Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jon didn't sleep well. For him, of course, this was not a problem - a bad dream became commonplace for him after his family was stolen by bandits. The nightmares haven't stopped since then, so Jon preferred not to sleep at all. He opened his blue eyes and looked around the room he was in. Despite the fact that he had been in his new home for two months, it was still unfamiliar to him. The room was quiet, the noise from the rustling of pages, the knocks from the heels of boots and quiet swearing couldn't be heard, which meant that the main owner of this room was either downstairs in the bar, or already on another mission without Jon. Their relationship has already become tense during this time. From hatred to murder was one step, and all because of different views on life and desires for yourself and this world. Jon knew about himself that he was a loner who couldn't trust almost anyone, even those who tried to help and save him. Jon always did everything alone, risking his life and trying to find out where his family was and who was the one who stole it. Jon tried not to wonder if his mom and brothers were alive at all. Cowboy tried to think of the best things that could have happened to them during all this time of long separation. Usually, it drove him into his thoughts, from which he couldn't get out, and thus he hid from everyone, experiencing everything alone.

Richie hated it, but he understood it like no one else. That's what he once said when, after another meeting with bandits, they were almost killed. Jon knew that he was trying to get him to talk, despite being annoyed by Richie for Jon's frivolous actions, but the cowboy only measured him with silence and a frown, and then said that he didn't understand anything. These were about all their joint missions, where they were like enemies to each other. Sometimes, it was all in silence, but the feeling of tension couldn't help but be. Jon sat up in bed, looking out the window at the city. It was overcast, as if Tico and Alec had smoked tons of packs of cigarettes, making the sky so gray and smoky. John grinned, pulling his shaggy brown hair back as if it were his mane. David liked to call Jon the lion cub as a joke, and Jon didn't resist it. During all this time, David managed to become his best friend. They took the horses out for walks together, and even rode their horses at times. Jon noted to himself that David was quite an adequate person who understood everything, and almost always shone like the sun. Jon was very grateful to him, because unlike Richie, David didn't put pressure on him, trying to guess what was on Jon's mind, but only talked to him about other things that were happening both in their city and in the world. His horse was very similar to its owner, but unlike David's hair, its mane was straight and smooth, the color of fresh wheat, and the horse itself was an Isabella suit. Even the very name, Daisy, suited her very well. David was not embarrassed by the fact that a guy like him had not a male but a female horse, and with that name. Jon was glad that David understood him perfectly in this regard. Suddenly, the door creaked open and Richie came into the room, dressed in all black as always.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." he said absolutely indifferently, looking into his small office. "It's been an eternity since you slept so sweetly."

"Good morning, Sheriff. I am sure that your calculations in time are wrong. It's probably 9 in the morning." Jon stretched and yawned, getting to his feet and going to the closet. "You're already in a bad mood, no matter how you look at it. Very like you."

"My job is a serious matter, and unfortunately not all citizens of our city understand this." Richie went out and leaned against the wall, not at all shy to watch John change clothes.

This was a separate part of what infuriated Jon in his behavior. Richie was an absolutely shameless person who didn't lose the opportunity to make fun of Jon, even in this way. On the other hand, Jon was also a man, and maybe Richie thought it was normal, and Jon tried not to pay attention to it. However... recently, another thought began to creep in to him, which Jon tried not to allow.

"You mean ours, don't you?" Jon grinned, not shy to look at the murderous look of black eyes under a hat with a gold star. "And I understand you perfectly, Richie, but now it's my job too, and if you're in a bad mood, then maybe it's not worth giving it to others?"

"And maybe I meant other people, didn't you think about that?" Richie watched as John collected the necessary things from his bag.

"Don't try to justify yourself, you know that it's easy to figure you out." Jon took the revolver and knife, fixing them in their rightful places. "But you still haven't got me talking."

"I will achieve this one day." Richie left the room, and letting John out, locked the door with a key and put it in his vest pocket, went downstairs for the cowboy.

"We'll see." Jon went downstairs. "Good morning, Tico, Pattie!"

The owner of the bar and the barmaid looked in the direction of the cowboy and the sheriff who came out and beamed with smiles.

