Author's Note
So so SO sorry for the wait! I hope this is worth it and I hope you're all doing well :)
Sadie walked Dani to her horse, the two holding hands the entire way just because they could. "Are you gonna be alright?" Dani asked when they reached Midnight. She was worried that something might happen now that the gang knew about her and Sadie's relationship.
"I'll be fine," Sadie smiled reassuringly, "Abigail and John are here, they'll make sure nothin' happens. Besides, with how mad Dutch seems with Micah, I don't think we got anythin' to worry about."
"I know," Dani sighed, "I know...just...be careful anyway, okay?"
"I will," the blonde promised, "Now go on, go save Hosea from Sean," she laughed as she kissed the younger woman on the cheek.
Dani laughed with her, "Alright. I'll try not to be too long," she kissed Sadie's cheek in return and mounted her horse.
Sadie watched as Dani and Arthur rode out of camp and her mind was brought back to when she first started her relationship with Jake. They were young, and she was so different from how she is now. She was still confident and determined. Determined to show Jake and his friends she wasn't just the typical housewife. She would show him that she didn't need to be taken care of, she could take care of herself just fine. So she wasn't different in that respect, but now she was fueled by the anger, rage, and hate she had for the O'Driscolls. When she first joined the gang, her goal was to help them take out the O'Driscolls and avenge her husband's death, and that still is her plan, but Dani changed everything. Dani made her feel like she had a reason to live again. A reason to let herself feel again. She wasn't just the grieving widow out for revenge anymore. She had someone, people, who care about her. She has a purpose beyond going after the O'Driscolls. She had a reason to keep going.
The blonde smiled as she thought of Dani. She was a strange one, with her fiery red hair you'd never believe that she and John were siblings. Sadie assumed Dani had inherited the unusual hair colour from her mother or father, or it had skipped a few generations from her father's side. Either way, it made Dani that much more special. More beautiful. She thought about Dani's unusual name too. The redhead told her that John said their mother was Italian, that she was born in America but her parents were Italian and that Danielle was named after her grandmother, Daniella. Dani said she liked going by Dani and not Danielle because Dani sounds more assertive.
She thought about how Dani is with Jack, how motherly she is. She wondered if Dani would ever ask her why she and Jake never had a child. She wasn't sure if she was ready to have that conversation. She hopes that day never comes.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a hand gently touch her arm, she flinched.
"Sorry," Mary-Beth apologised, "I didn't mean to frighten you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay?" she greeted with her kind eyes.
"I'm fine," Sadie breathed, "thank you," she smiled.
"I know you're probably wondering what the rest of us think about you and Dani," the younger woman smiled softly, "I just wanted to let you know that I don't think wrongly of either of you. In fact, I think you're both quite brave. I know it's not exactly...allowed, I suppose? But I think you sound like a couple from one of the books I read," the younger woman laughed, "Anyway, um, I'm happy for you both, really," she smiled, "I honestly never thought I'd see Dani so happy."
"Well, thank you. You should talk to Dani when she gets back, I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
"I will!" Mary-Beth said, excitedly. She suddenly seemed to deflate after.
Sadie narrowed her eyes, "Is somethin' wrong?" she asked.
"I...I was just wonderin'..." the younger blonde bit her lip, "You know what, never mind, it's-"
"Mary-Beth, what is it?" Sadie tried again, stepping closer to Mary-Beth.
Mary-Beth bit her lip again and fidgeted with her hands, "How...How did you know you had feelings for Danielle? I know it's probably a silly question but I…" she trailed off, unsure of herself.
"Well, I...I just knew I guess? Just like I knew with Jake. The only real difference was that I thought it was wrong, to have feelin's like that for another woman," Sadie wasn't sure how else to answer the question. She was truthful though, she couldn't quite pinpoint the exact moment her deep feelings for Dani started.
She had thought she was a pretty girl, sure, but she had thought a lot of women were pretty and she didn't have feelings for any of them, no real attraction to them.
