, we can’t let that sheriff blackmail us, we need to find some way to turn the tables or put somebody else in his place. And are we really gonna ferry Pearson back to Frisco, I can’t help but get the feeling there’s something not right about him and if he becomes Sheriff there I think that town, law wise, will become quite hostile to us. I still have friends there Cap‘n I‘d hate to drop this shiong-mung duh kwong-run on them, contract or not”

Wolf stood quietly waiting on the two men’s response.......




(shiong-mung duh kwong-run
"violent lunatic")

Willow and Benny emerge from the alley onto a street Willow didn’t recognize, but the towers of the spaceport loomed in the distance and Willow felt her heart begin to lift and her fear ease. The Captain would make everything right, she thought to herself, just as she realized that the hover mule disappearing towards the spaceport was indeed the one from Rocinante.

She realized it was too far to call out, and she still had her dignity to think of (though her feet did ache in the pretty but impractical grey boots. She sighed and glanced around before stepping out into the street and spotted Sam heading into a saloon, and a rather seedy one at that.

“That ruckus we overheard with the sheriff couldn’t have been with my crew if they’ve got time for a drink,” Willow smiled at Benny, who looked dubious, but didn’t argue. “Let’s get to the ship and we can conclude our business, dear Benny. I think I’ve had enough adventure for one day.”

With that, Willow left Sam to his watered down booze and inevitable bar fight and made as much haste as was seemly towards the spaceport.

Newhouse, Beylix, Outside Jailhouse, 1:00 pm, Day Three
Wyatt and the sheriff continued to stare each other down until Pearson stepped forward and presented the captain with his guns. Sung slowly turned his attention towards the offered weapons and reached out to take them just as slowly. Then the deputy walked up to the scene with a large bundle in hand. He seemed oblivious to the incredulous stare of the sheriff, but Sung caught it.

Weaver nodded politely to the captain and the men on the mule. “Gentlemen. Thought you might need this.” He said and rolled out a clean while linen blanket to wrap the body.

"Mighty kind of you, deputy," Wyatt said not without some kindness in his voice. This man seemed to be the only decent soul on this mudball.

“Ken!” Sheriff Arness yells, “Aren’t you suppose to be somewhere?” He makes a head gesture to the jailhouse but Wyatt returned his attention instead to the boisterous lawman--a cold stare despite the warmth of the hazel in his eyes.

“Think there’s been enough killing Sheriff? Why don’t you tend to Darla and I’ll take care of these gents, see them on their way. “ Ken says as he quickly but respectfully wraps up Chad’s body with the skill of a man who has done this before many times. He lifts up the body and hands it over the railing to the folk waiting there, “Truly sorry for your loss.”

“Right.” The sheriff lowers his guns and starts to back away. “Remember Weaver...”

“I know, kill em dead if they stray.”

“Right.” And without a nod, the sheriff walks backwards toward the jailhouse and the bar called Emmett’s.

Ken sighs deeply, “Mr Bowman. I hope you found the work you wanted. I think it would be best for all if you got to moving."

For a brief moment Wyatt considered asking the deputy if he wanted to trade places with Pearson, but with the hot-hand still right there, the captain thought better of it.

"I conjure yer right, Deputy Weaver. Hope you ain't gonna end up in no one's Luhn Gohn by steppin' in here. Joo How Rin."

With a tap Wyatt set Wolf into action and the mule sped deftly away from the awful scene towards the ship. It was a straight shot from the Green to the Newhouse Shipyard, but Wyatt still felt that they couldn't make it to the cargo bay of Rocinante fast enough. His careful gaze kept jumping from alley to rooftop, from window to door, from wagon to horse...his hand resting on his right thigh within easy reach of his Colt.

When they slid into the cargo bay, Wyatt was out of the mule before it had even settled and walking quickly back towards the door.

"Ma," he called into the comm as he reached it. "We got some guests t' get settled. Same number as we had on the trip in so there's no need t' figure on more for mealtime."

Wyatt gazed out into the shipyard for a moment longer, noting the ragtag band of carnival-like performers, the dock-hands in their simple garb and tired expressions, and the various sightseers that were gawking at the paltry offerings the various carts were offering before he hit the activation button to close the door. The last thing he wanted was more trouble wandering on board. For a moment he regretted allowing Sam to walk back to the ship, and was a little concerned over not seeing him along the way.

"All right, listen up," Wyatt turned back to the passengers. "I've had my fill of trouble today, and will be FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen if'n I'll have any of that Fei hua aboard my ship." Finding himself back in territory where he was in control, Wyatt's mood hadn't improved. As his gaze fell on Pearson's visage his temper flared.

