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“That’s all I can give you ma’am” Those were the words usually coming out of a debtor’s mouth, shakily whispered out, stuttering in fear of what might entail, a beating or even a gun to the head. And usually you would have softened up, shaking your head and promising to come back for the rest in a weeks’ time, but not today. Because it wasn’t a beggar or some scruffy kid looking back at you, it was Sheriff Hanley, who you have gotten along with just fine up until now.“What do you mean that’s all? That’s barely over half of what was on the poster!” Now, you might not look all too convincing getting mad over this, your eyes barely held open and your chest heaving from dragging deadweight off of your mare and throwing it into the room. Your clothes weren’t pretty to look at either, bloody and torn on the sleeve of your vest, courtesy of the bounty you’d brought in, but you’ll be damned if he doesn’t take you seriously.“ I said that’s all we have for you, you brought him in dead, and even if he isn’t, as you so claim, he will be come morn. Look at him, not even a priest would give him his Last Rites with how he is” Before you could interject his hand flew to shrug off his coat and rest on his for now holstered revolver, a show of how thin his patience was. You weren’t far behind but a man needs to know which battles to let go, and you’d be unwise to keep this one going for much longer.With a carefully drawn in breath and a slump of your shoulders you finally gave in. “Fine, but I’m not hauling him to the cell, consider that the rest of your due”“Right, there’s your money, Red, and a word of advice, do think about changing your hunting ground, the mayor doesn’t like your kind mingling around his town once the job is done.”A shake of your head sufficed to express your thoughts, you took the money and left hurriedly, not having anything else to say. The doors slammed behind you just the same as when you had gone in, but this time you made sure he could see you spitting on the ground as you left, maybe out of pettiness or maybe it was just the sour taste of your morning coffee.He was right though, in a way, no one liked bounty hunters once they did their part, they were cut throats and criminals too, only difference is that instead of robbing and killing innocents you stalked after others worse than you.Your footsteps were heavy in the muddy town, heavy with the thought of where to next. Thankfully you’d caught the man early in the morning, giving you enough sun throughout the day to find a new place to stay, even if only to make camp before continuing onward.A cheerful nicker paired with the impatient tapping of hooves broke you out of your gloom. “Cinder you’ve got to stop digging holes every time I hitch you” with a huff and a laugh you untied her reins and scratched her neck lovingly. No matter the situation, she was always in high spirits, lifting yours as well.“Come on, let’s get us out of here.” With that you climbed onto her like you would a tree, never having gotten used to her height in all the years you’ve had her. “Jesus, I might be getting too old for this”As you left Strawberry behind, the sun painted the sky in shades of gold and pink, casting long shadows over the peaceful terrain. Cinder’s hooves beat a steady rhythm, the cool morning air carrying the scent of tobacco and wildflowers. It was quiet, maybe even suspiciously so, but you welcomed any peace you could have. Passing through worn trails and soft hills, your thoughts shifted toward the ranch.You’d made this journey many times, and each ride felt like a brief return to something steady, something you could count on. As the ranch came into view, nestled between trees, a wave of relief washed over you.You could already hear the faint sounds of livestock in the distance, along with another sound, yelling? With a huff you nudged the mare into a canter, silently hoping to yourself Thomas wasn’t in trouble with yet another man looking for his due.
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The air was cooler now as you urged Cinder into a canter, the horse’s smooth gait eating up the distance between you and the Downes Ranch. The path curved through a sparse grove of trees, the ranch nestled just ahead, its modest homestead framed by the sharp light of the now risen sun.The voices grew louder and you were met with the scene of Thomas laying on the ground, his hand up in defense and his rake thrown away from him. An imposing man in a blue dress shirt stood over him, his voice threatening, paired with his fist clenched at his side.“Thomas!” Without thinking you pulled out your Schofield from its’ holster and pointed it at the sky, firing out a warning shot. This had got you both of their attentions and you jumped out of the saddle running over.“This doesn’t concern you miss” By now the man was fully turned towards you, in different circumstances maybe you’d notice the dusty blonde hair framing his handsome face, or his broad stature and proud way he holds himself. But not today, not in this moment.