Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a hot July morning when the cicadas woke with the morning larks and prairie dogs. All throughout the busy town of Tombstone, the hustle and bustle of a heated community began to make their way to finish works and gatherings early as to avoid the afternoon heat. The dusty city had the hub-bub and hullabaloo from women and children running in and out of the local general store, and men getting shipments out or hair combed at the local barber. Horses kept on racks and in stables were moved to the shade or to the next blacksmith for their shoe fittings. A shiny amber stage coach being pulled by two dapple-gray horses rode alongside the wooden deck of a quiet train station. When it finally came to a stop, out came a dashing young man in a fanciful brown suit and gold wire-rim glasses around his eyes, a matching brown straw hat on his head. The driver of the wagon turned to tie up the reigns and stood to retrieve the passengers’ luggage.

“Thank you, Matt.” Spoke the young man, pulling a few bills out of his pocket to hand to the coachman. “Sunshine, can you go check when the train will arrive, please?” He called. The stage coach door opened and a true beauty stepped down, all gussied in traveling garb of spring yellow and green. With a smile shining and eyes that gleamed like the sun, they beamed and stepped out to the train station. The two gentlemen managed to haul down their luggage, though it were only a few trunks between the couple, one was much larger than the other. A sweet voice called from the ticket booth and beckoned to the gentleman wrestling with luggage.

“We’re an hour early, Elliott! I can stay with the luggage if you want to gather your things from Old Man Riley’s”, they exclaimed, smiling as the reached for their partner and taking hold of a trunk from a surly Matt.

“That’s perfect, let me buy our tickets and get the bags, Go on- Oh!” Elliott muttered aloud while fumbling over his pocket watch to check the time. His partner, however, always had a knack for stirring him out of a rut.

“Elliott, I am perfectly capable of carrying a trunk or two. You go on” they giggled a small teasing laugh and slyly stuck out their tongue before carrying the trunks into the station. Young Elliott felt his cheeks warm, he wanted nothing more than to chase his partner and delightfully punish them for all the teasing they force him to endure. But such indulgent urges would cause an uproar of scandal and surely run them out of town before their train would arrive.  The gruff coachman climbed up on the wheel to take his post back on the driver’s seat and retrieve his reigns.

“Where ’r’ you love-birds off too?” Matt asked plainly, wiping the beading sweat forming on his brow. Elliott whipped himself around to face the man, albeit unexpectedly so as he didn’t anticipate Mathew to ask.

“Oh! Well, we’re off to v-visit my brother in Dahlia. It’s his birthday soon and we’re on our way to celebrate and enjoy the summer with him and his!” Elliott replied. Mathew had been fanning himself with a dingy rag he kept in his back pocket. The sun made the red earth of the town feel hotter than an oven by each passing hour.

“Didn’t ya just get settled in that little blue house up north? Awful soon to leave it, ain’t it?” asked the sweating man.

“W-well, we were staying with my partner’s folks for the time being. I’m planning to find us a home out in California, to be nearer to my brother. I’m f-fairly certain we have our affairs in order.” stammered Elliott, the longer this normal conversation lasted, the more tired his mouth became.  Mathew wasn’t usually this talkative, perhaps the heat was making Matt’s quieter behavior fry. Elliott found it welcoming enough, however, having usually assumed Mathew did not care for him very much. Which was the usual case, as Matt had mentioned before on more temperate climates.

“Welp, I’ll not be one to stop your celebrations. Even if I do think you’re mild touched for tryin’ to take the train in this scorcher. Safe travels to ya, then” Mathew wiped his sweat drawn face with his rag once more. With a polite ‘thanks again’ to the surprisingly talkative coachman, Elliott parted ways to make his way to the local General Store.

---

Not quite 20 minutes later, a mild mannered Elliott returned to his partner’s side with an empty basket and a bit of sour expression on his face. The brightly dressed Sunshine waved at first only to take notice of their lover’s demeanor.

“Is everything alright?” they asked quietly, coming to the young man’s arm. Elliott found himself being shaken out of his thoughts again, his face changing to a warmer manner than before.

“Oh- I’m fine, darling, but it’s just the most rotten of luck…” he started, “I placed my order with general store weeks ago, hoping it’d come in time today and all that was there was this basket. The clerk said they were fresh out of everything I asked for, all without moving from his chair and paper” Elliott frowned, a lilting whine making itself known as Elliott could not help but dive further into his predicament. His lover had their lips pursed at the notion that the clerk may have been deceiving their lover, but it behooved them more to find out for themselves.

“Let me try! I think the old man might just be playing a little joke on you, Elliott. You know how he can be”, they told, sugar-coating the truer intentions that Sunshine suspected.

Elliott sighed, “You’re welcome to try, Sunshine, but if the things aren’t there, then there isn’t anything to be done about it”, he moped, setting himself down on a bench next to their stacked luggage. Sunshine beamed and gave their lover a quick kiss on his pouting lips and scurried over to the store themselves with the empty woven basket in hand.

Sure enough, when Sunshine stepped inside the warm, but well stocked store, there was Old Man Riley, reading his morning paper, perfectly unperturbed by anything. A single nickel sat on the counter where Elliott most likely paid for the basket. Sunshine took in a breath and stepped to the counter and cleared their throat. 

“Good Morning, Mr. Riley” they beamed, speaking in their normal gleeful tone, but with fuller chest as to be heard clearly. This began to happen more and more often in the store clerk’s old age. As expected, the old man behind the counter moved and lifted his head up from behind his paper to return a happy smile. This seemingly began to happen more and more to dear Elliott. In many cases, the old man was often hard of hearing, so Elliott would need to speak up. Other times, the clerk was getting lazier in his old age, and found that a burly ‘We don’t got none’ would chase off most pesky customers.

“Why hello there, Dawn, my dear, how’re you this fine summer evening?” He smiled, although only the corners of his white mustache moved to show that he was indeed smiling. Dawn laughed a little at the clerk.

“It’s half-past 9 in the morning, Mr. Riley” they laughed. The old man shuffled to his feet and chuckled to himself, looking over at his grandfather clock in the corner of the store.

“Hmm? Why- it is! Seems as the heat ‘as made me forget about the time a day. How kin I help you this fine morning my friend?” he asked.

“I’m here to pick up our order, Mr. Riley”, saying his name more often seemed to keep the old man engaged. He moved from his stool and placed his spectacles over his nose. He gave a look of confusion when they mentioned Elliott’s name for the order, but Dawn was determined to jog his memory.

 “A two pound bag of pinto beans, a quarter pound of candied pecans, yellow satin ribbon, two new tins of Folgers, and a three yards of chiffon in forest green.” They uttered out items crystal clear and quick until a light of recognition came to the old man’s eyes.

“Oh yes, yes, here it is. All written down right here. Very well my friend, if’n you don’t mind awaitin’ a spell, I kin go ahead n’ get these ready for you”, the old man picked up an order sheet and began to shuffle about the store, taking a small wooden bucket in his arms to gather the things around him. “…Ima tad surprised the lad didn’t come in earlier…” old man Riley muttered to himself. But Sunshine heard enough. Some of their suspicions were confirmed. To some, it might’ve seemed that Old Man Riley ignored those he disliked. But to others, he was probably more likely to ignore anyone he didn’t notice. It saddened young Dawn to think anyone would ignore their lover… but they also knew that Elliot wasn’t one to push others to give him the time if it meant that he would have to raise his own voice.  

With the basket now filled with the proper collectables, Old Man Riley gave the sum total of what was due. “Alrighty, friend! That’ll be $2.35”. Dawn giggled to themselves with the exact till in hand. A small moment to proud of. The old man adjusted his spectacles once more and they both waved each other goodbye. The noise of the city picking up in this heat as they left the general store. Now all that stood between Dawn and the train station was a very busy crowd in front of the printing house.

Curiosity got the better of Dawn. They stepped quickly to crowd to see what the latest news was for all to read. Dawn wanted a paper too but as they were just trying to make out the headline, a small line began to form behind them. With the noise of the crowd it was harder to concentrate than normal, but sounding out the letters to themselves was certainly helping-

“Dearie, move aside for the educated to get their news!” scorned a woman behind them.

A sinking shame fell heavy in their chest, cheeks felt hot for a brief moment until they took a deep breath. Quietly taking out a nickel to pay for their own paper, Dawn decided to read it later and scurried back to the station. A small wind lifted hot dust into the air and coated among the crowd, a loud whistle sounded in the distance a signal for the oncoming train approaching. Sunshine found themselves quickly moving to station.

Back inside, a fidgeting Elliott sat with two trunks beside him. The sight of his Sunshine brought an ease over his features and a happy grin came back to his face.

“Sunshine! - How did you manage to get everything? The old man didn’t even look at me. I was worried you might miss the train.” he asked in awe at the full basket in their hands.

