The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon sky, baking the Mojave Desert with intense summer heat. All of the citizens of Dirt who were not busy were all staying indoors where it was nice and cool. And what better place to beat the heat than in the shade of the now crowded gas can saloon. In there, a good number of citizens, the good, the bad, and the smelly, were all laying around, playing cards, smoking, and chatting. Spoons, who was taking a day off from prospecting, was at the saloon piano, playing a cheery tune.

They all drank cold, refreshing glasses of cactus juice, and some had water. It had been about a week since Sheriff Rango had brought the water back to Dirt, and threw Mayor Tortoise John out of town. Ever since then, there had been much more water to go around, though it was still expensive and only existed in varied quantities, and was consumed sparingly.

Speaking of whom, up at the bar sat Sheriff Rango, alongside his faithful deputy, Wounded Bird. Bird drank cactus juice while Rango enjoyed a glass of water. Rango had grown accustom to the taste of cactus juice, but he still prefered water, and today was the perfect day to start using up that small supply he had.

"Mighty fine day, wouldn't you say, Wounded Bird?" Rango asked his deputy, setting down his glass for a second.

"Yep. Minus this intense heat." The towering crow replied.

"Yep, it sure is hot today. Thank God we got the saloon and drinks here. And aren't you also glad there's no crimes or crooks out today? Only trouble today so far was when we had to talk Priscilla out of bringing her guns to school. Gives us the rest of to do nothing but kick back, relax, and drink."

"Hey! I saw that ace! You're cheating!" Shouted someone from a table behind them.

"What u talkin' about? I ain't got no ace!"

"Yes, it is nice to have peaceful days like this." Wounded Bird said. "But it has been this peaceful for quite a few days now. You not bored? You don't wish there was more for us to do? More action?"

"Show us your sleeves you dirty rat!" shouted one of the card players.

"You callin' me a liar?" Suddenly, there was the sound of strong punch, and a table and some glasses being knocked over. A few angry shouts, curses, and more punching was soon being exchanged. Rango and Wounded Bird seemed to remain oblivious to it.

"I'm just saying, it's nice to take a break from our busy job as the law and security of this town." Rango said. "Our job is full of danger and hard work. We deserve a good break every now and then, and we should take advantage of them when they come."

"Come on! That all you got!" Someone shouted from the back. A large bar fight was breaking out. Chairs were being thrown about, nearly everyone was hitting and throwing each other about, someone got thrown out of the window, someone even drew a knife.

"Okay, think its time to break this puppy up?" Rango asked.

"Sure."

Rango spun around in his seat, pulled out his pistol, pointed up at the ceiling, and shot. The boom echoed throughout the saloon, seeming to freeze everything. Everyone paused at what they were doing and turned toward the sheriff.

"Thank you for you attention." Rango smiled and stood up. He started pacing around the saloon. "Now, I think I know what's going on here. It's hot out, ain't it? We're all hot, sweaty, we all came into this here saloon for some shade, and now it's all cramped in here. Tensions are really high here ain't they? We're all tired of being pushed up against each other. Am I right?" Everyone continued to stare. "Now, we all need to take a moment to calm ourselves down, take a deep breath. We all need to remember that it's crowded in here today, and we all need to respect each other, don't cross any lines we're gonna regret. Ya know what I'm saying? So again, let's all just calm down, enjoy our card games, drinks, and such, and remember we're all friends here. right?"

"We're sorry Sheriff." The rat said meekly. "We'll behave ourselves. Won't happen again. Promise."

"That's what I like to hear." Rango replied. "Alright. That'll be all. Let's enjoy the rest of this fine afternoon, shall we?" He nodded over to Spoons, who began playing the piano again, and the saloon became peaceful again. Everyone put down the furniture they were throwing about, put away their weapons, and went on with their business.

Rango sat down back at the bar in his seat next to Wounded Bird, and took another sip of his water. "There, ya see, Bird. Plenty of excitement in our job. Plenty of things to do. This here's a full time job."

"Yes. But this just one small bar fight." Wounded Bird replied. "There still a lot of time in the day. Do you really want to spend it just sitting here drinking?"

"Well, I..." Rango actually thought for a second. It occurred that things have been really quite around Dirt lately. Nothing exciting has been going on, save a few petty crimes and bar fights and rowdy kids. He actually began to miss action.

