Meeting?

Outside of old time Denver, Colorado in 1868, a young woman sat atop her brown and white stallion; overlooking her old home. The woman appeared to be about twenty-one. Her long black hair was flowing in the wind while her tan skin held signs of violence. She was an outlaw, after all. Her brown eyes were full of hatred. To many she was known as Wild Anna.

Her cowboy hat was black in color. As were her vest and pants. Her cowboy boots, on the other hand, were brown and were made of genuine leather. She wore a white long-sleeved shirt under her vest. She had her Colt Six Shooters in her leather holsters which were on either side of her hips.

"Father, I hope you're suffering," the young woman whispered to no one, recalling many events.

"Anna, come," Her fellow outlaw told her, riding up beside her on his black stallion. "Benjamin wants to see you."

"Alright, Billy," She said to him, pulling on the reigns to get her horse to move.

Wild Anna led her horse to the shack where the brutally beaten Benjamin was resting. She hopped off of her horse and knocked on the door.

"Come in, Anna," Came the weak voice of Benjamin.

Wild Anna opened the door and stepped inside the old, worn out shack. The shelves were falling off the walls and the door was about to fall off of the hinges. When Wild Anna got to the bed that the leader of the three was lying on, she knelt down at his bedside. "What is it, Benjamin?" She asked, taking his hand in hers.

The man, Benjamin, appeared to be in his late fifties. Wild Anna had taken to Benjamin like he was her father. His battered hand slipped out of Wild Anna's hand and caressed her cheek as only a father would, "Find my son, Michael," He told her weakly. "And tell him that Papa loves and misses him."

With that, he took his final breath. His hand that rested on Wild Anna's cheek fell lifeless.

The young woman stood up, "Anna?" Billy asked confused, walking up behind her.

Wild Anna tilted her head forward so that the brim of her hat covered her eyes, "We have to find Michael Benson."

"Why?"

"Because Benjamin said we need to."

Billy nodded before walking back to his black stallion and hopping on. Followed by Wild Anna with her brown and white stallion.

Billy's clothes looked a lot like Wild Anna's but his cowboy boots were black in color. But he was a full blooded white man of German decent. He had short, wavy chocolate brown hair, his eyes resembled the forest while his skin was tanned from riding in the blistering sun.

Unlike Wild Anna, he had a 1856 Winchester Rifle strapped to his back with the barrel pointing to the sky.

'I think I must kill this Michael by hook or crook,' Billy thought, looking to his partner.

Suddenly Wild Anna flicked the reigns, "Let's go, Tasunke," The female outlaw told her stallion as he started galloping towards Denver.

Wild Anna was followed by the German outlaw and his black stallion, Grane.

When they got to Denver, which was a good two and a half miles, they rode through the town. Avoiding eye contact.

Soon the two arrived at the saloon, where the two hopped off of their respective stallion, and tied them to the posts before walking in.

In the saloon was a bar with stools, round tables everywhere, and can-can dancers. "I'm gonna find out what I can 'bout Michael," Wild Anna said to her partner, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, Anne," Billy replied, before walking over to a table where some guys were playing poker.

Wild Anna walked to the bar, laughing at Billy's addiction to poker. When she sat down, "Shot of Whiskey," She told the bartender, tilting her head so her eyes were covered by the brim of her hat.

"Sure thing," He replied, grabbing a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass.

He placed the whiskey and glass in front of her, "My, my, what's such a pretty young lady doing in a town like this?" The bartender asked, obviously not recognizing her.

Wild Anna's head snapped up, "What did you say about me?"

"You're such a pretty young lady," The bartender replied, looking confused.

"You grew up here in Denver, didn't ya?" Wild Anna asked, looking around.

"Yeah I did," He replied, raising a graying eyebrow.

"What do ya know about Michael Benson?" the female outlaw asked him, pouring herself a shot of whiskey and downing it before setting the glass on the counter.

"He usually hangs out near Sheriff Stockton's place," The bartender told her as Wild Anna poured herself another shot of whiskey. "Why?"

"Let's just say a friend of mine sent me and my partner to find him," She replied, smirking before downing her shot.

"What's your friend's deal with him?" He asked her, absolutely confused by the outlaw.

