Two Weeks Later

Pain, so much pain in the darkness as the light started to bleed into blurry vision. One shimmering green bloodshot eye opened in a dimly lite room. Half of her vision still covered in darkness as Isabella came to consciousness. The moment the registration of life hit, Izzy took a sharp breath of panic. The sound of a gun loud in her ear, the pain of hot steel still against her skin brought back the memory of the trauma. The smoking gun and Arthur's shocked face still burned into her memory.

"Hey! Hey! Hush their little lady, hush. " Doctor Derulo soothed as Izzy felt his hand on her shoulder. She couldn't move, her body was strapped down to the table as she started to breathe rapidly. She tried to speak, but no words could come out.

"Whoa easy, easy. This is going to be alarming, but you just survived being shot in the face." Doctor Derulo said as he came into vision above her. "It's alright, you're safe. We are in St Denis at the hospital. We were very close to losing you." The doctor said as Izzy fearfully tried to speak again, only to mumble a moan of pain.

"Don't panic, just calm down. I need to put you back under soon, but it's good to see your brain is still working. I need you to follow my finger okay." He said and held one digit up over her face. Izzy following it with her one.

"Why... is... is... my..." Izzy tried to say as the Doctor took his notes.

"I had to remove a piece of your skull, your brain swelled up from the impact of the bullet. You, my friend, I think are the luckiest son of a bitch alive." The Doctor said and peeled back the wrappings over her face to change them. Keeping a straight face as he investigated the carnage.

"What... did..." Izzy started to say but had to stop as the pain from the scabs being ripped off from the bandage brought a searing pain.

"The bullet didn't have enough zip to penetrate your thick skull, my friend, it cracked your head open but luckily didn't hit anything. The swelling is what's making you're speech funny. I would say it's going to take more than a week before you can get up. I need to monitor you."

"...Rosie?" Izzy asked and held the Doctor's hand as he paused to looked down at her.

"She paid for the best treatment possible for you, Even paid for me to take you here and bring you back once your better. Oh, and I kept something for you." Doctor Derulo said and pulled a vial from his coat. "Here's the bullet that almost took your life." He said and showed her the single bloody bullet fragment which clinked against the glass.

"I know it doesn't look like much, but this tiny scrap of metal is what's left of the bullet. You see Sherrif Candy thinks the bullet was cut with a knife, given the shrapnel on the walls from the crime scene. Some bullets aren't made well nowadays what with the military wasting stocks on the innocent. My point is, it shattered before it left the gun and you were lucky because a perfect bullet would have blown the back of your head wide open." The good Doctor said as Izzy's face went blank. The voices of her last memories of consciousness echoed in her ear.

"Dutch..." Izzy said clearly. Doctor Derulo rather shocked looked down at her blank eyes and empty emotionless voice.

"Dutch?" He asked curiously as Izzy turned her gaze to him.

"When do we... leave," Izzy said. The broken voice was cold as a chill ran up the doctor spine. She showed no shock or agony over the situation and that was problematic.

"Who is Dutch?" He asked and merely raised his eyebrow and wrote a note in his book.

"A... dead man walking" She said.

"My dear, you're not going to be getting out of this bed for a while. Your skull is open, I need to wait for it to heal before I can try and put a plate in to cover the hole." The doctor explained and paused as Izzy's eyes widened. She was silent but displeased as the Doctor nervously rolled his shoulder.

"Mirror," Izzy said.

"Listen I don't think that's a good idea." He tried to protest.

"M-Mirror." Izzy said as the stutter came back.

"Okay! Okay. I'll get one." The doctor got up from the side stool and grabbed a hand mirror from the operating stand nearby. He brought it over to Izzy as she looked around the lavish hospital room.

"It's nice, right? You can relax here while you heal, they will take care of you. For now, understand that what you're going to see is going to shock you, but you are alright. Just relax, I will do my best to fix it." The doctor gingerly held up the mirror. Isabella looked into her reflection to be met with the same face she always had, but now there was a nasty looking wound which had ripped up the upper half of her face. Over her left eye, there was the start of a long stitched up gash which went into her hairline. The gash started at Isabella's eyebrow, and curved overtop her head to the crown of her skull. There was a divet in her forehead where she could see the missing hole in her skull. The stitches were healing well but it still red and Izzy's entire face had swelled up like a boxer after a fight.

"We had to shave a bit of the hair away to close up the stitch, but we were able to minimize the amount. You can thank Doctor Hudson he was brought in to do the reconstruction. Once your brain has stopped swelling we can fill the divet here with a steel plate and hopefully after it heals the hair can grow back."

