[sub][i]Collaboration with [@EvilEdd1984][/i][/sub]

Finney was impressed with Billy’s bible quotation. “I wish I could do that. I am still reading the bible. I mean we hear scripture in church every week, but I certainly don’t have it memorized.”

“I have read the bible at least six times, my young friend,” Billy responded.

“Mr. Sergio,” Phineas asked the man while he read the bible. “Are you still interested in teaching me to fight?”

Sergio put down his bible when he heard a voice addressing him; turning his head towards the direction of the voice. "Nice to see you here; I think we can get a few lessons in during the trip" Putting away his bible and motioning the man over with his hand. He was sure he could teach Finney the basics; enough to defend himself with a gun or in hand to hand combat. But since Finney seemed a bit green behind the ears; he would have to give him a very condensed lesson.

"No problem Mr. Sergio," responded Phineas O'Connell. "Please call me, Finney...A little hand to hand stuff would be great." Finney stood up to follow Sergio Westwood.

Standing up and looking out of the window; the train had not started moving yet which would be the perfect time to practice a little. Walking over to where Finney was standing in the middle of the aisle. "First I'm gonna teach ya how to counter a punch," getting into position putting his hands and asking Finney to slowly punch him.

Finney faced off to Sergio. Since he was right-handed, he stood so his left foot was slightly forward. "Like this Mr. Sergio?" Then he slowly jabbed with his left toward Sergio's face.

Before Finney knew it, he had his hand behind his back; with his arm being twisted the other way. "That is one way to reverse a punch; now try it on me." He let go of Finney's arm. Returning to his original position; throwing a slow straight punch at Finney.

Finney had been taken by surprised the first time Sergio did the maneuver. He really didn't feel comfortable replicating it. He tried and failed. "Maybe you could show it to me slowly?"

Sergio was smiling and nodding his head, performing the maneuver once again slowly. In hopes that Finney would catch on and could replicate it. "Now see if you can do it."

"Ok, Ok, Mister Sergio. I think I got it." Finney took his time, blocking and catching the punch, then twisting the arm in a controlling manner using counter joint techniques which placed a sufficient amount of torque on the arm to force the attacker to spin about, placing the arm behind the man's back. Finney was quite pleased with himself. Billy smiled, giving applause and shouting, "Way to go, Finney!"

"Very good. You’re getting the hang of it. Now I'm gonna teach ya how to counter a hook. So I want you to give me a left or right hook," he said readying himself for the punch.

Finney didn't know how to throw a hook. He knew it was a punch from the side, so his was delinquent of any skill or technique. It could have been parried by a 9-year old. He threw in a muffled [i]*grunt*[/i] in his effort, as weak as it might be.

Sergio saw the weak punch coming towards him; he blocked the punch with his palm. Quickly moving his hand to the side and throwing a slow punch towards Finney where his liver was. "So now try it on me" Sergio waited for Finney to punch him once again so he could show him the maneuver.

Finney understood what he had done wrong. In fact, the motion appeared similar to his mother stirring a stew, but with an empty closed fist instead of a hand wrapped about a wooden spoon. This time, Finney rotated his body into the hook so it moved a bit faster toward his pugilist instructor. "How's that?"

"You’re doing a damn good job. Now I wanna teach you something my pappy taught me," Sergio said, telling Finney to give him an uppercut.

Seeing as how he had no idea what an uppercut was or how to throw one, he guessed. [i]'It sounds like I punch upward,'[/i] Finney thought to himself. Since Sergio wasn't going to teach him how to throw the punch, he would try to figure it out himself. Finney leaned slightly to the right, dropped his fist to his waist and struggled to punch upwards in a direction that would have his fist pass just in front of his face.

Sergio quickly blocked the punch, moving his arm to the side while showing he could knee him in the testicles. "Okay now give it a try; and I'll teach you some good punches," waiting for Finney to get ready and then slowly giving Finney an uppercut to try and counter.

Finney saw the punch coming. It was slow enough so he could easily prepare himself for the punch. He blocked it, controlled the offending arm, then pulled his knee up into Sergio's groin. "Thank you, Sergio. This is all very useful and helpful information. Something I could have used before I walked into the saloon in Sweetwater."

The two sparred, punching the air and pretending to punch one another for several more minutes. Finney felt a bit more confident with the skills. He was quite appreciative of Mr. Westwood’s efforts. 

The train had apparently prepared for movement. William, The conductor, who was smiling earlier began moving through the car to tell folks to take their seats. He saw the two men standing in the center aisle, giving off the appearance of fist fighting. “Hey! You two! Settle yer differences and have a seat!”

Sergio and Finney took that as their cue to return to their seats. They exchanged a smile as they sat down, “Seriously, thank you very much, Mr. Sergio. I really appreciate your instruction. I should practice again later.”