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More from Jessy~
-Arizona-
Life isn't always easy or even fair to all of us. Some get life handed to them on a silver platter while others are barely given the chance at any life at all. Sadly young Arizona got the short end of the stick when it came to luck.
In her younger years a strong fear grew deep in her subconscious for the bear species. Luck left this child the day a bear struck her down like a flopping salmon through the stream. If it wasn't for her father she may not even be with us today. The quick thinking of this man got his daughter to safety just before one pissed off grizzly took another lunge at the two. As the two ran Arizona looked back to see why the bear was so angry. Cubs. Two cubs were hidden not to far behind her, the sounds of the gun must have triggered the mom to protect her young ones. So it can be counted as a blessing that Arizona only got a scar over her eye but she lived to tell the tale.
If you have been lead to believe that this is where her bad luck had come to an end you would be rather wrong. It only went down hill from there. Her father owed a debt to the Lemonye Raiders, a debt he could no longer afford to pay which in turn means the debt would be paid with his life. A young Arizona kept herself hidden among the pelts only being able to watch as Her mother jumped in front of her father in hopes to save him when in turn she only took the blade through her own throat, the same blade that would take the life of Arizona's father a few moments later.
"Find the girl! Burn it all down!"
The leader demand as he took what he wanted before leaving the home. Flames danced in Arizona's eyes as she looked around at the only place she called home starting to set ablaze. A soft bark snaps her back into reality, her dog Jack was outside the window waiting for her to reach safety, she quickly moved from the burning house charging to the woods. Running as far as her feet could take her. She just kept on running and running and running.
Pure exhaustion alone stopped her as she made it to the swamps. She gave in to her exhausted legs for the moment; sitting in the back of an abandon wagon on the side of the road with her best friend staying close by. Soon the two drifted off to sleep.
As the years went by Arizona made her home in that very swamp; stealing whatever she may want from the town close by then hunting for whatever she may need to survive.
"Who. Whooo."
A silent night was greeted by the hooting owls who have awakened for their breakfast, gators make their ways into the mucky waters to conserve energy through the night, all those living in the territory are starting to settle down to bring the day to a close except the sound of a few men making their way through the swamp. Their sneaky ways caught the attention of Jack which in turn caught the eye of Arizona. Anyone out in the swamp at this time of night are usually up to no good.
"$500!? haha that's what they are offering for me. You would think I would be worth way more than this considering how many times I've escaped them." The small group of men laughed as they made their way down the path. At the mention of money Arizona's brow rose upon her face just before she silently moved through the brush to follow behind these men, she couldn't possibly take them all on her own but they were at a disadvantage by being in her home.
"Whooo who."
A soft hooting sound rumbled from her chest to catch the attention of her owl friend. The large glowing eyes blink to reveal that she has gained its attention. All she does is nod toward the men before the owl swoops down onto the men again and again using its talons to instill fear into their very cores getting them on edge. A deep hiss comes through the dark to catch the attention of the already distracted men.
Gators!
They have been surrounded by some grumpy gators snapping at their feet. All of this forced the men to run in all different directions in hopes of finding safety. They indeed escaped; all except the one worth something to Arizona. That man ran right into a rope that tighten around his ankle yanking him off of the ground to hang upside down off of the branch above. Crying out for help only got him greeted by Arizona with the owl rested up her shoulder, the man spoke fowl language toward her but all she did was smile and give him a pat upon his cheek.
The very next morning the law were left a hint to go into the swamps for a surprise. The hanging man had a note upon his chest.
"Here's your man. Leave my money with the dog, don't be fools and try to leave the swamp without paying me or you will meet with the same fate as the others."
Not wanting to take the risk the sheriff held the money out to Jack only for him to snatch it up and run off out of sight.
That was some of the easiest money she had ever made. One night changed her life forever as she became a feared name among the outlaws; one of the most sought out Bounty hunters of the wild west. No one could figure her out, not even the people she chose to ride with as time went on. In the end she never could settle into any of these gangs because none of them felt right for her but she always kept her hope that one day she would find where she belonged.