"My crew has work to do, day in, and day out. The lot o' you will remain confined to the passenger dorms, and the lounge except at mealtime. We eat at 0600, 1200, and 1800 hours. You can put your man in the infirmary. The doctor will see what she can do to preserve him for the journey." He wanted to say more about how Pearson should spend some time in the infirmary with him pondering on ending someone's life so abruptly, but he didn't think it would do any good. So, he waved them off while looking at them all from under the brim of his hat.

“Cap’n, Mr. Bowman, we can’t let that sheriff blackmail us, we need to find some way to turn the tables or put somebody else in his place. And are we really gonna ferry Pearson back to Frisco, I can’t help but get the feeling there’s something not right about him and if he becomes Sheriff there I think that town, law wise, will become quite hostile to us. I still have friends there Cap‘n I‘d hate to drop this shiong-mung duh kwong-run on them, contract or not” Wolf spoke quietly as the others dispersed.

"We're gonna do jus' that, Wolf," Wyatt said in an even tone, his face unreadable. "We're gonna do the job, we're gonna get paid, and we're gonna put this whole bad deal behind us. Keep your head on straight, dohn-ma?"

Sung had intended to put Pearson down right there on the deck of the cargo bay with a solid punch to the man's jaw, but on the ride from the Green he'd thought better of it. The sheriff expected to hear from the man every twenty-four, and if Pearson told the man that he'd been clocked once they'd arrived back at the ship, or worse, went straight in to report such behavior before they'd burned atmo', well, they could be land-locked, or end up with the Law on them from all corners of the 'Verse. While it stuck in his craw that the man would get away with murdering someone straight out in the name of the Law, Wyatt had his own crew and business to worry about. Common sense told Sung that they needed to steer clear of this particular fight lest they wind up in a big ol' pile of Da shiong La Se La Ch'wohn Tian.

"Andrew," the captain gave Wolf a pat on the shoulder to soften his harsh words a little as he turned to the uncle of his dead wife. "We got a full house what with these travelers an' all, but you're welcome to bunk in Asher's bunk 'til we make Frisco. Then we can work out what needs workin' out."

(OOC: will interact further if necessary.)

Wyatt took the stairs to the catwalks two at a time and quickly went his way into the fore deck, pausing at the landing while he decided whether to check for Willow in the galley or her quarters. Deciding on the galley, he hung a left and strode into the room casting about for the beautiful, petite woman before deciding that she was likely in her bunk. When he didn't receive any response to his queries there he went in search of Ma.

"Where's Willow, Ma?" he said as he discovered her. "Can't find her in the galley, or her bunk. There's a corpse that needs her tendin' in the infirmary and..." His voice trailed off at the scarred woman's expression. "Sloat went an' got himself all shot up by our new passenger. No, I don't know what it's all about, an' it ain't really none of our business--don't look at me that way, Ma. I got enough to worry 'bout without takin' on some corrupt, gun-happy lawmen. Now, where's Willow, and are we resupplied yet? I want t' burn atmo' as soon as possible. I think I know why Sam's so gorram twitchy on this dirtball..."

Newhouse, Beylix, Outside Jailhouse, 1:00 pm, Day Three
Ken sighs deeply, “Mr Bowman. I hope you found the work you wanted. I think it would be best for all if you got to moving."
“I think I have,” Andrew replied from where he sat upon the Mule waiting for it to move, “Thank you Deputy!”

With a tap Wyatt set Wolf into action and the mule sped deftly away from the awful scene towards the ship.
Bowman noticed how everyone seemed on edge after the incident.. he didn’t know the man that had been killed but he still felt outraged at the manner of his death.. shot in the back over box full of ballots. They would probably never know the whole story… and the more Andrew thought on it the less he was inclined to wonder.


Newhouse, Beylix, Inside the Rocinante, 1:05pm, Day Three
As the Mule pulled up to the Rocinante Andrew looked up at the ship and smiled slightly… he remembered such ships and remembered them fondly.. having travelled about a couple he was familiar with them and their abilities and was always amazed at the way they would keep flying even when they seemed ready to fly apart… he was looking forward to flying aboard this one for some reason.. it made a warm feeling grow in his chest.. he couldn’t explain it.. only that it made him feel good.

When they slid into the cargo bay, Wyatt was out of the mule before it had even settled and walking quickly back towards the door.