"I guess the moment I really admitted to myself what I felt for her was, was when she told me how she felt about me. Once she told me she went on this rant about why she liked me and the whole time all I could think about was how happy what she just told me made me feel. But I was scared too, so I pushed her away," she smiled sadly, remembering how bad she felt after pushing Dani away, "But the more I spent time with her, and even when we were apart, the more I realised I couldn't keep shuttin' her out. And I knew that Jake wouldn't want me to be alone for the rest of my life so...here we are, I guess," she shrugged, "Mary-Beth, why are you askin' me this? Is, is there someone you-?"
Mary-Beth quickly cut her off, "No!" she cleared her throat, "No," she repeated, less defensively, "I was just curious, that's all," she stammered, blushing slightly.
"Right…" Sadie didn't quite believe her, but she didn't want to push her.
"Well, I better get to my chores," the younger woman stammered, again, "I'll see you later Sadie," and with that, she was gone. Scurrying off to find Miss Grimshaw who would undoubtedly bark orders at her.
Sadie just watched her go in amazement. Surely Mary-Beth wasn't..? Right? The blonde shook her head and went to find Abigail since she was the only one Sadie really felt comfortable with right now.
Meanwhile…
"You okay?" Arthur eventually asked as he and Dani rode to the Braithwaite's.
"Yeah," Dani replied, "Just hope Sadie's okay back there."
"She'll be fine, you know she can take care of herself. 'Sides, if there is any trouble, which I'm not so sure there will be, Abigail and John are there, they'll look after her," Arthur assured. He knew that what happened back at camp couldn't have been easy on Dani or Sadie. He just hoped the others were as accepting as he, John and Abigail were, and as Dutch seemed.
"I know they will. Really though, all I cared about was what Dutch thought...I didn't wanna lose him, Hosea, you, John, or Abigail. The others...they'll be okay though, right? I know Micah won't try anythin' because he won't wanna lose Dutch's trust, but, I just hope the others won't start actin' strange around me or Sadie."
Arthur sighed, "I don't think they'll try anythin', but, don't be surprised if they do act strange. I hope they don't, but…" he trailed off.
"Yeah…" Was all Dani said in return.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Arthur spoke again as they rode down the path to the Braithewaite's main house, "Let's take it easy here, let Hosea take the lead."
Dani nodded in return. They left their horses outside and were greeted by one of the Braithwaite's butlers.
"Ah, please come in," he greeted, Hosea must've told him they were coming, "This way, please," he directed them to a room just to the left of the front door. "A lady and a gentleman to see you, ma'am," he informed Mrs. Braithwaite. He allowed Dani and Arthur to walk inside before closing the door behind them.
Hosea and Sean were in the room, alongside Mrs. Braithwaite and, Dani presumed, one of her sons.
"So," Mrs. Braithwaite started, "your friend," she gestured to Arthur, "the other liquor vendor, hello."
"Hello, ma'am." Arthur greeted.
"Arthur, Danielle, welcome. We were just playing cribbage. Arthur Morgan, Danielle Marston, Mrs. Catherine Braithwaite," Hosea introduced.
"Ma'am," Dani tipped her hat.
"Nice to see you again," Arthur greeted.
"Apparently. So this one," she gestured to Arthur, "He has big and as dumb as he looks?"
"Well, he's surely big, but his intelligence is a matter of some conjecture," Hosea answered, "Some say he is as dumb as he looks but, I think, well, he's not quite that dumb."
Arthur just nodded his head.
"So, these are the ones goin' to Caliga Hall?" Mrs. Braithwaite asked, looking to Sean, Arthur, and Dani.
"Yes," Hosea answered, "we can take care of that for you but, one hates to be coarse, there is the question of money…"
Mrs. Braithwaite laughed, "Oh, we've got money, Mr. Matthews."
"Paper? Bonds? Metal?" Hosea tried.
"She ain't gonna pay you with a certified check you Yankee numbskull," the younger Braithwaite laughed.
"Ain't childbirth just the most beautiful miracle? Seems a lady can birth monkeys after all!" Hosea shot back as Sean stood and led Arthur and Dani outside.
"Can I drive?" the Irishman asked as they walked to their wagon.
"Nope." Arthur quickly replied. Sean just sighed and grumbled in return. The two men climbed up onto the wagon while Dani mounted her horse, sticking close to the side of the wagon as they rode on. "You was quiet in there?" Arthur questioned Sean.
