Thankfully the women of the congregation were as prudish as most Catholics, so the dresses concealed their armor effectively. Enid wasn’t taking any chances after pissing off the local gang. They took seats at the back of the church. Helen leaned over to Enid.

“Mother is this really a Catholic church? Why are their seats?”

“It is, and times change Helen. The mass will still be in Latin for now.”

“What do you mean for now?”

“In about eighty years they are going to switch to English and other translations.”

“But Latin was the original language.”

“Actually, it wasn’t a lot of it was in Hebrew and Aramaic.”

Helen blinked at her in confusion.

“God did not come down and tell the Roman Catholics to write down a bunch of stuff in Latin hon. It just happened to be formalized and written down when the majority of the Romans converted then it was done again in the thirteen or fourteenth century.”

“Mother could you please teach me about all of this?”

“I guess I can. Most of the mass is the same and has been since it was formalized.”

Enid paused when she saw Gabriel Kennedy enter with a couple of women who appeared to be about fourteen and fifteen and a pair of older people. He hadn’t noticed her. It was probably the dress. She shook her head.

“You shouldn’t have too much trouble following.”

Helen nodded.

“Hazel remember no Eucharist for you.”

“I know mom, how many times have you dragged me to one of these stupid masses. Sure, didn’t miss this.”

Enid sighed and stood when the procession entered the church proper. Father Milo at its head. He smiled at the three of them when he noticed them dressed appropriately. The mass was typical. When Enid went up for the Eucharist Gabriel noticed her for the first time. He looked a bit surprised. Enid nodded to him politely. The older man that had come in Gabriel gave him a look. Enid guessed it was his father. The mass finished and Father Milo updated everyone on current events.

“Thank you for those of you provided church clothes to our newcomers who had theirs stolen on the road to Goldwater.”

A few women nodded to Enid and her daughters who nodded back with smiles. Inwardly Enid was cringing. Gabriel was looking at her directly now. The older woman elbowed him. Afterwards when people were leaving the trio were ambushed by a group of other ladies with the woman who had come in with Gabriel, she expected it was his mother.

“Oh dear, it’s terrible that you were robbed, do you need a place to stay, we have plenty of room at the house.”

Enid held up her hands.

“Thank you for the kind offer, but we have means to buy clothes, room and board we just didn’t have time before mass and Father Milo insisted we dressed properly. I felt bad that he even asked.”

“You shouldn’t, we have a tight community in this parish. We were happy to help.”

“We will return the dresses as soon as we get changed.”

“Nonsense, they were my daughters who have long grown out of them. I’m sure the Good Lord stopped me from throwing them out so they would find their way into the hand of someone who needed them.”

“At least let me pay you for them.”

“I won’t accept it. They look wonderful on you three. What are your names? Where are your parents?”

Enid tugged on her collar.

“Our mother passed some time ago, our father he was to start work at the mine. But he passed on the trip here. Wasted away. We were already mostly here from the east…”

“Oh, you poor dears.”

“We have come to accept the loss.”

Gabriel appeared beside his mother with the older man. The father looked at the three girls. He had a distinct Scottish accent.

“It is terrible what happened to you three, I’ll be making sure the Sheriff goes out and tries to track down the ruffians responsible.”

“Oh, it is alright, there is no need to waste his time for some clothes, that was all that was in the luggage, I am sad we lost my late father’s belongings but everything else can be replaced.”

The elder Kennedy laughed.

“You’re from Scotland!”

“Aye, Mr. Kennedy. I am.”

Enid was watching Gabriel who was looking at her intently. He elbowed Gabriel.

“Seems like you’ve made an impression on my son here.”

Enid smiled and nodded. Hazel laughed.

“I’ll say, my sister, trounced him at poker last night. Took him for everything he had with him.”

He looked at Gabriel who was blushing and started to make an exit.

“Gambling again were you? So, this is the reason you asked me for seven hundred dollars this morning?”

Gabriel’s mother was looking at Enid suspiciously now.

“Now, Mr. Kennedy I told your son I consider that matter closed, I won’t put someone in debt or leave them penniless because of a game of chance. I was only trying to win enough money to make sure my sisters and I could eat and get started here since we were robbed. I had some gold coins my father gave me to hold. I thought I’d try my hand since the coins aren’t workable currency. The alternative is unthinkable for a devout Catholic woman.”

