A/N: READ ME PLEASE!

If you are reading this and have started this story before 12/11/2017 then there is a note for you on the first chapter I REALLY advise you reading or else you will be lost. I have edited this story and things are different.

Elizabeth woke up feeling soreness in her back from sleeping on the ground. Her bedroll provided very little cushion and now she was feeling the effects of it.

Yet, despite the ache in her back, the few mosquito bites that were irritating not to scratch, and the lack of any home cooked meals readily available, she loved it.

Sitting up, Lizzie stretched her sore muscles and looked around her new surroundings. The rolling hills in the distance, the smell of morning dew and the sun peaking over the horizon. It was absolutely wonderful.

Shuffling on her bedroll to access her saddlebags, she dug inside for one of the few sandwiches Jane was able to secure for her.

While she ate, Elizabeth tried to think of which direction she wanted to head in. North would eventually get too cold and she didn't have warm enough clothes to brave that just yet. South would be getting close to the border and there, people spoke in Spanish and she was unfamiliar with the language. There were also rumors of there being a town somewhere south where all the outlaws hung out.

No, she wasn't quite ready for that. Maybe never.

East was the direction she came from so that only left west.

West was best as some people would say jokingly.

Elizabeth pulled out from her pants pocket, her father's timepiece, the gift she treasured from him so much. Her thumb brushed over the engraving of the name Bennet and she stared at it for a time before checking how late it was and then clamped that side shut. Rolling it over in her hand, she again ran her thumb over the engraving, this one more recent. For my Lizzie.

Popping open this side, she checked her location using the compass. Her father had joked it was there so that if she ever got lost going out for her ride or walks, she would be able to find her way back home.

Elizabeth felt a little guilty, using it to actually get further away.

"Sorry Papa," she whispered and closed the lid and stuffed it into her pocket.

In her seated position and with half the pocket sticking out, she hadn't realized that her prized possession never made it inside but dropped back out as she quickly set about clearing up camp.

The sound of a rider coming near made Lizzie tense. Pulling her hat back on, covering her shorter hair, she messily rolled up her blankets and grabbed her saddlebags. Sal watched his owner approach hurrying and made a noise.

Lizzie had just finished tying her bedroll to her saddle and then toss her bags on before she realized that there was no reason to be fleeing like she had done something. Really, no one should know she was a girl. And if there were people searching for her, she doubted it would be one rider.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled her small throwing knife out from her saddlebag and stuck it into the back of her trousers, covering it with her jacket.

The rider approached and she looked them over. They were still on their horse, leaning on the horn, hands loosely holding the reins.

From what Lizzie was guessing by his eyes moving over her, he was trying to get an idea of what she was doing out here by herself.

"Mornin'," he finally spoke up. His horse stamped their hooves underneath him and moved a bit.

"Hey," Lizzie said in her deepest, most believable voice. It would not do to fake one and then make herself hoarse later on.

"Do you mind?" He nodded to the ground, indicating he was asking for permission to dismount.

Lizzie shrugged, not knowing what to exactly say.

The man swung a long limb over his horse and descended from the saddle. He looked Lizzie over once more in surprise.

"Pardon me, lad, but aren't you a full too young to be out here by yourself? Did you get lost?" the man chuckled, flashing a grin.

Elizabeth crossed her arms and tilted her head back a little, lifting her chin. She tried to assume the posture of a man, maybe pretending to be serious like Darcy would help in this situation.

"I'm not."

"Not, too young or lost?" asked the man.

"Either."

The man laughed, his head going slightly back. It took him a while to collect himself.

"You remind me of a dear old friend." He wiped away non-existent tears, "So, not too young, not lost sir, what are you doing out here if you don't mind me asking?"

"Heading West." It was true it seemed, saying less was the best option. While giving a side of mysteriousness, there was an advantage and it wouldn't lead to her getting caught by her voice.

"Really? How fortunate, for I am headed that way myself. Perhaps we might travel together?"

Lizzie narrowed her eyes.

As if she'd consent to a stranger accompanying her!

"I think not."

Instead of getting upset or annoyed, the man just nodded as if understanding her reason without saying anything.

"You are right. Only a fool would accept my invitation. Especially without introductions being made first. Allow me to rectify that. My name is George Wickham."

The man tipped his hat and sent her a grin.

Darcy had set out, eager to pick up her tracks before they were trampled away by others. He had promised Charles that he would give him any updates he had as he traveled. Caroline Bingley was not pleased with 'being deprived of his presence' because he felt it necessary to run after 'some little country nobody'. He had bristled at the words but refrained from saying anything to the lady, only packing faster.

Darcy couldn't bring himself to tell his friend that this wasn't the first time he dealt with a female of his acquaintance running off. That time it had been his beloved sister. A young naïve girl, believing the lies of a predator and eloped with him. Luckily, Darcy had hunted them down and saved his sister before anything happened. The predator had unfortunately slipped away. Until that man was caught, Darcy wouldn't rest. Lizzie wasn't eloping though, so there was comfort in that. Only, it was replaced with fear of the unknown. With Georgiana, William knew his sister and used that to track her, that and the knowledge of the predator's habits. Lizzie's behavior was still too complex to understand what she would do.

