Chapter 3

Fire crackled as we finished setting up camp for the night. Normally, I’d advise against a campfire. After all, it was nothing but a beacon for trouble. In fact, a campfire, much like this one, had been what had drawn those poor fools of Pickam’s gang to their demise when I’d first begun hunting them for Emma. Before that though, a campfire such as this had been what had drawn Pickam… and the other coldblooded bastards who haunted my past, to Randal and I that fateful night. The night Randal died.

The flames danced before my eyes as my memories drew back to that night. The smell of the burning wood, the taste of soot and dust on my mouth. I let my vision waiver for just a moment, enough to imagine, for a split second, Randal’s form on the ground, sweating and frail as his body fought the rattlesnake’s venom. Then I pushed the image away, returning to the present. I was haunted by nightmares enough when I slept. I’d not let them take hold of me now. After all, I had more important things to focus on.

“I’ll take first watch,” Clint said as he finished double checking the tent he’d had me help set up for Emma. The tent, a dog tent according to Clint, was something he’d used during his time in the Civil War. It came in two parts, and he’d had one half on his horse, and the other on Emma’s. The canvas and poles set up the basic triangle shaped structure, and buttoned together to create the tent that now sat roughly a dozen feet away from the fire. The horses were staked on the other side, and munched happily on some of the oats we’d brought for them.

“I can handle both if you’d prefer old man.” I wasn’t trying to act tough. But with the bitter memories fighting to take hold, I wasn’t much in the mood for sleep. “Should be a boring night as is. Figure what with our handling of Pickam’s gang, there’s likely not to be anyone foolish enough to be robbing people again in the area. Pretty sure we killed all those fools, and it’ll take a while before more fill the area.”

Crime always happened. When there was easy money to be made by ignoring rules and preying on others, well, there were always people willing to take that path in life. Like cockroaches, no matter how many you squashed, more would show up. But, they didn’t breed like rabbits, and they didn’t just magically appear. As it were, I had no doubt we’d be safe tonight. And our travel tomorrow would be boring as well, ensuring we reached our destination, the town known as Bison’s Rest, before the moon reached its peak. From there, we’d have a day to rest, before our caravan headed north, and we began our trip to the next leg of our journey. First was Bison’s rest, then, the town of Lincoln. After that, the Black Hills.

“I’ll not have you wearing yourself ragged again so soon into our trip.” Emma said as she exited her tent. She’d actually argued against the structure even being put up, but Clint had refused to listen to her complaints. Something about a proper lady needing a proper sleeping arrangement. Her frustration with her bodyguard had made me chuckle… which probably hadn’t been wise. I had no doubt Emma would get me back for that at some later point in our trip.

“I can sleep in the saddle tomorrow,” I said with a shrug. “It makes more sense for you an’ Clint to be fully rested for tomorrow’s journey. You know the path, I don’t. Besides,” I pointed at my eyes, “I’m a see’r remember. Makes me better suited for watching over the camp. Can see people coming from a much further distance than Clint will likely be able to make out with the low moonlight.”

Emma’s mouth closed in a scowl at that, her eyes locked on mine. The expression was cute, I had to admit, but I didn’t like how intensely her eyes bore into mine. I could tell she wanted to fight me, but at the moment, she couldn’t think of a logical counter. When it came to facts, what I said was true. Thanks to my ability, I could see the mana of others. Moonlight or not, people’s cores would glow just the same to my eyes. And as it stood, if I pumped enough of my mana into my eyes, I could see people’s cores from a good hundred plus yards away. Further even, if someone was especially strong.

“You said it yourself,” Clint spoke up, taking a seat on the ground across from me, “it’s likely going to be a slow night. Even if there were to be trouble, it’s likely it’ll take a few hours before anyone stupid enough to try and cause problems arrived. Get some sleep before then Mr. Jones. I’ve no intention of letting you take the full night of watch. Even if Miss Watts hadn’t insisted against it, I’d be a fool to let you. A group is only as good as its weakest link. And no matter how strong your mana is, if your mind’s sluggish from sleep depravation, you’re just going to bring us all down.”

