GUNS, KNIVES and CLAWS
By Diane
Inspired by Rawhide

Sept. 15, 1863. The Willard Hotel, Washington. A gathering of Union soldiers and officers. Diane Ferrero holding the arm of her fiancé’ Captain Chase Stevens chats with some of the others. Approaching them is General Daniel Bidwell with a red haired beauty on his arm. He introduces her as Polly Walker.
“She looks familiar but I can’t place her” I think to myself. Polly greets everyone with a southern accent. “from the south” I ask? Tilting my head quzzitivly. “Born there” she replies looking directly at me, “but now living in New York and a supporter off the Army of the Potomac” She smiles and gives the General a squeeze. The woman, a bit younger than me, strawberry red hair in a tight bun at the back of her head with two strands of curls cascading down each side of her face. An off the shoulder low cut beige gown with just the right amount of cleavage showing. I have my dark brown hair also pinned to the top of my head. My off the shoulder low cut gown is a light blue also showing a bit of cleavage. I tug on Chases arm, “Do you know who she is” “Yes” he smiles, “she’s Polly Walker. The General just told us” I give him a poke in the rib. “very funny. But she seems familiar to me” “everyone looks familiar to you” Chase says, “forgive me dear I must say hello to Captain Janes. He moves away from me and I find myself walking slowly among the crowd. I find myself approaching General Bidwell again and the redhead. “But Daniel” I hear her say, “let’s just go upstairs and you can tell all about your secrets” General Bidwell feeling very happy about the young redhead on his arm leads her to the stairs. Chase comes back to me and asks, “Do you know where General Bidwell is. Captain Janes wishes to speak with him and I have to round up a few of the others. “yes” I tell him. I’ll get him and send him down to you. He went upstairs with Polly. I climb the stairs holding up my hooped gown and in the hallway find several doors. I don’t know which one they would be in but a hear a loud thud coming from one of them. I open the door stepping in and find Polly standing over the General. A letter opener in her hand. The General on the floor bleeding profusely form several stab wounds. Polly stuffs a folded piece of paper down the front of her gown between her huge breasts. She holds the letter opener out in front of her and comes at me. I catch her wrist. I am not afraid to fight. Especially another woman and feel I can hold my own. Polly reached around me and grabs my hair with her free hand. If there I one thing I am good at in a catfight, its pulling hair. I grab her red hair and start pulling back. We struggle over the letter opener yanking on each other’s hair and staggering around. I keep a tight grip on her wrist. We maneuver one another to a desk and I get her backwards on to it. “Who are you bitch” I grit my teeth. She rolls us over and gets on top of me. I let go of her hair and get my hand under her chin pushing her head back. My nails although not sharp try for her eyes. “Ohhhhh…you bitch you”. We roll off the desk and onto the floor. Wrestling on the floor we get on top of each other several times. I hear fabric ripping but don’t know if it’s my gown or hers. I manage to force the letter opener out of her hand and it scoots away. Polly goes after it on her hands and knees and I get on her back flattening her on her stomach. Her arm stretches out for the weapon. I clamp my hand on her forearm digging my nails thru the fine hairs on her freckled forearm. She winces as my nails leave red welts. Turning over on her back under me she grabs my upper arms. I grip hers back but she gets her legs up between us and shoves me off her. Scrambling to her feet as quick as she can in her gown she goes over to the prone General and pulls his colt 45 pistol form its holster just as the door opens and chase walks in. He is momentarily shocked at what he sees and goes for his own colt. Polly wheels the gun his way and fires. The room explodes with the sound making me jump. The shot hits Chase in the right upper chest area sending him crashing against the wall and sliding down it. Polly turns the gun to me and cocks the hammer pulling the trigger. The colt misfires. She pulls the hammer back again and pulls the trigger. Again the gun misfires. Throwing it at me she races for the door as I scream. In moments Union officers are flooding the room. Some tending to the General others to Chase. I am hysterical. Captain Janes pulls me back and asks, “who did this?”. “Polly” I cry to him and then it hits me where I know her from. I’ve seen her picture and heard her name mentioned many times, “Carly Ashford” I say. “Carly Ashford” he repeats, “the rebel spy”. “It was her” I tell him. “She stabbed the General just before I came in with that letter opener” I point. She was stuffing a folded piece of paper down the front of her gown. Then we fought. Chase came in and she shot him with the Generals gun. She tried to shoot me but his gun jammed and she ran out.” Captain Janes yelled out orders for the building and grounds to be searched citing a description .
General Bidwell recovered from his stab wounds he received from the rebel spy. Chase however got worse. I got the services of a nurse to attend to him at home while I was out, Mrs. Grand her name was an elderly woman with grey hair. I returned one day and called out for her. “Mrs. Grand. I’m back” Getting no answer I climbed the curving staircase calling again. Still not getting a reply I went to the master bedroom and found Mrs. Grand kneeling on the bed with a pillow over Chases face trying to suffocate him. “Mrs. Grand” I yelled running for her. I grabbed the black shawl she was wearing and pulled her backwards. She spun around and smacked my face knocking me backwards and went back to suffocating Chase. I sprang up and jumped on her back grabbing her grey hair and pulling. Her hair came off in my hand. A grey wig. And under it long red hair. “You…….” I stammered. Carly Ashford the spy sprang at me. She drove me backwards and we buried our hands in each other’s hair once again. We stumbled backwards yanking and pulling her red hair flying about. My dark hair in a tight bun but falling down now from the fight. We crashed onto a chair knocking it over and spilling us to the floor. Carol had on a split skirt used for women to ride horses, but I had on a hooped long dress and it kept me from using my legs against her. On the floor we rolled each other across the room. I ripped a sleeve off her white blouse and dug my nails into her arm scratching her. I couldn’t yell for help, no one would hear me. I had to fight her myself. The rebel spy and I tumbled about the room kicking scratching punching and biting each other. Our hair soon became masses of knots and tangles and our clothes ripped in various places. We had knocked over a chair and several small tables during the fight. I finally got her down and on top of her. My hands on her throat choking her. She clawed at my arms ripping my dress sleeves. We were both wearing each other out. Her thrashing hand felon a piece of broken pottery form one of the knocked over tables. Swinging it she brought it down on the side of my head. It shattered but knocked me off her dazed. Carly staggered up coughing and staggered towards the bedroom door. I caught up with her on the stair landing and tackled her. We tumbled down the rest of the stairs breaking thru the railing of the last five and landing hard on the floor. We both laid there exhausted. Carly moved first getting up on her hands and knees then staggering to her feet headed for the front door. I caught her leg tripping her back to the floor. Pulling her leg I tried to work my way up on her. She turned over and kicked with her boot getting me in the side of the head where she landed the broken pottery. I was already bleeding form a cut there and her boot opened it up more. I slumped down letting go of her. The last thing I remember was Carly Ashford the rebel spy going out the door then I blacked out. When I came to hurt and numb I sat up and remembered Chase. By the time I made it back upstairs, Chase was dead. Several days later I went to see General Bidwell and told him what had happened. I said I wanted to serve under the union as a spy. I really wanted to find Carly Ashford.