“Old Man Riley probably didn’t hear you. He’s awfully hard of hearing…And they’d surely have a battle on their hands if that big hunk of metal took off without me” Sunshine replied. “Now come on, Elliott, I’ve never ridden on a train before!” They smiled, excitement overflowing between the two of them as they gathered their things. The young man chuckled and adjusted his purple bow-tie before following his lover, carrying tickets and luggage in tow.

The train had come to heavy halt in station by now, and the hiss of steam had finally risen from the train’s engines. A ruckus of other passengers getting off the train came pouring out of her cabins now. Some with crates and bags in each hand, others just hopping off to stretch their own legs. Women all gussied up in traveling gowns and some men in bright two-piece suits walked across the hot station. Elliott and his Sunshine remained close to one another, as both were not rightly fond of such crowds. They would board the train shortly when the remaining passengers began to dissipate throughout the station.

“Elliott, everyone that came out of that train car looked beautiful. I’ve never seen such pretty gowns and coats.” They looked aghast as they clung to young Elliott’s arm.

“Come on, Sunshine”, Elliot had released them and stepped up into a train car, bending down a little to hold his outstretched hand to his lover. With a jump and a pull, Elliott guided them into the train car to see a golden car with red and green velvet cushions. The walls shining of polished maple and gold and sparkling sconces hung all the way down the car. The floor in a bright auburn lacquer and all of it gave Sunshine so much pause.

“Elliott, what is this?” they asked in awe.

“A beautiful car as beautiful as you are! It’s first class, Sunshine! I figured we’d travel in style! It’s your first time on a train after all” He smiled, wrapping his arms around their waist.

“But this is too much! I mean- How could we? It isn’t-?” Elliott laughed at their stutter.

“Well, it certainly helps that your partner is becoming well-liked and prosperous in his line of work. Now, come on, let’s go pick a private room, this is just the dining car!”

Excited, Elliott took his lover by the hand and led them down to the next car. Together they scurried off to where they sat in an assigned saloon with a sliding door. Sunshine awed at comfort of the luscious green velvet seats and eagerly sat beside the shut window. They raised the little beige curtain up to look out to the other side of the window only to see the other side of the train platform. The murmur of bodies slowly returning to the vessel began to clamber about the train car as the conductor called to his passengers those all-too famous words.

“All Aboard!!”

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             Dawn had settled beside the window, fiddling with the newspaper in their hand, and found themselves lost in the speeding images passing across the window. Thoughts were racing in their mind as fast as this train was moving.

             “Sunshine?” his voice caught them off guard as they whipped their head to the Young Elliot returning to their cabin. “As much as I enjoy seeing you silhouetted against the warm summer sun, I find that when you’re lost in thought, you seem to lose yourself in thoughts less than kind”, He rightly surmised. Dawn couldn’t help but give in to their partner’s deduction. Small sigh and the corner of their mouth lifted as they returned Elliot’s warm gaze.

             “Do you think I’m slow-minded?” they asked, breaking their glance to return to the newspaper folded in their hands. Elliot had slipped his coat off to lay it on the opposite booth, revealing the matching lapel and golden chain attached to one of the buttons.

             “What brought this on, Sunshine?” he asked as he sat beside them, arm stretching over their shoulder to comfort them. “Did something happen?” he asked. In most circumstances, Sunshine was the pinnacle of compassion and confidence, but on a very rare and quiet occasion Elliot would be witness to those moments where their smile couldn’t shine through the gloom of their thoughts clouding their mind.

             A sigh. Progress. “A woman made me feel stupid when I was getting the paper”, they started. “We were in line, and I couldn’t read the headline fast enough before she called me uneducated… Well… she implied it anyway” Dawn frowned, sinking further into their seat.

             Elliot frowned too, seeing his partner in distress made his own heart heavy. Sunshine’s head hung low, and Elliot gently lifted up their chin to face him.
“I’m sorry that happened to you. I’d never think something so egregious.”

Sunshine felt their heart swoon for just a moment, giggling as they leaned into Elliot’s shoulder. “Elliot, I don’t know what that means,” the feeling of exasperation washed over them. They frowned and Elliot sighed and kissed their temple and then their cheek, the moment was sweet enough as they couldn’t hold in their laughter.

 “Oh, Sunshine. I’d never think of something so terrible, why- you’re the smartest, most quick-witted, most beautiful person I have come to know. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a blind fool”, his arms moved to pull Dawn into another warm embrace.

             “Well, thank you for saying so…” they leaned and returned the embrace. They smiled and still fiddled with the paper in their hands.

“Now, what about this paper has caused such a horrendous scandal to befall upon my beloved Sunshine…” he asked playfully, gently taking the paper from his lover’s fingers.

 “I thought I read some words about ‘Dahlia’, but I couldn’t read it fast enough before everything happened. But I thought it important since it is where we’re going” Dawn handed the paper over to Elliot, with the front page causing his face to change expression quicker than the speeding images out the window.

             “Elliot? What’s wrong?” they asked, the growing worry on his face only making Dawn’s own concern grow exponentially. “Will you read it to me?” they pleaded, looking between Elliot’s worried face and the front page. He nodded and held the paper out to read, unfolding it out for both of them to see:

             “Dahlia Set Ablaze! Firework Fiasco or Foul Play? Family Found Dead in Fourth of July Fire.” Elliot trailed off and muttered a little under his, gasping quietly as he quickly read further on. “Elliot, don’t stop reading!” Sunshine begged again. He cleared his throat and adjusted himself again.

             “In the late evening of the Fourth of July, as families were celebrating our beloved holiday, fire on the city outskirts broke out on the land of the Shaw Family. While many members of local community speculate that the causes of such a tragedy to be the combination of the dry summer brush and poor handling of some celebratory fireworks, reliable sources say otherwise. As the Shaw Family was a staple and reliable pillar to the community, it is quite difficult to imagine them making many enemies within the city. But many have come forth to confess that it would not be surprising that enemies come from all over to a pinnacle of protection like David Shaw and his family. Aside from one member, who has asked to remain anonymous at this time, no other members of the family have been confirmed to survive.”

              The silence between the two was short lasting, but painful all the same.

“Oh how awful. Those poor people…” Dawn trailed off. “An entire family gone in a fire? And the 4^th of July, why- that was only a few days ago…” Dawn covered their mouth, looking up to their Elliot for any sign of sorrow they’d share.

“I knew David Shaw…” Elliot muttered out loud, Sunshine couldn’t help but gasp. “- well... not personally… But, Aaron… He’s worked with them before. With him working at the bank and all, how could they not cross paths? How horrendous. My heart goes out to that sole survivor…” Elliot frowned, squeezing Sunshine tighter around their shoulders in a protective embrace. “Had I known Dahlia was on fire… well…” he trailed off again.

 “Yes, well… A little late to turn back now…” Dawn nuzzled gently in Elliot’s collar and looked out the speeding images across the plains rushing past them

Chapter Text

      A loud sneeze echoed from down the stairs. A sharp tailored gentleman in a crisp, red waistcoat waited by some vault doors of the underground safe. The jangling of coins and keys meandered about as another young man stifled his recovery from his earlier sternutation.

“Ollie, are you sure you’re up for the ride? It’s not long, but I’ve made the trip up to Lathrop a few times already, I’m sure I could fill in if you’re not comfortable…”, asked the man in red.

“I’ll be fine, sir." A sniffle. "My dust allergy only flares up when it’s windy. That new trainee is coming today for you to show them around here a-and Mr. Ivan hasn’t been in after he broke his leg! The least I can do is go and help out where I can.” Out came a young man with shaggy brown hair in his grey vest and slacks, his face crowded with freckles. He carried out a large sack and a small hardy metal box with a thick iron lock over its’ latch. Carrying them up a set of wooden stairs out of the cellar, the gentlemen signed a small open booklet hanging on the wall beside the door. The man in the red waist coat pulled out a set of keys on a big silver loop around his belt, closed the safe shut and locked the door behind him.

“Never mind Ivan, he’s resting well enough. Meanwhile, the summer breeze will pick up in a matter of hours and your sneeze could blow a barn down… You are aware you are about to sit in a stage coach heading up north in the summer heat for the next few hours, yes?” the man persisted, crossing his arms. Ollie paused for only a moment, his step too took for the briefest of hesitations until he continued out the side door. He continued, “I can take the ride if you want to train the new boy coming in today-”

“NO!- uh- I mean- No thank you, Mr. Aaron, sir. I-I can handle this”, Ollie urged. His manager sighed, following his subordinate outside.

“Alright…” he found himself respecting the young man’s resolve, albeit reluctantly.

     The sun had not quite greeted the city of Dahlia yet. The moon in her waning crescent, was on her way out to leave the city in her periwinkle sky as the sun chased her from beneath the horizon. Businesses not open yet had few individuals cleaning front entryways and flipping down dining chairs. The night time crickets quieted down as the morning larks started to sing their songs. Young Ollie followed his manager outside to the waiting stage coach outside. Four horses strapped to the coach’s rigging all stood together quietly; all of them 16 hands tall, chestnut Thoroughbreds. There, checking their straps and adjusting their ties and belts, was a tall, handsome individual with bright baby blue eyes. They turned to the two gentlemen approaching and proudly fixed the tan Stetson a top their head and gave a small wave as a greeting.

