Three days. He had been missing for three days.
The whole camp was on edge, the moment Dutch and Micah returned from their meeting with Colm without Arthur.
Micah didn't seem to care, but they all knew something was wrong.
Sure, Arthur had a tendency to run off. Be gone for days, sometimes even a week. Returning with food and cash. But he always told someone before he left.
He never met them at the rendezvous point.
They checked the cliff edge and found nothing but a rotting animal. Nothing looked wrong.
But it felt wrong.
And Dutch knew.
He knew Colm. And the lengths that man would go through to hurt him. Taking Annabelle from him wasn't enough. Now he was going for his son.
He didn't know what Colm wanted with Arthur. Ransom. An apology. A trade. Was Arthur even alive? Would he find him in the same state he found Annabelle?
The very thought made him sick.
He couldn't even think of sleeping. Spending every moment tracking Arthur. Colm. Any O'Driscoll they could get their hands on. Questioning them, trying desperately to get the information they were after.
It took them three days.
Dutch hadn't slept once, not many had. He had barely eaten. Sickened at the very thought of what he might find.
Finally, they found something.
One O'Driscoll with the answers they wanted.
It was all a setup. Just as most thought.
It wasn't to make peace. It was all to get Arthur.
Colm wanted him as bait. He knew Dutch cared for Arthur like a son, knew he would look and eventually come for him.
He was being kept in a cabin, nearly a day's ride away.
Colm expected Dutch to come storming in with the others, once they arrived Colm would set the law on them.
Revenge and money. Perfect for Colm.
There was only slight relief, Arthur was alive. Bait is no good dead. But he was hurt, badly and needed medical attention.
Dutch couldn't care less what Colm had planned; he was going to get his son. And he said as much. To his surprise Hosea didn't argue, just mounted up beside him. Just as worried for their boy.
He told the camp he knew it was a trap but he didn't care. They had Arthur, he was hurt and they needed to get him back. It was a bad idea and it was extremely dangerous but that wasn't stopping him. Arthur would do the same for him.
He wasn't going to force anyone to come, but if anyone wanted to, he would appreciate the help.
No one was surprised when both John and Charles mounted up without a word. Only mild surprise at Javier joining them. Though Bill mounting his horse surprised most, knowing he and Arthur didn't always get along but they knew even with the dislike, Arthur wouldn't hesitate if Bill was in his place.
So, they rode out, it was noon when they left camp. It would take about a day of constant riding to get there and no one had any plans to stop. If they had to, they could catch up. It was a few hours later, into the night when they spotted a single rider further down the path.
The night was clear, the moon bright. The horse moved a certain way and they saw its white coat shine in the moonlight. Ivory. Her coat was unmistakable. Her rider slumped over her neck.
They called Arthur's name, coaxing their horses just a little faster. The rider moved slightly. It's head raising. It was him. They found him.
Ivory stopped; Arthur started to fall sideways.
Dutch's feet hit the ground before he even told his horse to stop, he could hear the others behind him. He and Hosea catching Arthur as he fell.
He was clad in only his union suit, an ugly gunshot wound on his shoulder, his breathing was short. Obviously in pain. Who knew what other injuries he had?
They lowered him gently, leaning against Hosea, Dutch cradled Arthur's face in his hands, already warm with a fever. His shoulder was probably infected.
He could hear John behind him telling the others to return to camp and get things ready for their arrival but Dutch couldn't tear his attention away.
He saw Arthur fight to open his eyes, looking straight at him. A small smile of relief gracing his lips. A word passed through them, quiet enough only himself and Hosea heard him before he fell into unconsciousness, and Dutch's heart nearly burst with emotions.
"Dad."