"Are you fucking following me? Cause if you're looking to cash in on that bounty I'll put a bullet right between your-"
"Hey now, I was already headin' out this way. I'm not some creep who goes followin' women 'round." I looked at him in disbelief. He raised his hands up in defense. "Honest, promise." I had no choice but to believe him if I wanted to get my horse back.
He extended his hand and I reluctantly obliged and mounted his horse, sitting closely behind him. We rode off in the direction Lady had run towards and began looking.
"So what's this about a bounty?" He asked curiously. "You a wanted woman, eh? You hardly look the type." He shifted in the saddle turning to look at me slightly.
"At the risk of sounding rude, sir, you don't know a damn thing about me," I replied, still keeping an eye out for Lady.
He chuckled before replying, "You got quite the mouth on you. Hardly any way to thank a man for helpin' you find your stolen horse." He continued to laugh.
My stomach sank and I began to reach for my pistol. He'd seen the wanted posters. Had he lied about following me? Was he turning me in?
"Calm down, I'm only foolin'," he said reaching back and grabbing my pistol before I had the chance to. "I ain't one for turnin' folks in. But I'm also not lookin' to get shot, 'specially by a horse thief." He spun my pistol on his finger and opened the chamber, letting the bullets spill out into his hand before pocketing them in his jacket. "You can have those back after we find your horse, or whoever's horse it may be." He handed me back my now empty gun.
"And whose to say I won't just shoot you and steal your horse, too?" I asked as I reholstered my pistol.
"Well, if you'd really planned on it I don't think you woulda told me 'bout it. Or maybe you really are just bad at bein' a criminal and that's the reason you're wanted in the first place." He chuckled again. "But I got a feelin' you're neither a killer nor a horse thief. You're too...clean."
"And you smell like horse shit, so I'm guessing you're full of it, too," I scoffed.
"Is that the real reason you're wanted? That mouth of yours?" He laughed and steered his horse across a river towards Lady. She stood on the other side taking a drink of water.
"Probably. And I didn't steal her. You can't steal your own horse." I replied hopping down and slowly walked up to Lady so I didn't frighten her again.
"What's her name?" He asked hopping down off his own horse. He took out a carrot from his saddle bag and waved it at Lady.
"Lady," I sighed patting her back. He fed her the carrot and rubbed his hand along her mane. "Thank you..by the way, for...your help."
"What can I say? I'm an honorable man," He said taking off his bowler hat and holding it to his chest. "Even if I am full of horse shit." He laughed and placed his hat back on his head.
It was silent for a while before he spoke again. "Can I ask you somethin'?"
"Depends on what it is I suppose," I replied looking over at him.
"Where you goin'? I mean, clearly you're all by yourself, you're on the run, you ain't got much witcha. What's your plan?" He sounded slightly concerned which was nicer than judgemental for a change.
"Uhm..well, I planned on heading to Rhodes today but that sort of changed when I saw the posters. So I suppose..." I sighed trying to figure out what I was going to do next. "Well, I suppose I don't know. I'll probably camp around here tonight."
"You ain't afraid of bein' robbed?" He asked.
"Robbed of what? My stolen horse or tiny bag?"
He laughed and shook his head. "It don't feel right leavin' you here to fend for yourself."
"Well, I've made it this far on my own and I'm sure you've got family waiting for you," I said pulling a few leaves out of Lady's hair. "Besides, you don't want to become wanted by association." I held out my hand, waiting for him to hand me back my bullets.
"Who says I'm not already a wanted man?" He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a daisy, placing it in my hand along with the bullets he'd taken from me earlier.
I tried so hard not to smile. But after all the bad interactions I'd had on this trip so far, it was hard not to. It felt really good to have someone genuinely worry for me rather than believe they knew what was best for me.
"Quite the charmer, aren't you?" I asked, placing the daisy behind my ear and the bullets back in my gun.
"So I've been told," He chuckled.
It was quiet again for a moment. It was as if we were both looking for reasons to stay here, right in this moment as long as possible.
"I'm Sean, by the way. Sean Macguire." He held his hand out to me and I shook it.
"Adeline Miller. But I'm sure you know that already from the posters. Most people just call me Addy though." His hands were rough and dirty but I didn't mind because they were also warm and fit perfectly around mine.
"Well, Adeline Miller, it was nice meeting you. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Keep me company. Protect me from whatever danger is out here. Just don't leave me all alone.
"No, I suppose you've done enough." I mounted my horse and grabbed ahold of the reins. "I'll see you around, Mr. Macguire." I clicked my tongue and Lady moved forward following the river. I could feel his eyes on me as I left. I didn't dare turn around or he would see the shit eating grin I had plastered across my face. I really hoped I would run into him again.
