He had lost everything, nothing left but a horse and his puppy. He didn't know how many hours passed sitting on the remains of the front porch of what had once been his home.
The pain in his chest at the thought of all that his mother had sacrificed to get that small plot of land, barely let him breathe. He still remembered the night they fled from that man who claimed to be his father and the months of hunger that preceded it.
He remembered that little room where he waited for his mother to be done with her visitors. The beatings and illnesses, the sadness in her eyes. But through it all, through all the pain, all his mother had for him was unconditional love.
Remy felt how a lump rose in his throat. Puce rested his head in his lap and let out a plaintive whimper as he ran his hand over his head.
"Do your burns hurt, mon petit pote?" he asked examining the dog's ears. Not moving from the seat, he dug in the pockets of his trench coat for the Atapaka's wound paste. He spread it carefully over the puppy's burns and put it back in his pocket.
Night had fallen completely.
He looked up and saw Anna, who had lied even in her name. She was sitting on the ground, hugging her legs, her head resting on the knees.
Remy rolled a cigarette and stared at her in silence for a long time. He didn't know why she hadn't run away. Perhaps because she was injured and couldn't get very far. He wouldn't have hesitated to shoot her if she fled on his horse. Alive would pay more for her reward, however.
He rose from the spot and without a word tugged at the tether on her wrists.
"Move on! We are going to see the sheriff," he said lifting her off the ground. She neither spoke nor protested, just let go, so he mounted her on the horse and they rode off toward town. The sooner he got all this over with the sooner he could rebuild what little he had left.
When they arrived in town it was pretty late, it had been a quiet ride. Remy tied the horse at the door of the Sheriff's office. The old bastard would be asleep, so he knocked loudly on the door.
"Summers, get your ass out of bed, I'm bringing a special package," he shouted still banging on the door.
From the other side of the door came the sound of banging against the tables and an endless stream of other noises, followed by curses and reminders to all his ancestors going all the way back to the Merovingians.
"Fuck all your French lineage, LeBeau," the sheriff said as soon as he opened the door. "We men of God sleep at night."
"I've captured one of Mystique's goons," he said dragging the woman into the office.
Summers looked her up and down and without much regard pushed her into the cell.
"Let's go outside," he said pointing to the door with his head.
Remy followed him out. Summers walked with his hands in his pockets.
"Are you sure she's one of the gang members?" he asked curiously.
"Yeah, she and the others stole the herd of horses I was going to sell," Remy replied.
"That little thingy?" said his friend laughing.
"That little thingy lifts grain-filled sacks like they were pillows."
"She hit you with a sack?" scoffed the sheriff as he rolled a cigarette.
"Shut up, Alex," Remy growled grumpily. He didn't feel like explaining that he'd been playing the idiot for a month and being taken for a chump. He would have to listen to his taunts until the end of days. "Creed is with them."
"That fucking son of a bitch, he won't get off this time," Alex commented spitting on the ground. "Lucky bastard."
"I hope so," Remy muttered.
"Even so I don't think they'll offer you much for her unless you can prove something better than her ability to lift sacks."
He knew Alex was right, the damn Mystique gang was a mystery. All that was known about them was that they were ruthless and would assault anyone who crossed their path. Every bounty hunter could claim that any unfortunate they caught was a member of the gang. Without proof, the most he would earn would be a measly few nickels.
"What do you suggest, Mon Ami?" Remy asked massaging the bridge of his nose.
"We could ask her harder questions..." he suggested leaning against the door frame as he rubbed his hands together.
"I'm not going to beat her, Alex," he cut off before the sheriff could finish the sentence.
"All right, A deal? Do you think she'll be able to tell us where Mystique and the others are? Nothing but the gallows await her, maybe if we put some fear into her she'll give us something interesting." That was a chance, though he wasn't sure she would cooperate.
"After you," Remy replied pointing to the door.
Rogue was lying in the cell, facing the wall, Alex passed inside, lifted her easily, and dragged her by the wrists to an office chair.