"Ma," he called into the comm as he reached it. "We got some guests t' get settled. Same number as we had on the trip in so there's no need t' figure on more for mealtime."
Andrew stepped from the mule and glanced around the cargo bay as he walked over slowly to stand next to Wyatt.
“Hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble Wyatt,” he said softly to the Captain, ‘twas not my intention to involve you in my affairs.”

“Cap’n, Mr. Bowman, we can’t let that sheriff blackmail us, we need to find some way to turn the tables or put somebody else in his place. And are we really gonna ferry Pearson back to Frisco, I can’t help but get the feeling there’s something not right about him and if he becomes Sheriff there I think that town, law wise, will become quite hostile to us. I still have friends there Cap‘n I‘d hate to drop this shiong-mung duh kwong-run on them, contract or not” Wolf spoke quietly as the others dispersed.
Andrew turned to look upon Wolf .. he quietly wondered why the man felt the need to include him in this conversation with the Captain… obviously he had no say in the matter as it was Wyatt’s ship and so he remained silent and let the Captain of the ship answer his crewman.

"We're gonna do jus' that, Wolf," Wyatt said in an even tone, his face unreadable. "We're gonna do the job, we're gonna get paid, and we're gonna put this whole bad deal behind us. Keep your head on straight, dohn-ma?"
“Unpleasant as the decision may make us all feel…” Andrew added, “.. Wyatt’s right.. best to get to where you need to drop this man off and be done with it.”

"Andrew," the captain gave Wolf a pat on the shoulder to soften his harsh words a little as he turned to the uncle of his dead wife. "We got a full house what with these travelers an' all, but you're welcome to bunk in Asher's bunk 'til we make Frisco. Then we can work out what needs workin' out."
“Don’t mind me Wyatt,” Andrew said with a smile as he hefted his belongings on his shoulder and headed off to explore the ship, “I can sleep anywhere… I just stay out of your folk’s way till me burn atmo and then we can discuss our situation.”

Wyatt did a little exploring of the ship.. heading up the catwalks and down the passages.. moving to the side out of the way of the crew as they prepared to get the ship ready to leave.

He wound up watching as Wyatt finished up talking to a woman he had not met.. obviously she had remained on the ship .. he didn’t catch what was said between Wyatt and her.. he only watched as Wyatt stormed off obviously upset about something.

(Figure this will take place when Wyatt gets his answer about Willow and storms off to find her)

Seeing the woman alone now .. Andrew steps into the room and clears his throat to announce his presence.. when the woman turns he sees her scarred visage and despite his shock shows no reaction on his face.. he has seen worse .. not usually on a woman though.. he nods his head slightly in greeting.

“Good day,” he says softly with a smile, “Sorry I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” He gestured with his head towards the retreating Wyatt’s figure. “Just looking for a place to stow my things; names Andrew Bowman, Ma’am.”

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Rocinante’s Cargo Bay, 1.20 pm, Day Three
"All right, listen up," Wyatt turned back to the passengers. "I've had my fill of trouble today, and will be FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen if'n I'll have any of that Fei hua aboard my ship. My crew has work to do, day in, and day out. The lot o' you will remain confined to the passenger dorms, and the lounge except at mealtime. We eat at 0600, 1200, and 1800 hours. You can put your man in the infirmary. The doctor will see what she can do to preserve him for the journey."

Pearson nodded politely and moved into the ship like a man who knew his way around. The other town folk made their way in, discussing how to change the sleeping arrangements. Seems that Pearson sleeping in Chad’s bunk rattled Mr. Blake more than a little.

"Where's Willow, Ma?" Wyatt asked. "Can't find her in the galley, or her bunk. There's a corpse that needs her tendin' in the infirmary and..." His voice trailed off at the scarred woman's expression. "Sloat went an' got himself all shot up by our new passenger. No, I don't know what it's all about, an' it ain't really none of our business--don't look at me that way, Ma. I got enough to worry 'bout without takin' on some corrupt, gun-happy lawmen. Now, where's Willow, and are we resupplied yet? I want t' burn atmo' as soon as possible. I think I know why Sam's so gorram twitchy on this dirtball..."

Ma quickly pulls out the pad of paper and pen she always carried on her and started to write. After a few minutes she turned the pad back to captain. “Willow left ship with that young Jimmy Blake, whose trouble if you ask me. They went to some place called Emmett’s Bar. Willow knows better than to trust pretty strangers but she left with him.”