"He has a message for him," Wild Anna smirked, pouring and downing another shot.

"Okay?" The bartender said, confused.

Wild Anna stood up and turned to leave but not before saying, "Bill is payin. If he asks where Anne is, I went to find Sheriff Stockton."

With that, she walked out of the saloon she was in, untied her horse's reigns, and hopped on. She rode Tasunke to the other side of Denver where she found Benjamin's son, Michael Benson.

She pulled on the reigns to stop her stallion when she saw him. She was shocked; he looked so much like the woman Benjamin was with in the pictures she had found. His short hair was wavy and as brown as chocolate while his skin was tanned.

She could tell that Michaelwas an average person with his brown chaps, black pants, black cowboy boots, and his grey long-sleeved shirt. He didn't have his cowboy hat on his head but instead on his back; dangling from his neck.

Wild Anna tried to swallow a lump in her throat that wouldn't stay down, 'I guess I have to go on and talk to him,' Wild Anna thought as she flicked the reigns on her stallion to get him to walk in the direction of the young Benson.

The closer that Wild Anna got towards Michael, she could see every detail. That he even had eyes that resembled chocolate orbs.

Sheriff Stockton looked up behind the young Benson to find Wild Anna riding up behind him, "Hello, Ma'am," Sheriff Stockton greeted, tipping his hat to the young lady as Michael turned around. "How may I help you today?"

Sheriff Stockton was an older man with graying hair, tanned skin, and his eyes were a greyish color. His clothes were like normal except he had a sheriff's badge.

"I'm looking for Michael Benson," She replied, getting straight to the point.

"Well you found me," The tanned young man piped up, looking her in the eyes. "What do ya need?"

He couldn't help but feel he knew her from somewhere.

"A friend sent Bill and I to find you," Wild Anna replied, glancing over at the sheriff every so often.

"What is it?" The young cowboy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not something I can tell ya, but more like something I have to show ya," The female outlaw told him, leaning forward onto her stallion's neck with her arms crossed.

Michael nodded before walking over to his red mare. He grabbed the saddle and hopped on; grabbing the reigns and steadying himself.

"Ready, Mr Benson?" Wild Anna asked, sitting up and grabbing the reigns to Tasunke.

"Yes, Ma'am," Michael replied, flicking the reigns to get his mare to walk over to Wild Anna and Tasunke.

"But first we need to get Bill from his gambling addiction," She laughed, flicking the reigns to get her stallion to walk toward the saloon.

She was followed by Michael.

When they got to the saloon, Bill -who didn't look all too happy- was walking out of the building. When he got to his stallion, Grane, he hopped on. He didn't even look around him. So -to say the least- he got the surprise of his life. Wild Anna and Michael riding up behind him with the half-native American outlaw speaking: "Well I found Michael."

He squalled loudly, falling off of his stallion and landing in the water trough. "Anne! I'm gonna kill ya deader than dead!"

Michael kept his fit of laughter to himself while Wild Anna just spoke blankly; "Quit playing in the water and get on your horse."

"Fine," Billy snapped, getting out of the trough and back on his stallion.

The German outlaw put his dripping wet hat back on his head, which still had water standing in it. Water fell down his face and dripped onto Grane. "Sorry Boy," Billy apologized to his stallion, patting his neck.

Wild Anna just flicked the reigns of Tasunke to get him to walk towards the edge of Denver. Followed by Michael-who now had his hat on his head- and Billy.

Since Wild Anna was a little ways ahead of Michael and Billy, "How long have you known her?"

"Who?"

"The young lady," Michael replied, looking ahead at Wild Anna.

He still couldn't help but feel he should turn and high-tail it out of there but something was stopping him. Like something was telling him to stay at their sides. And that he would be needed. But he couldn't explain what it was.

"Ever since she was knee-high to a grasshopper," Billy told the other male of the three. "She came to me and Benjamin not long after her father killed her mother. We gave her a place to live, food to eat, water to drink, and clothes to wear."

"How old are you if you helped this Benjamin give her a place to stay?" Michael asked, looking to Billy.

"Thirty-eight," Billy answered, not sparing a glance at Michael.

"And how old is she?"

"Twenty-one."'

