Sean kept his horse on pace with Mark's. The cool morning air felt good on their skin as they crested dusty hills. Keeping his rifle across his lap, Sean anxiously told Mark. "We were supposed to wait in Coyote Walk for the others. Maybe they are running late...?" Mark pulled his horse to a stop, his eyes on the horizon as he answered seriously. "No. We were there too long, and they didn't show. Something has happened." Riding up next to him, Sean casually replied. "I understand that. But where are going to look for them?" Mark locked cool dark eyes with him, answering in a strong voice. "We'll start at the hideout. If they aren't there. We'll head to the mines." Inhaling slowly, Sean nudged his horse into the lead, replying over his shoulder. "Alright. Let's get the gang back together." Mark chuckled softly as he followed him down the hill. The ride was eerily quiet with just the sounds of the horses shuffling along. Sean kept himself alert to any movement or strange sounds. Behind him, Mark used his hat to fan himself as the sun began to beat down over them. At the sound of a twig snapping, Sean raised his rifle and took aim in the direction of it. His horse stopping to look in the same direction with perked up ears.

Mark trotted up, taking hold of the barrel and pointing it up. Sean gave him a concerned look until a rabbit sprang out of a bush. Shaking off the tangle of twigs and vines sticking to its fur, it glanced at them before dashing out of sight. Giving him a smile, Mark cooed out. "Easy. Save your ammo. Don't start shooting at shadows." Laying the gun against his shoulder, Sean rolled his eyes and grumbled out. "I wasn't going too. I thought it was-" A sudden loud BANG rang out over the valley, causing the horses to jump. Mark steadied his horse and reached out to grab Sean before he fell off his horse. Adjusting himself in the saddle, Sean asking softly. "What the fuck?" Mark dismounted, crouching low to walk up the small hill where the rabbit had fled. Laying down at the top by the bush, Mark squinted to see a man mounted on a horse in the distance. All around his horse were hunting dogs. One was retrieving the rabbit to the displease of the others. The man shifted to take the rabbit from the dog, slipping the dog a treat. In the light from behind Mark, the man's badge glinted blindingly.

Easing back, Mark rushed to mount his horse, whispering to Sean through clenched teeth. "Move. Now." They kicked the horses into a trot and once they were farther out, they nudged them into a bolt. Beside him, Sean asked him. "Who was it?" Mark panted a little, glancing behind them sporadically as he answered. "A Pinkerton. With dogs." Cursing, Sean glanced back himself asking nervously. "Did they pick us up?" Shrugging, Mark honestly answered. "I don't know. I don't think so." Coaxing more speed from their horses, Mark smirked as Sean's horse pulled ahead. He barely recognized the shy farm boy as he handled his horse like a hardened cowboy. Sean pulled his bandana up over his nose as they headed into a minor dust cloud, but he didn't slow down. Following suit, Mark pulled his bandana up and tilted his head down to let the brim of his hat keep the dust from his eyes. When they finally slowed their horses to give them a rest, Sean chuckled out. "Did you see that dust devil? That should help cover our tracks." Mark tugged down his bandana, chuckling out. "Ya. It's big. Might turn into a tornado if it gets any bigger."

Sean laughed, playfully blurting out. "Oh, what a shame. I'd hate to miss it tossing those Pinkertons clear across the state." Riding up next to Sean, Mark caught him off guard by reaching out to grab Sean's bandana. Pulling him close, Mark captured his lips in a brief breathless kiss. Then pulling away, Mark nudged his horse on. Leaving Sean in breathless bewilderment. Shaking himself back to the present, Sean quickly rode after him, stammering out. "W-w-whoa! What was that for? You can't just blindside me like that." Peeking over his shoulder, Mark huffed out teasingly. "Oh? Why not? I need a reason?" Trotting up next to him, Sean blushed as he lightly scolded him. "Well... Yes. I would like one. You get on me for getting you all hot and bothered. Then you go and do that... It's not fair." Reaching out to pull Sean's horse to a stop with his, Mark met Sean's eyes with his devilish ones. Sean quickly turned his head away, tilting his head enough that the brim hid his flushed cheeks. Leaning closer to him, Mark whispered into Sean's ear with a purring voice. "Are you saying that I got you all hot and bothered from just one kiss?" Sean huffed so weakly that it made Mark chuckle. Kissing a tender spot high on Sean's neck, Mark added in a soft charming growl. "My apologies. I couldn't help it. You just... look real nice handling your horse like that. Makes me want to chase you."

