HOME | DD

Description
Hello, sorry, I want to apologize for the long break. I was unable to write because my beloved oldest snake died after a suffering illness which I tried to heal in hospital. Also the rattlesnake hunting this year brought me in a deep hole. Today I'm feeling a little bit better after I recovered a while to find a clear life line, especially after I started a new job. I want to say "Thanks" to Diana for her agreeable good stories, which cheered me up. I'm sorry that you had to wait so long for the continuation of the chapters. After I overlooked my work, I think there are four chapters until the last one. I try to bite together my teeth to finish it and to surmount my writer's blockades. Sometimes it's not easy to find the right words. After this story, I will start with the new story "RANGO – Another outlaw story."

Well, I think it was enough text and you want to read how the story continues. To say it in beforhand, grammatical errors are still not impossible. Also because our main computer is still death and our internet connection died in our home for one day. There is also the fact that I have to work with another computer where two letter buttons doesn't work good. :/ Well, here the next chapter. I hope you like it.

40. Today I want your life only

Beans landed on the floor. Dust and sand covered her face. In front of her eyes blurred vision.
No, she had to stand up again. But her feet were like numb.
No, it was too late.
He was dead.
She gasped for air.
No, he can't be dead!
Not him! Why him?
Stand up! Stand up!
She pressed her forehead on the floor. Time seemed to stop around her. Someone had to stop the time. Her chest hurt.
She heard a shot.
Did Castigo shoot him?
She pressed her eyes together.
She didn't want to see it.
She screamed in pain and fear when something heavy fell to her site.
Did the fox want to harm her more?
She rolled to the site, sand glued on her tear wet cheeks.
She realised shadows, one of them was moving next to her.
She spat out sand which lay in her mouth. The girl winced when a loud explosion let froze her and echoed through her head.
"Stand up!"
The voice was strange. She couldn't move and kept lying on the ground.
A hard grip took her shoulders and shook her. "Stand up, lady!"
Someone loosened her ropes. The desert iguana was still like paralyzed. Her head was like empty. She felt nothing just her hurting arms and legs. Two new explosions with screams and cursing echoed far away.
"Beans!" a hoarsely voice spoke.
Someone rolled her on her back and lifted up her upper body a little. Hands touched her face, wiped over her cheeks. Beans blinked. A familiar silhouette appeared. She blinked several times more and Rango's face became visible.
His face was also covered with sand and from time to time he rubbed over his neck, but he didn't seem to be injured.
Beans's eyes were filled with tears again.
Lord, let it be all a dream!
She pressed her eyes together and hot tears rolled down her skin.
In her blurred view, she saw how the shadow bent down. Fingertips wiped over her lips before other lips met hers. First she cramped. So often she had had to kiss other strange awful mouths, which had forced her to obey. These lips were so different. They were gently and lovely. They weren't decisively or dominate. There was also no tongue which forced her to open her mouth. No trace of sexual hungry forcing passion. It was just a softly touch of caress which heeled her injured inner soul.
"Mister! Time is running!" another voice cried. "We have to run away!"
The lips left her. She opened her eyes.
No, it wasn't a dream. Rango was still alive and held her in his arms.
Suddenly a gecko appeared next to Rango.
"This was our last stick of dynamite," he spoke quickly. "Tonca will come back. We have to flee before they recover."
Both lizards were too relieved to ask what's going on. Maybe Danny had told in short words, that they came back after Bill had left them in desert to help them and stole some dynamite again from Castigo's hiding place. They hadn't a clear plan, but it was too short time to plan something. Especially after Rango was hanging. Danny had shot through the noose before he could suffocate.
Beans touched over her head.
Suddenly she felt a strong jerk because Rango tried to help her up.
"She can't run with her injured legs," Rango said and managed to keep Beans standing on her feet.
"Rango," she whispered still like in trance but suddenly she became awake and flung her arms around his neck. Rango embraced her too, but then he hurried her along.
"Come on. I will carry you."
Beans protested. "Let me here. You would be too slowly."
"Never!" Rango interrupted.
Exhausted and tired, he carried her on his arms. She never should be injured again. He should never harm her again.
Beans wasn't very heavy but she had also no less weight to run fast with her on his arms.
Shortly after, Tonca jumped to their side. "It will not stop them forever. Let's run away."
Without hesitation, they moved. First it seemed to become good, but then Rango felt that it wasn't easy to running fast. After few meters he had to take breath.
"You aren't fast enough," Danny cried.
"Can't you hide us?" the chameleon asked before Beans could say something.
Danny scratched his head. "Alright. We could try to distract them to another direction."

