Rated M.
http://www.nedkellysworld.com.au/history/letter.html
**
Midnight, Jerilderie, New South Wales, Australia 1879
Ned Kelly, his brother Dan and their partners in crime Joe Byrne and Steve Hart surrounded the police station. Steve took up position by side of the door as Ned stood in the street, pistols drawn; helmet glinting in the moonlight.
“There's a drunken man at Davidson's Hotel, who has committed murder!” yelled Steve “Get up at once, all of you!”
There were rumblings from inside the rickety old police station and Constable Richards stumbled out, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
“What’s all the…trouble?” he paused as he saw the tall armoured man standing in the street pointing weapons at him. Constable Richards mouth dropped open as Steve slipped up behind him, jamming the pistol in his ear.
“Don’t even think about shifting” growled Steve grabbing the keys off his belt.
On the other side of the station Constable Devine came out the back door to be taken down heavily by Dan and Joe and bundled back into the station.
The Kelly Gang herded the two officers into a cell before rounding up Devine’s family who were asleep upstairs.
“Gather up the weapons please Mrs Devine” ordered Ned firmly but politely as he took his helmet off and placed it on the table. Mrs Devine glared at the brazen bushrangers that had invaded her home, locked up her husband and menacing her children.
“I will do no such thing!”
Dan Kelly pulled back the hammer on his pistol “That’s a mighty thin nightdress Mrs Devine. Best be thinking of your modesty and your children!”
Mrs Devine huffed and went around the station gathering up the firearms.
“You’ll damn well hang for this you bastards!” snarled Richards as he shook the bars.
Joe flipped his pistol in his hand, caught the barrel and slapped Richards fingers with the butt, making him yelp and jump back “There’s children present!” he warned.
“Is this everything?” asked Dan as Mrs Devine presented an armful of rifles. She shot him a derisive look. Dan motioned her to the sitting room, along with her children.
“Hurt my family Kelly!” seethed Devine “And…”
Ned strode up to the bars “And you’ll what, you dirty animal?!? You’re lucky I don’t shoot you where you stand!”
“And why didn’t you?” asked Richards as he paced back and forth.
“I’m not a monster, unlike some.” Ned glared at the pair in the cell “Any trouble Devine; and your family…” Ned turned and walked into the sitting room leaving Joe to guard them, spinning the chamber of his revolver and snapping it shut, over and over.
“What do you plan on doing with us?!” demanded Mrs Devine.
Ned looked her up and down “Nothing. You sit and be quiet, no harm shall come to you. It’s very simple. But if you cause us trouble…,” Ned opened his battered old browncoat to reveal a large silver knife dangling from his belt “I think you get the idea Mrs Devine”
“Y-yes, yes Mr Kelly” she nearly swooned and sat with her children.
“Get some sleep you two” Ned told Dan and Steve “I’ll keep watch and relieve Joe. See you in the morning”
**
Mrs Devine shuffled about the sitting room, Dan watching her movements “What are you doing woman?”
“I have to prepare the courtroom for church” she said “It’s Sunday!”
Dan looked over to his brother, who was looking a little tired under the eyes “Well?”
Ned nodded.
“Okay Mrs, no funny stuff” said Dan “Get dressed and I’ll escort you over. The kids stay here though”
Mrs Devine glared at Dan and thought about protesting but relented. Steve peered out the window.
“It’s quiet Ned”
“It’s Sunday”
“Too quiet for a Sunday” he replied. Ned got up from his chair and peered out a window as an eerie feeling washed over him also. Mrs Devine returned, changed into suitable attire with Dan several steps behind her. Ned crossed the room.
“Take her to do her church duties and get back quick smart” said Ned
“You want me to go like this?”
“Put on a spare copper’s uniform!” snapped Ned “Just be quick about it! Something’s off”
“Something’s always off” replied Dan as he traipsed back upstairs.
“Mrs Devine, I urge you to not do anything stupid” said Ned “Just do what you have and come back”
“Don’t hurt my children”
“You have my word.” replied Ned “As a Kelly, I swear I, nor any member of my gang, will harm your children or may God strike me down!”
“Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.” muttered Mrs Devine as she brushed past Ned to attend her children. Dan returned from upstairs as Steve and Joe burst into laughter, Ned’s face cracked a huge smile as Dan stood there in an ill fitting police uniform.
“Don’t you look fancy” laughed Steve
“Arrest me! Arrest me!” joked Joe putting his hands up in faux terror.
“Shut up!” moaned Dan
“Take that off before I tear it off you!” Constable Richards words cut across the station. The Kelly Gang turned to see the constable, now awake standing at the bars “You heard me you Irish scum!”
Ned drew his pistol “That’s enough out of you. Another word,” Ned flipped open the barrel to show Richards the bullets before he snapped it shut and cocked the hammer “And I’ll put one through your forehead, just like those animals we shot at Stringybark Creek last year”
Richards smashed his palms against the bars, a low and menacing growl emanating from his chest.
“Just shoot him Ned!” urged Dan
“Never shot an unarmed man, never shot a man who surrendered” said Ned “Not about to start now.”
“But he’s not…” Dan stopped as his older brother’s stern look cut him off.
“Go!”
Dan huffed and escorted Mrs Devine across the street and up to the courthouse as Ned, Joe and Steve clung to the windows to watch . Constable Richards paced the cell like a bored tiger whilst Constable Devine lay blissfully asleep.
**
“They’ve been gone hours!” stated Steve as he walked another lap around the station “Something’s wrong! Church don’t take that long!”
“Go get another uniform” said Ned as he watched the children play.
“You want me to go out there?”
“No, but if it’ll shut you up” chuckled Ned
“Here they come” called Joe
**
As you can see, unfinished! I just got stuck! In my head I know where it goes, but on paper alas no.
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