Sean playfully shoved him away, mumbling out coyly in a heavy Irish accent. "Oh, fuck off will ya. How can ya be bringing that up now?" Mark grinned, flicking Sean's brim up with his fingers as he shot back wickedly. "You brought it up. I was content with a little kiss. You wanted a reason. Now say something nice. So, I can hear your accent thicken up for me?" Mark curled a finger around the snakeskin choker around Sean's neck, until Sean swatted his hand away. Mark briefly caught Sean suppressing an embarrassed giggle as he quickly spurred his horse to ride ahead. Grinning brightly to himself, Mark kicked his horse to follow behind Sean. Every part of him wanted to play with Sean more. He was fun to tease and embarrass. It somehow always made him cuter and more irresistible. However, he forced himself to watch the horizon instead. It was dusk by the time they crested the large hillside to the bandit hideout. They expected guns to slide out of the windows, but nothing happened. Dismounting, Sean carefully eased open the door and peeked inside the dark cave like hideout.

Slumping against the doorframe, Sean shrugged out to Mark. "They aren't here. This can't be good, right?" Slipping inside, Mark walked to the fireplace and carefully pushed his fingers into the ashes. After a few seconds, Mark dusted off his hands and sighed out. "Stone cold. If they were here. They haven't been for awhile." Glancing out at the fading sun, Sean shuffled his feet and asked softly. "Should we ride up to the mines?" Standing back up, Mark shook his head, beckoning Sean inside as he told him. "No. Bring the horses in. They need to rest and so do you." Sean raised an eyebrow at him, prompting Mark to add sweetly. "You're saddle sore. I can see it. Take a seat. We'll leave at first light." Rolling his eyes, Sean pulled the horses in. While Mark added reluctantly. "It will get too dark to go wandering around the mines. I don't want the horses to stumble into a hole or something. It's best to wait." Removing the saddles from the horses, Sean grumbled out. "But we'd have the cover of darkness to scout it out. I think we should go now. They could be in big trouble." Closing the door, Mark walked up behind Sean and slipped his hand between his thighs. He hadn't done it for any sexual reason. Merely to prove a point. Sean hissed at the contact, stepping away from him with a sour look.

Taking his arm, Mark moved Sean over toward the bed. Flipping the mattress to scare any snakes that might be lingering around, he gently pushed Sean down onto it. Cursing, Sean growled out. "I don't understand why I'm so fucking sore..." Retrieving a jar from a saddle bag, Mark smirked out. "We've done a lot of hard riding lately. You're just... a little more sensitive there than I am." Sean muttered vile insults, but Mark ignored them. Slowly pulling Sean's pants down to his ankles, Mark pushed his needs apart to see the insides of his thighs. The pale white skin was rubbed a raw pink, but it didn't look as bad as before. Hawk-Claw's ointment was helping to bring the rash down. Coating his fingers, Mark started to apply it to the worst spots. Sean hissed, his thighs flexing but he remained still. Coating the sensitive spots a bit thicker than the rest, Mark told him warmly. "Could be your saddle. Might not have the padding it needs for long trips. Did you buy it used?" Sean nodded, wincing out through his teeth. "Ya. I didn't think about that..." Finishing, Mark leaned in to kiss Sean's knee, before sweetly telling him. "Remind me to get you a new one. Something you'll enjoy straddling." Sean lightly swatted Mark's shoulder, muttering out weakly. "Shut up."

Smiling, Mark shifted closer between Sean's legs. His fingers easing along the visible vein up Sean's inner thigh. Sean jerked a little, biting his lower lip tenderly. As Mark's finger drew closer to Sean's sore asshole, Sean tried scooting back from him and whining out. "Mark...? I take it back. Let's talk." Chuckling, Mark kissed Sean's thigh before reassuring him casually. "I just want to put some here too." As Mark's fingers brushed over the swollen entrance, Sean groaned out. "That is your fault. Not the saddle. Fucking me as much as you did..." Mark kept his touch gentle, while retorting lightly. "You asked me to. Over and over... You got me addicted to you." Laying back on his elbows, Sean panted out slowly. "You think the guys will notice that we... did it." Mark removed his hand to wipe off his fingers as he chuckled out. "Probably. You seem more... interested and active than you were before." Rolling his eyes, Sean huffed out. "I do not." Mark rested his hands on Sean's thighs, letting his thumbs stroke his smooth skin. Without hesitating, Sean tilted his head back with a small blissful moan.

