Waking up on the bedroll under Arthur's tent, Harriet slowly sat up, to see most of the camp was still asleep. Glancing at her right, she could see Arthur was sleeping too, his back facing her. She decided it was a good time to go hunting. Her leg shouldn't be too much of a trouble if she was careful and didn't put too much weight on it.

After a silent breakfast in Sadie's company, Harriet got up and went back to Arthur's tent, strapping her bow to her back and taking her arrows in her hand, realising she had to make a quiver as soon as she could. Decided to earn her keep, she left the camp before the sunrise.

Crossing the road and the tracks, it didn't take her much time to find a track to follow. A few does were there only hours ago, and she thanked the rain that dampened the ground last night, making it easier for her to follow the animals. There wasn't only does and deers, judging by the footprints she found. Horses. A herd of horses was there as well. Following the tracks for at least an hour, she positioned herself behind bushes when she finally spotted a few does. She decided not to shoot yet, she had to rest her leg for a moment. Sitting down and slowly putting her arrows on the ground, she took a deep breath and focused on the discreet sounds the does were making. Some of them must have been fighting judging by the ruffle Harriet heard behind her while the others were peacefully eating the wet grass at their feet.

It was time. Slowly turning around, she didn't pay much attention to anything else but those animals. And maybe she should have. Feeling someone's hand on her shoulder, she tried to contain herself to not scare her game.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered when she realized who had joined her.

Arthur crouched beside her, that constant frown still on his face.

"People back in camp seem to believe that you're my responsibility, since I brought you there." He whispered back. "So you can't just disappear like that."

Shaking her head, she tried to push back the annoyed look that threatened to appear on her face. She didn't need a chaperon. She never did, so why now?

"How did you even find me?" she decided to ask instead of provoking him.

"A doe is not the only thing easy to track after this rain." He said as a matter-of-factly.

Taking a deep breath again, she notched an arrow and slowly put one knee to the ground and bended her bow. Locking her eyes on the doe's neck, she held her breath and felt all her muscle tense when the feathers grazed her ear. Still holding her arrow, she waited for the right moment, the perfect one. About to shoot, she felt Arthur put his hand on her bow arm, forcing her to lower it. For heaven's sake! First, he tracks her down here and then make her miss a perfect shot?

"What the hell?" she asked, forcing herself to whisper.

He didn't even bother to answer and just pointed at something beside her. Turning her head, she saw a young fawn, clumsily walking towards its mother, the doe she was about to kill. Letting a deep sigh escape her lips, she threw her arrow with the others on the ground, making the herd jump their way away from the hunters.

"I could definitely use a horse." She said, not wanting to think about the fact that she was about to slaughter a doe, leaving a fawn motherless and that it took an outlaw to stop her.

"We'll get you one, but after that, I have other matters to attend to." Arthur said as he got up.

Whistling softly, Arthur grabbed the reins of his mare when she appeared in front of them. Harriet waited that Arthur was in place before taking his hand and settling behind him.

"Walk slowly, I saw signs of a herd about an hour ago. Maybe I can pick up the trail." She said in a too commanding tone.

Even if he didn't say anything about her attitude, she felt the need to add something.

"Please." She said softly. Yes, being alone all these years had been really bad for her social skills.

He didn't comment and Harriet finally found the tracks again. There must have been six or seven horses, pretty tall or heavy judging by how deep the prints were. Good, she didn't like small and thin horses, she never really knew why, maybe to compensate her petite figure.

They followed the tracks through the heartlands when finally, their researches paid. Seven horses, peacefully grazing were brushing off the flies with swift movements of their tails.

Slowly getting off of the grey mare, she had to take a deep breath before walking towards the herd. They were all true beauties, all proud and peaceful at the time, the soft breeze making their mane flutter around and their muscle tensed at every move.

"Do you need a lasso?" Arthur asked softly not to scare the horses.

"It should be fine." Harriet whispered back.

Taking one step at a time, she lowered herself even if she wouldn't be too impressive in front of these horses with her small height. She had to warn them of her presence, not surprise them and risk them to gallop away. Clicking her tongue, she was glad to see that every one of them heard her and turned towards her. But only one took a few steps toward her. A tall, dapple bay horse planted his feet on the ground, ears pinning against his neck and judging by this attitude, it was a stallion.