"Good morning." Tico waved to both of them. "At least eat before you leave, I think your way will not be easy."

"I made scrambled eggs! There is tea and coffee at your request." Pattie put two plates of delicious scrambled eggs at the table. "Come on!"

"Thanks, Pat." Richie nodded and sat down at the table. "I would drink whiskey, but you can't drink this in the morning, so I'll have coffee."

"Got it!" Pattie smiled and her big front teeth popped out from behind her upper lip, but it didn't make her not ugly, rather cute. "What about you, Jon?"

"I'd like some tea." Jon smiled at her, and her big blue eyes, which reminded Jon of his own, shone.

"Whatever you say."

Jon at one time went to a small room that belonged to Tico. She was behind the bar, and Jon didn't know what was hidden behind the big shelf of supplies that shielded his room from the others, but Jon knew for sure that Tico was on their side. If it hadn't been for this man, Jon wouldn't have found out about any connections that his late father and the bandits he and Richie were looking for had entered into. But the way to the small bathroom was open. Jon noted that there was a shortage of bathrooms in the city, and often people, in particular men, used barrels as personal hygiene. John was no exception, as were Tico and Richie. Of course, Tico used the bathroom, but when Pattie needed it, who didn't wash in barrels at all, he gave her a place. After washing up, Jon returned and sat down at Richie's table, and his tea was next to the food.

"What is our goal today?" Jon asked, eating a piece of fried eggs, drinking tea.

"The neighboring village. It's not that close, but there are definitely suspicious types who can lead us to your father, and to a clean line of justice." Richie finished his scrambled eggs and took a last sip of coffee.

"I have no doubt, but we will also save people who have probably suffered from their actions." Jon finished his meal and sighed, looking out the window.

"Of course, this is our job."

Jon suddenly smiled. Not even because Richie made a mistake in his words, calling their work his own. Maybe they can become a great team by recognizing each other's strengths and help, and Richie slowly started to do that. Although, considering that Richie, like Jon, wanted peace for many people, this could only be said from one person, from Richie's face. However, Richie didn't hide this smile, and he quietly grinned.

"Let's go already, the hero of today." Richie stood up, nodding to Patty in gratitude. "Tico, we will try to arrive soon."

"Be careful, kids." Tico lit a cigarette, looking after them both.

"Good luck to you!" Pattie waved at them.

- Thank you, don't be bored! John was saying this to both of them, but he was looking at Pattie, smiling at her almost as much as she was smiling at him.

Jon noticed that Pattie considered him her friend, even close, and not because they were almost the same age, but because they both looked like each other in soul. Jon even thought that Pattie was flirting with him, although he himself did so at times, but Jon didn't want to enter into a serious relationship, like Pattie herself. They were just friends who understood each other perfectly, and Jon didn't know the whole story of Pattie, but he knew that she was very grateful to Tico for giving her a job and a new home, just as Jon is grateful to Richie for letting him into their city, into his new home. Jon followed Richie to see David, with their horses, Storm and Pearl. His white horse was no longer afraid of this handsome black man, even sometimes communicated with him in her own language.

"And here you are." David smiled. "The journey will be long, so your friends are fed and full of energy."

"Thank you, David, you are more welcome than ever." Richie climbed on his horse and patted his silk mane.

"You're welcome, boss, you be careful and don't kill each other like your horses did a couple of days ago." David laughed, folding his hands behind his back and bending slightly.

"Has the Pearl behaved badly again?" Jon climbed on top of her and looking into her eyes made the horse turn away from him.

"No, the Storm has already tried here, our gentleman tried his luck with your beauty, but she almost hit him in the face with a hoof." Richie covered his face with his hand at these words, but his laughter could be heard.

"It's our style." Jon took the reins. "We don't give ourselves offense."

"Enough of this talk already, it's time for us to go." Richie turned the Storm around and pulling on the reins, made the Storm run to the gate leading out of the city.

"Good luck!" David shouted after Jon, who smiled and nodded goodbye to him.

