Chapter 1-Getting help

Colt's P.O.V

Colt Morgan sat in the Sheriff's office in Valentine. Colt was sixteen years old, and it had been a week since his father was hanged, and he lost his brother Arthur in a shootout in Tumbleweed. He didn't know if his brother was alive. Colt had short brown hair and a thin beard growing in. He had green eyes and was almost 6 feet tall with an athletic build. He wore a black hat, a brown coat, and a blue shirt with brown pants and black boots. He had a hunting knife on his hip and his father's two navy revolvers on the Sheriff's desk. He looked at the door as sheriff Malloy pushed the door open. "Colt Morgan," Malloy says as he sits down. "You have been causing me some problems, son. Stealing food and whatever you can get your hand on. I heard about your father and brother. It hasn't been easy for you."

"What's my punishment?" Colt asks flatly.

"You aren't being punished. The clerk owed me a favor," Malloy tells him. "You'll sleep at the hotel tonight and tomorrow; a friend is gonna take you in and give you a place to sleep."

"Why are you helping me?" Colt asks him as Malloy hands him his guns.

"Because I don't want to see another kid turn into an outlaw. Go on, get some sleep," Malloy says as he pulls the door open. Colt nods as he leaves the Sheriff's office and goes to the hotel to sleep.

Morning

Colt was woken up by knocking at his door. "This is a man waiting for you outside, Mr. Morgan," The hotel manager says.

"I'll be out soon," Colt says as he gets up and grabs his coat and gun belt. He picks up his hat as he leaves the room. He walks outside and sees a man waiting for him. He was tall with black hair and a beard. He had blue eyes and a cattleman by his hip. He climbed off the horse and walked up to Colt.

"You Colt Morgan?" He asks Colt, who nods.

"Name's Buck Jones," Buck tells him. "Now, look, Colt, I am helping you because I owe the Sheriff, but if you try anything, I will throw you back onto the street. You listen to what I say, understood?"

"Yeah," Colt says. "I got it," Buck nods as he motions for Colt to follow him. Colt follows Buck to the stables, where the stable owner is waiting for them.

"This him, Buck?" The stable owner asks. Buck nods, and the stable owner walks into the stables and comes out with a black thoroughbred horse. He holds the reins out to Colt, who slowly takes it.

"I can't pay for this," Colt tells him.

"I already paid for it," Buck says as he walks back to the hotel and climbs on his horse. Colt climbs on his horse and slowly follows Buck. "You need to name it?"

"Lyle," Colt tells Buck, who nods as they continue to ride.

A house in the woods

Colt and Buck stop outside of a house on a hill just above the river below Valentine. There was the house and then the barn. They lead their horses to the barn and put them in the pens. Buck leads him out of the barn and leads him into the house. "That's your room right there," Buck says. "Some clothes and ammo in there."

"You don't have any family?" Colt asks as he looks around the house.

"Not anymore," Buck answers after a moment. Colt nods, knowing he doesn't want to talk about his family.

"How did you pay for all this?" Colt asks as he sits down.

"I'm a bounty hunter, son. I make good money, and my father left me this house after he died," Buck tells Colt as he sits across from him. "Let's go over the rules. The first rule is you never leave this house without letting me know. I will be gone a lot. I try to get a couple of bounties a week. You only go to town when needed and don't go outside at night unless I say so. Some bad folk around here."

Colt nods. "I should find a way to make some money."

"They need help at the barn in town where they have the auctions. You can go in tomorrow. For now, we're going to work on your shooting, so follow me," Buck says as he leaves the house, and Colt follows.

A week later

Colt ties his horse to the hitch outside of the auction yard. Buck had left two days after Colt started living with him, and Colt hadn't seen him since. He had gotten a job here the day after moving in. Colt walks into the barn and looks at the man who ran the auction. His name was Billy. "Colt, good to see you here. I need you to do a job for me?"

"What kind of job?" Colt asks.

"An escort," Billy tells him as he leans against the wall. "I got a man going to Emerald Ranch with a couple of hundred dollars to buy some livestock. Emerald Ranch always produces the best animals. Last year I sent a man, and he got robbed. I see those guns you carry, and I imagine you can use them. You do this, and I will give you $100 on top of your pay."

"I'll do it. When do we leave?" Colt asks Billy.

"Now," He says as he grabs a Lancaster rifle and holds it out to Colt. "Good luck, Mr. Morgan. My guy will meet you by your horse," He tells Colt, who nods as he walks outside, where three men are waiting.