His mother’s looked softened her hand touched her chest. She nodded and several other women around her seemed to follow her lead.

“Oh, you precious thing, what we do for family.”

Gabriel’s father who seemed angry with his son but sympathetic to the plight of the three girls.

“I will make good on his debt. We Kennedy’s pay our debts.”

Enid shook her head.

“No, sir, please, we have enough now to get started and take care of ourselves, it’s all I was trying to get, to take more would be offensive to the Lord. I prayed for him to deliver us, and he did, but I will not take more.”

Gabriel’s mother looked like she was about to hug Enid to death.

“So faithful and pure of heart. I wish more of the people in this town had your morals.”

Helen nodded.

“She didn’t let them go away broke. She gave them each fifty dollars. My sister won’t let someone starve.”

Gabriel nodded.

“She did, no one left the table empty handed except the man who tried to hurt her.”

Gabriel’s mother gasped.

“You were assaulted in the saloon? What do we pay this Sheriff for? You should fire him, Malcom.”

“No, I dealt with the problem myself. He was there and was going to jump in, but he didn’t need to. I may have inadvertently angered the local criminal element though.”

Malcom Kennedy’s eyes narrowed.

“Clatyon’s gang?”

“Yes sir.”

“A pain our collective arses.”

“Malcom you’re in a house of god.”

He scoffed.

“God probably thinks so too.”

“Well, you girls must come stay with us until that mess is sorted out. We have space my eldest daughters have left home and are married and off on their own, we have space. Right Malcom?”

“Of course, we won’t have good Catholic women on the streets of Goldwater.”

Enid nodded.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality.”

“And I will give you the money my son owes you and we’ll have a look at those coins of yours and see what we can get for them.”

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Enid nodded the walked back to the Kennedy’s home. It was a large building. Larger than Enid had expected and was just outside of town and quite close to the church. Gladys Kennedy as the trio learned was Gabriel’s mother’s name had them set up three rooms. Each was clean and full of the lives of three women who had grown up in them. There was a shared balcony and Enid met the other two out on it.

“You two see anything at the church?”

“I did not.”

“Nothing here.”

Enid nodded.

“Okay well since I’ve pissed off the local gang on all of our behalf’s, armor is mandatory. When you buy clothes give them your sizes and go for things that will cover the armor completely. Use the holo-webs to hide the armor if you need too. I will not have us found out because of some cowboy decides to take a potshot at us.”

“What if they go for the head?”

“No one goes for the head, it’s a hard shot, they will go for center of mass the one thing this armor will stop is bullets, especially from this era. There are some high-powered anti-material rifles in the future that will punch through but those are few and far between.”

“What about the Kennedy’s?”

“They’ll be fine. Just don’t do anything supernatural here.”

“Gabriel seems to be into you mom, is that going to be a problem?”

“No, I’m done wasting time. An extra escaped while we were in Port Royal. Not going to risk that again. Besides I’m a good catholic woman not going to be doing anything anyone I’m not married to and I’m not planning on getting married.”

Hazel nodded.

“He is cute though.”

Hazel and Helen both nodded.

“He is that. And the way he says Darlin.”

“I know my heart skipped a beat. You know if it was beating at the time.”

Helen laughed and Hazel giggled.

“Gladys said we could wear whatever we find in the closets so go to it. Remember what I said about armor.”

Her daughters nodded and they moved inside. Enid leaned on the railing and looked over Goldwater. She noticed someone watching her from below. It was Gabriel. He waved to her, and she nodded to him and went back inside and found an appropriate dress then tapped her holo-web to hide her armor. Or at least project skin over it. She went downstairs and ran into Gabriel.

“So, you’re a good catholic girl, are you?”

“And you’re a good catholic boy, I assume, we both received the host did we not?”

“Tell me truth, did you cheat last night?”

Enid shrugged.

“A woman will do anything for her family.”

He snapped his fingers.

“I knew it, those hands were too good, you played us good. Dad always said you don’t mess with Scottish women.”

“Your father is a smart man.”

“So, were you really robbed?”

“Yes. And my father is really dead.”

“How old are you really?”

“Did your mother not teach you to never ask a lady her age?”

“She did, but I’m too curious not to ask.”

“Twenty, Hazel is thirteen and Helen is eighteen.”

