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Description
Sorry for the long wait again. ^^' The chapter became a little long, but I hope you like it.

24. Old stories

Corty said goodbye, while Dwayne was already few meters away.
Cassy didn't mind. The snake was still embittered because of his bad accident. She just waved at him and Dwayne nodded back. After Corty had hobbled away, Cassy guided the group to the stony buildings. Rango looked after the two reptiles with thoughtful eyes, then he followed her.
They walked to the big stony sheds, which was closed by iron doors.
"We had planned to reshape into a hospital, but we have had no money for this. We had to improvise."
She opened a little door, which was build into the big gate and they entered a big hall.
The hall was subdivided into two floors. A stair guided to the second floor.
Cassy pointed up and wanted to go upstairs, when a loud hissing let them stop.
"I felt your footsteps!" a female voice hissed. "Who's there?!"
"Don't worry," Cassy replied. "It's me and some travellers."
A figure appeared around a corner from the first floor and looked at them with dark eyes.
"Don't dare to come near!" she continued and came a little closer.
The group stepped back, except Cassy, when the snake hissed again threateningly.
"Stay away!" Bill shouted and drew his gun.
"Put your weapon away immediately!" the silver fox cried and grabbed Bill's revolver.
The big corn snake hissed warningly and vibrated with her tail.
"If you want to eat my eggs… only over my dead body!"
"Don't worry, sorry Miss Conny," Cassy apologized. "They came only to sleep a night here."
The female big corn snake snorted. "I don't like animals, which has legs or arms."
"Especially no men, I know," Cassy continued. "Maybe they will stay just one night. They are on a journey through."
The corn snake looked at them with mistrustfulness. "One step closer and I strangle your air out of your dead lungs."
With these words, she disappeared again.
"Don't care about her. She took a stop here to lay her eggs. Don't take her amiss. Her lover left her after one night."
"Uh, I understand," Rango said and followed her.
Bill put back his gun with a snorting. "Women," he muttered.
They walked up the stairs and she guided them to the second floor where many beds stood lined up on the left and on the right side.
"Here you can sleep. Usually it is the hospital ward for smaller animals. For the biggest one, there is Miss Conny sleeping."
"What luck," Bill muttered.
Rango gave him a warning glance, while Cassy waved her hand over the room.
"Well, good night."
She turned around, but before she left, she stopped.
"One thing more. Don't wonder when it rustling while nights. The little snakes like to hide in the beds."
She blinked at them and waved for goodbye.
"Good night," Rango said. "And thank you very much," and bared his head.
She nodded. "You're welcome, and I hope you will find your girlfriend."
Rango lowered his glance. "I hope so. Will we hear it when they will come back?"
"I will tell you, when they come back."
Rango nodded thankfully, then she disappeared.
Bill crossed his arms. "Girlfriend," he said mockingly and shook his head.
Rango ignored his sarcasms. He was too tired to have an argument.
Stump threw his hat on the end of the bed and threw himself on the mattress. He sighed deeply and folded his hands on his belly.
Kinski chose the bed next to him. After him Chorizo, and last Bill.
Rango wanted to lay down on the bed next to the Gila monster but Bill waved him away.
"You sleep over there."
He pointed at the other side of turned up beds.
Rango snorted and chose the second bed of the bed row.
"As long as you don't tie me on a chair," he muttered.
Bill growled and lay down on his back. Kinski, Stump and Chorizo made themselves comfortable on their beds. Bill had took out Beans's medallion and let it dangle over his head.
Rango cleaned his throat. "Bill…"
"No!" Bill cut off and put the medallion away.
"Why not?!" Rango asked louder. "What gives you the right to own her?"
"My business," Bill commented drily. "She is a bitch anyway."
"Take it back! I don't allow you to talk about her like that!"
Bill sat up and gave him an angry glance. "I know her much longer than you, smartypants."
Rango narrowed his eyes. "By the way, how did you know her underwear last time in my office?"
Bill snorted. "My business."
"Could you give me a better answer than that waste?"
Bill snorted. He stood up and walked to the stairs.
Kinski watched him. "Where do you want to go?"
"Smoking."
"I thought you wanted to give it up."
"That's my concern."
With that, he left the shed.
Rango wanted to follow him, but Kinski held him back. "Let it be. You will just damage yourself."
"How could he call her a bitch?!" Rango hissed. "She is the most beautiful, wonderful girl in the world."
Kinski chuckled. "Maybe from your position, but in his eyes, she is a bitch."
Stump laughed. "Indeed. Bill was not the only one who took an eye on her in the past. But ever since the day…"
Kinski pushed him against the leg. "Shut up!"
"Which day?" Rango asked.
"Nothing," Kinski answered monotone.
"We mustn't talk about that," Stump said.
Kinski threw a pillow at him. "Shut your mouth!"
"About what do you not want to talk about?"
"Something, which you don't have to know," Kinski hissed.
"Yes," Chorizo admitted. "Nobody of the town is allowed to talk about that."
"I said, shut up!" Kinski warned.
"About what?"
"Old stories," Kinski warded. "You needn't be interested."
"But I want to hear."
"Out of question. He is glad, that there is still one who doesn't know it."
"Just a silly day," Stump chuckled.
"Could you tell me about the "silly" day."
"Unspectacular. It wasn't an affair."
Rango's eyes grew wide. "No… what?"
Stump grinned. "No, just a…"
Kinski pressed his hand on his mouth. "If Bill knows, he will hit your head off."
"But it wasn't really bad," Stump opposed. "Just a joke."
"For Bill it was the worst day in his life."
Rango became curious enough now and sat himself on Stump's bed.
"Tell me, I will not tell him."
Stump scratched his head. "If you say so…"
"Oh my gosh…" Kinski covered his forehead.
Stump didn't listen to him and began.
"So, I don't know when it was exactly. Maybe five years… Not sure."
"Four years, four years," Chorizo interrupted and stopped. "Uh, I think. Or three years?"
"I don't hear it, I have nothing to do with that." Kinski closed his ears.
Stump chuckled and began to whisper. "Anyway, it was few years ago, when Beans's father was gone, Mister Merrimack took care for her. And for sure, she was a good girl, with robustness."
Chorizo chuckled. "Bill liked that."
"And then, there was the year, when Beans was old enough to absorb the ranch form her father."
"Well, this day, it was Wednesday. It was the time, where the town had enough water. And it was tradition that the town made a big town festival on Wednesday once a year. And this day was the day."

