Hi! So this takes place a couple of years after Ada was taken in by Dutch, she is now twelve, Dakota is thirteen and Flint is eleven. I hope you enjoy this remake of my story, I want everything to be clearer and better imagined then my previous attempt. Enjoy it! (Side note- I'm adding Flint and Dakota's point of views now, so that we can see through their eyes too! So I will be switching between all of them.)
Ada blinked open her eyes, her tent filling with light from outside. Ada had been with the gang for five years now, Arthur and John had finally trusted her and her siblings. They hadn't been on any jobs yet unfortunately.
John and Arthur had gotten taller and more muscular in the five years Ada had been here. So had Flint and Dakota. Ada guessed she had gotten a bit bigger too. She looked around, Flint was still asleep but Dakota was gone.
Ada went out of the tent and stretched. Dutch was standing in the entrance of his tent, looking thoughtful, Arthur was sitting at the table by himself so Ada decided she would talk to him.
"Hi," Ada greeted as she sat down.
"Hello," Arthur greeted, looking at her.
"Whatcha doin'?" Ada asked curiously.
"Nothin'. You?" Arthur asked the question back to Ada.
"Just woke up. I have a question, if I may ask?"
"Ask away," Arthur grunted.
"When do you think Dutch will teach me how to shoot a gun? I've done reading with Hosea and learned weapons and stuff but never stuff like that. I want to so bad Arthur! If I stay here with Mrs. Grimshaw on my neck constantly I'll lose my mind!" Ada complained.
Arthur let out a chuckle, amusement in his tone as he went on, "Go ask Dutch, he'll answer you."
Ada nodded a good-bye and ran to Dutch's tent. Dutch was still outside and Ada went up to him.
"Whatcha need Ms. Pierce?" Dutch asked.
"When will I learn to shoot a gun and ride a horse?" Ada went straight to the point.
Dutch's eyes sparked with amusement and surprise, "You want to learn that? I thought you'd want to work with Susan."
"No, I want to work with you and Arthur and John and Hosea and everyone else," Ada stated.
They had gotten two new members, Davey and Mac Callander and many others not too long ago. Ada liked them but not a whole lot.
Dutch let out an amused chuckle, "I've been waiting for you or Dakota or Flint to ask that. You guys are old enough now so go grab Hosea and we will take you out."
Ada felt a surge of excitement shoot through her and she thanked Dutch and raced off. Hosea was in his tent and Ada called to him to wake him.
"What-? Oh, good morning Ada-" he was interrupted by a yawn, "what do you need?"
"Dutch says you and him will take me and my siblings out to learn how to fire a gun," Ada explained excitedly.
Hosea laughed slightly and stood up, stretching and then spoke, "We might as well take Arthur and John too. They could use some freshening up."
Ada nodded and dashed off while Hosea went to get Arthur and John. Ada found Dakota washing some clothes under the supervision of Mrs. Grimshaw.
"Excuse me Mrs. Grimshaw, I need to borrow Dakota," Ada said and grabbed Dakota's arm and ran before Susan could protest.
Dakota followed her, confusion lighting in her gaze and Ada saw John and Arthur standing on the edge of camp and Ada dropped Dakota off.
Before Dakota could speak Ada went off to find Flint. Ada found him in his tent soon after. She was out of breath but she didn't care. Ada shook him awake and he woke with a start.
She grabbed his arm just like she had done with Dakota. Flint followed a bit more hesitantly. Dutch and Hosea were now with Arthur and John, they had three revolvers.
Ada and Flint arrived to them, Dutch had gotten a new horse named The Count and so had Hosea, named Silver Dollar. Arthur still had Boadicea and John had Old Boy.
Flint walked up to them and Dutch told him what was happening. Flint's eyes went from full of exhaustion to excitement in a heart-beat. Ada was bouncing around on her toes.
"Okay, Ada you can ride with John, if that's okay with him?" Dutch said, glancing at John.
John glanced at Dutch then to Ada and John nodded after a moment, "I guess…" he muttered.
John climbed onto Old Boy and helped Ada onto the powerful brown horse. Ada sat on the back this time, which she didn't mind. Dakota went onto Hosea's horse and Flint onto Arthur's.
They rode off into the woods down towards the river.
Dakota wasn't as excited as Flint and Ada were at going to learn how to shoot. She glanced at Flint on the back of Arthur's horse, Boadicea. He looked pretty excited and as for Ada it was unmistakable excitement.
Dakota frowned slightly at her siblings eagerness. They neared the river and Dutch held his hand up meaning for them to slow to a stop. There was a group of trees on the Upper Montana River which gave them cover from any prying eyes and ears.
They stopped in the group of trees. Hosea hopped off the horse and Dakota followed him. Ada got off next, flinging herself over to Dutch. Flint was the next to rush to Dutch and Dakota was the last.
Dutch handed a revolver to each of them. It was heavier than Dakota would've thought. Ada looked just as surprised but she looked fascinated and excited. Flint looked very concentrated.
Dutch used his knife to cut out some targets on the trees, Hosea was chatting with Arthur and John. Ada was examining the gun while Flint looked distractedly into the distance.