After a while, Richie and Jon were riding horses through the Wild West. Despite the fact that their mission was quite serious, Jon even at such moments felt free from everything that was on his mind. He had no thoughts about the family that was waiting for him, there were no thoughts about the deceased father who risked himself to save the life of his eldest son, there were no thoughts about all the people he saved and those who tried to save him. Some of them were alive and well, and some were dead, unfortunately for Jon, who had nightmares because of the frequent accusations of himself in these deaths. He could have forgotten, but this is not forgotten. Now, feeling the wind blowing pleasantly in his face, the sound of Pearl's hooves running next to the Storm and his master, Jon thought only that this path gives him self-confidence, and no matter what, he will be able to save more people in this world, as well as his family, which was not an exception.

"What are you thinking about, cowboy?" Richie shouted after a quick glance at him.

"That it's time for the village to appear, to which we are moving!"

"That's right! This dust is killing me, even worse than bandits!"

"Headscarves have never been a problem!" Jon took out a kerchief from his pocket, the ends of which were secured with an elastic band. "Catch!"

The sheriff, looking straight at the road, did not even pay attention to the scarf flying in front of him, as if it didn't exist. However, at the last second, Richie releases his right hand with the leash and grabs the scarf by the elastic band.

"Badass." Jon rolled his eyes, watching this picture from the very beginning.

"Huh, that's what I am." Richie slyly looked at him from under his hat, putting on a scarf. "Thank you! And you?" 

"I can handle it!" Jon craned his neck, letting the wind blow his hair. "You are too talkative today, is something really changing?"

"Maybe! I'm in a good mood!" Richie shrugged, continuing to ride.

"It changed quickly! Does riding a horse really help with a change of mood so much?"

"Didn't you understand? You, like no one else, should understand this yourself! It's written all over your face anyway!"

"At least in some ways we are similar!"

"We are similar in many ways, maybe something has really started to change, Jon!"

Jon didn't answer, just grinned to himself. Today, indeed, everything that could be changed was changing. If earlier they could not even say a word, now they communicated like good old friends. Perhaps it was the magic of freedom from riding horses, and maybe more than that. Suddenly, Jon notices a corpse lying on the road and ordering the horse to stop and pulling her by the reins, Pearl neighed and stopped.

"Richie!" Jon called out to him, but immediately discovered that the man had also stopped his horse.

"I hear you." Richie slowly drove up to the man lying on the ground in his pool of blood, and took out a map from his pocket. "It seems to be from that village. Judging by the location, we have already arrived."

"Are we too late?" Jon got down from the Pearl and approached the corpse, trying not to get his boots dirty in blood, which he could not stand. "My God... this is not a bullet wound… it's worse."

"The poor guy's throat was slit." Richie shook his head, looking into the distance. "Jon, leave him. We have to move on, there are people there."

"Yes ... yes, let's go." Jon climbed on the Pearl and they slowly moved on.

Jon slowly began to lose his composure. He's always been afraid of blood, all his life. It caused him feelings of fear and feelings of pain. He, no longer a small child but an adult young man, was ashamed of this, but he simply could not control himself. Richie was probably laughing at him in his mind.

"Hey, Jon." Richie took off the bandage and put his hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault, not in your fear and not in what happened. Don't take all the blame, it's not worth it."

"...thank you, I am pleased with your understanding." Jon sighed and nodded, coming to his senses. "I just can't get rid of my fears. Actually, I thought you'd laugh at me."

"Knowing you, it's better not to do this. Moreover, we work together, we have to trust each other, John. We're side by side, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

That's really what John didn't expect. A lot has really changed today, for the better, as Jon noted. Richie stopped being such a wayward person, and became more understanding. Even Jon stopped being so afraid, he noticed it for himself. However, he didn't cease to feel a sense of fear and sadness, seeing destroyed houses and lying corpses of people, among whom there were not only men, but also women. They were all shot and stabbed, and seeing the legs and arms under the rubble, Jon just couldn't imagine what kind of bastards did it.

"There were obviously homemade bombs here... but what did these people do to them? Richie was looking around the area for his answers.

"Non-payment of the tribute they promised in exchange for life?" Jon suggested, to which Richie shook his head.

"These people couldn't be the property of these animals, they were not slaves. Although, we can't know for sure."

