Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 4: Ten Point

I opened my eyes to the low rising sun shining through the palm tree's shading the small camp we had made, the campfire still releasing a trail of smoke from its ashes. "Morning."

Jameson nodded, continuing to finish packing up the camp. I jumped up giving a nod. "Mornin'." Picking up the bedroll, placing it on Junior before kicking some more dirt on the fire making sure it was out. "I say we start down these woods here; I saw some deer run through only a little while ago."

I looked over to where he said he'd seen some deer, spotting a tree with the bark torn away. "Looks like a decent sized buck as well."

He poked his head up from behind his horse. Walking towards the tree, Jameson followed not far behind. I kneeled in front of the tree when Jameson joined me. "Rather fresh, maybe a few hours?"

I nodded before adding. "What are we using, Bow, Rifle?" He looked at me before handing his bow to me. "If you use a gun, you'll scare anything else we have a chance of getting." I nodded, lifting the bow and analyzing the weapon. It's been a while since I used a bow, I lifted off my knee making my way through the brush.

After making our way through the brush for a while I bent down next to some tracks. "Can you make out these tracks Jameson?" I turned my head and was soon joined by him. "Their hoof prints alright, not sure if their deer, the tracks are quite large." I nodded before we continued, following the tracks we made our way to a clearing spotting a large buck, grazing off what little grew on top of the cliff. "Amber, get your bow ready, keep your breath steady and aim near the head or chest."

I lifted the bow drawing it back, I tensed pointing it towards the deer, its shadow cast from the light soon to meet its untimely demise, I released, sending the arrow flying through the air into the deer's chest as it collapsed to the ground.

"Nice shot," Jameson chirped. "I wouldn't have guessed you haven't used a bow for a while." I smiled. "It would have been cleaner a couple years ago." Promoting a small chuckle from him, he picked the large deer up. "Fine meat, will be a nice first meal at the new camp." I turned to him, it completely slipped my mind, we were to rob the stable in town today. "I'm sure Miss. Amos will be thrilled." I said, kicking the dirt. "You want the antlers? I can take them off before we head back to camp." I turned around looking at the horns, counting ten I nodded. "If you wouldn't mind."

He threw the large animal to the ground, beginning to cut the antlers away.

After he finished removing the horns, he wrapped them in a cloth and gave them to me, strapping them to my saddle. He placed the deer on Junior's back, tying it with some rope to the saddle. "Thank you for bringin' me with you in your adventure Jameson." He nodded. "I wasn't sure at first, it'd be cutting it close to when we wanted to rob that stable." I looked at the sky, then climbing on Junior I looked at Jameson who was doing the same. 'We should get back." He nodded, tapping River's sides.

We rode back into camp; Jameson removed the deer taking it over to the table to be cut and packed up. As I hopped off my horse, I was greeted by a small boy wrapping his arms around my legs. "Amber!" Brandy chirped, looking down I ruffled his hair. "Hey Brandy, what did I miss?" He let my legs go as I knelt beside him, eye level with the small boy he whispered. "I missed you."

I raised a brow at the sudden attachment he had towards me. "I missed you too buddy, hasn't Sandy been keepin' you company?" He turned, looking towards the camp. "I don't know where Sandy went." He finally admitted, the sorrow that filled his little brown eyes made my heart sink. "Did you ask anybody where he was or if they would look?" He shook his head.

"I didn't think anybody would help me but you." I put my hand on his little shoulder. "Brandy, I'm sure if you would have asked Eliza or Shea would have helped you-" I was cut off by a sweet tone that filled the air. "Help Brandy with what?" Elizabeth said, putting a few items on Patricia. I looked back to Brandy before replying. "Brandy doesn't know where Sandy went, he wants some help if you're willing to help us."

She turned to me. "I'll help you find Sandy." she chirped, as I stood to my feet the small boy grabbed my hand as we walked around looking for the animal.

