The rouge gunslinger

15

I wake up with the feeling of warmth around my waist without thinking a second time I wiggle myself out from under him and slide of the cart.
"Look who's up" Hosea jokes as I rub a hand over my eyes and glance back at Arthur.
I look at the floor as I stride over to Hosea and take a seat opposite him.
"I think I'm gonna leave" I say as Hosea's smile crumbles.

"Leave? Why?" He asks.
"There are things I want to do, but I can't do them until I've dealt with Sam and a few other things"  I explain as I look him dead in the eyes.
"Let me get Arthur up-"
"No, I wanna leave before he gets up. I just needed to tell someone"
"Is there no changing your mind?" Hosea asks fiddling with a stick in his hands.
"No" I say firmly.

"The group is always open for you, Arthur will miss you as will Jack" Hosea explains.
"I know, but if I stay then I'm potentially putting you guys at risk, I won't allow myself to do that" I say as he nods and stands up.
"You will come back right?" He asks standing awkwardly.
"If the option is there, I will..." i say standing up.
"Good, I'll leave a note if we move" Hosea says throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me in close.

"You take care of yourself, you take these and you use them to return to me. Okay?" Hosea asks as he pulls open his bag and shoves two boxes of ammo into my hands and a pocket knife.
"Thank you Hosea" I say as I put the knife in my pocket.
"You come back" Hosea says placing a hand on my cheek.
I just place a hand over his and slowly pull it away from me, giving it a light squeeze.
"Take care of my stuff for me?" I ask as he nods.

I take a step back allowing a tear to fall as i untie lou from his post.
I ruffle up the fur on his head as Hosea outstretchs his arms for him.
I just give him a nod as I kiss the dog head and hand him over.
I don't say another word to Hosea as he stands holding back tears with the dog in his arms. Panic fills me as I notice Arthur getting up.
"The hells going on?" He asks noticing Hosea's face.

I turn my back and block out the noises of Arthur and Hosea's shouting and arguing as I take off out the woods.

The image of home has haunted me since I've left. It's been five weeks, give or take.
I haven't managed to find Sam, he's fell off everyone's map, including the o'driscoll's. In the mean time I've blow up six camps and rid the world of some unworthy people.

Right this second I'm riding along a road out of Saint Denis with my new outfit, the old one was covered in ash and stains so I decide to get a new one.
I lean down and feed bandit an apple as three horses ride past but a little boy on the first horse catches my attention.
"Jack?" I whisper to myself as I turn my horse around and sprint out infront of them.

Once I'm in clearly infront I turn bandit around and tilt my hat down to the men.
"Evening gents, how much that horse cost?" I ask as I look at the sleeping boy, it is Jack.
"Not for sale, move on girl" he says pulling his reins back.
I sigh as I pull both my guns out and shoot his friends before aiming at him.
"Where'd you get the kid from?"
"The hell women!-" he starts shouting as I shoot him in the head.

I move bandit forward quickly before the body can fall out the saddle and take the boy with it.
I grab the boys too just before he falls and lift him away as bandit keeps trotting forwards.
I pull the reins back slightly and turn it off so we disappear into the woods in case the law trot by.
"Jack" I whisper as he lays limp on my saddle.
I readjust him into the saddle so it looks like he just fell asleep on a ride before kicking bandits side gently to take off up the road.

By the time nighttime came I'd managed to get us up to Rhodes. I set up a hotel room and put Jack inside as he continues to sleep before going out to grab a bottle of whiskey and to check for post from Hosea.
Anything that could give me a location of their camp.