AN:Life is a bitch that's all I'm going to say.
May 4th
I blinked my eyes and groaned, man oh man was I stiff. I groaned and stood up and stretched. Everybody was up before me again. I normally got up around 6 to 7 in the morning so either I was waking up later than normal or everybody just wakes up way earlier than me.
I walked towards the door and walked out the wind already making me shrink into myself. I hurried across the path and into the house.
The sound of crying was what immediately greeted me as I closed the door. I turned to see Mrs Adler awake this time and she was crying.
I glanced at her in pity as I continued into the building. Hosea turned from the fire to look at me before grabbing a cup and pouring some coffee in it.
"Here, you look like you could use this," said Hosea, handing me another tin cup full of strong, nasty coffee. I personally didn't like my coffee black, I preferred enough cream to where the coffee wasn't nearly knocking me on my ass.
I nodded, "Thank you," I said before taking a sip.
"Mr Booker is that blood on that blanket," I heard an authoritative voice ask.
My eyes widened at the tone in Ms Grimshaw's voice as I had completely forgotten about that, "Um yes. But I have a reason why," I added quickly.
Ms Grimshaw raised an eyebrow while crossing her arms, as if waiting for me.
"I had to fight some wolves off and it fell off into one of their pools of blood," I explained, scratching the back of my head at how lame that sounded.
Mrs Grimshaw's stern face softened slightly, "Well okay. But that's your blanket now Mister Booker."
I nodded, "Yes ma'am."
I took a sip of the coffee, hiding my smile as I was able to get off with a warning.
I looked down to see Jack sitting by the fire.
"Hey there Jack," I said giving him a smile as I squatted down beside him.
He gave me a smile, "Hi...I don't know your name."
I chuckled, "That's okay. I'm Andrew, but you can call me Drew if it's easier for you."
"Okay Andrew," Jack said with a smile.
"You bored," I asked, switching to where I sat with my legs crossed.
He nodded, "Mhmm."
"Well we could play I Spy if you want," I asked. I had no idea if it was even a thing yet but who cares it would occupy Jack. Plus I always enjoyed hanging out with kids and playing with them...usually.
Just as I thought he turned his head to the side, confusion riddled his face. "What's that?"
God his voice was just too adorable.
I smiled even bigger, "It's a game me and my brother played sometimes. You would look for an object and you would say the color of that thing and then the other person has to guess that."
Jack still looked confused, so I had to simplify it even more. I looked at the tin cup in my hand and took a swig once more.
"Alright so this color is grey right? So that's what you say is the color of what the object is. You'd say grey and then I'd be like is it my spurs? Then you'd tell me if I was right. Do you understand now?"
Jack nodded, "I think so."
"Okay good. So I'm gonna go first but only so you know what to do, okay," I asked.
Jack nodded once more, "Okay!"
I chuckled along with Tilly and Mrs Grimshaw.
"Okay let's see," I said dramatically looking around the room as if I was looking for something, "Okay. I spy with my little eye something that is red."
"Uh...Mrs Grimshaw's coat," Jack asked excitedly.
I shook my head, "Nope." I took a swig of the last bit of coffee before setting it down beside me. I set my chin on my hand and smiled.
"Uh…your shirt," he said pointing at my flannel shirt.
"Guess again."
Jack looked around the room, "Tilly's coat," he said pointing towards said person who smiled.
I shook my head, "Nope."
It was obvious Jack was starting to get frustrated so I decided to help him out.
"Look at somebody's head," I said grinning. This was too much fun, I missed playing games like this.
Jack perked up and pointed towards the Reverend who had his hat and the cloth on his head off as he scratched it.
I laughed softly, "Super close but not there yet," I said tapping my finger against my hair.
Jack lit up and put his hand in my hair messing it up, "Your hair," he almost screeched.
The entire room either laughed, chuckled, or at least smiled in Mrs Adler's case. That made me smile even bigger.
"Jack you know you shouldn't do that," said Abigail with a smile on her face.
"Sorry Momma," he said apologetically before trying to fix my hair but only made it worse.
"It's okay Jack. I've got it, ow," I said, wincing in pain as I grabbed his tiny hands in my own and pulled them out of my hair.
"You were right, it was my hair," I said, trying to push my hair back while also detangling it.
After that conversations started to pick up in the building. Hosea and Mrs Grimshaw started to talk mostly reminiscing of past times. Reverend Swanson, Strauss, and Uncle spoke to each other for a bit before Uncle left citing that he was hungry, then the Reverend went to reading his Bible. Tilly mostly stayed quiet but talked to Jack and I as we played I Spy. Abigail and John talked then argued then talked again. Mrs Adler had gone back to crying but it was a lot quieter than before and Mary Beth tried comforting her. Karen just sat in the corner and tried to keep warm.
After a little while I got hungry which wasn't surprising considering I hadn't eaten anything in the day and a half I had been here.
Hosea was the one who told me to go eat as Jack wanted to keep playing but luckily Tilly had stepped in and volunteered to play with him for me. I thanked her and quickly hurried outside.
I walked over to the building that Pearson cooked in.
"You don't happen to have anything to eat would you," I asked walking into the small shack.
Charles stood leaning against the wall while Uncle sat in the back corner of the shack.
"Afraid not Mr Booker, we more than likely are going to starve to death," answered the camp cook.
"How so?"
"We have a few cans of food and a rabbit and for what? Plus fifteen people? We simply don't have enough food for everyone."