(Few years ago)

"I'm so proud of you," Mister Merrimack said and held Beans's hand. "And I'm sure your father would be proud in the same way."
His glance wandered to the city people who walked over the street of the town, to talk or to dance on a dance floor, which had built at the end next to the town clock. It was nearly in the night, but nobody wanted to go home yet.
"But do you not want to reconsider it?"
Beans smiled. "Mister Merrimack. I'm old enough to take care for myself. By the way, someone has to continue the work on my father's land."
"Sure, sure," Mister Merrimack admitted. "But would it be not the best if someone would help you. Maybe I could…"
"I will make it," Beans abdicated with a forced smile. "I do it for my father." She stopped a moment. "And for my mother."
She encompassed the medallion around her neck.
Mister Merrimack scratched his head nervously. "For sure, your mother was also a fight nature but she had your father on her side, but you…"
"Beans?!" A voice called her name and a rabbit appeared next to her. "Do you want to dance with me?"
Beans eyed the rabbit with a surprised glance. "Josh? I thought you had left the town already."
Josh smiled abashed. "In two days. It will be my last town festival here. So, do you want to dance with me?"
"No, sorry, I'm not a good dancer."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "Sure?"
"No, dance with Susann," Beans tried. She wasn't in mood to talk with him. He was one of the young boys who wanted to search their luck in big cities.
"Beans," Josh asked seriously. "Do you don't want to come with me to San Francisco?"
"No, this is the land of my father. I have to take care for it."
Josh chuckled. "This little land? Are you sure that it is profitable? It would be a shame if you stagnate here."
Beans looked at him angrily. "Hold your mouth and leave."
Josh cleaned his throat apologizing. "Well, see you."
"I hope not," she said bitterly, looking after him.
She sighed deeply and wiped over her forehead.
Mister Merrimack kneaded his hands. "I know you are too young for boys… I… I mean for a marriage, but maybe…"
"Mister Merrimack, please," she said with firmly, exhausted voice. "If one day the right man comes, he will come, but not now and not today."
"Maybe yes."
Both winced when they heard the familiar voice.
"Surprised?" Bill grinned mockingly, his main glance on her, his eyes ignoring the older one.
"Bill! Did you eavesdrop us?" Beans asked angrily.
The Gila monster chuckled darkly. "You was loud enough."
He came a little bit closer, behind him his three henchmen. Stump held a cake in his hand and chewed with full mouth.
"I thought you had curfew while the festival time."
Bill snorted mockingly. "You forgot, Sheriff Clifton died last month, did you forget."
"I wish I couldn't forget."
"I thought he was killed," Stump asked behind his back.
Bill snorted. "Unimportant. Well, do you want to take a dance?"
"Dancing?" Beans looked at him with surprise. "With you? Are you…?"
"I have to talk with you about some things," Bill interrupted and grinned mockingly. "I just have regards for your atmosphere."
Mister Merrimack made a step between the two reptiles. "Bill! I don't think that she wants to…"
"Shut up! Make way!" Bill pushed him aside.
"Come on, babe," Bill grinned and grabbed her arm.
"Bill, I don't want…
Bill didn't listen to her and tugged her on the dance floor.
Mister Merrimack wanted to protest but Kinski and Stump held him back.
"Lemp them," Stump mumbled with full mouth.
Kinski held a glass in front of Mister Merrimack's face. "A drink?"
"I'm not thirsty!" Mister Merrimack growled and threw a worried look at Beans and Bill.
Bill forced her to wrap an arm around his body. Beans wanted to walk away, but the Gila monstser held her with tight dancing grip.
"It doesn't matter if you can't dance." Bill grinned.
"You can't dance, too," Beans hissed.
Bill ignored her angry mood and began to take her with him in a more or less circling way.
"So, you are going to take the ranch from your father?" Bill asked casually.
"Didn't you listen?" Beans replied darkly.
"Of course, so, but does that mean you will stay on your father's land alone?"
Beans became stiffly when the lizard pressed his body closer on hers.
"Why not? Do you think a woman can't do?"
"Are you living so long in town, that you don't know the dangers in desert anymore? I meet them every day."
He held a moment and came closer with his face. "Somebody could attack your land, or kidnap you."
Beans moved her head more back.
"Maybe you need someone strong on your site."
"No interest," Beans refused.
Bill leaned forward, so that Beans had to lean more back.
"Your daddy will not be there to protect you," the Gila monster whispered. "A shame that he fell bladdered into a mine shaft."
He sighed mockingly.
Beans snorted and pushed him back.
"He wasn't drunken," she hissed.
"Ha, of course not. You still believe that he was kidnapped by aliens, don't you?"
He swung her around.
"You have no knowledge," she replied with pressed voice.
Bill shrugged his shoulders. "What ever. You will be alone. Do you really think, a little lady like you, can take care for herself?"
Beans narrowed her eyes. "Yes, I can!"
"Oh, come on. You never lived outside before. Maybe it would be the best when I could help you a little bit."
"Helping me?" Beans thought not to hear right.
"Yes, and we could spend a long time together."
Again he waved her a round. "Maybe we could come a little bit near."
"What do you mean?"
"Did I ever tell you that you are a sexy thing?"
Beans pressed her lips together when the Gila monster squeezed a little her torso.
"No," she replied, biting down an ugly word.
"Should I…"
"I don't know," Beans interrupted quickly. "Maybe another day."
Bill stopped in his movements and came closer with his face. "Why so shy? Why not tonight?" He held his mouth on her ear. "I could reserve a hotel room for us."
Beans pushed him away. "Forget it."
"Beans? You dance after all?"
Beans looked behind where Josh danced with Susann and looked at them with big eyes. "You like it more to dance with him than with me?"
Bill snorted. "Here are too many people."
Again he came closer with his face. "Let's go were we can "talk" more private."
"Bi…mpff."
Bill put his hand on her mouth. "Say nothing. I know what you want."
With these words he dragged her away from the dance floor.
Josh snorted. "Tzit, oh my, does she has a bad taste. Only well, that I will go to a city where people appreciates good tastes."
The bank man jumped forward when he saw how Bill left with Beans the dance floor and disappeared between the houses.
"Beans!" Mister Merrimack wanted to run forward, but Bill's henchmen held him tight.
"You stay here!"
"Let me go! Let me go, bastards!"
"He becomes too loud," Chorizo said.
"Indeed," Kinski admitted. "I think you need a downtime."
They pulled the struggling squirrel to the toilet cabin.
Kinski knocked against the door, when he realized the toilet was occupied.
"A moment, I need a while more," a man voice spoke from inside the outhouse.
Kinski nodded at Stump and Chorizo. Stump crammed the last cake into his mouth, then he handle on the interlock. Few seconds later, the door opened.
Spoons winced with the newsletter in his hands, when he saw other eyes in the toilet cabin.
"What the…"
"Out!"
With these words, Kinski pulled the surprised old mouse outside. Shortly after that, Stump and Chorizo pushed Mister Merrimack into the little house.
Spoons pulled up his pants and went away with snorting. "Nobody gives me time to read my newsletter to the end."
Mister Merrimack meanwhile knocked and pounded against the cabin door. "Let me out! Let me out!"
Kinski, Stump and Chorizo leaned on the other side and ignored his protest.
"Who is crying inside?" Priscilla asked when she heard the cry from the toilet.
Kinski shrugged his shoulders. "Well…"
"Old people have more problems with making… you know…" Stump answered and knocked against the door behind himself. "Take your time, you don't have to rush."
The mouse child distorted her mouth. "Adults."

