Falls of the Hinterlands I could fight this 'til the end but maybe I don't wanna win

"ha!" briggs hooted, having blundered right into it. the man took the jest in stride all the same, appreciating the sardonic wit of the wildfire blonde. "i ran with a gang not too long ago. we split up, but my old ridin' mate's still with me. she's injured. never really healed."
colt paused to spit birch juice and blood onto the ground. "guess yew could say i bartered my freedom fer her to stay, cuz she weren't stayin' put if i wasn't."
colt snickered. "my devilish heart ain't cut out for it, ma'am."