"Ya do know that I can hear y'all?" Wild Anna asked, not looking behind her as the three walked back to the old shed.

"My apologies, M'lady," Michael told the young lady, tipping his hat.

"Accepted," Was the simple reply that came from the half-breed's mouth.

"What's her deal?" Michael asked, confused as Wild Anna's stallion walked faster than the other two horses.

Billy shrugged his shoulders.

"Heyah!" she shouted, flicking the reigns; causing Tasunke to trot from the outskirts of Denver.

"Guess we had better follow her," Billy told Michael, flicking Grane's reigns. "Heyah!"

Billy caught up to Wild Anna but left Michael behind.

"Great," Michael mumbled under his breath before mimicking the outlaws' motions.

His mare started to trot after Billy and Wild Anna. "Do they know how to let somebody catch up?" He asked himself as he caught up to the other two.

When they got to the old, worn out shack, the three stopped and Wild Anna got off her stallion before walking into the shack. Michael followed her actions. Stopping when he realized what he was in for. There -on the bed- was the lifeless body of his father.

"Papa."

Wild Anna took her hat off of her head and let it dangle from her neck on her back. "Your father was the closest I have ever had to a father," Wild Anna told Michael as she turned to face him.

Michael tried to run but was stopped by an unmovable force standing in the doorway known as Billy Schulz. "Where do ya think you're goin?" He asked, crossing his arms and looking down at the twenty-three year old man on the ground.

The young Benson was too scared to even speak. But the silence broke when Wild Anna spoke, "I don't wanna hurt ya."

"Yeah right!" Michael shouted in fear, looking to Wild Anna; who was standing behind him.

"Recognize me now?" She asked, crouching down to his level.

"Yeah. You're Wild Anna and he's Billy Schulz," he replied, voice shaking with fear.

Wild Anna had killed many men with no problems at all. So there was a reason he was terrified. "Correct," the female outlaw confirmed, smirking.

Suddenly a shot came from outside of the shack -which all three avoided- "Come out and fight like a man!"

"Who is that?" Michael asked, reaching for his gun which he failed to bring with him.

"Here. Catch," Wild Anna shouted, tossing one of her Colt Six Shooters to him-which he caught.

Michael nodded, opening the revolver and checking to make sure there were bullets in it before slapping it closed; making it spin.

"That would be Ole Pete Grayson," Billy told him, pulling his 1856 Winchester Rifle from his back, ready to shoot.

"What does he want?" The youngest man asked the outlaws, positioning himself for a standoff.

"He wants Benjamin's money," Wild Anna replied before her partner could, pulling out her other Colt Six Shooter.

"He wants Dad's money?" Michael asked, a shocked look on his face as he spared a glance at Wild Anna.

Wild Anna just nodded before another shot came through the window, just barely missing Michael's head. "Better watch out," Billy warned as Wild Anna stood up from her crouching position. "What are ya doin?"

"I'm gonna quit beatin the Devil 'round the stump," She replied, placing her hat back on her head.

"What?! You cant do that!" Billy hissed, looking to the female outlaw.

"Yes I can," Wild Anna whispered, looking determined to win.

She readied her Colt Six Shooter before placing it back in its holster. The half-breed Comanche walked out of the shack, leaving Michael and her partner behind.

"Be safe," Michael mumbled so Billy couldn't hear him.

When Wild Anna was outside, "C'mon out, Pete!"

An older man about Benjamin's age walked out from behind a dune, "I see the half-breed decided to come out."

"I'll make you a deal," Wild Anna said to him, with the slightest grin.

"And what would that be?" The man asked her even though he already knew.

"A standoff. If you kill me, you can get Benjamin's money. But if I win, I get yours," Wild Anna told him, her right hand-her shooting hand-near her Six Shooter.

"Alright," Pete replied, smirking.

Pete placed his hand near his Remington Revolver, readying himself for the standoff. The two moved for their revolvers at the same time but Wild Anna was faster. The bullet stopped its journey in Pete Grayson's heart. Killing him instantly.

Michael and the German outlaw walked out of the shack to find Wild Anna placing her Six Shooter back in the holster. The young Benson walked up to the female outlaw, "Here's your gun back."

