"Pa? Why do you leave me at night?" I asked. I was very young then. Eight or so.
'Well John… I have business, yes. Business.' I think he was going out drinking, the old fool.
"Well have fun on your. Business." I headed on to my bedroom, saddened that my father didn't even love me. I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.
"Pa?" I woke up and walked around. No sign of him. But there was someone else here…
'Son?' It wasn't my pa….
"Hello? Who are you?" I knew I wasn't very frightening. But it would have to do.
'I'm the sheriff. Leigh Johnson. And your pa, sad to say, was killed in a bar fight last night.' I looked at the man. He looked decent enough to tell me the truth. I cried. I don't know why still, but I did.
'Son? I'm gonna have to take you to an orphanage, you know. Pack your stuff.' I looked at him more closely. He had to be about twenty, if not older. I packed and we headed out. We went to this town called Blackwater. Where the orphanage was.
'Goodbye, John.' he said. I walked in, unsure of myself. I knew it wouldn't be fun….
It had been nine years. Nine years after my pa left this world for good. I had also met this nice girl. Abigail was her name. Abigail Wolfe. She had taught me a lot. And I thought she was pretty, but didn't tell her. But I had a plan. To escape that night.
"Come on Abi!" I said. I was the only one who called her Abi.
'Are you gonna steal a horse, John?' She knew me so well.
"Yes. No harm done."
'But where are we going?' Where were we going? Maybe find a nice house. But she wouldn't want to hear that…
"I heard of a gang. They ride and steal money from the rich, and give to the poor." I wasn't lying. Dutch's Gang.
'Well, let's go!' And we did.