"Then I think it was a sign to get our attention. My attention, if there are those with whom the father dealt."

"Direct hit, Jon. We were lured here by such victims."

"...I'm not just going to let it go."

"I have no doubt, but I will not stay away either. However, you need to know when to stop in time."

They really stopped when they saw one shocking picture, which was more appropriate than ever after Richie's words. The bandits who killed these people clearly didn't know these words. Otherwise, the little girl wouldn't be lying under the rubble of a destroyed house, whose hands were cut from knife wounds, especially her palms. Obviously, she was holding the knife, trying to escape, but failed. Jon almost fainted, but he got down and walked over to her on trembling legs, pulling her out of the wreckage and looking at her lifeless body. He fell to his knees, many things ceased to exist for him. This girl could have a good future and she, like these people, could be happy, but this happiness was stolen from under their noses by monsters called people who did it for their own purposes.

"This is terrible..." Richie sighed heavily, standing next to Joh. "We need to bury her."

"... yes... if we find a shovel."

Richie suddenly pulled out of his bosom the thing Jon was talking about. The cowboy sighed and rolled his eyes. He marveled at Richie's talent for finding the right things out of nowhere. However, these thoughts were completely unnecessary now. Jon took her body in his arms, and he and Richie headed for the wasteland, not forgetting the horses, which Richie took by the reins. Jon tried to breathe evenly, feeling how fast his heart was beating from the feeling of cold on his hands when he held this small lifeless body, in which there was no soul, there was no life. It was all stolen by those who didn't deserve it. Having found the right place, Richie dug a hole of the right size and Jon, putting the body in the hole, followed the girl with his eyes, watching with glass eyes as Richie buries her. Soon, there was a grave on the ground, noticeable by a small bump from the ground. Richie took off his hat and lowered his head. Jon looked at him. His dark silk hair covered his face, and judging by the audible sighs, he was almost crying. Jon had never seen the sheriff in such a state, completely desperate in himself and in everything he believed in and in whom. His hands were clenched into fists. Even the strongest people can be weak. Jon knew that. Jon catches sight of a battered bear lying nearby, and picking it up, he leaves it on the grave of this girl.

"It's better than flowers." Richie put his hat on his head, looking completely calm, as if he hadn't restrained himself from a fit of anger a couple of seconds ago.

"...Richie, we have to find them."

Jon didn't know what was driving him now. Despair? Anger? Fear? Sadness? One thing he knew was that if it were all at once, it would be difficult for him to restrain himself. The cowboy was almost on the verge, but he definitely didn't want to become like these monsters, but he could lose his temper so quickly. On his palm, he felt another palm that squeezed his own. Jon looked and saw Richie next to him, he was looking at the girl's grave. He felt the same as Jon.

"Jon, this death is not the first and not the last, understand. It's hard for you, it's hard for me too, I really understand you. I will say one thing - don't lose your mind, stay human. You can be dragged so far that you won't stop. Please listen to me and believe that our lives are most important right now, and the law will punish these freaks, I promise you."

Richie, more than ever, was right. Jon slowly squeezed his palm in response, keeping silent. This meeting was the point of no return, changing their relationship with Richie and the attitude towards their future, which they had to keep together from now on. Suddenly, behind them, they heard loud but slow handclaps and slow footsteps that gradually approached. John and Richie turned around, seeing a man with an impudent smile, stained with blood, approaching them. One of the bandits. As if on command, the sheriff and the cowboy dropped their grip and pulled out their revolvers, pointing them at the man.

"How nice, the sweet couple buried the poor girl." the man stopped, turning the bloody knife in his hand. "She even resisted, tried to prove that she wanted to live. It almost worked."

"Bastard..." Jon hissed.

"Your crime will not go unpunished so easily, Jeremy Ryder!" Richie took out an ad about the criminal with his photo and a reward for capture or murder.

"Hahahaha! Really? Killing you and your horses will be enough to avoid it!" Jeremy shrugged, licking his lips.

"These people didn't do anything to you... even the children… You're nothing." Jon panted.

