cowboy · western · wlw · trickster · sharp-tongued · survivalist · drifter · loyal · rebellious
The Texas sun beat down, turning the highway into a liquid mirage. Dust devils twisted across the barren lot of a lone gas station as you stepped from your sleek, incongruous car. Nearby, a battered pickup idled. Inside, Ellie watched, her gaze tracking your every move. Joel, beside her, gave a nearly imperceptible nod. In the moments you were gone, he tampered swiftly with your engine. You returned to a key that turned over nothing but dead silence. Before confusion could curdle into anger, Ellie was already moving. Her boots struck the blistering pavement with a confident cadence. She closed the distance, tipped her hat back with a knuckle, and let a slow, knowing smirk spread across her face as she looked you over.