"Took everything I had! That son of hers...I'll shove that silver spoon down his throat and pull it clean out of his arse, the smug fucker," Sean sneered back.
Dani and Arthur laughed quietly, "Okay…" Arthur said, "So what she got us doin' at the Gray's place?"
"She wants us to torch their tobacco fields, said they ain't had rain in weeks 'round here," Sean told them.
"What?" Arthur groaned.
"Yep, using that back there," he gestured to the moonshine in the back of the wagon.
"The moonshine?"
"Burns faster than kerosene, that stuff. Said it'd be "fittin'", she did. All I'm thinkin' is how about I try "fittin'" my boot up your hook nose, you snotty old bitch."
Dani and Arthur laughed again, "Hosea really picked the right feller for tea at the manor, didn't he?" Dani joked.
The Irishman rolled his eyes, "Oh, he was givin' it his usual flannel. One of these families got gold stashed somewhere, he reckons. I mean, I'm all for stickin' it to rich folks, I hate rich folks! But there really better be some bloody money at the end of all this."
"Hosea knows what he's doin'," Dani defended.
"Does he, though? The master finagler of nothin'." Sean quipped back.
Dani was about to argue with him when Arthur defused, "Easy, easy."
"So far we've destroyed the Braithwaite's still, tried to sell their shine back to them, now we're on this fool's errand. Which I'm very much lookin' forward to by the way! They was sayin' Old Man Gray's doubled security after that business at the saloon."
"We just robbed their horses, too," Arthur mentioned.
"That was you? Jesus."
"So...we're just gonna ride on in there, is that it?"
"Don't worry! I got a plan!"
"Oh lord," Dani muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Wagons go in and out of there all the time with supplies, equipment, payroll, especially now they've taken on all that extra muscle. We're makin' a delivery, that's all! Just leave it to me," Sean assured, "I can talk a dog off a meat wagon."
"Alright then…" Arthur groaned.
"Woah, hold up a second," Sean spoke again as they neared Caliga Hall, "Are you not worried about them, Gray's, English?" he asked Arthur.
"Excuse me?"
"You not worried 'bout them Gray's?" he asked again, slower this time.
"In what sense?"
"Well, they knows ya!"
"Yeah...maybe you're right," Arthur brought the wagon to a stop, Dani stopping her horse beside them, "You know what? Here," he passed the reigns to Sean, "I'll go hide in the back if you can act naturally and stop us from gettin' into a fight before we're ready."
"I will try."
"Yes. Try and do an impression of a human being."
"I'm not gonna go that far!" they all laughed.
"Yeah, I don't think they'll recognise me but, just in case," Dani said before taking her hat off, holding her hair up and covering it with her hat. That was her most distinguishable feature, women are easily forgettable, as long as they don't have such obvious features.
With that, they continued down the path to Caliga Hall.
"Hey, hey! Hold it right there!" One of the guards called. "Whatchu want?" he asked once Sean brought the wagon to a stop, Dani stopping her horse next to him.
"I've-I've, there was a thing! A thing at the saloon!" Sean stuttered out, playing the fool.
"Watchu talkin' about?" the guard asked, confused.
"Well, I'm deliverin' the supplies."
"You're not the usual driver, and who are you supposed to be?" the guard narrowed his eyes at Dani.
"I was hired to make sure this fool got here safe, there's some good stuff in that wagon...or so I'm told," Dani smirked.
"They hired a woman for that?"
"Trust me, darlin', I am more than capable."
"Eh, you want a bottle friend? Here, have a wee drop," Sean grabbed a bottle of moonshine from the back, Dani assumed Arthur handed it up to him, "I'm new, I mean you no harm. I've come from Donegal, in Ireland."
"You don't say!" the guard started to smile now.
"Yeah! They said you'd understand. Some kind of incident at the saloon in town. I was told to bring this up here. Ask no questions, I'll tell you no lies, that sorta business," Dani's heart skipped a beat as the guard started to climb onto the wagon beside Sean. "Eh, before the officials got there, they said."
"Okay, okay, right this way. I'll show you how to get there."