So, he had to content himself with the little he did know about her.

He knew what her horse looked like, what she looked like. Jane told him that they had relatives further west in Meryton and that there was a possibility that Lizzie would go there. A guilty confession of supplying only a certain amount of food so Lizzie couldn't avoid going into town forever. That gave him an advantage knowing that and was grateful Jane had given Lizzie that handicap to slow her down.

The tracks were easily found and he could agree that Ms. Elizabeth was heading towards Meryton. There were two sets of tracks; her's and the horses. They continued for sometime before it looked like they had stopped. Darcy swung off of his horse and surveyed the area.

Big enough for a small camp and hidden from view for the most part.

The big indentation in the grass showed where she had slept and then he caught sight of something in the grass almost covered by a stone.

Darcy picked it up and flipped it over.

Bennet

He flipped it onto its other side.

For my Lizzie

He shook his head at how easy this all was. Either she was really bad at getting rid of her tracks, which yes she was, or...

Darcy frowned as he continued to search the camp and found another set of horse's tracks and then a set of human footprints. Much larger than Ms. Elizabeth's smaller ones.

He just barely refrained from cursing out loud, but it didn't stop him from thinking of a long list of them as he saw that the tracks went into the same direction, heading out from the camp.

Darcy had to remind himself that Ms. Jane had said nothing about a man. No, Ms. Elizabeth wasn't eloping. It was just a coincidence that this person came across her... and decided they would ride together.

Jogging over to Maxine, his horse felt his need to move quickly and waited until he had his foot in the stirrup before racing off. Darcy swung himself into the saddle easily, the reins he slacked to let his horse go full speed.

If Ms. Elizabeth had left at night and was on foot, if she rested and continued late morning then she would have a half a day ahead of him.

Maxine could easily cover that distance.

"So, Elijah," George looked over to his new riding companion, "why did you decide to leave home?"

Lizzie turned to look at him and frowned, "What makes you think I just up and left?"

She had given him the name Elijah, supplied by Mr. Darcy's unknowingly giving her a perfect cover. The man, though they had a terrible beginning, was all things useful in her quest to be a bounty hunter.

George shrugged, "Well, you are traveling by yourself, and despite you claiming to be twenty, you're pretty young. Did something happen?"

Lizzie thought about it. There was no harm in telling him truths that didn't reveal all that much.

"I left because I didn't want to get married to my fiance."

Luck for Lizzie, the words fiance and fiancee sound identical so she didn't have to cover that up.

"Ah, was she plain? Poor? Unintelligent?"

His idea that if someone that resembled any of these qualities were unworthy to get married bothered her. Especially someone who was plain or poor. They couldn't help their circumstance.

She thought about Collins, "They came on too strong and flattered me too much."

Surprisingly, George laughed again, "You are too funny. Exactly like my old friend. Let me guess, 'Not handsome enough to tempt you' is that it?"

Lizzie shrugged. It was true, Collins was definitely not handsome. His clammy hands were enough to drive her away. At dinner, food had gotten stuck in his teeth when he smiled at her. She shivered at the image her mind supplied her with of the gentleman.

George laughed again, seeing her reaction and taking it as a confirmation.

"Well then, Elijah, what is it that you want to do now that you are free from the life of marriage?"

"I want to become a bounty hunter." Lizzie forgot to check her voice when she showed her excitement, but her companion didn't seem to think it strange for her voice to go a tinge bit higher.

He smiled, "It's a dangerous profession. Many who are wanted would take you down easily, my friend." George looked down at her waist, "You don't even carry a gun."

"I don't have one yet. They don't sell them in my hometown since only the sheriff carries. In Meryton, I'm going to buy one."

"Would you like me to teach you how to shoot?" he offered.

"Thanks, but I had someone teach me the basics. I just have to practice my aiming."

"Well, if you need assistance, I am here."

Lizzie was sure she didn't make a bad decision in letting George Wickham accompany her. He had told her of the dangers and outlaws that would take advantage of a defenseless traveler, and it would be safer for the both of them. He confessed he wasn't much into violence or shooting, and that he only carried a gun for extreme circumstances and he had to defend himself.

"So what is it that you do exactly?" she asked after a long silence.

"Mostly travel from town to town. I have no real job or anything, just a profession."

"A profession?" She rose an eyebrow in confusion.

"I will on occasion participate in the game of chance." he grinned.

"Game of chance?"

George's mouth hung slightly open in shock that she didn't know what that was, "Who sheltered you child, that you don't know what poker is?"

"Oh, poker," Lizzie tried to pretend to follow along, "I know what that is. I just hadn't heard it called the game of chance. It makes sense, now that I think about it."

"Do they also not have poker in your hometown?"

"Possibly, I just never seen anyone play it."

"Not even in the saloon?"

"I'm always kicked out before I'm two steps inside," she answered before she could stop the words from coming out of her mouth.

"Kicked out? What, did you raise hell in there before that you're now banned." he joked.

"Guilty," she smirked.

They both laughed.

George sighed once they had both settled back down, "But really, I'm just a traveler. I mean, why limit yourself and being satisfied with one location when there is so much more to see out there." He waved to the area around them."

"So, you're an adventurer then." Lizzie mused.

"Perhaps that's one way of putting it."