Fernando Coyote

Fernando Coyote is major character in The Morgan's Series. He is one of the two deuteragonists of the Isaac Morgan Series and a minor character in the Finley Morgan Series, where he meets an untimely death. He was Isaac Morgan's closest friend and most trusted ally, and stays by his side from the moment the two of them meet. Before his death, Isaac helps Fernando escape to Mexico and tells him to never come back, knowing that their gang was falling apart. Fernando returns to America several years later, where he meets up with Dwight Grayson and Talia Morgan, Isaac's younger sister, to help train Finley, Isaac's son, before shadows of their past come for him too.

## Backstory

Fernando was born in Chuparosa, Mexico - a settlement on the New Austin-Mexican Border. His parents loved him and they lived a small but quiet life together. His Mother worked in local market stalls while his Father worked on a local cattle ranch. They made enough income that Fernando had a comfortable upbringing and he had many fond memories of his childhood. However, he grew up during the American Invasion of Texas, a war in which Mexico refused to recognise New Austin and surrounding areas as American territory due to the Treaty of Velasco. The war ended in 1848, when Fernando was 3, but almost 10 years later the country was still reeling from the Invasion. The Mexican Army tried their best to fortify the country from more American invasions - armies, or migrants - and they treated anybody 'betraying' them as treason. Fernando's life changed at 12 year old when his Mother was shot dead in the streets for selling shoes to an American traveller. In order to escape further suffering, Fernando's Father smuggled him across the state boarder and into New Austin, a southern state of America. The two survived for a few days by camping out against the southern coast of the San Luis river, but their camp was infiltrated by a Panther late at night. His father tried fighting the big cat off but was mauled to death, causing Fernando to grab what he could and flee, surviving with just a scratch.

A few years after, Fernando became an accomplished Gunslinger within New Austin. Around this time, he crossed paths with Mason Clerk and he formed a Gang with a group of Outlaws he met in the Blackwater Saloon. He was a better shot than everybody in the Gang, and they became jealous of his success and his talent. During a heist at the small farm town of Valentine, his Gang stole the money and left him to be arrested. Fernando was shipped off to Sisika Penitentiary where he served a 15 year sentence. At 45, he was released and spent a short time in Van Horn Trading Post, where he met and began a brief relationship with a young woman named Rosa Elvira. Unbeknown to him, he had gotten her pregnant and left her during the night, deciding that he wouldn't get attached to another person again. He eventually ended up in Strawberry where he meets Dwight Grayson, a young gunslinger that helps him get revenge against his old Gang. Deciding that Dwight was trustworthy company, he decided to run with him.

## Isaac Morgan Series

At some point in 1898, Dwight overhears that a gunslinger he once knew named Isaac Morgan has began his own gang and takes Fernando to look for him. Instead, they discover Pinkertons searching for him and they decide to hide out in Rhodes. The duo discover through word on the street that the Pinkertons were hired by Dwight's own father, who was staying with the Braithwaite family in their Manor. They eventually cross paths with the Morgan's Marauders, Isaac's Gang, and agree to help them take down the Pinkertons hired by Dwight's Father and the Braithwaite family. Once they do, both men are welcomed to the Gang and become official members. Fernando and Isaac strike a friendship immediately and he quickly becomes Isaac's right hand. They live in the now empty Braithwaite Manor and Fernando is finally sure that he has found a group of people he can trust. Fernando even personally delivers the news of Dutch Van Der Linde's death to Isaac and helped him decide to work towards independence from Dutch's original vision. However, Saddened by the news of his old friend though, Hosea Matthews decided that he was going to retire from the Gang and live out the rest of his days in comfort in Saint Denis. The Gang celebrated his time with them in a Moonshine Shack, and one by one they all headed home. However, as Isaac, Dwight and Fernando were on their way back to the Manor, they were attacked by Pinkertons. A high ranking officer, Agent Ross, revealed himself and told the trio that they were coming with him. Unwilling to return to prison, Fernando opened fire but he was shot through the eye by Agent Ross, injuring him gravely. Isaac was knocked out and Dwight was captured.

