Met Charles, Javier, and Trelawny in Blackwater to rescue that loud mouthed maniac. Seems Blackwater is an impossible situation and I guess I had better forget about all that money. All them years wasted earning that stuff! Found Sean being taken to a camp by them scalp hunters so Charles, Javier and I followed. Guess Sean was putting up a hell of a fight because there were a lot of bounty hunters for just one man...


Arthur could see Sean hanging upside down from a tree and might have laughed at how ridiculous it was if it weren't for all the bounty hunters shooting at them. Charles and Javier went around the sides of the camp while Arthur headed straight in. He only hoped a stray bullet wouldn't hit Sean.

A moment later, Sean suddenly fell to the ground and he quickly loosened the rope around his feet. He picked up a gun from a nearby dead bounty hunter and helped finish off the rest of them.

"'Bout time you boys showed up!" Sean said as Arthur, Charles, and Javier approached. "Good shootin' with that arrow, Charles."

"I didn't," Charles frowned in confusion. Arthur looked and saw an arrow embedded into the tree where it had cut the rope holding Sean.

"Looks like it came from that way," Arthur pointed west of the camp, where none of them had been. He reached up and pulled it out of the tree for a better look.

"What, no hug, Arthur? No warm embrace for a lost brother, now found?" Sean held out his arms.

"Hah, you know, nothing means more to me than this gang, the bond we share, it's the most real thing to me. I would kill for it, I would happily die for it, but in spite of all that, I would have easily left you here to rot if Charles hadn't stopped me."

"I don't believe a word of that," Sean said.

"Get him out of here," Arthur pushed him towards Javier. "We should split up. Javier, will you escort Mr. Macguire back to camp. Charles and I will ride separately." He watched Javier and Sean ride out of camp then turned to Charles. "So what do you think?" he held out the arrow from the tree.

"Well made, but it isn't like the ones you buy in shops," Charles looked it over, "If it were Indian, the feathers would be eagle or hawk, but these are from a blue jay and a cardinal. Haven't seen it before." He touched the blue and red feathers gently before handing it back to Arthur.

"Huh, well, how about you head back to camp and I'll have a look around here."

Charles rode out and Arthur led his horse towards where the arrow had been shot. He could see some hoof prints as if a horse had been there for a few minutes. They led north through the trees up a hill. He followed the tracks until they reached a road and disappeared into the mix of hoofprints and wagon wheel tracks. Looking both ways, he couldn't figure out which way they had gone, especially since there was a stable nearby.

Mounting up, he started back for camp. He had ridden barely ten minutes when he heard a cry from within the trees. A well dressed man stumbled out and waved down Arthur.

"Sir! Please stop, sir! I beg you!"

Arthur slowed his horse to a halt near the man. "What's the problem?"

"Oh, I'm in bad sorts here, I took a little jaunt and managed to get hopelessly lost," the man cried, "I'm staying in Strawberry if you could just guide me back."

Arthur sighed. "You're lucky a wolf or bear didn't get ya."

The man's eyes widened and looked behind him as if expecting a horrible animal to be standing there. He then shrieked and jumped as a squirrel sprinted past him.

"Jesus," Arthur said under his breath.

"Please sir, I beg you, bring me back to Strawberry?"

Arthur sighed again. "Fine. Can't think of a good reason to say no."

"Oh good! I'm saved! Shall I hop up there with you?"

"Your legs work, don't they?" The audacity. Arthur nudged his horse into the direction of the small town of Strawberry. The man talked the whole way, saying he had come from New York for investment opportunities and found that there was nothing there. Big city folk rarely found small towns interesting, though the man did mention something about the mayor being a strange fellow.

They turned a bend in the road and saw the entrance sign for Strawberry. "Sir, you have saved my life!" The man thanked Arthur and hurried towards town.

Arthur shook his head. "Ugh, New Yorkers!"

"What about New Yorkers?"

He nearly jumped out of his saddle and turned to see Grace on her horse behind him. "Jesus, where did you come from?"

"New York," she grinned at him.

"Very funny." He turned his horse towards her, intending on finally going back to camp.

"So what was that about New Yorkers?" she asked.

"Why?"

"I want to know if you're insulting us or not."

"You really from New York?"

"Yes, though I don't live there anymore and I haven't been in a long time."

"Well, just helped one of your fellow New Yorkers back to town after he got lost." He then smirked. "Nearly jumped out of his pants when a squirrel ran by."

Grace nodded. "Heh, must be part of the lower upper class."

"The hell does that mean?"

"It means they never leave the city, but they still have very nice houses and a few servants. The higher upper class folks have country retreats and are a bit more used to nature, although they never sleep rough, of course. 'Sleeping rough' to them is being in a house with no servants."

"How terrible for them."