I kept a distance following the man down the streets of Washington. I kept my eye on the small satchel he held under his arm. That satchel was supposed to in it plans for Grant’s armies moving south. The man, was going to deliver it to someone from the south. I wore a plain gray dress and a small gray matching ladies hat. He finally entered a hotel. I followed him in and climbed the stairs after him. From a discreet distance down the hall I watched as he knocked on a door. Not a regular knock but more of a coded knock. The door opened by someone inside and a whispered conversation took place. He then stepped inside and as he did the person who opened the door stepped out to look around. I couldn’t believe my eyes or my luck, Carly Ashford. I waited impatiently. I carried a small derringer in my clutch but it would be no good against the two of them. Soon the door opened and he left. I ducked up the stair case and waited till he went down then approached the door. I did the same coded knock I had heard him do and hoped Carly would think it him returning for some reason. She did, and I pushed the door open knocking her backwards. I pulled my derringer out, pointed it at her and told her, “Don’t move bitch”. She was wearing a long sleeve white button front blouse with a black split riding skirt. The split skirt allowed women to ride a horse normal rather than side saddle, so I assumed she would have a horse nearby. On the bed lay the small satchel. I saw it and moved towards it. Carly moved along the other side of the bed. “I told you not to move bitch or I’ll kill you just like you did Chase.” She didn’t say anything and we just stared at each other. I finally knelt one leg on the bed to grab the satchel. That’s when Carly sprang at me. She caught my gun hand and yanked me onto the bed. I was more than happy to meet her. We came together and I grabbed her long red hair. She latched onto my dark hair and we took up where we had left off in a hair pulling catfight. I forced her onto her back on the bed and she stretched my gun hand up over our heads. I let go of her hair and grabbed her wrist. She let go and grabbed my wrist as we struggled over the gun on the bed. I rolled her over and she rolled me over getting back on top. Sliding off the side of the bed we stood up chest to chest struggling. The gun pointed towards the ceiling. “Ohhhh…you bitch you”. “I’ll tear you apart” “Not if I shoot you first bitch”. We swayed back and forth moving each other around the room. She got me against the dresser and banged my wrist on the edge. I wasn’t able to hold the gun and it fell down between the dresser and the wall. I stood her up and swung my fist. I am not good at a punch fight but better at a hair pulling one, however I connected with her face sending her back onto the bed. Then I dove on top of her and grab her hair. Carly was more than willing to fight like that and grabbed my hair. We rolled off the bed to the floor and went over and over each other. By the time we rolled back across the other way, we were both huffing and puffing besides moaning and groaning. “Ohhhh…..” “ Ahhhhhhh,……” “Let go of my hair you witch” , “I’ll gonna pull it out by the handfuls bitch” We wrestled on the floor for a while longer before she got me down. Her split skirt allowed her to move up and straddle my waist. Her hands in my hair and mine in hers she banged my head on the wooden floor, once twice three times. I let go of her hair and grabbed her wrists. Each time my head hit the floor I yelled out……..”owwwww………..” Finally, Carly felt my grip on her wrists slipping. She let go of my hair and scrambled up. She grabbed the satchel off the bed and ran for the door. I was pretty groggy but I managed to grab her leg as she went by and tripped her. I pulled on her legs trying to crawl up on her back but she kicked me with her boots once in the face. I had to let go of her or risk passing out. Carly stood up opened the door and flew out it. I struggled to my feet and went after her using the walls for support to keep me up. I Stumbled down the steps and went after her. The people in the lobby astonished as these two women ran by them. Our disheveled appearance very obvious as to what we had been doing. I hit the street and just caught site of her rounding the corner. It was harder for me to run in my hooped dress then Carly in her split skirt. As I rounded the corner I heard a train whistle. “She’s headed for the train” I thought. I ran on now very out of breath. I couldn’t see her out in front of me so I could only assume she made it to the train. It was just starting to move when I clung onto the last cars railing and pulled myself up. In the last car were only a couple and they started at me sweating out of breath. I had to sit down and catch my breath or I would never be able to fight her more if I came across her. I only hoped she was on the train.