“It concerns me when you’re on the verge of beating the sick man to death over some money” You made your way over to them, revolver still in your hand. Footsteps sure as you helped Thomas up, patting him as he coughed and spat on the ground. “How much does he owe you?”“Fifty dollars, plus interest” His voice was gruff, heavy with an accent foreign to this part of New Hanover. He looked you up and down hands resting on his own holster now, his gaze was dark under the brim of his hat, uninterested in any excuses he was sure you were about to give him.“Fucks sake…” A sigh left your lips as you dug around your satchel, you didn’t even have time to think about what you were going to spend your bounty money on, but if it meant helping Thomas you couldn’t care less.Just as you were about to hand the man his money Edith and Archie ran outside, frightened at the gun shot and yelling. “Stay inside Edith! And bring Archie with you, you don’t need to see this” Edith nodded and with a bowed head retreated inside.The man huffed, his chest puffing up as if sizing you up “We ain’t a charity miss, we’ve been patient up until now”“You shut your mouth” It wasn’t the smartest of decisions yelling at the man, but you were angry, not at him directly but because you hadn’t come sooner, given them more money last time you came. You holstered your revolver and handed the man a money clip.“There’s seventy, now ride cowboy” The stranger counted it and tipped his hat, looking over to Archie who was still outside, staring him down “Either you got a lazy eye, or a lack of respect, boy. Which is it”Before Archie could reply you took the much larger man by the strap of his suspenders “Back off before I rethink not shooting you like the cattle you are, now fuck off and don’t come back”Words weren’t necessary anymore and the man held his hands up in defense and walked to his horse, riding off without a second thought. “You alright Thomas?” You turned your head to him, taking in his sickly appearance, sunken in eyes and feverishly red skin. He didn’t reply, a cough breaking his thoughts. Your eyes softened before you offered him your shoulder and walking inside the house.-------------------The forest is quiet, the air cool and thick with the scent of pine. You move silently, eyes locked on a rabbit ahead, its brown fur blending with the underbrush. Dinner is the one thing you can secure for the Downes, after everything that happened this week, you didn’t want them to worry about this as well. You crouch low, readying your bow. The string is taut, your breath measured.The rabbit nibbles nearby, unaware. You freeze, watching its every twitch. As it lifts its head, you let the string go, breathing out as you let the tension of the string and your muscles go slack.“Gotcha,” you mutter, walking over to it and grabbing it by the ears, holding it gently but firmly. You rise, the forest still around you, but your ears prick up. Footsteps nearby, light but clumsy. As you turn your head you see a small child hiding behind a tree.“It’s all right, you don’t need to hide.” Slowly you make your way over to the tree, making sure to hunch over, to seem less imposing, not wanting to scare the kid away. “Ain’t safe for a kid. What’re you doin’ way out here?”The boy now walked from behind the tree, cautiously looking you over. “I don’t know. I got lost when I was tryin’ to find the fishin’ spot with Pa.” He blinked, looking shy in embarrassment now. “Guess I wasn’t paying attention…”You knelt down, sizing him up. He didn’t look like a local farm boy. There was something off about the way he spoke, the way he looked like he’d been living on the edge of something for a while now. You figured it didn’t matter. “Alright,” you said, standing up. “Let’s get you back home.”The boy hesitated, eyeing you warily but nodding. “You won’t—won’t hurt me, right?”A soft chuckle left your lips “Kid, I’ve got no reason to hurt you. Now, come on.” As you walked through the woods, you kept a sharp eye on your surroundings but even more on the boy, mentally condemning his parents for having let him wander off into the forest.“So, where you from?” you asked, trying to distract him. “What’s your name?”The boy hesitated, before responding, “Jack. My name’s Jack.” He smiled shyly at her. “I’m real good at fishin’!” You noticed how he avoided saying where he was from, but didn’t think to pry, not wanting to spook him even more than he already was.“Well, it sounds like you got lost while tryin’ to catch somethin’. You’ll have to work on that.” you grinned, trying to put him at ease then looked at the rabbit in your hand. “Here so you don’t go back empty-handed”Walking for a while longer you chatted before the boy finally seemed to recognize the landscape around him. He stopped and pointed toward a small camp in the distance. “I think that’s where we are camped. I can see Pa’s tent.”You watched as Jack ran toward the camp, eyes narrowing as he disappeared behind a cluster of trees. Something didn’t sit right with you. He was just a boy—too young to be wandering the wilds without a care, no matter how tough people liked to think their kids wereAfter waiting for a moment, you followed, boots crunching softly over the forest floor. You didn’t need to get too close, but you wanted to make sure the boy made it back safely.As you neared the edge of the camp, panicked voices were heard. The first voice you recognized was Jack’s, calling out, “Ma, I’m okay!” Then another voice, rough and low, with a hint of amusement but also relief.