"Really??? They were slaves, not people! They were promised to us when we found them here in this fucking place! Their head so politely promised us a lot of money! And then... then they came... the sheriff and his cowboys from the south! This long-legged devil, with long blond hair and a black hat with ropes woven into it, whose voice resembles the squeal of a peacock! Although, he's like a peacock by himself! He promised these people freedom, and a new life... but he didn't have time, ahahaha! We took their lives, so let this blonde break off! But how worthless I am! My people, right after the murder, went to their city, and were shot! Only I survived, and I headed here, expecting that they would come, and you arrived

Richie sighed in surprise, his eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly in an attempt to say something, but he froze soundlessly, his lower jaw trembled. John was surprised by Richie's reaction, but the man was talking about another city where there was a sheriff and cowboys. Everything became clear. He was waiting to be able to deal with them, but there was another problem on his head. Yes, the man was really unlucky. However, John didn't understand why Richie was so alarmed at the mention of another sheriff.

"You... you really decided to contact Sebastian and his gang? Did you know that his father, from the famous Bach family, was an elite among the sheriffs? The mayor himself relied on him, he trusted him with his life! Sebastian will send you to hell! He has connections with the government!"

Jeremy laughed. That laugh was like the sound of a saw cutting wood, or someone's corpse.

"A familiar story! That's just our dearest mayor used him until he realized how Sheriff Bach Sr. defected to the other side, and politely decided to get rid of him!"

"The mayor was deceived, and Sebastian's father died because of someone else!" Richie turned the drum to the side, charging. "Now you're going to be in pain, rookie."

The man laughed and deftly dodged a bullet flying into his leg after the crash. Jon, seeing that he ran to their horses, shot right in front of him, and he fell on his ass, and the horses whinnied loudly, beating their hooves. Richie ran to him, hoping to grab him, but the knife that Jeremy launched at him prevented him. Richie, of course, dodged, but caught the knife, and thrusting the revolver into the case, grabbed the knife with both hands and rushed to the man, who did not let him touch himself, holding the knife point with his palms, hissing in pain.

"Feel like that girl who wanted to live!" Richie barked, intending to cut the criminal.

Suddenly, Sambora felt himself being knocked down with a single movement of his foot. Richie falls face-first to the ground, dropping the knife from his hands. Looking up, he sees Jeremy grabbing a knife with both hands and pointing it at his face, and Richie would have been left without a face if a shot hadn't rang out somewhere nearby, from which Jeremy received a bullet in the shoulder. The man screamed in pain and fell to his knees, dropping the knife, which dug into the dry ground. Richie looked where Jeremy was looking and was stunned. Jon was standing next to him, right in front of Jeremy, his eyes seemed so lifeless and bloodshot, he held a revolver in front of Jeremy's face. It seems that Richie's words flew out of Jon's head at the wrong time.

"On the ground." Jon said in a low voice, as if not alive. "Now."

"Ha..." Jeremy spat in his face, but John dodged and shot into the ground next to Jeremy and pressed the muzzle of the revolver on the top of his head.

"Do what I said, dog."

Jeremy grinned and lowered his muzzle to the floor. Jon quickly took out his revolver and took it for himself, putting it in his vest pocket, disarming the man. Jon knew in his heart that he was already losing control, but he was driven by hatred and fear, because he was no longer alone, not now.

"In the name of the law, you are under arrest. You will be punished seriously enough for your actions, you are facing execution," John sat down on his knee, saying it all so seriously that Richie, watching this, even grinned proudly, seeing how Jon was growing, but at the same time he couldn't help but be afraid for him now.

"Jon Francis Bon Jovi Jr..." Jon froze, understanding what the man was driving at. "Your dad was a celebrity among cowboys, a noble man who deftly shot and cut people like us on one or two. People adored him, the soul of the company. His family was wonderful... he loved it more than his life, more than his adventures in the wild West. His wife is a beauty, but the children... children are the flowers of life, don't you think so, Jon?"

Jon tried to breathe normally, realizing that he was being bullied, trying not to go crazy from the memories of his father, mother and his younger brothers. He tried to believe that they were alive, and that his father was a good man, and that all these rumors were untrue, like all his thoughts... or not?

"Jon, don't listen to him! He's looking for your weak point!" Richie was trying to reach him.