“Howdy, gentlemen. My name is Bobbie Talbot, I’ll be one of your escorts on our way up north. How are we on this early, July morning?” they smiled, extending their hand out to the two. Aaron returned the warm greeting, seemingly in recognition before looking to Ollie to follow suit.

“Good to see you again, Bobbie. This is my colleague Oliver, he will be taking my place with you on this trip to the Lathrop Bank, since our usual man is still out of commission with the broken leg he got last time”, Aaron explained, Ollie pleasantly extending to shake their hand.

“’Ollie’, for short.” He added, trying to stifle a small sniffle. The three grinned at one another and before they could load themselves into the stagecoach, Bobbie patted young Ollie’s shoulder and briskly guided them the side door of the coach.

“Well then, Welcome aboard, Ollie! I’ll go over briefly on how we work and what’s going to take place. First things first, a few signatures need to be exchanged…” Bobbie pulled out a small booklet from inside carriage and the freckled young man seemed enthralled with the horses. Ollie felt a “gentle” push from Aaron’s elbow to get the young man’s attention. Regaining his senses, Ollie too pulled out a ledger and felt about his pockets for a pen, only to be granted a clean wooden fountain pen out of Aaron’s own pockets. The two exchanged autographs in each book, Bobbie only pausing to ask for the date.

“I believe today is Friday, July 2nd- If I’m not mistaken… ” Ollie answered, returning both book and pen to each respective owner, with only minimal jumbling this time.

“Excellent, thank you kindly. Now that that’s settled, I’d like to brief you in on what is going to take place should you be a regular on any further banking trips. I am a part of the Shaw Guard, we get a few contracts here and there to transfer valuable and sensitive material across the state. While I don’t expect us to have much trouble up en route, to say that the chances to face any such troubles is none, would be an outlandish falsehood on my part. So to prepare you, I’ll go over all the security measures we have in place…” Bobby began to elaborate all of the fixings about their wagon. A small nook underneath the carriage held a few extra wheels and spokes in case of repairs along the way. Inside the carriage was a built in safe with extra lock boxes welded in. Bobbie pulled out a ring of keys to let Ollie deposit the bank’s valuables inside it.

“Now, we have never succumb to those that have attempted to rob us yet, but in the very rare event that we do, don’t try to negotiate with anyone and don’t try to save anything. You are more valuable than anything in these here boxes, despite what our employers would have others believe. But you will be seated in here with the rest of the cargo when it’s time to take off.” Bobbie grinned. Ollie felt his cheeks warm a little as he took a seat inside the coach. There was only one other person that ever said such caring things about his own well-being and Bobbie’s spiel reminded him of them. Bobbie stepped out of the carriage, hopping back down into the dirt. Ollie was about to ask when they'd leave, when a fast thumping came from outside the coach. The young man poked his head out to check. As he stepped back on the dirt road, Ollie lifted his head only to be met with a wet nose and an even wetter tongue. There seated on the back boot of the carriage were two large wolf-like beasts! One was a large light gray hound with brown patches all across his fur and one particularly noticeable brown spot over his left eye, the other, a much larger dog with dark gray fur and piercing blue eyes.

“Y-.. There-… Are these?” Ollie stammered.

“Heh, Yes these are our dogs. We bring them along for a bit of extra security. They’ll typically go after the horses of anyone who tries to slow the wagon.” Bobbie tried to reassure the young man, unable to look directly at the huffing hounds. The dark one growled to his gray four-legged companion.

“They look more like wolves, if you ask me! Golly, what do you feed them? Why- I’ve never seen dogs like them before, they’re huge!” Ollie asked exasperated, wiping the dog slobber from his freckled cheek. Both dogs seemingly huffed at the comment of being ‘huge’. Bobbie chuckled and cleared their throat.

“Oh they eat just fine. They are perfectly trained and I assure you they won’t be a bother. Here- I’ll introduce you…” Bobbie reaffirmed the young man and stepped on the wheel spoke to climb onto the ledge with their furry friends. Squatting over them and giving some loving chin-scratches and pets over the gray and brown hound.

“This here, is our resident goof, Asher. We call him Ash, for short. He’s friendly enough to pet if you’ve the mind. But don’t go petting him for too long, he’ll start to like ya- hahaha”, Bobbie chuckled as Asher howled in protest at such an abhorrent accusation. Bobbie then turned to pet the other dog, only to hesitate after looking directly into his deadpan eyes and frowning snout. Two gentle head pats and Bobbie sheepishly smiled. “And this here 'sour-puss' is who we just call, The Boss. He won’t bite ya, but I’d recommend keeping hands to oneself when around him.”

“Oh- Is that so..” Ollie muttered out loud, noticing that he felt the need to keep his hands closer to his sides and immediately retracting them from trying to pet The Boss’s head.

Aaron, who only briefly left to fetch his broom to sweep the dust off the bank entrance, returned to the two with broom still in hand.“So, is it just you and the dogs this time around?” he asked.

Bobbie hopped off the boot and adjusted their Stetson. “Ahh…As confident as I am in my ability to fire a shot gun or two, I’d be lyin’ if I said I could do that while driving our lovely wagon here. No, we are waiting for the driver- the ‘Top Dog’ of our operations if you will…” just as the shotgunner was ready to explain more, a small, shriller voice called from around the corner.

“Bobbie! Oh- Bobbie!”

Around the corner of the local hay and feed store came a shorter individual with warm chocolate brown eyes and hair pulled out of their face.

“Oh- I’m so sorry to intrude- Excuse me, gentlemen“, they awkwardly walked around Aaron and Ollie to get to their taller, blue-eyed friend. “Bobbie, before you take off with..." a pause, "..David and them, could you help us load the feed and flour in the wagon?” A small wine came from the boot of the stagecoach. “No, Boss, you stay there…” they anxiously responded to the whining wolf.

Bobbie chuckled, “Sure thing, Angie” they gave a small tip of their hat to excuse himself from the two for a brief excursion. “Oh- And in case anybody asks, I was here first…” they made sure to make that fact well known before following their friend around the corner. Leaving Aaron and Ollie to stay with the carriage. ¬¬¬

     Ollie took the moment to say his goodbyes to his superior and hopped into the wagon with his belongings in the safe and a book to read in hand. Aaron wished him a safe journey and closed the door for his young colleague. Before he could return to his bank, a smooth sounding voice, haughty in his tone called to sweeping bank teller.

“Well, do my eyes deceive me or is the Master of the House heading up north with us this time?”

A suave call from a man coming out of the nearby shop with a porcelain cup of coffee. Though he only had a crooked smile, his sharp eyes and blonde hair added to the charm of his walk and swagger.

“David! It’s good to see you again.” Aaron smiled, an air of relief washing over him at the sight of his presence.

“How’s the money business treatin’ you? It’suh… been awhile since you’ve joined us up on a bank delivery…” the man spoke smoothly, his East Coast accent pushing through on some of the more colorful inflections.

“Not too terrible, thankfully. But as much as I hate to correct a friend, I won’t be joining you this time. In fact that we’re a little short staffed at the moment. So instead you’ll be traveling with my young associate there. A trip that he was very insistent on attending in Ivan’s stead…” Aaron leaned in and down to whisper in the man’s ear as the two were not the same height, “… And between you and me, I have the strangest notion that his motivations to make the trip are a primarily ones to see a former colleague of ours…” With eyebrows raised and a sly smile, the blonde man looked over and winked at the man in red.

“Is that so? Well, don’t you worry, I’ll be sure we get him up there in one piece.” The smooth talker smiled.

From the station wagon, the young freckled Ollie finally looked up, feeling the gaze of someone staring in at him. Outside, there was his supervisor and a handsome blonde man waving back at him. His cheeks warmed, sticking his head out the open wagon,

“Ah! Hello!- Oh goodness…” Ollie stumbled as he panicked to get back out of the wagon to greet the man. How rude of him not to greet a newcomer! The blonde patted Aaron's shoulder and bid a kind farewell to the banker, urging the young man to remain in the coach. The swaggering hopped up on the coach steps and extended his palm to the man inside. “I’m Olliver- Er- Ollie for short! A p-pleasure to meet you Mister uhh…”

“You can go ahead n’ call me David- or uhh Mister Shaw- Whichever is easier for you to remember”, told the man as he leaned in. A couple of barks from Asher as the two shook hands. “Say- uhh, you drivin' this thing? We gotta get this show on the road!” he teased, although Ollie only seemed confused. A familiar face popped over on the other side of the stage coach, causing young Ollie to stifle a small jump and scream.

“Now, you wouldn’t try to be leavin’ without me, would you?” charming Bobbie had returned from around the corner, climbing up on to the driver’s seat. Bobbie and their colleague took up the reigns.