"Doesn't... hrm!... Matter." Izzy groaned and closed her eyes not wanting to witness it anymore. "Rosie... where is..." Izzy's eyes went blurry and she started to thrash around in panic.

"Whoa whoa, she's here down the hall. Go back to sleep." The doctor lied, quickly getting up to fetch something to knock her out again before she hurt herself.

"Rosie..." Izzy murmured as the doctor refreshed her pain meds.

"We will get you back to her I promise, just rest." The doctor soothed as unconsciousness took her once more.

"How is the patient?" Another man entered the room just as Izabella went under. He was middle-aged with greying black hair with circular lens glasses on. He had a gentle smile his face was pot marked with acne scars.

"Doing well Doctor Hudson, she wanted to thank you so the fine work you did." Doctor Derulo said and rebandaged her wound.

"Amazing work you did as well! I've never met someone with steadier hands than you. I wanted to ask, well we all wanted to ask if you would be interested in joining our surgical team. We could use a skilled Doctor like you. I know there is an award for surgical genius and I think... We are currently working on a breaking new technique oh how to improve gunshot wound operations and could use your input." Doctor Hudson picked up the clipboard on the bed and looked at the details on the sheet. "Isabella Morningstar's case could be a huge win for you. Wait a second. Morningstar? Is this by chance the bounty hunter who caught the Bayou Bandit?" The doctor asked.

"Yes sir..." Doctor Derulo said as he finished up his work and watched until Izzy's face went relaxed.

"Oh, my lord! This woman is famous! There is no way they could ignore you for that award." Hudson beamed as Doctor Derulo focused on treating Izzy and tucking her in gently to sleep.

"I won't be able to stay, I have business to finish in Black Water." He said and stood up to wash his hand.

"You're wasted out there in the boonies, plus good Doctor's end up dead out in those parts. You should stay. I know an apartment no far from the hospital that would fit your needs." Doctor Hudson explained before Doctor Derulo silenced him with a gesture.

"Thank you, perhaps when I conclude my business I will return. I appreciate everything you have done to help me this far. Madam Rosalyn will be pleased to know she is alright." He said and bowed his head politely and started to take his leave.

"I knew the Madam when she was here at the Rose Bush Inn." Doctor Hudson explained and paused to pensively think as he rubs his clean-shaven chin. "You know not everyone here cares about what colour your skin is friend, A life saved is a life saved. Out there trouble is brewing, and if bounty hunters are getting shot in town." Doctor Hudson warned sounding worried.

"I know, but my family is out there still. I intend to find them." Doctor Derulo put his hand on the other Doctor's shoulder and smiled warmly. "Thank you. Have a good night Doctor," he said kindly

"Good Night Doctor. I hope you change your mind." Doctor Hudson sighed as they both took their leave.

The Doctor emerged from the hospital in the streets of St Denis, the city was alive with life as people shuffled about heading home after a long day of work. Before gong to the inn he was staying at, the good Doctor stopped by the post office.

"Howdy Sir how can I help you today." The man behind the counter said with a smile.

"I need you to send a message for me. To the care of Madam Rosalyn Bush at Blackwater Sherrif's office. " He said and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the Postal worker.

"No problem sir, that will be one dollar or A dollar fifty for priority post."

"Priority please." Doctor Derulo paid the fee and the letter was taken off his hands and tossed into a bag marked for Blackwater.

That bag was then picked up by a strapping young man who hauled it off to the dispatch building by the train station. The letters were packed onto the train which zipped across the beautiful countryside of America along the coast. It took three days until the letter reached Blackwater. A youthful gentleman picked it up and brought the letter to the Sherrif's office. Only to be redirected to the new restaurant in the centre of town. The Golden Dame was a rowdy place, full of rough-looking men who looked out of place in town. It was busy too, a slew of lovely ladies all from Rosalyn's Caravan were skirting around the tables dressed in frills delivering massive plates of food to the patrons who gobbled up every noodle of the macaroni and cheese casserole that was the night's speciality. The place was surprisingly calm, as Sherrif Candy was leaning against the bannister by the gun check-in eating a plate of food as he chatted with Henrietta. She had cleaned up nicely and was smiling shyly as the Sherrif talked about his horses. Jeremy and Daniel sitting together inside the closet armed to the teeth as they watched over the patron's guns which were being checked in upon every guest's arrival. The postal man even checking in his weapon as he entered the establishment licking his lips as the food whizzed past his nose.

