Author's Note: Uploaded this on AO3, made sense for me to upload this here before chapter two is up. Whole story is planned to be 5+ chapters.


Roman should have known he was in for trouble the moment he saw the wanted poster being nailed up in his saloon.

Wanted posters weren't anything new with the shady kinds of characters around town, but it was a rarity for them to put up multiple ones of the same guy. The reward was a hefty amount of money which could've met three things: that the guy was either a thief, a killer, or both. Roman didn't bother himself with reading the name or observing the drawing. Criminally-wanted cowboys were a responsibility for the sheriff or any of the brave souls who wanted to capture them for the reward money. Roman was only concerned with running his establishment for any weary travelers arriving on the outskirts of town.

However, most things do not go as they planned.

Roman should've known something was wrong the moment that Sami came running into his saloon with a worried look on his face while everyone else was having the time of their lives. Sami worked as a produce farmer a few miles from the town, so to see him come to the outskirts of town was unconventional to say the least. He was out of breath when he reached the wooden counter, beads of sweat running down his forehead as he used his hat to cool himself down. Sami tried his best to speak, but the lack of air eluded him.

"Sami, I take it you want some water?" Roman asked.

The other man merely nodded as he watched Roman fetch him a glass, trying to carefully word what he wanted to ask of Roman. It wasn't easy what he was about to ask and could of had the potential to land them all in the sheriff's cell. But it's not like Sami trusted anyone else in the small town they lived in.

Chugging down the water, he was finally able to calm down somewhat. Roman was not convinced, though.

"Everything alright? You don't usually leave your farm during the day."

"I...rode my horse halfway but-" Sami pants. "The old man can't run like he used to...so I ran all the way here instead."

"What could be so serious that you had to run the rest of the way here? I know you're not much of a drinkin' man, so you're not here for that."

Sami's eyes go from side to side, then checks behind him. It was as if he was making sure nobody would be watching him or listening to what he was about to say. He gestures for Roman to come closer before he leans in close to his ear.

"I know you're an honest man, Roman. That's why I came to you," he whispers. "I know you're not the type to go lookin' for trouble. And I don't want to bring any to you either, but I have no one else to turn to. I need your help."

"Help from what?"

Sami points at the wanted poster. "I've been harboring a wanted man at my farm for a few days now but the sheriff is getting suspicious on me. I think the sheriff knows and that's why I need to get my friend away. Look, I know this sounds bad but I needed to keep him safe, I can't let him get locked up! I owe him."

Roman widens his eyes at Sami's confession and is thankful that none of the other customers are listening in. But it doesn't excuse Sami on what he had done or why he was here.

"Sami, do you realize that the sheriff will have you hanged just for hiding a wanted criminal? What were you thinking?"

"I told you, I owed him! But that's why I needed to come to you. I can't keep him on the farm anymore because the sheriff is going to catch on. I was hoping I could ask you to hide him away somewhere, just long enough until the rest of his crew will come to town to fetch him. Then he'll be on his way."

"You're asking me to hide a crook!"

"I swear, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you do this. I'll give you free produce every day of your damn life if you want me to, I just need to help a friend. I wouldn't trust him with anyone but you."

With a frown, Roman leans up to gaze around the saloon for any characters that looked like the man on the poster, to no such luck. He had known Sami for a long time and he never took him for the kind of man who made friends with troubled cowboys. Roman wondered what a friendly town farmer owed to an outlaw for this big of a favor. But what Sami was asking of him was maddening and way too much. He wasn't going to be jailed or even hanged for somebody he didn't know.

"And where's this cowboy of yours now?"

Sami's face pales which was impressive due to the heat and him still sweating. A few beats of silence between them before he sighs, "He's already hiding inside here."

"He's what?"

"I told him to sneak in out back. He's probably hiding in one of your storage rooms now."

"Like hell he will!"

Roman was about to rush in the back to see for himself until he hears the sounds of hooves and horses neighing outside the front doors of the saloon. By the noise of commotion, Roman had a feeling just who it was. The sheriff.

He busts through the entrance and his large presence is known fast, the whole establishment becoming silent in the blink of an eye. Music stops playing and the men stop drinking as the sheriff scans over each of their faces carefully and one by one. Tipping his hat to them, he makes his way to the front counter, golden badge shining a bright reflection. Roman can see Sami begin to grow increasingly worried. Nevertheless, they both try their best to keep calm, pretending not to know that there was in fact a wanted outlaw hiding in the back.

"Evening, Reigns. Zayn."

"Sheriff Goldberg," Roman greets. "What do we owe the pleasure?"

He grins. "Gentlemen, as you might have noticed, there's an outlaw among the willows. In this very town, no less."

"Yes, Sheriff. The wanted posters have doubled in my saloon, I've seen."

"No trouble by it, Reigns. 'Agile Ambrose' they call him. That thief has been sneaking past me too long! Robbed a bank the next town over, y'know? Those poor businessmen lost nearly all their savings."

"Tragic," Roman says with little sympathy. "Would you like a drink, Sheriff?"