"I know, right? Truly awful. But it was nice of you to help the poor fella back to town."

"I made him walk."

"Of course you did. Anyway, don't let me keep you." She moved her horse to pass him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Arthur shrugged. "Just asking. You seem to be everywhere I go."

"A coincidence. I'm here to see Mr. Cooper at the general store. You're welcome to come along if you want."

"Nah, I have to get going."

"Alright then, see you around." Grace nudged her horse forward into a trot into town. As she passed, Arthur noticed a bow attached to her saddle. At first he didn't think anything of it until he was about halfway back to camp and then wondered if she was responsible for the unusual arrow that cut down Sean.

By the time Arthur arrived back at camp, the homecoming party for Sean was well under way. Seemed like half the gang was drunk already. He had barely finished untacking his horse when Pearson thrust a bottle of beer into his hands.

"About time you got here!" Pearson raised his own bottle to Arthur and hobbled away. Arthur opened his beer and joined Javier, Uncle, and Miss Grimshaw at one of the tables where they were singing loudly as Javier played his guitar.

It was getting quite late, but the drinking and singing and overall jollity showed no signs in slowing down. Arthur took a moment to wander over to the cliff, light up a cigarette and enjoy the view for a moment. In the moonlight, he spotted a familiar horse down by the river. He took out his binoculars for a better look. Grace was walking beside her appaloosa along the riverbank. He lowered the binoculars, frowned, then dashed out of camp.

No one noticed him leave, as he ran down the hill to catch up to her. He was nearly out of breath by the time he had nearly reached her.

"You okay there, Mr. Morgan?" she asked when she turned and saw him approaching.

"Yeah, just- whew," Arthur bent over to catch his breath. "Just need a moment."

"Any particular reason you're following me?" she asked with a smile.

"Why are you out this late?" he asked.

"Just out for a walk," she replied, "Tuula gets a bit antsy sometimes and can't stay in one spot. If I just let her wander, it might take me ages to find her."

"And you just happen to be passing by our camp, huh?" Arthur angrily gestured towards Horseshoe Overlook.

"Um, I didn't realise you were there specifically," Grace raised her eyebrows at him.

"Aw, shit," he realised his mistake.

"Well, don't worry, I have no plans of robbing you or anything," she said with a smile.

"That's not what I'm worried about."

"I know."

"So, what are you planning to do?"

"I plan on walking a bit further then finding a spot to sleep, that is, unless I can just bunk up with you." She wiggled her eyebrows up and down at him.

"What? No!"

"Hah, thought not. Anyway, see you around." She paused a moment. "Don't forget to have some water before you go to sleep. You smell like you're going to have a bit of a hangover tomorrow morning." She winked before continuing down the road.

He watched her continue on with her horse before turning back towards camp. He felt stupid for leaving and even more stupid for telling her where they were staying.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Arthur turned to see Grace hurrying towards him. What did she want now?

"Forgot to tell you, but you know that burned up little town over there?" She pointed down the road toward the blackened remains of a town called Limpany.

"What about it?"

"You should check it out. Especially where the sheriff's used to be. Trust me. Have a good night." She ran back to her horse, leaving Arthur feeling even more confused. What could possibly be there? Was it actually a trap? Her friendliness could just be an act and it was suspicious that she kept showing up wherever he was.

The following morning, he woke up to the rising sun with a massive headache. Ugh, his brain felt like it was trying to push its way through his eyeballs. He half-fell out of his cot and slowly made his way to the fire for a cup of coffee.

"Rough night?" Abigail greeted him.

Arthur groaned in response as he threw back a piping hot cup of coffee. It woke him a little, but the hangover was still there. He'd just have to deal with it until it subsided.

"Don't know if I should thank you or curse you for getting Sean back," Abigail snickered, "Caught him trying to give Jack a beer last night."

"I'm surprised you didn't kill him," he chuckled.

"I nearly did, but I suppose the boy likes him for some reason," she smiled slightly, "If he tries again, I'm throwing him off the cliff."

"Hah, I don't doubt it."

He left to tack up his horse and cautiously rode to the burnt town of Limpany and looked around. No one seemed to be about, but he kept his hand on his pistol anyway. He stopped his horse outside of the sheriff's building, still standing despite being burnt to a crisp. He looked around and still saw no one about.

He dismounted and entered the sheriff's, wondering what he was supposed to look at. Then he spotted the metal box underneath a desk. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he opened it to find a bar of gold. Was it real? He sniffed at it then scratched it. Seems real enough. But why didn't Grace want it? Not that he was going to argue, but surely anyone in their right mind would jump at the chance at taking a bar of gold.

Stashing the bar into his satchel, he hurried out of the burnt building and rode out with a quick look around again. Still there was no one, apart from a wagon passing by. Perhaps to be on the safe side, he'll ride in the opposite direction of the camp. He didn't want to risk accidentally leading anyone back.

