A Father's Lesson

Prologue- Roxy.

Yep, that’s me.

You may be wondering what’s got a bounty hunter like me lying on a mattress, sipping whiskey.

Well, darlin’...

Let me start from the beginning.

Yep, that’s me. Little ol’ Roxy.

Heh. Cute, ain’t I?

Oh! And there’s my father.

A great man...

Anyway, my father ran a little business selling leather belts. Yes, sir—or ma’am, leather belts. And business was going pretty well. He was getting calls, making deals with companies, all that good stuff.

But me?

Heh.

I wanted to be a bounty hunter.

You know the ones on TV? Those badass gunslingers who ride into town and take down the bad—

HA!

Oh, the good stuff.

And my father?

Well, he loved the idea of me being a cowgirl.

He got me this belt.

A nice leather belt with the initials RB stitched into it.

My initials.

And then there was this hat.

A white cowgirl hat.

He got it all for me.

And he’d even play the villain whenever I wanted.

Heh...

Good times.

I remember one day he pretended to rob a bank. I stood there with my hand wrapped around my little toy revolver.

I pointed it at him.

“Hold it right there, criminal! Hands up where I can see ’em!”

And he did his usual smirk.

“Well, well, well... Roxy Blackthorne.”

That’s me, if you didn’t—

Alright, alright. You get it.

I smirked back.

“You’re brave for showing your face around these parts.”

and then we had a fun shoot out he would act like i actually shot him................. anyways .... after he wanted to take me to a rodeo see how the cowboy rode the horses and stuff heh it ..... it would of been fun ..........

anyways before the rodeo he had a meeting with this really rich company i didnt know much about them but he seemed very nervous

well the boss came in i was in the kitchen with my mother helping make dinner and ............. well...... suddenly my dad was on his knees and the man had a gun ........... i wanted to ........ i should of ......... anways ..... my dad .......... god i wish he was here ..............

*a man snoring across from Roxy drunk and asleep she looks back at you *

well i reckon not everyone gets to tell their sob stories but oh! lookey here right on time found the man i was looking for

*she smirks but this smirk is not a normal smirk almost ear to ear but with a crazy look in her eyes she jumps out the window and lands right on top of the guy and leans up and points the revolvers right at him he automatically puts his hands up

" plz plz don't shoot! ill tell you anything ANYTHING "

Roxy " well that was easy ....huh "

Roxy " where is mason and dont lie to me darling i seem to have a..... temper * smirks again *

the man " i.... i don't know I haven't met .... i AHHHH"

Roxy " that's one lie darlin another and ill break your arms next

the man " ok! ok! ok! hes in a office north from here .... he he has bodyguards everywhere!"

Roxy smirks " well thx darlin was it that hard to tell a lady like me?"

then suddenly *bam! roxy gets kicked right into a wall a man in a white suit and black cape stands tall

"we don't hurt innocent people not in my city "

-Roxy flops down from the wall that was caved in from her body she looks at you the reader and rolls her eyes -

Roxy " heroes am i right they act so noble, but they don't even understand your motives "-she looks up at the man in the suit -

Roxy " you almost ruined my coat and that ..... that pisses me off "

oxten" who are you and why are you harming this citizen ?!"

Roxy " names Roxy sugar and that's none of your business "

oxten "well it is now since im involved so im warning you to stand down - he turns to walk away and then bam a bullet whizzes by his foot-

Roxy smirks " oops i seemed to have missed "

oxten then sighs aggravated

oxten " look i dont want to hurt you so plz stand down!

Roxy " teh hurt me ..... you couldn't even hurt a fly "

Oxten scowls and charges at Roxy

Roxy just steps to the side and Oxten flies into the wall and grunts from the impact

Roxy looks at you

Roxy " see what i mean "

Oxten roars and dashes back out and Roxy smirks again and she dodges a few of his punches before one lands sending her spinning in the air but Roxy sees the moment and uses the pressure from the revolver to push her back she shoots at the ground and it pushes her back a little she lands on her feet '

Roxy " alright .... seems like i have to not play nice -she smirks again-

Roxy then starts shooting both revolvers' bullets hitting but doing nothing she does her crazy smirk

Roxy " of.. course "

she draws her great sword and smirks

Roxy " close quarters fight then heh fun "

Oxten growls and charges in Roxy jumps in the air and sends a kick down and it lands sending Oxten skidding back and then she flips pulling a revolver out shooting once Oxten blocks she dashes in and lands a kick with both feet on Oxtons stomach knocking the air out of him and sending him flying

Oxton crashes through multiple buildings as civilians run screaming through the streets.

Roxy watches him disappear through the rubble.

She slowly turns toward you, the reader, and smirks.

Roxy: “How much you Bettin’ he’s just gonna charge right back in?”

She thinks for a moment.

Roxy: “Fifty?”

BOOM!

Oxton bursts back out of the building and charges straight toward her.

He throws a punch.

Roxy casually dodges to the right, bringing her revolver up and aiming it directly at his face.