“You’re an adult, in fact you’re probably near my age, what are you still doing at home and single? No women good enough for you in this town?”

He blushed.

“It is hard to find a catholic woman my mother approves of. She doesn’t think anyone here is worthy of marrying into our family and carrying on the name.”

Enid nodded.

“Well don’t get your hopes up, we came here for a specific reason and once that is done, we’ll be on our way.”

“You said you were hunting for a bounty last night; I heard you when I was drowning my sorrows.”

“Were you spying on me Mr. Kennedy?”

“I am ashamed to say I was. You’re a beautiful woman, sadly I was trying to see if I could find out if you were single.”

Enid smiled.

“I am, but I am currently not looking to change that status. Your interest is noted.”

“But Helen…she is also single and Catholic?”

“She’s not your type, trust me. She bites.”

He laughed.

“So, you’re a bounty hunter. I didn’t catch who you were hunting.”

“That’s because I didn’t say. It’s between us and God.”

He laughed but then looked at her again.

“You’re being honest.”

Enid nodded.

“So, what you’re like Joan of Arc?”

“You know who that is?”

“Yes, said she had visions from God and fought for the French.”

“No, I’m nothing like her, she was a teenage virgin and was burned at the stake, I am definitely not the first and I have no plans on the later happening to me.”

“You did not say anything about visions.”

“Who made you so perceptive? You’re a frustratingly perceptive man.”

“My mother has always taught me to pay close attention to those around me to their body language and their choice of words.”

“Smart woman. Yes, I didn’t say anything about visions.”

“So, you had a vision that brought you here?”

“You think I’m crazy.”

“Not precisely.”

“No, I had no vision telling me to come here. We were drawn here. I am not sure how to describe it, and it’s obviously the right place because Father Milo recognized us right away. That’s usually a good first sign. It means our guardian angel has already been here.”

“Wait, you have a guardian angel?”

“More like a guide, I’m not sure how to describe it she has only shown up three times, once she turned into a sun and blinded the demon, the other time she ripped one out of our friend’s chest. And the last she appeared and held down a demon so we could kill it. Usually, she gives someone a vision when we’re coming to town.”

“You’re claiming to have seen an angel?”

“Do see a hint of dishonesty in my face?”

“No but sometimes we see what we want to see.”

“I cannot convince you of my truth Mr. Kennedy, rest assured we will be leaving once we find our target and eliminate it.”

“I am going to echo the Sheriff’s statement; You are starting to scare me, that you’re going to kill an innocent person.”

Enid laughed.

“Only if said person is so thoroughly possessed neither exorcism nor Archangel can help them.”

“You are… either extremely insane, or so far beyond my kin that I should be very frightened of you, but I am finding myself still attracted to you.”

Enid waved her hand.

“I told you, I’m not here for that. It is a distraction and while I was distracted last time another escaped. And I will break your heart because I will have to leave. I have no choice in the matter. So, save yourself the heart ache. Look elsewhere.”

Gabriel moved to block her way.

“How many more do you have to kill? Surely you could return?”

“There are more, more keep escaping, they are beyond counting.”

“When you finish?”

“You do not understand, nor would I expect you too. Once we are done, we get to go home, our home is far from here.”

He looked disappointed by her response then his eyes got wide.

“Well, I can help you while you’re here, can’t I?”

“It will not change the facts.”

“No, you misunderstand if you have been given a task by God, I would like to help.”

“This isn’t some youthful adventure. They are dangerous. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go purchase some equipment for our hunt since we were robbed.”

“Nothing is open Ms. Sarah, everything is closed.”

Enid sighed. He wasn’t wrong.

“Fine, you can help, but you are not to get involved in the actual fight, it is dangerous.”

Enid sat with him on the stairs and chatted long into the afternoon describing what might constitute demonic activity. The next morning Gabriel ran into her as she was leaving to shop again, he looked like he’d been out and about already. He was looking at her with a strange amount of reverence.

“I spoke to Father Milo. He showed me a feather he said an angel gave him. An Archangel named Seraph. Who told him that you and your sisters would be coming to town.”

“I told you that already.”

“Yes, but I didn’t expect Father Milo to tell me the same thing. You are serious, there is a demon in the area, and you are hunting it.”

“I told you all of that, did you think I made it up? What would I get out of that?”

“I thought, oh I’m so sorry for lusting after you. I just spent the last half an hour confessing every impure thought I had about you.”