"Hey fellas," said Bufford, the toad bar tender, shining a shot glass with a rag, "If you're lookin' for something to do, I hear there's a new taco man in town. Maybe you should check him out, make sure there ain't nothin' suspicious about him."

"New taco man? Eh?" Rango replied. "Well, why not? Nothing better to do." Rango dropped a few copper coins onto the counter, which Bufford slowly swiped away, and then stood up and turned to Bird. "You up for it?"

"Right behind you." Bird stood up, grabbed up his walking stick, and trotted after Rango. They stepped through the swinging doors and into the blistering desert heat. It was a good thing they both had their hats to keep the sun out of their faces. There were very few citizens out and about outside on this hot day.

"Hey, wait." Rango suddenly said and stopped. "Where is the new stand?"

"Look down there." Wounded Bird pointed over down the street to the right of the saloon entrance. Down at the end of the main street, right next to the last true building, there was an upside-down, read-and-white stripped popcorn bag. It was mounted on a small, wooden toy wagon. In the side of the bag, there was a large hole cut, above which, in sloppy black paint, the word Tacos was written.

Rango and Wounded Bird walked down the street to the stand, and walked up to the whole, assuming that was where customers would be served. At first, no one came to greet them. They peeked inside the dark stand. It was an absolute mess. There was dirt, fur sheddings, and sand all over the floor. The buzzing of flies could be heard inside. In the corner, there was a barrel with a lantern rested on it. In another courner, there was a large, moldy tortilla, towering up to the top of the bag. Next to that was a piece of lettuce, a block of cheese, a tube of hot sauce, and a pile of beans. None of this food seemed very enticing. Rango and Wounded Bird began to feel their appetites slide down the drain. They looked at each other for a moment, deciding what to do. They both agreed. They came to meet this taco stand owner, and they were not leaving until they were properly introduced.

"Look." Bird suddenly pointed out in the back of the stand, up against the wall, there was a large, curled up ball of dark fur. At first, Rango thought it was a large mass of lint, but then he saw it expanding, mixed with some snoring. It was breathing. It was sleeping. It was alive.

Suddenly, the mass of fur groaned, and slowly uncurled. It stretched out two stubby limbs, and slowly got to its feet, standing up on his hind legs. Rango got a good chance to look it over. It was a big black rat. His little pink paws were all covered with grime and soot. Even in the shadow of the stand, his face could still clearly be seen. He had a nose as dirty as his paws, thick whiskers, a thin beard, small ears, big teeth, and two scary red eyes.

"Hola, amigo." Said the rat, still groggily. "Que quieres?"

Rango tried to wake up and ignore the rat's haggard appearance. He quickly tried to remember the little bit of spanish he knew. "Umm, hola. Uhhh, hablas ingles?"

"Si. I speak a little english." The rat replied.

"Say, Bird," Rango turned to his deputy. "You wouldn't happen to know spanish, do you?"

"I fluently speak english, spanish, and navaho." the crow replied indifferently.

"It fine." The rat replied. "English is fine."

"Well, that's very polite of you, sir." Rango nodded.

"So, you want taco?" The rat started fidgeting with his paws nervously.

"Sure. Why not." Rango replied. He figured this would give them a reason to stick around more, and talk with the rat more, get to know him better.

"Why kind you want? Bean o meat?"

"We'll take two beans." Wounded Bird boomed. He reached out from his pocket, and dropped a few copper coins on the sill.

With lightning reflexes, the rat swiped out, seeming to catch the coins before they hit the sill. "Coming right up!" He announced. "Un momento."

Rato quickly grabbed up two of his pinto beans off the ground in the corner and tossed them onto the counter that stood up against the left wall of the room. Next he tore off a pit of the moldy tortilla lying up against wall, and a piece of the lettuce leaf next to it, and tossed them up next to the beans. He grabbed his knife, cut a piece of the tall, stinky block of cheese, and tossed it up as well.

"You want salsa, amigos?" Asked the rat.

"None for me, thanks." Rango replied.

"I'll have some on mine." Said Bird.

Rato unscrewed the lit to a small jar filled to the brim with red glob. He reached in with his bare, grim-covered paw, and plopped it up on the counter as well. Then he grabbed his knife again, and started chopping up the cheese, lettuce and bean.

"So, mister." Rango said, breaking the silence. "Whatsyour name?"

"Senior Rato." the Rat answered without looking up from the food.