Ollie, once he sufficiently calmed down, couldn't help but see the two and recognize their handsome smiles from an advertisement in paper he'd seen awhile back. An illustration of these two next some title like, 'Be Sure with Shaw' or some other snappy security slogan. Ollie couldn't help but feel that someone had the excellent marketing skills to capitalize on the two incredibly handsome individuals before him.

“You kiddin’ Ash would have my head if I left without you. Alright- Ollie is it?- Hang on tight. We’re losin’ daylight…” the man followed their companion to join them at the reigns of the driver’s seat. Ollie still looked a hair confused, the sun had still not quite touched the tops of the Dahlian roofs and the sky only seemed a brighter blue than before. Another howl from one of the hounds on the boot and the young Oliver remembered his boss still outside the bank, watching them off.
It would be rude not to at least wave goodbye, right?  Ollie smiled and waved a hand out the stage window to his boss only to get thrust to the back of the stage coach, four wily stallions neighing and rocketing up the main road.

Aaron waved back, trying hard not to laugh at the expense of his young subordinate. And even though young Ollie’s screams and farewells were drowned out by the intense raucous rush of thundering hooves, Aaron still uttered a small goodbye, praying for safe travels for his friend.

   Summer morning blazed onward over the Shaw ranch. The moon had left by now but the sun now just peaking over the eastern tree line within Dahlia's horizon. A commotion had started behind the grand old farmhouse, past the chicken coup, a short individual with warm chocolate eyes was left tromping throughout the kitchen in their boots and out through the front screen door in a panic, a wagon full of feed and flour just pulled up behind.

“Steph! STEPH! AHH!!!” a sultry, towering figure appeared suddenly in the doorway, shocking the panicking shortstop. “Now is NOT the time for your scares!!” they gasped, hand over their furiously thumping heart.

“I don’t do it on purpose, baby! Now please, Angie, stop screaming, and would you just tell me what’s the matter?!” they asked sternly, hands firmly placed on their hips as they scowled. The two made eye contact as the shrill, excitable Angel breathed to calm down.

“It’s Lara! I just saw them chasing some coyotes over the hill on my way in!” Angie exclaimed, breathing as when they finally calmed down.

“Not Again!" Steph huffed, "Those damn varmints are getting bold to do it when the suns out. Alright, honey, you go grab Fruitcake out of the barn and I’ll unhook Vixen. We gotta catch Lara before they get into another scrap!” the two moved fast.

Steph, although someone tends to call them ‘Sweetheart’ on occasion, slipped on their boots and ran to unstrap a healthy pale colored thoroughbred from their wagon.

Before Angie could completely make it to the barn, they turned back to ask a question. “Why not get Aggro, he is the fastest horse?” Angie asked loudly, shrugging as they walked backwards to the brown and green colored barn house.

“And if you could ride him, that'd be swell and dandy, but you and I both know that he only let’s Milo ride him and he only listens to Lara. And since neither of them are here, I’d suggest riding the friendlier horse with the foolish name~!” Steph responded, sounding harsh, but with no malice in their tone.

“I NAMED THAT HORSE!” Angel could be heard shouting from the barn, doing as they were told.

Out came a prancing speckled Falabella with a gray and silver mane all braided and pulled away from their muzzle. Angel only struggled briefly in getting their leg over the side, while Steph had already saddled and mounted their steed.

“Come on, hun, you lead! You saw where they were headed!”

Angel acknowledge them and gestured forward, clicking their tongue to make Fruitcake trot in the direction they wanted. The two, now mounted on each of their respected horses, followed in the direction of their run-away friend.

   The land around the Shaw Ranch was wide and fertile. They’re large home rivaled some of the establishments in town. But the outskirts of the city were mostly golden hills and oak trees across untouched land for miles. The sun brightened the land on the ranch, awakening all the critters that ,too, greet the sun. Except for the chickens in their coup, as they had all clucked crowed to wake the sun before she even arrived, the birds around the ranch chipped and chirped all together at the commotion of the two finding their friend on horseback.

  Steph clicked again to make Vixen quicken her speed. The bleats of lamb and sheep could be heard softly across the field, some were bleating louder, a possible victim of the aforementioned coyotes. Another thing the sun revealed on the golden field, was the white and black dots of sheep all across a field with a large wooden fence line around them. Most were just freshly sheered.

   The two rode for only 10 minutes before they could see a person on the zenith of a rolling hill that hugged the farmland. There they sat, their wild red hair blowing in the summer breeze. Angie hopped off Fruitcake at the bottom of the hill and slowly started trudging up to go check on their friend, an act that left Steph with a confused expression. A click of their tongue and a kick of their heels to urge their thoroughbred up the hill, instead. Warm wind rolled the golden grass, bending each blade until they all looked like rolling waves on the sea. There was their friend, face covered in tears and dust. Steph dismounted when they were atop the hill and stepped with urgency to their found companion.

“Lara, hunny, are you alright?” they asked kneeling beside them as they tried to hide the tears, but the act of sobbing hadn’t quite stopped. Steph couldn’t help their own curiosity at what their friend was looking at down on the shaded side of the hill.

*

Down there at the bottom was a gruesome, yet 'wholesome' scene, to those who could stomach it. A small band of coyotes had disemboweled a stolen lamb. It was ragged and pathetic now. All twisted between the hounds. White and red mixed in the dirt and yellow grass while jaws crunched down on small limbs. Two pups yelped and crawled over one another to get closer to their mother, who was whining and nipped at them as she ate the bloody flesh. Her mate watched and waited, licking the blood off its lips and jowls. The family playing and each taking their chance to crunch on the joints. The older coyotes crunching through the eyes and skull of the lamb’s head.

**
“I couldn’t do it…” they muttered, breathe shaky and whimpering.

“Couldn’t do what…?” Steph asked, sweetly petting the grass out of their red hair. Lara buried their dirty face in Steph’s chest, hiding the ugly faces they knew they were making.

“I couldn’t kill them… They stole the lamb and it was screaming, and then they got to the den… and I couldn’t kill them…” they sobbed, ashamed of themselves, the images of the pups flash in their mind. Steph embraced them, stroking their hair once more, gently fishing out some of the grass strewn about it.

“Oh, darlin’, that just means you’re kinder than you put on. It ain’t easy killin’ anything and coyotes have to eat too, hunny” they explained. “We can chase the coyotes away, or get rid of the pups now if we have to…” Steph suggested, gifting a small kiss atop their head to quell the sobbing. They could feel them lean in and bury their face in their shoulder.

“It might… be better…. If…we leave them alone... Don’t kill them…oof” A gasping Angel collapsed beside the two as they finally reached the top. “Tha… That’s how… vendetta’s start… with killing… families…” the noisy gasps for air caused the coyotes at the bottom of the hill to take their kill and retreat back into their den.

“Angie, why did you get off your horse at the bottom of the hill?” Steph asked knowing full-well that it was mere lapse in judgement, but they felt the urge to ask anyway.

“ Well, why didn’t you say anything before I hopped off?!” they snapped back. “I hiked all the way up here…” they whined.

Lara couldn’t help but smile. The bickering was familiar. A small comfort about that warmed their chest for a brief moment. But there was another familiar feeling welling up, too. Losing sheep wasn’t very common for the Shaws, but it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened while Lara was on duty.

“Come on, Darlin', let’s head back and get you cleaned up…” Steph urged, picking up themselves and their companion.

“And dressed”, Angie added, reaching out their hands to be lifted up and off the golden ground, both Lara and Steph obliged. “Sit with me Red, I’ve got an extra blanket to cover you up with”. The three turned back down the hill.

Both horses were now at the bottom and both were grazing, too distracted to listen to either riders’ calls. They chased their horses for only about five minutes until Lara cleared their throat, causing both Vixen and Fruitcake to perk up, and return to their respective riders.

Angie yanked a half-finished quilt out of a saddlebag and draped it over their friend. “You most likely won’t need this for the cold, but it’s better than simply sitting in your birthday suit…”

“Thank you…” they muttered, helping Angie up on to the saddle first before using the stirrup to sit behind them, wrapping their arms around their smaller waist.

“I’m glad you’ve at least listened this time, Red. We definitely don’t need you injured for the holiday. David would have our heads if you got hurt… again… Besides, you shouldn’t be running to pick fights with wild animals, especially ones willing to hunt during the day! Animals like that might have something wrong with’em. Chasing them off is fine enough.” stated Angel plainly.

    The young Lara stayed quiet. Both Angie and Steph were mentioning things between one another. An Angel and a Sweetheart bantering back and forth was soothing enough to listen to. Or it would have been, if Lara’s mind would let them listen. But this was another, mistake. Just last week they failed at applying the paint to the outer shed and outhouse, spilling white and green everywhere, including on Milo’s boots. The week before that, Lara was yelled at by their older cousin for attempting to clean the windows on the second story, only to drop dirty water over Asher’s poor head. And only a month ago, they fought in a nasty scrap with two mountain lions that had attempted to steal their sheep. That feeling was coming back. The sinking dread of failure came creeping in again. Time and time again it was there to remind Lara of just how much more work they make for the family. Here, David and his father had graciously took in his younger cousin from abroad and here they were, making more messes for the Shaw family to clean up-

“…Lara..!” Steph had hollered again for the third time, finally snapping the young red head out of their self-induced funk.