"Well, pretty thing, you're going to tell us where your friends are," Alex said propping one foot up on the chair. "If you talk I might trade the hanging for hard labor."
"Fuck you," she replied giving him an icy stare.
Remy was unable to hide a chuckle at her nerve. Alex smiled as well and patted her back a couple of times. Rogue jerked in her chair howling like a snake.
"You tell us where Mystique and Creed are and you're still alive," he added crossing the arms over his chest. "Just like that."
"I thought I couldn't talk," she replied looking him in the eyes.
"Oh boy. Are you an obedient girl huh?" Remy commented with a hint of mockery in his voice. He smiled cynically and she smiled back in kind. Her green eyes were glowing, like pure fire. "Leave me alone with her," he said again without looking at his friend. Summers protested gruffly but walked out of the office."Listen, woman, you don't have much choice, either take me to your associates or face the noose," he said gripping the back of the chair.
"I'll gladly give you Creed, but I don't plan on betraying my mother," Rogue replied still holding his gaze.
"This is not a negotiation," he added bringing his face closer to hers. She didn't turn away either.
"Listen LeBeau, you can have Creed and you can have me or you can only have me," she said crossing her arms. " You decide."
"Damn you're stubborn as a mule," he grumbled turning away from her.
"You can keep the hidden money, you can pay for another ranch... I don't care, I won't need it in the grave. But my mother lives, I'm not moving from there." Rogue looked away. All her anger seemed to have turned to sadness. She just wanted to save her mother, he couldn't blame her for that.
"I'll come to get you in the morning," he said leading her to the cell. Without even answering she dropped to the floor and turned her back to him as he closed the cell door. Once outdoors, he took a breath of fresh air and let out a frustration-filled growl.
"I need to get drunk," Remy said looking at the sheriff who with his back against the wall was smoking leisurely. The latter smiled and with a nod of approval pointed off into the distance. His friend put a hand on his shoulder and together headed for the saloon.
After several poker games, lots of whiskies, and a good fight he woke up in the arms of a redhead with freckles all over her body. He kissed her shoulder and after getting up and dressing, he moved to the first floor of the bar. There, Alex was sleeping on a couch next to a young blonde. He walked over to them and without his friend noticing took the cell keys from him.
"When the chief wakes up, tell him I've gone ahead with the plan," he said to the bartender who was cleaning glasses behind the bar. " I'll keep him informed."
The morning sun hurt his eyes, though perhaps it was the hangover's fault.
Inside the sheriff's office, he drank water from a flask and realized he was hungry. So looked through Alex's things for something to put in his mouth, but found nothing decent, only dried beef jerky and stale bread.
Rogue was leaning against the cell wall, she raised her head at the sound of him moving, she had dark circles under her eyes and looked tired. Remy approached the cell and offered her water. She eyed him warily, but took the water and drank the entire thing with eagerness. She mumbled what sounded like thanks, but it might as well have been an ass. Remy opened the cell and she limped her way out. If the bullet wound hurt or hadn't healed completely she hadn't mentioned it.
He bought tobacco and supplies for the trip, and Rogue pointed out on a map where their lair was located. As expected, they were headed for Sabine's free state. The paradise of bandits, outlaws, and all kinds of ruthless people. He didn't like it there at all, and for a bounty hunter like him, it wasn't the safest place. He wondered if Rogue had grown up there. Or if she was leading him straight into a trap.
After feeding and watering the horse, he spent his time brushing it. Meanwhile Rogue didn't say a single word. She seemed to have taken his warning to heart. He pointed Rogue to move closer and before he took hold of her waist to pull her onto the horse, she grabbed his wrist.
"Could I have a horse for myself?" she asked.
"Sure, chère that's what I was thinking," he replied trying not to burst out laughing. She let go of his wrist and climbed onto the horse gracefully despite having her hands tied.
He hopped on behind her and they rode until it got dark. Rogue didn't speak much and he appreciated it, it gave him a headache to decipher whether she was lying to him or not.
