Six Shots Deep

Getting Justice

It was a two day trip. Arthur and I set up camp near Valentine by the waterfalls.

"Can't believe I'm going back to West Elizabeth." Arthur mumbled as he sat down by the fire. I was busy throwing sticks into the fire.

"Something happen over this way?" I asked, snapping a stick in half.

"Near Blackwater. Bad business."

I hummed. I threw the stick in the fire, picking up a twig and rolling it between my fingers before snapping it into a small piece. I looked up at the stars, continuing to fiddle with the small wood. "The stars are bright tonight."

"That they are."

I let out a sigh. "So, what happened in Blackwater, if you don't mind me askin?"

"Bad robbery. Micah had a plan to rob a ferry and they got the money, but then Pinkertons surrounded the area. They chased us into the mountains and we got caught in a bad snowstorm."

"In May?"

He nodded. "We escaped, and ended up in Horseshoe Overlook. That's our spot for now."

I hummed again. I continued looking up at the stars, eventually laying down on my back, my arm tucked underneath my head. My black hat laid on my stomach, and I held it there with one hand.

"What're you gonna do after we kill Colm?"

"I haven't quite gotten that far yet."

"You gonna stay in the gang?"

I looked over to him. "I don't know yet. I've always been on my own. Bein' 'round people just ain't my thing."

"Maybe somethin' new is what ya need."

I shrugged and returned my gaze to the stars above me. Through my peripheral vision, I saw Arthur continuing to stare down at me. I held back a smirk as I looked at the constellations. I stifled a yawn, worn out from the riding of the day.

"I think I'm gonna hit the hay," I said, sitting up.

"Already?"

I nodded, yawning again.

He nodded in response and I laid out on my bedroll, crossing my ankles. "Get some sleep, cowboy. We got a big day tomorrow."

"Whatever you say, cowgirl."

I chuckled and turned away from him.

*****

The next morning, I was awake before Arthur. He looked content as he slept. I began to roll up my bedroll and I stored it on Whiskeys saddle. He grunted as I fed him an apple, brushing my fingers through his mane. Arthur's Blood Bay Thoroughbred was feeding on some grass. I patted her neck as I approached her.

"Hey there, girl," I cooed, feeding her a handful of hay, "probably tastes better than that grass down there, huh?"

She whinnied in response.

I smiled, brushing her hair. "Yeah, I know." Whiskey pushed his nose to the middle of my back. I chuckled and turned towards him. "Y'know I can give other horses attention too, right?" I stroked his forehead, pushing the hair away from his eyes. They stared into mine.

Arthur stirred, squinting his eyes from the morning sun as he sat up, placing his hat on his head. "Mornin." He mumbled.

"Good morning," I walked towards him, sitting on the grass beside him. "Need a few?"

"Yeah," he rubbed his eyes.

I chuckled and began to stoke the fire with a stick. Arthur lit a match and threw it in, getting a fire started. I took some ground coffee out of my satchel and walked towards Whiskey. I got a metal coffee protractor from his saddle bag. I placed it near the fire and filled it with water from my canteen, then placed the ground coffee bits inside.