Nice Day For A Shoot-Out

Sheriff Timothy Olyphant glanced toward the jail cell in astonishment. Inside sat a woman he had grown up with, Lilah Jameson.

"Lil'...what tha hell?" He muttered as he strutted toward her. She kept her eyes on the floor, listening to the tap of his boots. Lilah look up.

"He beat me." She simply shrugged. Her long blonde hair had a bit of matted blood in it. Timothy frowned and watched as she glanced behind him. Seeing no one, she pulled up the tattered remains of her dress. For a man who had seen death every day, all day, he was appalled to see the brusies and a few scars. He looked closely at her face and noticed old brusies and a few new ones.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked softly as he took off his cowboy hat and rubbed his forehead.

Lilah scoffed, "So you could come rescue me? It isn't against the law."

"Oh sweetheart...I would have put an end to it." Tim muttered. He unlocked the door of her cell, "when the deputy gets back , I'll go with you to your house. I don't think you need to be alone."

"Thank you..." Lilah breathed.

*&*

"Hurry up. Get dressed and out of here!" Mae laughed as she pushed Shia away. They had just made love in her father's barn. Mae, the daughter of a farmer and merchant, had been having this little affair with Shia, one of the farmhands for a few weeks now.

"Two more minutes." Shia kissed her.

Mae giggled, "Someone is going to notice you're gone!"

He pointed towards the washroom, "go get cleaned up best you can."

"'"

Shia smiled and kissed her again, "I don't care."

She looked in the mirror and sighed. Lilah took a wet rag and tried to clean off the blood.

+++

Mae gave him a quick kissed and tossed him his shirt. Then she grabbed her own clothes.

"Can't have you getting fired!" Mae laughed.

She stomped her foot like a child when she couldn't get it off. Timothy knocked on the door.

"Come on." He said gruffly.

;:;

Shia smiled, "I love you. I mean, this."

"Fine." She grumbled.

+++

"You've known me a month." Mae laughed and shooed him away. Shia went back to work.

He helped her onto his horse and they road off to her ranch. She laid her head on his back.

"I was hoping you'd save me." She said.

"'"

Mae overheard a maid talking about Lilah being a murderer.

"I'm trying." He smiled.

*&*

"Daddy!" Mae called as she walked onto the field, where he, Shia, and some others were working. "I'm going to Lilah's."

"I don't think that's a good idea." He sighed, "At least take someone with you." Despite the gossip, Mae's family had known Lilah for a long time. "Shia!"

"Yes sir." He turned his head.

"Take Mae to Miss Lilah's please boy." Her father muttered.

Timothy helped her get a bath drawn. He got her a towel and clean clothing from where she told him to.

';'

The two of them set out in a hurry. Mae wasn't the least bit surprised to see Tim open the door.

"She's getting dressed." He informed Mae.

Mae just nodded then poked her head out the door, "Come in Shia. It's fine."

Timothy had poured drinks for everyone while he waited on everyone. Lilah passed on her drink.

*one month later*

Lilah walked into the drugstore and frowned slightly as she bought some groceries and other odds and ends.

Mae walked in, "Hi Lilah."

Lilah smiled, "how are you?"

;:;

Timothy looked out the window by his desk and watched Lilah.

"I'm fine." Mae shrugged, she was bored, "You?"

Lilah looked at her best friend, "come here." She pulled Mae towards the back corner of the store. She pulled up her sleeve, revealing a bruise.

"What happened? Did you tell Tim?"

Lilah shook her head, "It was one of Doug's family members."

"What if we left town?" Mae said suddenly.

"What?" Lilah was a little confused as to where this suggestion came from.

"I cannot sneak around with Shia forever and you know my dad will flip. You obviously need to get out of here. What if we just left...went somewhere..anywhere but here..."

Lilah smiled, "I love that idea. But what about Tim?"

Mar grinned, "I'm sure he'd go with us!"

"Your father and my in-law's will search everywhere for us." Lilah giggled.

"We'll make sure they don't find us." Mae smiled.

"Are you going to leave Shia?" Lilah asked.

"I'm hoping he'll come."

Lilah smiled, "only if Timothy will go. Come by tonight and we'll talk more."

"Okay." Mae smiled and left. As she walked home her mind wandered, her life seemed to have so many possibilities now.

Lilah finished her shopping and went over to the sheriff's office.

Timothy looked up, "Afternoon." He smiled. Lilah set her things down.

"You and I are going to run away together. Or I'll run away and you can follow shortly." Lilah said softly after making sure no one was in either of the two holding cells.

"Could you elaborate more?" He chuckled slightly.

"There's not much else to say. It was Mae's idea, she's coming along with Shia most likely. She's going to meet me at my house tonight to discuss more details." Lilah explained.

(*(

Mae entered the barn where Shia was working, he smiled at her. Mae promptly closed the barn door.

"If you could ran away with me..would you?" Mae asked.

Timothy smiled, "Okay. I'll have to let my deputy know he's taking my place."

Lilah grinned, "Seriously?" Tim nodded. Lilah leaned forward and kissed him.

"'"

"Yes. In a heartbeat." Shia responded with zero hesitation.

Tim smiled, "I'll meet you all at your home tonight?"

*&*

"Really? Just leave and never come back." Mae wanted to make sure he was serious.

"Yes."