Castigo was in rage like never before. He looked around. Some of his men lay motionless on the floor. Others had recovered their senses. He didn't care for them and took out his revolver. "Game is over for you."

With a little bad feeling in his stomach, Rango watched how the two geckos left them and waved with their hands at the rodents which followed them.
Rango ducked with Beans behind the rocks and pushed his way through the rocky landscape.
He looked around. They had to find a hiding place. After they passed a curve he knew where they were. He decided to take a special direction and no long time, they reach it. The last hope for them. With fast steps he ran forward to the wooden big shed of Castigo's quarter.

For their luck, the gate was unguarded. All seemed to leave the gigantic shed.
"We have to find a place to hide," he muttered more to himself after they passed the entrance door. Beans wrapped her arms closer around his neck. Rango sighed. He really wished he could more enjoy it, but it was a bad place and time to think about it.
The hall was empty. He looked to the ladders and stairs. Where could they hide now?
"There is no escape for you two worms!"
Both winced. Rango whirled around and looked in all directions. The voice was still far away but they knew, Castigo knew that they were here.
Beans whimpered. Rango petted over her head. "Don't worry. He will not get you."
"I know where you are!" the voice continued loudly. "You can't hide."
Rango swallowed but he didn't interrupt his walking.
"Together we are an easy prey for him."
"What do you mean?" Beans asked. But Rango didn't reply and stopped when he realised the big wooden boxes on the walls.
He headed for it and sat Beans behind them.
"What are you going to do?" Beans asked worried.
"Don't move," Rango hissed. "It's all okay. You stay here."
"What?!"
Rango bent down, held her hands and looked firmly into her eyes. "What ever happens, keep in hiding place. Please, keep in hiding place."
He gave her a last hug and he left.
"Rango!" Beans hissed. Rango put his finger on his lips warningly and Beans became silent.
With nervous eyes, the sheriff looked for a weapon. With fast beating heart, Rango walked in the wall shadows. If he had luck, there were somewhere…
He sighed in relief when he realized the box with his revolver and his revolver belt.
Quickly he griped for his revolver. His heart stopped when he heard a clicking sound behind him. In same second he jumped aside, before the fired bullet met his vulnerable body. At least he had managed to take one of his revolver.
Castigo laughed. "I see. It will be a nice mouse-and-cat-game."
His eyes moved up when he heard climbing footsteps which climbed up a ladder.
"Yes, running, running, but it has no use."
He kept his revolver in his hand and climbed up the next ladder upstairs.
"Do you wanna run away again? Or should I run away and you catch me?" he mocked, always looking around to find a moving shadow, which he found very soon.
On the second floor he climbed on a footpath bridge. He fired when he realised a movment behind a timber. When he didn't hear a scream, he guessed that he didn't struck him.
The hall room lay in half dark, because the most torches and lamps were doused.
Castigo stopped few meters in front of the big wooden stringer, which pierced the bridge in the middle.
The fox wasn't afraid and loaded his magazine with new bullets with calm fingers. When it was filled he twisted it in his revolver with rattling sound.
"Well, what should it be today? Your money or your life?" He came closer. "Well, I think, today I want your life only."
He made a big jump around the supporting beam but the place was empty.
He flinched when he noticed another movement behind the second supporting beam on the bridge.
He smiled coldly.
"Are you a too big coward for fighting?"

