I woke up, I'm still at the same spot sitting with my head resting on the table. The others are also sleeping around the table, the others might have slept in their tent. I saw Rosalie laying on the dirt still sleeping, I stood up and carried her on the long chair we sat and laid her down.
I am the only one who is awake, just as I always do, it's always me who's early awake. Now my favorite daily activities, I went to my horse, Shadow and started grooming her then fed her. I looked around his body for some injuries, nothing to find. I started talking to the horse about what happened yesterday to express myself.
Now my other favorite activity, cleaning my weapons. I went to an empty seat and started cleaning my hated guns to my favorites. First is what Elias gave me yesterday, it had a bad accuracy while shooting at the Marshals yesterday. I cleaned the handle, the body then the barrel, I looked around it if there were any damages, none.
I cleaned my 5 weapons one by one until my father's revolver. It was custom made for my father as a gift for protecting our country, it has a unique lever action, offering for rapid fire and gives a massive punch to an opponent. Thinking about my parents made me miss them and think about it.
I cleaned my father's gun and the name "McAlliver" on the gun properly, looks brand new and newly made. Now cleaning my guns is finished, what now? There's nothing much to do around, you can do anything around here and could even get out of the camp and explore but don't let people know that you are a WANTED person.
Our camp is surrounded by trees so people around won't see our camp and of course away from them.
"Good morning McAllister" Elias greeting me, looks like he is just awake
"Good morning sir" I greeted back
"Any news to say?" He asked
"Nothin sir, just again a normal day" I replied
He nodded and went to the barrel full of water to wash his face, I really wonder what to do today. I could go to Sunstone City to find what activities to do like finding a building to draw there or continue my novel. Drawing is more fun to be honest but novel is money. Oh right, how about draw something then sell it, how could I never think of that I mean I always draw in my notebook and people won't buy a notebook.
"I'll be going to the city now" I shouted to Elias
"Okay but be safe" he replied
I ride my horse and galloped to the city. We made sure we camped farther from the city to avoid getting caught by the locals. It would take 20 minutes or below if with a horse and an hour or below if on foot. There is a small nearby village to our camp where we can buy our materials, food and stocks.
A few minutes later, I have finally arrived in the the city. A lot of people are talking about the incident yesterday. A lot of officers are going around and asking people about our identity. Hmph, we literally covered our body and faces to avoid our identity know. We even put something on our shoes to make us identified as tall.
"Nice to meet you again officer" I greeted to the familiar officer who talked to me last night
He nodded back and interviewed some passersby. I wandered around to see something to draw, there are some people crying, a lot of families. Sorry for killing you husband or son, I went to the Arts and Crafts shop I know.
"Oh hi, it's you again Eric Miller!" Ms. Jane greeted me
Yep, that's my name in this town to hide my identity.
"Good morning, do you have those panel thing which the painters use? I want the medium size" I asked
"How much? I asked
"Just only $4" she replied
I paid her for the panel
"Have you seen what happened yesterday?" She asked while handing me the panel.
"Yeah, it's Elias Elite's gang who robbed the bank" I replied
""Sigh" most of the gang have some very sad backstory, and they turn to be like this. Mostly the son of McAlliver, joined them and started killing and robbing. Rumors says he is not a very good shooter but they have a feeling from him learning from his father and might become the next most dangerous person in the country. Be safe out there, report any suspicious person to reduce the bandits or gangs for the justice of our country" Ms. Jane said
I thanked her and went out of the store. The fountain at the park would be beautiful to draw. I head to the park, I arrived but was met by a crowd of people. I joined in to see what is happening.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are making a competition of the best painter or drawer. 1st prize is $600, 2nd prize is $400 and 3rd prize is $200. Only 3 contestants can join in this round, anyone who wants to participate?" A person in the middle announced
There were 3 other people behind him, they looked like judges. People around started raising their hands, I raised my hand too. The person in front started looking for a contestant. The prize money isn't big enough like that one paint competition I remember and the prize money is $3,000 but money is money.