A home.
______________________________________________
-Jack-
"Okay,girls. I'm gonna have to take your little monkey friend now, we have work to do." The father smiled down to his two daughters while patting his son on the back. His boy was always very kind to his sisters; even to the point of allowing them to dress him up in a bunch of weird ways. Toddler or not his father brought him along on weekend trips up north. The streets of Brooklyn New York usually wasn't a good area for hunting unless you wanted a stray cat for dinner; he wanted his boy to grow up to know many different trades not just the ones of his Italian ancestors. Bringing his family to America for a better life no matter the problems they would have to face.
This young boy spent a lot of his time helping his mom around the house when not going to school and facing racial ridicule for being an Italian immigrant. The trips they often would take up north was an escape for him; an escape from the harsh reality of the world.
"Don't feel to bad,Giacomo. You'll get the hang of that gun like your old man in no time." He gave his sons head a playful push as they were sitting in the stationary brush that was set up by the boys uncle to wait for the deer herd to wander on by. He was lucky to have his uncle there to teach him the ways of the woods. A city kid normally wouldn't know his way around a knife let alone a gun. During that day and age being able to provide food and pelts was a very sought after trade. Even if he didn't use these skills to lead his life's work, he would still have these life lessons stored in his back pocket. His uncle came from Italy a few years before they did and was able to settle down without much hassle due to living out on his own and making his way on the land.
As the years went on Giacomo better known now as Jack surely did learn how to use his gun and his fists which often got him in trouble when it was mixed with his Italian temper. He was a good guy that had a few to many run ins with the law. Lucky enough to be known around the town's he never spent longer than a week locked up in a cell but in the end his parents worried he was heading down a dangerous path and made the tough decision to send their boy away to a town known as Black water where he lived with his uncle who had settled down in that territory helping provide supplies for the butcher shop set up in town.
"Not to shabby with that gun, young blood." Jack looked from his kill to an older man who he didn't even know was watching him. "The name is Bim, been watching you since you moved here. You have some good skills for one so young." Confusion covered Jack's face but he said thank you for the compliment which led to the two men talking for hours learning about a trade known as Bounty Hunting. This trade was basically about hunting men down for a good hunk of change, it seems like the perfect job for him.
Over the months he spent with Bim they formed a bond most would have with an older brother which lead Jack to become one of the best bounty hunters out of Blackwater until the stories of a woman known as Arizona started escaping town folks mouths; saying she was the one to hire if you wanted a successful hunt. Jack usually shrugged it off and focused on improving his trade.
The boy who allowed his sister's to dress him as funny things has grown up into a man that any parent would be proud of.
Jack Bronco The Blackwater Tracker.
__________________________________________________
The summer sun beat down on the alligator territory so heavily that every gator was out and about basking in the glory that is the rays of sunshine. Arizona didn't find it that much of a blessing and more of a nuisance that brings in the skeeters and horse flies who have won for the moment considering she was taking a nap high above upon a shaded tree branch.
This mid-afternoon snooze was soon quite rudely interrupted by the sound of the oh so annoying males that lived in the swamps. Intellect was not something they knew even existed let alone knew how to speak. They often would try to speak but it only came out as gibberish that only their people could remotely understand. Never the less they were coming far to close to Arizona's small patch of land, she may not have had much but what she did have was hers and hers alone. Upon fixing her rifle on her back she quickly made her way down the tree jumping right in front of the snout of a snoozing gator.
"I think you took a wrong turn there boys." The scrawny filthy men were all gibbering to themselves hunched over like frighten cattle causing her to lift a brow. "Where are your weapons?" As soon as she spoke a bullet is shot into the air to spook them off, she gazed around to find herself surrounded by the notorious Lemoyne Raiders.
"Think we forgot about you,little one?" Arizona was standing eye to eye with the man that took everyone she loved away from her, for what? Greed.