Rango pressed himself closer to the stringer. He had to admit that he had no special plan. He was alone, and there were no other weapons in near. Damn! What's going on with him? He had to calm down. At least, he didn't find Beans.
"W-well. Shouldn't we settle it like men? More like gentlemen?" he asked.
"Gentlemen?" Castigo repead bored. "You really have to learn a lot. To bad that you live no long anymore."
He made a step forward. "Now I will come and we will finish it. By the way, where is your girl? Sorry, I wanted to say, where is my slave girl?"
Rango's fingers cramped around his revolvers.
"One, two…" The fox was very close. "I'm coming."
Rango pressed his eyes together. Now or never.
He bent around and shot. He stopped irritated when Castigo jumped behind the first wooden beam. That damn bandit had stepped backwards to make him in believe he would come closer. Now the fox stood very good protected behind the supporting beam. Suddenly the fox bent aside and shot at Rango's direction. Quickly Rango pressed himself behind his wooden beam.
"What is it now?" Castigo asked mockingly. "Do you wanna play or shall I spend my time to search for your female friend?"
Rango sighed deeply.
"One, two, three!" Castigo cried and shot again. The bullets missed the chameleon few centimetres. Just the wood gave him protection against the deadly projectiles.
"Alright," Rango said. "Let's appear the same time at least."
Castigo shrugged his shoulders. "As you wish. It's not my business how you want to die."
"Alright." Rango took a deep breath. "One, two… three!"

Beans winced several times when a gunfight resounded through the hall. She pressed her hands on her head but she couldn't stand it any longer. After the shots broke, she stood up.

Rango sweated. There was just a last bullet in his magazine.
"What is it?" Castigo asked amused. "Why did you stop shooting?"
"No nothing," Rango replied. "Everything is okay."
He wiped over his head. "I just need a little break to make me ready me for a new round."
Castigo laughed. "As you wish."
He smiled coldly. He had counted. That lizard had fired five bullets. There was just a last one in his gun. He filled his magazine new and pulled out a knife.
The last round would be an easy one, which he wanted to close with a knife throw. He never missed a target with his knife.
Rango inhalired several times.
"Are you ready now?" Castigo cried. "I'm bored."
"Okay, okay," Rango answered. "I just need a little break of relaxation."
"I hope not so long."
Rango wrapped his hands around his gun.
One bullet! Make your work.
"It becomes late," Castigo said and rubbed the knife in his hand.
"Alright, but I count."
"That will also be your last words." The bandit chuckled darkly.
"Okay, good," Rango took a deep breath. "One… two…"
He jut out. Castigo didn't hesitated and made a movement with his knife.
Rango's eyes became big, when he saw the knife. In same second he jumped aside, his finger still on the trigger which was pushed.
NO!
Rango's heart stopped when he heard how his last bullet flew through the air without a target.
The bullet ricocheted several times somewhere. Rango couldn't follow. He only thought to protect himself behind his hiding place. Suddenly there was a dull sound.
He didn't dare to move and listened. All was silent.
Where was the fox?
He waited 15 seconds, without something happened.
What was he waiting for?
He held his breath and peeked around the beam. He winced when a body lay on the ground on his back.
Rango backed off. Was that a trick?
Seconds passed without a movement or a sound. The chameleon swallowed and looked longer on the motionless body.
Finally he left his hiding place slowly. With trembling knees he went to the lying fox. His weapon in his hands.
Rango didn't trust and suddenly he ran back, then forward again a little closer than before than back. But nothing happened. At the end, Rango dared to run past the fox and stopped after few meters. But the fox didn't stand up. Rango could't stand it any longer and went very close. He watched the fox with open mouth where a bullet hole placed the forehead.
The bullet had shot him through his head.
Rango stood there like frozen. Then he realized it.
It was over.
Rango looked to the ceiling. That was a miracle. He made it. He made it with one bullet. He looked at his revolver. He did it!
He winced when he heard a panting sound.
Beans tried to climb up a ladder with a shotgun in her hand. Rango looked down at her.
"Beans! What are you doing?"
"What are you thinking?" she spat. "I'm saving your head."
Rango ran down the sidewalk bridge and climbed down to Beans where he met her on half way.
"Beans, there is no need for it. He is dead."
"Of course, but I have to…"
She stopped. "He is what?"
"Yes, he can't hurt you anymore," he touched her shoulders and embraced her. She couldn't believe it.
"He is dead?"
Rango petted her back. "Yes, he is."
Beans let fall the shotgun, but Rango managed to take it before it hit the ground.