He handed her the Six Shooter, which she took and placed in the opposite holster.

"Let's get back inside and bury Benjamin," Wild Anna whispered, turning on her heels before walking back to the shack.

2: New Views
New Views

Billy picked up Benjamin's lifeless body and carried him outside with tears threatening to fall. Wild Anna walked over to Billy and Benjamin's body, "I'll take his gun."

With that, she took the Colt Six Shooter from its holster before walking back over to the gun's rightful owner. "Here. It's yours," She said, holding it out to the young man.

Michael took the gun hesitantly, "Why are you giving it to me?"

The half-breed Comanche's reply was simple: "Your its rightful owner."

"Thank you," The young Benson whispered with a shocked look on his face.

Wild Anna turned on her heels as Billy placed Benjamin's body in the grave. She couldn't bear to see Benjamin being put to rest. Wild Anna strode over to her stallion and got on, "Comin, Benson?" She asked not looking at him but instead looking at her saddle.

The young man nodded, placing his newly acquired gun in his holster before walking to his red mare. He hopped on the horse before glancing to Wild Anna then back to the town of Denver.

"So, where to now?" Michael asked the half Comanche outlaw.

"You go back to Denver," Wild Anna told him, looking him in the eyes before looking to the sky. "Billy and I are gonna go where ever the wind takes us."

Then Michael said something that shocked Wild Anna, "I'm goin with ya."

Wild Anna's eyes widened as she shook her head, "No. They'll be lookin for ya."

"We can fight them together," Michael argued as his mare, Mara, walked over to Wild Anna and Tasunke.

"Why?"

"I believe ya have good left in ya," The young man told her with sincerity in his voice.

"No, I don't."

Neither of them noticed that Billy and his stallion had left for where ever. "Yes, ya do. Otherwise, ya wouldn't have given me the gun," The twenty-three year old protested.

"I didn't want your blood on my hands," Wild Anna snarled, gritting her teeth.

"I don't believe that for a second," Michael retorted, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The half Comanche outlaw just shrugged his hand off of her shoulder. "Whatever."

She pulled on the reigns and Tasunke started to gallop off. "If you're comin, then get a move on."

Michael nodded, flicking the reigns causing Mara to gallop after the outlaw and her stallion. The baron desert was blistering with the scorching sun.

The two rode in silence until Wild Anna spoke; "What do you see in an inbred like me?"

"I see someone who has been hurt, yearns to be loved, and someone who hides their feelings," Michael replied, as the two rode side by side on their respective horse. "And you are not an inbred."

"I'm no good for anything," the female Comanche outlaw whispered, tears threatening to fall.

Michael grabbed the reigns to Wild Anna's horse, "What do ya think you're doin?"

"I'm speakin the truth, Benson," She hissed, looking him in the eyes with a look that was a mixture between pleading and hurt.

"No you're not," he argued, pulling on the reigns to both horses to stop them. "You're speakin the white man's view."

"You're a white man," she pointed out, trying to get the reigns from Michael. "What do ya have to say about that?"

"I may be a white man, but I have a heart," Michael replied, giving her a gentle smile.

Wild Anna looked shocked. In her lifetime, she had never been spoken to with so much kindness other than from Benjamin or Billy. In the baron desert, a place so lifeless, she never thought she would meet someone who cared about her. Genuinely.

"Thank ya," she whispered, giving a small smile.

"No problem, Anne," the young Benson told her, releasing his grip on Tasunke's reigns.

"Please call me by my real name," Wild Anna requested, her smile growing.

"What's your real name?"

"Chilam," she replied, genuinely happy that she could get close to someone. "It means snowbird."

"It's a pretty name. But what's your middle name?" Michael asked as the two horses started walking again.

"Anna," she replied. "Chilam Anna PoWell. Father took a white man's name when he met my mother."

"What was his name?" the tanned young man asked, curiously.

"Cecil J PoWell," she replied, her smile dropping.

"Bad subject?" Michael asked, his smile dropping as well.

She nodded, "Yeah."

"Sorry," the young man told her, grabbing the reigns again.

"What is it, Benson?"

"Listen," Michael told her, looking around. "There's a posse 'round here."

