Fates.Gamble
Care to take a gamble?
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2012
- Location
- Somewhere out there...
Killian held no pity for the vermin squirming at his feet. In fact, he savored the moment as Walleye howled, writhing while the knife sank deeper. His eyes narrowed as the truth came spilling out; an unfortunate truth, as far as Mack was concerned, but one he did not doubt. A crusty little weasel like the one before him would sell out his own mother if it made the pain stop. Unfortunately for Walleye, however, Killian did not remove his foot, not even at the mention of another Anderson boy coming to scoop this one up. The bounty hunter’s eyes were like burning coals while he stared down at his catch, wondering if that was really all he knew, or if there might be a way to loosen his tongue a just a bit more.
“When?” He demanded, more on the tip of his tongue before being surprised by Ana. Her approach caught Killian by surprise, the hand at his back causing his foot to lift as he hastened around to face her. His fingers were hovering just above the grip of his revolver by the time he realized it was her. He leased a breath, the tension leaving his body, though not entirely. There was little softness in his eyes, the act dropped now that she’d disrupted his interrogation. Ana made up for it, however, by proving to be a wellspring of info herself. If she could really lead him to all of them… But then, it was a lot to take on faith.And even if it were true, he’d have to travel half way across the state, if not the country. Who was to say they wouldn’t move on before then?
Before he could articulate any of these thoughts, Walleye made his presence known, confirming Ana’s story and pleading for relief. Ana gave it a bit sooner than Killian might have liked, knocking the outlaw out cold with a rather impressive kick. At least it shut him up, though many more blows like that to his head and Killian may as well have buried that knife into his black heart rather than his shootin’ hand. He remained silent as he watched her pluck the knife from Walleye’s hand, eyes dropping to the hilt as she passed it back to him, He frowned, partly out of disapproval, partly because he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle this woman anymore.
“For a captive woman, those’re some mighty big liberties you’re takin’” he pointed out, but left it at that upon accepting the knife from her, which he wiped clean on a pant leg before folding the blade and returning it to its rightful pocket. His face soured further, however, once Ana made terms for this little hunting trip of theirs.
“Another bargain?” Killian grumbled, half wondering if it wouldn’t be better cut her loose now that he had a bigger fish on the line. The girl was a little wilder than he liked. Riding on his own, at least, he would always know what to expect. But no man was without his flaws, particularly avarice in Killian’s case. Money meant comfort, and with enough of it, perhaps even a life where a man wasn’t forced to duck bullets every other day. Rounding up the Anderson gang would be a damn good start down that road. Ana herself might have glimpsed some of that avarice, if her final comment was anything to go by. Killian cracked her a slight grin.
“Won’t say I hadn’t considered it,” he admitted. “But a man who don’t keep his word… ‘Suppose that wouldn’t make me much better than this one here.” He gestured to Walleye in his comatose state before folding arms over broad chest, and giving Ana his attention instead. He considered her for a long moment, a calculating look in his eyes as he considered this deal. “Might be I could help you with the law… But returning to the camp? Now that’s a damn fool idea if I ever heard one…” And for what? To appease her sense of guilt? He shook his head with a heavy sigh, scarcely able to believe himself for considering it.
“How far is this camp, exactly?” he asked, entertaining the idea for now. Loss was loss, after all. He’d mourned plenty of his own, so he could hardly blame Ana for her own grief. But that didn’t change his priorities. “And what of this Hal, fella?” Killian added, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Our buddy here says he’s on his way, but you didn’t give him much chance to say when.” But whatever her answer, Killian had to make a decision in the here and now. “Regardless, we’re not ridin’ off anywhere in the dark. We’ll camp here for the night, the rest can wait ‘til mornin’.”
First and foremost, however, he had to keep ole’ Walleye from bleeding to death there in the dirt. Therefore, Killian fetched some supplies from his saddle and begrudgingly planted himself beside the outlaw to bandage his hand. A curious glance was passed to Ana once she began to settle in, though he looked away soon enough, eyes turning back to his work.
