The rouge gunslinger

6

I pace on top of a rock next to the end of the tracks. Bandits munching on grass next to me as I recall the stories of bodies and attacks next to this lake.
This is a hunt for three high trained hunters not an old man, a rookie and a injured girl.
I roll my shoulder in its socket as I see the boys riding up to me.

I grab my rifle off bandits saddle and smack him so he runs off before jumping off the rock.
"Well?" Arthur asks as I point at the last print.
"Checked the area, this is the freshest and last print in Atleast a mile" I tell them as they jump off their horses.
"The way I see it we have two options, split up or-" I start
"Lay the bait here" Arthur finishes as I nod.

"Exactly, I suggest the later option considering your not experienced and he's too experienced" I joke pointing at Arthur then Hosea.
"And what about you? What's wrong with you?"
"I'm currently recovering from too many unfortunate incidents" I shrug and regret it as a small pain shoots up me.

"Alright so here?" Arthur asks pointing at the floor.
"Yeah we'll use them rocks for cover. And we're lucky" I say glancing at hosea so he can finish.
"The wind is in our corner" Hosea explains to Arthur.
"He won't smell us" I finish with a smirk as I move behind the rock.

"Hey that bait look good to you?" Hosea asks us.
"I think so... your the expert" Arthur replies as I load my rifle.
"You ready?" Hosea asks.
"I'm good, are you okay? You seem nervous"
"So do you, I'm fine" Hosea says as I roll my eyes at them.

"Your boys, arnt you supposed to be talking yourselves up to the fight?" I joke.
"You arnt any better, can basically smell the fear" Arthur jokes.
"Don't know what your on about, hunting is my life... okay I'm a bit nervous, I have a lot of hunting friends and many have said this hunt is a bad idea" I tell them as they stare at me.

"It is a bad idea" Hosea says.
"Oh thanks for informing me now"I say staring at the bait.
"You think we should check the bait?" Hosea asks.
"Okay... let's get this over with, watch my back" I tell them as I jump down.

"Hold up-"
"Arthur you don't know what it's meant to look like and I run faster then Hosea so don't start" I warn him as I walk around the rock.
I crouch down and tip toe to the meat and berries on the floor.

I look around before pulling my knife out and cutting it so it would smell better.
I hear padded steps to my right as I slowly glance up.

The bear growls as I take in its scared face. So much for watching my back.
I stand up slowly as it gets on its back legs. I grab my gun as someone behind me fires at it. It growls and leaps forward as I dive to my side and grab my pistol shooting four times at its head.
What is this bear made out off?

"Over here!" Arthur yells drawing the beast attention to him.
Arthur stands to my left. Hosea behind a rock to his right.
Arthur shoots at it as I reload and fire all six bullets at it. As it's about to hit Arthur it collapses and I slowly release a breath that got stuck in my throat while I was firing.

"You alright?!" I shout to the boys.
"I'm gonna have nightmares" Arthur says as I hear Hosea say he's fine.
"Good, that's good" I whisper to myself as I rub my side.
My unhealed ribs ache from the awkward landing making my breath harsh.

"You okay up their?!" Arthur shouts me after checking Hosea.
I nod walking over to them slowly, kicking the bear on the way over to make sure it's dead.
"You know what Arthur? I'm a little old and beaten up to be after the biggest game, you can have this" he says handing Arthur a map.
"What is it?" Arthur asks.

"It's a map, a man in a bar gave it to me, well I stole it but that's a different story. He said it told him where to find the biggest animals" Hosea explains.
"That's great but can we have a mutual agreement to fold it up and never open it again? If that bear is just one of them I don't wanna see the rest" I joke as I cough from being winded by the bear.

Arthur chuckles as Hosea puts a hand on my shoulder for support.
"You saved my life Arthur Morgan, thank you" Hosea says as Arthur turns to me.
"Lily saved mine" he states.

"I guess I should thank both of you for this lovely adventure, really, I had so much fun" I joke as Hosea pushes my shoulder with a wide smile.
"Make sure that if you go after the map you do it together, you need to have each other's backs on this one" Hosea tells us.

"Yeah I'll remind myself to pack spare underwear next time. And I'm not checking baits again" I tell Arthur as I point my finger at him.

"Fine by me" he say smirking.
"I think I'm gonna head back to camp to lick my wounds"
"I better get to skinning this bear" I say as Arthur nods.

"I'll stay here, you gonna be okay on your way back?" Arthur asks Hosea.
"I'll be just fine, good luck kids" he says climbing into his saddle.
"See you at camp old man" I say nodding as he nods back and kicks his horse.

"And then their was two" I joke as Hosea disappears around a bend.
"That was wild" Arthur states as I snort.
"That's one word for it. So mr Morgan, would you like to help carve open your prize or would you prefer to do the heavy work?" I ask as I walk up to the bear.

"I'm not a child-"
"I can see that" I cut in as I kneel down next to it lifting a leg.
I wince at my own pain as I cut down its stomach.
"I'll hold that" Arthur says on the other side of the bear as he grabs its leg and pulls towards him.

"Cheers" I say pulling my knife down again I lead the knife up its leg and cut off the ends so it can be pulled off.
"I know a tanner just outside strawberry, we can get good money their if you wanna sell it" I tell him as I keep my eyes on my cuts.

"Alright, we'll head their and then back to camp before Hosea sends search parties" he says as I glance up.
"I actually need to pop into strawberry. You can head back without me if you want" I suggest as he snorts.

"Pretty sure Hosea would tear me a new one if I came back without ya" he explains.
"Alright, well I just need to grab bandages so I'll be quick" I tell him as we move to the front legs. I hand one to him as he looks me up and down.

"Why? You injured?" He asks confused.
"My ribs... they were healing well till ten minutes ago. Just need bandages for support" I tell him as he nods.
"I've got bandages, tell you what, give me one dollar and I'll give you my backup bandages"
"One dollar? It's normally two in the shops" I say glancing up from my work.

"Special deal... going once, going twice-"
"A dollar it is" I say nodding as I put my knife away.
"Should be good to pull now" I say grabbing a paw and pulling. Slowly the fur pulls off as I wince slightly.

"Need a hand?" Arthur asks as I look over at his leg that's done.
"Yeah, thank you" I say as he pulls it.
"We need to roll it now. I've never skinned anything this big" I tell him as he nods in agreement and walks over to my side.

"On 3. 1,2,3!" He says as we push it over.
I wince again and nearly fall over the bear as it gets so far before flopping.
"You okay? You don't have to help if your in pain" Arthur states as he pulls at the fur.
"I'm fine" I assure him as I pull at my leg.

"So you and Hosea, how long have you known each other?" He asks.
"I've known him for 12 years, but he was gone for 11 years of it so I don't really know him well" I answer.
"12 years... my, that's a long time" he says and I nod.

"Yeah, I barely recognised him when he showed up" I tell him as he snorts.
"I bet it was the same for him" he tells me as I nod.
He whistles for his horse as I cut under the skin and along the back.
He walks off as I keep cutting along the side and belly.

"Here, you can give me the dollar later... I've got this, go sort yourself out" Arthur says holding bandages infront of him.
"Thanks Arthur, your a life saver" I say taking them.
"Yeah yeah, be carful of snakes and poison ivy" he says grabbing his knife and starting work on the bear as I walk off.