It had been a good day at Red’s ranch. The day had been warm, but with enough of a cool breeze to prevent it from becoming uncomfortable. The kids had, for the most part, behaved themselves, probably due to Trotter’s threat of cancelling the evening festivities if they didn’t. There was only one argument, and even that had died down the instant Jackie had walked into the room. Shooting practice had gone well; several of the older kids were improving significantly. Little Tob had fallen off an acridian, but with a little coaxing from the others, got back on and held on like a champion. Everything was going well.

And so, that evening, as promised, Trotter put on a show for everyone. Jackie smirked all the way through, recognizing all those moments where, had the audience been a bit older, things would have gone a little differently. But the white-furred performer still danced like a dream, even on the make-shift stage the kids had put together for him just out the back door. Trotter had even enlisted some of the more eager children to join him in the show, although Jackie noticed their parts were particularly small. The red-eyed woman had to keep herself from laughing. Even now, Trotter couldn’t resist upstaging everyone else.

Once Trotter’s show ended and the kids had given more than enough applause, they had a pleasant meal outside in the fine weather before the youngest of the children were ushered off to bed by those slightly older. Games were played and fun was had until the next set were sent to bed, and then the next. With the excitement of the day and the now-fulfilled promise, Trotter’s threat no longer carried much weight, and so the arguments flared up, and Trotter, exasperated, chased the children throughout the Ranch, trying to calm everyone down, but doubtlessly achieving the opposite effect.

Jackie had just finished extinguishing the pit fire they had cooked dinner on when she heard a soft voice from behind her.

“Miss Red, can we talk?”

Jackie turned her head around to see Scarlet, a centaur woman and the oldest of the kids at the ranch. Hardly a kid, really, Jackie thought suddenly. Scarlet had been with her since the beginning, and even then, would probably have been old enough to venture into the Waste alone. The kids always called her Scar, on account of the numerous scars lining her arms, neck, and face from the belt of a man who should never have had a daughter. At first, Jackie had been angry at the younger kids for the name, but Scarlet had, surprisingly, taken to it. She had said that each scar was a mark of her strength, because she had survived them. Scarlet had always had a way with the kids, always helping Jackie and Trotter maintain order and some semblance of discipline. Now, though, her eyes were downcast. She wouldn’t meet Jackie’s gaze.

“Sure,” Jackie said, dusting the soot from her hands. “Everything alright?”

The centaur looked uncomfortable. “Yeah, it’s just, no.”

Jackie turned to face the younger woman, briefly concerned. Then she flashed her golden smile. “You thirsty, Scarlet?”

Without waiting for the other woman to answer, Jackie took off past her and disappeared into the kitchen. A few moments later, she came back out with a bottle of whiskey in her hand and two glasses.

Scarlet eyed the bottle suspiciously. “Are you sure, Miss Red?”

“Don’t see why not,” Jackie said, pouring out a glass for each of them. “You’re old enough now, and besides,” she paused, handing one of the glasses to Scarlet, “it sounds like you’ve got something to say.”

Scarlet took a long drink from the glass, draining half of it in a gulp. She hesitated then before raising her head and staring Jackie directly in her red eyes.

“I think it’s time for me to leave, Miss Red.”

Jackie just stared back for a long time. She had always known this would happen, of course. Eventually, they would all leave to find their own lives. But Jackie had not expected it to happen so soon, nor was she really expecting herself to react as she did. Eventually, Jackie brought her own glass to her lips and drained the entire thing.

“You can go any time you want, Scarlet,” Jackie said, pouring herself another glass. “But, I mean, are you sure? You’re welcome to stay, you know. You’re good with the kids, and…” Jackie trailed off.

Scarlet finished the remainder of her whiskey. “I love it here, Miss Red. I really do. I love you and Mister Trotter and all the kids. I just…” She took a deep breath. “I just think it’s time.”

