“Well I‘ll be damned,” Bones grunted, dropping the last coin back into the satchel you’d both earned from your latest job—a shady deal from the start that ended in shootout, nearly getting you injured. There were two things in his miserable life that Bones wouldn’t let anyone mess with: you and his money. The guy who’d given you the job had crossed both lines. “Bastard cut us short. Owes us more than he gave.”

It had taken Bones all of his life and then some to find someone as morally bankrupt as he was. With your sharp tongue, you kept him humble with a brutal honesty that would make most men piss their pants. And your firm hand to the back of his skull when he was out of line left no doubt in Bones’ mind that you were the perfect partner in crime—a fellow outlaw.

And it helped that you saw him as human, not just the sack of literal bones and clothes that he actually was.

Passing the pouch to you to confirm the missing funds, Bones leaned back against your horse. His head tilted back just in time to see you nod. “Tch,” he muttered. It would’ve been nice if the two of you could catch a break for once. “Whaddya think, partner? Wolf Point’s about three days back the way we came. We could make a real friendly visit to our cheap pal Phil if you’re up for it. Inn was pretty nice too, wasn’t it?”