AN: Wow, this really should have been a oneshot. (Chases after runaway plot) Well let's see where all this will lead. XD ENJOY!

May 26 1875 - Somewhere in the Wild West

The steam locomotive rolled into a station. The people waiting to board lifted their eyebrows in astonishment when one carriage had several men hanging unconscious out of the cracked windows, broken carriage walls, and through holes in the carriage roof. The people were not allowed to enter that cabin as the local constabulary was summoned. Gossip of what might have happened was spreading through the crowd like wildfire. The nervous train operators didn't help quell the rumors and silently accompanied the local sheriff and his young deputy into the carriage.

"Who is responsible for this?" The sheriff asked as he eyed all the unconscious men. Three were groaning in pain on the floor as a woman was busy trying on their hats and revolver holsters while humming.

The locomotive operator pointed a shaking finger at the seemingly oblivious woman and gulped nervously. The sheriff scoffed and gave the man an incredulous look. "That's a woman. Be serious man."

"I am sheriff." The man managed to get out without much of a stutter. "She had a man raised up by his neck when I entered the carriage."

"You expect me to believe that a woman did all this and stopped a train robbery?!" The sheriff grumbled.

"I know what I saw sir." The operator said as he eyed the woman with trepidation. The operator however squeaked in fright and backed away from the sheriff when the woman came closer and lifted the sheriff's hat off his head.

"Ma'am" The sheriff said as he watched the woman trying on his hat, smiling as she seemed satisfied. "May I inquire your name? Perhaps you could tell me what happened here."

"I am called Astrid Hofferson." The woman told the sheriff as she buckled a second revolver holster around her waist. "They tried to rob me and I gave them the choice of the hard way or the easy way." Astrid rambled on, not really paying attention to the sheriff anymore. "They chose the hard way. At which station did we stop?"

The sheriff raised a brow at the strange behaviour of the woman. It was his deputy who answered. "This is the station in Raymond ma'am."

"I need to get to Dodge city fast. Where is your nearest stable?"

"I'm sorry Miss Astrid but until we sort this out" The sheriff indicated to the unconscious train robbers "Then I am afraid you won't be leaving town."

"What is there to sort out?" Astrid now asked confused. "I already told you what happened. They chose the hard way."

"Ma'am, please depart the train." The sheriff growled as he did not like being questioned.

"It seems a horse will be faster than dealing with you." Astrid sighed in irritation. "Where is the nearest stable?"

"Did ye not hear me miss!" The sheriff now sneered. "Ya aren't going anywhere anytime soon!"

Astrid sighed and nearly rolled her eyes at the man that was now trying to intimidate her. With her lightning quick reflexes she pulled a revolver out of the holster on her hip and shot the man in the foot."

"You just shot the sheriff!" The deputy exclaimed as his own hand went to his gun. He however hesitated when the barrel of Astrid's still hot revolver could be felt on his temple.

"Be glad I did not shoot the cute deputy." Astrid muttered causing the man to gulp loudly while his partner was howling in pain on the floor grasping his foot. "Now where is the nearest place I can acquire a horse?"

"Old man Stan got a small stable just outside of town." The deputy told her quickly, not wanting to get shot. "Just head left past the saloon and you should see the place on the hill."

Astrid holstered the gun and patted the deputy's cheek. "Good boy." She said before casually walking out of the train carriage. She smoothed out the brim of the hat she had taken from the sheriff and left the station, quickly locating the saloon by its rowdyness before walking towards the hill that the deputy described. She ignored the catcalls from the drunken men outside and the looks of suspicion from the primly dressed women with their lace parasols. Luckily Old man Stan had no problems about selling her a horse. Astrid rode out of Raymond before the sun set. She had a lot of ground to cover.

May 28 1875 - Dodge City, Kansas

It was nearly high noon when a black mustang strolled into the city carrying a peculiar rider. People along the main street looked at the dusty woman in a long yellow skirt and a red jacket. The brim of the gray cowboy hat she had on shielded her face from the sun. The woman looked at no one on the busy street but she pulled her horse to a stop in front of a store that read 'Guns Pistols Ammunition Hardware and Tinware'. She hitched up her horse to the post, avoiding any eye contact with the men lingering outside. She knew they watched her with curiosity as she entered the store. "Ma'am" A man wearing a white apron standing behind the counter greeted politely her. "Can I help you find something?"

Astrid laid her two revolvers on the counter for the shopkeeper to examine. "I need bullets, silver ones if you have any." She told him as he inspected her six shot revolvers.

"There are no silver bullets in store ma'am" The shopkeep told her. "They were bought not too long ago."

"The normal ones will do then." She told them. The man went to grab a box from the shelf and told her that her husband would be very happy with these. Astrid pursed her lips and didn't bother to correct the man's assumption that she was bullet shopping for her husband. 'Let them think what they want.' she mused as she put the coins on the counter and took the bullets. She just had a mission to complete.

Astrid got back on her horse afterwards and headed down the street, her destination was the Long Branch Saloon a couple of streets further. Dodge City was a busy place, the beginnings of a bustling city, yet it did not compare to the nice rural manor she had purchased in Essex several years ago. Who would have thought that she'd be traipsing years later across continents, through cities, and lawless towns to get her revenge. She had the chance at a somewhat normal life with a man that accepted her until that fateful night. She could still remember the thunderstorm that had caught them by surprise, the flickering candles, and the blood-soaked carpet that was burned into her memory. She shook her head slightly to try and forget the memories for now. She was so close this time she thought as she looked at the saloon in front of her. The rowdy and drunk men that were seated outside, the jovial music that came from within. Astrid walked into the saloon to see men seated at a long bar and in the back were tables where people played cards. It was at one of these tables that she spotted her target. She walked swiftly to that table, her footsteps drowned out by the sounds of the men laughing and drinking as well as the music. Her hand was on her pistol as she came to a stop behind the woman dressed as a saloon girl.

"Why hello Heather." Astrid said in a cold voice. "Fancy seeing you here." Heather whirled around in shock and her eyes widened when she saw the gun in Astrid's hand. Before she could do anything the trigger was pulled sending Heather crashing backwards against the poker table. The saloon quieted immediately from the gunshot and it only took a few seconds for all hell to break loose.

AN: The plot thickens!!!