When the targets had been made Arthur came up to help. Everyone in the gang knew Arthur was a very skilled gunman. Arthur approached Ada and guided her hands with the revolver to the target.
Hosea touched her shoulder and Dakota almost jumped out of her skin while Hosea just chuckled.
"Shall we begin, Dakota?" Hosea asked.
Dakota realized Dutch was helping Flint and John was standing, examining the area, she guessed he was on guard.
"Sure," Dakota answered Hosea after a moment.
"Okay, so aim your gun with a steady hand. Focus… breathe slowly and pull the trigger when your lungs are empty," Hosea instructed quietly.
Dakota drew in a few breaths then when her lungs were empty, she fired. The recoil was semi- strong and she blinked. She had hit the target!
Dakota smiled and through her arms up triumphantly, almost hitting Hosea in the nose. Dakota had practiced a few more times.
Flint was listening to Dutch's instructions, Flint had heard them from behind them from Hosea but Flint listened anyways.
When Flint pulled the trigger, it wasn't on empty lungs. The shot had fired out of the trees and missed the target completely.
Flint cursed silently under his breath.
"It's okay son. Try again," Dutch encouraged.
Flint grumbled and cocked his gun again and focused on the target. When he had made sure his lungs were empty, he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the tree and Flint let out an excited squeal.
He readied his gun again and fired again and again.
Ada felt Arthur's hand on her shoulder. She forced her excitement down and got serious.
"You've probably heard it from Hosea but remember… focus, breathe slowly, and don't forget to pull the trigger when your lungs are empty." Arthur told her quietly.
Ada nodded, she hadn't heard Hosea so it was a good thing Arthur told her. Ada aimed her revolver at the tree. Without thinking she pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the tree and put a hole in it.
Ada smiled and readied her gun again.
"Very nice Ada," Arthur told her.
After a while Dutch decided that was enough training. Dutch grabbed the revolvers from each of them and got onto their horses, and they rode back to camp.
When they reached camp Ada hopped off Old Boy and looked around. Ms. Grimshaw was at the side of camp and unfortunately for Ada, Susan had spotted her. Susan began to walk towards Ada and Ada groaned inwardly.
Dakota had walked up beside Ada and they both waited for Ms. Grimshaw.
"Where have you two been?" Ms. Grimshaw demanded when she was in earshot.
"Learning how to shoot," Ada answered.
"Really now? Well, now that you're back and you had your fun, you can do some chores," Ms. Grimshaw said.
"Do we have to?" Ada grumbled.
"Yes you do," Susan retorted and led them towards the wash tub.
Ada gingerly picked up some of the dirty clothing and began to wash.
Dakota watched Ada, her little sisters ice blue eyes cold and maliciousing. Dakota had always felt a little… uneasy around her sister.
Her cold and calculating ice eyes and the way she was so eager to learn how to shoot and kill.
"Ada, how eager are you to rob and kill folks?" Dakota challenged before she could stop herself.
Ada stopped instantly. Anger building up in her snake-like icy eyes.
"What? You think I want to kill others? I don't want to! I just want to be treated like the gunman! I want to learn to shoot. Shoot to kill: yes but Dutch says only when necessary and I'll listen," Ada said, her tone full of venom and then continued in the same tone, "Why my own sister would think I want to kill people I don't know."
"What are you going to do when all of us are in a shootout?"
"We fight. If we die, we die. If you die, I'll grieve but I'll keep fighting for Dutch," Ada answered.
Dakota sighed and began to wash the clothes again and Ada stood.
"Where are you going?" Dakota inquired.
"Out," Ada answered and walked away without a glance back.
Flint was with John and Arthur in the forest. Flint went ahead and climbed up a tree, running along the branches. John ran to where Flint was perched in a tree and he smiled.
"You a squirrel now?" John laughed.
"What if I am? It's fun up here! Come up here before Arthur comes and we'll scare him," Flint suggested, smiling.
John scurried up the tree quickly and crouched beside Flint. They waited for Arthur. A person who Flint couldn't make out, appeared. John and Flint exchanged a look then nodded.
As one, they leaped onto the stranger. The stranger let out a squeal of terror and surprise. Once the newcomer had recovered from shock, they kicked out at John who was trying to keep their legs down.
The blow landed squarely between John's eyes, making him grunt in pain. Flint snarled and delivered a few punches, that Arthur and John taught him, to the outsider's face. That's when Flint got a good look at the stranger- a female with snake-like eyes the color of frost.
Ada, Flint thought, guilt washing over him.
"Flint?" Ada snarled and lashed out with her fist and hit Flint's jaw.
Flint scrambled back, his jaw in pain, the pain wasn't too bad but it still hurt. Ada scrambled up, blood on her face from the strikes he had given her. Arthur came out from the trees, his gun drawn.
"You took your time," John commented to Arthur bitterly.
"What happened?" Arthur demanded, holstering his gun.
"These two decided to jump me," Ada told Arthur, her voice dripping with malice and bitterness.
"Why?" Arthur said, looking at John and Flint.
"We thought she was an enemy," Flint defended himself.
"Your own sister? Is everyone against me today?" Ada said, turning away from them.
"Sorry…" Flint apologized shamefully. The guilt on his shoulders got heavier.
"Let's head back," Arthur said, walking away towards camp.