During the 1800's, the West represented a new life for many.
An opportunity for a fresh start.
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This story is about just that.
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It's also a story about what happens when there are no more places left to run away to.
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This group is given the name Punkabillies by the locals in a small Western town in what is now the State of Washington. The name is derogatory in nature.
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They are a crude grouping of hillbillies and punks. Outcasts who actually end up saving the town from itself.
Dashiell (Dash) Thompson - A Scottish man and former jewelry thief. Dashiell is the primary narrator of this story. He's a highly educated and very sophisticated man with tremendous patience. Dashiell never married, but once loved a woman who could not love him back. He became a womanizer as a result of the circumstances surrounding this. He finally finds true love by falling deeply and madly in love with Kitty
Jacob Brown - Former slave and farmer who was his masters right hand man. Jacob was also the lover of the master’s wife. The two of them bore a daughter together. Jacob killed his master after his master murdered this woman and child in an angry and drunken rage. Jacob can never find it within himself to ever love another woman after this heartbreak
Kiera Gallagher - Is an Irish locksmith and thief. Her father taught her everything she knows about about being a locksmith. After her father's death in Ireland, she jumped a ship to the US as a stowaway. It was then she began using her sharp skills and talents as a locksmith for thievery. Kiera talks in ways that make sailors blush, She also cares deeply about others. Quite often feeling too much empathy for the downtrodden. Eventually Kiera falls in love with Eduardo as this story unfolds.
Alejandro Ramirez - Is the son of a wealthy Mexican politician. His father is one of the Captains of the Rurales. Brought up in a political family, he was raised with proper etiquette, style and grace. He grew up believing what his father said, not what he did. After the Punkabillies reach what is now the State of Washington, Alejandro meets and falls in love with Nelly. Together they have a son. A son Alejandro is determined to raise and treat better than his own father did with him.er
Miguel Cruz - Is the son of a well known gunman and murderer. Legends whose stories have graced many newspaper headlines. Both he and his father are wild and angry men. Out for revenge against no one in particular. Just the world in general. When the Punkabillies arrive in the small coastal town of what is now Washington, Miguel meets Hannah. Through her no bullshit and caring approach towards Miguel. He finally drops his guard and falls in love with her.
Eduardo Lopez - The bastard son of a whore. Eduardo carries around a heavy burden of never being accepted or enough for anyone. At the age of 8 years old, he ran away from his Mexican village. By the time he was 20 years old, he had crossed the border into US territories. Kiera takes a strong liking to Eduardo and eventually the two become romantically and sexually involved. Because it is Kiera who finally removes his fear of women and sex. She is also the first person who allows him to feel like he has value and is enough.
Jimmy - Is the piano player at Kitty's saloon. A loner who drifted into town one day and never left. Jimmy is a younger man in his early 30’s. He's almost, but not quite, desperately looking for himself. He's trying to find purpose in what he sees to be a meaningless life. After the Punkabillies arrive in town, he begins to find himself and his purpose in life. He joins the Punkabillies in their battle to help the town overcome the fear which has overcome them.
Katrina (Kitty) Abrahamson - A Swedish woman born in Sweden who is the proprietor of the saloon in town. She's a kind woman. Too kind for the life she's lived. Tough as nails too. Katrina has lost 4 husbands to untimely deaths, each one she deeply loved with all her heart - one to consumption, one to murder, one was a farming accident and one was at the hands of Indians in the small town she now lives. Dashiell becomes her last, and most endearing companion, they live out a long, happy and prosperous life after the conflict of story is done.
Hannah - A black woman who is a freed slave. She runs the local restaurant in the small Washington, coastal town where the Punkabillies finally end their journey West. Hannah once had the last name of her owner, but no one knows what it was - she left her first and last name as a slave behind her many years ago. As the Punkabillies settle into town, she ends up calming Miguel’s anger. All while softening his heart and helping him open up to himself and to others.
Drinks From The Well Of Knowledge (Nelly) - A beautiful young Native American woman. Both in her physical features and her inner spirit. She was orphaned by her tribe after losing so many bitter battles with the town's earliest settlers. Kitty, who has never had any children of her own, brought Nelly into her home and raised her as her own daughter. Nelly sews clothing for the people in town as her trade. Alejandro immediately falls for her after the Punkabillies arrive in town. The two of them find love and companionship together and have a child.
The antagonist in this story is simply fear.
No specific individual.
Just fear and fear alone.
The Journey West
It’s a hot and dusty day. We’ve been traveling for several weeks since leaving Boston. That’s where we met Keira.
Spitfire of a redhead she is.
Feisty as all can be.
We’ve been heading towards the mountains for several days now. Looks like today we begin our climb.
I can’t say that I am too excited about it, but it’s our only passage into freedom. Outlaws don’t have many options in this world.
An interesting group we are. You can definitely say that.
A fine group of misfits and outcasts of society indeed. Each of us looking to finally be accepted for who we are.
I doubt that will ever happen.
I know that Jacob and Kiera know this too.
Whether or not they're willing to admit it.
I am.
Only the few of us who have the strength and courage to do so ever face the facts of life. It is only us few who are willing to see and accept the truth in this crazy world.
The rest just hate us for it.
“I think I see a trail we can follow into the mountains up ahead sir.”
Jacob is probably the smartest man I have ever known. I think he believes me to be the same in his world. It’s why we became close so easily and so quickly.
But I’m just a university educated fool. I only sound smarter than I really am. My high society Scottish accent doesn't help me any either.
Jacob on the other hand.
He’s got true smarts and real intelligence. He learned the hard way.
By living life and actually doing the things in which he knows so much about.
Me.
I just read about things in books and I have a large and fancy vocabulary.
“Sounds good Jacob. I would follow you into the fiery depths of hell. And for god’s sake man. Please stop calling me sir. Now. Let’s get moving. That sun isn’t going to last forever. I’d like to be nestled comfortably into those mountains before sunset.”
“Sounds like a damn fuckin wonderful idea ta me”
That strong Irish brogue of hers is starting to make some sense to me. Kiera came from the dredges of Ireland. And that’s why I love that bonnie lass of a hen so much.
Looking upward towards those magnificent and intimidating mountains, some feelings of dread began to fill my heart and my gut. I've never been on an adventure like this one. I've most certainly never traveled through mountains such as these.
The rocks which seem to extend forever into the heavens, up and through the clouds. They are jagged and sharp, a brownish hue to their dominating stature. I'm not a young lad like I once was. This is definitely going to be a challenging adventure.
“No worries Dash. Everything seems impossible. Until it be done that tis.”
I understood that statement well. Strong Irish brogue and all. She’s quite offensive in how she speaks. However, Kiera is as genuinely kind in how she says things as well as her meaning behind the things she says. A good companion to have along an adventure such as this for sure.
“Thank you hen.”
I don't have much else to say in this moment. But it appears as though the kindness in my smile has made her feel better too.