Arthur rode a short distance before going off road and heading up a hill. As he did, he saw something strange in the cliffside. He halted his horse and took out his binoculars for a better look. It was a carving of what looked like a wagon pulled by an ox. He rode up closer and dismounted to take a closer look.

The carving was nice enough but why would anyone make it? And why here? He took out his journal and sketched a quick picture of it. He just put it away when he heard someone calling out to him.

"Señor! Up here!"

Arthur looked to see a man waving at him from the hill a little ways away. He frowned, but returned to his horse and rode up to the man who was looking off into the distance with a pair of binoculars.

"Ah, señor, can I show you something?"

"What's the problem?" Arthur dismounted and approached.

"Problem? There is no problem! Well, there is a problem, but for me, not for you," the man brandished a piece of paper.

"I ain't got time for this," Arthur started to walk away.

"Wait, wait, let me just have a moment of your life and it might change forever!" The man held out his hand and announced himself dramatically, "I'm sure you will have heard of me, Máximo Cristóbal Valdespino, the renowned explorer!"

"Can't say I have."

"I have spent the last six months hunting treasure on the American frontier, but tomorrow I set sail for the island of Shikoku in the Japanese archipelago, in search of the legendary Tokushima Sapphire."

"Well, good for you."

"This map here, it was made by the Jack Hall Gang, they robbed banks all the way from here to California."

"Yeah, I know who the Jack Hall Gang are."

"Oh , well them you've heard of, but not me," Máximo scoffed. "Well, rumour has it they buried gold somewhere in this area but were killed before they could retrieve it. They created two maps to ensure it was well hidden, this is the first and should lead you to the second."

"Me?"

"Yes! You seem to be interested and unfortunately I am out of time now but I am prepared to sell it to you for the low price of," he paused for dramatic effect, "ten dollars! A trifle investment for a man such as you, given the potential returns."

"You must think I was born yesterday," Arthur jeered.

Máximo cleared his throat. "Well, between us, this map has proven a challenge even for me. So, how about five dollars?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "Aw, what the hell." He handed over five dollars in exchange for the map.

"You will not regret it!" Máximo mounted his horse and waved goodbye.

Arthur looked over the map which had a drawing of a hill of some sort with arrows pointing down and around it. At the bottom was a drawing of a small town. He looked around and didn't see anything that looked like any part of it. For all he knew, he'd just been duped out of five dollars.

"What's that?"

"Jesus!" Arthur dropped the map in surprise. The wind blew it behind him and he turned to see Grace dismounting her horse and catching it. "Would you stop doing that?"

"Pfft," she brushed him off and looked down at the map, "So what's this?"

"None of your business," Arthur snatched the map out of her hands and quickly stuffed it into his satchel.

"Okay then." She stared at him for a moment. "Have you been to the burned out town yet?"

"Why?"

"Just wondering if you found the bar of gold there yet."

"If you knew about it, why didn't you take it?"

"I thought you'd like it more." She mounted back up on her horse. "And go that way to find whatever it is that map is leading you to," she pointed north in the direction of Horseshoe Overlook. "Good luck."

Arthur waited until she was out of sight before taking the map out again. He looked at it for a moment before putting it away and mounted his horse. He rode back down to the road by the river and towards camp. Instead of turning onto the path to camp, he continued on and as he did, he noticed the unique formation described on the map. Huh. Well, she's probably seen it often enough to recognise it.

He climbed the small mountain and carefully made his way around the edge to find a pearl necklace and another map stashed in a small crack in the side. One of the girls in camp might like the necklace, even though it could bring in a few extra dollars for their savings. He had a look at the map but it definitely didn't look familiar. Looked like it was in the middle of an area with a bunch of dead trees and maybe some geysers. Well, he'll have to keep an eye out.

By this point, he was quite sure no one had been following him, except for Grace but she didn't seem to be around at that moment, so headed back to camp.

"Hey Arthur," Hosea called out to him as he rode in, "Wanna go hunting?"

"You hunting an elephant?" Arthur dismounted and picked up Hosea's hunting rifle.

"No, a bear, biggest grizzly I ever saw, must've been a thousand pounds."

"My god," he handed the rifle back, "So what, you need me to come with you?"

"Of course, let's go," Hosea slung the rifle over his shoulder and headed to his horse.

"Where we going?"

"North a bit, up near a place called O'Creagh's Run. Might take a couple days." Hosea stowed his rifle on his horse. "You ain't replaced Bodicea yet?"

"Nah, not yet," Arthur pet his horse which he had taken from the Adler ranch up in the mountains. His old horse, Boadicea, had been killed in Blackwater and he had to use Charles's horse.

"I been meaning to offload this big fella for a while now," Hosea approached a large, black Shire horse hitched next to his.

