Summer of 1898
The morning air was thick with fog and smelled as though it would start raining at any moment. Highly unusual for July in Strawberry. The wind began to pick up causing the shutters on the window to bang against the wood paneling of the hotel. I quickly closed them and continued packing my things.
I was nervous about heading East into The Heartlands. I'd often heard stories of gunslingers, robbers, and gangs of cold blooded murderers from local gossips in every saloon and general store from here to Blackwater. They'd warn that a young woman like myself may encounter such trouble travelling all alone across the country. But I was determined to make it to New York even if it killed me. There was nothing left for me back in Blackwater. Nothing worth mentioning anyway.
I grabbed my bag and headed down the stairs waving to the clerk as I headed out the door. "Safe travels, miss!" He called.
I stowed my bag on the back of my horse and unhitched her before mounting up. I began to think of how that small bag was full of every single thing that mattered to me in this world. I didn't know whether that was depressing or modest so I decided to not to think about it anymore.
I grabbed the reins and steered my horse, Lady, towards the path and slowly made my way out of town. I kept my eyes forward in order to avoid all the judging glances of the townspeople. There always seemed to be someone judging me, whether it be for the way I spoke or what I wore or how I presented myself. Not that it bothered me but I was certainly tired of hearing and seeing it. The second I passed under the archway welcoming people into Strawberry I clicked my tongue and lightly dug my heel into my horse's side, indicating to her to go faster.
Good riddance, I thought to myself. Strawberry was full of know it alls and busy-bodies. I would not be returning.
Riding down the path in the cool morning air was freeing. The wind had died down and the fog was beginning to lift the farther I got away from that godforsaken town. Faster and faster I rode, passing stage coaches and other lone riders. The pine trees started to clear and I was soon in open prairies full of deer, rabbit, and the occasional wild horse herd.
After a while I decided to give my horse a break and rode her up a small hill so she could graze. I sat against a rock and watched a flock of birds fly overhead.
"You out here all alone?" A voice came from behind me startling me half to death. I immediately placed my hand on my pistol attached to my hip and stood up, turning to face the stranger. His face was dirty and his beard was short and scraggly. He wore a green vest, black hat, black duster and black pants to match. "Oh I didn't mean to scare you or nothin'. I just..I saw you out here..on your own...and I think you shouldn't stick 'round here for too long, I-"
I unholstered my pistol and aimed it at his face, pulling back the hammer so he knew I was serious. "Get. The fuck. Away from me." I tried my best to sound intimidating but when it was coming from a girl who stood no taller than five foot three inches it wasn't exactly scary.
He slowly backed away with his hands up looking more nervous than most people would at the sight of me. "I didn't mean no harm, ma'am. Just..this is O'Driscoll territory you're in and..well, they're mean folk and they don't take kindly to people travelling alone." He continued to back away as he spoke and I continued to point my pistol at him, not blinking, not speaking. "Please, I mean this in the kindest way possible. Move along, I don't wanna see nothin' happen to you." He turned and almost ran back down the hill to his horse and left.
"Let's go, girl," I called over to my horse and quickly mounted before heading in the opposite direction he'd rode off in.
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