The rouge gunslinger

1

The first thing I could feel is betrayal. Not the burning sensation in my lungs or the bruised ribs that I was nurturing from the fall.
He did this.
He was my brother. Connected by blood and family but it seems that our ties don't run very deep. He sold me to the o'driscoll's.
Basically tied me up in a knot with a little bow on top asking for money. Naturally I didn't stick around for long, I saw an opening and I took it.
But the opening wasn't very big and I ended up jumping off a cliff into a very bumpy river. Lucky enough for me the river took me towards home: horseshoe overlook.

You would think a busted lip, a couple of Jammy ribs and a knife wound would stop me from getting back?
I certainly did. I had zero faith that I could make it home, but I did.
By some miracle.

My homes located on the edge of a cliff, theirs a small clearing and a great tree in the middle which make it the perfect place for me.
And before you ask how I found this place, I didn't. I did a favour for an old friend and in return he pointed to this place on the map. I'm grateful he did cause otherwise I would probably still be on the road.

My clothes are soaked from head to toe. I managed to find my hat further down stream from where I pulled myself out.
I simply flicked the water off the top and put it back onto my head before I continued limping.

I'm wearing a corset, which I could imagine didn't help my fall, on top of a white shortsleeved top. My trousers are plain black and I have boots that match the dirty brown colour of my hat.
Unfortunately I managed to loose my gun belt somewhere between my brother kidnapping me and the torture but I guess I can buy a new one.

The last trail to my home was the hardest, the hill feels unforgiving in the summer heat and my clothes add an extra weight to my body.
When I reach the top I have to take a second before walking though the bushes.
I relax into the shadows and close my eyes for a second as the sound of a pistol being cocked fills my ears.

"Hands up" a gruff voice says as I glance over my shoulder.
A gruffy looking man stands behind me and as expected theirs a gun to my face.
"What do you want?" He asks me.
"I should ask you that. I live here" I state.
"You own that cart?" He asks.
"Yeah, so why are you here?" I ask again feeling annoyed.
"Move" he states pushing me though the bushes.

"Hey Dutch! Look what I found!" The man behind me shouts catching a mans attention. Out of everyone he looks the most posh but I can tell it's all I lie. He's an outlaw, the guy behind me probably is too.
"What is this bill?" He asks walking to us.
"I found her walking in. Said she owns that cart" bill explains as I slightly roll my eyes.

"I said it because I do own that cart. Now with all respect I've had a long day and id love to have a nap, if you want me to leave, I'll go and although my word means fuck all to you, I can assure you that I won't tell anyone that your here" I say tilting my head slightly in hope.
"Hosea mentioned that you'd have a mouth on you" he states as I snort.

"Hosea? The old fool still alive? Where is he?" I ask looking around.
"Just running an errand" the Dutch man says.
"Bill will you put the gun down?" He adds looking at the man behind me.
He snorts in detest as he lowers his gun and In turn I lower my hands.

"You must be Dutch van der linde. Hosea use to speak of you a lot" I say looking down at the mud on my sleeve and brush it off.
"That's me, I was told there was two of you" Dutch says putting his thumbs in his pockets as he steps closer.
I glance around the group before giving him a nod.

"Yeah, well if you see him, shoot him" I say leaning on my one leg to release the pain on my leg knee.
"Had an argument?" Dutch jokes as I glance down at my outfit and nod.
"Something like that"
"Lily!" I hear a dry voice shout, instantly recognising the voice.

Before I can resist he throws his arms around me.
I hold back a hiss as he pulls my ribs in.
"My dear girl! How have you been?" He asks.
I raise an eyebrow and look down at my self before looking back up at him.
"I think my figure speaks for itself" I joke.
"Hosea, maybe you would like to introduce us?" Dutch asks.
"Right, Dutch meet lily. I showed her this spot years ago when she was only a child. Lily this is Dutch, he's a good friend of mine... we were hoping we can stay here for a while?" He asks me as I glance around the group that's formed around us.

"You can stay, just don't touch my shit and I'll try not to touch yours" I offer as I look at Dutch.
"That's all we ask for, thank you lily" he says.
"It's Lilian, now if you don't mind me, I've had the worest day in the history of bad days and I would love to sleep it off. Have a good night everyone" I say tilting my hat to them and  walking though the crowd.
I hear the crowd erupt into shouting as I walk past a tent with a little boy sitting.
This is no life for a kid.
But I guess it's not my choice.

I get up at sunset. It's a nice view. My home is set up perfectly. I use my cart for hunting mainly but I've manage to set it up so I have a blanket that goes over my head and stops any rain from hitting my bed.
My bed is very close to the cliff so I set up my fire between me and it I won't fall off the edge.
I lay down on my bed putting my hat on my face before going to sleep.

Later that afternoon I was reawakened by a pain in my side which forced me to get up and slowly unbuckling my corset which is suffocating my waist.
I glance to my left and see a blonde man looking right at me.
"Look away cowboy" I warn as I get up and walk to the barrel full off water next to my bed.
I give the creepy man one more glance before rubbing water over my face to clear any mud.
"Lily! Come here!" I hear Hosea call to me as I clear the last off the water off.
I glance over to him at the fire before straightening myself out and walking over.

"Lily this is Charlie, Arthur and john, oh and this is Sadie" he introduces.
"Lilian hale at your service" I say faking a bow.
"Evening"
"It's nice to meet you"
"Tch"
"..."
"How about you have a seat with us?" Hosea asks.

I sigh knowing that if I say no he'll follow me back to my tent before sitting down on the log.
"So where's Sam? If I remember correctly he was stuck to your side" Hosea jokes.
"Yeah he was until he sold me to o'driscolls about a week ago" I say not looking up.
"He did?"
"Yep. Knocked me out while I was sleeping" I state as Sadie inhales quickly.
"That's horrible" she says as I snort.
"Money gets to us all at some point"
"Quite right, loyalty is so rare now" Hosea agrees.

"So how did you get out the Driscoll camp?" John asks leaning forward.
"I slipped my ropes and ran, It wasn't well thought out though. I guess you can smell the river water from over their" I joke as he snorts.
"Anyway Hosea, my old champ, how have you been?" I ask.
"You know, surviving" he says shortly.
"Oh come on, I just gave you guys my week and you can't spare me some detail" I joke as I nudge him.

"Well we just came down from the mountains" he says vividly.
"The mountains? At this time a year? How the hell you survive?"
"Pure luck and big coats" he jokes as I smirk at him.
"Sounds about right... anyway I'm gonna go open a moldy can of peaches, want any?"
"No thank you" Hosea says as polity as possible trying not to pull a face at the idea.

"Alright... oh and if your gonna station one of you cowboys to watch me, don't put the weirdo on duty" I tell them.
"Who? Micah?" He asks looking over to my tents.
"Yeah he was staring at me when I went to take my corset off and I don't like his eyes"
"I'll talk with Dutch" he says nodding.
"Thanks" I say smiling as I walk back over to my bed.

I grab a can of peaches and go to open it when I see micah staring again.
"Do you mind?" I ask.
"Not at all" he replies quickly.
"Okay" I whisper to myself as I throw my peaches down and move to the back of my cart grabbing a blanket and walking to micahs side of the tent.
I throw the blanket so a quarter of it is on the roof and hook it onto the pole so it creates a wall and Micah can't see me.
I turn to him, happy with my makeshift wall before walking behind it to eat my peaches.
I can hear a couple of laughs in the distance as I light my small fire and relax into my seat.