Ever Gentle On My Mind (Cooper Howard x OC)

06. A Damn Shame

Following the dog - Jamboree decided, was a genius idea. She would've never thought of it, even if she was a little sad about the ghoul killing the dog. The idea to bring it back and follow it was genius. She was definitely not going to be the one to tell Cooper that his idea was actually smart.

The fight was certainly something. Cooper was every bit the terrifying bounty hunter his reputation had painted him as. From her perspective it had almost seemed like he was playing with the man in the robot suit... Completely unfussed by the threat. Jamboree had to give him his credit where it was due. 

The unlikely trio sat around a small fire, shielded from the eyes of the wasteland by the walls of some abandoned structure. It was nice enough, as far as places in this area went and Jamboree leaned against a nearby rock, keeping a safe distance from the ghoul who was staring absentmindedly into the flames. 

Jamboree, against her better judgement, spoke up. 

"I'm guessing finding my dad's on the back burner?" She questioned, fingers bending a small stick back and forth.

Coopers eyes shot to her, some knowing look crossing his face before it was gone.

"'fraid so, sweetheart." He spit something into the dust and Jamboree scrunched her nose a little instinctively. Gross. "Doctor man's much better payin' than your dear ol' daddy."

She nodded, hands still busy with the stick. "Figured as much." Jamboree grumbled, shifting her hat over her face as she leaned back. 

Coopers hairless brows rose slightly, the ghost of his usual smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, don't tell me you're mad about it." He observed her as she got comfortable, watching the way her hat slung low over her face.

She looked like some kind of goddamn outlaw from his old movies. It was almost funny. But he couldn't really judge, he was dressed exactly the same. Some odd parody of the days before the bombs, before the wasteland. 

Jamboree mumbled something under her breath, her arms crossing over her chest as she closed her eyes. "You know damn well-"

Coopers voice cut her off and she stilled. "You don't know where the fuck he is do ya?" 

Stilling, she peered at him from under her hat. He knew. He knew she was completely useless when it came to finding her father... which meant there was no reason for him not to kill me. Jamboree stiffened at the thought but the answer fell from her lips nonetheless. 

"No. I don't."

Cooper was silent. And not a good silent, like he was enjoying the still night or he just didn't feel like talking. It was the kind of silent that made Jamboree's skin crawl. She was of no use to him, if anything she was a hindrance, and the thought made her heart rate pick up. 

Jamboree stayed perfectly still, like one small move would make the ghoul kill her. She knew he could, knew he would. 

"Well... that's a damn shame." 

Cooper had the suspicion she had no idea where her daddy was the moment she'd agreed to help hunt him down. No one would be willing to do that if they weren't getting something from it, and he sure as hell wasn't payin' her. But he could use her as bait if it really came down to it, at least that's why he told himself he was keeping her around. 

His words made her tense, her back nearly impossibly straight as she stared at him, unsure of his next move. Something in her mind was telling her to run, run as fast as she could to get away from him, go back to her ranch... it would buy her time, he'd be too focused on this new bounty to go after her, it would be too much of a detour...