Slowly getting to his feet, Mark leaned over Sean and whispered over his lips. "Ya, Baby. You are. And it shows." Sean's lips curled into a wicked smile that Mark returned. Rising a little, Sean playfully nipped Mark's lower lip sensually before whispering back. "So, arrest me, Sheriff. I'll come... willing for you." Mark couldn't stop the throaty moan that escaped him. His lips trying to seek out Sean's, who buckled under his own teasing and began to laugh as his cheeks burned. Leaving Mark to just stay bent over him with an amused grin of his own. Giving his cheek a kiss, Mark sat up, telling Sean through a light chuckle of his own. "Pull your pants up. I'll get us something to eat and then we've got to get to bed." Quickly retrieving some jerky from a saddlebag, Mark divided up the pieces between them. After pulling up his pants, Sean snuggled against Mark's side. They ate in silence, watching the room grow steadily darker. Before Sean could ask about making a small fire, Mark told him softly. "No fire tonight. I don't want the Pinkertons finding it." Laying out across the mattress, Sean shivered and told him. "It will get cold without one." Carefully Mark shifted to lay behind Sean, his arms wrapping tightly around him. Playfully nipping Sean's ear, Mark purred to him. "Stay close. I'll keep you warm."

As the darkness enclosed the hideout, Sean shivered and snuggled back against Mark as much as he could. He didn't understand how Mark could still be so warm but was grateful for it. Mark slept on and off during the night. Waking to every shifting of rock or snort from the horses. His hand instinctively going to the gun holstered at Sean's hip. Only to slowly calm back down and nod off to Sean's soft breathing. By the time the first light of dawn was creeping in through the closed shutters, Sean was ready to go. Stretching and yawning, Sean shook Mark's arm around his waist, groggily telling him. "Mark? You ready to go?" Mark's deep snore was his only answer. Peeking over his shoulder, he saw Mark snoring away. Rolling onto his back, Sean removed his gun to lay it on the side of the bed away from Mark. Allowing Mark to snuggle against him better. Running his fingers through Mark's loose dark hair, Sean cooed out mostly to himself. "You didn't sleep. Were you worried about me?" Kissing Mark's forehead, Sean relaxed and let Mark sleep a bit longer. He was getting used to Mark staying awake most nights. He always seemed to be on alert or busy with something. It made him smile to think of Mark tending to a cattle herd all night. Coming in early morning to sleep beside him. He could picture that life with him so clearly.

Sean guessed that it was almost noon before Mark jerked awake. Sitting up, Mark glanced at the sun coming through the cracks and asked sleepily. "How long has the sun been up?" Stretching, Sean hummed out blissfully. "Don't know. A while. Sleep ok?" Mark shot him a grumpy look, grumbling out. "Why didn't you wake me?" Sitting up on his elbows, Sean defended lightly. "I tried. But I figured it was better for you to be well rested." Mark's grumpy attitude dimmed upon mumbling back. "Oh... Well, we should go now." Sean started to swing his legs off the bed but squealed as Mark draped over him to pin him down. Kissing him passionately for a minute or two, Mark finally broke the kiss to groggily tell him. "By the way... Good morning." Shaking his head, Sean chuckled out. "For sure. Get off me." Smirking, Mark got up and helped pull Sean to his feet. Together they saddled the horses, and carefully rode out. Sean followed Mark down the trail he knew that led to the mines. The trail wasn't used much and Mark kept his eyes out for wild animals that were most known to use it.

The closer they drew to the mines, the more they could hear gunshots and people yelling orders. Pulling their horses to a stop, Mark gestured for them to go the rest of the way on foot. Hiding behind a thorn bush, Sean gasped. Prompting Mark to clamp a hand over Sean's mouth to keep from alerting a nearby guard on patrol. Farther out to the entrance of the mine, Sean could see guards herding a bunch of slaves into the mine with shotguns that they were loading with fool's gold rounds. While a Pinkerton man stood with the mayor in front of three beat up prisoners. All around them were guards and watchdogs. Listening closely between shotgun blasts that came from deep in the mine, Mark heard the mayor tell the Pinkerton man. "I understand. This way we both get what we want. You put it out in the paper that we have them. And the good old sheriff with ride in to save them. Falling right into your trap. In the meantime, my men will tie them up in the mine. We blast it. It caves in. We start the gold rush under the impression that people went in and found it. Sadly, a cave in was the cost of their lives." The Pinkerton smiled, shrugging out. "Fine. But I want the leader and his... bed mate. Alive."

The mayor clapped hishands, uttering out openly. "Done. Not aproblem." The Pinkerton then pointed hisgun at Nate, adding darkly. "And thisone." The mayor gave the man a confusedlook only briefly, before shrugging off carelessly. "Still done. I don't care. Just get these filthy criminals already. I'm opening soon and I don't need them causingany more trouble." The Pinkerton gesturedfor his men to grab Nathan, who kicked wildly. While the mayor yelled out over the distressed yelling of Bob andWade. "Marshal! Take these two into themine! Tie them up! It's time to clean house and prepare for our grand opening." A group of deputized men all cocked theirguns, then headed into the mine. Thesounds of screams and gunshots filling the air. As the screams faded into silence, the last of the deputies dragged Boband Wade into the mine as others walked out with blood staining their badges. To Be Continued...