“I’m sorry, by the way…” He said, still keeping his eyes averted. “I know we don’t exactly see eye to eye but… What Mack and his boys did… Well, no one should be subjected to it. I understand why you wanna lay those girls to rest, even if I think it’s a fool’s choice.”
“When?” He demanded, more on the tip of his tongue before being surprised by Ana. Her approach caught Killian by surprise, the hand at his back causing his foot to lift as he hastened around to face her. His fingers were hovering just above the grip of his revolver by the time he realized it was her. He leased a breath, the tension leaving his body, though not entirely. There was little softness in his eyes, the act dropped now that she’d disrupted his interrogation. Ana made up for it, however, by proving to be a wellspring of info herself. If she could really lead him to all of them… But then, it was a lot to take on faith.And even if it were true, he’d have to travel half way across the state, if not the country. Who was to say they wouldn’t move on before then?
Before he could articulate any of these thoughts, Walleye made his presence known, confirming Ana’s story and pleading for relief. Ana gave it a bit sooner than Killian might have liked, knocking the outlaw out cold with a rather impressive kick. At least it shut him up, though many more blows like that to his head and Killian may as well have buried that knife into his black heart rather than his shootin’ hand. He remained silent as he watched her pluck the knife from Walleye’s hand, eyes dropping to the hilt as she passed it back to him, He frowned, partly out of disapproval, partly because he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle this woman anymore.
“For a captive woman, those’re some mighty big liberties you’re takin’” he pointed out, but left it at that upon accepting the knife from her, which he wiped clean on a pant leg before folding the blade and returning it to its rightful pocket. His face soured further, however, once Ana made terms for this little hunting trip of theirs.
“Another bargain?” Killian grumbled, half wondering if it wouldn’t be better cut her loose now that he had a bigger fish on the line. The girl was a little wilder than he liked. Riding on his own, at least, he would always know what to expect. But no man was without his flaws, particularly avarice in Killian’s case. Money meant comfort, and with enough of it, perhaps even a life where a man wasn’t forced to duck bullets every other day. Rounding up the Anderson gang would be a damn good start down that road. Ana herself might have glimpsed some of that avarice, if her final comment was anything to go by. Killian cracked her a slight grin.
“Won’t say I hadn’t considered it,” he admitted. “But a man who don’t keep his word… ‘Suppose that wouldn’t make me much better than this one here.” He gestured to Walleye in his comatose state before folding arms over broad chest, and giving Ana his attention instead. He considered her for a long moment, a calculating look in his eyes as he considered this deal. “Might be I could help you with the law… But returning to the camp? Now that’s a damn fool idea if I ever heard one…” And for what? To appease her sense of guilt? He shook his head with a heavy sigh, scarcely able to believe himself for considering it.
“How far is this camp, exactly?” he asked, entertaining the idea for now. Loss was loss, after all. He’d mourned plenty of his own, so he could hardly blame Ana for her own grief. But that didn’t change his priorities. “And what of this Hal, fella?” Killian added, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Our buddy here says he’s on his way, but you didn’t give him much chance to say when.” But whatever her answer, Killian had to make a decision in the here and now. “Regardless, we’re not ridin’ off anywhere in the dark. We’ll camp here for the night, the rest can wait ‘til mornin’.”
First and foremost, however, he had to keep ole’ Walleye from bleeding to death there in the dirt. Therefore, Killian fetched some supplies from his saddle and begrudgingly planted himself beside the outlaw to bandage his hand. A curious glance was passed to Ana once she began to settle in, though he looked away soon enough, eyes turning back to his work.
“I’m sorry, by the way…” He said, still keeping his eyes averted. “I know we don’t exactly see eye to eye but… What Mack and his boys did… Well, no one should be subjected to it. I understand why you wanna lay those girls to rest, even if I think it’s a fool’s choice.”