SmokingDappa: forum

Needs 2 playes to start

I would suggest reading some of the current rp's going on. Then do it your way! If HQ is gonna be the main caracter, you should set the direction for supporting acts, in my opinion. Like the idea btw🤓

Ahh man we need 🤣🤣 emojis to add to some of these great comments!!

At first Anna thought the other man was also a Marshall. Then she recognized the dog the man was calling, Riley, and remembered seeing them in and outside of Ridgewater a few times. She easily would forget persons, but animals was a different story all together.

She was mighty impressed with the authority the seemingly mild mannered man was commanding the outlaw and dog with. She realized they must have been together some time and also been through a lot together.

She turned to face the Marshall and said, "Am planning on trudging towards Ridgewater tomorrow before noon. You wanna organize a posse, you can count me in Marshall." Before he could answer she said matter of factly, "I also collect bounties where the opportunity present itself. Be so kind as to check on these two wannabe's records and bring the bounty to the hotel tommorow morning." She stooped to gather her fallen saddle bag, "I will ensure they have fresh coffee and biscuits ready when I see you 2 gentlemen for breakfast."

With that Anna turned around and walked off towards the hotel steps.

Anna took a step sideways in order to cover the wounded hardcase and the rapidly approaching lawman. Just in case. 

"Howdy Marshall. Truly happy that you're so quick to respond!" She glanched towards the Marshall before continuing, "I know these Mesa soldiers are no good son of a guns, but they normally just harass me from a distance. Something must have really made them eager for mayhem."

"I'm Anna. Anna Brooks. Just a trader visiting and looking for a hot meal. Was definitely not expecting to be ambushed in the middle of town!" Anna proceeded to give the lawman a breakdown of what happened, concluding with,"this here piece of who know's what, will confirm my version. Or I might just finish him off and good riddance it will surely be!"

Anna was just about to cross the street to get to the hotel when she spotted sudden movement coming at her from the side. As the mesa soldier made a grab for her, she instinctively dropped to her right knee and lunched wth her shoulder towards the danger. The swift move caught him totally off guard. He was not suspecting any resistance other than maybe a scream from his victim. Anna's forceful lunge send her shoulder straight into the rushing man's lower ribs. He let out a loud gasp, his momentum pushed them both off their feet and crashing into the street.

Rolling with the momentum she was already rising when she spotted a second man stepping into the street. Without a second thought she drew her colt and shot the approaching man through the right shoulder. Deliberately disabling his ability to draw his own weapon which was still sitting securely in its holster on his right hip. The man screamed in pain as the .44 slug spinned him around and dropped him into the dusty street. Still in motion her attention quickly returned to the first attacker who was trying desperately to breath and draw his revolver at the same time. She couldn't risk not ending this fight as she had no idea if there were more attackers around. As the man got his revolver out, his eyes widened in disbelieve. A second shot rang out punching a hole into his brain through his right eye. He was dead before he hit the ground.

She carefully surveyed the surroundings. Peering into the darkness around them, but seeing no other threat, she focused her revolver and attention on the wounded man. It was clear that all fight has left the mesa hardcase. This attack they sprang on a seemingly easy target to rob and have some fun with, backfired with deadly consequences! He was not going to try anything stupid!

Anna started moving towards the town center again. She had waited motionless, but ready, for a minute or two. She had seen movement further down the street, but in the fading light, she could not clearly make out what was happening. Her hand still hovering close to her colt, she made her way to the small hotel opposite the saloon. Eager to stash her belongings before finding something to eat and something to wash the dust out of her throat. "Whichever one comes first," she observed softly to herself. The merest hint of a smile, touching her full lips as she watchfully made her way onwards.

When the shot was fired, Anna was just making her way from the stables to the town center. She had sorted out her animals and packages, promising the stable hand a big bonus if everything was satisfactory upon her return. Also promising him an asswhopping if she was not happy with his effort!

Hearing the single shot, she stopped dead in her tracks. For a moment she peered down the street. Seeing nothing in the fading light, she stepped to the side of the street into the darker shadows. Her right hand resting lightly on her six shooter. She had slung a saddle bag over her left shoulder, when she had left the stables, for this very reason.

Anna released a slow breath, she was ready to act violently if needed.

Anna had made good progress. It was becoming real late and she still had to arrange safekeeping for her horses and packages. Only then could she try the hotel for a hot meal and bed. Otherwise she would just sleep with her horses, she thought. 

She was still too far out of town to hear the shots fired. However, she did pick up the tracks of the four people on horseback. Also where it caught up with the lone traveler and his dog. She was relieved to see no signs of evil-doing, but was still super uneasy. Four horses being driven hard by their riders, was nothing good in these parts. Someone was in a serious hurry. Only lawmen in a posse or outlaws was in that kinda hurry. She suspected the later.