“You sure about that, kid?”You stepped out from the tree line and into the clearing, deciding now was the time to head back but a voice called out to you. “That’s the lady that helped me!”. A curse under your breath and you turned back around, deciding running off wasn’t exactly proper. Damn your lack of social interactions.Jack was standing between a woman you didn’t recognize and…. “You”The stranger that nearly beat Thomas to death. That one word was all you said but it was enough for Jack to take it as a sign to repeat what he said. “This is the lady who helped me get back. She gave me a rabbit!”The man’s expression softened, but he didn’t look entirely pleased to see you. The last time you’ve crossed paths neither of you had been too friendly.“Did she now?” He muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly. “A rabbit’s a nice gift for a lost kid. I didn’t know folks around here were so… generous.”You held your ground, not letting his tone faze you and walked towards them. “I’m not here to cause trouble. Simply wanted to see to it that the boy got home”The woman standing next to Jack, looked at the rabbit and then at you before jabbing the man in the ribs “Don’t be rude, Arthur” She turned to you with a smile on her face “Well, that’s mighty kind of you. Excuse Arthur here, he’s a bit dense, I’m Abigail.”You shook her hand and turned to Jack, a half sincere smile on your face “Stay close to camp next time, kid.”Sparing a glance back at Arthur who was now walking away further into the camp and you said your goodbyes. Soon you returned back to the ranch, a small pronghorn on your back, like a lamb. “You wouldn’t believe what just happened Archie” You turned to the boy and sat down, beginning to skin the animal.
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The camp near the stables hums with life, full of the usual layabouts—boots stomping, beer bottles clinking, the low murmur of outlaws and ranch hands swapping stories. Right near the back, at a small crudely made table, arguing still continues between you and The boy.“Come on” he mutters, leaning forward, his voice low but insistent. “It’s a simple job. In, out, nobody gets hurt.”You cross your arms, jaw tightening. “That so? ‘Cause last time you said that, I ended up dodging bullets for ten miles.” This isn’t the first time he tried to talk you into robbin’ some folks, or hijacking a train, but you’re putting your foot down on it being the last.The boy exhales sharply, shaking his head. “That was different. This here’s just a cash grab. Some feller out near Dewberry Creek, sittin’ on a pile he don’t need. A little persuasion, maybe, but nothin’ serious.”A scoff, if it were ever as easy as he tries to make it seem. “You mean stealing.”His eyes darken. “It ain’t like that, he earned it stealing from us, so we’re takin’ it back.”“And that makes it right?” You lean forward now, on edge by now, why he’s still trying you aren’t sure, you’ve done one job and he won’t stop pestering you. “I ain’t about to go back to that life boy, I’ve got a reputation now, can’t just steal and threaten folks”The boy clicks his tongue, rubbing a hand over his sparsely stubbled jaw. “Damn shame. Thought you had more sense. Ain’t askin’ much neither.”“I believe the lady told you off enough times by now” a gruff, but familiar voice came from behind you. Shit, does your business really need to be displayed to every vagrant that comes to Valentine?Though, you suppose it’s not all unwelcome at the moment as The boy looks the man up and down with a glint of uncertainty in his eyes, as if he knows something you don’t. Quickly a string of incoherent apologies comes out of his mouth and he retreats to his tent, like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.With a sigh you turn around, squinting your eyes at the sun coming straight from behind the man. “Well then, suppose I should thank you for getting him off my back, mister….”He shifts on his feet, looking uncertain before continuing for you “Callahan, Arthur Callahan” This is where the interaction should end, this is enough knowledge each of you should have about one another. Though, your thoughts weren’t shared as the man speaks again. “Listen, we might have got off on the wrong foot. I mean, you did bring Jack back to us, even though I beat your Pa’”Your eyes scrunch at the mention of Thomas, he wasn’t harmed much, but with his poor health, the stress alone did him in enough. A heavy sigh left your lips “It’s… fine I suppose. Was on the both sides of that business so I can’t hold it against you.”His eyes widened for a second but he didn’t seem all too surprised, maybe it was the fact that you didn’t dress very lady-like that gave it away, or the pair of revolvers adorning your hips. Now that you think about it you could go to the general store to freshen up your closet, you’ve been in the same clothes for five years now.With that in mind you tipped your hat to him “Well then I think we should both be going, no?” You started walking off, your boots squelching in the muddy town as you made your way to the Sheriffs station, couldn’t buy nothing if you didn’t have the money for it. Looking at the bounty posters you noticed someone practically breathing down your neck, Jesus when will this man know when to back off.