Standing with only a rifle on her back and a knife on her hip she was truly staring death in the face because she wasn't going anywhere with these men. Just before she could think to reach for her gun the sound of multiple guns cocking cracked through the thick swamp air.
"Looks like you picked the wrong day for a stroll there, Tuck. Have your boys drop the weapons or you all go down without stepping a foot in court." The men were easily out numbered by a gang of bounty hunters.
With a groaning tone the leader gave the order to drop all of their weapons. "This doesn't concern you,Jack."
"Your ugly mug on this piece of paper with the dollar signs all over it kinda makes you my concern now doesn't it? The pretty lady is just a bonus." Jack gave Arizona a charming smile that only caused her to roll her eyes as she squatted down to stroke a not so happy gator on his snout that was awaken from his nap by all of this ruckus.
After a few more moments of bickering the men were tied up in a chain gang preparing for the long trip back to face the sheriff.
Jack took one to many steps back from his horse as he was preparing to leave almost stepping right into the mouth of an already unhappy gator; Arizona quickly reached out to grab him away from the beasts burly chompers.
"Whoa! I guess we are even now huh?" He laughed as he caught his footing." Thank you, I would prefer not to be old boys dinner."
"Don't worry, he doesn't eat rodents." Arizona said with a cheeky smile. This sly joke causing all of his men to chuckle under their breath. "How did you know to be here?"
"Talk spreads like wild fire through the bars over in the new town of Blackwater. They spoke of a gang out on the hunt for, Miss Arizona Owens, the bounty hunter that can control gators."
She scoffed at his remark" I don't control them, we respect each other. I protect them so they protect me."
"Well in any case, if you ever want a place to call home, come find us in BlackWater. You will fit right in I'm sure." With a tip of his hat Jack mounted up and lead his gang on the long journey back home to Blackwater.
For the first time in a long time Arizona stood there watching this man as if she was in a daze. A soft hoot filled her ear just before her dear owl friend snapped her back to reality giving her some gentle nibbles through her hair. With a soft chuckle she shook her head at everything that has just happen before disappearing into the setting sun.
It was a day or two before Jack lead the gang close to Blackwater.
"Hold tight guys we are almost there."
Leading this herd of outlaws through the fields outside of town. The pouring rain wasn't helping the end of this trip be any easier; Jack was focused on the road ahead and didn't notice one of the men slipping from his restraints only to take a blade from his belt to begin cutting his brothers free; including his leader Tuck. Six men all together were cut free before Bim took notice, everyone quickly started lassoing the fleeing outlaws like cattle.
Jack took off on his stallion into the storm after Tuck. A strike of lightning crashes down making contact with a tall pine tree, the sudden crack and spark spooks the horse bucking him off; simply out of fear. With a rough thud Jack landed against the wet ground quickly grabbing his pistol from its holster in hopes to stop Tuck in his tracks. As he aimed down the sights something catches his attention from the corner of his eye.
An owl?
The familiar owl swooped down to distract the escaping outlaw in enough time for Jack the fox hound to shoot past like a bat out of hell and take Tuck down by his ankles. The whining man then was hog tied before he could even see by who.
"Didn't think I forgot about you did you?" With a swift kick to the face the man was knocked out cold. Arizona made her way over to Jack holding out a helping hand; as their fingers made gentle contact with one another it seemed the harsh rain started to let up to allow the moon to shine again. Helping him get back onto his feet he cleared his throat to speak.
"Thanks for the save there. Again"
"Now. We are even." The two couldn't help but simply smile at one another like the knew each other for years.
Once taking the time to help deliver part of the Lemoyne Raiders to the Blackwater sheriff Arizona decided to give this new gang a chance with a few of her animal friends in tow.
Perhaps this was the place to call home? With Jack? A family?
Only time will tell. ❤
Jack: Francesco Pennisi(facebook)
Arizona: Hannah Cooper(facebook)
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Artist: Darl.Arts on Instagram
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
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File Size 249.6 kB
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