Wild Anna listened and she heard what Michael heard. The two flicked the reigns to their respective horse to get them to move. But a shot rang loudly, ending its journey in Wild Anna's side. Forcing her to fall from her horse. When Tasunke ran past the young Benson with out his rider, Michael turned on a dime and went back to Wild Anna's side.

"Chilam!"

"Get out of here!" Wild Anna shouted, holding her side but motioning for Michael to get out of there.

"No," he retorted, hurrying off of his horse and to her side.

He helped Wild Anna up, but she kept trying to refuse his help. "Listen, if you don't let me help you, you'll die!"

"Fine." Was the simple reply that came from the half Comanche outlaw's mouth.

Michael helped her onto his mare after he got on, "Hold on."

Wild Anna nodded as he flicked Mara's reigns and the mare started to trot away from the scene, "Don't let her become buzzard bait."

"I'm not, Chilam," he told her, as Mara started to trot faster.

When the two got to an old shack near Boulder, Colorado, Michael stopped Mara from continuing. He then hopped off of Mara's back and helped Wild Anna off and inside. The young man helped her over to a cot, helping her lay down. Then the young Benson searched through the whole shack; looking for something to help the outlaw.

"Don't worry about me, Michael," Wild Anna told him weakly.

"Don't worry about you? I don't think so," He replied, hurrying back to her side.

Michael then pressed his right hand to her left side, emanating a hiss from Wild Anna's mouth.

"Sorry."

"Why are you so worried about me? When you first found out, you were terrified," Wild Anna inquired, turning her head to face Michael.

"That was before I saw the real you," He confessed. "Now, you're probably gonna smack me, but I have to do this."

As soon as he said that, Michael unbuttoned her shirt up to her breasts; leaving them covered. The young man placed a piece of clothe to the gunshot to absorb the excess blood.

"This is gonna hurt," He told her. "Bite down on this."

He put a piece of wood in her mouth, which Wild Anna bit down on. Michael removed the piece of clothe from the wound before pouring some whiskey on it. A muffled hiss came from the half Comanche's mouth. The young Benson quickly put his thumb and index finger in the wound to remove the bullet. After about thirty seconds of fishing around inside the gunshot wound, he was able to grab the bullet. He then pulled it out quickly and the whole time Wild Anna was eliciting muffled screams. He threw the bullet aside, poured more Whiskey on her wound, and covered it up with some more clothe.

Michael then took the piece of wood from Wild Anna's mouth, leaving the female outlaw panting. "I will be right back," He told her, before standing up and running out to his mare.

The tanned twenty-three year old grabbed some gauze from the saddlebag before running back inside. He quickly wrapped her abdomen with the gauze.

Wild Anna tried to sit up but Michael gently pushed her back down, "No, Chilam. You're hurt. Ya are not gonna be goin anywhere for a while."

"What about you?" She asked as Michael took her hat and placed it aside. "The sheriff is gonna be lookin for ya."

"I'm gonna stay by your side," Was the shocking reply that came from his mouth.

"Why?" She inquired, looking at him.

"You're a kind person," The young man replied. "Ya take care of those who do ya no harm. I wish more people thought that way. Then this place would be a lot better."

With that, he placed a gentle kiss on Wild Anna's forehead; which shocked her.

"What was that for?" She asked, surprised and looking up at the roof.

Michael took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Just remember, I care. Not about money or what you can give; but 'bout you."

Wild Anna took her hand from Michael's and raised it to caress his cheek, "We only just met a few hours ago."

"That doesn't matter," He told her, smiling.

The young outlaw just chuckled lightly; even though she was in pain. She just noticed how his skin was flawless. Even how his hair had a slight curl to it. Wild Anna reached up and took Michael's hat off of his head. Which made the young Benson curious.

The young outlaw sat Michael's hat down on the bed beside her, then reached back up to feel his soft, brown hair. "Your hair is as soft as a newborn baby's skin."

"Thank ya," The young man told her, grinning.

Wild Anna propped herself up with her arms as Michael stood up. The young man sat on the bed behind her and the young outlaw laid back down; resting her head on his leg.

He started to card his fingers through her long, black hair. Wild Anna's carmel eyes looked up into Michael's chocolate ones. The young Benson gave her a gentle smile.