"You there!" He shouted pointing at a person from the right
He went forward, the guy started picking a 2nd contestant. Now he is looking for the 3rd contestant, he is looking in my direction. He pointed at me, I pointed to my self for confirmation. He nodded, people made a way for me, I went in front and we occupied the panels given to us. The 2 looked younger like me.
"All panels are now occupied, now what we want you to draw is anything, anything on your mind. We will give the three of you 1 hour and 30 minutes to make you give all what you've got" the announcer said
We prepared our paintbrushes they provided for us, I secured my newly bought panel by putting it behind me to avoid getting some paint splashing on it.
"Ready!" The announcer asked
We put our thumbs up
"In 3!"
"Okay, wonder what to draw"
"2!"
"Think Ryder think!
"1!"
"Oh I know"
"Start!"
We started painting, I took a green paint and paint vertically. I will try to paint the big river near the camp where I go and read, draw and continue my novel. The people around watched as we painted, I painted the grass, added flowers, I added deer, birds and butterflies. Time passed by which felt like eternity, someone is giving my opponents snacks, looks like their loved ones, they stopped painting and took a break.
"Here" a familiar voice said behind
I looked where the voice came from, it is Lily Rose handing me over biscuits and chocolate bars.
"I came here to buy food because the store from the village near our camp is closed. When I arrived, I saw this crowd and blended in, I saw your opponents getting snacks so I bought snacks for you" she said
"Thank you" I replied while taking the snacks from her
"I'll be going now, I don't want the gang to get hungry, goodluck on winning" she said
I nodded and said goodbye to her, I dropped my brush and took a break.
"How many minutes left?" I asked the guy who made the competition
He looked at his watch
"We still have 33 minutes" he replied
I looked at my painting, nearly finished. I can use the remaining to make it detailed and the finishing touch. I finished my snack and continued painting the mountains as a background, added the skies and clouds and now it's finished. I took the sweet remaining time giving it details like adding more flowers, giving the butterflies some beautiful pattern on its wings, the trees and lots of more that is worth it.
"Time's up!" The owner shouted
I halted and looked at the others, in the middle painted the 2 way street just near the park, it includes buildings, people, windows, the sky and lots more. The guy on the right drew the beautiful great canyon in the far mesa and we called the place Ha'a'ku in Native American. I wish I could go there to see the great canyon.
The 3 judges started to look at our paintings very closely and carefully, their face looks like they are having a hard time picking. They took their final notes and started talking to each other.
"We have decided to see who is the winner, the one who will get the first prize iiiiiiisssssssss!"
My heart skipped a beat
"Contestant number 3! Come here in front!" One of the judges shouted
I laughed and went to them, the audience clapped and applauded for me, he handed me the prize and put a gold medal on my neck. Contestant number 1, who drew the great canyon got the 2nd prize with a silver medal and contestant number 2 got the 3rd prize with a bronze medal . We shook each other's hand and went off stage.
They held another competition for drawing, not painting. The competition has the same prize but people who already participate cannot participate again. I took my newly bought panel and went out of the crowd back on the streets. The gang will be proud of me if they see my medal when I get back.
I looked around for things to do like helping people or something to buy. I just did nothing so I went to a popular bakery shop and bought 2 boxes of cakes for all the gang to share in total of $40. I rode back to the camp, and surprised them with the cake.
"Oh my, congratulations for winning!"
Miss Hellen Bliz said to me as she saw my medal
The others also congratulated me
"Uncle Ryder, will you soon teach me how to draw?" William asked
"I will teach you when I have the time okay?" I replied
They nodded and joined eating the cake, I went to my tent to eat peacefully there. I put my medal on my table. I have now 3 medals, 2 of these medals came from the drawing competition last year, 2 golds and 1 silver. I ate my cake peacefully, suddenly I could hear girls scream outside and there's shadows running outside my tent.
"Hey hey hey hey! What are you doing here?"
"Stay there!"
"On the ground!"
"Please don't shoot me!"
There's shouting outside with panicking voice, I put my plate on the floor and went outside. The gang is surrounding and pointing their ground to a guy kneeling on the ground with a lots of bruises on his upper body.
"Please don't shoot! I'll, I'll tell you where Jeb Hanks is!" He shouted, he has a Mexican
That name.....the one who killed my family.