"BILL! Let me go!"
"Oh, come on."
Bill held her tighter.
They were in the bottom of the cloth shop, where Mister Sander and his wife used to wash and work up the clothes. Now because of the festival nobody was there, except Bill and Beans.
The female lizard kicked with her legs when Bill wanted to lay her on a hill of washed clothes.
Beans tried to stand up again, but the big lizard pressed her down again. He grinned.
"Do you know now what I meant?" Bill asked mockingly. "It would be so easy to overpower you outside on your ranch. Be smart and I will protect you."
He leaned more down. Beans avoided his glance. "I can take care for myself!"
"How could you do, if you can't release yourself now."
He laughed. "We've had enough of words."
He came closer.
Suddenly Beans screamed and kicked with all her force against the Gila monsters belly.
Bill squirmed a second. Beans took her chance and grabbed for a metal rod, which was part of a disassembled clothes hanger.
"Nobody will take away my land!" she cried and hit the rod against Bill.
Bill staggered back and crashed with his weight against the shelves.
His weight was heavy enough to break one of the wooden beams, which held the cans with textile colour. Some clothes made the Sander family alone.
One of the cans fell down and landed with a loud clanging slosh over the big lizard.
Beans panted still exhausted and excited. She threw away the rod and looked down at the with liquid covered Gila monster.
"I CAN take care for myself!" She shouted. Then she ran away.
Bill snorted. "Such a biting beast."
He stood up and wiped several times over his wet body.

"Where do you think are they gone?" Chorizo asked, still leaning against the toilet door.
"Dompf no…" Stump said with cake-filled mouth.
"Hey! Did you see her?"
The three guys looked aside and winced.
"What the…"
Kinski, Stump and Chorizo looked at their leader with big eyes.
Bill wiped over his wet face. "What? Why are you staring so stupid?"
"Nothing…mppffff." Stump held his hand over his mouth to avoid laughing.
Some city people stopped on their way and looked at Bill with surprised glances.
"What is it?" Bill asked annoyed, when some people began to laugh.
"Bill?" Chorizo asked with pressed lips. "Do you need a mirror?"
"Why? What…"
He looked on his hands. He winced when he saw it. His skin was pink.
"Bad taste," Josh said when he saw Bill. "Very bad taste."
"Stop laughing!" Bill shouted, which wasn't easy to over drown out the laughs in the air.

