Bards Crossings • Arthur Morgan x Reader

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An escaped bounty target was always salt in an open wound for you. You've earned yourself the title of an established bounty hunter, but that doesn't mean they occasionally get away - much to your dissatisfaction.

It meant you lost out on your much needed pay check and another day wasted. You tried to aim for one, decent paid bounty a day in order to get by. You're far from the life you once lead and would like to keep it that way.

You slowly sauntered down the rainy mountain sides of the Grizzles, mounted on your trusty stead Onyx; a Black chestnut Thoroughbred mare. Not to say you were wallowing, but recently you felt like you couldn't catch a break.

You'd been bounty hunting for four years now, with the long term goal of scraping enough money together to put forward a deposit to the bank to purchase a home of your own; a wooden, pre-made, catalogue ordered home, but nonetheless a roof over your head.

Onyx huffed, she was not used to the slow pace you were riding. "I know, girl, I'm sorry" you reassured her. A gentle kick of your heels coerced your mare in to a comfortable trot, gearing up for a bit more speed.

"C'mon then, girl! Show me what y' got!" You whispered in her ear, "H'ya!". Onyx took off down the rocky slopes of the Grizzles, the fresh breeze of the late afternoon whipping through your (h/c) hair.

You made your way past Riggs Station, taking to the muddy path eventually leading into Strawberry. Serene greenery covered every periphery, pine trees standing as tall as the clouds, their branches whipping in the crisp breeze.

You could hear the calls and cackles of various animals; scurrying's of small paws in the undergrowth; distant hoofs and clatters of other working folk heading in and out of the quaint, tourist town you called 'home'.

Strawberry was clad with wood log buildings nestled into the mountain side, Hawks Eye Creek running straight through the middle of the town, utterly picturesque, you thought to yourself.

"Good Evening, Miss (y/n)!" A thunderous voice boomed behind you.

"Oh, Hello Sheriff Hanley." You replied.

"Did y' manage to track down George Hawkes?"
Apprehension pooled in your stomach. You knew how much the Sheriff wanted Hawkes in his jail cell.

"I, uh, I took a look around his last known whereabouts bu-". A disappointed furrow of the brow came from Sheriff Hanley.

"(y/n), with all due respect, we're paying y' to catch these men, the longer he is out there the longer Big Valley is under threat from this heinous criminal."

His words fuelled more anxiety, "I know, sir, he slipped away this time.. But he won't next time, and that's a promise."

Sheriff Hanley turned on his foot, walking towards the Sheriff's Office, "you're a good kid, (y/n), sooner y' get him, sooner y' get y' money."

Sheriff's didn't take a likening to Bounty Hunter's. They got the job done when the law couldn't, using whatever means necessary. No questions asked. Sheriff Hanley and his deputy Farley were kind enough to you, though.

They knew this was very much a man's world and you were simply trying to navigate your way through it, both lawmen expressing how a "lady's" place was not in bounty hunting - Farley often asking for your hand in marriage after many a whiskey bottle shared in the wake of a particularly hard job.

"I'd look after y' real good, (y/n), y'd never have to do this again." You heard Farley's drunken slobbers in your mind, smirking at the thought.

You lead Onyx to a hitching post outside the hotel, giving her a brush down, removing her saddle for the night.

"Y' did real good today, girl." Patting her neck, Onyx emitting a small whinny of approval.

Leaving Onyx munching on a hay bale at the hitching post, Cecil, the hotel clerk, already had a warm bath preparing for you.

You soaked your aching body in the soapy water, releasing the tension from your shoulders and the woes of your mind free for another night.

'I'm not where I need to be yet, but I am on my way there' you reassured yourself.