The midday sun beat down on the dry, cracked earth of Agua Fria, casting long shadows across the quiet town. Dust swirled lazily in the air, stirred by a faint breeze that did little to ease the oppressive heat. The locals kept to the shade of wooden awnings, whispering nervously as the rhythmic clink of spurred boots echoed down the main street.

Phoenix strode with purpose, her long tan duster coat swaying with each step. The polished silver revolver on her hip glinted like a warning in the sunlight. Beneath the wide brim of her black hat, her piercing red eyes scanned the street with a cold, calculating gaze. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she tipped her hat at a young man who quickly averted his eyes.

“Keep yer nose clean, boy,” she drawled, her voice calm but laced with enough edge to send a chill down his spine. “Wouldn’t wanna have to teach ya manners.”

He muttered an apology, his trembling hands clutching a sack of supplies as he hurried away. Phoenix chuckled under her breath, the sound low and menacing, as she turned her attention to the saloon up ahead.

The swinging doors of the "Silver Spur Saloon" creaked as she pushed through, her presence drawing every eye in the room. Conversations ceased, and a nervous hush fell over the patrons.

“Afternoon, folks,” Phoenix announced, her tone light but commanding. She strode to the bar, leaning an elbow on the worn wood. “Whiskey. Neat.”

The barkeep nodded quickly, pouring the drink with shaky hands. Phoenix watched him work, her gaze sharp and unyielding. As he slid the glass toward her, she caught sight of a man at the poker table fumbling with his cards, his eyes darting toward her nervously.

“Y’look like ya got somethin’ to say, friend,” she said, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. She turned to face him fully, her hand resting casually on the butt of her revolver. “Care to share with the class?”

The man stammered, his face pale. “N-no, ma’am. Just... mindin’ my own business.”

Phoenix chuckled softly, taking a slow sip of her whiskey before setting the glass down with a deliberate clink. “Good answer. Keep it that way.”

Satisfied, she downed the rest of her drink in one go and tossed a coin onto the bar. She turned to leave, her boots thudding against the wooden floor as she pushed through the saloon doors and stepped back into the harsh sunlight.

As she walked down the main street, something caught her eye near the edge of town—a figure lingering where the dusty road met the open plains. They stood just beyond the last row of buildings, their posture cautious, as though deciding whether to enter.

Phoenix stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes. Her hand instinctively brushed the grip of her revolver. “Well now,” she muttered under her breath, her voice low and sharp. “What do we have here?” Her smirk faded into a stern expression as she adjusted her hat, the sun casting a shadow across her face. She began walking toward the figure, her pace steady, her gaze locked on them like a hawk sizing up its prey.

“You lookin’ for somethin’, stranger?” she called out, her voice carrying across the still air. There was no warmth in her tone, only the quiet promise of trouble. The town held its breath, the tension thick as Phoenix approached the mysterious newcomer at the edge of Agua Fria.

Phoenix paused, her eyes narrowing in surprise as the mask came off. Her brow furrowed, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of the twenty-fifth president of the United States before her. The outlaw leader adjusted her hat once more, her expression shifting from suspicion to a calculating curiosity.

"Well now," she drawled, "that is a bit... unexpected." She gestured to him with a tilt of her head. "And what brings the president of these here United States all the way out to my little neck o' the woods?"

"Ah, I see," Phoenix replied, her voice neutral but with the faintest hint of sympathy. "Losing a mother can be hard, even when you're grown up." The outlaw leader glanced around at the dusty streets and sagging buildings of Agua Fria before looking back at President Grey.

"I'm sure your people have offered their condolences," she said eventually. "But with all due respect, Mr. President... what are you doing here?" Her voice sharpened slightly, the words carrying a hint of warning beneath their seemingly polite surface.

President Grey's confession struck Phoenix as curious and, perhaps even more so, dangerous. She studied his face carefully, looking for any signs of duplicity, but the ex-president seemed genuine enough... if a bit impulsive. Her fingers flexed on the grip of her revolver, and she felt a flicker of concern at the thought of another fire in this already tormented town.

"That's quite a statement you're making there, Mr. President," Phoenix said slowly, her tone cautious. "Are you certain that burning your old home is really the best way to get your point across?" Her eyes flickered past him briefly before returning to his face. "And what kind of announcement were you planning on making?"

"A Red Rush, you say?" Phoenix's eyes narrowed with interest despite her best efforts not to be intrigued. "And what exactly would that entail? A race from coast to coast?" The thought of such a feat piqued the outlaw leader's curiosity. "And how will it benefit your people?" she asked, tilting her head to the side slightly as she studied his expression for any sign of insincerity.

"And why here?" Phoenix continued, gesturing vaguely around at Agua Fria's battered streets. "Your mother may have grown up in these parts, but that was a long time ago. Why choose this place to make such an important announcement?"

President Grey's explanation did little to allay Phoenix's suspicions. The mention of inviting horse riders and placing an advertisement on the radio seemed conveniently shaped to fit the outlaw leader's interests, as well. Her expression remained guarded, her eyes fixed on his face for any signs of duplicity.

"And what would be in it for me?" she asked bluntly, her tone frank and unyielding. "What do you expect to gain by involving someone like... myself?" She drew herself up a little straighter, puffing out her chest slightly as though daring him to argue with the implied threat of her power.

President Grey's offer was intriguing, to say the least. Ten thousand dollars was nothing to sneeze at, especially in these lean times. But even with the promise of a pardon hanging in the air, Phoenix wasn't ready to trust him so easily. The outlaw leader considered for a moment before speaking once more.