"Hm. A rat named Rato." Rango retortled back to Bird. "Shouldn't be to hard to remember."

"What you mean by that?" Rato almost snapped back, as though he were offended.

"Nothin'." Rango answered calmly. "Just that it shouldn't be too hard to forget your name."

Without a reply, but a slight over-the-shoulder glare, Rato returned to his cooking. He was placing the chopped bean, lettuce and cheese into one tortilla.

"So, Rato, we here you're new here to Dirt." Rango continued. "What might I ask was your motive for moving here?"

"I no like to share my business with strangers." Rato replied coldly.

"Easy now partner. I'm not tryin' to butt my nose in where it don't belong or nothin'." Rango replied defensively. "Just wanna get to know you better."

Rato took a deep breath as he folded over his first taco, and answered in a sad tone. "Down in border of Mexico, it very harsh. Little food, no body nice to me. Poor business. No friends." As he finished placing the ingrediants into the second taco, and took a handful of the salsa and plopped it on top. "I come here in cargo car of freight train. I hope to make better life here." He finished folding the second taco, and brought them out to the window to hand them to Rango and Bird.

"Well, I'm sure things will get better here if you work hard, and abide by the law 'round here." Rango replied.

"What if someone steal from me?" Rato asked. "I slit throat of anyone who steal from me." He grabbed up his knife again, and started flipping it and swinging it around between his fingers. Clearly, he was very skilled with it, and has had a lot of practice with it.

"If you do any murdering 'round here, you best watch your back mate. You break any law in this town, and Sheriff Rango's gonna hunt you down! And as for them crooks who steal from you, if there are any that dumb, you best let the sheriff deal with them too."

Rato took another look at the lizard before him, looking at his vest, hat, gun holster, and finally, his badge.

"You Sheriff Rango?" He asked, astounded.

"Yessir." Rango replied. "And this here's my trusty deputy, Wounded Bird." With his free hand, gestured Bird, who was biting into his taco.

Rato glared at the duo for a second.

"So just you remember that Rato." Rango continued. "If there be anyone willing to rob you, Rango here's got the streets safe from them punks. You just best watch your step and make sure you don't go deteriorating into one of them punks."

Still, Rato glared.

"You have a good day now, buddy." Rango's tone returned to a much friendlier one. He turned and walked away from the stand, back to the center of Dirt they way he and Bird had come.

"Your tacos could use a little work." Bird said as he followed Rango. His face was cringing a little from the bitter taste of the grime and dust. He also found it hard to choke down some of the sand bits. It took a minute for creamy, tastey, spicy flavor of the bean, cheese and salsa to reach his tongue.

Rato continued to stare his customers down as they wandered off. He did not like Rango's attitude, the way he talked to him. After a minute, he decided to let it go, and went back to his corner to get back to his nap.

"So, what do ya think Bird?" Rango asked his deputy as they walked away from the stand. "Think we can trust this feller?"

"I wouldn't count on it." Bird replied. "He has criminal intent in his eyes."

" I thought I noticed that too. Good thing we set him straight and showed him that we're the law 'round here."

"Mmm Hm." Bird tossed the last small bit of his taco into his mouth, which he swallowed in a minute.

Rango looked down tastelessly at his taco which he was still holding. The tortilla shell felt dusty, grimy, and flaky to his touch. It was clearly still covered in dirt and sand. At last, he lifted it up to his mouth and took a small bite.

At once, his mouth was filled with a disgusting, bitter, sandy taste. After a second, the taste of the shell was overcome my a sick, gross taste with a creamy texture. It must have been the cheese. Then came the crunchy, stale bean.

It was disgusting! Rango spit out the taco all over the ground. Then with his free hand, he wiped the crumbs off his tongue. He turned back to Bird.

"How can you eat something like that?" He whined.

"It is not the dirtiest food I have ever had." Bird replied indifferently.

"Hey there, Rango. Mornin' Bird." Said a light, hoarse voice suddenly. The two lawmen turned to face Waffles, the short little horned toad.

"Well, monin' Waffles." Rango replied cheerfully. "You on your way to the general store I suppose?" Once a week, Waffles went to the general store to get some supplies that he needed at home.

"Yessir." He answered. "Say Rango, you gonna finish that?"

Rango looked down at his taco. Waffles must have seen him spit it out. "It's all yours little buddy." Rango handed Waffles his taco, which he happily took and took a large bite of it. He munched on it happily, much to Rango's surprise. He seemed to be enjoying it even more than Bird did. How can anyone eat something so unsanitary? He thought.

