“I’ve a feeling I might,” Daniel muttered. “Though I think I'll find out a bit more before I make any official conjectures. If my guess is right, though, you’re not going to find a better skilled tracker or fighter than she.”

Abigail smiled, “she sounds like your kind of girl. On a side note, who does the kid belong to?”

“Nobody,” Daniel replied. “Her pa was killed when she was a little thing. She has a brother, but I wouldn’t make the one responsible for the other. Too close in age.”

“Well now, that’s a Bummer. How is she holding up?”

“Feisty enough. She’ll be fine, as long as she stays put. I’ve a feeling the staying put part is going to be the hardest.”

She nodded.

“It always is, you just gonna leave her in that tent all by her lonesome all night?”

“What do you expect me to do, stand over her and watch her sleep?”

“I suppose that would take your stalker streak to a whole new level, wouldn't it?” Here Abigail playfully punched her mentor’s right arm, “look, I’ll keep her company.”

“Ow,” Daniel groaned, rubbing his arm and grinning. “You’re welcome to--just be careful. If I’m right about who the Marshal is, she’ll have a few moves under her belt, and I’ve a feeling she’s perfected the look-innocent-until-you-have-an-opportunity one. Don’t let her get away from you.”

Charlotte woke up when it was still dark. She blinked sleep out of her eyes and shifted, the tent rustling as she moved in the cramped space. All seemed quiet outside, which was a contrast to the way it'd sounded before she fell asleep. She wondered what time it was, but from what she could gather, it was the dead of night.

Her hands were still tied, which made things difficult, but she'd escaped plenty of times. She crept forward, crawling on her elbows, and slowly pulled the tent flap back. The camp was all but deserted. It was a perfect opportunity to make her escape.

Silently, she crawled forward and out of the tent. After a few failed attempts, she stood, looking around. Everyone else seemed to be asleep by the dying fire.

Charlotte wrestled with her tied hands, but they didn't budge. She didn't have time for this; the camp wouldn't stay quiet for long. She took a deep breath. She had to make a run for it, she decided. Maybe she could get back to Sagebrush by sunrise.

Abigail laughed at the insinuation that some bumpkin could give her the slip. She continued to laugh quietly until she arrived at the tent to find the bumpkin in the process of slippage.

"I'd stop right there little miss, heck, I'd go even further and insert myself back into that cozy canvas tent whence I'd came if I were you. But I ain't you, I'm the one holding the gun and youze the one I'm pointing at. So way I see it, you've got a choice to make, hun."

The others wouldn't have been so polite.

Before she headed back to Sagebrush, Charlotte thought it would be best if she had her hands free, so she continued to pull at the ropes binding them. Surprisingly, she made some headway and felt like she could almost wiggle free.

Charlotte was so intent on trying to get her hands out of the ropes that she didn't hear anyone coming. And by the time she did, she was staring down a gun barrel, the metal glinting in the firelight.

Charlotte let out a small gasp, then stuck her bound hands up as best she could. "I'm sorry, you're right, this was not a good idea. I won't try to escape. I'm done." She squinted at the shadowy form, a girl who didn't look too much older than she was, but couldn't get a clear look at any details. Instead, the gun stared back at her, which brought back memories of the day she left Sagebrush in the first place. It all came back to her--the Marshal shooting someone, all the blood...

Charlotte wouldn't let her mind wander there. She dragged herself back to reality and started to scoot back towards the tent. "My deepest apologies."

((OOC: Rough draft. I might edit stuff when I'm not as tired, but it should mostly stay the same.))

"Atta girl, you've chosen wisely." Abigail commented, keeping up her tough facade as she followed Charlotte back into tent. Once they were safely inside though, her tone and demeanor changed dramatically.

"Do you have a death wish kid? Because running off half cocked like that is how you get yourself killed."

"I don't have a death wish, but I don't appreciate being held against my will." Charlotte left her hands in her lap, giving up on trying to get free of the ropes for now.

"You gonna be held against your will in pine box you keep that attitude up." At least Charlotte had spunk, it would make helping her seem worth it. "My name is Abigail and if my boss and I have anything to say about it, you won't have to worry 'bout them ropes for much longer."