I don’t know how long it was but the train began slowing down. People got up and looked out the windows, and here I am still in my bloomers trying to sink down in the seat. Curiosity got the best of me and I looked out the window. A herd of bison was crossing the tracks. There must have been hundreds of them. Then my eye caught something else. A woman running from the train across the field of high grass. The long red hair flowing behind her it had to be Carly. I pushed a few passengers out of the way and got off the train. She had a good start on me but I had an angle on her. I took off running not hampered by a long dress any more I covered the distance fast. Carly glanced back at the train then she looked my way and put on some speed having seen me. Thunder rolled and it started to rain. We crossed the huge field and entered a wooded area. By the time I got to the woods I was soaked. My long brown hair hanging in wet strands about my face. I leaned against a tree trying to catch my breath. The rain was coming down so hard that was all you could hear. Then I saw her. She had also stopped to breathe. We stared at each other and she took off running again. I went after her. Suddenly she stopped and turned to face me. Trying to get her breath. I came up to her slowly also breathing very hard. “You know my dear” she huffed in a that southern drawl. “this isn’t going to end pretty”. “I know Carly” I huffed back at her, “but you’re going to have to pay with your life for what you did to Chase”. Carly bent forward hands on her knees. Her red hair hanging down like mine. “She straightened up and said, “then come and get me bitch”. I started forward and so did she first slowly then t a trot. We collided with fists swinging. SOCK…..SOCK….SOCK. Punch after punch landed on faces, breasts and bodies. Carly went down in the mud and I got down on top of her. Grabbing each other’s wet hair, we yanked and puled rolling back and forth in the mud. I could use my legs now and I hook us up several times wrestling. Hands went into faces clawing at eyes, or under chins forcing heads back to unbearable angles. Still we fought in the mud. Soon we were both covered head to foot in goop. What was left of our clothes hung in muddy tatters. Both of us bare chested. Blood seeped from noses and lips. On top of me Carly got her hands on my breasts squeezing. I gripped her wrists first wincing at the pain as she twisted them back and forth trying to tear them from my chest. Then I moved to her breasts grabbing the mounds and raking what little finger nails I had down over her enlarged nipples. Carly cried out and I managed to dump her off me. We rolled each other over and over clawing tits. We rolled into a rather large puddle and I got a hand in her face pushing her head to the side trying to drown her. I tossed my wet muddy hair back so I could watch her squirm. Her hand went to my face and clawed my cheeks. Then her fist hit my breast and I winced tumbling off her. Carly got to her feet and staggered away trying to run. I scrambled up and went after her. She got to a slope that went up to a bridge crossing a small stream. Stumbling up the slope I caught her from behind and dragged her back down. We thru arms around each other grabbing hair form the back and yanking. “Ahhhhhh……….” “Ohhh….bitch…you bitch you…” Several times we went down on the ground wrestling but picked one another up to continue our hair pulling. Separating Carly again climbed the slope with me right behind her. I felt like my lungs were going to burst in my chest. She got to the top and staggered to the bridge. I caught her spun her around and swung my fist. I hit her in the mouth knocking her down. Diving on top of her or rather falling on top of her we locked up and rolled over and over slowly. The rain continued to beat down on us at least washing some of the mud off us. Rolling over and over neither one of us noticed the horses slowly surrounding us till we heard, “my oh my. What have we here. Not what might you two ladies be doing out here going at it like wildcats?” Hands suddenly grabbed us yanking both of us to our feet. It was a bunch of riders and judging by their outfits they appeared to be a mix of Union and rebel soldiers. I assumed they were deserters banded together to reap whatever profits they could from the war torn states. Carly breathing hard blurted out, “she’s Carly Ashford, the rebel spy” pointing a finger at me. Spies of any kind were looked upon with disdain during the war. “My mouth fell open, “lying bitch” I yelled back, “she’s Carly Ashford” The men looked at us. Covered in mud and grime you couldn’t even tell what color hair we both had. “well” said one of them, “which ever one of you is the rebel spy, we can get a pretty good price for you when we come across a patrol be it either Yanks or Rebs. Knot um up.” He said to the others. Riders got down and grabbed both of us tying our hands in front of us then a length of rope between us. “let’s go” he said as they mounted up again. Carly and I were forced to walk along between them. We stumbled several times the other taking the advantage to yank and pull on the rope tying us together. “come on bitch or I’ll drag you thru the mud”. Several times we went at it grabbing hair and trying to hit each other with our tied hands. By the time we came to a stop it was dark. I couldn’t take another step. We were shoved inside a tent where we both collapsed on the ground. We just laid there every once in a while giving a yank on the rope just to annoy each other. Finally, I sat up and whispered, “I’m getting out of here” Knowing if I couldn’t prove who I really was I’d be at the end of rope. “No you’re not” Carly said sitting up. “yes I am” I started to get up and she threw her arms around me rope and all. I flung my tied hands over her head grabbing her hair from the back and she did mine. We pulled hair and went over. Carly got on top of me. We wrestled back and forth somewhat tied together. Our legs kicked each other. I got her down and head butted her twice till she stopped pulling my hair. “I’m going and your coming with me bitch”. I got off her and lifted the back of the tent. Apparently our captors didn’t expect two ladies to try and get away from them. I crawled under the tent in the mud and half pulled Carly after me. When we got up we stood and glanced around. Seeing no one I started for a wooded area. Carly reluctantly came with me seeing we got this far she thought we may in fact get away. The alternative was being found out who she really was and hung. We had gotten pretty far away when Carly grabbed me and we tumbled down and embankment. She got her hands on my throat and started choking me. I wrestled her over and got my hands on her throat. We rolled several times and tumbled down another embankment still tied together. When I opened my eyes Carly was standing over me with a big stick. She brought it down just as I rolled out of the way. I yanked on the rope between us and pulled her down to the ground. Getting to my knees I went to grab her arms but she swung the stick and it hit me in the side of the head. I attempted to get up but collapsed back on the ground. The last thing I remember was Carly staring down at me. That’s the last time I saw Carly Ashford, till after the war.