"It took more than three months until his skin became a normal colour again," Stump chuckled, but then he became serious. "Bill cursed the cloth store."
"Indeed," Chorizo admitted. "He hated it. He tyrannised Mister Sander and his wife."
"It became so bad that Mister Sander had to close his cloth shop and changed the place to another town. But after that, it became not better."
Chorizo leaned his hat more down over his head. "Yes, since that, Bill can't stand out that someone is staring at him. Nobody would dare to say something, nobody wanted to remember or talk about this day. Some people did and got a bullet or Bill cut their faces when they made jokes about his pink skin."
Stump waved his hand nervously. "Since that, he got the name "Bad" Bill."
They stopped. Rango looked at them silently. He remembered how Bill came into the saloon when he came into town the first day.
"What are you all gawping at?"
He hadn't seen him, but his voice and the reaction of the city people had spoken volumes.
"And what happened later? I mean, what did Beans?"
Stump and Chorizo exchanged glances.
"Don't know. He never talked about her anymore after that."
Stump scratched his head. "And we never asked him."
"And you should stop talking," Kinski interrupted. "Sleep or you get nightmares."
He switched out the light of the oil lamp and it became dark around them. Just a soft moon light shined through the windows.
Rango went back to his bed and lay down. Stump and Chorizo did the same and it became silent. For a while, Rango thought repeatedly over the story. What was Bill thinking about Beans?

Bill leaned against the wall of the building and puffed out a cloud. He was going to break of smoking but the damn sheriff made it difficult for him. Also that damn bitch…
He snorted and looked at the sky. The stars were beautiful. Like the stars shined in the night after Rango's banishment, when Jake banished Rango out from the town…

(flashback, same evening after Rango's banishment)

Beans stood in the bank and looked at the empty strong room.
"That makes no sense."
"So alone here, babe?"
She turned around. With hateful eyes she glanced at the creature which she hated.
"Bill? What do are you doing here?"
"I thought you would need some company."
"Leave me alone!"
Bill growled. "Still the same like you ever was."
He loosed his body from the doorframe and came closer.
Beans crossed her arms. "Wasn't it enough for you?"
"Don't let me remember this," Bill growled. "But something different. I think you are in big troubles, aren't you?"
"Not your business. I need no one, especially not you."
Bill kneaded his fingers and smiled. "This was later, now I'm civilized."
He showed over his suit.
"Listen, babe. What about a little deal?"
Beans looked at him surprised.
"Give me your land. Mayor John only wanted to have it for his own anyway. I could take it for me. I allow you stay there and you keep living on it…"
He put a hand on her shoulder. "With me."
"NEVER!" She pushed him away. "Absolutely never!"
Bill's face became like stone. For a moment, Beans feared that he could get violent. But then the Gila monster smiled.
"Sweety, I only want to avoid that you get harm."
He came closer. "Mayor John will take your land, with all force. Believe me. He could maybe hurt you."
"Don't touch me!" she cried. "I will never play your dirty game and Mayor's. Don't think I'm stupid. I have seen you through. You and John did common cause. That was the reason, why the Mayor wasn't dry-affected, was he? And you!"
She gave him an ugly look. "You wasted the water in the desert, didn't you?"
Bill narrowed his eyes annoyed.
"Be careful what you are saying," he warned.
But Beans didn't want to stop. "And you also…"
She swallowed. "You murdered Mister Merrimack."
Bill grabbed her arm hard.
The female lizard cried out with pain. Bill looked into her eyes very warningly.
"It was an accident," he said darkly, but he could see in her eyes, she didn't believe him. "He became too nosy."
"I will never sell my land. Especially not to a racketeer like you. Rango had right, you…"
"He was a liar!" Bill shouted. "He lied to all. He thought of nothing but himself, or did you really thought you had a meaning for him or the town? He only wanted to be a hero. Or why did he lie? Just to be something important."
Beans lowered her face. Bill grinned. "Oh, don't be so sad. If we are ready, you could get what you want. Forget him, I see, he hurt you with his ugly stories. He used you. He abused you for his own benefit. But I like you."
"If I could choose," she said with pressed voice. "I would be more like his slave than to be together with you."
Bill stepped back. "If that is your last word…"
"It is! There is no more to say!"
Bill growled. "If you don't want me… it will be a pleasure for me to see you suffer for your mistake. And you did two mistakes. In the past and today, that's enough for me. Mayor John wants you to speak with you in his office tomorrow. There will no one be to save you. Unless you want to flee…"
"I will never run away like a coward!" she said with firmly voice.
Bill grinned evilly. "Like the lizard did?"
Beans took a deep breath. "I will stay and I will withstand."
Bill leaned forward. "You will be completely alone. Don't forget. Rattlesnake Jake is in town. I'm sure he will find a victim. You are too nice to end like that."
He reached his hand to her. "Last chance for you."
"Get off!" she hissed with pressed voice.
Bill growled and pointed at the bank door. "If I go out through this door, you don't exist as far as I'm concerned."
"Better for me." She raised her nose.
Bill narrowed his eyes. "When Mayor John asked you the last time in his office to sell your land, I will not try to put in a word for you. * It will be with finality. Either you sell or…"
"Get out! Let me alone!"
He turned around with snorting and walked to the exit. "As you wish. But believe me…"
He looked back. "If you ever will survive this… I will take my chance with you some day. For sure."
"I would rather die."
Bill grinned. "Death is free always. But if so,…" He looked away. "You will regret your decision. If you survive. One day… one day I will make you begging and you will beg. Begging for your stubborn. One day you will beg to me to give you a chance for something. But I will never listen to you. I will see you suffer. I will let you suffer."
"Leave!"
Without a word, he left the bank.

Bill pulled out the cigar, pressed it between his fingers and threw it on the ground, where he grinded it butt under his heels hard.
He had to think about their argument in Jake's cave.
"Yesterday, it was your third mistake," he muttered.
I will let you suffer.

* I don't know whether is was one of the deleted scenes in the movie in the cinema version, but after Beans had left the mayor office, and also later Rango left, Bill appeares next to John and says that Rango could be a problem. Well, was Bill present when Beans was in the room and hid when Rango came in?