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“Why you fighting me on this?” I said, feeling my anger rise. “There’s not going to be any trouble. And tomorrow’s an easy enough journey as is.” I looked from Clint, to Emma. The flickering flames caused shadows to dance across their faces, twisting them, making them almost look like sinister demons in the night. “Is this how it’s going to be? Are you both going to fight me every night, for this whole journey?”

“No one’s trying to fight anyone,” Emma said as she walked towards the fire, adjusting her dress as she sat. “If anything, we’re trying to ensure the trip goes as smoothly as possible for the whole duration. And the first part of that, is setting up expectations, and understanding.”

She looked at me, then at Clint. “And I cannot stand by you taking on unnecessary burdens in some pointless show of stubbornness or pride. You’re a loner, I get that.” Her tone softened, “you’ve spent a long time on your own. You don’t trust easy, and you don’t expect help from others.” She looked at Clint, and her posture straightened, as if she got a boost of strength from him. When she next spoke, her voice was steel. “But as it stands, you’re no longer alone. And you need to trust us, and work with us, else this journey will be nothing but a constant headache and strife. On top of that, you’re going to need your full strength, physical and mental, Mr. Jones, once your lessons began as we make our way to Lincoln. Refining your core isn’t a simple task. I felt like I was going to die, when I accomplished it. And as far as I know, the older you are, the more difficult, and painful, the process becomes. If you’ve any hope of accomplishing this feat, you’re going to want to be at your best,” she offered me a smile, “and not pointlessly drained and sleep deprived because your foolish pride or whatever it is kept you from trusting us to stand watch at night.”

“Trusting me to stand watch,” Clint cut in. “Mr. Jones needs to let me take watch, not you Miss Watts. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Standing watch isn’t a task for you. No matter how much you kick and scream and cause a scene.”

“And who’s going to stop me?” She asked, looking Clint up and down. “After all, last I checked, I was the one in charge. Not you.”

“And as far as I see it,” Clint countered, their argument towards me standing watch all night seemingly forgotten, “my duty towards keeping you safe, as your bodyguard, means ensuring I protect you from all dangers. Including yourself.” He smiled at her, his moustache twitching. “Which is why, you and I both know, I’ll win this argument. As you said yourself, Miss Watts, we need to all work together, and trust each other, for this journey to go smoothly.”

I thought Emma would fight him on that. After all, if I weren’t here, wouldn’t that mean Clint would be standing guard all night? Doing exactly the same thing Emma was saying I wasn’t allowed to do? Instead though, she let out a sigh, and leaned back, her eyes gazing up at the stars. “If there is a god out there,” she said, almost like she were speaking to herself, “I’d like to have a word with him, about the men he continues to put in my life.” She glanced then, from Clint to me. “The current ones, are nothing but a headache.”

“Rather a headache, than a heartache.” Clint said with a chuckle, standing as he continued to laugh. “Now then, how about I cook us up some food, before the two of you get some rest. It’s still a hard day of riding tomorrow, and there’s not much use wasting more time arguing about pointless things.”

As he made his way to his saddlebag, grabbing out a few metal stakes, spices, and the rabbit’s he’d expertly shot earlier in the day for just this reason, I couldn’t help but feel a small, content smile form. Maybe, just maybe, they were right. I’d traveled for so long on my own, that I’d forgotten what it was like, to travel with companions. Maybe, just maybe, it was time for me open up, and begin trusting those around me, to help handle some of the burdens of life.

Or, maybe, I needed to simply pick and choose which battles I’d fight, and this one, at least for now, wasn’t worth it. I’d let Emma have this win, this small victory. But, if she thought everything would go exactly as she said, well, she had another thing coming. Just as Clint had proven, Miss Watts’ word wasn’t law, and once I got more accustomed to the two, I’d find my own way to ensure she wasn’t the only one claiming victories. Sooner or later, I’d finally get one up on Miss Watts. After all, I was no one’s prey, and she’d had me on my back foot since the day I met her. But all of that, well, one day that would all change. After all, I wasn’t some little mouse, I wasn’t some obedient dog. I was a man on mission, cursed with an affinity for all four mana types, and destined to pave my way forward with grit, determination, raw power, and bloodshed. And no one, not Clint, not the Marshal, and sure as hell not Emma, would keep me from doing as I pleased when it came to my goals. I was my own man, and I would bow to no one.