Making our way around the outside of camp searching the brush and for unknown reasons of Brandy's the tree's slowly making our way back into camp where we ended up at Thomas's and Penny's tent to find Sandy sleeping by Penny, Brandy squeaked at the sight of the dog before hugging her. "Thank you, Amber!" I tipped my hat, turning to Penny. "Miss. Amos." She nodded as I exited the tent, walking across camp to my own tent to start packing up my possessions for our long journey in searching for a new land to help around at. We didn't move unless Thomas had seen or heard bounty hunters around or if we planned something that would get the law on our tails, Thomas was very careful about what he did, giving the bounty hunters almost no chance at finding us.

I started taking my things, placing them in a crate delicately before sitting the crate outside and taking the hammock in my tent down, laying it beside the crate, taking my tent down I laid the white cloth on top of the crate carrying it over to one of the wagons, placing it in the back.

I turned around leaning against the back of the wagon spotting Elizabeth and Shea working on taking their tents down, picking myself up from the wagon I walked over. "Need any help?"

Shea looked up at me raising a brow before looking back down only to stand straight up and throw a crate in my arms. "Thank you, Amber." She said as a grin formed on her face, earning a small snicker from Elizabeth. I gave a half smile turning to walk back to the wagon, Elizabeth and Shea followed not far behind. "I got to say, Thomas has his timing in all this." Elizabeth huffed, throwing the crate on the wagon. "He sure does."

Shea added, Elizabeth looked at me waiting for an answer. "Yeah, but we have been camping here for a while. It's only reasonable that some bounty hunters are getting close to us, I mean you did get taken by some bounty hunters all but a week ago?" I turned, questioning Shea." Yes, but I kinda like it here."

I sighed, before leaning on the back of the wagon. "Yeah, I think we all did but after we take these horses this town's law will be on our tail as well, we can't take any chances." Elizabeth hopped down from the wagon before speaking. "Did you find Sandy then? Thomas and Penny wouldn't make it if Brandy didn't have Sandy."

I snickered at her words, earning a smile from Shea. "Yes, we did, she was sittin' by Penny having a nice nap." We walked back over to their tents, finishing taking them down to put on the wagon.

"I'd say we're done, maybe we could even fit some extra stolen goods on here!?" I said, earning a laugh from Shea and a smile from Elizabeth before we were joined by Thomas and Jameson. "Morgan, I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He added looking towards Shea as she crossed her arms. "I would smack you, but I'm against animal cruelty." Shea added, earning a small laugh from myself and Jameson.

"That wasn't the worst thing she's ever said to you, at least to your face-" I was shortly cut off by Thomas. "I think I'm aware of that, now for the real reason I have interrupted your small talk." He leaned against the wagon, lighting a cigar. "You four need to head into town for those horses, Joseph and Archie already left and it appears most of your stuff is packed up."

I walked over to his side. "Yes boss." I added earning an eye roll from Thomas. "Rolling your eyes isn't gonna help you find your brain."

I made my way to Junior, joined by Shea Elizabeth and Jameson soon after. "Our last robbery before we terrorize new folk, in our hopes of giving what we steal to people who need it." I said before Elizabeth added. "I will miss this place, all those stick houses I made with Brandy will be missed."

I smiled back at her, her nature was very gentle for what reality she lived in, even if her family wasn't the most famous around. "I'll miss the sunsets most of all." Elizabeth nodded her head at my statement. "Jameson?"

I looked at him. "I don't know, probably all the sounds of nature at night, some of the most peaceful moments I had were here, under the stars."

I made a light smile looking back. "And what about, good old Shea?" She rolled her eyes. "Probably all the times I didn't have to open my mouth to you." I turned back to Junior, hopping on top of him. "I don't hate you Shea, but if you were drowning, I'd give you a high-five."

She hopped on Sybil looking towards me. "Sounds fair enough." Elizabeth giggled at our little squabble as her and Jameson climbed on Patricia and River. "Let's get ourselves some horses." I tapped Junior's sides leading him down the trail.