Jackie nodded. She took another drink. “I understand. I meant what I said, though. You’re welcome here anytime.”

Scarlet said nothing, but again looked away from Jackie’s eyes. Jackie noticed.

“That’s not all, is it?” Jackie pressed.

Scarlet shook her head, but said nothing. Jackie closed the distance between them, and refilled Scar’s glass. The centaur downed it.

“Miss Red,” she started, then stopped. After a very long pause, she looked up, and found Jackie’s gaze again. “I’m going to join the Ridders.”

Jackie stared. She stared for a long time, although it did not take long for Scarlet to look away. Finally, Jackie nodded. “The Ridders, huh? Well, if that’s what you want.”

“Miss Red, it’s not…”

“Good money, anyway,” Jackie said, turning away from the younger woman. “Excitement, too, from what I hear. Dangerous, but then, what isn’t in the Waste.”

“But Miss Red, please understand that…”

“Of course, there are problems with it, just like any job. Sometimes, the people you’ll be trying to Rid ain’t the nicest…”

“I know, Miss Red, and that’s why…”

“And sometimes,” Jackie said, turning back to face the centaur. “Sometimes they’re just honest people, trying to make a dishonest living.”

Scarlet hung her head. “I know. I swear, Miss Red, that…”

“Stop,” Jackie said, holding up her hand. “The kids at the Ranch call me ‘Miss Red.’ My friends call me Jackie, or just Red. My enemies call me Miss DeCoeur, for as long as they’re able to, at least.”

Scar raised her head again, and although there were the beginnings of tears in her eyes, she met and held Jackie’s gaze. “I would never come after you, Jackie.”

After a long moment, Jackie nodded. “I know you wouldn’t Scarlet. You’re…”

But Scarlet quickly held up her hand. “No, no. My friends call me Scar.”

Despite herself, Jackie grinned. “Alright, Scar. Like I was saying, you’re one of the good ones.” She paused, then refilled both of their glasses again. “So, what made you decide to go with the Ridders?”

“I was talking to your friend Sage when he was here.”

“That figures.”

Scar shrugged. “It’s not like he tried to recruit me, or anything. But I asked him about you. I asked him how he could be a Ridder and be friends with you.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said ‘everyone’s a bandit.’ That’s it. That’s all he said.”

Jackie laughed. “Never was one for words, was he?”

Scar shook her head. “But I thought about it. I thought about it a long time, ya know? I think what he meant was that if everyone’s a bandit, the Ridders can’t, and won’t, Rid everyone. So I guess, as a Ridder, you pick the bad ones, and Rid them.”

“Sounds smart,” Jackie said.

The centaur looked back toward the house, where the sounds of children struggling against Trotter were finally dying down. “I love those kids, Miss…I mean, Jackie. And a lot of them want to be bandits, like you were. But I think they’re going to be the good kind. The kind that don’t hurt people just ‘cause they can. The kind that don’t victimize victims.” She looked back at Jackie. “But I know there are bad ones out there. Ones who will shoot their friends in the back to get a bigger share, or take everything from people who’ve got nothing. Those are the ones I want to Rid, Jackie, because they’ll end up hurting those kids in there. And I don’t want that.”

Jackie nodded, and drank the last of her whiskey. “I knew you were one of the good ones.”

“And I swear, Jackie, if they ever ask me about you, I’ll tell them I never heard of you.”

Jackie’s face flashed with disapproval. “Now, Scar, what have I taught you about lies?”

Scarlet’s forehead furrowed. “I…”

Jackie shook her head. “Always make them believable! No one’s gonna buy that you’ve never heard of Red Jackie.”

Scarlet laughed, and moved in to hug Jackie. The red-eyed woman returned the embrace. Through tears, the centaur managed, “thank you for everything, Jackie.”

Jackie nodded as she pulled away. “Be sure and visit, huh?” Then Jackie smiled, flashing gold. “Just don’t bring any of your new friends over when you do.”