End of Part 1

GUNS, KNIVES & CLAWS ( part 2 )
By Diane
Inspired by Rawhide

August 21, 1866. The late afternoon stage coach pulled into the Arizona town depot. The grizzled old driver climbed down from his seat and hurried to open the coach door. Extending his hand, I gathered my lavender dress about me took his hand and stepped down onto the dirty dusty street. I adjusted my matching small lavender hat and opened my parasol against the blistering sun. “I know who you are” he said smiling a toothless grin. “Really” I replied. “yes saree bob” he smiled doing a sort of dance jig. “Your Diamond Diane”. I smiled back, “You remember that far back” “Ah shucks” he added, “twerent that long ago. Why I remember you and Sultry Sue use to beat the tarnishing’s out of each other while everyone cheered. Right over there.” He moved to the front of the coach and pointed across and down the street. I walked with him and stopped as my eyes caught sight of something I couldn’t believe. The sign over the saloon said, “CARLY’S. he saw me staring and said, “yep, that use to be Sultry Sue’s place but now Miss Carly owns it. “really” I replied still staring at the sign. There was throng of people at the swinging doors both men and ladies all either craning their necks to see in or jostling a way inside. “what’s going on there” I asked. “Well” he stammered, “its Friday night. Miss Carly has what she calls Friday catfights. That’s where any ladies have a problem with each other they can arrange with Miss Carly to fight on Friday nights. Winner is the winner of whatever disagreement they have.” “Really” I said still staring at the sign. “and what does your sheriff think of that.” “Oh he’s all for it. Saves him from getting involved in too many lady’s complaints. The only problem he has is sometimes one of them women may get kilt. They fight each other or sometimes there are lots all fighting each other.” I was still staring at the sign and he said looking at me, “Really. Right now its Mrs. Beecher fighting with some Indian squaw she caught stealing her corn. Rather the shoot the young girl she brought her to Carly’s and they explained to her, “you win fight you go free”. “Really.” I said, and added can you have my bags taken to the hotel please. “Sure enough Diamond. Glad to have you back in town”. I had long white gloves that came up to my forearms and I pulled them up and started across the street. At the swinging doors I heard the ruckus coming from inside that could only be that of a catfight. “Pull her hair” “yeah that’s it strip her clothes off” “Come on Mrs. B. you can take her” “Fight you injun”. I managed to make my way thru the crowd only it parted and I heard some whispers…” Diamond Diane…..Diamond……Diamond Diane”. I got to the edge of the bar in front of everyone and saw the battling women. Well one was a woman. Mrs. Beecher. Big and fat with gray hair that looked like it was related to a tumble weed wearing a dull gray dress and apron. Her sleeves pushed up her brawny arms and her dressed ripped down one of the sleeves. The Indian girl was maybe just out of her teens. Thin, but having a great body. Long legs, large breasts which were exposed do to her buckskin top hanging down around her waist. The short buckskin bottom just barely reached the bottom of her butt. She had long black hair which I assume had been in two braids but now one was loose letting that long hair a tempt for Mrs. B. The girl was leaning back against the bar. Blood ran from her nose and split lips and she could barely keep herself upright. Mrs. B moved to her and grabbing the long loose hair punched the girl in the face. The girl tried to grab those beefy arms but was almost out on her feet. Another punch and the girl went down on the saw dust covered floor face down at my feet. Mrs. B reacting to the crowds cheering grabbed a bottle off the bar. Holding it by the neck she smashed it on the bar and advanced on the girl with the jagged broken end. She dropped down on the girls back and grabbing all that loose black hair yanking the girls head back she was about to cut her ear to ear when my derringer pressed against her forehead. The room went suddenly quiet but then I heard the distinct click of a colt hammer being drawn back, then another and then a third. From the back of the saloon a red head, hair on top of her head red boa wrapped around her shoulders, wearing a long green revealing dress walked seductively forward. In the crowd now more hushes whispers, “Diamond Diane…” “Well, well look who we have here.” in that southern drawl. “Honey you pull that trigger and you’ll be dead before Mrs. Beecher hits the floor.” I looked to the left and saw a saloon girl scantily dressed in black and red. Exposed huge breasts dark hair hanging in her face and a beak of a nose. She pointed a colt at my head. I knew there were at least two more off to my right and behind me. “Diamond Diane Ferrote. I should have known and I should have killed you back there in those woods during the war. Should have choked you with that rope we were tied together with.” I turned the derringer up and slowly put it back in my purse. “Carly Ashford. The rebel spy.” I goaded her. I saw her frown not liked being called a rebel. “I’m as much of a yank as you are dear”. “Hook. Take Mrs. B in the back and give her something to calm her down. The saloon girl with the big nose obviously why she was called hook turned her colt up reset the hammer and tucked it in her waist. She pushed by me and helped Mrs. B up who just continued to stare at me probably realizing how close she came to having a third eye in the middle of her forehead. “Jimmy Bob, you and Dan drag that scum injun out of here and toss her in the street. Two men form the crowd came forward and grabbed the girl under her arms and dragged her thru the crowd to the swinging doors. “I see your still at the bottom of things” I said to Carly. Carly smiled, “Would you care to start at the top” she unwound the boa and tossed it on the bar. I smiled back at her, and handed my purse to the sheriff leaning against the bar, “would you be a gentleman and hold this for me” “Sure will Diamond” he replied knowing what was coming. I leaned my parasol against the bar and unpinned my lavender hat placing it on the bar. Then I pulled off the long white gloves and laid them on top of it. I took the pins out of my hair and shook it loose. It falls down over my shoulders as I moved more towards the middle of the room. The whispers now became voices and I could hear bets being wagered. Carly let her red hair down and moved towards me. We circled one another slowly keeping eyes on each other and hands semi out in front of us clawed. We both knew what to expect from each other and that would be plenty of hair pulling. As if on a signal we sprang at each other like two cougars, hands burying in each other’s hair. Carly got a hand around the back of my head grabbing my long hair and one hand on