“Okay, that’s between you and God.”

“What can I do to help?”

“I already told you what to look for. Just tell us if you see anything like that.”

He nodded and got out of Enid’s way. She went into town, and it seemed like no one recognized her dressed as a woman and not a cowboy. She purchased two crates of jugs and three pistols and one rifle and a few hundred rounds of ammo. She got strange looks but she had hard currency, so no one questioned her about it. She went to where she’d told the girls to meet her, and she was not amused to see Gabriel there with them. She looked at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“Not my fault, my mother told me to make sure they were escorted. Town is full of sinful men you know. They won’t tell me why we’re all the way out here.”

“That’s because they don’t know I told them it was a surprise.”

Enid pulled the crates of jugs down and pulled out a pistol for each of her daughters. Neither was loaded.

“Those are six shooters. Put the bullet in pull back the hammer and pull the trigger.”

Hazel was giddy and started spinning it on her finger like she’d seen in the movies and dropped it a couple of times. She’d never used a revolver before even with her training in the USSR.

“Hazel! You know better than that. It is not a toy. Remember Russia.”

“Sorry mom.”

“Guns are dangerous, first lesson is if you’re pointing it at someone you better mean to kill them. If you don’t want to kill them the gun should not be pointed at them.”

Gabriel was watching intently as well.

“Your father must have taught you all this already.”

“No, ma’am, our house has no firearms, mother believes they are evil.”

“She’s not wrong.”

Enid continued her lesson going over maintenance. Gun safety rules. How to aim, how to deal with recoil. How to use a quick reload with a bullet holder. She finally put three jugs up and she fired three shots rapidly one after another quickly and efficiently each of the jugs exploded. Gabriel stared at her using a gun like she was born with one in her hands.

“Where did you learn all this Ms. Sarah?”

“I was in the military.”

He blinked.

“It doesn’t matter I’ve been doing it for a long time and spent a lot of time practicing with guns like this. Here use mine, if you’re here you might as well finish the lesson.”

Several hours and two hundred and fifty rounds later all but six jugs had been shattered and the students were doing a passible job of hitting what they aimed at. The group did not notice the sheriff ride over the rise and start watching them quietly.

“Mom how fast can you shoot them all?”

Enid shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Come on mom, show off for once.”

Enid sighed and nodded she filled the gun that she had loaned Gabriel with six bullets and rapidly destroyed all six jugs not missing a single target. Hazel clapped.

“I knew it, you used to be a gunslinger like Clint Eastwood!”

“No, I just spent a lot of time practicing on the range.”

Everyone turned when the Sheriff’s horse caused some free stone and pebbles to roll down the hill they were at the bottom of. He pulled back on the reins and looked at the four.

“Mrs. Kennedy demanded I investigate the gunshots. And what do I find, but her missing son here with three women shooting guns he’s not supposed to touch.”

Gabriel shrugged.

“Goldwater is a dangerous town, I figured I should learn.”

“And Ms. Sarah who is not here to cause any trouble bought enough armaments this morning to start new civil war.”

Enid stood in front of the rest and holstered her gun.

“This is outside of town limits; We aren’t breaking any laws Sheriff.”

“Even if you were with skills like that, I’m not sure I could arrest you. You are causing more and more disturbance of my restful sleep. Ma’am.”

“Well, that is between you and God Sheriff, I know your wife is passed but I can’t help with that or your dreams, perhaps Father Milo can help absolve you of your lust?”

Hazel snickered. Gabriel coughed as if he swallowed some saliva, and it went down the wrong hole.

“It would see your wit is as sharp as your shooting. Ma’am.”

The sheriff tipped his hat and rode away.

“Oh my god mom, the look on his face was priceless and it went so red.”

Enid frowned.

“I shouldn’t have been so mean; His wife just passed away.”

She rushed up the hill. And called after him. He stopped and turned and rode back to her.

“I’m sorry Sheriff that was unkind. I tend to say things in the heat of the moment then regret them immediately. I know what you mean, and I promise you the only trouble I will bring people is what they bring on themselves.”

He nodded and tipped his hat again. He still looked a bit like she’d run over his puppy. She sighed and walked back to the group.

“Alright guns, give them here.”

She made a motion with her fingers she placed all of them in her pack and left the crates where they lay. They headed back to the Kennedy’s home.