"We will have to be cautious going into town" she spoke up in general, "no good being in a hurry and end up dead." 

Anna and her horses, reached the stream without any other incidents. She noticed a, not so old, campsite where someone had recently made fire. Though it was only a few hours ago, she could tell by the tracks, that a lone man, a dog and a mule had left the area towards the town of Thorny Crick. 

She made camp at the same spot that the man used. After unsaddling Jock and removing the packs from Roxie, she led them drink from the clear water stream. With a final look around to make sure nobody was about, Anna removed her boots and then stripped naked. Taking a piece of lavender scented soap, she went into the cold water and started washing her dusty and sweaty body. 

After rinsing off the soap, Anna swam out to the middle of the stream and called the 2 horses to her. Jock entered without hesitation and after a moments indecision, Roxie followed the huge stallion into the water. Anna played with them a bit to strengthen their bond and then they all got out of the water to dry. 

It was at this time, after getting dressed, that she decided to not camp there for the night. The opportunity to do some trade and have a nice hot meal was just too strong to ignore. Thorny Crick was a little out of her way, but close enough to not make a major impact on her plans. Or so she thought...

Since early dawn, Anna has been pushing hard. She wanted to reach a stream about 10 miles South, Southeast of where they currently were tracking through the forest. Following game trails where possible and instinct where not. She was well pleased with their progress and wanted to camp by the stream this afternoon. 

"We could defnitely do with some fresh water and a good rinse yeah, Jock." She patted Jock softly against his massive shoulders and thought to herself, a change of clothes would definitely also improve my smell significantly! Also need to put some snake oil on a nasty scratch Roxie picked up somewhere along the trail. Can't take chances with invections so many miles from her homestead.

Anna had grown up with horses. Her family had a large horse farm along the Eastcoast. Supplying the army and mostly lawmen with some of the finest Mustangs around. Her father was very good at managing the horses and horse business, but it was her mother who had the real natural talent of understanding horses.

It was a sight to behold when her mother moved among the herds! The horses would treat her with love and respect. Coming to her for a pat and a personal word. Even the colts, when they were agitated, would allow her to calm them down. They revered her and her mother had earned a well deserved reputation as a horse whisperer across the entire Eastern county.

Anna smiled at the memories of her life on the family farm. Horses were so much better than any human being she concluded with a chuckle, pushing Jock and Roxie towards the faraway stream.

After dropping of Storm at the neighboring homestead, Anna left the know path to Ridgewater. She wanted to test Roxie to the max. The trading routes she often dare upon, were, after all, not marked on any maps. 

Late afternoon was stretching the shadows out long between the cottonwood and cedar trees. It created dark patches that made both Jock and his rider Anna, uneasy. Anna steered Jock away from an especially dark area with a soft pull on his reigns. She felt really uneasy as she took her Winchester out of the saddle bag. Letting the reigns hang loosely on the saddle horn, she knew that Jock will not spook nor veer from the direction she steered him to. 

As the party was about to pass the bushy area, a huge cougar stepped out of the bush, starring at them angrily. She was about 20 yards to Annas left and growling with intent. Anna squeezed her knees into Jock who pulled he's ears back and rolled he's eyes, but he remained going straight and steady. Good boy she thought to herself while keeping her focus on the angry cougar.

Their eyes locked.

Challenging each other.

Measuring the distance.

After a tense second, Anna broke the silence, speaking clearly without shouting: "Hey girl. This is not the day for you to die. Let's both go our way and hunt another day yeah." The cougar growled loudly and dissapeared into the thick brush without another look. 

Keeping her focus on the dissapearing threat, Anna guided Jock in the opposite direction. She glanced back at Roxie who was shivering slightly from the adrenaline rush. Pulling Roxie closer she grabbed an apple from Jock's saddle bag and gave it to the still nervous Roxie. Better to award the good behaviour immediately, to reinforce the desired outcome. "You did amazingly well girl" she genuinely praised the pack horse "you and that angry mamma was the unknown element in that situation yeah." Anna continued speaking calmly to relax Roxie "you're a good one girl. I'm so happy those good people convinced me to accept you."

They kept heading towards Ridgewater and away from the angry cougar's territory. After another 2 hours, Anna found them a good camping spot to spend their first night away from civilization. 

Raining in the friendly city

Early dawn  colored the clear skies the most beautiful soft orange glow. Not a breath of air stirred the grass this morning. It's like even the mountain air paused for a moment to watch Anna finish her final preparations.

She had risen more than an hour earlier to get Jock and Roxie ready for the trip to Ridgewater. Roxie's packs were filled with tobacco, liquor, some tools and furs she traded a travelling Comanche party with. Jock carried only her saddle, Winchester and a Sharps hunting rifle she took off the younger Shield brother. 

Anna closed and latched the cabin door behind her with a "See you in a few days, handsome." As she made her way towards the corral, she smiled. She loved her place, but she loved the trail even more.