“You following me, mr. Callahan? If so it’s a-“ Maybe you were too pissed off, but it was a long morning, and an even longer day prior to that. So you think you can be excused if you were a bit harsh when someone couldn’t take the hint and leave.“I’m just looking at the bounty posters ma’am, pure coincidence” It was like a mockery, not the first one you’ve had to go through. Men always had the need to either rile you up or find out more about you, your personal space and privacy be damned.You only responded with a grumble, cursing under your breath at all the low profit posters, either old men evading tax or young outlaws clawing their way to money. “So what’s with all the red?” That shook you out of your thoughts.“Excuse me?” Your gaze shifted from the posters over to the cowboy leaning against the hitching post, looking straight at you.“The red, your clothes, guns, I mean even your horse is red under the sun” The slight chuckle under his breath didn’t go unnoticed by you, but like most things in life you decided to ignore it.“Came from a nickname, had a red hat so the people started calling me ‘ridin’ hood’. Red looked well enough on me so I just went with the theme.” It wasn’t something you liked much, at least at first, but then you figured that some recognition is better than none.That seemed to satisfy his curiosity for now and he tipped his hat at you, mimicking your own action just minutes prior. With that he walked to his horse, wanted poster now stuffed snugly in his satchel. What an odd man, but you suppose you weren’t much different in other peoples eyes.---------------The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling plains. The sky was streaked with hues of pink and orange only broken by the lone clouds strolling over it. Your horse's hooves kicked up the mud and muck as you trotted steadily along the trail, the bounty you’d captured tied to the back of your saddle.Bouncing on the back of Cinder was a man's body, limp, his hands bound tight, his face still showing the remnants of a struggle. His head drooped as the last of the daylight faded, casting long shadows on the ground.You adjusted the reins, guiding your horse gently through the rolling hills. The world felt quiet in this moment, the only sounds the rhythmic clunking of hooves and the soft breeze rustling through the surrounding bushes. The weight of the day now behind you—the cold morning, the fight with The boy and the odd meeting with Callahan—but it was behind you now. The only thing left was getting this bounty to Valentine, collecting your reward, and retiring for the day, maybe getting a drink or two at the saloon.As you neared the outskirts of town, the low murmur of evening sounds reached your ears—the distant bark of a dog, the faint chatter of townsfolk finishing up their day. A couple of farmhands worked late, finishing their chores, their figures small against the vastness of the sky.You reined your horse in as you entered the main road, the familiar sights of Valentine stretching out before you. As you guided your horse toward the sheriff's office, your eyes flicked to the bounty still tied securely behind you. It was a quiet satisfaction, knowing you were about to collect your pay even if it wasn’t much.Sheriff Malloy stood out front of his office, his arms crossed, watching you approach. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the sight of the captured man tied to the back of your horse. It wasn't your first dealing with him, considering you stopped in Valentine every month or so. He wasn't the most respectable man, cheating on his wife, but you've never had any problems with him. Always paid you fully and sometimes even giving you more tips on your next hunt."Got him," you said, your voice low but steady, the exhaustion from the ride and the job lingering in your words.Malloy gave a sharp nod, but his gaze flicked to the man on the horse. He could already see you were still sticking with bringing bounties in half dead. Less work for you and him he figured. "Good work," he said, his tone gruff probably from the drink in his hand.You swiftly dismounted and hitched Cinder, patting her on the neck for putting up with you throughout the day. Throwing the bounty over your shoulder you winced, the bastard managed to nick you with his knife, the madman ran at you before you could even throw your bolas. Thankfully he was so drunk he tripped over himself and fell without you even having to take him down yourself."You alright Red? Looking more bloody than usual" He asked as he opened the doors for you and led you inside. Always worrying, and always treating you like a high society lady, even though you both knew you were far