A few days had passed since the gang had found Celina, and one day had passed since John had been found up in the mountains after having been apparently attacked by a pack of wolves. He was fussed over for the night but his injuries luckily were not the fatal type, his leg catching the brunt of the damage.
Arthur and Charles had brought in a few good sized deer, just barely enough food to hold everyone over for the next couple days. Celina was getting tired as night rolled in on the third day, it was clearly obvious to her now that she was well and truly sent back to the year of 1899 and thrown into the hands of the gang.
Dutch was growing antsy to get out of their current location and get a move on as were everyone else. Except, unlike everyone else, Dutch wasn't willing to go back to Blackwater to get their money and unlike anyone else, Celina knew that that money would never be obtained to help the gang with their escape.
Was Dutch's decision to leave the money in Blackwater effected or even started by Micah? Celina was willing to bet on it, the weasel knew exactly how to get into Dutch's head and he did it well. It made Celina feel almost physically sick to think of the rat intentionally trying to lead Dutch to his downfall.
She wanted to say something to the gang, anything, even put a bullet in Micah there and then if she knew how to shoot and wouldn't be killed by the gang for it. She had to be careful though and tread lightly on such matters which Hosea had whole-heartedly agreed with her on. It would only be her luck to think she was helping and land the gang in worse trouble than they had originally gotten themselves into.
Celina hated theives and theft, but from the few days she had been around the gang, she realized that theives and theft after the wild west era was what she truly hated... 1899, was very different than 2018... theft, silly to say, was different in 2018 than 1899. Plus, she couldn't bring herself to hate the gang, not even knowing what they did for a living. They had been good to her and understanding over the last few days. Dare she say, they weren't terrible people... Except Micah of course... and Bill, well, Bill was iffy.
She almost laughed out loud at the thoughts going through her head. The boys had hardly been with the rest of the gang since she arrived, having went and wiped out an O'Driscoll base, at Dutch's command, the day before and earlier today having robbed a train. Perhaps instead of going by the video game she loved to judge that they weren't terrible men, she should get to know the gang and deduce the character of the people she was surrounded by herself.
Celina put her horse brush back in the saddlebag of the horse that Arther let her have. The brown mare had been his before he found the paint upon rescuing Sadie Adler. Now, he claimed that she would get more use out of the horse than he. Pleasing to her, the tough-as-nails gunslinger had also promised to teach her how to shoot once getting settled into the new camp they were going to be leaving in pursuit of. She needed the training as he had said, with now living in the wild west and all.
"We've got some money in our pockets, it's time we move out." Dutch spoke from where he stood out at the wagons, continuing to bark orders at everyone as they prepared to leave. "Arthur, you're in that one, he pointed down the line of wagons, I know you and Hosea like to talk about what's gone wrong with good ol' Dutch."
Arthur shook his head went to the wagon he had been directed to, climbing in and observing quietly as Dutch turned to the new addition to the group, Celina. Their conversation could be heard clearly, "Miss Celina, would you do me the honor of riding with me?"
Celina's tongue darted across her lips, quickly moistening them, and then she raked her hand through her hair before nodding, "Yea, I'll ride with you."
Dutch dipped his head in acknowledgment, peased with the young woman's response.
After climbing into the wagon himself, he reached a hand out to her, offering help up into the wagon which she accepted. Arthur bit his bottom lip, feeling a bit nervous, what was it that his boss was trying to get from the girl by giving out that special treatment. Was it true attraction and flirtation? Arthur hoped so for the girls sake and that it wasn't just Dutch trying to pull any and all information he could from her in order to get answers he desired about the future- if this video game she claimed to play was as historically correct as it apparently claimed to be. Sure, his journal held a lot of detail regarding day to day things, it was the perfect method of getting things off his chest and clearing his mind, he loved it. But still, he was skeptical about how close game producers in 2018 stayed to the truth. Like the legendary animal thing? That was a whole lot of bull and even if it weren't, there would be no way Hosea at his age would be out trying to hunt them.
Celina glanced over at Dutch as he urged the horses forwards through the still thick snow. He was just as attractive as he had been in RDR2, the pictures that had been captured of him at the time, clearly having done the handsome man justice. Despite that, after they had laid down to sleep the first night, Celina had silently cried herself to sleep in the top bunk of the bed they shared. It didn't make since, how she could have been sent back in time nor did she believe she would find a way back. Waking up that first morning concluded for the woman that there was no way her current situation was a dream. With that, she highly doubted there would be a way to get back to 2018, if 2018 even existed at all... anywhere anymore. She took a shaky breath and tried to focus on the incredible scenery she was presented with, despite the bitter cold.
"Are you ok, miss?"
Celina laughed lightly and nodded, breaking herself out of her deep and depressing thoughts with much relief, "Yes, I'm fine, but really, do call me Celina." It had been a few days since Celina first made that request of him and it hadn't seemed to have stuck all that well.
Dutch smiled, shaking his head slightly at the young woman's seemingly insistent nature, "I will do my best to keep that in mind, m- Celina." He laughed at his near mess up then as well, "Celina." His tone was firm, as if he were trying to seer the correction into his mind. "Are you sure you're alright dear?"
Celina nodded, making eye contact with the boss, not wanting to do even the slightest thing to add onto his stress, "Yes, I'm fine. Just, things are on my mind..." She reached her hand into the pocket of her coat and lowered her voice to minimize the chances of anyone but Dutch hearing her, "As the snow started to melt a bit, I found this.." She pulled the object from the pocket of the coat which Mrs. Adler had kindly lent her and revealed the item in her grasp to Dutch, "It's your old... or old by the time I was actually born, pocketwatch."