(assuming some sort of reaction here. Wyatt knows that there was trouble in Emmett’s Bar, and that involved Darla, and that involved the sheriff. I’ll let you play it up as you’d like but my post is assuming you will be heading for the door to “rescue” Willow)

OOC: I work on the principle that the cargo bar door has a regular door within it. So the bay door is closed but the regular door is openin
Wyatt reached the cargo bay doorway when the door opened and Willow entered. The captain could tell in a glance that she had been through a shock or more but was still holding herself together. She was alone although she was looking over her shoulder at someone outside the ship as she entered.

Ma watched Wyatt go with the news of Willow when she heard a voice. “Good day,” Andrew says softly with a smile, “Sorry I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” He gestured with his head towards the retreating Wyatt’s figure. “Just looking for a place to stow my things; names Andrew Bowman, Ma’am.”

As Ma turns, Andrew can see that the elder lady is horrible disfigured in the face and neck area. Not fire or wounds, but it seems like half her face is melted and unable to reform. She bows her head and draws her hood over her head at meeting Andrew and merely nods politely. Then she beckons with her finger to show Andrew where he can store his things.

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Edgar`s Place, 1:20, Day Three
“A’right,” Sam growled as he grabbed the first one and spun him around, “You boys is damagin’ my calm…” Without wasting time, Sam lays a punch to the jaw to the rancher and follows up with an upper cut to the side of the head that leaves him spinning into the table and crashing to the floor. Another rancher attempts to return the blow, but Sam dodges easily and puts his fist hard into the man’s stomach.

A smelter leaps up to grapple Sam, holding his hands down so he can’t defend himself as another comes and slugs Sam twice in the face. On the follow up punch, Sam ducks his head, making the other man smack his partner and lose his grip. Sam spins deftly around and drives a hard elbow to the neck of the one smelter and kicks the other in the skin before grabbing his collar and throwing him over his shoulder.

The fight peters out at this point, with Sam still standing and the others moaning and groaning on the floor. Some of the Ranchers are helping the smelters to their feet and laughing to themselves.

“You got a wicked punch there,” says the tall Rancher who Sam had hit first. Remind me to duck next time. Sorry about bumping you, we just blowing off steam. Can I buy you a round? Name’s Hank.”


OOC: You have 4 points of stun damage but that was a lucky blow because you clearly outmatched most in the room. You don’t have to make a big conversation out of this if you don’t want to, just keeping it friendly. They fight but it ain’t out of anger at each other.

Reading Ma's note Wyatt swore under his breath a long string of Chinese that would have likely made Willow blush.

"Did she take a comm unit?" At Ma's shake of the head, Wyatt added to the expletives and turned on his heel to go find the little woman.

"Ma," he called over his shoulder and through clenched teeth. "Ain't no one else welcome on, or off Rocinante, you hear me?"

As he strode through the ship once more his mind raced with the possible situations Willow had found herself in while accompanying that fop. He couldn't get the sound of gunfire from the saloon out of his head now that he knew that had been her destination. Why'd she go and do somethin' like this without tellin' me? Without takin' someone along she can trust, like Sam, or even Wolf? He envisioned the little woman with a large hole through her middle trying to explain to him how to stitch her up as he reached through the bars of the corrupt sheriff's cell and his anger consumed him much the same as his long, brown coat wrapped and roiled about his legs.

Sam was Sam. They were the best of friends, but Wyatt made no mistake in thinking the pilot was incapable of taking care of himself. Ma usually stayed on board, but she always carried that scattershot, and Wyatt had seen her use it on more than one occasion. Wolf was new to the crew, but he was vouched for, and The Kid was proven. Willow wasn't a greenhorn by any means, but she didn't strap on, and she wasn't exactly physically strong. Of all his crew she was the one he worried over the most, and now here she had gone and slipped off all secret-like on the arm of a man who Wyatt'd sooner have left back on Frisco while landing herself in a heap of trouble.

Reaching the door lodged within the much larger cargo door, Wyatt twisted the handle and pulled it inward, completely oblivious to the squealed protest the hinges made as his hazel eyes fell on the beautiful visage of his ship doctor. At first his anger dissipated devoured by the concern he felt and chased by the relief, but the whole of the situation came boiling back as the harried look she tried to hide seeped through.

"Welcome back, Willow," Wyatt said as he let her glide past him checking the yard beyond for any sign of the dandy before closing the door and turning the latch again. "So...how've you been?"

Wyatt's mask had returned and he stared at her from beneath the lowered brim of his hat, arms folded as he leaned casually against the bulkhead.