from it. But it was nice, in its own way, at least someone didn't look at you like you were less than the dirt under their boot even if it was him."Yeah, bastard just nicked me, I always manage to pick the crazy ones. Came running at me and tripped over his own feet." You chuckled, wasn't no use in feeling blue over it. Throwing the bounty onto the bed in the cell you took the knife he so generously gifted you and cut the ropes around his legs and hands. Least you got a new hunting knife, even if you christened it on your own skin."Well then, that's that. I believe he was 45 dollars?" Turning towards Malloy you saw him already readying the money, a nice stack of five and ten dollar bills. This job wasn't nice, but it paid, and paid well."Here's 50, get some tonics for that cut" Your eyes shone with satisfaction, it wasn't often that this happened, and you weren't about to look a gifted horse in the mouth."Appreciate it" you nodded to him and left the station. Your muscles ached from the ride, too many hours spent in the saddle, but you weren’t ready to settle down just yet. You needed a drink. Maybe two. Especially when you had more cash than you initially thought.With a light step you made your way to the main saloon, not your usual locale but you weren't about to complain. The heavy wooden doors creaked as you pushed them open, the familiar smell of whiskey, sweat, and cigar smoke hitting your nostrils. The low hum of conversation mixed with the sound of a piano playing in the corner, its notes slow and deliberate. The warmth of the place wrapped around you as you stepped inside, your spurrs clicking sharply against the wooden floor.It was busy tonight, but not overly crowded. A few men sat at the bar, talking in low voices, while others scattered around the tables, cards in hand or drinks in front of them. The saloon was never quiet, but tonight, it felt like the world outside had all but disappeared.You made your way to the bar, wary footsteps. The bartender, a thinner man with receeding hair and a thick moustache, glanced up from wiping a glass. His eyes lingered on you for a moment, the recognition flicking across his face. You weren’t a stranger here but you weren't a regular either.“What’ll it be, miss?” he asked, his voice gravelly from years of serving the same faces.You didn’t answer right away, your gaze scanning the room. A couple of rough-looking cowboys were laughing too loud at a table nearby, but the noise didn’t bother you. You weren’t here for conversation, just for a drink, and maybe some peace.“A whiskey,” you said, your voice as smooth as the burn the drink leaves down your throat. Pulling up a stool and sliding onto it, you leaned your elbows on the bar and watched the bartender work. The glass he placed in front of you was filled just underneath the middle, the scent of it strong enough to make you relax just by breathing it in.Your hand wrapped around the glass, and without hesitation, you took a short gulp, barely even wetting your tongue before you heard a familiar voice. “Look at that,” Callahan called out, his voice laced with drunken amusement. “Red Riding Hood herself, back from the woods.”
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He appeared beside you like a ghost, slipping silently through the haze of cigar smoke and the din of clinking glasses. The saloon was alive with noise: drunken laughter ricocheted off creaking wooden beams, the heavy notes of an out-of-tune piano trailed through the air, and the sharp scent of whiskey and sweat thickened the already stifling room. The soft glow of oil lamps cast long, flickering shadows against the warped, tobacco-stained walls. You barely registered him until the stale breath of beer hit you, sour and overwhelming, as he leaned hard against the scarred bar top to keep from tipping over. His hat sat crooked on his head, dangerously close to falling, while glassy eyes stared into nothing in particular, dull and unfocused. “Look at that,” Callahan called out, voice dripping with drunken amusement. His words slurred together like molasses on a summer day. “Red Riding Hood herself, back from the woods.” He squinted at you like you were some riddle he couldn’t quite solve, eyes narrowing as the saloon’s lamplight caught the dust drifting lazily between you. You sighed, setting your glass down with a soft clink. The rim was wet from condensation, and you idly traced your fingertip across it as you wondered—for the hundredth time—why these situations kept finding you. Maybe it was fate, or maybe the universe simply enjoyed watching you suffer. Outside the thin glass window, the night was creeping deeper, the edges of the street lit only by weak lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. You could hear horses stamping and snorting outside, along with the occasional muffled shout of a passing drunk. Callahan pointed a shaky finger. “So, back from the trip to your grandma?”You took a slow, measured sip of your drink, savoring the burn. “Mr. Callahan—”Arthur snorted, wobbling slightly as he shook his head. “Call me Arthur, darlin’,” he said, sounding like the name itself was a badge of