Description
Sorry for the long wait again. ^^' The chapter became a little long, but I hope you like it.

24. Old stories

Corty said goodbye, while Dwayne was already few meters away.
Cassy didn't mind. The snake was still embittered because of his bad accident. She just waved at him and Dwayne nodded back. After Corty had hobbled away, Cassy guided the group to the stony buildings. Rango looked after the two reptiles with thoughtful eyes, then he followed her.
They walked to the big stony sheds, which was closed by iron doors.
"We had planned to reshape into a hospital, but we have had no money for this. We had to improvise."
She opened a little door, which was build into the big gate and they entered a big hall.
The hall was subdivided into two floors. A stair guided to the second floor.
Cassy pointed up and wanted to go upstairs, when a loud hissing let them stop.
"I felt your footsteps!" a female voice hissed. "Who's there?!"
"Don't worry," Cassy replied. "It's me and some travellers."
A figure appeared around a corner from the first floor and looked at them with dark eyes.
"Don't dare to come near!" she continued and came a little closer.
The group stepped back, except Cassy, when the snake hissed again threateningly.
"Stay away!" Bill shouted and drew his gun.
"Put your weapon away immediately!" the silver fox cried and grabbed Bill's revolver.
The big corn snake hissed warningly and vibrated with her tail.
"If you want to eat my eggs… only over my dead body!"
"Don't worry, sorry Miss Conny," Cassy apologized. "They came only to sleep a night here."
The female big corn snake snorted. "I don't like animals, which has legs or arms."
"Especially no men, I know," Cassy continued. "Maybe they will stay just one night. They are on a journey through."
The corn snake looked at them with mistrustfulness. "One step closer and I strangle your air out of your dead lungs."
With these words, she disappeared again.
"Don't care about her. She took a stop here to lay her eggs. Don't take her amiss. Her lover left her after one night."
"Uh, I understand," Rango said and followed her.
Bill put back his gun with a snorting. "Women," he muttered.
They walked up the stairs and she guided them to the second floor where many beds stood lined up on the left and on the right side.
"Here you can sleep. Usually it is the hospital ward for smaller animals. For the biggest one, there is Miss Conny sleeping."
"What luck," Bill muttered.
Rango gave him a warning glance, while Cassy waved her hand over the room.
"Well, good night."
She turned around, but before she left, she stopped.
"One thing more. Don't wonder when it rustling while nights. The little snakes like to hide in the beds."
She blinked at them and waved for goodbye.
"Good night," Rango said. "And thank you very much," and bared his head.
She nodded. "You're welcome, and I hope you will find your girlfriend."
Rango lowered his glance. "I hope so. Will we hear it when they will come back?"
"I will tell you, when they come back."
Rango nodded thankfully, then she disappeared.
Bill crossed his arms. "Girlfriend," he said mockingly and shook his head.
Rango ignored his sarcasms. He was too tired to have an argument.
Stump threw his hat on the end of the bed and threw himself on the mattress. He sighed deeply and folded his hands on his belly.
Kinski chose the bed next to him. After him Chorizo, and last Bill.
Rango wanted to lay down on the bed next to the Gila monster but Bill waved him away.
"You sleep over there."
He pointed at the other side of turned up beds.
Rango snorted and chose the second bed of the bed row.
"As long as you don't tie me on a chair," he muttered.
Bill growled and lay down on his back. Kinski, Stump and Chorizo made themselves comfortable on their beds. Bill had took out Beans's medallion and let it dangle over his head.
Rango cleaned his throat. "Bill…"
"No!" Bill cut off and put the medallion away.
"Why not?!" Rango asked louder. "What gives you the right to own her?"
"My business," Bill commented drily. "She is a bitch anyway."
"Take it back! I don't allow you to talk about her like that!"
Bill sat up and gave him an angry glance. "I know her much longer than you, smartypants."
Rango narrowed his eyes. "By the way, how did you know her underwear last time in my office?"
Bill snorted. "My business."
"Could you give me a better answer than that waste?"
Bill snorted. He stood up and walked to the stairs.
Kinski watched him. "Where do you want to go?"
"Smoking."
"I thought you wanted to give it up."
"That's my concern."
With that, he left the shed.
Rango wanted to follow him, but Kinski held him back. "Let it be. You will just damage yourself."
"How could he call her a bitch?!" Rango hissed. "She is the most beautiful, wonderful girl in the world."
Kinski chuckled. "Maybe from your position, but in his eyes, she is a bitch."
Stump laughed. "Indeed. Bill was not the only one who took an eye on her in the past. But ever since the day…"
Kinski pushed him against the leg. "Shut up!"
"Which day?" Rango asked.
"Nothing," Kinski answered monotone.
"We mustn't talk about that," Stump said.
Kinski threw a pillow at him. "Shut your mouth!"
"About what do you not want to talk about?"
"Something, which you don't have to know," Kinski hissed.
"Yes," Chorizo admitted. "Nobody of the town is allowed to talk about that."
"I said, shut up!" Kinski warned.
"About what?"
"Old stories," Kinski warded. "You needn't be interested."
"But I want to hear."
"Out of question. He is glad, that there is still one who doesn't know it."
"Just a silly day," Stump chuckled.
"Could you tell me about the "silly" day."
"Unspectacular. It wasn't an affair."
Rango's eyes grew wide. "No… what?"
Stump grinned. "No, just a…"
Kinski pressed his hand on his mouth. "If Bill knows, he will hit your head off."
"But it wasn't really bad," Stump opposed. "Just a joke."
"For Bill it was the worst day in his life."
Rango became curious enough now and sat himself on Stump's bed.
"Tell me, I will not tell him."
Stump scratched his head. "If you say so…"
"Oh my gosh…" Kinski covered his forehead.
Stump didn't listen to him and began.
"So, I don't know when it was exactly. Maybe five years… Not sure."
"Four years, four years," Chorizo interrupted and stopped. "Uh, I think. Or three years?"
"I don't hear it, I have nothing to do with that." Kinski closed his ears.
Stump chuckled and began to whisper. "Anyway, it was few years ago, when Beans's father was gone, Mister Merrimack took care for her. And for sure, she was a good girl, with robustness."
Chorizo chuckled. "Bill liked that."
"And then, there was the year, when Beans was old enough to absorb the ranch form her father."
"Well, this day, it was Wednesday. It was the time, where the town had enough water. And it was tradition that the town made a big town festival on Wednesday once a year. And this day was the day."