top of my head grabbing a handful. I ran my fingers along the side of her head and grabbed that long red hair just above her ears. The place erupted in cheers as we yanked and tugged each other around by the hair. “Get her Diamond….whew…..” “Rip it out Carly get her down”. Our feet kicked up the sawdust covered floor. We twisted each other this way and that bending as far as we could before straighten up again. “oh you bitch you” “you cows ass, I still owe you for Chase.” We crashed into a table rolling across it and onto the chairs with two men sitting in them. All of us tumbled to the floor with louder cheers. The men scrambled away as Carly and I got up swinging fists. THUD…THUD…THUD punches connected on faces and heads. I ran into her and hug her. She wrapped arms around me and we fell to the floor. Her green dress ripped up the side. Over and over we wrestled each other holding tight. Legs trying to get entwined. Carly grabbed the back of my dress and yanked ripping it down the back to my waist. “yeah they cheered tear it off her Carly” I grabbed the front of her dress tearing it open exposing her chest. “all right Diamond strip the rebel bitch”. We dug hands back into each other’s hair and rolled thru the crowd some tripping and falling trying to get out of the way others falling over us. Our long hair in knots and tangles now and bits and pieces of sawdust in it. Our dresses coming apart more and more as we fought. WE got to our feet and tried landing a few more punches but had to settle for hair pulling. I kicked at her shins and she kicked me back. We moved about the saloon grunting and groaning, both of us breathing hard now. I wrestled her against the bar trying to force her onto it. Getting a hand under her chin and pushing. Carly groaned loudly her hand searching for my face. When she got my face I twisted my head and bit her wrist. She let out a yell and beat me on the back. Then she swung me around and against the bar. Her red hair hanging down over her face she got her hands on my throat choking me. I grabbed her wrists then her forearms then on her throat. We struggled against the bar choking each other. “Christ their kill one another maybe you better break them up sheriff.” “What and ruin this No way” “You cows ass” Carly choked through my fingers. I could only cough back at her. My hand fell on a bottle and I brought it up and smashed it on the side of her head. A thin stream of blood trickled down over her ear but she let me go and staggered back. I dropped the bottle and rushed her grabbing her in a perfect tackle and we went backwards onto a large card table. The men around it jumped up cheering us on. Our hair hung down in both our faces, that is the hair that wasn’t being pulled. Carly got her booted feet up between us and shoved me backwards. I careened arms pin wheeling back into the crowd who caught me and shoved me at her. “Whoaaaa…..go get her Diamond”. WE crashed together again and spun round and round ripping clothes, pulling hair, punching slapping and scratching. We spun through the swinging doors and out to the porch then stumbled down the steps tripping and going down in the dust covered street. The crowd once pushing and shoving to get inside now reversed their position trying desperately to get outside not to miss anything. Carly and I turned each other over and over in the dirt and dust kicking up a storm. It covered our dresses and exposed body parts and our hair. The grunting, groaning and squealing was just a bit louder than the sound of fabric ripping as we tore at each other’s dresses. We were both soon topless. Our huge breasts doing their own fighting which made the crowd even the women in it cheer louder. “Look at those utters” “Come on Carly milk that bitch” Hands grabbed and pulled at tits. Twisting hard nipples this way and that while pulling hair, slapping and punching. We rolled across the street and then started back. My head was on fire. My face stung like hell. Carly fought like a cougar protecting her cubs. She got me down both of us sweating and panting and pinned my wrists down. Trying to breathe, she huffed out, “You give up bitch? I’ll let you live as long as you come and work for me” “Ha” I spit at her. “ I’d rather die”. “Then you will” she spat back. “Knife…give me a knife.”. No one moved and it got a bit quiet. “I said give me a fucking knife” Carly shouted never taking her eyes from mine. I glared right back at her as I bucked and tried to get her off me. Suddenly a large hunting knife appeared on the ground next to us. She had to let go of my wrist to get it and when she did I grabbed her knife hand and wrestled her over. She had my other wrist and we rolled over again. The crowd now close to 50 or more cheered. “Cut her Carly, cut her good”. It seems Carly had become the new favorite in town. “Come on Diamond get her down. Take that tooth pick away from her”. The sheriff leaning against a post watching the fight was asked by someone, “You going to stop it now”. “Nope” He said, “No one’s gotten kilt yet?” Carly and I struggled and fought each other over the large knife. I held tight to her wrist and she held tight to my other wrist. We rolled back and forth groaning. She got me down and let go of my wrists putting both hands on the large knife and trying to force it into my chest. “I’ll cut your tits off bitch.” I held tight with both my hands while squirming under her. The blade came down with in an inch of my bare breast. I tried holding my breath to keep my tit from moving. Suddenly there was a THUNK and Carly slumped over me. I pushed her off me and rolled away. The Indian girl stood there with a piece of lumber in her hands that she hit Carly in the head with. The crowd had gone quiet again. A few of Carly’s lil birds started moving towards her and I but the sheriff stepped down off the porch. “Alllll…right” He said. “It’s over” “Taint’t over sheriff. That injun cow ganged up on Carly so we’re going to gang up on her.” He could deal with one person getting killed but not a few. “I said its over” his hand went to his peace maker. The saloon girls stopped. “Now you girls take Carly there inside and tend to her head. I’LL take care of out here. Go on now like I said” The girls picked up the unconscious red head and half dragged her back into the saloon. The crowd began to disperse going back into the saloon or on to their chores or errands. The sheriff approached me as I covered up my breasts. My face covered in dirt and dust along with my arms and what part of my legs showed. My hair a tangle of knots and dirt. “He gave a short laugh” Just like old times huh Diane”. “that woman’s a witch Sheriff. She killed my fiancé’” “That happened during the war Diamond. There’s nothing I can do to her about that now”. “Maybe you can’t but I will”. He gave another laugh. “ I kinda thought you will” and then moved back in side. The girl was still standing there holding the piece of wood. She was still