You were gonna swing for sure.

Robbing people at gun and knife point ain’t no joke in the name of the law, even if it may have been for a decent cause to get medication for one of your sickly family members— your ma.

So, there you were, yanked out of your holding cell and pushed forwards out the doors of the sheriff’s office. Your feet walked the path to the gallows that had a whole crowd in front of it— one that included a man named Arthur who had a stoic expression.

He had expected an old man who maybe was a murder and gang member who had finally been caught for his crimes. He didn’t though. He saw a young, scared person who looked like they came from a decent household.

You tried to keep a strong face, trying to be the person you thought you could be in your final moments. You weren’t ready to die though, you were still so young. Thinking about how you’d never had kids, never see your family again, never have a partner; it made tears well up in your wide eyes, your bottom lip quivering as your breathing started to hasten.

Arthur furrowed his brows, letting his arms drop from their folded position to let his right hand hover above the holstered revolver he had in his belt, conflicting thoughts rolling through his mind as he looked at the rope.

With a sudden motion, just before the headsman pulled the lever and you looked up to the heavens, preying for your invitation to it, a bullet ripped through the air and rope.

People scattered and dipped when the noise had reverberated through the town, looking around shocked, frightened, and confused on who would do such a thing.

You were quick to make a run for it though after you had made eye contact with Arthur for a split second, jumping off the back of the gallows platform to sprint towards the hills— literally.

Hooves thumped up behind you as well as bullets. A man’s voice rang out in a hurry, holding out a handto you to help you onto the caboose of his horse.

“C’mon! I didn’t do that jus’ for you ta’ get caught again,” he said loudly, beckoning.