"Excuse me miss." The delivery man stopped the oldest woman in the room who was behind the bar cleaning classes.

"Howdy, what can I get you today?" Ms Honey asked wearing a beautiful pink apron with frills and a cow printed vest. She put the glass down and fluffed her skirt making her way over to the postman.

"Delivery for Lady Rosalyn Bush." He said, sitting at the bartop. "And perhaps the daily special as well?" He asked with a grin.

"One hot order of Cheesy deliciousness for my sugar bear coming up." She said with a cheeky grin making him blush. He handed her the letter as Ms Honey went off to deliver the letter and fetch some orders for the bartop customers. Hosea and Dutch were among them sitting at the far end enjoying a pint and a bite to eat. Dutch noticing the delivery man waving around a letter.

"Hey, Hosea, who you think is sending the lady letters?" Dutch asked as he mouthed the cigar in his mouth studying the letter the best he could.

"Perhaps a family relative?" Hosea answered and took a big bite of his meal. The look of joy on his face as he savoured every bite.

"Whoever it is, I hope they don't upset her. I don't think I have eaten anything more delicious in my life and she just got back in the kitchen." Dutch said and ran his finger over his empty plate and licked it.

"You! Don't you get involved, she nearly shot you the last time she spotted you lurking around." Hosea said pointing his fork in Dutch's face

"I can't help it, I know she's got something stashed." Dutch wanted to explain but Hosea hushed him.

"And she knows that you're looking for it. Arthur told me everything and you gotta get it through your head that some people you can't rob unless you want to get caught. She probably set up a trap for you." Hosea whispered looking to the Sherrif who's eyes scanned the room every once in a while.

"Nah, she likes me," Dutch said and took another puff.

"She likes Colm O'Driscoll," Hosea said flatly.

"That's not true," Dutch said sourly.

"I heard it from Micah. I don't know how much I believe him, but said he came here looking to chat and found her sitting in his lap and flirting like a lovebird in spring." Hosea said.

"That's not true," Arthur said as he sat down next to Hosea. "That rat Colm hasn't stepped into town especially since the Sherrif has hired those extra guns," Arthur reported and Hosea slid a bottle of beer he has waiting for him.

"Micah doesn't lie, Arthur," Dutch said sternly.

"Then he musta saw someone else. She's not like that no more." Arthur said bluntly and took a swig of his drink.

"What did you find?" Hosea asked.

"One gun at every road coming into town. Deputy Doyle is perched on a watchtower in the centre of town with an alarm bell. Two men on horse back patrolling the streets, this place is getting dangerous." Arthur warned and noticed Ms Honey come out of the kitchen with a big smile on her face as she delivered the postman some food.

"What's she so happy about you think?" Dutch asked.

"Beats me," Hosea said and pondered the new Arthur brought. "We need to rethink our plans perhaps a fishing trip on the water tomorrow would be a good idea," Hosea suggested.

"Good idea, for now, lets split up. Less suspicious that way." Arthur agreed and stood up with his beer to leave.

"Hey Arthur, where you headed tonight?" Dutch asked.

"Going hunting, I hear there is a cougar causing trouble," Arthur said and walked away drinking the rest of his beer and tossing it to the ground.

"Excuse me." The room went silent, as Rosalyn had appeared from the kitchen. Dressed in an elegant gown of black and midnight blue with flour dust caught in the frill of her skirt. Dutch stood up at the sight of her as she strode across the room towards Arthur. "Oh, Arthur! It's nice to see you again. Would you mind not littering in my restaurant like that? That's how broken glass ends up in someone's foot." Rosalyn said sweetly as everyone looked to Arthur. Rosalyn's eyes went to Arthur's gun holster which still contained his pistol. "This is a gun-free establishment. How did you get in here with that?" She quietly asked.

"I forgot to check it in," Arthur said as they locked eyes in wordless combat. Rosalyn looked radiant, her blue eyes sparkling in the sun which leaked in from the window. The white powder smudge under her eye almost complimenting her sweet face which was painted with subtle makeup making her eyes easy to get lost in.

"Well, stop gawking and pick that up and check in your gun if you wish to stay... Now!" Rosalyn ordered and Arthur didn't move.

"Oh come on Arthur pick up your trash for the lady," Dutch spoke up and Rosalyn looked over her shoulder to him. Dutch walked around Hosea and grabbed the empty beer bottle from the floor and handed it to Arthur.