"You must be Colt. I'm Luke, this is John, and that is Butch. He's the one we are protecting," Luke tells Colt, who nods. They climb on their horses and leave.

An hour later, the group we're riding through the Heartlands. They had just passed the farm and could see Emerald Ranch. They were still a little away from the Ranch. "Mr. Morgan, I mean no offense, but you seem a little young for this kind of jobs," Luke says.

"I was surprised when I was asked to join it, but it is good money, and I need that," Colt tells him. Luke nods.

"You have some nice guns. I must say," John says.

"They were my fathers," Colt says with a sad smile.

"What happened-" John is cut off by a bullet going through the side of his head. Bullets fly towards them as their horses buck them off. Colt's back hits the ground. He quickly stands up.

"Butch, get behind that log, now!" Colt shouts as he pulls out one of his Navy revolvers and shoots one of the men through the eye. Colt runs behind a tree as Luke is hit in the chest and falls to the ground. Butch removes his revolver.

"I see five more!" Butch shouts to Colt, who nods as he leans out and shoots one through the throat as a bullet misses him by a couple of inches. Butch shoots one in the stomach, causing him to fall to the ground. Colt leans out and shoots another one through the chest as the last one hits him in the shoulder. Butch hits the last one in the neck, killing him. Colt holsters his gun and lays his hand on his bleeding shoulder as Butch walks up to Luke and John. Colt brings his hand up to his mouth and whistles. "What do we do with the bodies?" He asks Colt.

"We'll take them to the Ranch and figure something out after that. You still have the money?" Colt asks Butch, who nods as Lyle comes over to Colt and Butch's horse comes over. Butch picks up Luke and lays him on Colt's horse, and then lays John on his horse.

Emerald Ranch

Colt and Butch ride up to the house as the owner of the Ranch walk out. The owner's name was Eugene Wegner. "What happened to the two of you?" He asks them.

"Got attacked," Colt says with a grunt as he climbs off his horse. "These were two other bodyguards."

"I'll have a wagon take them back to Valentine. Let me take a look at that shoulder, son. Sit down," Eugene tells Colt, who nods as he sits down on the step. Colt removes his jacket and his shirt. Eugene goes back inside and out with a bandage, whiskey, and water. He pours the whiskey into Colt's wound. "Bullet went through," Eugene says as he cleans the wound. "I will stitch this up, and then you can be on your way."

"What about Butch?" Colt asks.

"I will be staying here a few days," Butch tells Colt, who nods.

Valentine

Colt rode back into Valentine as the sun was starting to set. He climbs off his horse and walks up to Billy, who is talking with a woman. "Mr. Morgan, how did it go?" Billy asks him.

"Good, Luke and John are dead, but Butch is at Emerald Ranch."

"Shame about Luke and John. Good men," Billy says as he pulls out two stacks of cash and holds them out to Colt, who takes them. "Good job, son. Take a few days off."

"Thanks," Colt says as he returns to his horse and leaves. As the sun set, he got to the house and put his horse in the pen, notching Buck's horse was back. He walked inside the house and saw Buck sitting at the table eating.

"How was work?" Buck asks as Colt grabs a bowl.

"Fine," He answers as he sits down. He moves his arm up and lets out a small grunt of pain as his shoulder moves.

"What's wrong?" Buck asks when he sees the hole in Colt's coat. "Is that a bullet hole?"

"Yeah," Colt answers. "I was guarding a guy that was going to Emerald Ranch for Billy, and we got ambushed, got shot in the shoulder. The owner of the Ranch patched me up."

"You okay?" Buck asks with concern clear in his voice.

"Yeah," Colt says as he pulls the money out of his pocket. "Got a good amount of money for my troubles."

"You did," Buck says. "Good job, kid. You have a few days off?"

"Yeah, figured I'd rest and heal."

"Good choice," Buck says as he sets his plate in the sink. "Night."

"Goodnight, Buck."

Thanks for reading, so this is the start of Colt's backstory. Colt is now 16, and he will be 38 at the start of the Red dead redemption two-story. I am making Arthur a little old. Arthur will be thirteen right now, and Dutch and Hosea find him at 14. Colt is three years older than Arthur, who is 35 at the start of the rdr2 story, I believe. Anyways there will be a few chapters with just Colt and some other charchters. I might do some Arthur P.O.V's, but I don't yet. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.