"Say, this is de-lish!" Waffles exclaimed. "Where did you fellas get this?"

"From Rato." Bird bommed. "The new taco man." He pointed back to the popcorn bag taco stand.

"Well, I better pay this Rato guy a visit later." Waffles said. "I'll see you guys later." He walked on ahead to Dirty Willie's General Store.

"Don't forget." Bird called after him, "Tomorrow night is Poker Night. And remind Spoons if you see him."

"Huh? Oh yeah. Sure thing." Waffles called back."

"Poker Night?" Rango turned to Bird. He was starting to drop his western accent a little, going back to his normal tone.

"Every week, me, Spoons, and Waffles get together and play Poker." Bird replied. "We occasionally have a few other people join us."

"Mind if I come? Got room for another guy?"

"Sure thing. I know Waffles and Spoons would love to play with you."

"Alrighty then. Cool." Rango cheered up and his western accent came back.

They looked back over at Waffles heading into the store, when Rango noticed a familiar hamster-drawn cart, loaded with goods. And just getting off the cart was none other than his lady love, dressed in one of her usual blue dresses, her light-brown curly hair dangling downward.

"Hey, Beans!" Rango called over as he started rushing her way.

Beans turned her head in the direction of the voice, and embraced him as he came over and gave her a hug.

"Rango!" She exclaimed, both in surprise and joy. "How are ya?"

"Oh, you know. Same old same old. Nothin' much to do today. Pretty quiet day." As he pulled away from her, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and she pecked him back.

"That explains why yer out 'ere buggin' me." Beans laughed. She looked to the side and saw Wounded Bird coming over.

"Mornin' Bird." She called over to him.

"Good morning, Beans." The crow replied.

"So, you here to sell some stuff?" Rango asked.

"Yep." Beans replied happily. "Now that there's plenty o water for my ranch, things have been workin' and going smoothly again."

"That's great honey." Said Rango. "Say, you need any help with them crates?"

"Sure." She replied. She walked around to the side and picked one crate off the cart. Rango and Bird followed around and did the same. The box that Rango picked up was pretty heavy. He had a hard time lifting it at first. At last, Bird took the crate from him, and Rango took a smaller, lighter box.

Rango followed Bird inside of the general store. Clearly, the place had been dusted, as Rango did not sneeze like he did the last time he entered the store. The shelves were stacked with all kinds of food, tools, and knick-knacks. The store owner, Dirty Willie, must have been in the back, because the only ones in the store were himself, Beans, and Bird.

"You kin' just put them boxes here on the counter." Said Beans, as she put her own crate down.

Bird and Rango walked up to the counter and gently put their boxes down on it.

"Well, thank you, boys." Said Beans.

"No prob' honey." Rango replied cheerfully. "We'll just get to the rest now."

"Nah, that's okay. These here boxes were the heaviest things. I kin' handle the rest."

"Well, okay than." Rango said. "Looks like our work here is done, Bird." Rango fiddled with his belt, and turned around towards the door.

"Say, Rango," Beans suddenly called out, stopping him.

"Yeah?" He turned around to face her.

"When I'm done here with business, how 'bout you come on over to my ranch for supper?"

Rango's heart sored. The woman of his dreams inviting him to her ranch for supper? He had not been so happy for a long time. "Why, I'd love that, Beans." He replied as calmly as he could, and without shouting.

"Super." She answered happily. "So, I'll just finish up business here, then we'll head on up there in my here cart?"

"Sure thing. See ya then, hun." And with that, he tipped his hat to her and headed out the door, followed by Bird.

"Well, Bird, looks like I got myself a date tonight."

"Yep. Looks like it." Bird replied, somewhat moodily.

"So, while I'm gone, if there's trouble, think you can cover it?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks man."

Rango began to notice his partner's sullen attitude, more so than usual. "Say, have you found yourself a gal yet?"

"Not yet. I was thinking I ride off to my uncle's settlement this weekend. I'm sure I'll find plenty of crows there."

"I'm sure you will, my friend. And no doubt lots of gals will wanna piece of a swell fella like you."

"Thank you."

Suddenly, a young kangaroo rat, dressed in a black top hat and black silkin waist coat, with a gold undershirt, came hopping up to greet the duo.