"If it wasn't for his family, then he would certainly do everything so that people like us would be defeated! But no! He's fixated on you, betraying the mayor and us all! He got what he deserved... on that fateful day when your miserable village burned to the ground… he did everything to make you and your family run away... and for what?! To be stolen and you were the only survivor! Poor thing! Looking for them here and there! And they may have been dead for a long time! Ahahahah!"

Jon stood up, and Richie expected anything. However, he didn't expect that Jon would kick him in the face, forcing him to fall on his back, press his foot on the arm with the bullet and point the gun at his temple. There was a crunch and a heart-rending scream of pain. Richie shuddered, he began to be devastated by what he saw. No, he couldn't let that happen, he couldn't make his own mistake, or rather, he couldn't let Jon make his own mistake.

"You're not getting away with this, you nit. I'll find my family, alive, did you hear? Alive. My father is not your equal, and he didn't betray the mayor. Someone like you definitely didn't deserve a place near the mayor. You obviously didn't know how to do things normally, and neither did your gang. Your song is sung, Jeremy."

"...so kill me, prove that you know how to administer justice, as your father did."

Something inside crunched, broke, burst and caught fire. Jon felt that he was gradually losing his mind, and this was the last straw of his patience. He kicks the man in the face again, and does it again and again, until his face is covered with bruises and abrasions, and his nose remains broken, from which trickles of blood flowed, just as it was with the man's lips, which were shattered. Jon hissed and growled, completely unaware that it wasn't him, he was driven by something else inside. He steps on the bullet wound in the man's hand again, and pointing the gun at his temple, he turned the drum and…

"JON!"

A shot rang out. Jon felt Richie's hands on his arms, who was standing in front of him, looking into his eyes. The bullet shot into the sky, and Jon seemed to be coming to his senses, seeing how worried Richie was in front of him. Sambora didn't want such an end, not because he wanted to administer justice properly, but because losing humanity in himself is like losing the meaning of life. Jon was trembling from the feeling of the sheriff's hands on his hands, especially from the one on his free hand. Richie squeezed her tightly, and Jon squeezed her back. He was coming back to life.

"That's enough, Jon. That's enough. I'm worried about you. You could have died, or made a worse mistake. Murder is not always the administration of justice."

"I... I... I almost did it... he was able to kill my mind…"

"Shhh, it's okay. We have to go home, turn this bastard in, and we'll live a new day. Do you agree?"

"Yes. There is nothing better than this."

Jon put the revolver in his pocket and headed for the horses, intending to climb the pearl and drive up to the criminal, taking him to the city and knowing that he would be seriously punished, and people like him wouldn't do such terrible murders anymore. Suddenly, there was a scream. It was Richie. Jon turned around and was stunned. Richie fell to the ground, holding on to a bloody leg, in which a knife was stuck. Jeremy was on his knees with his hand outstretched, grinning maliciously.

"It's not that simple! I am!…"

Jeremy didn't finish. Jon's legs were really nimble, because the way Jeremy flew to the side testified to the strength of his legs. Jon himself didn't know where such skill came from, but he knew one thing for sure: Jeremy was knocked out, and Richie needed help. Dragging Jeremy to the horses, he rushed to Richie.

"Sheriff, hold on! I'm here, I'll pull out the knife!"

"No... it will get worse, the leg will go numb, it needs to be bandaged…"

"I know!" Jon put Richie on his back, bending his injured leg at the knee.

Jon took off the sheriff's black hat and laid his head on it, removing the kerchief from his neck. All this time Jon caught Richie's gaze on him, for him John was the only salvation. Seeing the blood, Jon turned his gaze away, trying to calm down. He felt another palm on his palm, it was Richie's palm. Jon looked at him, and saw on his pale face a soft smile, such as he had rarely seen from Richie.

"I'm with you. Come on, it's okay."

Jon sighed and nodded. He believed in him, and he had to believe in himself. Jon took hold of his leg with one hand, the knife with the other, and slowly pulling, he pulled it out, with a nasty sound, and the blood flowed even more. Jon didn't hesitate, and immediately bandaged the wound on his leg, tightening it not so tight but firmly so that the blood would not flow so profusely.

