A lot has changed for me over the years. Especially after the war. I didn’t just lose my family. I lost my purpose. That is until a man named Hawkins recruited me to be his posse’s surgeon.

Now we were at trading post bar in the middle of no where to celebrating the spoils of our success. Though our celebration was short lived when two Union Soldiers sitting behind us were trying to provoke Cullen. Looking over at him, I could see the rage in his eyes as he stares at them. It was clear that their derisive comments about Southerns had hit their mark.

As soon as he moved towards them, I grab his arm. “Just ignore ‘em, Cullen.” I look into his eyes pleadingly. Knowing well enough he should just leave it.

“I can’t.” When he said those words to me,I knew them boys would regret opening their damn mouths.

When the fight was over, I stare at Cullen as he washes his knuckles in a watering trough. “You gonna feel that tomorrow.” I warn him, as his knuckles were busted and bruised.

“Them Yankee farm boys are gonna feel it a whole lot worse.” He sighed as he didn’t seem bothered or phased.

Raising my eyebrows at his retort, I grunted. “Your father had a penchant for spirits and a good fight.”

“Like father like son, huh?” There was still no emotion in his voice as he stared off endlessly into the water.

“I said a good fight.” I corrected him as his father chose his fights wisely not carelessly. “Tell me, Cullen, what did you gain in there?” When I asked him that, you would think I had offended him. “You teach them Yankee boys a lesson, did you?”

“Something like that, Yeah.” He responded to me defensively. Bitterly.

“It’s you who needs the lesson.” I point out, as there was nothing gained from that fight. “You are better than them damn fools in there.”

“If they’s fools, what you doin’ ridin’ with ‘em?” As he stared at me, I couldn’t deny that he hit a nerve.

“Well, as sad as it is, those boys are the closest thing to family I got.” I confess to him as it was true. I had nothing of my old life anymore.