𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 ♦ 𝐑𝐃𝐑

🇨​🇭​🇦​🇵​🇹​🇪​🇷​ 12

Selina and I took about a week to explore the area around, just wanting to familiarize ourselves with everything in case we did have to head somewhere to find John, save him, or end this all. It was going to be a hell of a lot easier being familiar with the place. But, we did wanna learn at least a little more, if not improve our skills that had become dull over the last few years from one of the best gunslingers known to man. Landon Ricketts. God, Arthur is gonna have a field day when he finds out his ma and pa got to meet and work with this man.
We enter the small bar where the older man is waiting. "I figured you two would take up on John's offer and end up here for some shooting lessons."
"That so, Ricketts? What made you think that?"
"Well, you two were with him huh? Seemed interested, never got a proper introduction from you both before you were off doing some sightseeing all over the goddamn place."
"Ah well, I'm Asher Sanders and this is my wife Selina Sanders... Formly Hinton."
"Hinton huh? That's a name I haven't heard in a few years, the daughter of Antonio Hinton. Here I would've thought your brother would've been the one down here in search of these outlaws."
Selina looks a bit taken aback by Landon's words. "My brother? How... How do you know about my brother?" Ricketts takes a swig of his whisky before he raises his eyebrows at the girl beside me.
"Your father talks about you both all the time. Ryan Hinton, heard he's been down here trying to help all the rebels. Also heard he's a splendid chef." Another drink of his alcoholic beverage. Selina looks a bit flustered now, probably at the idea that her brother was down here in Mexico... Helping the rebels of all people too. Not that it was a bad thing, but, I would've assumed her brother wasn't in that line of work. "He did--- Go to school for the works of food. Always was one for it... But why is he down here?"
"I really couldn't tell you, Miss. Other than he is down here helping with the rebels and all. Last time I ever did see him was over at Casa Madrugada. Maybe try there when you have the time, as for your father... Well, he ain't been down here in months. Last time I did see him, he was talking about building a house near Hennigan's Stead. Lookin' to see if he could have a nice life."
"We was just out that way not too long ago, Ricketts. Never did once see him."
"Oh, that's not how it works with Antonio. He sees you before you see him. Always. Who knows, you could've passed him in some form." We simply shake our heads, though I did know that it would be crazy if we head passed by the male and he didn't even bother to say nothing.
"Anyway, what's your guys' story? Assuming since you were both down here with John last week, has to do with that Bill and Javier."
"Well... Yeah. We didn't ask for this y'know. Being dragged all over New Austin and now down here. Just been a hell of a ride. Selina and I used to be in a gang, well, she fell pregnant with our first baby then. We got out. Lived an honest life till now. We... Ya know we got three kids, another one on the way right now if you couldn't tell. Just want this all over." Selina allows her hand to trail over the rather tiny bump on her lower abdomen and Landon shakes his head in a disapproving manner. "These government boys really don't know when too much is too much. You look like you're a wonderful mother, Selina. Antonio must be so proud."
"He doesn't know. He doesn't know that I've ever been pregnant before, let alone that I'm married and have four kids."
"Oh... Wow. I see, no wonder he really only talks about the past and the life he used to live. Never about now, just then. Well, he talks about you often, Selina. Says you were his pride and joy when you was little."
"Really? Did he tell you how he left my mother and I when he chose to give into being an outlaw again? Yeah, didn't think so. See, my life has been complicated ever since then. I left a man I was engaged to, which I'm sure my father thinks I married him. He hasn't the slightest clue that I ran off with an outlaw, had a pretty interesting adventure--- All while being pregnant with his first grandchild. Has he bothered to find me since? No." The older male backs down then before he looks over at me. "What about you, Asher? What's all behind you?"
"My mother and father were killed when I was twenty one. I had a best friend... Named Nathan. His father died too tryin' to help my parents when this old gang came through and set our houses on fire, mine, and his up the trail. Goddamn mess. Bad business. Nathan and I were ready to just take the fall, die there too. When... Well... An old friend came through. Picked us up when we needed it the most. Gave us food, water, shelter... Then we robbed a bank. Fled into the cold mountains and then back over them into New Hanover. The law chased from the west, chased us over the mountains.... Finally running us into the ocean, back out onto land and then up North. I've been in every damn direction you can ever imagine. But, I think if I never met Selina... I'd be dead by now. Her and my kids... They changed my damn life. So." I would've continued to say how bad of a person I knew I was, but, I couldn't find it within me to say it with Selina around and all.
"Quite the stories you both seem. But, I trust life will be just as well for you both when this is all equally over for you all."
"I guess in a sense, we can only hope." I shrug before the male stands from his spot. "Well, in other news, let's get you guys trained again in the art of gunslinging."

We spent the better part of the day training with Landon. Selina's skills were once again sharpened, to make her the most charming, yet deadly woman in all of New Austin and beyond. Mine, well, I was back at my quick pace of getting both my pistols out and dual wielding them again. I hadn't really held a gun in about four years or so, did some shooting every now and then but at the same time, I was more dedicated to being a father. Making sure my kids got to school on time, making some time to be with Selina, Nathan would come and watch the kids for the night while Selina and I went to Saint Denis and spent some quality time together. Well, let me tell you, this entire journey was nothing but good 'quality' time.

"Well, I'd have to say for the both of you, improvement has happened. But, you both need to keep working at it. Rome wasn't built in a day."
"Wow... Thanks for workin' with us today, Mr. Ricketts. Means the world to us that you were willing to work with the couple of us so we're not so rusty as we were. Our son is gonna have a field day knowing we met you."
Landon chuckles for a moment before he lights a cigarette offering one to me but I hadn't puffed on one in a couple years. Couldn't start now. "So... Tell me about your little boy. It's crazy to me that my stories have traveled down through these many generations. So much so being a little boy born right before the nineteen hundreds." Nearly being nineteen hundred too, Arthur being born in December and all, we lucked out that he stayed being born in eighteen ninety nine. Lucky timing there. I look over at Selina before she nods her head. Signaling for me to speak up first. "Well, he was everything to us. We wasn't sure what was goin' on at first with, Selina. She was sick, thought maybe she caught somethin'. Went to the doctor and told us she was pregnant. Then guess made it my goal to get us out of that gang. We did it, till it all went to hell again. He saved us, just as the man he's named after did."
"So he's named after a man who helped you and he also helped you both too... Sounds like quite the child and your other two?"
"Got a boy named Andrew and a little girl named Sadie, she's also named after someone who helped us along the way. Andrew is my middle name so that's just a given."
"Seems you guys got a knack for naming kids after people who have helped you. Landon Sanders might not be too bad." The male jokes before Selina shakes her head. "With all due respect, Mr. Ricketts but if we're naming this baby after anyone, it's gonna be his daddy."
I laugh a bit as I raise my brows, looking over my wife with an amused look upon my face. "That so huh? See if that ones a girl and we're doing it like that then—-" I step over to the girl before placing my hand on her abdomen. "C'mon little Selina. I'm sure you're just as beautiful as your momma." With that she smacks my chest with a roll of her eyes.

"Well, Ricketts. It's been a day, but we must be going. Thank you for everything." Few more handshakes are exchanged as we depart from Chuparosa.