"I waited two weeks to eat at this place Arthur. The least you can do is behave while your here. I was hoping to talk to her." Dutch said and pulled Arthur out the door. Arthur's gaze did not leave Rosalyn for an instant, as she turned and walked away from him. He said nothing and took the bottle from Dutch and walked out of the restaurant. As soon as he was outside, he smashed it in the street outside the door and stormed off.

"Arthur!" Dutch hollered and threw his arms up. Arthur flashing him the finger as he marched off. "Still a child." Dutch snarled and went back into the restaurant. Once back inside Dutch spotted Rosalyn sitting at her table in the back pulling out a deck of cards and a cigar. One of the new ladies in the joint delivered her a pot of tea as well as a freshly baked bear claw.

"Ms Bush, It's good to see you again," Dutch said as he approached her table.

"Dutch! It's been a while, how are you?" Rosalyn asked politely as she prepared her things to relax.

"I'm... I'm doing very well, my your in a pleasant mood today." Dutch said and sat down with her across the table.

"Yes, please make yourself comfortable I absolutely wanted your company tonight." She said and kept smiling at him. "You know, I just got some really good news today so perhaps I'll let the fact you tried to rob my stagecoach slide?" Rosalyn said and her smile dropped as she stared blankly at Dutch.

"That wasn't what happened," Dutch said and was quickly interrupted.

"No it wasn't but intentions are everything. I want to make a deal with you Dutch, you like cutting dirty deals right?" She asked and started to shuffle her cards, but there weren't standard playing cards.

"You have me mistaken," Dutch said and shifted nervously.

"I'm going to have you pull a card from this deck, and I'm going to tell you your future. Depending on what you pull, I'll let you stay. Care you try?" Rosalyn asked and fanned the cards in her hand and held them out to him. Dutch stared down at the cards, they were embossed printed cards with purple and gold but had seen many years of wear and tear as the edges were frayed.

"What are these?" He asked and curiously reached out to pull a card.

"This is the deck of many things. Good things, bad things. I want to see what fate had in store for you." Rosalyn said and folded up the cards. "What did you get," she asked.

"It's an upside-down snaked holding two sticks," Dutch said and laid the card on the table. Rosalyn set her cards down and picked up Dutch's card and looked at it curiously.

"Over planning, overthinking? Are you sure? Your future isn't here yet." Rosalyn said cryptically.

"What are you on about?" Dutch asked.

"This is wrong, this isn't what I see in your future," Rosalyn said and spun the card in her fingers. The picture of the snaked changed to a picture of a red devil face staring back at him.

"This is what I see." Rosalyn grinned.

"You're starting to make me uncomfortable my dear," Dutch said.

"Good, I hope you enjoyed your meal. I spat it in." She said and blew him a kiss with a wink.

"That wasn't very nice," Dutch said and started to stand up.

"Get out of my restaurant," Rosalyn said and lite her cigar.

"Already leaving," Dutch said his face twisted as he stormed off to collect his gun. Rosalyn left alone to enjoy her dessert before she retreated upstairs to her private quarters.

After she closed the doors and locked them, Arthur suddenly appeared as he leapt through the open window. Rosalyn spun around to face him as he marched up to her.

"Arthur! What are you doing here... !" Rosalyn said before Arthur wrapped his arms around her and they collided into a kiss.

"I missed you," Arthur whispered after locking his grip onto her thick hips and held her close.

"Arthur, you need to stop coming here." Rosalyn protested as his lips kissed down her neck. His fingers groping her breasts as she was pinned up against the door. Rosalyn bit her lip and ran her fingers through his long tangled blonde hair.

"How can I?" Arthur asked as he removed her apron and cast it onto the bed.

"You need a hair cut." She said. Arthur smirked and picked her up like a sack of potatoes and she giggled.

"You think so?" He asked and carried her across the room.

"Yes, but not too short okay," Rosalyn said as he carried her into the connected bathroom. "Where are you taking me."

"You need a bath," Arthur said and opened the door to the fresh bath that had been filled for her.

"How did you?" She asked

"I ordered it," Arthur said.

"Put me down!" She giggled as Arthur set her down. Arthur kissed her again, unlacing to the bodice of her corset as she unbuttoned his vest. Once her dress was removed she leapt up onto Arthur and wrapped her legs around him as he closed the door behind them. The faint sounds of giggles and splashes echoing from within. Rosalyn's apron sitting on the bed with the opened letter from Doctor Micheal P. Derulo sticking out of it.