"Oh, thank you, friend. Have a drink!" Sean encourages. "Sean," he introduces himself.
"Hamish," the guard replies, once he's finished taking a drink.
"Good to meet you, Hamish!" the men laugh, "Fine bit of country you've got here. Ah, not as fine as Connemara, but fine nonetheless."
"My people, come from Scotland," Hamish says.
"Ah, is that right? Then, you and I are nearly brothers. My associate here, her people come from Scotland."
"Is that so?" Hamish asks, looking to Dani who is riding her horse beside Sean.
"Yes sir, my father was born on a boat on the way to New York. He made sure we never forgot where we came from though," Hosea taught Dani to always make small talk, it eases the target. You have to try and relate to them , he said, make them think you have somethin' in common, even if you don't.
"Sounds like a good man!"
Dani smiled and nodded, "Sure was."
"Right here," Hamish directed, "Straight down the path here. It's gettin' so I can barely keep track of all these deliveries comin' in."
"Yeah, when they said they was lookin' for more drivers in town, I jumped at the chance," Sean replied, "I've never been a feller to kick a bit of honest work out of bed," he looked to Dani and smirked, she shook her head with a smile in return, "So, you folks have been havin' a hard time of it, have you?"
"Yeah, Mr. Gray's got a heap of problems right now with another family 'round here. A bunch of covetous lowdowns tryin' to sabotage his livelihood. Disgustin'," Hamish scoffed.
"Dear oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that, Hamish. Sounds like you definitely deserve that drink!"
Hamish laughed, "You don't know the half of it." he pointed to a stable, "Just in there."
"Right you are."
"You can unload her here," Hamish said as he and Sean climbed down off the wagon.
"In here? The horses like a swift one do they?" Sean joked.
"Excuse me?"
"Uh...nothin', it's grand."
Dani got down off her horse and she and Sean took a box of moonshine each out of the wagon, making sure to keep Hamish distracted while Arthur climbed out.
"It's quite a place you boys have got here," Sean said as he and Dani put the boxes down. The gang members made sure to have Hamish so he was only looking at them, "Reminds me of one of them big houses, out in Donegal. Real fancy places they was, Hamish, real fancy, because if some folks got all the money, they can build quite the fanciest places imaginable, eh?"
Before Hamish could say anymore, Arthur snuck up behind him and choked him out.
"Okay," Dani said, "we can hole up in here until it gets dark."
They sat down inside the stables, waiting for nightfall.
"So," Sean asked, "I miss anythin' excitin' while I was with Hosea at the old hag's house?"
Arthur and Dani just looked at each other.
"Oh, so I did miss somethin'!" Sean noticed, "What happened?" he asked like an excited child.
"You wanna tell him?" Arthur asked Dani.
"He's gonna find out one way or another…" Dani sighed, "Sean, as much as you annoy me, you are still one of my brothers so when I tell you this I really hope you won't hate me for it." she took a deep breath, "So, back at camp...the others found out that uh...that Sadie and I are…" she cleared her throat, "together."
Sean was quiet for a moment. Then he laughed, "Alright if you wanted me to quit bein' nosey you could've just said so!"
"Keep it down!" Dani whisper-yelled over to him, smacking his arm, "And it ain't a joke! Arthur, tell him!"
"She's bein' serious, Sean," Arthur told him and Sean knew by the tone of his voice that he was serious.
"Well then…" the Irishman replied after a few moments, "That mean I don't have a chance then?" he smirked.
Dani smacked his arm again, "Like you ever had a chance anyway," she smirked back at him.
Sean was never the serious type, but Dani knew that this was his way of saying he was okay with it, and that he still loved Dani. Because he did. He knew he was an idiot at times, but the gang was his family. And though he'd never say it out loud, he loved them all.
Well, all except Micah.
And maybe Bill.
"How you gettin' on?" Arthur asked. It had finally gotten dark, Sean was making Molotov cocktails with the moonshine.
"Good, nearly got these things ready."
"Okay, Dani?"