unsteady on her feet and when I approached she held the wood up at me. She was covered in dried blood down her face and arms. Her buckskin clothes torn open showing huge breasts for an Indian, especially one as young as her. IK assured her that I wasn’t going to hurt her and wanted to help her. To my surprise she spoke, and it was English.” I heard them call you Diamond Diane. You know my mother.” I found her name to be Light Feather, I assume because of her stature. I helped her to my hotel and into my room. “that must have been some fight between you and Carly” the manager told me, “you look like you could use a nice hot bath and change of clothes, I’ll get the misses to heat up some water.” After a nice soothing bath to ease my aches and pains I dressed in a light colored split skirt and a dark gray button front long sleeve blouse. I tied my hair back loosely. “Where can I get a wagon”. I asked the manager. “down at the blacksmiths” he told me “he can lend you one, where you tended to go to Diamond”, “I’m going to take the girl back to her tribe” I told him. I went to see the blacksmith and he offered me a small wagon. “Why your Diamond Diane Ferrote.” He smiled. “Nice to have you back in town”. “it’s nice to be here, I think” I told him. He went around back to hitch up the team while I waited in the barn. I heard a noise and turned to see what it was. Hook, the saloon girl with the beaked nose came out of the shadows with a pitch fork aimed at me. I twisted to the side just in time but took one of the tines in the shirt ripping it open at my ribs and cutting me. Hook spun around and faced me waving the pitch fork back and forth in front of her. “You think you’re a real tough girlie don’t you Miss Diamond Diane. Well I’m gonna stab you full of holes with this here fork”. She came at me and I grabbed her arm as she went by me. She stopped dead in her tracks and spun around. I landed a punch square in her face which staggered her back. I charged at her and grabbed the pitch fork between her hands. She pushed it forward into me and I struggled back with her. We went against the barn wall and she pushed the handle under my chest and started sliding it up. Her intent was to roll it over my tits. I strained to keep it low and we leaned into each other groaning. I kicked her in the shins several times and on the last kick she fell backwards pulling me with her. Hook went down on her back and fell on top of her. I pushed the clutched pitch fork up over her head and pinned it to the ground. We were in a stalemate. I couldn’t let go or she would bring it back up in my face. She couldn’t roll me over and hold onto the fork. Her only option was to let it go. Our lower bodies squirmed and struggled. Breast to breast, hips to hips and legs kicking. Finally, she decided to let go of it and grabbed my hair. I got her hair and we started rolling across the dirt barn floor. Over and over we churned fighting. Hook got me down and moved her hands to my throat. I gasped at her choking and clawed at her bare arms. Grabbing a handful of dirt and straw I shoved it in her face. With a sputtering she fell of me and rolled away. She sprang up and started towards me but heard a noise and chose to flee instead. I started after her but the blacksmith who had just come in and saw the end of the struggle stopped me. “Wait” he yelled. “She might be leading you into a trap”. I stopped at the door panting watching her run up the street. Brushing myself off I went back to him. “Thanks. She came out of nowhere with that pitch fork.” I touched my side where my shirt was ripped open. Just a slight scratch. He helped my climb up into the wagon with a team of two horse and I went back to the hotel to get Light Feather. Helping her in we headed out of town with her directions on where to go. A few hours later we rolled down a trail and into a valley. I saw the teepees lining a river side. We drew a crowd as we rolled up. Curiosity seekers who stared at the white woman with the Indian girl who looked like she had been beaten. I stopped the wagon and the crowd gathered. I saw and heard some of the older Indians both men and woman pointing at me and mumbling. I distinctly heard my name mentioned, Diamond Diane. From the middle of the crowd a striking Indian woman appeared with some braves. As she approached I remembered her well. Tawny. They came up to the wagon. Tawny took a look at me and said, “Diane”. I just nodded but some of the other older Indians re cognized the name and nodded or spoke among themselves. Tawny looked at the condition of her daughter and faced me. “I see your still at old games. But now you have picked on the wrong child.” From her belt she pulled a large hunting knife and began climbing the wagon. I stood to meet her but then Little Feather sprang from her seat onto her mother. The two women went backwards and down in the dirt. Little feather grabbed her mother’s wrist with the knife and rolled her over. Tawny fought back and rolled them over again. Dust kicked up as mother and daughter battled on the ground. I started down but one of the elders who recognized me stopped me. ‘let them go. They need to get it out of their souls.”. “but the knife” I protested. “daughter will not harm mother nor will mother harm daughter. They are frustrated. Let them fight” And fight they did. They rolled over and over in the dirt creating a small dust storm. Little Feather had a tight grip on her mother’s wrist her other hand once around Tawny’s shoulders now grabbed the long free black hair and yanked. Tawny gritted her teeth against the pain. She grabbed her daughters braids and pulled. Although Indian women don’t usually fight like this, Tawny knew form experience with me and Little Feather form being in town that hair pulling in a woman’s fight was a good weapon. The younger girl got astride her mother despite Tawny pulling both her braids. She let go of Tawny’s long black hair and grabbed her wrist with both hands picking it up and banging it on the ground. Once, twice. Tawny finally let go and dropped the knife, but she flung her daughter off her and dove on top of her. Again the two, mother and daughter grabbed each other’s hair and yanked and rolled in the dirt. Little Feathers clothes were already torn apart from her fight with Mrs. Beecher in the saloon. Tawny still young wore a slightly longer buckskin skirt version then her daughter and a buckskin top that barely covered her large breasts that were still perky from what I remembered. The two were grunting and groaning. The other tribes people both men and women let them fight. It was their way for one but they had seen Tawny catfight before and found it arousing even if this was her own daughter. Getting to their feet I thought maybe it was over but they circled each other crouched. Once again one of Little Feathers braids had come out and her hair hung free on the one side. Tawny lunged at it and grabbed the flowing black