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Rocinante’s Cargo Bay, 1.20 pm, Day Three
Ma watched Wyatt go with the news of Willow when she heard a voice. “Good day,” Andrew says softly with a smile, “Sorry I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” He gestured with his head towards the retreating Wyatt’s figure. “Just looking for a place to stow my things; names Andrew Bowman, Ma’am.”

As Ma turns, Andrew can see that the elder lady is horrible disfigured in the face and neck area. Not fire or wounds, but it seems like half her face is melted and unable to reform. She bows her head and draws her hood over her head at meeting Andrew and merely nods politely. Then she beckons with her finger to show Andrew where he can store his things.
Andrew follows the disfigured woman through the passages to where ever she intended for him to bunk… he silently wondered what could have caused her disfigurement.. he wouldn’t ask.. such things weren’t for him… he was sure that somewhere along the line.. if he stay on long enough.. would become known to him.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything back there,” he said gesturing back to the room where she had been conversing with Wyatt, “it was just that Wyatt seemed a bit upset and voices have a tendency to carry in these passages when they are raised in anger.” He smiled slightly.

“I heard Wyatt call you Ma,” he continued, “I assume that is a nickname… probably cause you take care of them no doubt.” The last bit wasn’t quite a question but had a lingering question-like ring to it.

When they got to where ever she was taking him, he deposited his bag on the floor out of the way and turned to her, “Thank you very much Ma’am! I hope to not be too much more of an inconvenience than I have already been.”

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Edgar`s Place, 1:20, Day Three
The tussle had turned out to be exactly what Sam needed and it wasn’t too long after the first punch had been thrown that he realized it. The blows he landed went a long way toward venting the frustrations that had been boiling in him for the better part of the day and those that Edgar’s patrons had landed on him went just as far to snap his head back on straight… Didn’t hurt none that he was winning the fight neither… When it was all said and done, Sam found himself, grinning and a little winded, standing over the ranchers and smelters alike as the men moaned and chuckled and started helping each other to their feet.

The pilot’s satisfied grim broke into a bit of a chuckle then, too, and, rubbing at the tingling soreness on his jaw and cheek, offered a hand to a still floored smelter and hauled him up to standing.

“You got a wicked punch there,” the ranch hand whom Sam remembered punching first said, “Remind me to duck next time. Sorry about bumping you, we just blowing off steam. Can I buy you a round? Name’s Hank.”

“Mei wen ti (no problem),” Dash nodded, “Reckon I jus’ needed to blow off some steam m’self.” He shook Hank’s hand and offered a friendly grin, then; “Name’s Dash. An’, yeah, buyin’ me a round’s th’ gorram least ya can do, seein’ as yer the ja hwo as broke my first one.”

One drink turned into two, as Sam fell into a bit of raucous banter with Hank and a couple of his other newfound scuffle-buddies. It had been right tempting to stay and have another, too, but, after downing the second one, he knew he’d probably already wasted enough time… Wyatt’s prob’ly as itchy ta get off’n this dirtball as I am…
((OOC: Told ya… just a small one… Sam appreciated the tussle very much… Stayed and had a few drinks… and, barring any major complications, will now head back to Rocinante via the most direct route.))

Willow and Benny finally reached the ship, though with Willow's pretty yet useless boots and slim fitting skirt, she'd been too slow to catch the crew, even with the mule to board onto the ship and stow. At the cargo door, Willow paused and gave Benny a considering look.

"It's probably best if you wait out here while I explain what happened to the captain. I'll get you the credits we promised and then we can say goodbye. You know I'll be right back, don't you, my dear? I have no reason to wrong you and every reason come back out." Willow had taken both of Benny's hands while she spoke and she watched him carefully for agreement. (will back post if necessary, will assume he agrees).

As she reached for the cargo door's handle, the door swung open and she found herself looking at the Captain's worried and angry face and Willow was stuck with a pang of guilt for having caused it. Before she could react, however, his usual mask slipped back into place and he moved back to let her in through the door frame.

"Welcome back, Willow," Wyatt was deceptively calm said as he checked the yard before closing the door and turning the latch again. "So...how've you been?"

The former Companion had taken a deep breath as she entered, but she knew that her expression couldn't completely hide her fright and own worry. She'd been so focused on getting back to the ship and away from the sheriff that she hadn't thought past that point.