Together they climbed down the ladder. Shortly after they had touched the ground, their legs became weak. Both sank on their knees to come to terms with that what happened the last few weeks. For a while they listened to the others breathing, until Rango reached for her hand. Beans looked at him. Rango smiled softly and wanted to start what they couldn't do since their reunion.
"Hi."
Beans responed the gesture. "Hi."
Gently he wrapped his arms around her. But he winced when he found time to eye her injuries.
"You need a doctor."
"It's only graze shots."
"Althought," he interrupted and stood up. "I can't risk your health."
He lifted her up and together the went through the hall. First they were silent, but Beans couldn't conceal an important question.
"What will happen now?" she asked.
Rango stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"With us? I mean..."
She wrapped her hands around his face. She hugged him.
"I missed you…"
Her voice died. Rango held his arms around her.
"I missed you, too."
Her nails clawed into his clothes.
"It's alright, it's alright. I'm here. I'm here."
He petted over her hair.
Suddenly a shot and a painful scream echoed through the hall. Beans screamed when Rango lost the balance for a moment. A bloodstrain filled his shoulder. With pain in his face he held his shoulder. Shortly after they looked at the grinning face of Dig.
"Thanks for your work. Now I got my reward sooner."
A new moving sound of his revolver let them froze, while the old badger came a little closer.
"What do you want?" Rango asked with pressing voice.
"What do you think? I will take her and you can meet bugs in earth."
He pulled the trigger again.
"I have never shoot something like you."
Beans threw herself in front of Rango.
"You will never hurt him!" she cursed.
The badger laughed. "What do you want little butterfly?" Then his face became stony. "Out of my way!"
Beans pressed herself closer on Rango's body. "No!"
"I said, Out!"
The lizard yelled when Dig kicked against her feet. The wounds were still fresh to hurt like hell. She fell aside while Dig grabbed the chameleon and threw him to the ground to finish it.
With panic Beans jumped up and hit him.
"No! You ugly…"
She screamed again when he was gripping her shoulders and threw her away. He wanted to gave her a new wound, but she jumped away and threw herself over Rango to protect him with her body.
"Get out!"
The badger grabbed her arm brutally. Beans struggled like crazy and fell back. With trembling body she tried to cover Rango. Dig became angry and pulled her but the girl clung herself on Rango tight.
"As you wish!" Dig screamed and pulled the trigger.
"NO!"
A shot disrupted her cry.

:) (Smile) — Description
Hello, sorry, I want to apologize for the long break. I was unable to write because my beloved oldest snake died after a suffering illness which I tried to heal in hospital. Also the rattlesnake hunting this year brought me in a deep hole. Today I'm feeling a little bit better after I recovered a while to find a clear life line, especially after I started a new job. I want to say "Thanks" to Diana for her agreeable good stories, which cheered me up. I'm sorry that you had to wait so long for the continuation of the chapters. After I overlooked my work, I think there are four chapters until the last one. I try to bite together my teeth to finish it and to surmount my writer's blockades. Sometimes it's not easy to find the right words. After this story, I will start with the new story "RANGO – Another outlaw story."

Well, I think it was enough text and you want to read how the story continues. To say it in beforhand, grammatical errors are still not impossible. Also because our main computer is still death and our internet connection died in our home for one day. There is also the fact that I have to work with another computer where two letter buttons doesn't work good. :/ Well, here the next chapter. I hope you like it.

