Loyalty Divided

Chapter One

The early July morning brought a cool breeze over the foothills of the mountains, rustling the tall grass and carrying the scent of the forest. Evangeline pushed herself up from her bedroll and stretched, taking in the cool morning. The young girl grabbed her day clothes- a plaid long-sleeve shirt and black pants- and changed out of her night clothes. She built a small fire, brewed some coffee, and sat by her horse in the sun. "Where are we heading today, Storm?" she asked the animal. The big black mare snorted in response. Evangeline chuckled and patted the animal's snout and got up, clearing the rest of her make-shift camp. "We need to find a town," she said, thinking out loud. "I'd like to sleep in a bed for once." Evangeline loaded her supplies onto the horse and set out on her way.

Evangeline Thornton was a wandering woman, never staying in one place for too long, lest her "activities" catch up with her. Evangeline was a swindler, a pickpocket, and a con woman. She would bump into someone and slickly reach her hand into their pockets. It wasn't always like this, however. She grew up with a loving family, a mother, a father, and a baby brother. When she was 14 her family was killed and she was taken. She escaped a year later, however, planning each move carefully and covering her tracks. This group of people were ruthless killers, doing it for fun. And so, for five years, she wandered and drifted from town to town by herself with her horse, doing what she could to survive.
Evangeline shifted her hat on her head, looking up at a sign in the road. A town wasn't too far away now. She would stop there and rent a room for a day or so, and head back on the trail. "Just a little further, Storm," she said. "We'll get a proper rest soon."

~
Later into the day, the young girl rode into the small farming town. Spotting a stable, she pulled her horse in its direction. "What can we do for you, miss?" The stable hand asked as he walked up to her.

The brunette jumped down, grabbing the reins. "I need a stall for a few days." She opened her satchel and pulled out some money. "How much?"

The stable hand looked up, doing quick figuring in his head. "One dollar ma'am." Evangeline nodded and gave him the dollar, handing him the reins and patting her horse on the rump.

She grabbed her necessities from the mare and left the stable. Out in town she looked around at the few buildings. A typical small town, a sheriff's office, a hotel, and a saloon caught her eye. Evangeline made her way to the saloon. She walked in and made her way to the bar. "Whiskey please," she said coolly and placed money on the bar. She surveyed the scene around her. The saloon was a cacophony of sounds: clinking glasses, boisterous laughter, and the faint strains of a piano mingling with the smell of stale beer and sweat. She took a sip of the thick drink and lost herself in thoughts. She found that journaling helped her rid herself of these thoughts. Finishing her drink, she pulled out her journal and ordered another whiskey.

Evangeline let her words fill the page, thoughts of her ride into town, about the people in the saloon, and anything else that came to mind. Her journal absorbed her thoughts, each word a step away from her haunted past. She barely noticed the group of men that had gathered near her until one bumped her, jarring her from her reverie. She shot him a glare. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I ain't mean to do that."

"Dammit Arthur, where's your manners?" an older man in the group said. He was dressed in elegant clothes, red and black with gold chains.

Evangeline closed her journal and sipped her drink. "Arthur, was it?" She looked him up and down thinking he may be an easy target to pickpocket. He didn't look too smart.

The man nodded and tipped his hat to her. "That's right. Nice to meet you, miss..."

Evangeline smiled at him and stood, planning her move. "Evangeline," she said sweetly. Her fingers slipped into his pocket with practiced ease, but Arthur's reflexes were quicker than she anticipated.