"I'll pass on the ale today. I've been going around asking folks if they've seen any sight of that thieving bastard. You wouldn't happen to see him around would you, Reigns?"

Sheriff Goldberg points at the wanted poster on the wall. Roman gives a quick glance to Sami and the other man's eyes are practically begging him to not tell the sheriff. Roman didn't want to cover up for a wanted man, but he wasn't going to let Sami be arrested or killed for doing so either. Sheriff Goldberg still waited for an answer.

"Sorry, Sheriff. Haven't seen anybody of that face."

There's a pause before the sheriff smiles. "That's why I like you, Reigns. You've always been the most honest man on this side of the river. Now, Zayn…"

His hand clamps on Sami's shoulder and it almost makes the farmer gulp. "Yes, Sheriff?"

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find that thieving rat, would you?"

He makes sure to lean in close to Sami's face, forcing him to look Goldberg straight in the eyes. It was a tactic that he used many times on different men as a form of intimidation.

"No, sir. I wouldn't know anything about that."

The sheriff frowns at Sami, but lets him go regardless. "No? Well, ain't that a shame. I suppose I need to look for help elsewhere." He flips a coin on the counter before tipping his hat to them. "Good day, gentlemen. Come to my office if you see anything."

Roman and the rest of the customers watch Sheriff Goldberg carefully walk his way out. Once the sound of horse hooves fade away, Sami lets out a loud exhale of relief. He's about to thank Roman for saving his skin, but Roman is already making his way to the back and Sami panics. He jumps over the counter to run after him, but Roman pushes him back as he checks one of the storage doors. Just as Roman was told, the wanted man was there, drinking one of his whiskey bottles in one hand and a pistol pointed at him in the other.

Definitely fit the description and drawing of his wanted poster. The messy hair, blue eyes, everything. Roman had half a mind to kick him out of the building and into the crowd of customers so they could grab a hefty reward. Sami jumps in the middle of them.

"Dean! It's okay, put it down! This is the man I told you about," Sami says to the other man.

There's a slight hesitation, but the gun is lowered and Dean shrugs it off to take a drink. The gesture makes Roman snatch it out of his hands.

"You're paying for this drink!"

Dean ignores him to look at Sami. "You sure this is a good idea? Did he say yes?"

"I haven't really...been given an answer. I was nearly ditched when the sheriff came in just now. He's looking for you." He turns around. "Thanks for not ratting me out, Roman."

Roman shares a gaze with Dean and brown and blue meet before Roman sighs heavily.

"Let's get one thing straight, 'Agile Ambrose.' I'm going to help you, but it's only because Sami is a friend of mine and I won't let him be arrested because of you."

"The name is Dean, partner."

"I don't give a damn what your name is. I only want you to know why I'm doing this."

Sami smiled wide. "Oh, thank you, Roman! I'm going to do everything I can to show you my appreciation!" The smile never leaving his face, he gives Dean a hug. "I have to get back to the farm before the sheriff gets suspicious again. Stay with Roman and play nice until your group comes to town. I'll show up every other sunrise to see you."

"Make sure Goldberg doesn't toss you in a cell."

A nod is shared and Sami runs out, leaving Roman and Dean by themselves to get properly acquainted. There's not much that is said for a while. Dean stretches out his body, eyes staring up and down his new caretaker.

"Surprised you didn't take the chance to collect that reward money. Most of 'em would."

"There's a good reason not to."

"Oh?"

"If I collected that reward, that just makes me a target for people who want that money just as bad."

"Trust me. You already have a target on your back for what your doing."

"Then I hope your gang of misfit outlaws come to fetch you soon. That is, if they're real."

"Oh, they're real. But they're all the way on the other side of the valley. It'll be days, maybe weeks before they arrive. So you're stuck with me for some time, darlin'."

"You better hope I don't get locked up for helping you or Sheriff Goldberg will be the least of your troubles, partner."

Dean smirks. "Oh, I like you already."

"Hmph. Stay back here until sunset then I'll take you to where you'll be sleeping. But don't drink anymore of my ale, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear."

Roman's days of being an honest man were over now that Dean was a part of it.


"You better have a good reason for coming here, Sheriff. I don't go bounty hunting for a small target...or a small price."

"I have all the loot you want for a target as big as Ambrose. My men and I have a gut feeling that he's hiding out at Sami Zayn's farm. That feller has been acting too funny lately."

The two men have a stare down from their respected spots, the bounty hunter lighting up a cigarette as he considered the offer.

"Ambrose? That thieving cockroach that's been on the loose for months? You must be desperate at this point, old man…"

"My offer is already on the table, Joe. You going to take the bounty or what? There's plenty of other men out there who will take the job."

Joe lets out a sarcastic chuckle. "None as good as me, Sheriff. I'll do the job."

Finally getting a confirmation, the sheriff tosses the bag of money towards him. With final words exchanged, the bounty hunter promises to be on the chase the first thing in the morning, starting with Sami Zayn.

"Won't be long before that rat is in my trap."