40. Today I want your life only

Beans landed on the floor. Dust and sand covered her face. In front of her eyes blurred vision.
No, she had to stand up again. But her feet were like numb.
No, it was too late.
He was dead.
She gasped for air.
No, he can't be dead!
Not him! Why him?
Stand up! Stand up!
She pressed her forehead on the floor. Time seemed to stop around her. Someone had to stop the time. Her chest hurt.
She heard a shot.
Did Castigo shoot him?
She pressed her eyes together.
She didn't want to see it.
She screamed in pain and fear when something heavy fell to her site.
Did the fox want to harm her more?
She rolled to the site, sand glued on her tear wet cheeks.
She realised shadows, one of them was moving next to her.
She spat out sand which lay in her mouth. The girl winced when a loud explosion let froze her and echoed through her head.
"Stand up!"
The voice was strange. She couldn't move and kept lying on the ground.
A hard grip took her shoulders and shook her. "Stand up, lady!"
Someone loosened her ropes. The desert iguana was still like paralyzed. Her head was like empty. She felt nothing just her hurting arms and legs. Two new explosions with screams and cursing echoed far away.
"Beans!" a hoarsely voice spoke.
Someone rolled her on her back and lifted up her upper body a little. Hands touched her face, wiped over her cheeks. Beans blinked. A familiar silhouette appeared. She blinked several times more and Rango's face became visible.
His face was also covered with sand and from time to time he rubbed over his neck, but he didn't seem to be injured.
Beans's eyes were filled with tears again.
Lord, let it be all a dream!
She pressed her eyes together and hot tears rolled down her skin.
In her blurred view, she saw how the shadow bent down. Fingertips wiped over her lips before other lips met hers. First she cramped. So often she had had to kiss other strange awful mouths, which had forced her to obey. These lips were so different. They were gently and lovely. They weren't decisively or dominate. There was also no tongue which forced her to open her mouth. No trace of sexual hungry forcing passion. It was just a softly touch of caress which heeled her injured inner soul.
"Mister! Time is running!" another voice cried. "We have to run away!"
The lips left her. She opened her eyes.
No, it wasn't a dream. Rango was still alive and held her in his arms.
Suddenly a gecko appeared next to Rango.
"This was our last stick of dynamite," he spoke quickly. "Tonca will come back. We have to flee before they recover."
Both lizards were too relieved to ask what's going on. Maybe Danny had told in short words, that they came back after Bill had left them in desert to help them and stole some dynamite again from Castigo's hiding place. They hadn't a clear plan, but it was too short time to plan something. Especially after Rango was hanging. Danny had shot through the noose before he could suffocate.
Beans touched over her head.
Suddenly she felt a strong jerk because Rango tried to help her up.
"She can't run with her injured legs," Rango said and managed to keep Beans standing on her feet.
"Rango," she whispered still like in trance but suddenly she became awake and flung her arms around his neck. Rango embraced her too, but then he hurried her along.
"Come on. I will carry you."
Beans protested. "Let me here. You would be too slowly."
"Never!" Rango interrupted.
Exhausted and tired, he carried her on his arms. She never should be injured again. He should never harm her again.
Beans wasn't very heavy but she had also no less weight to run fast with her on his arms.
Shortly after, Tonca jumped to their side. "It will not stop them forever. Let's run away."
Without hesitation, they moved. First it seemed to become good, but then Rango felt that it wasn't easy to running fast. After few meters he had to take breath.
"You aren't fast enough," Danny cried.
"Can't you hide us?" the chameleon asked before Beans could say something.
Danny scratched his head. "Alright. We could try to distract them to another direction."

Castigo was in rage like never before. He looked around. Some of his men lay motionless on the floor. Others had recovered their senses. He didn't care for them and took out his revolver. "Game is over for you."

With a little bad feeling in his stomach, Rango watched how the two geckos left them and waved with their hands at the rodents which followed them.
Rango ducked with Beans behind the rocks and pushed his way through the rocky landscape.
He looked around. They had to find a hiding place. After they passed a curve he knew where they were. He decided to take a special direction and no long time, they reach it. The last hope for them. With fast steps he ran forward to the wooden big shed of Castigo's quarter.