Dressed in her faded Levi jeans and light green shirt, she was more than ready to set off. The beaver skin coat that she made herself, was secured behind Jock's saddle. Her Colt, cleaned and oiled, was resting comfortably against her right hip. She had placed a folded leave between metal and leather to secure it, without hindering a quick draw. If needed. Another Colt was stored in Jock's saddle bag with her hatched and Green River knife. Finally she tied Roxie's reigns to Jocks saddle and Storm's to Roxie's pack bindings. Storm would be dropped off at her neighbor's farm for safekeeping till she returns. These mountains still had cougars and the occasional black bear roaming about. 

The journey to Ridgewater, about 70 miles due south, will take 3 to 4 days, depending on how well Roxie will travel. She's still a young Pinto filly, a gift from the same Comanche party she traded with. This would be her maiden trip as pack horse to Ridgewater. A test if you will of how good she can handle 20 miles a day for a few days. Storm, her sturdy and reliable Morgan, could easily be pushed to cover 25 miles a day, but Anna was in no hurry this trip. She looked back at Storm carrying nothing and spoke to him, "Promise ya next time we all will go together when I get offered a decent bounty to pursue." Positioning her hat on her long jet-black hair, she started their journey just as the sun cleared the lower mountains to the east.

Thank you! Just won 2 xan😍

Anna put her rifle aside and got up to stir the bubbling stew. Adding some dried mushrooms from her last harvest, she pulled the big pot from the heat to simmer on the side. The aroma was terrific and made her realize how hungry she were. She picked up her rifle as she made her way outside to sit on the porch. Enjoying the afternoon cool air drifting in from the mountains.

She glanced over at the corral where Jock and her 2 pack horses were kept. Soon she would have to make a back country trip to offload some 'items'. Sitting on such valuable articles is not the brightest of ideas. Only 2 people were aware of what she bought with the bounty she collected on the wanted Shield brothers. A relative fortune that brought her. Not to mention the fun, she thought, smilling to herself. The notorious hired guns was too hot to handle for so many bounty hunters. Hard men turned away and the bounty just kept on growing. The brave ones that tried, was never heard of again. Legend had it that the brothers could spot a bounty hunter from a distance their Sharps rifles, did not miss.

Anna sighed and stood up. She started taking a walk down to the stream. Her Winchester resting comfortably in her hands. 

I made the jump just yesterday🤓

Thank you for the post. Condolences to your family. 

Anna's place was far enough out of Ridgewater that the town's drama did not reach her doorstep. That's why she chose to settle here 2 years ago. Her cabin nestled against the mountain slope. Clean, clear mountain stream running just to the west of her humble abode. Dave, her late mate, was always amazed that the stream never ran dry nor froze over. He wanted to call their "homestead" Clearwater, for obvious reasons. Anna didn't even consider it and registered their claim, Torn. Simple and with a very deep meaning only known to her. Before Dave left her taking almost all her savings, he had tried in vain to learn why she named it Torn.

The thought of him unsettled her this afternoon more than usual. She had just returned riding from hunting 3 scrub rabbits. She deliberately forced the dark thoughts out of her head. There was much to do. Jock, her huge Mustang, had to be brushed, fed  and stabled first. Then a quick wash of her sweaty body followed by preparing dinner. For herself. 3 Scrubbies were too much, but the last one practically begged to be shot. A challenging shot into the sun over a distance of about 150 yards. She shot it through the head, as the 2 before him. The .44 caliber Winchester messes up the meat if shot anywhere else. Her love of weapons had made her a master shot. Keeping her well fed all by herself.

After she cleaned herself, she skinned and cleaned the scrubbies. She strolled to her cabin humming on old childhood song. Then started making a fire in the fireplace to cook a delicious rabbit stew. Fit for a queen, or even a king she smiled to herself.

While the stew was bubbling along nicely in the well used black pot, she sat down and started cleaning her Winchester repeater. She loved her weapons with a passion. They were not show pieces, they were tools. The Winchester was her general use rifle. Always close by to get to in an emergency. On her hip she carried a .44 colt revolver. Having both as .44 caliber was very convenient. She slipped the side arm out of its worn holster and wiped it clean before returning it to the holster. Only when she settles for the night, will the holster be hung on a peg next to her bed. Till then it remains a companion. By her side and ready to be drawn with astonishing speed. She sat back and took a sip of her strong black and bitter coffee. Maybe later she will watch the sunset across the stream, but for now she just rests at the huge kitchen table enjoying her peace.

Hi there. Ive lost huge amounts of weight following the low carb lifestyle. It's not called a diet, coz you have to change the way you eat, for good. No portion control is a big bonus as I also overthink and food is comfort. Dm me and I can guide you.

Happy birthday🥳🥳🥳