“hm! Yes?...” the trio were passing the field of sheep.

“Do you know which lamb they got?” Steph asked, mildly struggling with their horse to wait. Vixen and Fruitcake didn’t always get along.

“It was one of Billy’s, the runt I believe…”, they replied with a frown, a quiet sniffle and pitiful lean Angie could feel over their shoulder. To the younger one’s surprise, both mated companions smiled in an exalted relief. A wistful sigh shared between the two of them. “You seem relieved...” Angel patted their red-headed friend.

“A bit yes. Please don’t misunderstand, it’s not that we’re happy a lamb is dead, but Billy has mothered many a lamb in her lifetime, and she’s older. For her to have two lambs so late in the season, is more of a burden than a blessing…” they explained.

“Even if they didn’t take the runt, one lamb is easier for her to care for than two. The other would have probably starved out here and I’m not tolerating another 'Sir Wooliam' no matter how much y'all beg!” Steph added. The three laughed at each other, pleading to their friend. The Shaw Ranch was large, but it wasn’t large enough to breed and care for hundreds and hundreds of sheep like traditional sheep ranches. The family only kept several dozen and new lambs were free sheep.

“But we all love keeping new lambs in the house! And it’s only when there’s a runt around”, Angie clicked their tongue to make Fruitcake catch up with Steph and Vixen, only to make them run further ahead.

“Tell that to me again when a lamb is chewing on your clothes!” Steph sneered and clicked again, Vixen picking up speed.

“You can’t escape us!” Angie pleaded with Fruitcake, a plea that went ignored. Red stifled a giggle.

“I can! Vixen is faster!” The three would eventually get back to the house after they chased each other on horseback, Lara continuously protesting, as they still only had a half-a-quilt over their bare skin in the summer heat.

      Cicadas chirped louder now even though the sky was only filled with the mid-afternoon sun. The stage coach wasn’t going as fast as it had in the morning, but four horses pulling any coach is much more suited for faster travel than with only a pair. The heat was only bearable for the two driving the coach due to the breeze they felt at the front of the wagon. Unlike the poor gentleman who had suffered most of the ride sneezing and weeping  from the heat and dust lifting from wheels and horses' hooves. Ollie seemingly had just a moment of respite now as he managed to fall asleep in the summer warmth.

“Oh I forget to mention Milo-“Bobbie started quietly.

“Shh! don’t blow my cover” the one who passed themselves as ‘David’ whispered…

“Sorry- ahem, I was goin’ to ask if you remember the last time we went up this way. We had that incident with that man… uh Ivan?”

“The fella who got a cut on his hand?” he recalled, readjusting his seat at the reigns.

“That’s right. Aaron said he broke his leg…” Bobbie shuddered at the injury. A little prayer was given for the man for a speedy recovery.

“Ouch! That sounds terrible, I hope the man gets well soon…” Said the blonde man.

“No, I mean, he thinks the man broke his leg with us on that last trip…” Bobbie corrected.

“What?! Well did you correct him?” Milo asked.

“I didn’t think I needed to, we wrote it down in our notes. Look-”The two sitting in the front, opened that same small booklet Bobbie had before. Sure enough, there was the incident written in Milo’s chicken scratch and what was more surprising, a signature from Ivan acknowledging the cut on his hand in black ink, a small red finger print marking next to it on the small sepia pages. The two looked at each other in confusion as Bobbie put the booklet away. The dust kicked up again and an abrupt sneeze erupted from the carriage. Ollie groaned in agony from inside. The breeze carried the dust over the band of travelers and a small whine and a bark could be heard just barely over the sound of the wooden coach wheels.

“Milo…” Bobbie whispered, their demeanor turning serious from under their wide brimmed Stetson.

“I see, em… Prepare Mr. Olliver, and get ready” Milo remained calm, clicking his tongue to quicken the horses’ pace and then a quick whistle.

Bobbie acted fast. Pulling a shotgun from the luggage compartment atop the coach and then, like a monkey, swung their body over to the stage window and handed their passenger an extra kerchief with an unfamiliar stern look.

“I’d urge you to get down and lay low, Mr. Oliver. It seems we may have some trouble ahead of us after all”, Bobbie spoke quickly. Young Ollie only had a moment to himself before realizing just what the other was talking about.

Three bandits dressed in ragged overalls and layers of vests came out from the behind a distant tree line, attempting to cut off the stage coach. Their faces all covered in red and black rags to hide their identities. A flick of the reigns and a shout from the blonde driver caused the horses to pick up speed again.

“Bobbie!” shouted the driver. The gunner turned and saw the threat approaching, and shouted for Ollie to get down low once more as the sound of gun shots echoed across the hills as the bandits opened fire. Bobbie, steadied themselves on top of the stage coach as it sprinted across the dirt road. The three bandits were catching up quick to the small coach screaming at one another tactics to get ahead of them, some shooting the air just to spook the horses. Bobbie twisted their body as one bandit fired at them first.

“These assholes are getting’ bold to try and rob a stage coach so close to town~!?” Bobbie shouted to Milo. The group had been traveling for nearly four hours now, they were only less than an a half-hour away from Lathrop now.

“I know-! Seems like they’re gettin’ desperate” Milo replied with a grin, focusing on the path ahead. “That’s close enough, Bobbie!” He called, as one bandit was coming close to their flank.

Bobbie gave a high-pitched whistle and two bandits were met with a shocking pair of snarling jowls set upon their horses. A black hound bolted from underneath the carriage, the other coming up from behind. Expertly, the hounds snapped at the horses’ hooves, causing the poor beast to whiny and kick in fear. Caught off guard, one man could no longer control his horse and was unexpectedly bucked off. A horse with no rider now, ran off to get away from the wolfhounds chasing it, leaving its rider in the dust. One down, two to go.

*
Now having seen his partner in crime be bested by a few dogs, the second bandit pulled out his pistol and took aim at the hounds attacking his partner on the ground. Another loud shot rang through the countryside and the bandit about to take aim fell off his horse from a blow of Bobbie’s shotgun to his head. The thud was loud and heavy as the body flopped into the dirt, blood staining the yellow grass. Two down.

**

    The sight was hellish to this singular bandit who was accosted from his horse and now had two wolves set upon him. The wolves worked meticulously. First, going for the man’s legs to ensure he can’t get up so easily and then the black hound, seeing the man attempt to pull out his own weapon, ripped into his hand. In the distance another whistle, and the dark hound backed off while the speckled one managed to steal the man’s holstered six piece. Left a ragged, bleeding mess, the man wailed in agony and was left, abandoned by horse, wolves and partners.

   Back with the coach, Bobbie had steadied themselves in the rush of it all, the adrenaline of having just killed a man not quite settling in when they were shocked back to the moment. A whimpering shout from inside the coach, “Mr. Shaw!” Ollie cried. From inside the carriage, Ollie could see the third and final bandit. Desperation clouding any judgement this man could have had as he no crew or plan left in tact now, came up on their other flank, close enough to hop into the driver’s seat. Bobbie, still needing to reload, attempted to use the butt of his shotgun to knock the bandit off his own horse. The move was a risky one however, and this only gave the leverage this man needed to pull Bobbie off the carriage. With one hard yank, Bobbie went over side of the carriage, and fell on top the bandit in the spill. Both went plummeting to the dust and tumbled over one another as the stage coach kept going up and over the small hill.

“Bobbie!” cried Milo, he was ready to make the horses stop to get his colleague back when a series of loud barks rang over the fields to snap the man back to the job at hand and to reluctantly keep the carriage going. Bobbie wasn’t dead yet, and that hope was the only plea in Milo’s heart to pray his compatriots would be able to assist where he could not.

“Mr. Shaw! Talbots fallen off the coach! You have to stop!!” Ollie, still shaking with fear and adrenaline from the rush of it all, managed to poke his head out of the coach to shout at the driver, Bobbie’s kerchief still in his terrified clutches.

“We don’t stop. Not until we’ve reached our destination…” A rising guilt filled to the man’s throat, while Ollie looked back with a sinking feeling as he had witnessed Bobbie and the bandit spill over each other and roll down the hill.

At the bottom, Bobbie and this assailant were now in the midst of trying to incapacitate one another. In such close proximity, Bobbie could only punch and try to pin the man from reaching for his weapons. The scrap felt like it last for hours, even though only seconds had rolled by, when Bobbie was eventually thrown off far enough to wear the man could finally pull out this 12-inch long hunting knife. In the scrap, both had lost their hats and the coverings worn to hide the outlaw’s face also fell away, revealing a yellowy toothy grin with several gaps in between.

“I’m gonna enjoy this…” he smiled, brandishing the knife in his fist.

“Mister…” Bobbie was kneeling, still clutching to the unloaded shotgun their hands. Using it to help them stand up, “… You’re outgunned…” they managed to pant out.