For their luck, the gate was unguarded. All seemed to leave the gigantic shed.
"We have to find a place to hide," he muttered more to himself after they passed the entrance door. Beans wrapped her arms closer around his neck. Rango sighed. He really wished he could more enjoy it, but it was a bad place and time to think about it.
The hall was empty. He looked to the ladders and stairs. Where could they hide now?
"There is no escape for you two worms!"
Both winced. Rango whirled around and looked in all directions. The voice was still far away but they knew, Castigo knew that they were here.
Beans whimpered. Rango petted over her head. "Don't worry. He will not get you."
"I know where you are!" the voice continued loudly. "You can't hide."
Rango swallowed but he didn't interrupt his walking.
"Together we are an easy prey for him."
"What do you mean?" Beans asked. But Rango didn't reply and stopped when he realised the big wooden boxes on the walls.
He headed for it and sat Beans behind them.
"What are you going to do?" Beans asked worried.
"Don't move," Rango hissed. "It's all okay. You stay here."
"What?!"
Rango bent down, held her hands and looked firmly into her eyes. "What ever happens, keep in hiding place. Please, keep in hiding place."
He gave her a last hug and he left.
"Rango!" Beans hissed. Rango put his finger on his lips warningly and Beans became silent.
With nervous eyes, the sheriff looked for a weapon. With fast beating heart, Rango walked in the wall shadows. If he had luck, there were somewhere…
He sighed in relief when he realized the box with his revolver and his revolver belt.
Quickly he griped for his revolver. His heart stopped when he heard a clicking sound behind him. In same second he jumped aside, before the fired bullet met his vulnerable body. At least he had managed to take one of his revolver.
Castigo laughed. "I see. It will be a nice mouse-and-cat-game."
His eyes moved up when he heard climbing footsteps which climbed up a ladder.
"Yes, running, running, but it has no use."
He kept his revolver in his hand and climbed up the next ladder upstairs.
"Do you wanna run away again? Or should I run away and you catch me?" he mocked, always looking around to find a moving shadow, which he found very soon.
On the second floor he climbed on a footpath bridge. He fired when he realised a movment behind a timber. When he didn't hear a scream, he guessed that he didn't struck him.
The hall room lay in half dark, because the most torches and lamps were doused.
Castigo stopped few meters in front of the big wooden stringer, which pierced the bridge in the middle.
The fox wasn't afraid and loaded his magazine with new bullets with calm fingers. When it was filled he twisted it in his revolver with rattling sound.
"Well, what should it be today? Your money or your life?" He came closer. "Well, I think, today I want your life only."
He made a big jump around the supporting beam but the place was empty.
He flinched when he noticed another movement behind the second supporting beam on the bridge.
He smiled coldly.
"Are you a too big coward for fighting?"

Rango pressed himself closer to the stringer. He had to admit that he had no special plan. He was alone, and there were no other weapons in near. Damn! What's going on with him? He had to calm down. At least, he didn't find Beans.
"W-well. Shouldn't we settle it like men? More like gentlemen?" he asked.
"Gentlemen?" Castigo repead bored. "You really have to learn a lot. To bad that you live no long anymore."
He made a step forward. "Now I will come and we will finish it. By the way, where is your girl? Sorry, I wanted to say, where is my slave girl?"
Rango's fingers cramped around his revolvers.
"One, two…" The fox was very close. "I'm coming."
Rango pressed his eyes together. Now or never.
He bent around and shot. He stopped irritated when Castigo jumped behind the first wooden beam. That damn bandit had stepped backwards to make him in believe he would come closer. Now the fox stood very good protected behind the supporting beam. Suddenly the fox bent aside and shot at Rango's direction. Quickly Rango pressed himself behind his wooden beam.
"What is it now?" Castigo asked mockingly. "Do you wanna play or shall I spend my time to search for your female friend?"
Rango sighed deeply.
"One, two, three!" Castigo cried and shot again. The bullets missed the chameleon few centimetres. Just the wood gave him protection against the deadly projectiles.
"Alright," Rango said. "Let's appear the same time at least."
Castigo shrugged his shoulders. "As you wish. It's not my business how you want to die."
"Alright." Rango took a deep breath. "One, two… three!"

Beans winced several times when a gunfight resounded through the hall. She pressed her hands on her head but she couldn't stand it any longer. After the shots broke, she stood up.