Dani was standing by the door, listening out for any guards that might walk by. She opened the door a little and looked around, "There's plenty of guards out there," she said, "but I got an idea," she gestured for Sean and Arthur to look outside with her, "Sean, you head over to the dry barn, Arthur and I will deal with the fields," they went back inside, closing the door behind them, "We coat everythin' in moonshine," she grabbed a bottle, "and then we light things up with these little fellers here," she put the bottle down on the table beside Sean. "Thankfully it ain't rained, that old barn over there should go up like a torch."
Arthur nodded, he was smiling proudly behind his bandana.
"How many of these boys you think you need?" Sean asked.
"This should do it," Dani and Arthur grabbed the cocktails off the table.
"Let's head out the back," Arthur said, "Look, once they get wind of us, there'll be no turnin' back so move quickly." He told Sean.
"Of course. I'm rebel stock, boy, I was born burnin' down manor houses." Sean replied as he snuck out the back.
"Well burn quietly!" Arthur told him as he and Dani followed him out.
"Quiet, there's someone comin' on the left," Sean warned. They took cover behind some barrels and boxes.
A wagon came down the path, "Hi," the driver greeted the guard.
"Oh, hey. I thought the wagon already arrived."
"This one didn't."
"Strange...so what you got there?"
"Tools, payroll."
"Okay, drop it by the supply shed at the back of the fields."
"Sure, see you later."
"You hear that?" Sean whispered, excitedly, "Payroll."
"Yeah...let's get this job done first, okay?"
"Just let me deal with our friend here," Sean crept over to take out the guard. "Go on, you two douse the fields, I'll meet you at the barn."
"Try to stay outta trouble," Arthur warned him. "Alright, you take the left, I'll get the right, we'll meet in the middle and go meet Sean at the barn."
"Got it." Dani nodded before heading over to the fields on the left.
There weren't really any guards in the fields, so they managed to get the moonshine down pretty quickly.
"You good?" Dani asked Arthur when he met her in the middle.
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah."
"Alright, let's go meet Sean."
They made their way over to the barn, sneakily of course. There was only one guard inside so Arthur took him out easily.
"I'll give this a quick dousin' as well," Sean said, pouring moonshine around the barn. "Light her up!" he told Arthur once they were outside the barn. "Woohoo! Would you look at that! Haha! Now let's go light ourselves a fat cigar!"
They ran around the fields, tossing fire bottles at the ones Dani and Arthur had covered in shine. Of course, the barn fire had gotten the guards' attention so they had them to deal with as well. Guards just seemed to keep coming as if from nowhere.
"My horse is still at the stables, we can get a couple for you two there!" Dani called.
They fought there way over to the stables but the fire and gunshots spooked the horses, including Midnight.
I hope she's okay, Dani thought, anxiously. Midnight wasn't easily spooked, but the one thing she was really scared of was fire, Dani wasn't sure why. She managed to keep the horse calm around everything else, like gunfire and explosions, but never fire. She also trained the horse to never run too far off when she was spooked or when Dani made her flee, so the redhead just hoped Midnight got safe but didn't run too far off.
"The wagon we saw come in earlier, we can nick the horses from that!" Sean called, snapping Dani from her thoughts.
"Alright, where is it?" Arthur asked.
"This way!"
"They didn't tell you there'd be an army of 'em?!" Arthur called over the gunfire.
"They didn't tell me nothin'!"
They followed Sean through the burning fields, shooting any and all guards in their way.
"See, there it is! Maybe they haven't unloaded that cash yet."
"Alright, come on, we'll take these horses."
"I better see if the payroll is actually in there."
Sean went around the back of the wagon to look for the money while Dani and Arthur set about cutting the horses free of the wagon and mounting them.
"Hurry up," Arthur told him.
"Oh boy! We did good, my friends, we did good!" Sean called from the back of the wagon.
Dani smiled, at least they got their own money from this.
"Great, but let's go!" Arthur replied.
Sean jumped from the wagon onto the back of the horse Dani was on with a "Yeehaw!"
"Okay, let's get the hell out of here fast!" Arthur said.
"This way!" Dani instructed, taking the lead out of Caliga Hall. "We're goin' straight out the front gate!" she knew all the guards would be busy with the fire, they wouldn't expect the outlaws to leave right out the front gate.
"Jesus, that turned into a right party!" Sean said as they rode up the path towards the front gate.
