Billy noticed the change in the way she talked, more in a serious tone than before, and how she looked more at the floor than at him. She was being serious and it wasn’t some joke.
It wasn’t new to him, to hear this, it appeared like al of New Mexico wanted him dead. Mostly the townspeople didn’t, but there was some who wanted him to hang too. Mostly the citizens were on his side – the law system, not so much.
“It’s nothing new to me. I know about it already,” he spoke, simply, as if he didn’t care. He did care, but it was something he was used to hearing. He was surprised that she came here, all the way from Saint Denis, to tell him that and to help him out. He thought she just stuck by him in Saint Denis, feeling like it would let her gain something, but maybe he meant more to her than he thought. She wasn’t just using him as a partner in crime.
Billy didn’t want to have her join him, to pull her into his situation; even if she wasn’t a lawful person herself. If she wanted to and suggested it to him, he would maybe let her. To have her join him while he ran from law enforcement.
He assumed the people after him were the people from New Mexico, who wanted him dead in the first place. It had to be them, he hasn’t committed any crimes here that would get him a lot of attention. He made sure of it, have his crime be something that wouldn’t draw a lot of attention.
“I guess they found me here, too.” It was the reason he came out here in the first place. He sighed. He wasn’t one to be pessimistic, but he had to be realistic – he knew he couldn’t run all his life. He could try, but in the end, it might not be worth it. They would find him anyway. He wouldn’t give up, not now anyway. He would still try to have luck on his side and make a life for himself. Even if he gained a lot of publicity from his last jail attempt. He was too stubborn to quit so quickly.
“What were you thinking?” he asked her, looking at her. He didn’t have much to bring with him, he could easily move if that was the plan. He didn’t put much of his stuff in the house since he assumed he would only be here for a few days. Billy didn’t ask her why exactly she cared, why she made such a journey and go out of her way for a guy she met in the city. It would be rude of him and he felt like she might not want to answer it.
He then decided to speak again, adding another thing.
“I appreciate it, y’know– You helpin’ me and all.”
Usually, there was no problem detaching herself from people -- least of all, MEN. She was pretty good at it too, a master of her own craft. Everyone was her pawn, and the city was her chessboard. But for SOME REASON, she felt a sort of attachment towards Billy, and she hadn’t had one of those in a long time. Perhaps, in a way, he reminded her of someone she knew way before. That he reminded her of a time when things were far simpler and with less heartache. A time before she became this vengeful, selfish shell of a person.
And as Mariana realized she traveled all this way just for him ( nevermind stealing someone’s horse along the way ), she discovered that maybe she finally found a friend. A GENUINE friend. And in the end, she does care about him, despite their short time together.
Her mind boggles at the idea -- no, at the FACT that she still has the capacity to care for ANYONE. It was enough to get her drowning in her own thoughts; the room and the sounds blurring in the background. She just barely caught what he said, and a heavy weight anchored deep in her chest.
“ I -- - ” Mariana looked up at him, but as soon as she realized how pathetic that might’ve looked and sounded, she reverted back to her usual poise. Donning and steeling the facade she kept up with for years. “ Where will you go next? Y’think we’d ever meet again? ”
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