[ that name catches her for a second, makes her step falter — but only for the space of a heartbeat, and then emma's smoothing down her skirt, tucking her hair away from her face as she fights for composure. it's difficult with the mess of nerves roiling in her stomach, and she still nearly jumps out of her skin when that knock finally comes at her door.
breathe.
she schools her expression into something neutral as she approaches the door, opening it enough to look out at the two men standing on her porch. ]
Afternoon, ma'am. [ the first man greets her with a tug at the brim of his hat, his lips pulled in what she can only assume he thinks to be a smile. it feels far more like a sneer.
his partner only offers her a nod. ]
Is there something I can do for you gentlemen?
[ she manages to keep her voice steady, tame down that icy edge of standoffishness that pulses through her with all that unease. ]
Well, we're just passin' through. Lookin' for a man, and we were hoping you might've seen somethin' of him come through here. [ the bounty hunter reaches into his jacket, producing a crumpled, folded paper that calls back to mind a similar moment, sam producing the very same picture now being held up to emma.
poor likeness, she thinks dryly. ]
Goes by the name of Vasquez. Some vaquero— [ and here, the man's pronunciation might've been worthy of some of faraday's more willfully awful spanish. ] —shot a ranger in cold blood. We've been on his trail a while now, and seems it went cold somewhere 'round he—
Haven't seen him. [ emma interrupts the man's spiel with a flat look, crossing her arms over her chest. ]
You sure? Maybe take another look. [ he holds up the wanted poster again, but emma doesn't bother glancing down. ]
Is there something else I can help you with? I was just in the middle of startin' dinner, so if you don't mind. [ emma sets her hand on the door, moving to close it.
a large hand snaps out and catches the door.
the second bounty hunter finally speaks up, his voice coming like gravel, like rocks ground together. (it sets emma's teeth on edge.) ]
Your husband home today, ma'am?
...I have no husband to speak of, sir.
[ the bounty hunter makes a noncommittal noise. ]
You alone here?
Yes. [ emma's tone is clipped, sharp with impatience now. ]
Funny, I coulda sworn there was someone else openin' that door of yours when you came runnin' home.
[ if emma were the type to say fuck, now would be the time for it.
that broad hand shoves against her front door, forcing it open and knocking emma back a step. ]
Wh—hey! You have no right— [ but the bounty hunters aren't paying her any mind at all as they step past her into the house. ]
no subject
breathe.
she schools her expression into something neutral as she approaches the door, opening it enough to look out at the two men standing on her porch. ]
Afternoon, ma'am. [ the first man greets her with a tug at the brim of his hat, his lips pulled in what she can only assume he thinks to be a smile. it feels far more like a sneer.
his partner only offers her a nod. ]
Is there something I can do for you gentlemen?
[ she manages to keep her voice steady, tame down that icy edge of standoffishness that pulses through her with all that unease. ]
Well, we're just passin' through. Lookin' for a man, and we were hoping you might've seen somethin' of him come through here. [ the bounty hunter reaches into his jacket, producing a crumpled, folded paper that calls back to mind a similar moment, sam producing the very same picture now being held up to emma.
poor likeness, she thinks dryly. ]
Goes by the name of Vasquez. Some vaquero— [ and here, the man's pronunciation might've been worthy of some of faraday's more willfully awful spanish. ] —shot a ranger in cold blood. We've been on his trail a while now, and seems it went cold somewhere 'round he—
Haven't seen him. [ emma interrupts the man's spiel with a flat look, crossing her arms over her chest. ]
You sure? Maybe take another look. [ he holds up the wanted poster again, but emma doesn't bother glancing down. ]
Is there something else I can help you with? I was just in the middle of startin' dinner, so if you don't mind. [ emma sets her hand on the door, moving to close it.
a large hand snaps out and catches the door.
the second bounty hunter finally speaks up, his voice coming like gravel, like rocks ground together. (it sets emma's teeth on edge.) ]
Your husband home today, ma'am?
...I have no husband to speak of, sir.
[ the bounty hunter makes a noncommittal noise. ]
You alone here?
Yes. [ emma's tone is clipped, sharp with impatience now. ]
Funny, I coulda sworn there was someone else openin' that door of yours when you came runnin' home.
[ if emma were the type to say fuck, now would be the time for it.
that broad hand shoves against her front door, forcing it open and knocking emma back a step. ]
Wh—hey! You have no right— [ but the bounty hunters aren't paying her any mind at all as they step past her into the house. ]