"I don't know, Mr. President," she drawled slowly. "That sounds like quite a gamble on your part. Are you sure you can afford the consequences if I were to decide to take you up on that offer?" Her eyes glinted dangerously, and for a moment, it seemed as though the dusty streets of Agua Fria might tremble beneath their icy gaze.

"Or perhaps," she continued in that same cold, calculated voice, "I could just decide to take what I want from you anyway... without risking a race or a pardon."

Phoenix raised an eyebrow at President Grey's confident challenge, her expression remaining unreadable. She toyed with the thought of pressing the issue further, but something in his tone—the certainty with which he spoke and the steel behind those golden eyes—gave her pause. Perhaps it would be more interesting, after all, to test this man and see how far she could push him.

"Hmm," she said slowly, deliberately. "I suppose we'll just have to find out, won't we?" With a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, Phoenix reached down to unfasten her duster coat, revealing the twin Colts at her hips and the polished steel revolver on her thigh. "Now then," she drawled casually, "why don't you tell me more about this race of yours?"

Phoenix listened intently as President Grey explained the details of the race, nodding thoughtfully from time to time. It seemed like an ambitious plan, but she had seen stranger things happen out here in the Wild West. As he finished speaking, she tipped her hat in acknowledgement before asking one final question.

"And what's to stop me from simply taking what I want now?" she asked with a smirk, her voice low and dangerous. "Instead of playing your little game?" Her hand twitched slightly on the grip of her revolver, as though daring him to object or defend himself.

For a long moment, they stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension, like sparks from a firefly hovering too close to the flame. Finally, President Grey lifted his chin and met her gaze unflinchingly.

"Hmm," Phoenix drawled, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully as she considered his words. "I'll give it some thought." She paused for a moment, weighing the risks and rewards in her mind, before finally adding with a sly grin, "But I might just hold you to that offer about the race. Seems like it could be... interesting."

The tension between them eased slightly as they both seemed to relax into their roles once more. For now, Phoenix had what she needed: information and a promise left dangling on the edge of possibility. Whether or not either of those things would lead anywhere remained to be seen. But for this moment, Phoenix was content to bask in the thrill of the chase and savor the game's delicious uncertainty.

Phoenix chuckled softly, tilting her head as she watched the presidential figure turn and walk away. "Oh, he'll be in for a surprise when we meet again," she murmured to herself, feeling a satisfied smirk spread across her lips. It was always amusing to see how people underestimated her. They would soon learn that while she might not hold the highest office in the land, she was still a force to be reckoned with out here on the frontier.

"Just you wait and see, Mr. President," she called after him, letting her voice carry lightly on the dusty wind. "You've got no idea what kind of trouble I can bring." Her smile widened as he glanced back over his shoulder with a look of puzzlement, before shrugging it off and disappearing down the road.

With a satisfied sigh, Phoenix adjusted her hat once more

As Phoenix arrived at the Red Rush starting line, her crimson gaze swept over the assembled crowd of horse riders and would-be champions. She idly twirled one of her Colts, a lazy smile playing across her lips as she wondered which of them would prove to be worth the effort. For now, she contented herself with watching President Grey make his final preparations for the big event.

The tension in the air was palpable; every rider was eager for the race to begin, but each knew that only one could emerge victorious. As if sensing her gaze upon them, several riders glanced her way, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright hostility. Phoenix merely returned their stares with cool detachment, her eyes betraying none of the thoughts churning behind them.

"Looks like we're all set," President Grey called out, his voice carrying

Phoenix raised an eyebrow as President Grey declared the Red Rush officially underway, but otherwise made no move. She simply remained where she was, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd of riders once more. As if sensing her continued scrutiny, a few more heads turned in her direction, some with suspicion, others with barely concealed antagonism.

With a small, amused smile playing at the corners of her lips, Phoenix reached up to remove her hat respectfully before tipping it back on. "Ride fast and ride hard," she drawled lazily, earning herself a few more glances in return. "Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into today." She glanced over at President Grey, still standing near the starting line, and wondered idly how long it would take for him to realize just how big of a mess he'd gotten himself into

As the Red Rush galloped into motion, Phoenix watched with dispassionate interest as the riders spread out across the desert landscape. She smiled faintly to herself when several of them began shooting at one another almost immediately, their horses' hooves kicking up clouds of dust as they raced toward an uncertain fate.

Settling into a comfortable jog beside her horse, Phoenix drew her revolver and checked the chambers before slipping it back into its holster with practiced ease. She had no intention of joining the fray just yet; there was still time to watch and observe before making any rash decisions. With any luck, the chaos would continue long enough for her to pick off a few of her competitors one by one, without ever truly engaging in open combat herself.

The sun beat down on her shoulders as she continued to scan the landscape ahead, searching for any signs of weakness or opportunity. Her eyes

It was interesting, she mused idly as she ran alongside her horse, that President Grey had not mentioned this... unique ability of hers when they'd first spoken. Perhaps he hadn't wanted to appear too weak, or perhaps he'd simply forgotten the detail in all the excitement surrounding the Red Rush. Either way, Phoenix found herself grateful for the advantage it might provide her during the race.

She had always been a cautious woman, quick to size up a situation and plan her moves accordingly. But there was something about the energy and chaos of the Red Rush that called to her, a wild exhilaration she hadn't felt in years. Perhaps, just this once, she might allow herself the luxury of letting loose, of indulging in a race without any expectations or guarantees.

Her eyes flickered up toward the sun-bleached sky as she considered the thought. There was still plenty of time to