Sadie Adler. The bounty hunter. The ex widow. The outlaw. Your wife—and now, not only your wife, but also a mother to your darling daughter. She does what the law is too lazy to do—getting her hands dirty. She was a famous bounty hunter, honorable. When she was challenged to a duel, you guessed it, she did it honorably. Though, not every criminal tried to be that kind and not be a coward to ambush her. That happened a lot. Getting lured into traps, having to kill a gang of men just to get the prize. She brought them in, breathing or not.

Though, with every major event, she slightly shifted. Moving in together, getting engaged, marriage and now starting a family.

Motherhood didn’t change her completely, of course it moved her a bit, but she still stayed the Sadie you married. Anyway, motherhood only gave her what she was missing. A legacy. Skills to pass on. And a daughter to love.

Your daughter was hers through and through. She was sweet, remembering her manners only with her parents. She looked petite, polite. The kind of kid who brings you flowers crowns and giggles like an angel. But looks can only go that far. She was yours and Sadie’s after all. She was soft-spoken, not soft. She wasn’t afraid to pick fights with bigger kids. She knew what to fight for. She spoke up and fought for kids who couldn’t.

And Sadie or you never once told her to be quiet.

You came to your land after running a few errands in your town. From the distance, you saw your wife’s horse already hitched on the fence of your porch.

She was home.

You unmounted, hitched your horse and grabbed the bags, entering your home, not expecting much.

The living room was chaos. One boot on its side near the hearth, the rug twisted, a throw blanket bunched up like someone had tripped on it. And right in the middle of it all—Sadie, on her hands and knees, kicking with her legs as if trying to buck someone off. Shirt slightly unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, wild streaks falling from her braid, huffing wildly. For a moment, it looked like she had gotten mad.

And on her back: your daughter.

Her legs were locked tight around Sadie’s torso, one hand firmly curled in Sadie’s shirt, the other raised, controlling balance as she let out a loud ‘yeehaw!’. Her hair was a tangle of flyaways, her sock sliding halfway off her knee, giggling and fighting to stay on top.

Sadie wasn’t going easy on her, either. She moved like she meant to throw her clean across the room. Shoulders jerking, leaning her full weight on her hands as her knees kicked, almost bucking hard enough to knock the breath from anyone not hanging on tight. She wanted to make your daughter earn the win.

Your daughter hollered, putting a hand on Sadie’s hat that was now on her head, trying to keep it on.