Fatherhood

On the Trail

The Bounty Hunter has ridden for 6 hours towards Catfish Basin where these supposed cattle rustlers are holed up. As our bounty hunter stops to take rest and care for his horse, a young boy approaches him. "Hey there mister!" "Hey there, ain't you a little young to be out here by yourself?" "I'm a big boy mister! Momma always said I was!" "Well where is your momma boy?" The boy starts looking sad and starts stuttering. "I..I don't know, I know Pa yelled at Momma and kicked her out of the house, and me not so long after that..." "I'm sorry to hear that kid, anywhere you can stay?" "N...No..." The bounty hunter looks at the kid and puts on a slight comforting smile. "Where could your momma have gone?" The boy starts thinking and in a moment of enlightenment shows hope in his eyes. "Aunt Caroline! She lives close by!" "Well then, come on I'll take you there." The bounty hunter puts away his grooming brush and lifts the boy on the saddle of Elirian. "Wow this horse is real big! What's its name mister?" "Elirian, he's a good boy." The bounty hunter mounts up and hesitates for a moment. "So...where does your aunt live boy?" "Petersburg." Says the boy confidently. "You mean that rich city?" "Yes! With all the pretty buildings!" The bounty hunter smiles and starts slowly heading towards Petersburg. "So what's your name boy?" "Ezekiel." Says the boy proudly. "Momma says she named me after her grandpa, what's your name mister?" The bounty hunter looks troubled and stutters a little. "M..my name? Ehhm well you see, I don't really have a name.." The boy looks confused but accepts the answer non the less.

After two hours of riding Ezekiel has fallen asleep and the bounty hunter rides over a metal bridge with the name "Petersburg" on it, as soon as he enters the city the disgust he has for the place is obvious. "Ugh big cities...give me the open prairie any day." Says The bounty hunter to himself, his words were loud enough to wake Ezekiel who immediately recognizes the city. "We're here!" "Indeed we are." Says the bounty hunter in a calm tone. "Now Ezekiel, where does your aunt live here?" Ezekiel looks around himself and notices a big statue. "There! The big man on the horse! She lives in a white house opposite that!" "Well let's get you there quick." Says the bounty hunter excited. Ezekiel shares his excitement immediately and starts giggling.

Not long after they arrive at the statue and dismount Elirian. Ezekiel sees the white house and runs towards it immediately. "Calm down Ezekiel, come let's walk together eh?" Ezekiel takes the bounty hunters hand and they walk towards the house, the bounty hunter knocks on the door and a brown haired woman dressed in quite fancy attire opens. "Yes?" "Uhm I think someone familiar is looking for you madam." The bounty hunter points towards Ezekiel and the woman immediately calls out a name. "Roberta!" The woman smiles and beckons both of them in. "Please come in!" Ezekiel immediately hugs the woman and the woman drops to her knees. "Hi you little bandit!" "Auntie!" Ezekiel says happily. They walk towards a living room where a woman is sitting obviously very sad and distraught. "Roberta! Look!" The woman looks up and a spark of happiness and hope light up her face. "Ezekiel! Oh my little Ezekiel!" The woman runs towards her son and hugs him so tight it seemed as if she'd suffocate him. "Look momma this nice man brought me here on his big horse!" The bounty hunter tips his hat and smiles. "Madam." Roberta cries of happiness and shakes the bounty hunters hand. "Thank you sir! However did you find him?" "Oh he found me, along the road, it seems your husband kicked him out aswell, he's a smart and brave kid." "That he is, please mister sit."

The bounty hunter sits down and takes of his hat revealing his black hair underneath. "I assume Ezekiel told you of what happened?" "He did madam, quite a tale." Roberta nods while Her sister Caroline sets down a cup of tea for the bounty hunter. "Thank you." Says the bounty hunter. Roberta continues telling the bounty hunter what Ezekiel told him along the way. "So mister, do you have a lady?" The bounty hunter looks shocked at the question and puts down his tea. "Ehhm well there is this one girl who I fancy but..." before the bounty hunter can finish Roberta asks him more about this girl. "What's her name? What does she look like?" The bounty hunter calms down with the thought of her. "Her name is Mary-Anne, but I call her Mary, she's in a bad situation, she cared for me while I got wounded on the job...those beautiful green eyes were the first thing I saw, her long red hair and her innocent look..." The bounty hunter smiles after describing her to Roberta. "What ever you do mister, care for her well." The bounty hunter nods and puts his hat back on. "Take care Madam, you too kid." As the bounty hunter walks out of the house Ezekiel runs after him flapping a $10 bill around. "Mister! Momma told me to give you this!" The bounty hunter takes the bill and pets Ezekiel over his head. "Thank you Ezekiel." The bounty hunter mounts up and rides out of Petersburg.