He later woke up in an alleyway with Isaac, amazed that he had survived, and headed with Isaac back to the Manor to rest up. He donned an eye patch and quickly adjusted to his new sight. The next day, he and Isaac attacked a passing Pinkerton train that was carrying Dwight to Saint Denis. They snuck on the train and planned to hold the Agents at gunpoint and exchange them for Dwight, but instead they had to act quickly and shoot their way out of the situation. They managed to retrieve Dwight, but Agent Ross escaped. After a few days, when Javier was standing guard outside, Pinkertons - lead by Ross - approached the Manor on armoured wagons. Isaac rushed outside and they once again asked them to turn themselves in. When he refused, they shot Javier and held Isaac at Gunpoint. Fernando lead the remainder of the Gang out the back of the manor and set up a Camp far enough from the Manor that they wouldn't be caught but close enough that they could keep an eye out on what happened. Isaac eventually met them there and informed the group that the Manor had been burned down. In order to keep an income, The Gang turned back to robbing and Fernando and Bill were sent to a stagecoach heist that was really a Pinkerton trap. They were kidnapped and taken into the Mountains to be used as Ransom, but Bill tried escaping and was killed. Fernando was later saved by Isaac, Dwight and Mason, who had joined the gang to look for him. They buried Bill and headed back to Camp, now with Mason as a member of the Gang. They decided that they had to hunt Ross down and end this before more Gang members died and they found him in Rhodes. They chased him to the Heartlands Oil Fields where the Pinkertons were currently stationed while it was abandoned. During this battle, Ross was killed by Dave Johnson, a lone outlaw who was also searching for him, and he joined their gang. Fernando and Dave did not get along and frequently clashed.

Fernando was present was Isaac was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and also personally recruited Juan Ramirez, another Mexican outlaw that had travelled to America as a child, to the Gang. Fernando received a letter from Rosa, his old fling from years before, who was currently living in Mexico. She told Fernando that he had a son named Jose and wanted him to meet him. After Dwight decided to depart from the Gang to buy a Ranch, Fernando decided that he too would leave to go to Mexico and spend time with his son before growing tensions in the Gang boiled over. Isaac and Fernando spent his last day in America together, and ended up in Blackwater. Isaac solemnly told Fernando not to come back for his own safety and left him alone at the Blackwater Docks, where he remained for hours. He eventually caught passage on a ship that was heading to Mexico and travelled to meet both Rosa and Jose. A few months after this, Fernando received news that Isaac had been killed by Micah Bell and Juan Ramirez in a betrayal. He vowed that one day he would seek vengeance - but had to put his new family first.

## Finley Morgan Series

6 years later, Fernando received a letter from Dwight telling him that Isaac had a son, Finley, who had recently turned 18 and lost his mother, Isabelle Greenfield. The letter detailed a promise that Dwight had made to Isaac before he died to watch over Finley, but didn't think he do it without Fernando's help. Fernando decided to leave and head back to America. He travelled to Strawberry where he met Dwight and also Isaac's sister, Talia - a secret that had been kept from him by both Dwight and Isaac himself. Dwight took them both to where Isaac was buried and told them he was going to collect Finley and bring him to his Ranch at the foot at the Mountain to try to train him in case people came looking for him. Leaving Talia at the grave, Dwight headed off to Rhodes to collect him while Fernando went to Blackwater to purchase some guns for Finley. He bought him a very expensive Bolt Action Rifle, a Jawbone Knife and a Scofield Revolver.

He returned to Dwight's Ranch, where Talia was training Finley at marksmanship. Initially, Finley pulled a gun on him but Talia explained who Fernando was and Finley lowered his gun. Talia sent Finley inside and she spoke with Fernando about their goal. She told him that she wanted vengeance for Isaac's Death as much as he and Dwight did but needed him to know that Finley's survival was just as important. Fernando agreed. The following morning, he gifted Finley the bolt action and trained him at both long range combat and archery. He later gave him the Knife and the revolver. The next day, after finding a bounty poster for Dave in Strawberry, Dwight, Finley and Talia set off to Van Horn, leaving Fernando to defend the ranch. While he was in his room, re-reading the letter from Dwight that brought him here, The Ranch was invaded by Samuel Stoneheart and his private army. Fernando waited at the top of the stairs, listening to the group ransack the ranch. When Sam came up the stairs, Fernando jumped out at him with his knife and began slashing at him. He got a few hits in but Sam managed to overpower him, disarm him and stab him in the leg with his own knife. Fernando fell backwards and Sam shot him in the head, killing him. He died at age 60.

## Trivia

* The name Fernando means 'Adventurer', and reflects the character's journey between Mexico, To America, To Mexico and back to America again.
* It's hinted that Fernando may have been Bisexual and likely had feelings for Isaac.
* Fernando had many children, all with different lovers. In an original draft of the story, he was supposed to end up with Talia instead of Dave, but the idea was later scrapped due to their 30 year age gap.
* His horse, Flower, remained in Big Valley for many years after Fernando's death. The horse was later reclaimed by Jose when he travelled to America.
* Fernando's death was later avenged by Finley, who went on to kill Sam with the help of Fernando's own son, Jose.
	+ Jose travelled back to Mexico and likely went on to have children. Other than Isaac, Fernando is the only gang member to have their legacy and family name continued.