(Few years ago)

"I'm so proud of you," Mister Merrimack said and held Beans's hand. "And I'm sure your father would be proud in the same way."
His glance wandered to the city people who walked over the street of the town, to talk or to dance on a dance floor, which had built at the end next to the town clock. It was nearly in the night, but nobody wanted to go home yet.
"But do you not want to reconsider it?"
Beans smiled. "Mister Merrimack. I'm old enough to take care for myself. By the way, someone has to continue the work on my father's land."
"Sure, sure," Mister Merrimack admitted. "But would it be not the best if someone would help you. Maybe I could…"
"I will make it," Beans abdicated with a forced smile. "I do it for my father." She stopped a moment. "And for my mother."
She encompassed the medallion around her neck.
Mister Merrimack scratched his head nervously. "For sure, your mother was also a fight nature but she had your father on her side, but you…"
"Beans?!" A voice called her name and a rabbit appeared next to her. "Do you want to dance with me?"
Beans eyed the rabbit with a surprised glance. "Josh? I thought you had left the town already."
Josh smiled abashed. "In two days. It will be my last town festival here. So, do you want to dance with me?"
"No, sorry, I'm not a good dancer."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "Sure?"
"No, dance with Susann," Beans tried. She wasn't in mood to talk with him. He was one of the young boys who wanted to search their luck in big cities.
"Beans," Josh asked seriously. "Do you don't want to come with me to San Francisco?"
"No, this is the land of my father. I have to take care for it."
Josh chuckled. "This little land? Are you sure that it is profitable? It would be a shame if you stagnate here."
Beans looked at him angrily. "Hold your mouth and leave."
Josh cleaned his throat apologizing. "Well, see you."
"I hope not," she said bitterly, looking after him.
She sighed deeply and wiped over her forehead.
Mister Merrimack kneaded his hands. "I know you are too young for boys… I… I mean for a marriage, but maybe…"
"Mister Merrimack, please," she said with firmly, exhausted voice. "If one day the right man comes, he will come, but not now and not today."
"Maybe yes."
Both winced when they heard the familiar voice.
"Surprised?" Bill grinned mockingly, his main glance on her, his eyes ignoring the older one.
"Bill! Did you eavesdrop us?" Beans asked angrily.
The Gila monster chuckled darkly. "You was loud enough."
He came a little bit closer, behind him his three henchmen. Stump held a cake in his hand and chewed with full mouth.
"I thought you had curfew while the festival time."
Bill snorted mockingly. "You forgot, Sheriff Clifton died last month, did you forget."
"I wish I couldn't forget."
"I thought he was killed," Stump asked behind his back.
Bill snorted. "Unimportant. Well, do you want to take a dance?"
"Dancing?" Beans looked at him with surprise. "With you? Are you…?"
"I have to talk with you about some things," Bill interrupted and grinned mockingly. "I just have regards for your atmosphere."
Mister Merrimack made a step between the two reptiles. "Bill! I don't think that she wants to…"
"Shut up! Make way!" Bill pushed him aside.
"Come on, babe," Bill grinned and grabbed her arm.
"Bill, I don't want…
Bill didn't listen to her and tugged her on the dance floor.
Mister Merrimack wanted to protest but Kinski and Stump held him back.
"Lemp them," Stump mumbled with full mouth.
Kinski held a glass in front of Mister Merrimack's face. "A drink?"
"I'm not thirsty!" Mister Merrimack growled and threw a worried look at Beans and Bill.
Bill forced her to wrap an arm around his body. Beans wanted to walk away, but the Gila monstser held her with tight dancing grip.
"It doesn't matter if you can't dance." Bill grinned.
"You can't dance, too," Beans hissed.
Bill ignored her angry mood and began to take her with him in a more or less circling way.
"So, you are going to take the ranch from your father?" Bill asked casually.
"Didn't you listen?" Beans replied darkly.
"Of course, so, but does that mean you will stay on your father's land alone?"
Beans became stiffly when the lizard pressed his body closer on hers.
"Why not? Do you think a woman can't do?"
"Are you living so long in town, that you don't know the dangers in desert anymore? I meet them every day."
He held a moment and came closer with his face. "Somebody could attack your land, or kidnap you."
Beans moved her head more back.
"Maybe you need someone strong on your site."
"No interest," Beans refused.
Bill leaned forward, so that Beans had to lean more back.
"Your daddy will not be there to protect you," the Gila monster whispered. "A shame that he fell bladdered into a mine shaft."
He sighed mockingly.
Beans snorted and pushed him back.
"He wasn't drunken," she hissed.
"Ha, of course not. You still believe that he was kidnapped by aliens, don't you?"
He swung her around.
"You have no knowledge," she replied with pressed voice.
Bill shrugged his shoulders. "What ever. You will be alone. Do you really think, a little lady like you, can take care for herself?"
Beans narrowed her eyes. "Yes, I can!"
"Oh, come on. You never lived outside before. Maybe it would be the best when I could help you a little bit."
"Helping me?" Beans thought not to hear right.
"Yes, and we could spend a long time together."
Again he waved her a round. "Maybe we could come a little bit near."
"What do you mean?"
"Did I ever tell you that you are a sexy thing?"
Beans pressed her lips together when the Gila monster squeezed a little her torso.
"No," she replied, biting down an ugly word.
"Should I…"
"I don't know," Beans interrupted quickly. "Maybe another day."
Bill stopped in his movements and came closer with his face. "Why so shy? Why not tonight?" He held his mouth on her ear. "I could reserve a hotel room for us."
Beans pushed him away. "Forget it."
"Beans? You dance after all?"
Beans looked behind where Josh danced with Susann and looked at them with big eyes. "You like it more to dance with him than with me?"
Bill snorted. "Here are too many people."
Again he came closer with his face. "Let's go were we can "talk" more private."
"Bi…mpff."
Bill put his hand on her mouth. "Say nothing. I know what you want."
With these words he dragged her away from the dance floor.
Josh snorted. "Tzit, oh my, does she has a bad taste. Only well, that I will go to a city where people appreciates good tastes."
The bank man jumped forward when he saw how Bill left with Beans the dance floor and disappeared between the houses.
"Beans!" Mister Merrimack wanted to run forward, but Bill's henchmen held him tight.
"You stay here!"
"Let me go! Let me go, bastards!"
"He becomes too loud," Chorizo said.
"Indeed," Kinski admitted. "I think you need a downtime."
They pulled the struggling squirrel to the toilet cabin.
Kinski knocked against the door, when he realized the toilet was occupied.
"A moment, I need a while more," a man voice spoke from inside the outhouse.
Kinski nodded at Stump and Chorizo. Stump crammed the last cake into his mouth, then he handle on the interlock. Few seconds later, the door opened.
Spoons winced with the newsletter in his hands, when he saw other eyes in the toilet cabin.
"What the…"
"Out!"
With these words, Kinski pulled the surprised old mouse outside. Shortly after that, Stump and Chorizo pushed Mister Merrimack into the little house.
Spoons pulled up his pants and went away with snorting. "Nobody gives me time to read my newsletter to the end."
Mister Merrimack meanwhile knocked and pounded against the cabin door. "Let me out! Let me out!"
Kinski, Stump and Chorizo leaned on the other side and ignored his protest.
"Who is crying inside?" Priscilla asked when she heard the cry from the toilet.
Kinski shrugged his shoulders. "Well…"
"Old people have more problems with making… you know…" Stump answered and knocked against the door behind himself. "Take your time, you don't have to rush."
The mouse child distorted her mouth. "Adults."

