I know Ive started another new story. I'm still after a beta reader, if anyone is interested?

Hope you enjoy it.




Part 1

Nik sat in his small prison cell, thinking about the events of the last year and off his upcoming death in two days time. He was to be hung, along with his younger brother David. That was what Nik regretted the most, the fact that his little brother was to die. It was so unfair. And also the lie he had been living would be revealed. Suddenly Nik heard footsteps in the corridor outside his cell door; closer, closer, closer, then keys in the lock, and then the door swung open. Standing in front of him was a Marshall, dressed in all black, with his badge pinned to his left chest.

“Captain Wade.” The man finally said. Wade nodded his acknowledgement.

“I haven’t been called Captain for some time, but yes that’s me.”

The Marshall smiled slightly. “You don’t remember me do you?” The Marshall then dismissed the guard that was with him and walked further into wade’s cell, locking the door behind him. Wade thought about it for a split second. “Don’t think about doing anything stupid Wade, they have their orders to shoot both of us if you try anything.”

“I die in two days; I may as well die happy knowing I took a Yankee with me.”

“So that’s why you saved my life three years ago, so you could take it now?”

“Well if I saved a Yankee, it was a mistake.”

“Yes it probably was, after all you were captured because of it.” Wade now remembered the lawman standing in his cell. It had been at the end of a long days fighting, except the Marshall had then sported a rather long, blood soaked beard. What was left of Wades troops were leaving the battlefield when he had heard someone crying out for help. Thinking it could have been one of his own men, he went looking. Finding him lying on the ground asking for water, he gave him his canteen and quickly tended his wounds. Just as he was leaving, he had been surrounded by the enemy. He had been held for a good part of a year in a particularly harsh Yankee prison.

“So are you here to return the favor and save my life?”

“I wish I could.” The Marshall held out his hand “Dominic McAllister.” Nik didn’t acknowledge the hand shake.

“I suppose there is a reason for this visit then?”

“There is. I have a proposition for you.”

“Yeah, what’s that then?”

“Have you ever heard of a place called Larkhall?”

“Don’t know that I have, no.”

“It’s a place where if you are an outlaw and have money, you can hide there as long as you want. Lawmen in five territories have been looking for it for over three years now.”

“Yeah, and?”

“With your reputation and our money, we think you might get in.”

“What and spy for you?”

“Yes…”

“Go to hell…I don’t like spies and I certainly don’t like your government.”

“What, you would rather hang?”

“Yes…thank-you.”

“What about your brother?”

“What about my brother? Have you talked to him? Did he say yes he would do it?”

“No. He stay’s here.”

“What?”

“He is our insurance. So we know you will do what we have asked you to.”

“And what do we get?”

“You get a full pardon…”

“So where is this place, Larkhall?”

“That’s the problem. No one knows. We have already lost two lawmen in our attempts at finding it.”

“So all I have to do is find it, and we get a pardon?”

“You get a pardon, your brother doesn’t hang.”

“No. We both get a pardon.”

“Sorry, but that’s all the Governor has agreed to.”

“Well then NO…David won’t stand a day in prison, let alone life. He get’s a pardon or I say No.”

“I will speak to the Governor and see what I can do.”

“Give him my pardon. I will return to prison.”

“Ok…I will come back and tell you what the Governor says.”

With only 24 hours till his hanging Nik was beginning to give up on McAllister. Then he heard them, the footsteps, then the keys in the lock.
“Get up.” Said the Guard, as he entered Nik’s cell. But Nik didn’t move. “Get up, I said.” The guard started walking towards Wade’s cot.
Just then McAllister entered the cell. “Guard leave us.” The guard reluctantly left the cell, cursing the Marshalls timing. “I’ve got what you wanted.” McAllister said. “You find Larkhall and your brother gets his pardon.”

“Good.”

“You have three months.”

“I want to see my brother first.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Only 5 of us know of our agreement.”

“What, and my brother won’t be one?”

“That’s right. We don’t want him getting his hopes up. You might not return?”

“I said I would…”

“Sorry if I don’t believe you.”

“That’s ok. I probably wouldn’t believe me either.”

“You escape tonight.”

“Escape how? Believe me I’ve been trying to find a way out of here, but I can’t find one.”

“A priest will come to visit you tonight, because of your hanging tomorrow. He will have a gun under his garb. Knock him out and take the gun.”

