Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 26: West or South

"You were just set up right alongside the road here?" Peggy questioned as she examined the surrounding area. "And I wonder why you got caught," Peggy added sarcastically, barely loud enough for me to hear. I rolled my eyes hopping down from Junior before examining the ground with her. "It wasn't permanent, besides you sold moonshine in a barn," I said noticing hoof prints in the dirt alongside the trail along with a trail from a wagon. "They aren't fresh, but they are the only wagon tracks out here,"

I added. Peggy stood up properly patting her leg as she thought. "Who's to say there won't be tracks the farther down the trail we get?" I looked at the tracks in thought for a moment before noticing Dakota by Junior. He'd tracked Junior, maybe he could track a wagon. It's a long stretch, but it could work. Peggy must have caught onto my thoughts noticing me looking at Dakota. "You think Dakota can track? He's a puppy, you'll be lucky if he even listens to you." I shook my head, hopping back on Junior.

She was right, it was probably by some dumb luck he'd found Junior. "Then we follow the tracks." Peggy sighed before climbing onto Junior behind me. "Dakota!" Peggy called back to the small puppy who started jumping after us in response.

We'd followed the tracks until almost dark, they'd joined with a few other wagon tracks, some new, some old. I couldn't pick them out from each other anymore with what little light had still stood from the sun leaving us to set up camp for the night. I only had one-bed roll and enough supplies to last us a few nights at this camp on Junior.

I had convinced Peggy to take the bedroll and let me stay watch. It hadn't gone completely to plan because it ended with me promising her she could stay up and watch the following night, but right now I had to stay up and watch for any brave folk. A few hours had passed and Dakota was asleep at my side while Peggy lay in the small tent asleep. I had decided to pull out my Journal and write, clear my head maybe.

Crazy how we were heading west and now we're on a trail south in search of my family. I just feel so, Vulnerable. I mean in a way. I don't know anything anymore, where they all ran off to, how long it'll take me to find them, even if I'll find them. I feel almost guilty in a way for this, and yes, I know I can't control that this shit happened and I know I can't control the fact they think I'm dead, but Elizabeth. I can almost guarantee she thinks she's lost everybody she loves except Jameson. She only lost Jackson not that long ago, now me and Peggy. I just hope I can prove her wrong.

July, 15;1866

I closed my journal, admiring the green leather placed as the cover. I had this journal since I was twelve, it was almost full after all the years of writing. It reminded me that not everything lasts forever, but it also reminded me that some things do. I sighed placing it back in my satchel before just sitting and admiring the low orange colors that illuminated the dying embers of the small fire I had made. The sounds around were, calming. The small, random crackles from the fire every once and a while along with the small snores that came from Dakota. I sat there just enjoying the moment.

Starting To dose off I caught a glimpse of a light from my peripheral vision. I turned my head seeing silhouette a on top of a horse holding a lantern. They stood on the cliff examining my camp from afar. I couldn't make out any face or what color exactly the horse was from the distance, but whoever they were, they knew we were here and they neither appeared to be pleased by it.

Elizabeth*

1 Week later,

"I-uh. I was wondering if you'd, maybe go into......" Elizabeth's voice got really quiet, so quiet Amber couldn't hear her last few words. "What?" Amber raised a brow in confusion. Elizabeth repeated, drifting off at the end again. "I might be a little deaf from all the shootin' I do, but I don't even think Shea heard that and she is right beside you."