honor. With zero grace, he collapsed into the empty seat beside you, the wood groaning under his weight.You raised an eyebrow, the bitter smell of cheap beer hanging heavy around him. “Had a bit to drink… Arthur?” His name left your mouth foreign, awkward, but not entirely unwelcome. You’d been meaning to socialize more, though you hadn’t planned for a half-dead cowboy as your evening’s companion. Arthur’s lopsided grin widened. “Oh, I am fantastic, hic,” he declared, raising his bottle like a prize. The amber liquid inside swirled dangerously close to spilling onto his already rumpled shirt. “Me an’ Lenny? We’re havin’ ourselves a grand ol’ time.”Your eyes flicked across the crowded saloon. The place was alive in a way only late-night drinking holes could be. Card games were underway in darkened corners, voices sharp with tension as players eyed each other over piles of cash. The creaking boards above your head betrayed the movement of saloon girls and their patrons, while the oil lamps simmered lazily on the far side of the room, bathing the halls in faint, flickering warmth.“And where’s Lenny now?” you asked, scanning the haze-filled room once more.Arthur blinked, slow, before straightening with sudden, shaky seriousness. “Lenny...” he murmured, like you’d just spoken some riddle. He grabbed your arm, steadying himself. His fingers were rough, calloused from years of hard work. “Where’s Lenny?”You laughed quietly, shaking your head. “I don’t know, cowboy. Seems like you’ve lost your friend.”Arthur squinted, leaning closer, eyes still unfocused but clearly suspicious. “You sure? You ain’t hidin’ ‘im?”You exhaled a breath through your nose, amused despite yourself. Maybe you were getting too old for this kind of thing. Then again, when was the last time you allowed yourself to just go with the flow, even if that flow was a half-drunk cowboy with too much charm and too little self-preservation?“Well,” you muttered to yourself, raising your glass once more. “What’s the worst that could happen?”----------What happened, of course, was the worst possible situation.You lost track of how many drinks you'd had, how long you’d sat at that bar counter with Arthur laughing too loudly beside you. The piano player’s tune became more discordant as the hours ticked by, and eventually, you stumbled outside only to find Arthur with his hands around a man’s throat, dunking him headfirst into a horse trough. Now, was it smart to yell at him for the whole town to hear? Not exactly, but what else were you supposed to do? Unsurprisingly this attracted the attention of the law men passing by the saloon. And that’s how you ended up here: breath ragged as you sprinted down an uneven trail just past the edge of town, boots pounding on dry, cracked dirt. The trees swayed gently in the cool night air, their skeletal branches creaking overhead. Somewhere behind you, you could hear the distant shouts of the law giving half-hearted chase, something that hasn't happened in a while. Running from the law wasn't too great for your reputation.The stars overhead were sharp, countless and brilliant against the pitch-black sky, but you didn’t have the time to admire them. Arthur’s larger frame darted ahead of you, weaving through low brush the man too drunk to remember fear.You cursed under your breath, vaulted over a fallen over log, and barely managed to grab Arthur’s arm as he tripped over his own shadow. “Get up,” you hissed, but it was too late—he slumped forward, out cold.You sighed heavily and sat down beside him, the grass cold and damp against your legs and the tree bark harsh on your back. Your limbs, heavy with exhaustion and whiskey, soon gave out too.----------Morning came harsh and unrelenting.The sun sliced through the trees, sending sharp beams of light directly into your eyes. The soft rustling of wind through the leaves mixed with the quiet murmuring of far away civilization, though even the gentle sounds of nature made your headache spike. Birds sang too cheerfully from their high perches, and a flock of geese honked obnoxiously as they soared past overhead.A wet nose nudged your ribs. Cinder, thankfully in your drunken state you still remembered to whistle after her.You groaned as you forced your eyes open. The tall oaks around you swayed ever so slightly, sending waves of golden light rippling through the forest floor. Mist clung low to the ground, curling around roots and rocks like smoke.“Shit... thanks for wakin’ me up, girl,” you muttered, giving Cinder an affectionate scratch behind the ears. She snorted softly, tail flicking lazily.You pushed yourself upright with a groan, knees creaking like old barn doors. Your clothes were damp, your boots were caked in mud, and there was a distinct layer of grit coating your tongue. One suspender hung useless at your side, and you could feel the beginnings of a bruise blooming on your hip from an injury you couldn’t remember.The silence was soon broken by a loud, guttural snore to your left.Arthur lay sprawled out like he’d been thrown from a moving cart. One boot was halfway submerged in a muddy puddle, his shirt stained with dirt and grass. The empty bottle still clutched loosely in his hand caught a sliver of sunlight, reflecting it directly into your eyes.You let out a hoarse chuckle, voice raw. “Fuck me…” Slowly you moved your hand over your eyes, trying to rub off the hangover and hopefully remember just how you ended up here. Cinder huffed in your face, reminding you it was breakfast time, probably the only reason she decided to wake you up. “Right, just give me a second girl” Your legs weren’t working with you, but you still pushed yourself up, even if you were as wobbly as a newborn foal. Cinder stomped her hoof impatiently, and your gaze drifted back to Arthur, who let out a long groan as he stirred.