"Well Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life,
Three children they were brave,
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard,
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave."
The boys all joined in song under the cold and stary night sky with the warm and blazing fire laying before them. Drink and food were passed around along with fresh clothes. Their horses remained silent near the tanks riddled with holes and muddy treads. Colt stood up as the classic folk song drew to a close, he reached down and whispered in Winchester's ear.
"You know where Kay is?" he asked.
"I think I saw her go into that tank over there," Winchester pointed.
Colt approached the lone vehicle; in the background the boys started laughing and hollering. He noticed the driver's hatch open and slowly peaked inside. Kay laid back in the seat with her feet up, her eyes closed, and her hands behind her head.
Colt smirked and put his left foot up onto the tank just near Kay's feet. He took out his revolver with pearl grips and gently pounded on the metal hull, startling Kay.
"You're so annoying," she groaned before opening her eyes.
"You have to admit I'm damn good at it."
Kay laughed in response before sitting up to face the grinning Colt.
"Well, we got your tanks back," she said.
"Well... not exactly OUR tanks," replied Colt. "But I'm sure they'll do their job."
Kay's smile disappeared. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"I guess the Corral Gang still lives up to its reputation. Maho must have gotten fed up seeing her tanks getting stolen," Colt chuckled.
"Yeah," Kay agreed.
Colt noticed Kay's lack of smile which prompted him to lean forward and put his palm on Kay's cold hands.
"You know, I'd rather throw myself into a fire than admit this in front of the boys, but I just wanted to say thank you for the welcoming, and for the effort you put in to bringing my pathetic ass back. And I... I-I'm... oh Christ."
Kay looked up at the stuttering Colt removing his hat and rubbing his hair before placing one of her hands onto his.
"I'm sorry," Colt shakily said. "For... well everything. I should've told you what Anchovy and I were doing, and I sure as shit shouldn't have ran away like I did."
Kay smiled softly. "You've been on my mind ever since you left. And when you called me after your incident in America I almost collapsed. I was so happy to hear your voice again, and I know I apologized profusely but really, I feel like such an ass for dismissing you so quickly."
"You still up for that hug?" smiled Colt.
"It'll be a tight one," winked Kay as she got out of the tank.
The two laughed before embracing. They stood for a few minutes gently rubbing each other's backs. The background laughter caught their attention leading Kay to make her own joke.
"I saw the films you and Anchovy made, and I have to say, you're a horrible actor."
"Gee thanks," snickered Colt. "Come on, let's have something to eat."
Remington noticed the two walking over and called out to them.
"Hey guys come join us! We're just talking about Springfield's incident with the Federation."
"Which one?" asked Kay.
"The one where he painted an M3 Lee orange and drove around the St. Gloriana school grounds."
"Why didn't we think of that!?" exclaimed Guinness.
"I bet the Duke boys would be proud of you," said Derringer.
Springfield's giggling and poor attempts at keeping his drink inside his mouth prevented him from responding. Eventually he spat out his drink much to the amusement of the gang who roared in laughter. After some time, the gang calmed down and wiped the tears from their eyes. Among them was Guinness who after wiping his eyes with his arm turned to Colt.
"So boss," started Guinness. "Why don't you tell us more about your San Juan unit?"
"Christ, you as well?" exclaimed Colt. "Read a damn book."
"Hey, it's better when it comes from the horse's mouth."
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment," laughed Colt. "It was the quarter-finals, and we were up against Blue Division. And let me tell you, if the enemy didn't take us out the damn heat would."
The boys in blue stood around their tanks under the hot sun. Thousands had turned out to witness Saunder's secret weapon in combat for the first time, the weapon that comprised of seven Chaffees with their crews of brown hatted and blue handkerchief wearing men, singing as they waited for Commander Pool's orders.
"Colt! Move your boys up to Point 0157," commanded Pool.
"Yes ma'am," replied Colt. "Right boys let's move out!"
The unit sped towards the action with Colt's Chaffee leading the way. They eventually reached the battle between the Saunders girls and the Blue Division firing down on them from the hill. Colt's Chaffe rolled up besides Pool's Sherman.
"BD's got their best tanks firing down on us, we think the flag tanks is being protected at the rear," informed Pool.
"What tanks are we dealing with?" asked Colt.
"Looks like their Panzer IVs and IIIs."
"Well, what the hell are we waiting for?"
"What?" cried Pool.
"BD's not gonna move off that hill so we'll kick 'em off!"
"You wanna charge?" asked Kay.
"Just provide cover for us, we'll take that damn hill!"
Colt's Chaffee sped off towards his unit while dodging explosions. Pool and Kay watched in awe as Colt, half out of his hatch, pulled out a revolver and pointed it towards the sky in front of the other Chaffees.
"Come on boys! Wesson! Loud and proud son!"
Nearby Wesson nervously opened his hatch and put a bugle to his lips. The bugle ordered a charge with Pool and Kay smiling at the sound.
"Give 'em hell!"
The Chaffees sped furiously towards the enemy like a pack of starving wolves. The defenders quickly noticed the commotion and adjusted their sights.
"Kay give them covering fire!" ordered Pool.
"Yes ma'am!" replied Kay.
The line of Shermans behind the charge engaged the defenders. Pistol in hand, Colt continued his charge up the hill and through all the dirt kicked up by the explosions he saw the front line becoming closer and closer. A Panzer III began to twist its turret towards him but was swiftly taken out by Kay's Sherman.
Colt eventually reached the defender's position and took out a Panzer IV lining up on him. The rest of the unit followed suit and made quick work of the defenders. Seeing two of the Chaffees being taken out, Pool rallied her Shermans.
"Come on ladies! Let's take it to them! All tanks full advance!"
The Shermans followed their Chaffee comrades up the hill and towards the slowly retreating enemy. Colt peered through his binoculars and spotted the flag waving above a Panzer IV.
"Commander I've spotted the flag tank, Panzer IV protected by T-26s and StuG IIIs," reported Colt.
"We'll be with you shortly, just don't lose sight of them," replied Pool.
"Got it," confirmed Colt.
The Blue Division tanks quickly crept back behind the farmhouses or down the other side of the hill. The Chaffees managed to destroy most of the flag tank escorts, but the flag tank was able to escape down the hill. Not long after the Shermans finally arrived and helped push the defenders out of the houses.
"Where's the flag tank?" asked Pool.
"Down the hill ma'am," replied Colt.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen let's give them one last kick up the ass!"
The Saunders tanks began to fire down on the retreating Blue Division tanks. One Sherman fired once and landed a direct hit on the fleeing flag tank. The Panzer IV came to a screeching halt before raising the white flag. The Saunders team cheered in celebration.
"Drinks on me team," breathed Colt.
"That was on hell of a show Colt," commented Pool. "And one hell of a shot Naomi."
"Thank you, ma'am," replied Naomi.