"Ahh, Rango, Wounded Bird, just the boys I wanted to see." He said in a gentlemanly voice.

"And a good morning to you too, Mister Mayor." Rango tipped his hat to Mayor Marty.

"Good morning, sir." Bird muttered as he did the same.

"There a problem, sirt?" Rango asked quickly.

"Not at all." Marty replied calmy. "Just wanted to check in with you boys quick. Why don't you come on into my office for a second. Help yourselves to a cold glass of water?"

"Well, I can't say no to that." Rango replied as they followed the mayor to city hall.

A minute later, Rango and Wounded Bird were sitting comfortably in two sturdy wooden chairs as Mayor Marty, standing up at the desk in front of them, poured water from a clear glass vial into three glasses.

Rango looked around the office for a moment. It was the same room in which Rango had met Mayor Tortoise John. Marty had not been in charge that long and had not done much redecorating yet. He still kept the desk, and the shades, although the paintings of tortoises had been taken down from the walls in the waiting room, leaving the walls barren at the time. For his assistant, Marty still kept John's foxy assistant, Angelique, who was busy going through some files and papers when the trio had come in.

As one of Dirt's smartest, kindest, and finest schoolmasters, Marty had been selected to be mayor just the day after Tortoise John was dragged away, and presumably killed, by Rattlesnake Jake. Since then, Marty had been a fair, kind ruler of Dirt. He always listened to his people when they had something to say, or complaints to make, and usually did everything in his power to make things right for them.

He was good friends with Rango and Wounded Bird as well. As their boss, and his law enforcers, he rather had to be. Together, the three of them had kept the town in order. Rango and Bird arrested those who broke the law, and Marty was sure to punish them in whatever manner seemed fair. Thankfully, there had not been too many instances where they had to punish or arrest anyone.

While kind and devoted, Marty was young, only a little older than Rango, and fairly naive. He occasionally could not see some problems as big as they actually were. Thankfully, if he ever got himself into a fix, Rango would help fish him out.

"So boys," Marty said as he finished pouring the water, and Rango and Bird took their glasses, "Any trouble today?"

"Not really, Sir." Rango said cheerfully. "Just a little bar fight earlier."

"Well, you seemed to have handled it well." Marty said taking a sip of his water. "I did not hear of any trouble down at the saloon."

"We also met the new taco man." Wounded Bird added. "He seems very suspicious. I would not trust him too much."

"Well, that's a shame." Marty said. "It really is sad when we have a new neighbor and we can't trust him."

"Sad, sad thing sir." Rango said, shaking his head before sipping his glass again.

Marty took a short breath and stood up and faced the balcony for a second. The doors were wide open, letting fresh air into the room. Rango guessed that from where he was standing, Marty could see down below most of the people of Dirt in the streets.

"You know Rango," Marty said finally, "I want to believe that the people of this town are good people, and that the majority of them know to do the right thing. All I really want is for all of us to live together in peace."

"Well, unfortunately, that's just not the case." Said Wounded Bird. "All people have some form of greed or hatred in their hearts, some more than others."

"So it seems." Marty sighed, turning back to his lawmen. "So for now, the peace that we deliver, the peace we've been seeing today, is the best kind of peace we're going to get. I suppose that's good enough for me."

"Well, we'll be sure to keep up the good work, in that case, and keep this peace about." Rango announced before finishing his water and placing the glass back on the desk.

"That's the spirit, my boy." Marty cheered. "So then, why don't you boys get back on out there. I just wanted to check in with you, make sure everything's all good."

"Well, actually, sir," Rango said. "I was thinking in a few minutes I could take the rest of the afternoon off." Wounded Bird stood up and handed his empty glass back to Marty.

"Sure thing, Rango." Marty replied. He knew that Rango was not one to shirk his duties. If he clocked out early, it was either really important, or like today, when there was nothing important to be done, and he needed to be somewhere. "What for, might I ask."

"Well, I got myself a date tonight." Rango smiled. "Goin' up to Beans' ranch for supper."

"Ah, Beans." Chuckled Marty. "I might have known. She's a fine woman, ain't she?"

"That she is, sir. That she is."

Author's Note: Well, thanks for reading, anyone who has. It may be a while before I update. I'm going to busy with a couple other projects for a while, but I'll get back to this when I can.

Please review (and subscribe if you're up for it). Any kind of criticism is good with me. Thank You.