"Well done. You did a great job."

The cowboy nodded, mentally rejoicing that he was able to overcome his fear for the sake of a man who was becoming almost his own. John helped him to get up and walk to the Pearl and sat him down on it, he set about the criminal. Dragging his exhausted body, he tied it tightly to the Storm with a rope, to which the Storm snorted with displeasure.

"Quiet, boy. Then I'll reward you for your patience. Follow us." Richie took hold of his reins, tugging gently.

Jon climbed on top of the Pearl, and they rushed off on a journey completely different from what it was when they were driving here. There was more anxiety, more thoughts here than where there was freedom and not knowing what they would have to overcome. It seems like an eternity passed until they saw their city, where many were already waiting for them. Jon helped Richie off the horse, leading him to their house, David took their horses to the stall, and Tico and Alec carried the body to the city cell, marveling at how wounded this criminal was. Jon pretended not to hear this, handing Richie over to Pattie, who led him upstairs. Jon himself sat down at the bar, trying to concentrate with thoughts about what happened today, and there were a lot of things, from good to bad. Jon tried not to think about the bad, and more about the good. He did more than other days. Richie became closer to him, he felt that way, and he was sure that Richie felt the same for him, it didn't escape Jon without a trace. However, these feelings could be blocked if Jon killed this man, and Richie would see him as a crazed killer who would become exactly the same as Jeremy. Although Richie did the same crazy things in his dangerous life, but John understood that Richie wouldn't want such a fate as overtook him for the life of the sheriff. That gesture when Richie stopped him... it was a sign that he cared about him. Those looks when Jon was saving his life... it meant a lot to John. No, he wouldn't go that way. He has found a family, and he is obliged to protect it, even at the cost of his life.

"Jon!" Pattie called out to him as she went down the stairs. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, and he?" Jon jumped to his feet, walking over to Pattie.

"He's alive, wherever he goes. But he needs strength, I took out a bullet and sewed up the wound. He said he wanted to talk to you, but not for long, he would like to sleep."

"Pattie, thank you." Jon hugged him in gratitude.

"Thanks to you more. You saved our Richie, our sheriff. You're a hero." Pattie smiled, hugging him.

Jon nodded to her and went upstairs, and entering the room, he quietly closed the door behind him, seeing Richie lying in bed, covered with a blanket. His dark hair was disheveled on the pillow, and his bandaged leg wasn't even bleeding. And yet, Richie looked exhausted, but when he saw Jon, he smiled, weakly but sincerely, and Jon was hurt more than Richie was hurt when Jeremy threw a knife at him. He slowly walked over and sat down next to Richie, looking into his eyes. It seems he was closer to him more than to anyone here. And why did he feel it right now, that he couldn't live without this person?

"My guardian angel." Richie said hoarsely. "You did a brave thing, Jon. I am in your debt, forever. I won't forget it."

"It's not worth it. It's my duty to save my family. You gave me a house, you promised that you would help me find a family... but it seems that you are slowly becoming one... my family."

"As far as I remember, you said that you wouldn't let anyone get close to you, and we wouldn't become your family... never... something really changes, you were right."

"I... just realized I don't want to lose you, Sheriff.… You are fighting for our lives, and I understand you perfectly, I wish you only the best…"

"It's mutual, because I understand your feelings too... the memories of your family and father have completely infuriated you... this is my familiar feeling... but let me change something... we can treat each other like you, we don't have to be so official... because we're a team, right?"

"Yes, I agree. Today has changed a lot, including our relationship with you, Richie." Jon suddenly smiled for himself, sincerely and happily.

"I can't disagree." Richie himself smiled in response to this smile, which was better than any treatment in this world. "I called you not only for this, but also to say something important."

Jon's heart beat fast. He seemed to know what Richie wanted to tell him.

