The Empress & The Gunslinger

Chapter 5 - Emily Kaldwin, Back to Valentine

Emily sat in her tent watching her new camp members running around. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a tall figure standing beside her tent. Before she knew it Arthur walked in with his hands shoved into his pockets and his head down. After stuttering and muttering away to her he eventually apologized to which she immediately accepted. He offered to take her back to Valentine so she could collect her belongings from the hotel. She needed that photo back of her parents in case anyone was to recognize them.

Emily, side saddled on the back of Arthur's horse and cautiously put her hands around his waist. Arthur glanced over his shoulder and smiled at Emily. She could feel his muscles underneath his clothes and despite living out in the wilderness he smelt amazing to her. As the wind was flowing through her long black hair she took in the glorious views on the ride to valentine. She didn't speak to Arthur and Arthur never spoke to her the full journey there.

Once in Valentine, Arthur stopped by the train station, climbing off his horse he put his hands underneath Emily's arms and lifted her down off the horse. "Do you know where to find the hotel from here?" Arthur asked. Emily smiled and nodded her head "Yeah, It's just up the road from here." "Ok, you go back to the hotel, grab your items and I'll meet you back here." Emily nodded her head and began to walk up the road towards the hotel.

Once at the hotel Emily once again climbed the little wooden steps and pushed open the door of the establishment. Behind the counter was the jolly little fatman who seemed very much on edge when she walked through the door, he also wasn't so jolly.
"Oh! Miss Kaldwin! You're alright!" he exclaimed.
Emily had to pretend she was still in the area when last night's events happened.
"Yes of course I'm alright. Are you? They didn't hurt you did they?" Emily asked in a caring manner.
"No I'm just fine. They did however take every penny that I had which was to keep my wife and children fed!"
Emily felt sadden that the once jolly fatman was no more. He was down, scared and very upset.
"Anyway, how did you escape? I was worried that they had caught you or even worse killed you" he asked her.
"Oh no I heard all of the noise and snuck out of my bedroom window. I hid nearby till things quieted down a little before I made my way back over."
"Where are you staying now?" he asked her.
"I'm staying nearby in a camp. I've just come to collect my things providing those men didn't steal any of them!" She knew fine well they didn't steal anything she had.
The jolly fatman smiled at her. "Well I wish you would stay with us but I hope where you may go next you are well and safe."
Emily smiled at the man and made her way up the staircase. This time round all the rooms were silent and all of the doors were left open. The place was just a mess. It was a completely different place to what it was yesterday when she arrived. She made her way to the end of the corridor and entered into the room that she was staying in. It was just how she left it during the night. She grabbed her bag and gathered all of her items, her clothes, her photo of her parents and her stash of money that she had left which wasn't much. She was glad the gang didn't find her bag of money or else she would be stuck out in the Wild West. She got herself dressed, wearing black pants, her muddy leather boots, and white shirt with a black waist coat with gold detailing on the buttons and then slipped into her long black jacket with gold and purple detailing on it. She then pinned her hair back and wrapped a black cloth around her hand to cover the mark of the outsider.

Once she had all her items gathered up she made her way out of the building saying goodbye to the not so jolly fatman. She walked back down the road she came up and met up with Arthur who was patiently waiting for her by the train station. She noticed him staring at her rather oddly. She handed him her bag and he put it over the back of his horse and helped her back up onto his horse.
"You got everything?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah I got everything I needed" She smiled.
"What would like to do now?" Arthur asked her.
"I don't know, I'm not from around here so I don't know what there is to do and isn't to do."
Arthur looked back at Emily. "What about fishing?"
Emily smirked before letting out a small laugh. "I have never been fishing in my life!"
Arthur laughed at her "I'm not a great fisherman myself but I've managed to catch a few in my time. It's easy I'll show you how it's done."
Emily was intrigued. She has never been fishing before in her life and she didn't really know what to expect. She was never really allowed out of the tower hence why she often snuck out at night and jumped from roof to roof, lurking in the shadows.

Once they got to the river at the spot Arthurhad picked for them he helped Emily down off his horse. He handed her hisfishing rod and led her down to the water. He showed and explained to Emilywhich baits to use to catch certain types of fish. The majority of what he wassaying was going straight over her head. Despite not taking it all in, shestill gave it a good go. Arthur had a good laugh at her which made Emily feel abit stupid this wasn't really her thing. She handed the rod over to Arthur tolet him show her how it's done. She couldn't help but admire him. He was atotally different person to the man she had met last night but she knew deepdown looking at his green eyes that there was blood on his hands, and it certainlywouldn't surprise her if it was innocent.