"BILL! Let me go!"
"Oh, come on."
Bill held her tighter.
They were in the bottom of the cloth shop, where Mister Sander and his wife used to wash and work up the clothes. Now because of the festival nobody was there, except Bill and Beans.
The female lizard kicked with her legs when Bill wanted to lay her on a hill of washed clothes.
Beans tried to stand up again, but the big lizard pressed her down again. He grinned.
"Do you know now what I meant?" Bill asked mockingly. "It would be so easy to overpower you outside on your ranch. Be smart and I will protect you."
He leaned more down. Beans avoided his glance. "I can take care for myself!"
"How could you do, if you can't release yourself now."
He laughed. "We've had enough of words."
He came closer.
Suddenly Beans screamed and kicked with all her force against the Gila monsters belly.
Bill squirmed a second. Beans took her chance and grabbed for a metal rod, which was part of a disassembled clothes hanger.
"Nobody will take away my land!" she cried and hit the rod against Bill.
Bill staggered back and crashed with his weight against the shelves.
His weight was heavy enough to break one of the wooden beams, which held the cans with textile colour. Some clothes made the Sander family alone.
One of the cans fell down and landed with a loud clanging slosh over the big lizard.
Beans panted still exhausted and excited. She threw away the rod and looked down at the with liquid covered Gila monster.
"I CAN take care for myself!" She shouted. Then she ran away.
Bill snorted. "Such a biting beast."
He stood up and wiped several times over his wet body.

"Where do you think are they gone?" Chorizo asked, still leaning against the toilet door.
"Dompf no…" Stump said with cake-filled mouth.
"Hey! Did you see her?"
The three guys looked aside and winced.
"What the…"
Kinski, Stump and Chorizo looked at their leader with big eyes.
Bill wiped over his wet face. "What? Why are you staring so stupid?"
"Nothing…mppffff." Stump held his hand over his mouth to avoid laughing.
Some city people stopped on their way and looked at Bill with surprised glances.
"What is it?" Bill asked annoyed, when some people began to laugh.
"Bill?" Chorizo asked with pressed lips. "Do you need a mirror?"
"Why? What…"
He looked on his hands. He winced when he saw it. His skin was pink.
"Bad taste," Josh said when he saw Bill. "Very bad taste."
"Stop laughing!" Bill shouted, which wasn't easy to over drown out the laughs in the air.