"Easy." She softly said. "Easy, I won't hurt you."

She avoided his gaze and she didn't expect the horse to take advantage of it. With her horses, it calmed them down, showed them she respected them and they weren't in any danger. But this one… This horse was special. Rearing right in front of her, he neighed loudly making the other horses get away from them. She stood up as well, extending her hand toward him until she could reach his mane.

"Good, easy." She whispered.

This stallion was just protecting the others. He stayed there to make sure she wouldn't approach them. So it was her turn to take advantage of his behaviour. When he let his feet touch the ground again, she grabbed a strand of his mane. From now, she had to be quick. Propelling herself from the ground, she had to find her balance as fast as possible, feeling the horse kick and shake his head underneath her. Squeezing her legs against the flanks, she held onto his mane as hard as she could as her heart felt like it was pumping in her temples. Her whole body was shaking from the emotion and her injured leg was not helping. It made an imbalance that she could not correct. She tried to stay steady but her wound just kept her from squeezing the horse's flank as much as she would have wanted to. She'd have to find another way. Instead of keeping her body tensed, she let all her weight on her horse, making them as one, moving her hips to direct him where she wanted him to go. Eventually, he stopped rearing and kicking, and just trotted proudly, probably to show her he wasn't done.

But it was enough for Harriet as she led him towards Arthur, who probably watched the whole thing from his peaceful horse's back. She bounced her body back to stop her stallion as he tried to sniff the grey mare.

"What do you think?" she asked, trying to hide the pride in her voice.

"He's a fine animal." Arthur said as he shrugged his shoulders. "But he looks like he'll give you a hard time."

"He already has. But I like him." She said as she pated his neck.

Arthur put his mare in a slow trot, making the stallion follow immediately.

"How about a race?" Harriet offered, a bit too kin to test her horse.

Morgan huffed beside her and shook his head.

"Aren't you tired?" he asked but she could notice his legs squeezing his mare's flanks, ready to go.

"What? Afraid you'd lose?" She teased.

Sighing again Arthur shook his head and adjusted his reins.

"To camp, on three." He announced.

She was ready, grabbing the stallion's mane and finding a comfortable position, she waited for the signal.

"1…2…3!"

And they were at it. Galloping through the Heartlands in a thunder of hooves. Her stallion was taller but Arthur's mare was swifter, she had noted when she rode her.

Riding side by side, Harriet knew she had a chance. But she wouldn't lie to herself either. They both had a chance to win this. She tried to urge her stallion, squeezing her legs a bit more, but it was clear that this horse wasn't done with her. Shaking his head and kicking in the air, he made it hard for her to stay focus. Putting as much weight on her horse as she could again, she managed to stay in place and moved her hips in an exaggerated way to encourage him to go faster.

They weren't far from camp and Arthur was now in front of her as they entered the woods. When she saw the tents and the other horses, she slowed her horse down before bumping into anyone, and let herself fall against his neck in defeat.

"Hey, you're the one who wanted that race!" Arthur said in a smile.

Harriet shook her head and was about to make up some excuse when a scarred face appeared before them. She had met John before, but never really talked to him.

"Having fun?" He asked as he seemed to come back from his watch. "Weren't you supposed to meet Javier and get Sean?"

The way it came out of his mouth, John seemed to talk about a rescue mission.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

Arthur shook his head and unstrapped her bow from his saddle.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you can barely handle a gun."

"But I'm discreet and good with a bow. I'll have time to learn how to shoot a gun later." Harriet urged.

She needed to help. These people saved her life and accepted her among their group without any questions. She couldn't just stay back in camp and have fun with the horses.

When she saw John shrug in the corner of her eyes, a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Fine, you're coming." Arthur finally said in sigh.

Hello everyone!

I wanted to apologize for the lack of action in this chapter, Harriet needed a horse and I couldn't just make one appear ^^

Also as an equestrian myself, I don't know if everything I wrote will make a lot of sense for people who don't ride horses or who don't have the same methods as me. So if something seems stupid or need explanation, I'll be glad to answer any question or review about it!

I don't know how I can thank you all for following, reviewing and put this story in their favourites! So thank you so much!