Rango sweated. There was just a last bullet in his magazine.
"What is it?" Castigo asked amused. "Why did you stop shooting?"
"No nothing," Rango replied. "Everything is okay."
He wiped over his head. "I just need a little break to make me ready me for a new round."
Castigo laughed. "As you wish."
He smiled coldly. He had counted. That lizard had fired five bullets. There was just a last one in his gun. He filled his magazine new and pulled out a knife.
The last round would be an easy one, which he wanted to close with a knife throw. He never missed a target with his knife.
Rango inhalired several times.
"Are you ready now?" Castigo cried. "I'm bored."
"Okay, okay," Rango answered. "I just need a little break of relaxation."
"I hope not so long."
Rango wrapped his hands around his gun.
One bullet! Make your work.
"It becomes late," Castigo said and rubbed the knife in his hand.
"Alright, but I count."
"That will also be your last words." The bandit chuckled darkly.
"Okay, good," Rango took a deep breath. "One… two…"
He jut out. Castigo didn't hesitated and made a movement with his knife.
Rango's eyes became big, when he saw the knife. In same second he jumped aside, his finger still on the trigger which was pushed.
NO!
Rango's heart stopped when he heard how his last bullet flew through the air without a target.
The bullet ricocheted several times somewhere. Rango couldn't follow. He only thought to protect himself behind his hiding place. Suddenly there was a dull sound.
He didn't dare to move and listened. All was silent.
Where was the fox?
He waited 15 seconds, without something happened.
What was he waiting for?
He held his breath and peeked around the beam. He winced when a body lay on the ground on his back.
Rango backed off. Was that a trick?
Seconds passed without a movement or a sound. The chameleon swallowed and looked longer on the motionless body.
Finally he left his hiding place slowly. With trembling knees he went to the lying fox. His weapon in his hands.
Rango didn't trust and suddenly he ran back, then forward again a little closer than before than back. But nothing happened. At the end, Rango dared to run past the fox and stopped after few meters. But the fox didn't stand up. Rango could't stand it any longer and went very close. He watched the fox with open mouth where a bullet hole placed the forehead.
The bullet had shot him through his head.
Rango stood there like frozen. Then he realized it.
It was over.
Rango looked to the ceiling. That was a miracle. He made it. He made it with one bullet. He looked at his revolver. He did it!
He winced when he heard a panting sound.
Beans tried to climb up a ladder with a shotgun in her hand. Rango looked down at her.
"Beans! What are you doing?"
"What are you thinking?" she spat. "I'm saving your head."
Rango ran down the sidewalk bridge and climbed down to Beans where he met her on half way.
"Beans, there is no need for it. He is dead."
"Of course, but I have to…"
She stopped. "He is what?"
"Yes, he can't hurt you anymore," he touched her shoulders and embraced her. She couldn't believe it.
"He is dead?"
Rango petted her back. "Yes, he is."
Beans let fall the shotgun, but Rango managed to take it before it hit the ground.

Together they climbed down the ladder. Shortly after they had touched the ground, their legs became weak. Both sank on their knees to come to terms with that what happened the last few weeks. For a while they listened to the others breathing, until Rango reached for her hand. Beans looked at him. Rango smiled softly and wanted to start what they couldn't do since their reunion.
"Hi."
Beans responed the gesture. "Hi."
Gently he wrapped his arms around her. But he winced when he found time to eye her injuries.
"You need a doctor."
"It's only graze shots."
"Althought," he interrupted and stood up. "I can't risk your health."
He lifted her up and together the went through the hall. First they were silent, but Beans couldn't conceal an important question.
"What will happen now?" she asked.
Rango stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"With us? I mean..."
She wrapped her hands around his face. She hugged him.
"I missed you…"
Her voice died. Rango held his arms around her.
"I missed you, too."
Her nails clawed into his clothes.
"It's alright, it's alright. I'm here. I'm here."
He petted over her hair.
Suddenly a shot and a painful scream echoed through the hall. Beans screamed when Rango lost the balance for a moment. A bloodstrain filled his shoulder. With pain in his face he held his shoulder. Shortly after they looked at the grinning face of Dig.
"Thanks for your work. Now I got my reward sooner."
A new moving sound of his revolver let them froze, while the old badger came a little closer.
"What do you want?" Rango asked with pressing voice.
"What do you think? I will take her and you can meet bugs in earth."
He pulled the trigger again.
"I have never shoot something like you."
Beans threw herself in front of Rango.
"You will never hurt him!" she cursed.
The badger laughed. "What do you want little butterfly?" Then his face became stony. "Out of my way!"
Beans pressed herself closer on Rango's body. "No!"
"I said, Out!"
The lizard yelled when Dig kicked against her feet. The wounds were still fresh to hurt like hell. She fell aside while Dig grabbed the chameleon and threw him to the ground to finish it.
With panic Beans jumped up and hit him.
"No! You ugly…"
She screamed again when he was gripping her shoulders and threw her away. He wanted to gave her a new wound, but she jumped away and threw herself over Rango to protect him with her body.
"Get out!"
The badger grabbed her arm brutally. Beans struggled like crazy and fell back. With trembling body she tried to cover Rango. Dig became angry and pulled her but the girl clung herself on Rango tight.
"As you wish!" Dig screamed and pulled the trigger.
"NO!"
A shot disrupted her cry.