“Hehe, you mus think I'm fuckin’ stupid- Yuh ain’t got no more bullets in yer ten piece. I can count…” he said, slowly stepping closer to them.

*

“I wasn’ talkin’ bout the gun…” Bobbie grinned at the sound of paws sprinting across the dirt when the maw of the speckled hound jumped from behind and latched his mighty jaws onto the wrist with the knife. Snarling and ripping into the man’s flesh, the sight was heart stopping, even after the man dropped his knife. Crunch once, as the joints cracked between his canine teeth. Another crunch as the bandit tried to yank his wrist free, only to make Asher bite down harder. Blood began to pool out of the wrist and out of Asher's jaws. Balling up fists to try and punch off the hound off his arm, Bobbie saw the holstered pistol that was previously in Asher’s mouth in the dust before them and reached to pick it up. The bandit screamed in pain and wailed, trying to swing the hound off his arm, only making the lacerations from the beast’s teeth worse.

“CALL IT OFF!” begged the outlaw, panicking as the dog bit down harder.

“Ash, get off!” Bobbie hollered. Reluctant, the speckled hound released and back off from this man he clearly wished to tear to shreds. The bandit breathed heavy, the pain and shock coursing through his body.

“Gee…well… thank you- now.. uhh” A click.

“You’re Welcome.”

BANG!

 The shot was not as loud as the shotgun that Bobbie used before, but the small pistol from the holster Asher had carried in his now bloody maw got the job done when it fired into the bandit’s skull. Blood and bone scattering across the ground. His body dropped in a heap and shuddered briefly before completely falling lifeless.

**

    The hot hills were quiet now. Even the cicadas stopped chirping when the shots were fired on these plains. The heat still permeated all through the dry brush. Bobbie, left at the end of the failed robbery across the fields, looked out and took a few deep breaths before their attention was pulled to the whine and leaps from the speckled hound. The darker hound trotting up beside them, a dusty tan Stetson in his mouth.

“I’m okay, Ash. Just bruises and fat lip…” he assured his mate. The heat and series of events that just took place made Bobbie sound tired and grittier.

“Thanks, David” Bobbie sighed, thankfully taking the hat back, briefly wiping off the small specks of red from David's teeth and plopping it back on their head. Bobbie gently patted David’s head for a moment and quickly decided to kneel back down and embrace both hounds.

“I’m glad you’re both okay, guys. Thanks for having my back...” they smiled and breathed a quiet sigh of relief with the two hounds in their arms. David feeling significantly warmer. Asher's tail wagged faster and they whined in an attempt to hug his mate still in his wolf form. Bobbie laughed and let it happen for a few seconds before getting back up and dusting themselves off, a literal cloud of dust floating off them. David and Asher both shook and dust lifted up and floated off of them as well.

“Alright. Let’s get you out of the sun and go catch up with Milo. He’s probably more worried than a rabbit in fox hole”. Bobbie chimed, slowly making their way up the hill to reach the top, where the city of Lathrop lay just yonder with two wolfhounds at their side.

Chapter Text

A blaze shown in their eyes. Surrounded by the inky blackness of night and smoke, tears poured down their cheeks but they disappeared before they could fall to the ground. An unfamiliar home before them, blazing hot with an untamed fire raging. Their breath caught in their throat for only a moment, but the scream that came out was not their own. If anything, the screaming was muffled and drowned out only by the roar of the fire. An intense wave of exhaustion flowed over their whole body as the inferno died down to a mere crackle in a brick and spackle fireplace. The desolate void of smoke and darkness brightening up now to the hues of early morning. Their throat, instead of stifled by the raging plumes of ash, now released the sensation of a small sneeze now tickling their nose. A gentle ripple like a pooling stream pushed through to calm the fierceness of the fire. The fear and panic of the scene before them, now washed away with the warm sight of a cozy rustic room and a familiar face.

            “Wake up, Sunshine…” a sweet voice. His voice was always so warm. A breath and Elliot watched his lover open their bright golden eyes to greet him. The scene painted in their mind seeming very familiar as it took many inspirations from the room they were in now. Sunshine smiled and stretched, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and then wrapping their arms around their lover’s neck. Elliot had been hovering over them for only a few moments while they slept. He did that when Sunshine had nightmares.

            “Why do you keep giving me such sweet dreams?” they asked, soft and lilting like a flower petal in the sun.

            “How can I not? Sleep is supposed to be restful, my love, and you’ve been hardly resting ever since we got to Dahlia…” Young Elliot leaned into the soft embrace and rested his forehead against Sunshine’s. A small kiss shared between the two of them was enough to get them giggling over each other. But before it could become more, the cabin room door swung open and in stormed a boisterous person with eyes sharp and confidence bursting from every limb.

            “Dawn, get up, darling! You’ll waste away the day!” they called. They were in bright yellow and white garb, their hair dark as night as they scoured at the two lovebirds. “Breakfast has been ready for nearly 20 minutes and it will be cold if you don’t get up this minute! I’ll make sure of it!” they exclaimed, a sly grin sneaking over their lips as they turned to leave. A surly Aaron could be heard just outside of the room, shuffling about to gather himself some breakfast. Elliot clambered and scooted off of his lover, laughing at their expression like the two had almost been caught in a salacious scandal. Like teenagers under a mother's gaze.

            “I’m awake! I’m awake!” Dawn exclaimed, climbing out of the wool blankets. They tried to stop the giggling once Aaron’s lover turned to vacate the room. Elliot helped pull them to their feet and assisted dressing them. The two were ready in only a few more minutes and they came out to two adults bickering at one another.

            “I was only saying, they can take their time, we’re all out here on vacation”, Aaron mentioned to their partner as the other two served themselves breakfast at the oak polished table.

 “That very well may be, Aaron, but I will not waste the eggs or day away waiting for late risers- Elliot, the two have of you better have washed your hands before you grabbed those rolls!” the quick witted mouth of Aaron’s partner startled the two seated at the table.

“We’re clean Ness, Honest!” Elliot held his palms up.

“Mfffmfff afffiie” Sunshine too held up their hands with a warm bread roll in mouth. The lot froze awaiting the approval of Aaron’s partner.

“… You’re lucky you’re cute…” they squinted at the Dawn and waved their wooden spoon at them and Aaron. The grinning banker wrapped their arms around them and smiled.

“We’re in no rush today, Agnes, let them eat…” he leaned on their shoulder.

“Hmph. That’s what you think, birthday boy. You only turn 30 once! And dinner isn’t going to catch itself. You boys go out and catch dinner, while Dawn and I will make the cake. Isn’t that right, Dawn darling? It’s about time you two had some brotherly bonding, in my opinion.” They’re dark hair tickled Aaron’s nose as he released them. Aaron sighed down to his brother and stole the roll in Elliot’s hands.

“Offay, Affie” Sunshine acknowledge, still chewing the freshly baked roll in their mouth.

“Dawn Darling, don’t chew with your mouth full…” Agnes scowled.

“Alright, little brother, the bait and the boat are ready. We row out when you are…” he smiled. Aaron marched to the cabin door, pulling up a pair of boots and taking a wide straw hat off of the cabin’s hat rack. Elliot, excited to see his own brother excited, got up to chase after him- only to pause and double back to give his Sunshine a loving goodbye kiss on the cheek.

“Have fun, Sunshine! Aaron, wait for me!” Elliot called, chasing his brother.

            The couples had been operating in this fast paced lifestyle ever since they’d arrived in Dahlia just one week ago. Simply meeting up with the spit-fire of Aaron’s partner was a whirlwind to any other soul. Elliot was more than thankful to have Sunshine present when they met up with them at the train station as Agnes was much tamer with someone like Dawn around. They had always been sharp and a fast talker, but with Dawn to smile and satiate their ego, Ness was kept perfectly satisfied to behave civil in public and talk all the way to Aaron’s home. Staying with Aaron and Agnes had its own hardships, however. One that almost ruined the whole trip before it began.

[One Week Ago. Dahlia Station]

            Just when Elliot and Sunshine arrived, the first thing out of a certain Smart-Aleck’s mouth was about the tragedy that just befell the city. Of course young Dawn didn’t seem to mind the talk, but Elliot couldn’t help but worry.

            “Why it’s absolutely tragic, darling. I knew Angel Shaw personally. The whole ordeal is suspicious to say the least. An entire family-gone! Just like that! Could you imagine? - All and for the press to say it was some sort of accident?! I’d make sure someone was rolling in their grave if it were me and my family!” they rambled while the other two were settling on the carriage ride to Aaron’s home. Dawn couldn’t help but be intrigued.

            “Who’s Angel Shaw?” they asked.