"You call that a party?" Dani laughed.
"That Braithwaite hag got her money's worth alright!"
Dani laughed again, "Let's just get out of here first."
They rode further off the main road away from Caliga Hall, "I think we lost 'em." Sean said.
"That we did," Arthur replied.
"Quite a night."
"Sure."
"Interestin' little fight Dutch has put us into the middle of here."
"Yeah...I hope him and Hosea are right and that there's some money at the end of it."
"Well, what now?"
"Let's just get back to camp."
"Wait, my horse ran off because of the fire," Dani mentioned. She whistled for the horse.
Nothing.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Her heart sped up and her eyes watered, "Midnight?!" she called, whistling again.
"Dani! Stop!" Arthur told her, "We can't be drawin' attention to ourselves right now!"
"But-,"
"I know, but we can't do this right now. You raised a smart horse, she'll be fine for at least the night, now come on."
"Alright…"
"Dani!" Dani was almost knocked over as she was hugged by Sadie.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Dani asked, confused as to why Sadie had such a reaction.
Sadie stepped back and smacked Dani's arm, "What the hell happened?!"
"What do you mean?!"
"I mean your damn horse came back without you and I thought somethin' happened to you!"
"What?" Dani looked past Sadie to see Midnight being unhitched by Abigail and trotting her way over, "Oh my-," the redhead met the horse halfway, throwing her arms around Midnight's neck and pressing her forehead to her nose. "You came all the way back here by yourself, you smart girl?" she blinked tears away, "I'm so glad you're okay," she breathed.
"She came runnin' in like her life depended on it, we thought…" Dani heard Sadie speak behind her and turned and pulled the blonde into another hug.
"There was a fire, she hates fire so she ran off without me, I'm sorry I scared you," she whispered, holding Sadie tight.
Dani's hat fell off when Sadie tackled her earlier. Sadie pulled back from the hug and brought her hands up into that red hair she loved so much, "I thought-,"
"I know," Dani interrupted her, "I know."
Arthur told Dani he'd handle talking to Dutch and Hosea about what happened so she could be with Sadie for the rest of the night. So now the two women were cuddled up in their tent, Sadie's arms wrapped around Dani like her life depended on it.
They lay in silence, for the most part, once Dani explained what happened at Caliga Hall. Out of nowhere, Sadie spoke again, "I forgot to tell you, Mary-Beth spoke to me earlier, after you left," she said, "She said she's happy for you...for us."
"Well, that's good to know...she's one of my favourites," the redhead smirked.
Sadie laughed, "She asked me somethin' too. Asked me how I knew how I felt about you."
"That's not exactly surprisin'."
"I know but it wasn't the question that surprised me," she loosened her grip on Dani's waist to sit up slightly and look at her, "It was the way she asked it."
"What do you mean?" Dani frowned.
"She just seemed to get all nervous when she asked, like she was scared to ask. And when I asked her why she wanted to know, she got flustered and said that is was nothin', that she was just curious. But it didn't seem like she was just curious, it was like she was askin' for advice. You don't think she's…" Sadie trailed off.
"Think she's what?" Saide just gave Dani a look, waiting for her to catch on, "...Oh! You mean does she have feelin's for a woman? I don't know...I wouldn't think she would but...maybe?" she thought for a moment, "Wait!" she said, eyes going wide, "When I was sayin' goodbye to Jess she said there was a girl who had been makin' eyes at her, and she hadn't seen her since before I left Valentine. Since we left."
"You don't think..?"
"It's one hell of a coincidence," Dani laughed, "Well, I'll talk to Mary-Beth in the mornin', see if I can't get somethin' out of her. But right now, I am exhausted."
The blonde laughed as Dani yawned, "I'll bet," then she herself yawned, "I am too."
They both laughed and Dani pulled Sadie down for a kiss before cuddling her close.
"Good night, Sadie."
"Good night, Danielle."
Author's Note
Feedback is always appreciated, I will try my best not to leave you hanging too long for the next one!
Also if you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the one-shot I wrote of Dani and Sadie, Adventures in Bounty Hunting, I may make it into a series!
Stay safe everyone!