"Where'd you get him?"

"Some big, loud-mouthed bastard tried to rob me while I was out riding and, well, you know how it is." Hosea looked at the shire then turned to Arthur, "Let's take him to Valentine, then we can offload him and you can buy yourself a new horse."

Arthur shrugged and agreed. He did like the horse he had now, but nothing wrong with having a look anyway. He switched his saddle to the shire and rode to Valentine with Hosea. While Hosea picked up some things in the general store, Arthur had a look at the horses available in the stable.

"Anything in particular you're looking for?" the horse dealer asked.

"Something fast and good tempered," Arthur said, looking over a large warmblood.

"Well, I got this one here," the horse dealer led him to a stall with a mottled grey Thoroughbred, "He's fast and mostly good tempered, but you tend to get some testiness with the Thoroughbreds. But if you want very good tempered but slower, I got this fella here." He pointed to a stall with a heavier set horse.

"How much for this one?" Arthur asked, petting the Thoroughbred.

"On top of that nice Shire, I'd say another fifty dollars, but you are getting a good deal."

"Alright, sounds good. Does he have a name?"

"Smokey, but I suppose you could change it if you want."

"I'll think about it." Arthur paid the dealer, tacked up his new horse and led him out to meet Hosea.

"Nice pick, looks fast," Hosea complimented Arthur's choice. "Got a name?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "Smokey."

"Huh. Well, I suppose it works. Alright, I got what we need, let's get going."


Took a day off and went off hunting with Hosea. He really seems to be getting his strength back a bunch although he was lucky not to die as this big bear he'd been after turned on us. Size of a goddamn hotel it was, and mean with it. Shot it six times, still didn't go down, just turned and ran.


Arthur found Hosea sitting against a boulder after the bear had ran off. "You're fine, old man."

"Of course, I'm fine! It's... it's nothing," Hosea slowly stood with Arthur's help. "You know, I'm a little too old and beaten up to go after the biggest game. Here," he handed Arthur a map. "A map I got off a man I met in a bar, well I stole it off him, but it shows you where the biggest animals are. As for me, I'm heading back to camp, lick my wounds. You coming?"

"I think I'll stick around here, see if I can't get that big bastard for ya."

"Heh, well, good luck. See you back at camp." Hosea rode off and Arthur looked back to where the bear had run off to. He wasn't going to let it get the best of him this time.

He stayed by the boulder to get his bearings and to keep an eye out. The bear had disappeared somewhere into the trees, but Arthur wasn't sure if it was slowly dying from being shot in the head six times with his pistol, or if it was getting ready for round number two. At least he had his rifle ready this time. He slowly crept out from behind the boulder to follow the bear's tracks. Drops of blood mixed with the dirt making it easier to follow. Once he reached the edge of the trees, he lost the trail. He squinted into the shadows to try to spot the blood, but he couldn't tell. He knelt to rub his hands in the dirt, see if he could feel it.

A shrill whistle from behind startled him and he whirled around to see the bear had been stalking him. But the bear now turned and charged the other way before suddenly falling. Arthur could just see an arrow in its face. A second one made the bear lie still. Jesus. He rushed down to the bear, kicking at it to make sure it was dead.

"So are you just terrible at hunting, or are you suicidal?" Of course she was here. Grace joined him by the bear, slinging her bow to her back.

"What the hell are you doing up here?" Arthur demanded.

"Fishing, lake is superb for salmon," she pointed towards the lake, "Saw a horse by itself over here and came to investigate. Good thing I did, huh?" She crouched down and pulled the arrows out of the bear's head. "Urgh, gross."

"So, you always use blue jay feathers in your arrows?" Arthur asked, noticing the blue and red feathers.

"Yeah. Works just as well as eagle or hawk," she wiped the arrows on her pants, leaving behind streaks of blood.

"So it was you who cut down Sean?"

"Who? Oh, the Irish man hanging upside down way out by the Upper Montana? Yeah. Was passing by, heard the commotion, figured I'd give him a chance to not get hit by a bullet," she put the arrows in her quiver.

"Why is it everywhere I go, you're there?" he asked angrily.

"I could ask you the same question," she smiled back at him. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll want to continue trying to get eaten by bears. See you around, Mr. Morgan." She turned and walked back toward the lake. Arthur watched her for a moment before getting started with skinning the bear. While he was grateful he didn't get attacked by this big bastard, he was annoyed that she always seemed to be around. He didn't understand it.

When he stowed the bear pelt on his horse, he rode out past the lake. Grace was standing in the water up to her shins with her boots off and pants rolled up to her knees, waiting for a fish to bite. Her horse grazed nearby. She noticed him and waved with a smile. He didn't wave back. Instead he kept going along the road and found himself wondering when, not if, he would see her again.