Brian Coltrane

*dart gun or no, looking down a barrel is enough to bring pause to the stoutest hearts. And so there's a moment's silence, while the last chance to back down, and go in peacefully, hangs in the balance.* *but how could I deny MaryAnne this? It's not every day she gets to shoot me, and Lord knows she's been put through a lot with all this.* *and so I straighten up, and bring up my right arm in salute, touching two fingers to my brow in sincere respect and affection....* *..and then I resume my taunt, grinning....*thumbing nose at MaryAnne,, then turning around to slap own rear* Betcha miss!

*hears MaryAnne's call, and turns to face her with a grin, standing near Diablo* Nah... ah thought I'd test your aim. It's gonna drive you crazy if you don't git to spend that other dart. *with this, puts thumbs in ears and waggles fingers, issuing a taunt* You'll nevah catch me awake! Nyaaaah nyah nyah nyah!!

*didn't promise MaryAnne anything about staying put, this time....turns around and starts strolling down the sidewalk, towards Diablo* Ya'll 'scuze me while I glide outta heah....

-- Huh? *surprised by Daney's hug* Oh! Khee... *returning it, chuckling* Ah have mah moments. *lets Daney go, and then regards Garrett, seeing him look with concern at Chet* Don't worry, he'll be fine. And now that I got mah title back, I ain't got no reason to be at odds with 'em, at the moment. *glances back to MaryAnne* Besides, ah've a feelin' I ain't gonna git too far mahself.

*listens to this, pleased by MaryAnne's words* Nor can anybody take your place. Let's put thangs right, cousin. *carefully unpins the badge from own jacket, and even more carefully pins it back upon MaryAnne's shirt* There. You are once again, and evahmore, The Deputy, until any such time you take that walk on the wild side. *looks around at everyone who watches and listens* And I could nevah have been, and would nevah be, worth a title of any kind....without havin' the loyalty, support...and I'll say it, the love of ya'll. A title is a title....it would be losin' the people, that I couldn't take. Thank ya all, for goin' along for this crazy ride.

*hears this one and coughs hard in distress*

*snorts* Ah'd be gettin' in yer way from the opposite side of the chess board. *chuckles, then steps closer to MaryAnne* Yer call, cousin. You wanna walk in mah boots?

You're givin' Alex a condition. He was already smitten by you....this is just gonna make it worse. Though if you wanna go test the waters as the Queen of Crime....you got that opportunity. *grins, then adds* But I might take that same opportunity, to git in your way as much as possible.

*calls MaryAnne's bluff, raising an eyebrow* Oh? Ah doubt you mean that. You'd git plain bored as a civilian. *takes a few steps along the sidewalk, strutting in an imitation of a self-important lawman, pulling up pants a little higher* Eeeyep...you'd git bored, and I'd have this town wide open in five minutes. The universe as we know it, would collapse. *turns back around, pacing towards MaryAnne* Now, if we were reasonable people, ah'm sure we'd find an amicable solution. If only mah old title were made available again....I might think about a fair ex-change.

*stands smugly, grinning* What, this lil' ol' star I picked up? *pings the badge with a flick of finger* You gave it up. I picked it up. This town can't go without law, ya know.... *pauses, getting ready to deliver the real kicker* And since I ain't the offical Lord of the Outlaws, ah figured I'd take your title, seein' as how you didn't want it no more.

*true to own word, waits right there...and also reaches into inner jacket pocket, and takes out the badge that MaryAnne had discarded earlier, and pins it on outside of black leather jacket. The silver badge gleams brilliantly against the black background. Gives the badge a little exrtra polish with the cuff of jacket, and waits...*

That's where you slapped it down. Ah'll wait heah.

*listens to MaryAnne with half an ear, slipping away from the black sheep Dukes in order to brush by Doc....thinking about own need for a rigorous physical exam, after this whole ordeal....* *but remains aware of what MaryAnne said, nonethess, and strings her along a little bit, just to be a smarty-pants* Ah'd cooperate, MaryAnne, but since you don't have a badge anymore...can't really see mahself goin' along with it. Maybe if you put yer badge back on, official-like, we could negotiate.

*puts a hand on one shoulder of each "black sheep", standing between them* Ya'll did real good at bein' bad. I just might have more work for you boys in the future! Khee heh heh.... *pats their backs* (and I gotta pause mahself here for the night. More tomorrow, when MaryAnne and Daniel can join us)

MaryAnne's probably gonna lock 'em back up. After all, he ain't posted any bail. I got a doozy in mind for 'em, though, and ah'll halfta talk to her about it. First though, I gotta thank those two ruffians for bein' the local muscle... *turns to Bo and Luke* Ah'm proud of ya'll. Yer livin' proof than anybody can have a dark side. Sure, it's mild, but ah'll take it. Khee!

We're cool. Bad friends forevah. *grins, accepting the handshake, and then pulling Alex into a one-armed hug, having to mind own ribs*

Nah, I figure you coulda done a better job of it, if ya were. You were just tryin' to protect me. Same reason why I had you tied to a chair. Chet had already cracked yer coconut once, ya know.

*listens, frowning* How the hell am I supposta hold onto havin' a mad, with an answer like that? *mimics Alex's tone, bobbing head a little* I just wanted you to stay alive. Nyah.

*murmured drawl to Alex, to address an unresolved issue* Ah still take o-ffense at the way you jumped the gun on mah plan. Thangs turned out awright anyway, more r' less, but you haven't answered for the insubordination. How can I claim to be the honcho grande of baddie, when you take thangs over?

*stepping back a bit from the group, figuring Daney's going to be skittish for awhile, giving her room. Also having a couple of nagging details to deal with yet. One of them being the man with long blonde hair in a leather jacket. Crooks finger at him in a silent "c'mere you" gesture.*

Chet's been tranquilized, he'll live. He escaped, ya see, and...well, I reckon he can fill ya in himself when he wakes up. *looks at the two newly-arrived Duke boys, who are dragging Daney along as if to the proverbial gallows* Khee! Oh, let her go. Garrett's been all worried, she's his problem, now. ( and with this, I'm gonna pause and let Garrett and Daney have a chance to exchange some dialogue. The show ain't over yet, though...)

Thank ya. *smiles at Daniel* That colt could use some good horsemanship... runnin' over people, particularily me, is a bad habit. *clasps one of Daniel's arms in appreciation, before he leaves with Swift...* *and soon a distinctive roar is heard, growing gradually louder* That would be inbound flight "01", sounds like....

Postage due. *eyes catch Doc's presence, and can't help but smile a little bit. But there is business to attend to, first* Doc, would you please check Chet's punkin' head down there....he's got a thang for fallin' on his brains, and Lord knows there's no extra to go around. *looks to Daniel next* And we'd better bring back that spindly-legged colt that ran off from the courthouse lawn. It was a good thang you caught 'em before he ran into traffic r' somethin'... *neatly absolving Daniel of any wrongdoing*

Ah'm surprised you wanna put holes in it. I figured you'd drop it straight into the ground.... But he's MaryAnne's prisoner. She's went through a helluva lot to keep him. I wouldn't try grand theft road apple if ah were you.

*crossing arms over chest in mimic of Alex's posture* Chet escaped after I said a few thangs to him. Fortunately MaryAnne was hangin' around, and she dropped him in his tracks. Otherwise...he mighta been inclined to do some damage. I know you woulda been heah too, Alex, but you were tied up at the time.