Free Miss Annie And The Chief by Joany Kane

is in his cordial embrace
hopping out of the buggy, He pulls her into a hug.   He doesn't let go.   She doesn't pull away.   He
takes in the scent of her hair as he brushes his lips against her head.   She holds him tight, not wanting to let
go.   Ever.
    He pulls back
just enough to lock eyes.   His lips
reach down to hers.   And they kiss
again. Another kiss filled with passion, love, longing. Powerful and timeless.
Annie pulls away.   With tears in
her eyes she rushes into the house.   Mark hops in the buggy and rides away.
    Inside the
saloon Dick and Carl Rush play poker, manhandle the saloon girls and down shots
of whiskey.   Clara has been staying
clear of the table.   Glen enters
the saloon and approaches Clara.   She cowers away from him.   “Don't be scared, Clara.   I've got some news for ya.   Your Indian friend is waiting outside.”
    Clara's eyes
light up.   She's young, naive, and
believes Glen.   Clara heads outside
and down the alley to meet Chato.   Chato is not in the alley.   Glen has followed her into the alley.   He grabs her and slaps her around.   She tries to scream, and tries to fight him off, but he is
mean and strong, hitting her and kicking her.   He is just about to rape her when Chato arrives.
    “Get your hands
off of her!”   Chato hollers.   He hurries to Clara's rescue.   Glen attacks Chato.   They fight.   Glen pulls a gun on Chato. Chato overpowers Glen. In self
defense he turns the gun on Glen.   The gun goes off and kills Glen.
    Chato runs over
to Clara and embraces her.   “Are
you okay?”
    Clara is shaken,
bruised and battered.   Carl Rush
exits the saloon.   He stumbles down
the alley looking for his brother.   “Will ya hurry it up with the whore, Glen?”   Carl slurs.
    “We have to get
out of here, Chato.” Clara whispers to Chato.   Clara and Chato run out of the alley.   Carl gets a quick glimpse of Chato.   He hurries down the alley and finds his
dead brother.   Carl hollers at the
top of his lungs for his brother Dick.
    Inside Selma’s
house Annie is asleep. She is quickly awakened by a bang on the door. She gets
out of bed, puts her robe on, lights a lamp, and opens the door. Chato and
Clara hurry inside.   Annie sees
that both Clara and Chato are badly beaten up.   “Dear God, what happened?”
    Chato dims the
lamp. “Keep the light low, Miss Annie.”
    “Glen Rush
attacked me. Chato saved me, but he killed Glen. It was in self defense,
honest.”   Clara explains with tears
running down her cheeks.
    “Did anyone see
you?”   Annie asks.
    “I think Glen's
brother saw us.   Glen knew somehow
that I meet Chato behind the saloon. He told me Chato was waiting for me. They
gotta figure it was Chato who killed Glen. They'll shoot him dead as soon as
they find him. Please don't let that happen, Miss Annie. I love him.”   Clara pleads.   Chato holds Clara tight.  
    Annie looks out
the window.   She sees the two drunk
Rush brothers and a few of their drunk buddies searching the streets.   Annie, Chato and Clara wait quietly
until the drunkards have disappeared down the street.
    Annie removes
her wedding ring and hands it to Chato.   “Here, Chato, take this. You can get some money for it.   Go to Santa Fe.   Find Peter and Jenny Newton. They are
staying at the Curtis Ranch. Tell them that I sent you. They will take you in
and help you.”
    “Thank you, Miss
Annie.”   Chato replies with
heartfelt gratitude.
    Annie opens the
door.   Clara and Chato steal away
together in the dark.
    *****
    It’s the next
morning, the day of the negotiations.   Annie leaves Selma’s house, walks across the street and enters the jail.
“Good morning, Marshal.”
    The marshal is
enjoying a cup of coffee at his desk. “Good morning, Mrs. Landon. You hear all
the commotion last night?”
    “I heard the
drunken Rush brothers like I do every night.”
    “We're minus one
brother,” the marshal informs Annie.
    “You'll forgive
me if I