hair. Little Feather grabbed her mother’s long silky black hair and they pulled each other around till falling down and rolling. Over and over they went again till they came to the campfire. Stopping there, Tawny on top she stretched her daughters arm towards the fire. Little Feather tried to pull back but her was to tired. She let out a yell when the heat began to redden her arm. Tawny jumped up from her ready but her daughter didn’t get up laying in the dirt holding her arm. Tawny went to her and helped her up looking at the burn. She said, “Now you learn” and smacked Little Feathers face. She turned to some women and said something and they led her daughter away. Dusty, dirty, sweating and bare chested she approached me. I had her knife and held it out towards her. She stopped. Then I flipped it around and handed it to her hilt first. “Diane, what brings you back? Sultry Sue is long gone”. “I know” I said. “I just wanted to come back.” I told her about Chase and Carly Ashford and the saloon and my vindeda. As good friends she offered any help I needed. When I left their camp and headed back to town I had a plan to run Carly out of town. I got back and inquired about a saloon down the street from Carly’s. A run down place that lost all its patrons to Carly’s. I wired General Bedford telling him that I found Carly and wanted revenge for Chase and what I wanted to do and he agreed to front me the money. I bought the saloon. I named it the Red Dog Saloon. It took a while but I got the place up and running. It was hard to get any women to work for me all the prostitutes worked for Carly. I knew she was seething but there wasn’t much she could do. I offered lower prices than she did and more winnings then she did. Slowly the patrons came back to the Red Dog from Carly’s. It was late one afternoon when a woman came running in the front door of the Red Dog telling me to come quick. I followed her down to the blacksmith’s where I found Little Feather quite beaten up. She told me it was Hook that jumped her in the corral. I told the woman to bring Little Feather to the Red Dog then I went to Carly’s. I pushed open the batwing doors and stood there looking around. There weren’t very many people in the place. From the top of the curving staircase came a voice, “you looking for me Diane” It was Carly she came down the stairs slowly like the provocative slut she is. Then from the backside of the bar came, “No I think she is looking for me”. It was Hook. She came around the far end of the bar. “Stay out of this Carly” Hook said. Then rushed at me. I rushed at her and we collided with such a force it knocked us both off our feet. We hit the saw dust covered floor and started to wrestle digging our hands into each other’s long mane’s. The few patrons jumped up from their chairs to watch and cheer. One of them ran out the door. Hook and I rolled each other over on the floor kicking and clawing. She tore at my dress and the sound of ripping fabric echoed around the nearly empty bar. I tore at her skimpy prostitute’s dress which wasn’t much to it. We rolled towards the bat wing doors pulling hair. I got one hand free and put it over her big nose and mouth trying to smother her. Hook twisted her head back and forth and grabbed my wrist. I noticed Carly at the bar sipping a whiskey. I couldn’t discount her from jumping in. We got to our feet and Hook gave me a punch sending me backwards onto a table. I grabbed a bottle and threw it at her. She ducked and jumped on me and we went back onto the table breaking it and crashing to the floor. I picked her up by her hair and swung my fist hitting her in the jaw, then swung my other fist hitting her on the other side of her jaw. Hook staggered back. I grabbed her by the shoulders and rammed her against the wall. Then brought my knee up aiming for her crotch, but I got pulled away from her. Carly spun me around and shoved me back against Hook. “Hold her up Hook” she said. Hook wrapped her arms around me form behind pinning my arms to my sides. Carly walked up and slugged me. I staggered a bit but kept upright. Then she hit me again and again. My lip was bleeding and I was a little groggy. I saw her coming and so did Hook but she couldn’t warn Carly in time. Tawny hit the red head on the run driving her sideways and onto another table shattering it and sending them both to the floor. Carly grabbed onto the long flowing jet black hair and yanked. Tawny likewise grabbed the long red mane of Carly and pulled. They rolled each other over. Carly in a long lite blue dress and Tawny in ha short buckskin skirt and tight skimpy buckskin top. By the time they had rolled 3 times Tawny was topless and tearing open the front of Carly’s dress. I rammed my elbow back as Hook had been taken surprised by Tawny’s tackle on Carly. My thrust caught her in the tit and she let go of me. I turned around grabbed what was left of her skimpy top and flung her towards the bar. She slammed hard against the bar just as a man came in thru the bat doors. “Hook Where’s Carly” then he caught sight of Tawny and Carly on the floor in a cat ball. He looked at me and put 2 and 2 together. “Hook, “He said, “there are a bunch of women coming from the Red Dog and they look like they mean business. “Can’t you see I’m busy” Hook said nodding towards me. “get the girls and stand out front”. He stepped between us then hurried past stepping around Carly and Tawny still wrestling on the floor locked tight together. “Your friends coming to help you Diane” she sneered. I didn’t’ know what was going on out there but I rushed Hook just as she picked up a bottle off the bar. I caught her wrist with both my hands and we struggled over the bottle. Bringing her hands down on the bar the bottle smashed but left a jagged piece in her hand. We rolled along the bar fighting over it. Carly’s little birds began coming from the rooms upstairs. Most scantily clad some topless. Down the stairs they came 10 in all some stopping to grab Tawny’s hair and pull her off Carly. Others coming for me. “out front.” Hook yelled still fighting with me. “all of you out front”. Carly freed from Tawny looked at me and Hook and started for us her dress hanging down in tatters where Tawny ripped it part. The Indian woman got up. Her huge chest bared she went after the red head tackling her from behind down on the floor. Outside the Lil Birds glanced down the street at the group coming up the middle of it. Out in front was Little Feather, ripped and torn and bloodied but leading the few girls form the Red Dog and a couple of Indian squaws. 