"It took more than three months until his skin became a normal colour again," Stump chuckled, but then he became serious. "Bill cursed the cloth store."
"Indeed," Chorizo admitted. "He hated it. He tyrannised Mister Sander and his wife."
"It became so bad that Mister Sander had to close his cloth shop and changed the place to another town. But after that, it became not better."
Chorizo leaned his hat more down over his head. "Yes, since that, Bill can't stand out that someone is staring at him. Nobody would dare to say something, nobody wanted to remember or talk about this day. Some people did and got a bullet or Bill cut their faces when they made jokes about his pink skin."
Stump waved his hand nervously. "Since that, he got the name "Bad" Bill."
They stopped. Rango looked at them silently. He remembered how Bill came into the saloon when he came into town the first day.
"What are you all gawping at?"
He hadn't seen him, but his voice and the reaction of the city people had spoken volumes.
"And what happened later? I mean, what did Beans?"
Stump and Chorizo exchanged glances.
"Don't know. He never talked about her anymore after that."
Stump scratched his head. "And we never asked him."
"And you should stop talking," Kinski interrupted. "Sleep or you get nightmares."
He switched out the light of the oil lamp and it became dark around them. Just a soft moon light shined through the windows.
Rango went back to his bed and lay down. Stump and Chorizo did the same and it became silent. For a while, Rango thought repeatedly over the story. What was Bill thinking about Beans?

Bill leaned against the wall of the building and puffed out a cloud. He was going to break of smoking but the damn sheriff made it difficult for him. Also that damn bitch…
He snorted and looked at the sky. The stars were beautiful. Like the stars shined in the night after Rango's banishment, when Jake banished Rango out from the town…

(flashback, same evening after Rango's banishment)

Beans stood in the bank and looked at the empty strong room.
"That makes no sense."
"So alone here, babe?"
She turned around. With hateful eyes she glanced at the creature which she hated.
"Bill? What do are you doing here?"
"I thought you would need some company."
"Leave me alone!"
Bill growled. "Still the same like you ever was."
He loosed his body from the doorframe and came closer.
Beans crossed her arms. "Wasn't it enough for you?"
"Don't let me remember this," Bill growled. "But something different. I think you are in big troubles, aren't you?"
"Not your business. I need no one, especially not you."
Bill kneaded his fingers and smiled. "This was later, now I'm civilized."
He showed over his suit.
"Listen, babe. What about a little deal?"
Beans looked at him surprised.
"Give me your land. Mayor John only wanted to have it for his own anyway. I could take it for me. I allow you stay there and you keep living on it…"
He put a hand on her shoulder. "With me."
"NEVER!" She pushed him away. "Absolutely never!"
Bill's face became like stone. For a moment, Beans feared that he could get violent. But then the Gila monster smiled.
"Sweety, I only want to avoid that you get harm."
He came closer. "Mayor John will take your land, with all force. Believe me. He could maybe hurt you."
"Don't touch me!" she cried. "I will never play your dirty game and Mayor's. Don't think I'm stupid. I have seen you through. You and John did common cause. That was the reason, why the Mayor wasn't dry-affected, was he? And you!"
She gave him an ugly look. "You wasted the water in the desert, didn't you?"
Bill narrowed his eyes annoyed.
"Be careful what you are saying," he warned.
But Beans didn't want to stop. "And you also…"
She swallowed. "You murdered Mister Merrimack."
Bill grabbed her arm hard.
The female lizard cried out with pain. Bill looked into her eyes very warningly.
"It was an accident," he said darkly, but he could see in her eyes, she didn't believe him. "He became too nosy."
"I will never sell my land. Especially not to a racketeer like you. Rango had right, you…"
"He was a liar!" Bill shouted. "He lied to all. He thought of nothing but himself, or did you really thought you had a meaning for him or the town? He only wanted to be a hero. Or why did he lie? Just to be something important."
Beans lowered her face. Bill grinned. "Oh, don't be so sad. If we are ready, you could get what you want. Forget him, I see, he hurt you with his ugly stories. He used you. He abused you for his own benefit. But I like you."
"If I could choose," she said with pressed voice. "I would be more like his slave than to be together with you."
Bill stepped back. "If that is your last word…"
"It is! There is no more to say!"
Bill growled. "If you don't want me… it will be a pleasure for me to see you suffer for your mistake. And you did two mistakes. In the past and today, that's enough for me. Mayor John wants you to speak with you in his office tomorrow. There will no one be to save you. Unless you want to flee…"
"I will never run away like a coward!" she said with firmly voice.
Bill grinned evilly. "Like the lizard did?"
Beans took a deep breath. "I will stay and I will withstand."
Bill leaned forward. "You will be completely alone. Don't forget. Rattlesnake Jake is in town. I'm sure he will find a victim. You are too nice to end like that."
He reached his hand to her. "Last chance for you."
"Get off!" she hissed with pressed voice.
Bill growled and pointed at the bank door. "If I go out through this door, you don't exist as far as I'm concerned."
"Better for me." She raised her nose.
Bill narrowed his eyes. "When Mayor John asked you the last time in his office to sell your land, I will not try to put in a word for you. * It will be with finality. Either you sell or…"
"Get out! Let me alone!"
He turned around with snorting and walked to the exit. "As you wish. But believe me…"
He looked back. "If you ever will survive this… I will take my chance with you some day. For sure."
"I would rather die."
Bill grinned. "Death is free always. But if so,…" He looked away. "You will regret your decision. If you survive. One day… one day I will make you begging and you will beg. Begging for your stubborn. One day you will beg to me to give you a chance for something. But I will never listen to you. I will see you suffer. I will let you suffer."
"Leave!"
Without a word, he left the bank.

Bill pulled out the cigar, pressed it between his fingers and threw it on the ground, where he grinded it butt under his heels hard.
He had to think about their argument in Jake's cave.
"Yesterday, it was your third mistake," he muttered.
I will let you suffer.

* I don't know whether is was one of the deleted scenes in the movie in the cinema version, but after Beans had left the mayor office, and also later Rango left, Bill appeares next to John and says that Rango could be a problem. Well, was Bill present when Beans was in the room and hid when Rango came in?