A/N- I do not own RDD or any characters except Catlin. I got the idea when my husband was playing RDD2. Enjoy!
John, Bill, Lenny, Sean, Micah and Javier are riding back into camp, returning from a raid that John had gone wind of. Bill sat in the driving seat on of one covered wagon, Lenny driving the second, the others on horseback; they all looked mighty pleased with themselves as they rolled in.
"Well good afternoon there boys, it went well?" asked Dutch as he stood from the log he had been sitting on.
"The youngest's tip was exactly how he told us!" cried Bill bringing the wagon to a stop, Arthur appeared from his tent "Well the wander returned!" cried Bill at seeing Arthur.
"Yeah I am mighty sore that I missed screwing over the Lemoyne, I'd have come with ya, but Heir Strauss had some debts that needed collecting" said Arthur, no more was said as a loud noise came from the back of Bill's wagon. Bill jumped down as Arthur and Dutch made their way to the back, pulling back the cover to Arthur and everyone's surprise there was a bound young woman between the boxes labelled "US Army".
"John?" began Dutch "Whilst I am pleased you got the goods, I said nothing about taking people"
"Well here's how it goes; the Lemoyne were there with the supplies" started John happily.
"They were celebrating, totally drunk, didn't see us coming until it was too late" exuded Lenny, Charles appeared at the sound of the commotion and the gathering crowd.
"The fight, if you can call it that, was over in no time, they know how to drink!" cried Micah.
"When we went to take the wagons, we found her tied to tree" carried on John, motioning his head towards the woman in the wagon "We figure they took her when they raided the stage post at Limpany" the woman looked at everyone.
"She is terrified!" started Arthur "John, why did you keep her bound?" he was annoyed at him, it wasn't usually he style; Arthur jumped into the wagon, the young woman moved herself backwards with her bound hands raised.
"I thought it best, we can let her go once the rest of our plan is done and the US Army are long gone" answered John.
"Shhh, it's alright I ain't gonna hurt ya" soothed Arthur.
"Well she can't stay in there" said Dutch throwing his hands up "Looks like we have a new addition, Lenny get Miss Grimshaw over here" Lenny nodded and ran off into the camp, Arthur turned his attention back to the woman.
"My name is Arthur" as he moved closer, Catlin moved backwards as far as the bounds let her "It's ok, you are safe here. Who might you be?"
"Catlin Read" she whispered, he was the first person out of this gang or the Lemoyne to actually show her any compassion or ask for her name.
"Well Miss Read" carried on Arthur, as he untied her wrists "This here is Dutch he runs this camp…."
"Why'd ya untie her, if she runs away, we're screwed!" yelled Micah, Arthur scowled at the interruption, he couldn't say more as other barrelled in.
"She doesn't look like she is going anywhere fast" noted Charles looking at Catlin's physical condition "Where's the blood and bruises from John?"
"She was like that when we found her" said John "The Lemoyne did it"
"Come on let's find you a place to rest" said Arthur softly offering a hand, Catlin didn't move "You can't stay in here Miss Read" encouraged Arthur with a small smile, after a moment she put her hand in his. With Arthur's help Catlin got off the wagon, once on the ground she kept hold of him, partly because her legs weren't strong and partly that she was terrified and needed something to hold; Lenny came back with Susan.
"Oh my goodness, what happened to her!" cried Susan in shock at seeing Catlin.
"Miss Grimshaw, this is Miss Catlin Read" introduced Dutch as Susan pushed her way past the men.
"If I find any of you boys laid a hand on her, you'll have me answer to!" some of the men backed off at Susan's words, they knew the camp rules.
"I swear Miss Grimshaw, I didn't not hurt her" said Lenny quickly as she moved in closer to the new arrival.
"Now you just come with me, we'll get you cleaned up" said Susan gently taking Catlin's hand, as she went to lead Catlin off, she blacked out; Arthur being right next to her caught her before she fell completely on the floor. "Mr Morgan bring her, Mr Smith time for you to practice those herbs of yours" ordered Susan briskly, both men took their orders without question.
Sadie stood by the quickly assembled tent guiding them inside, Arthur placed Catlin down on the bed and didn't stir at all.
"Leave her with us Arthur" said Sadie "Charles will help us" Arthur nodded, reassured that Catlin was in safe hands. He left the tent as Charles entered with arms full of plants, Sadie and Susan had undressed Catlin.
"Oh, my good lord!" cried Susan, Charles strode over, the three looked over Catlin's body; her wrists where raw, she had a spilt lip, the starting of a deep red mark on her cheek. Rolling her gently onto her side they saw cuts, they weren't deep but very fresh.
"What did they do to this poor woman" said Sadie despondently, it bought back some memories of the O'Driscoll gang.
"In time we may find out but for now let's make her comfortable" sighed Charles as he started to lay out the herbs he had bought.
...
After Arthur had slipped out of the tent he made his way to Dutch's tent, the two men needed to talk about the event that had just occurred.
"Well what's the news?" asked Dutch as his sat on a chair in glass in hand.
"From the sounds of Mrs Adler, I don't think the Lemoyne treated her too well, those militia thugs have no honour, I asked to know how she is later" sighed Arthur taking a seat next to him "So what's the deal?" asked Arthur as Dutch handed him a glass.
"John got a lead, short notice, on a supply wagon heading to Fort Wallace, stopping via Limpany. Rumour had it that is contained weapons, dynamite, canons. Sean and Bill came back from Flatneck, they had heard rumours that an arms trader was in the area. John heard the Lemoyne where going to steal the coach. We put the two together and figured we'd like a piece of the action."
"Stuff like that is specialised, can't think of many people who'd be in the market" agreed Arthur "The Government is gonna come looking" he took a sip of his drink.
"That is Hosea's great plan" said Dutch happily.
"And how are we not gonna get caught? We are wanted men Dutch" pointed out Arthur.
"Our new addition may prove helpful" said Dutch rubbing his chin in thought "Guess we'll see if Miss Read wants to stay with us rag tag men huh?" laughed Dutch, Arthur chuckled along.
"If she doesn't want to stay?" posed Arthur, as he took another sip of his drink.
"Once the deal is done and we buy her silence, she can have a horse and go where she wants" answered Dutch. Both men looked over to the main camp fire, the camp was having a small celebration for the achievement against the Lemoyne.
...
A/N I would really love to hear people's views on my story so far. I have tried my hardest to capture the characters as accurately as possible and stick as true to RDD2 as possible. Many thanks :)