“He known’s I am going to do this?”

“He’s actually a deputy Marshall. Do you think in the Priest’s cloths and with a gun you will be able to get out of here?”

“Yeh, don’t you worry about me.”

“Great. I will meet you about a mile down the only road out of here. I will have a horse for you, ok?”

“You think of everything, don’t you?”

“I try to.”

Interesting new start Liza :)

YES someone took pity on me I have a beta reader for this story!!!!

So this will be my last non-beta read update.

It's short but sweet, enter the story Helen.



Part 2
Larkhall

Sitting on the back of her horse, looking at the mountains that surrounded her world Helen thought of the world she longed to see. She hadn’t been on the other side of those mountains in such a long time; she was beginning to forget what it was like. She now just dreamt about what it would feel like. What it would feel like to have long flowing hair, to be able to wear makeup, and most of all what it would be like to fall in love with a law-abiding man.

But she had chosen to stay at Larkhall; she had the opportunity to leave only last week. But when she had found her father clutching his chest and doubled over in pain she knew she couldn’t leave. Her horse Star snorted, bringing Helen out of her daydream and back to reality.

“I know Star; I wish we could ride out of here too.”

Helen turned Star around and started to race across the barren valley. She ignored the staring eyes of the lookouts stationed above her. Her thoughts shifted back to her father, then to her little cousin, Sean. She was really beginning to worry about him and the influence that the outlaws were having on him. Well one outlaw actually. James Fenner, a ruthless killer. She had recently caught Sean practicing quick draw with him. He scared her. Her thoughts went back to her father. She had better get back to Larkhall; her father didn’t like her riding by herself. He liked himself, Sean or another man Josh Mitchell to be with her.

Helen rode Star back into the township, which was so beautifully hidden in the mountain side. She ignored the men staggering out of the salon, staring at her as she rode past. She knew them all, but now they all looked at her differently than they had when she was younger, they all had a look of desire in their eyes. But they all knew she was not to be touched, that was a sure way to get oneself killed. Her father had made it well known.

Helen reached her house, dismounted and hitched her horse to the rail, then went inside. Her father was sitting at his desk. “We might have a new guest arriving tomorrow.”

“Who?”

“Nik Wade.” He said in such a way that he had sounded proud. Helen searched her memory for this name but couldn’t recall it. “He’s wanted in four states. In Texas, for the past two years he has been wanted for murder and robbery. He escaped from prison three weeks ago.”

“Father I thought we were going to start slowing down. We have enough money now; we could start a ranch or something?”

“No not yet, one more year.”

“But Father, the last lawmen got really close.”

“Soon girl, I want to make sure we have enough money so Sean never needs too…” He trailed off. Her thoughts finished his sentence for him. ‘So he never has to rob like his father had.’ She knew her father felt guilty from the death of his brother. He had survived the shoot out, but his brother hadn’t. He had tried his best to make it up to his young nephew by taking him in and caring for him like his own child. “A few more guests’ lass and you and Sean can go wherever you want.”

Helen didn’t like her father talking about her and Sean without including himself. “Is anything wrong Father? Why don’t you go see a doctor in Denver?”

“I’m ok, Dr Nichols said so.”

“Dr Nichols is a quack, remember that’s why he is here, for killing some of his patients, remember?”

“He’s a drunk; he is a good doctor when he is sober.”

“Father…”

“No Helen, one more year.”

“Then we leave?”

“I swear.” She nodded reluctantly at him.

Great Liza :)

Nice start to a story. Completely different take on things so am interested to see where it's going! :)

Love this new story !!

Cant wait for more .

*Chants* We want more We want more */chants*

i luve it !! :wub: :fanfic cant wait for another update!!

This is different to normal, i like it! :D :wub:

Great new story love it . more. :guns :guns :guns

[I]yesss... WOW This is great finaly someone comes with something very different, fresh that is one marvelous idea :hug2
You got my undivided attention and I can't wait to :fanfic what'll happen in the chapters to come.
Soon I hope :thought

Happy writing to ya :D

Aussie an update please. :dazzler :dazzler

:) Hello, Was Checking To See If There Were Any UPDATES... :fanfic :fanfic This Is A Different Twist From The Usual...I Like Where It's Going...Hope To See An UPDATE Soon....Definitely Interested :popcorn :popcorn