"This day has changed a lot, as well as my attitude towards you, John. I realized that I'm really worried about you, even more than for anyone else. I didn't understand your feelings before, I thought you were just an upstart cowboy who doesn't take life seriously, both his own and others'. But today I understood you well, and realized that I was wrong. In everything. You are a very good person, your soul is pure. You're the one I can trust... everything. People's lives, their own, and their feelings. John... don't get me wrong, but I'm starting to fall in love with you. I realized this a long time ago, and today I realized that my feelings for you are strong enough, but I don't want to scare you with this, and I will understand that you may not accept them. Just know that I love you, and it seems very much."

Jon froze, not believing what he had heard. It was true, it was happening to him in reality. And most importantly, Jon felt the same way about Richie. All their previous quarrels made him think that maybe it was an excessive concern for him, and that Richie was not mocking at all, as John thought in the first moments of these quarrels. Today Jon realized this when Richie saved him from the madness into which John fell from the pressure of the bandit. Who if not Richie would have saved him then? Jon could have chalked it up to camaraderie, but it was more than just friendship. Although, it did not exist at all, unlike the nascent feelings of love.

"Richie... it's mutual. Believe me, I was afraid I'd lose you today. All these quarrels... it doesn't matter, what matters is that you're alive and I'm alive. We are here next to each other, and today I realized that you are the one to whom I can open my feelings. I really love you very much, Richie. With you, I become what I should be."

Richie was stunned to hear these words. He didn't believe it, and neither did Jon, but they were both happy now.

"You have no idea how much I love you ... even though so little time has passed, but I think I know you the most." Richie sat down, leaning on the pillow, and the blanket slipped down on his legs, revealing a fairly strong body covered with scars from bullets and stab wounds.

"Me too, Richie." Jon put his palm on his cheek, stroking and rising on his head, stroking his hair. "I don't want to lose you, and I hope that this won't happen, and none of these scars will open."

"Don't be afraid, they've been healed for a long time. I will try not to get new ones."

"Promise me we'll be fine, you and me."

"I promise."

Jon approached Richie, completely out of control of his actions, but knowing that his desires were now more important than other thoughts. Richie looked into his eyes, interested and trusting him. It was a good sign for Jon.

"Richie…"

"M?"

"Can I kiss you?"

"Of course, I've been wanting to taste your lips for a long time."

Jon was not at all embarrassed by these words, and joined his lips to Richie's lips, gently touching and pulling Richie into a kiss. It seemed to be the best moment in the lives of both of them. Jon's palms descended on Richie's shoulders, feeling the heat of his skin, while Richie's palms descended on his waist, causing Jon to sigh softly and Richie to laugh softly in a kiss. Jon didn't struggle, he was pleased. Jon almost found himself in paradise from the feeling of affection from Richie's kiss. He could have said the same thing about Richie. Jon had never kissed before, which can't be said about Richie, he was clearly more experienced in this matter, but Jon didn't care about Richie's former life, because these feelings were the ones he had wanted to get for a long time.

"Richie ..." Jon whispered, looking into his eyes. "It was ... magical."

"Your first kiss, huh?" Richie asked quietly and licked his lips while stroking Jon's shaggy head.

"Yes... I want to kiss you again and again... if you don't mind." Jon lowered his eyes to the floor in embarrassment, but Richie lifted his face by the chin.

"Kiss as much as you want, Jonny."

"Call me that always." Jon smiled, again joining his lips.

"Of course, Jonny." Richie whispered it to him in a kiss, so sweetly that Jon trembled in his hands like an aspen leaf. "My Jonny."

Some time passed while they studied each other's mouths, kissing each other gently, not wanting to stop these dances, which no one guessed. Jon hugged him tightly around the neck, already sitting on Richie's lap, who in turn held him behind his back, stroking it through his clothes.

"Richie ..." Jon pulled away, looking into his eyes. "I... am not ready to go further yet."

"I understand, and I'm not forcing you. When you want, then we will do it. And now... we're just together, it's a new beginning."

"Yes... I'm so happy."

"Me too, Jonny."

Jon lay next to him for a while until Richie fell asleep, and then John kissed him on the forehead and quietly left the room, knowing what the future holds for both of them, and knowing what he himself will do to find his family. The criminal gave him good answers to all questions. Mayor, south, new sheriff, new cowboys. All this was waiting for him soon, and now Jon knew that the happiness he was looking for had found him by itself, and he wanted it more than ever.