Dutch's eyes widened as he looked at the watch, Celina turning it over in her hands as he studied it so he wouldn't have to take his hands off the reigns, "How is any of this possible?" His voice was quiet, incredulous.
Celina shrugged, "I do not know, Dutch, I don't have the slightest clue."
...
"Micah, Lenny, get up here!" Dutch yelled towards the back of the group when they started to near their destination. It had been a ride that lasted at least a couple hours, Celina and Dutch periodically small-talking throughout the duration of the ride.
"Yes boss," Micah immediately rode up to the front of the group, trotting his horse right bedside Dutch's wagon.
"Go up ahead and make sure there's no surprises, we've had enough of those."
Micah looked surprised, "Me, with the kid?"
Dutch nodded, already looking like he may be regretting his decision, "Yes, I suppose."
At that, Micah took off, yelling back at Lennny something about him buying him a whisky who followed him eagerly. Celina rolled her eyes with disgust at Micah's 'eagerness' to obey Dutch's orders, he may not have started snitching yet.. He may have, it was hard to tell but it was for sure there was no loyalty in Micah, he was well and truly a rat.
The gang continued to travel onwards, to the point they had to cross the stream which the wheel of Arthur's wagon would fall off. Celina spoke to Dutch, wanting to give him even more solid proof that she was being honest about her experiences with their lives, God knew she needed to do her best to get Dutch to stay in her side as long as she could, "After Arthur crosses the river, the back left wheel of his wagon will fall off."
When exactly that happened a few minutes later, Dutch looked back at Celina with wide eyes. He stopped his own wagon and turned around in his seat, looking back at Arthur, "You guys alright?"
"Yea, just... knocked my wheel off."
"Ok, well just meet us up at Horseshoe Overlook once you get it back on son. We'll see you there." After recieving an acknowledging nod, Dutch urged his horses forwards up up the path. "You weren't kidding about having seen a lot of this before, were you?"
Celina shook her head, "No, only you and Hosea know... I don't know if Bill does.. He may have seen my shirt you know, the one-"
"Yep, I know the one," Dutch sighed, "I just want to keep this quiet a little longer until we get a little more clarification. I myself, have let Arthur in the loop, but that's it."
Celina nodded, "Arthur will be the least of any worries."
...
"You weren't wrong Hosea, this place is perfect!" Dutch greeted Arthur, Hosea and Charles as they pulled into camp.
Hosea slowly climbed down from the wagon, "I hope so."
As everyone climbed out of the wagon and approached him, Dutch spread his arms wide, "Gentlemen, we have survived."
"At least for now." Javier quipped as he passed by, watching the camp come more and more together with each tent the women set up.
Dutch ignored his comment, not being able to dial down his excitement and optimistic feeling towards the future, "Now, it's time to prosper."
Hosea rolled his eyes a bit, "Arthur and I were about to prosper in Blackwater. We were on to something big, then Micah got you all excited about that ferry and here we are."
"We have all made mistakes, Hosea, every last one of us." Dutch gestured to himself, "But I kept us together, I kept us alive. Kept the nooses off our necks." He started to walk away, unbeknownst to Celina who had paused with the set up of the camp to watch him with worried eyes.
Hosea chased after him in attempt to defuse the situation to the best of his ability, "I ain't got that long Dutch, I want to see everyone safe before I go."
Dutch took a deep breath, "I'm just trying to take care of us."
"Me too!" Hosea's voice shook with emotion, "Now we're heading east, out of money and a long way from our dream of virgin land in the west."
Dutch closed his eyes slowly, "I know, my brother, but we are safe. We make a bit of money here and then move around them and head west of uncle Sam. Then, in a few months, we'll buy some land." He moved away from Arthur and Hosea to gesture to the west, "Just look at this world before us-"
Strauss cut them off as he walked up, "Gentlemen, I am heading into town, possibly strike up some business."
Dutch turned around, "Of course Herr Strauss." He lowered his voice a bit, "I pefer bank robbery over usery. Seems more.. dignified somehow." He took a deep breath and spoke loudly enough to be heard throughout the camp, "Everyone, put your tools down for a moment and gather around, quickly now." Once he saw he had everyone's attention, he began speaking as they approached, "I know things have been tough, but we are safe now, and far too poor. So it is time for everyone to get to work."
Hosea cut in, "Get to work but stay out of trouble, remember we are itinerant workers."
Dutch continued, "Laid off when they shut down our factory up north." He made eye contact with everyone, including Celina who swallowed almost nervously at the intensity of his gaze, "Now get out there and see what you can find- But don't forget," He raised up the red wooden box, "To give back to the group a cut of whatever you may find."
Celina stood there for a moment, glancing back at Dutch after their intense eye contact was broken and took a deep breath. The woman shook her head as she headed towards her tent. If everything was going to go the way it did in the game, it sure would be a hard thing to watch, let alone be caught up in.
...
A/N: There's the fourth chapter, this is going to be a long story guys, since the game is so massive but I'll try to give you at least two or three chapters a week, if not more. What did you guys think? I know no detailed interactions with Arthur yet but the story is still just getting started. Me, myself, I completed the storyline today and... Dutch. I just love him, that last scene with him, gosh, hit me in the feelings lol. But anyway, any thoughts on the few interactions he and Celina have had?
Thanks for the all the comments so far by the way!
Disclaimer: I do not own RDR or anythimg associated with it.