She smirks.

Roxy: “I win.”

BANG!

The round hits Oxton and sends him flying.

He crashes against a wall, breathing heavily.

He looks toward Roxy.

Then—

WHOOSH!

He flies away.

Roxy rolls her eyes.

Roxy: “Well, now that rodeo’s over, back to what—”

She stops.

Silence.

Roxy looks toward the street.

The man she had been chasing is gone.

Her expression slowly changes.

Roxy: “...”

Her eye twitches.

Roxy: “SON OF A WHISKEY BARREL!”

CRASH!

She kicks a stack of goods across the street.

Roxy: “HE WAS RIGHT THERE! HOW DID I LOSE HIM?!”

She sighs and drags her hand across her face.

Roxy: “I need a drink.”

ALLEO

A small town surrounded by open fields and dusty roads.

Despite its size, Alleo is known for having some of the nicest people around.

Roxy walks down the street before entering a local bar.

The moment she walks inside—

Several people turn toward her.

Roxy doesn’t pay them any attention.

She walks to the counter and taps her fingers against the wood.

Roxy: “One apple wheat whiskey.”

The bartender nods.

He pours the drink and slides it across the counter.

Roxy catches it.

She takes a sip.

Sweet.

Then comes the burn.

Roxy gives a satisfied little smirk.

Roxy: “Mmm.”

She looks around.

Something feels off.

The bar is unusually quiet.

Too many eyes are watching her.

A man finally steps forward.

Man: “Well, what’s a pretty thing like you doing at a bar?”

Roxy barely reacts.

She doesn’t even look at him.

Roxy: “Drinking whiskey.”

She takes another sip.

Roxy: “What’s a buffoon like you wasting’ his chance for?”

She smirks.

The man scoffs.

Man: “Cocky, are we?”

He reaches for his revolver.

Man: “What about I put a bullet in that pretty little—”

Roxy looks toward you, the reader.

Her expression is completely bored.

Roxy: “Ladies...”

She sighs.

Roxy: “This is how you handle a rambling’ dog.”

Right on cue—

The man draws his revolver.

But before he can aim—

SNAP!

Roxy catches his wrist.

She hasn’t even looked at him.

The man struggles.

He tries pulling his arm away.

Nothing.

Roxy looks back toward you.

Roxy: “Want to give it five minutes, sugar, before he starts Beggin’?”

She begins counting.

Roxy: “One...”

The man struggles harder.

Roxy: “Two...”

His face starts sweating.

Roxy: “Three...”

He looks around desperately.

Roxy: “Four...”

The man’s confidence disappears.

Man: “OKAY! OKAY! I’M SORRY! PLEASE, JUST LET GO OF MY WRIST!”

Roxy smiles.

She releases him.

The man stumbles backward.

For a moment, he doesn’t know whether he should run...

Or try his luck again.

Roxy notices.

Her smile widens.

CLICK.

She draws her revolver.

BANG!

The bullet hits the revolver of another man sitting nearby who had been aiming at her.

The gun flies from his hand.

He falls out of his chair.

Man #2: “WHAT THE—”

He scrambles across the floor.

The first man stares at Roxy in horror.

Man: “PLEASE! DON’T SHOOT ME! PLEASE! I’LL LEAVE!”

Roxy slowly rises from her chair.

She takes another sip of whiskey.

Then looks down at him.

Roxy: “Then leave.”

The man scrambles to his feet and runs out the door.

Roxy watches him disappear.

Back at the counter, the bartender stands frozen.

He looks at Roxy.

Then at the whiskey.

Then at the door.

He clearly isn’t sure whether he should ask for a tip...

Or just let her leave.

Roxy notices.

She smirks.

She reaches into her pocket and flicks a few coins onto the counter.

CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.

They land perfectly beside the glass.

Roxy: “That’s for the whiskey, sugar.”

She turns toward the door.

Taking a few quick sips from her drink, Roxy walks out of the bar.

The bartender watches her leave.

Silence.

One patron finally whisper:

Patron: “...Who the hell was that?”

The bartender looks at the coins.

Then toward the door.

Bartender: “...I don’t know.”

Outside, Roxy walks down the dusty street, casually drinking her whiskey.

She looks toward you one more time.

And gives a little smirk.

Roxy gets back to her apartment and slouches onto the couch.

It’s dusty and worn out, but it still does its job.

She keeps sipping her whiskey while watching TV.

Suddenly, the news catches her attention.

NEWS ANCHOR: “Mason, the owner of Lance’s Branches, one of the most successful companies in the region, will be having an interview in Ridge Hollow this weekend.”

Roxy takes another sip of her whiskey.

She slowly looks toward the television.

Then she turns toward you, the reader.

Roxy: “I need a better job...”

She smirks.

Roxy: “Well, I know where I’m headin’ next, sugars.”

Roxy looks back at the television.

Roxy: “Ridge Hollow...”

She pauses.

A grin slowly spreads across her face.

Roxy: “Hm.”

She takes another sip.