7 of them marched towards Carly’s. “Hold on” one of the Lil Birds said “wait” the Red Dog group got to Carly’s lining the middle of the street. “Ok girls, let’s get them” The Lil birds rushed down off the steps and the Red Dog women rushed to meet them. The two groups clashed together in a woman to woman brawl. Some were 1 on 1 fights. Some were 2 on 1 fights. The screaming and cussing brought almost the whole town out to see. Dress ripped apart and hair was yanked out and tossed aside. Girls went down in the street wrestling or stood toe to toe fists swinging. Little Feather and a blonde Lil Bird were embraced in a tight clinch trying to get each other down. One of the other Birds trying grabbing Little Feather from behind. “I got her” the blonde said as her hair was pulled, “go help the others.” Back inside Tawny and Carly continued their wrestling on the sawdust covered floor. Carly’s dress in taters ripped almost totally off her showing her white bloomers. Tawny bare chested her skimpy buckskin skirt almost falling off her. Thatches of black pubic hair showing around the edges of it. Hook and I continued our fight against the bar. Hook took me to the floor hard. She quickly got on top of me and began choking me. We rolled several times but she came back out on top. Her strong arms bearing down on my throat. I kicked and thrashed about under her trying to get her off and clawing at her arms. Tawny and Carly had broken apart from their wrestling and Tawny having had Carly down and banging her head on the floor got off her and went outside to check on her daughter in the brawl. “Hook’ Carly ‘s voice rang out. “Leave her and get your ass outside we are losing”. It was true a few of the Lil Birds lay dazed and uncounisous on the street which now gave my girls a more 2 on 1 advantage. Hook joined the fight. I got up slowly and saw Carly heading out the batwing doors and I staggered after her. Outside the street fighting had just about stopped. Women lay all over the street some still going at it. Ripped and torn clothes lay scattered around the street. Most of the women bare chested, a few completely naked. Carly stood on the steps as I came up behind her and gave her a hard shove down the steps and down in the street. I followed after her. She got to her feet and faced me in just her bloomers. The rest of the fighting stopped as they all turned their attention to Carly and I. “Ok bitch” I said, “just you and I now. Winner gets the others hotel; loser gets her hair cut off. Agreed.” Carly was silent till one of the onlookers yelled, “come on Carly you can take her”, “Go for it Carly”. “get her Diane. Rip that red hair out”. Finally, Carly agreed. Although most of her long red hair had come out and hung down she undid the rest shaking it out. My long dark hair had already been pulled apart during the fight inside. I was topless with just my split skirt on which had rips and tears in it. Carly and I advanced on each other. We met and went right into each other’s hair. Yanking and pulling one another around and around. The on lookers and groups of fighters surrounded us cheering their respective woman on. It looked as if this was going to be strictly a hair pulling battle until we tripped over the walkway across the street and went down on the boards wrestling. Our long hair with hands in it getting tangled around our bodies as we rolled one another over. Our legs tangled and kicked. Hands never letting loose of the others hair we got up on our feet and I slugged the redhead sending her crashing into the window of a store. She only got minor cuts and I climbed thru the broken window after her. The crowd moved to the front of the store only a few being able to see what was going on inside the others only hearing crashes and cussing. “you whore of a cow”, “I’ll twist your head off bitch”, then suddenly we came crashing out another window to the wooden sidewalk. Again only receiving minor cuts. Rolling out into the street both Carly and I were tiring. We separated and got up breathing hard both covered in dirt, grime and sweat. Long knotted tangled hair hanging down over our faces. Getting our breath back as quick as possible. We were about to rush each other when someone from the crowd tossed a large hunting knife between us. We both looked at it then both went for it. Carly’s hand closed on it and I got her wrist. We stood up and I wrapped an arm tight around her neck opining down that long red hair. Carly wrapped her arm around my neck doing the same to my long dark hair. We waltzed about the street struggling over the knife. “Cut her good Diane”. “Stick it in her Carly” We tripped each other and went down in the dirt rolling over and over and over. I held the knife hand above our heads as we rolled. Side by side we laid kicking and straining. I finally got on top of her. I let go of her neck and pried her arm form around mine. Carly started to panic and kicked and squirmed under me. “You got her Diane” “Carly, get up. Get her off you”. I turned her knife hand back towards her and began pressing down. Carly fought back but the knife kept getting lower and lower. “Bitch…..” she yelled, “I’ll slice you open” I paid no attention to her ranting and pressed down on her wrist and knife. Finally, it touched her left breast. I gave her a look and she stopped struggling briefly but then started again. I pushed and the blade went into her breast slightly. Carly cried out and let go of the knife. I pulled it free and climbed off her panting hard. Everyone waited to see if the fight would continue but Carly didn’t get up. She held her breast as blood sipped thru her fingers. It wasn’t a bad cut but enough to make her quit the fight. Lil Birds flew to her and pressed torn clothing to her chest. They turned on me and the brawl was about to begin again but the sheriff stepped forward. “all right all right, that’s it. An agreement was made and we all heard it” he turned to the crowd to which most everyone nodded. “Diane gets Carly’s saloon and………” he drew it out. “Carly loses her hair. Are you going to take this fairly Carly or are we going to have to hold you down”? Carly got to her feet holding a blood soaked rag over her left tit. “get on with it bitch” she said to me. I walked up behind her and with the large knife began to saw thru the long red hair pulling hard on it when I could and whispering to her, “You’re getting off easy bitch” Each hand full I sawed off I held up to cheers from the crowd before tossing it on to the dirty dusty street. When I had most of her hair cut off in a lopsided chop and the ground around us littered with the long red strands. My girls came running over and brought me over to the steps of the saloon. I stood there and said, “take that sign down. This is now Diamond Diane’s” Cheers went up from everyone even those supporters of Carly. It was the next day I came out on the steps of the new Diamond Diane to find a covered wagon sitting there. Carly in the driver’s seat her short red hair now trimmed in a more stylish bob, and Hook beside her. Most of the Lil Birds were hanging out the sides and back although some chose to stay on with me. “taint over bitch” Carly said. “I know” I told her, “you still have to answer for Chase”. She slapped the straps on the backs of the team and the wagon rolled away.
THE END