            “David Shaw’s partner, of course. Why I saw them the very weekend before their horrible fate. They were giving me some of their exclusive wool for the shop. I never saw them have any fireworks now, but I couldn’t say that for the rest of the family. Although, Aaron said he saw David and his crew too and they weren’t carrying any fireworks either...” Dawn was hooked with the story. Elliot had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Dawn too often internalized the worrisome news, and would then suffer sleepless nights afterwards. This whole tale of the Shaw Family’s demise had already left Sunshine with nerve-wracking nightmares. And this discussion would surely only make things worse…

            “That’s terrible…” Dawn muttered, Elliot wanted to speak up.

“That’s not even the half of it darling!” the gossip was to continue,

“This whole city is in an uproar about whether or not the family perished from an accident or if there was something more sinister afoot!” Sunshine gasped. The horses whinnied as they trotted through the dirt and cobble path.

“Well, I heard that some papers say that after the fire, all of their animals disappeared. But I’ve been to that ranch myself. The Shaw farm is nothing to sneeze at, my dear. They owned dozens of sheep, several horses, and a few chickens to count. Now if it were just an accident, then where could all their livestock have gone?” they surmised.

“Ness, if it’s all the same to you-” Elliot chimed in only to be cut off.

“Why if the paper hadn’t mentioned that this ‘Lone Survivor’ was alive, I’d have thought the whole family was murdered out of some personal vendetta. And isn’t it just the most awful way to go...”

“What do you mean?” Dawn asked.

“Why to be burned alive like that!” they answered with a flagrant heft of oblivious ignorance in their voice. Elliot couldn't help but let out a shocked gasp.

“Agnes!” Elliot finally managed to speak up. The certain smart-mouthed carriage driver met sharp-eyes with young Elliot only to pause and do a double-take at the grimaced face of his Sunshine. As interesting as the story was, empathetic Dawn couldn’t hold back the frightened tears that welled up in their eyes. A sight that could fluster the sternest of souls.

… Well, almost…

“Oh Dawn darling, don’t be so sensitive. After all, you’re not the one whose dead.”

Dawn, a little embarrassed, rushed to wipe away any tears from falling.

A certain Smart-Aleck could never be flustered…

                       The summer sun made the cicadas louder and Aaron and Elliott’s boat floated a top of the lake’s surface. The family had reserved a gorgeous lake-side cabin for the week to celebrate Aaron’s 30^th birthday and the fish were ultimately reluctant to bite at this hour. But the two were content, languid on their little boat. They waited patiently for the slightest of pulls, but neither felt a tug on their makeshift poles.

            “It’s a shame Pops never bothered to teach us together…” Aaron muttered aloud to his brother only to be met with silence. Looking over his shoulder, Elliot wasn’t much paying attention to the question or his rod. “Don’t you think?” Aaron chimed again. No response. Elliot was fixated on the cabin. Aaron sighed and ‘gently’ swung his hat at his brother. Elliot couldn't help but jolt, clearly lost in thought. “Seems like the fish aren’t the only ones giving me the light of day… What’s eating you?” he asked his brother, plopping his fishing hat back on his head. Elliot adjusting the straw hat given to him by his brother.

Elliot, now snapped back to reality, couldn’t help but feel a hint of regret for ignoring his brother.

 “I’m sorry, Aaron. I am having fun- it’s just… well… Sunshine…” he sighed. Aaron had seen a love-struck Elliot before and this most certainly wasn’t the same. His brother held a note of worry in his voice and Aaron couldn’t help but feel that worry wash over him. No one would want to see their little sibling upset and anxious.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s that whole event that happened here in Dahlia... Ever since Sunshine heard about this awful tragedy, they’ve grown more and more obsessed with the whole thing. I worry that their empathetic nature will have them losing sleep…” sighed Elliot.

“... Are they having bad dreams again?” Aaron asked, throwing his cast back out to the lake.

“Not as bad as before. But just last night…” Elliot paused and looked over at his brother. “Gosh Aaron, I’m sorry. I’m sure that’s all you’ve heard for the last week. It’s you’re birthday and we came out here to fish…”

“No no. It’s- well. It’s alright for you to be worried. I know how a certain Smart-Aleck can be. But they talk, Ell. We can’t stop them from talking…”

“…I know, you’re right…” Elliot reclined a little

“I often am…” Aaron propped up the pole up next to the two and followed suit.

A moment of silence fell between the two. If the two of the boys wanted, they could have paddled closer to the shade, but they remained in warmth of the sun. A breeze cooled them down. Elliot cleared his throat and leaned his pole on the side of the little dingy.

“You know…” Aaron found his mind wondering. Elliot looked over to his brother. “You and your partner go into dreams, right? Every night?” Aaron asked out of curiosity. Elliot sat back up.

 “Well… Uhh I mean, not every night, but many nights, we do…” Elliot uttered, his eyes widened from behind his spectacles.

“ohh… good good…” another moment of silence from Aaron… Until- “Does it… hurt?” Aaron asked.

 Elliot’s jaw dropped. Aaron had never taken much interest his powers. In truth, Aaron had only recently learned about his brother’s abilities and even then, he’d been avoidant of the topic. Particularly when a smart mouthed savory individual was present. They didn’t need to know about this complicated magic business. Elliott smiled, elated at the question.

“Aaron… do you want to try a dreamscape?” Elliott hesitantly asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes. He could feel his heart swell a bit. Aaron, nervous, nodded to his brother as curiosity won him over. It was his birthday after all, why not have a grand ol’ adventure.

 The boys laughed to each other in the heat. With Elliott reassuring his brother all will be well and with a snap of his finger, the two went limp and fell into a deep sleep in their little dingy floating on the lake.

            Back in the cabin, a certain Smart-Aleck and a giggly Sunshine took refuge from the growing heat outside and started on crafting a cake fit for a king [Or a bank teller at the very least]. The two had their sleeves rolled up and were thoroughly dusting the rolling pins and counter tops with flour.

            “The owners of this cabin are awfully trustworthy to let patrons use the cookstove and skillets. If it were me, I’d tell them to eat out every night”, a certain smart-aleck gabbed.

            “Oh Aggie, no one could afford to eat out every night. Well…unless you’re a Rockafeller- or something. Especially all the way out here?” Sunshine laughed, “I mean, the boys are out catching our dinner tonight. What would we cook it with if we didn’t have the stove?”

            “… Ever heard of a campfire?” Agnes asked, the air was filled with sarcasm in every word.

            “Well, what if I want to bake the fish?” Dawn retorted back.

 A pause fell between the two. Dawn was folding a hefty dough while Agnes had to pause the stirring of the cake batter.
            “Dawn, darling… You do know you don’t need an oven to bake things …” another pause. "Right?”

            Dawn wiped their brow, leaving a white mark of flour over their forehead.

            “Well that just sounds plain silly…” Dawn muttered quietly, trying not to sound embarrassed. Agnes couldn’t help themselves but laugh, seeing Sunshine’s cheeks turn a little red.

            “Hahaha, don’t be embarrassed Dawn-darling, you’re adorable. It’s part of your charm” Aggie confessed. This was a rare compliment Agnes would give out to those they deemed worthy. Dawn being someone who often was in Aggie's eyes. Sometimes, Agnes gave more words of praise to Dawn than they did to their own loving partner. Once, Aaron even confronted his lover about this and had asked them why he didn’t receive such words of praise as often, to which a certain smart-aleck replied in front of his coworkers with a proud ‘Well you’ve seen me naked, and that is the greatest praise I could give you’ and now they are no longer allowed inside the bank Aaron works in.

            “Speaking of charm,” Sunshine started, a spur to change the current discussion. Agnes returned to their regularly scheduled stirring. “Didn’t you think that little newspaper boy who gave us the paper the other day was also charming?” Dawn smiled. Agnes couldn’t help but glance over to them with a very skeptical look in their eyes.

            “Yes… he was very energetic… Why?” they asked. Dawn’s face looked wide-eyed and hopeful. Suspicion quickly rose in the wild Agnes's gaze.

            “Well, speaking of papers… I was just thinking… about that story about… the Shaw Family-“, Dawn very sweetly tip-toed over only to have their friend react by pushing the cake batter on the wooden table.

            “Ohh No! We are not discussing this again, Dawn-darling! Elliott has already given me an earful about how much he doesn’t want us to talk about this anymore!” Agnes put their hands up and practically ran from Dawn, whom of which only followed closely behind, hands folded to pray to their friend.

            “But Elliott isn’t here right now! And I thought mayb-“Dawn was cut off.

            “-maybe we’d discuss more about a tragedy that’s happened over a week ago?! Oh- Dawn Darling, You are not subtle, give it a rest! You’re a little obsessed over this whole ordeal!” a certain Smart-Aleck dashed away from their lush pleading eyes, knowing all too well the game Sunshine was so good at playing.

            “I’m not obsessed! I’m just simply… concerned!-that’s it- If Elliott and I are to come live in Dahlia, then we should.. uhh.. learn all of the positives and negatives about living there!” Sunshine tried to sound convincing. In truth, they did want to discuss more about the tragedy that befell the family. But perhaps there was just a hint of truth to the worry. Was the whole disaster just a fluke? Were there to be more moments like them to come because of this? Dawn could see that their attempts put the steadfast Agnes to the test. Their polished, sturdy and refined exterior close to cracking all for the chance to gossip. Dawn lowered to their knees and crawled, like a beggar for a meal.