"I've had better days, Captain-san," she began meekly, looking at the floor as she couldn't meet those steely eyes. " A quiet drink and a chance to conduct some minor business was all that I wanted, and James was the only one left on the ship. Only it turned out that James had been sent by that awful Brigit woman on the same matter, and the stupid fool drew a gun on me! I was so frightened, Captain, " Willow looked up at that moment, the terror fresh in her jade eyes, lashes trembling," I've never, I mean, people just don't do that in my world...or what used to be my world.." her voice trailed away.

She drew a shuddering breath and visibly reined herself in, looking away again as she continued, "The bartender, Darla, fired this enormous shotgun, just missing James and then the sheriff charged in. He's an awful, awful man, Captain-San! He beat James for being snotty, then arrested him, and made some pretty objectionable suggestions as to how I could free him. We need to tell Blake his son's been arrested, Captain, but I don't want to go anywhere near that awful man. "

Willow's eyes widened as she remembered what Benny had said about Pearson. "Oh! And Captain, we can't let the Frisco people hire that deputy...Pearson? My contact here told me he's ruthless and more than casual about killing.... " (assuming a hint of a reaction from Sung) .. oh no, was that the gunfire I heard? The sheriff went charging out of the bar after arresting James...who got shot? I thought I saw all of you on the mule just now and I saw Sam..."

OOC: Will stop now for Wyatt's reaction and response

OOC: Edited to correct the name of the town - I'm getting my places mixed up

Newhouse, Beylix, Inside Rocinante’s Cargo Bay, 1.40 pm, Day Three
With his concerns about the “new Sheriff” relayed to the Captain, Fenris found himself at a loss of purpose. With nothing else to do then sit around and wait for Sam to return so they could get off this planet, he decided to find the port’s maintenance/refuel people and try to see if he could speed them up.

After all the faster off this rock, the faster he could get his first pay as crew............

"I've had better days, Captain-san," Willow began meekly, looking at the floor. "A quiet drink and a chance to conduct some minor business was all that I wanted, and James was the only one left on the ship. Only it turned out that James had been sent by that awful Brigit woman on the same matter, and the stupid fool drew a gun on me! I was so frightened, Captain, " Willow looked up at that moment, the terror fresh in her jade eyes, lashes trembling," I've never, I mean, people just don't do that in my world...or what used to be my world.." her voice trailed away. Willow drew a shuddering breath and visibly reined herself in, looking away again as she continued, "The bartender, Darla, fired this enormous shotgun, just missing James and then the sheriff charged in. He's an awful, awful man, Captain-San! He beat James for being snotty, then arrested him, and made some pretty objectionable suggestions as to how I could free him. We need to tell Blake his son's been arrested, Captain, but I don't want to go anywhere near that awful man. "Willow's eyes widened as she remembered what Benny had said about Pearson. "Oh! And Captain, we can't let the Beylix people hire that deputy...Pearson? My contact here told me he's ruthless and more than casual about killing.... " Wyatt's eyes narrowed subtly ".. oh no, was that the gunfire I heard? The sheriff went charging out of the bar after arresting James...who got shot? I thought I saw all of you on the mule just now and I saw Sam..."

Wyatt was boiling. He didn't much hold to keeping tabs on the crew's personal business, but he did expect them to take precautions, and going off with James as protection in a town like this...that was like taking a rubber knife to a sword duel. Not to mention that they now had to deal with that insipid sheriff once again and Wyatt wasn't sure luck was on their side this time around. Despite his anger the captain showed only a slight displeasure.

"Gorram it, Willow," he said softly. "You could have been shot and kilt, and there wouldn't have been nothing I could have done about it."

That was all Wyatt was going to make of that. He could have droned on, berated her, played the part of the ornery captain, but he wasn't like that and she would likely beat herself up worse than he ever could.

"And we've already got Pearson on board so we've got three days to figure out how to stop him from influencing the good folk of Frezno. But that's only if we can get off this rock, and we've precious time to do that as it is. Now I've got to get that gorram dandy out of the lockup, and I doubt that sheriff will dance to our fiddle this time around.

"where did you see Sam."

(OOC: anything Willow wants to add?)

Stepping over to the comm, Wyatt activated it.

"All crew to the cargo bay, pronto."

It was time for some planning

When they got to where ever she was taking him, he deposited his bag on the floor out of the way and turned to Ma, “Thank you very much Ma’am! I hope to not be too much more of an inconvenience than I have already been.”

"All crew to the cargo bay, pronto." Came over the ship’s intercom.. Sounded like Wyatt.

“Sounds like something serious,” Andrew said as he subconsciously dropped his hands down to this guns to check their readiness.

“Guess we better hurray eh?” He added with a faint smile as he headed back towards the cargo bay.