“If you’re the sun,” he croaked, eyes still shut tight, “go away. If you’re death, come back later.”You snorted and rubbed your temples “You do realize we’re not in the saloon anymore?”Arthur cracked one eye open and winced at the daylight. His face scrunched like he’d just been punched. “What in the hell…?” His gaze slowly swept across the tree line, the distant sound of a train whistle echoing from the direction of Flatneck Station. “Where are we?”“Outskirts of town near Flatneck station,” you said, nodding toward the rising hills. “Lucky we didn’t wake up behind bars.”Arthur rubbed at his face, eyes darting as he pieced things together. “Or in a pine box.”“Close call,” you muttered.You both looked down in silence for a beat, listening to the breeze ripple through the tall grass.Arthur sighed heavily. “Still got my guns… my hat... and my boots,” he listed, patting himself down. Then his eyes widened. “Lenny.”“The kid? Yeah, last I saw him, he was making friends with the floorboards”Arthur cursed softly, sitting up straighter. “Was just tryin’ to cheer him up.” his voice was rough, like a cigarette addicts, but somehow it still had a honey like smoothness. Then it hit you, you just drank the night away with a man you don’t really know, ran from the law and managed to walk at least half a mile away from the saloon. A quiet chuckle left your lips, barely audible, but Arthur didn’t miss it. Arthur raised an eyebrow. “What’s funny?”You waved it off, still smiling. “Nothin’. Just... been years since I got into this kind of mess. Thought I was getting too old for these things.”He squinted at you “How old are you anyway, 23? 24?” This caused another chuckle to leave your lips and you walked obpver to Cinders right side, searching through your saddle bags and taking a large bag of grain, feeding it to her“I’ll take that as a compliment, ‘m nearing thirty, my birthday’s a few weeks from now” Arthur rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “Huh.”The wind rustled the leaves above, and the sun glinted off the river in the distance. Birds chirped on the branches, and insects buzzed lazily in the grass.“You ain’t never married?” he asked before quickly waving it off. “Sorry, that wasn't proper, didn't mean to pry.” You smiled, feeling a quiet peace as the breeze cooled your sun-warmed skin. “No harm done. I suppose, I never really had the chance to settle, I’ve been working odd jobs since I was 16, and between those and constantly moving I didn’t have much chance of meeting someone and settling with them” It wasn’t painful to admit this by now, you’ve come to terms with it, or at least pushed it down far enough it didn’t bother you anymore. Arthur was quiet, and you didn’t like it, usually everyone gave you some kind of a reaction, either pity or unwanted advice. Just the wind, the trees, and the rhythmic stomp of your horse shifting while greedily eating the grain in your hand could be heard. You’ve not had someone just listen to you in a while, it was odd and you quickly changed the subject. “C’mon,” you said, nodding to the saddle behind you. “I’ll take you back to camp. Can’t leave you out here, it’s full of O’Driscolls, nasty bunch.” You checked Cinders cinch as she finished eating, and climbed up into the saddle. “You know ‘em?” his eyebrows furrowed and you couldn’t figure out why exactly but you decided to ignore it, better not to pry. “Yeah, suppose so, had a few run ins with them, they don’t like me very much, I’ve picked up quite a few bounties in their camps.” It wasn’t entirely true, but he didn’t need to know you shot up an entire gang hang out in an attempt to capture Colm. “So…you goin’ to hop on?” You flicked your head to the back of your horse.Arthur tipped his hat and climbed on behind you, muttering, “If you’d be so kind.” Cinder trudged forward, hooves tapping against the dirt trail as you rode through the swaying forest slowly giving way to the rugged hills beyond.The road to his camp was quiet, save for the chirping cicadas and the occasional soft curse from Arthur every time your horse jolted over a rut in the trail. The camp appeared like a mirage through the trees, smoke curling lazily from campfires and tents dotting the clearing.Arthur dismounted with a muttered thanks and trudged toward the tents. He was intriguing, certainly more than most folk, but you couldn’t figure out why, there was clearly something up with him, but you couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was.