A Ride to Clear the Minds of Men

[Rose and Alex]

Rose shook her head, “Henry don’t… she said not wanting him to get hurt. It was too late, Alex had pushed her down and punched him in the face. Rose landed hard on her butt, looking up at Alex in shock. She got to her knees and grabbed her hankie, sitting next to Barton, holding the rag to his nose, and looking him over. “Perhaps we should go to the see Doctor Franklin…” She said, touching Henry’s face lightly. But Alex had grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her to her feet. “Alex Manson you let go of me this instant.” She ordered, Alex turned "SHUT UP" and before any one knew what happened the sound of flesh hitting flesh rung through the air. Rose grabbed her cheek, tears slipping down her them. She took a deep breath and jerked free stepping away from her friend, and kneeling by Henry again. “Alex get out of my hotel. I will discuss this with you this evening. But do not show up in my hotel until you’ve sobered up.” Her voice was thick with tears.

“Rose…”Alex said, eyes wide and pain filled. “Rose I’m sorry I-“

“No. Just….just get out.” Again she ordered, not looking at Alex.

“Oh Sweet Jesus.” Alex whispered and shook his head. “I-I didn’t…oh I didn’t mean….” Alex stuttered and then fled from the room, obviously horrified by what he’d done.


Stumbling out of the Hotel, passing a stunded Amy and launching himself into the street. Alex stood for a moment reelling drunkinly. He shook it off and headed the little way to the stables. He took his horse, glared at the stable hand and mounted. Not entirely surewhere he was going.

He stopped at the general store and bought a large bottle of whiskey befor eheading out. Out and out of town. He road Dreams hard, his horse, he'd had her for nearly the entire time they'd been in town. He road until the town was a small speck behind him. Here the wind blew justa touch harder with out all the buildings to break it. Pulling his hat low over his eyes he slowed Dreams to a trot.

"What have I done!?" He sobbed wipping bitter tears from his eyes. "I hit her...Rose sweet rose..." leaning forword on the sattle he pulled out the bottle andtook a deep swig of it. "DAMN YOU RED!" He shouted to the skys.

[Rose and Alex]

Alex unpacked his few things and spent the night out under the stars. He'd make it up to Rose but it was so hard. He couldn't help feeling like this was all her fault and at the same time, it wasn't at all. It was all his fault. His fault for getting involved with her, his fault for sticking around. He just owed so much to, first Roses' father and then to the woman herself. She was so young too, only twenty, and seemed so grown up. So reserved. Her greatest dream was to be a lady and Alex -forgetting for a little while what he was- wanted to help her with that dream.


After checking to make sure that no one was around, Alex pulled off his hat and headed a little ways into the hills. He'd chosen this spot two years ago. When they'd first got here. It was a nicely hidden area, and there was a little cave that had a water fall in it. No one else even knew it existed. It was completely his, and his alone. Before he headed into the mouth of the cave, he made sure his few belongings were well concealed and/taken care of.



The water was warm, and the little lake was just deep enough for him to stand in, it reached up to his shoulders. Alex slowly unbuttoned his top, and shrugged out of it. Then came the jeans, and soon every thing else. All that was left was the large bandage that covered his chest. He started to unwind it slowly, pulling out the flexiable peice of wood that was stuffed between them. Giving him the flat chest. After he was done he looked down at himself.

Alexandra sighed and ran her hands through her hair slipping into the water. It'd been so long since she was in her own skin. Not a moment went by that she forgot who she was. It was always there, nagging at the back of her mind, she was a woman pretending to be a man. Dunking her head she swam out over to the water fall. The water was warm, heated from the sun during the day and cooling only a little at night.

It seemed like she stood there forever, until finally, she slipped back into the water and swam across shore. She leaned against the bank thinking back on Rose. She remembered when Rose used to let her brush her hair out at night. Rose would sit quietly in her chair while Alex brushed and played with her hair. It was something they never talked about. Alex was almost sure that Rose knew what he really was, a she, but sweet woman that she was, she'd never bring the subject up. Letting Alex be just Alex. Brother-sister. It didn't matter. To Rose, Alex was the only family she had. She'd said it enough times.

And then that Barton fella.

Well, if that didn't take the cake, Alex didn't know what would. She scowled at her reflection. She'd hit Rose in the face, and punched Barton. Definably not a good day. That Barton fella seemed like a pompous ass. He prolly deserved it, if not now, well then he'd do something to deserve it.

Finally slipping out of the water and getting dressed and redawning her Alex persona, Alexandra was left waiting at the edge of the pool until another time.


Alex rode a little away from his favorite place and made a new camp. Should any one come along he didn't want them to find his secret place. He unrolled his pack, and let sleep try and claim him.