Remy thought they had better rest and spend the night here. Stopping by a bayou, for freshwater nearby, on their way north they would soon leave the wetlands behind and it would be harder to get water and a sheltered place among the trees.
As he was setting up the campfire to heat up some food and spend the night a couple of folks approached them.
"Hola amigos," said one of them . "Can we share the fire?"
"The nights can be dangerous out here," said the other one.
"Of course, mes amis, sit down," he said pointing to a spot by the fire. The guys looked at each other and without hesitation moved next to them.
"Does your woman bite?" asked the guy who sat next to Rogue after looking her up and down.
"She is not my woman. She's dangerous. I wouldn't go near her," Remy replied with a cheeky grin.
"If I had tied up my wife she wouldn't have left," he joked, giving him a smack on the back. "So what you say, honey, Do you want to be the second Mrs. Gage?"
"If I were your wife I'd throw myself off a cliff," Rogue replied without even looking him in the face.
The men burst out laughing and they took out something to eat. They had dinner and shared road stories, the men offered them distilled whiskey, he drank gladly, but Rogue didn't taste a drop. The guys were loud and had fun telling rude jokes.
They spent the time having fun until it was time to rest.
"Time for toilet," Remy said pulling Rogue to her feet. "Excuse me, gentlemen, ladies have their needs." Rogue gave him a glare that might easily pierce him and shifted away in a bad mood.
He led her off into the trees, away from their company, and taking her hands in his, he cut the ropes. Her wrists looked ugly, bruised, and scratched, almost bleeding.
"I didn't think I had tied them so tightly" he mumbled running his fingers over the wounds.
"Don't touch me" Rogue replied slapping his hand and rubbing her wrists.
"Why didn't you tell me the rope was hurting you?"
"Why should you care?"
Remy snorted, he didn't have the time or desire to deal with her.
"Those two are dangerous, I don't trust their intentions," he said pulling a knife out of his boot and placing it in her hand. " Be alert." Remy ran the ropes over her wrists again making sure not to hurt her again. Rogue let out a surprised sigh and followed him to the campfire.
After splitting the watch, he lay down by the fire, eyes closed. Listening to every sound around him, the rats scurrying around the bayou, the crickets and cicadas, the crackling of the fire, Rogue's breathing.
Until he felt it, opened his eyes and she opened them too. The men were already on top of them. He hit with force the taller one who had pounced on him and managed to wrestle the gun away from him. The man threw a punch at him which he gracefully dodged and knocked him down kicking his legs. He stood over him and struck his head hard, knocking him unconscious.
Out of the corner of the eye, he saw how Rogue made a move with her legs, and the other guy who just seconds before was on top of her was now beneath her.
"What were you saying, Sugah?" she said with the knife pointed at her assailant's throat. "What did you want to do to me?"
"Whore," he mumbled spitting in her face.
"Oh please," she replied rolling her eyes. She grabbed the man's face with both hands and gave him a hard headbutt that knocked him out completely. "Didn't your mother teach you how to treat a lady?"
She stood up and kicked the guy in the ribs and before she could give him a second one he grabbed her arm.
"Easy, wild thing," he said with a chuckle. "You've already won. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, You?" she shook out of her clothes and glared at the guy. "You don't fight badly for a cowboy, Sugah."
"You don't do bad either, chère," he replied approaching the muggers' horses. He examined them closely, as she rifled through the men's pockets. She took everything she found useful from them and returned beside him.
Remy removed the reins and tack from the younger mare and after tapping gently on its hind legs let her go. He held out the other horse's rope to Rogue and she looked at him with a curious look.
"Let's move before they wake up," Remy said moving away from her.
" Are you letting me have the bad horse so I don't run away?" she asked inspecting the animal he had left her.
"Non, because if you run away I'll be able to catch you," Remy replied, jumping on his horse with a quick leap.
He turned to stare at her as she climbed into her mount. Rogue smiled and tossed him a bag full of tobacco and rode in step with him.