“And you were a journalist! You see things from a different view! Like, when the paper yesterday said that there were no survivors! That the lone Shaw was just some imposter grasping for ‘the fifteen minutes of fame’?! Oh- won’t you share with me your thoughts, Aggie? Do you think it’s true?”

The bait is cast.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone. I know Elliott spoke to you about this before, but it’s only because he’s worried about me. I won’t tell him or Aaron…” Their eyes glistened, pleading.

The line is hooked.

“Pleeeeaaase~”

Agnes stood and breathed at the sight before them. Like a sinner at the alter confessing their sins, Sunshine’s hands folded to a certain Smart-aleck’s knees.

“… No…” a certain Smart-Aleck finally answered. Dawn slumped to the floor. A certain smart-aleck seemed to have a gait of steel. Unbending.

“… I don’t think it’s true…” Dawn snapped their head back up faster than a whip could crack, with a sunny smile wider than the Grand Canyon. “And don’t grovel on the floor, Dawn-darling, I may get the wrong idea about you…” a wink.

The fish was caught.

Sunshine stood up quickly, dusted off their clothes, and smiled gleefully, hanging off every word to come from a certain smart-aleck’s mouth. Finally, acknowledgement.

“You’re lucky you’re cute. No, my dear, to suddenly release information like that, sends the message to public to stop-looking. Don’t ask any more questions. It’s a sneaky writer’s technique that journalists who have a moral compass write up to protect the subject matter. Which, then, begs the question…”

Dawn leaned in.

“Who is looking?” Aggie sighed. The listening party couldn’t help but gasp. Agnes chuckled.

“Think about it darling, the story is almost a week old, the whole state is practically moving along to the next tragedy. Why would anyone wish to write about the family again? There’s nothing about any suspects, nor was there any new evidence to confirm it an accident. This writer only talked about how the ‘sole account of the remaining Shaw survivor, a hoax, a lost soul seeking moments of attention’. And yet, no name of the survivor was ever mentioned, neither the name of the person faking to be them. All in all, it seems a very sloppy attempt to tell everyone ‘the deed is done, no need to seek anyone out!’ …Perhaps someone feels the need to be protective?”  They pondered and went to retrieve the bowl of cake batter again.

            Dawn had to sit and take in all of Aggie’s words of wise speculation. This was exactly what young Sunshine wanted. To pick the brain of someone they admired for their wit and intellect. Agnes did not disappoint, they never do.

            “So, you think there really is a lone survivor?” Dawn braced themselves up against the wooden dining table.

            “Well, I’m sure, I don’t know, Dawn-Darling, it is all speculation of course. Now, keep folding your pastry before the fish gets here” Agnes urged, divulging away from any further conversations of the topic.

            Sunshine nodded, although they had an inkling that the boys wouldn’t be fastest fishermen on the lake, but they were never one to argue with a certain Smart-Aleck.

            Hours had passed. The sun was finally starting to set over the grounds, and only one boat remained floating on the lake. To Dawn’s surprise, they were right about the boys not returning right away. Both Sunshine and a certain Smart Aleck were lounging with some wooden chairs and parasols in the sun. The two had seemingly completed their tasks of birthday set up. A certain Smart-Aleck had their nose deep in the newest book released by their favorite author, and next to them, Sunshine laid out in the sunshine asleep.

  Elliott was seemingly the first to rise. Their boat had drifted under the shade of some trees, as he noted that both he and his brother were surprisingly sparred from any horrendous burns from the Sun’s strong summer beams. Aaron blinked himself awake shortly after.

            “I never knew dinosaurs could look so colorful”, Aaron said through a hefty yawn and stretch.

            “Well I took some creative-… Aaron our boat is moving…!” Elliot noticed.

Speaking of fish.

            “Oh- Shit! Ell, How long have we been out?!” Aaron asked, rushing to retrieve his bending fishing rod. There was minimal resistance at first, as whatever had the boys’ boat had no quarries gently pulling them along the lake bottom. Once Aaron started heaving, however, did the boys and their little dingy seemed to mosey along the water’s surface at a shockingly faster speed.

            “W-well, about that, y-you’see, there’s no exact science on how much time passes during your dreams, but I’m usually pretty careful on keeping track of tim- AARON!” Elliott scrambled, grabbing hold of his brother before either of them could make their little boat spill over. The two both heaved and huffed in a battle with what must be a great monster of a fish! A glorious heave together and out leapt their masterful catch, flopping and sopping both men in their small, but sturdy, boat.

            But once they returned, both a little wetter than they initially started, their great struggle of their catch was probably no bigger than a house cat. Still, it was better than nothing. And the smiles on the two brothers told of a more rewarding venture than either of them had expected. They ran up the dock to return to their partners, Elliott holding the rods in tow and Aaron, gleefully hauling the catch with pride.

            “Well, it’s certainly about time! The sun is nearly down and we are starving. Why, any longer and we would have started eating the cake without you~!” A certain smart aleck chimed, slapping their book closed for dramatic effect.

            “Alright, Wise-Guy, well we can at least enjoy a fine catch before the sun completely sets then! Eh?” Aaron showed off the creature he was holding by the line. Aaron awaited for approval by his partner, Elliott’s own partner still napping under their parasol.

            Elliott was coming up from behind, watching the interaction between his brother and his spouse unfold. At times, Elliott was a little fearful of Agnes. They tended to be so bold and forward that most would quake in fear by anything they could say or do. But, every so often, Elliott would see the reasons why they were so good for his brother. Both of the boys know that the catch was fairly small to feed four mouths, and despite the skepticism in their eyes, and the easy insult to be made, fair Agnes stood to their feet, smiled at the birthday boy and kissed his wet face and just said,

“A Fine Catch Indeed”.

Aaron felt a wave of reassurance and happily carried the catch inside, gesturing Elliott to leave the fishing rods outside and follow to get himself cleaned up. When Agnes moved to follow Aaron inside, they caught Elliott’s eyes dart to his brother and then back over to sleeping Sunshine. Rolling their eyes, Aggie took their book and lightly smacked Dawn’s hand with it.

“Dawn-Darling, wake up! The boys are finally here…” they urged.

No response. Agnes gave pause and leaned in to gently poke Dawn’s shoulder. Elliott’s eyes went wild.

“Dawn-Darling?” a twinge of fear in Agnes’s voice. Elliott rushed to his lover’s side, dropping the equipment where he was. Elliott felt his nerves spark, a bit of almost frustration trying to settle in his gut, but it was diminished by panic. Agnes called for Aaron.

            “Not again…” Elliott muttered aloud, cupping the face of his Sunshine in his palms almost exactly like how he’d done that morning. A stark difference now, however, was how exhausted Elliott felt right there in that moment. Had he not been dreamscaping for his brother all day, he might’ve had the good sense to help his lover right now! Sunshine breathed in a restful rhythm, their skin warm like life, but eyes shut like death. Elliott’s heart started racing, he lifted the sleeping beauty up into his wet arms and bolted passed Aaron and Agnes, both of them pleading with questions and ways they could offer any assistance. Dawn never had fits before! If this was something of a seizure or narcolepsy, both Aaron and Agnes urged to go and fetch a doctor. Elliott heard none of it. He was too focused on listening to the groans and murmurs Dawn uttered in their sleep. The panic trying to set in on poor Elliott’s heart wasn't fading, but laying them back on their bed inside, he knew he’d have to push himself, even if it meant revealing what he was to Agnes.

“mm hmm”… A hum from Dawn’s sleeping lips. Elliott wanted nothing more than to jump into their mind and push away the dreams forming in his lover’s mind. This was his lover, his joy, his Sunshine at the mercy of something trying to take hold. He could feel it, in the thrums of his magic, there was surely something there! Like an old hand scrapping at the window. The fear of these dreams coming from somewhere- someone else- not just the worrisome places that plagued his lover's psyche, was something Elliott truly dreaded. Elliott was intelligent. Youngest to graduate as Valedictorian in his class, first to establish the use of a Dreamwalker's labyrinth, and the only magic user in his family, Elliott was aware of his strengths. But even in all his great achievements, he was still only 23, and his anxiety could cloud even his soundest of judgement.

 They murmured once more… “mm.. hmm…”. Elliott leaned in closer while Aaron and Agnes were both talking aloud to one another. Aaron tried to keep Agnes calm while Agnes shouted for them to fetch the nearest doctor. Frustrated, Elliott swung his palm out and over in a motion that made their bedroom door slam shut on its own. Both Aaron and Agnes shut themselves up at that, mouth agape.

Elliott taking several breaths in through his nose to try his very best to remain steady, knew that he wasn't capable yet to make a new dreamscape yet. He leaned in once again in hopes to catch something from Sunshine’s lips. And then, finally, a word Dawn uttered from their sweet lips so quietly it made Elliott hold his breath.

“…Brachium…”