Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 18: Only The Best Deserve To Live

The trip to our hometown, Hilberm was more than a day's trip away and we ended up in a small cave seeking shelter from quite the down-poor after a few hours of riding, leaving me with a wet and saddle-sore Elizabeth after not riding for a few weeks because of her leg. "Frickin' rain, couldn't you have come yesterday." Elizabeth crossed her arms sitting down on the ground, jumping with a hiss before removing a stone out from under herself before shifting slightly back into her place. "At least there ain't any lightnin'."

Elizabeth raised a brow hearing some rumbling from the clouds. I gave a half smile shrugging my shoulders, taking a seat beside her. "What about the horses?" Elizabeth questioned looking at me with slight worry painted on her face. I looked out at them, seeking shelter under a few trees while nibbling at what little grass lay about.

"They should be fine, besides, I think I'd rather not share a cave with Junior." Elizabeth leaned over to her left before grabbing an oil lamp, lighting it she placed it in front of us both. "My personal opinion, they're probably warmer than we are." Elizabeth nodded, looking at the small flame dancing around. I sighed lightly, catching Elizabeth's attention, she raised a brow looking at me. "You know how long it's been since we did something like this?" Her voice was light and gentle as she watched the rain begin to get even heavier.

"I reckon a year, maybe two," I said, Elizabeth nodded slightly before closing her eyes to just enjoy the sound of the rain and the small noises from the flame. The sun had finally set leaving nothing but the night's stormy clouds, no stars or moon. After a few more hours of waiting for the rain to stop we decided to retire ourselves for the night, hoping the morning would bring clear skies.

Waking up at the crack of dawn wasn't much of a hassle for either of us, but to finish the ride there was something both I and Elizabeth had a small hatred for. We both enjoy riding very much, but hours on top of hours is another story. After a while of riding, we came across the familiar dirt trail towards the old farm, shortly being greeted by the worn wooden archway, fencing circled the large property. Slowly riding down the dirt trail the home came into view.

The house looked as it did when I was last here, unstained wood with the rings from the trees it came from still visible, uneven shingles coated its roof along with its small porch roof. The barn was the same, exactly the way it was when I left. "This place hasn't changed at all." I looked over to Elizabeth who had a small smile on her face while admiring the home. I gave a half-hearted smile looking towards the porch as we got closer. "They finally proved their point," Elizabeth added with a smirk as we stopped right outside the house by the small hitching post. I hitched Junior to the post before going over to Elizabeth. She was patting Patricia before looking at me with a half-heart smile before walking over to the door. I stopped in front of the door before holding my hand up to knock on the door I looked down beside me, and saw yellow eyes I jumped back slightly placing my hand on my revolver in my holster before looking at the small creature. Elizabeth looked at me with a raised brow out of confusion before turning her gaze to the animal. Her face lit up before she ran over and took the cat in her arms.

"Sparks! I didn't think you'd still be here!" She held the cat, scratching him behind his graying ears and chin. "Amber, look who it is." She held the cat out slightly to me.

I took my hand away from the revolver looking at the shorter-haired, black cat with small little orange marks all over him. His bright yellow eyes had small gray hairs around them along with his muzzle. I nodded, turning my gaze to Elizabeth. "Yeah, long time no see." I cleared my throat turning back to the door. "Shall we, Marston?" Elizabeth raised a brow looking at me and the cat.

"What's wrong with the cat?" I sighed, shifting my feet slightly back to her. "You know me and that cat never quite saw eye to eye. I've never been a person for cats neither." Elizabeth tilted her head slightly before shrugging and turning to the door. She knocked at the door still holding the cat in her arms while she tapped her foot slightly. The cat's round yellow orbs never left me. I raised a brow looking at the cat before I heard the door creak open. As the door opened further a man a couple inches taller than myself with black hair that was the length of his neck, he had a few days old stubble and all too familiar dark green eyes.