"Have you not sent anybody out hunting," I asked although I already knew this.
"Of course I did. I sent Bill and Lenny out and guess what they found," Pearson asked, stopping and looking at me.
"I'm going out on a limb here and saying nothing," I replied.
I heard Uncle snicker and take a swig of whatever he was drinking.
"Not a single thing."
"Not a single thing of what," asked Arthur strolling into the shack and stopping at the pile of hot coals beside me.
"We're gonna starve mister Morgan. Simply because we don't have the food to feed everybody," Pearson replied.
"Why's that," asked the older man.
"When we ran away from Blackwater. I wasn't able to get supplies in," said Pearson picking up the calderon and setting it over the coals.
"Well when government agents are hunting you down sometimes shopping trips need to be cut short," Arthur snapped, "We'll survive. We always have."
Pearson rolled his eyes and walked back over to get the scoop for the soup.
"Pearson says he sent Bill and Lenny out hunting and they didn't find anything," I explained to the older man.
Arthur shrugged, "Well Lenny's more into book reading than hunting and Bill's a fool. Unless those mountains are full of game that wanna read ain't no wonder they found nothing."
"Enough of this. We'll find something, come on Arthur," said Charles.
"Wait a second," said Pearson, jogging over to his chopping table, "Here you're gonna need something to eat out there."
"Assorted Salted Offal...starving would be preferable," Arthur muttered before putting the can in his satchel.
"Come on let's go," Charles said once more.
"You can't go hunting. Look at your hand," said Arthur.
"Arthur. I can hunt and I'm pretty sure you can too which means that if we all three go we'll have enough meat for at least a couple a days," I barged in standing in front of the taller man.
Charles pointed towards the mountains, "If there's game out there I'll find it. And you two can kill it."
"You need to rest Charles," Arthur advised.
"You think listening to you two argue is rest," Charles asked before turning and walking towards Taima, "Come along."
I followed after him and with a sigh Arthur did too.
"Here take this," said Charles pulling the bow he had on him off and handing it to me.
"I've only shot a bow a few times before," I answered truthfully. I had killed a few deer before along with a few squirrels but that was all with a gun not a bow.
"Luckily I keep a spare bow at all times, besides I can maybe teach you if there's more than enough game," Charles said, reaching for a bow strapped to Taima Taima before pulling it out and handing it to Arthur.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," Arthur groaned.
Charles handing us each ten arrows a piece before climbing onto Taima, "You use a gun. You'll scare off any game for miles around. Besides you're never too old to learn. I imagine."
I slung the bow over my shoulder and climbed onto Lenny's horse, Maggie, and stuck the arrows in one of the saddle bags.
I followed after Charles with Arthur right behind me. I was still rusty on how to control horses, luckily, so far neither Taima and hopefully Maggie will mess me up. I was a bit worried about what would happen once we were off the mountain. I knew I would get my own horse but I didn't know if it'd be gentle.
We moved up to where we were side by side as we urged the horses into a trot.
"So how're you holding up Charles," asked Arthur as we neared the river.
"I'm fine. Apart from this hand, stupid mistake," Charles growled out.
"How bad is it," I asked, looking from him to his wrapped hand.
"It'll be fine in a few days, I just can't pull a bow right now," he answered as we crossed the river.
"I hope I can. I never really got the hang of it," Arthur said.
I nodded, "I've never shot one before at anything other than a target so it's going to be tough."
"You'll both be fine," Charles said reassuringly as he headed down a tall hill.
"So, you reckon we're gonna find something to kill that ain't an O'Driscoll," Arthur asked.
Charles chuckled, "Heh. There's meat up here for sure. Pearson doesn't know what he's talking about. Now that the weather's eased up some they'll be needing to feed. We just need to find some higher ground."
With that we turned away from the river and started heading uphill.
"Been a wild few days alright," said Arthur, "That ride north from Blackwater, getting caught in that snowstorm, going out for John. That thing with the O'Driscoll's."
"You've had a lot put on you, I wish I could've done more," Charles replied sincerely.
"Yeah wish I was able to help out more," I said truthfully, mostly because I loathed being a burden.
Arthur stuttered, "W-well I...I didn't mean it like that. It's just...a lot to think back on."
"I still don't know what really happened on that boat."
Same here Charles, I thought.
"Me neither...well Javier told me a little but it sure weren't good," Arthur replied with a shake of his head.
We settled into silence, I looked around at all the snow around me, it just amazed me. Although it was also like a knee, no, a knife to gut that this isn't a hallucination or a dream. This was real, completely 100% real. It still was just plain...amazing.
We crested a hill and started down it, I pulled out one of the arrows and inspected it while following the two. The feathers were pinned to the arrow with what looked like some type of sap.
We came to the bottom near a river once more before turning and heading back away from the river.
"See some of the ground is uncovered," Charles said, interrupting the almost half hour of silence.
We started back down the hill towards the river, "Come on. This way, and keep your eyes peeled for movement."
I put the arrow away and looked around while following Charles.
"The winds died down too."
"Isn't that good," I asked.
"No wind at all is bad but if it's too strong they won't move," Charles explained as we crossed the river, "Now shush. Stay quiet."
We followed the river for a few more minutes, "Hey, stop here a second. I see something."
Arthur and I stopped as Charles got off his horse to inspect some tracks. I jumped off my horse and another crunch of snow signified Arthur did as well. I kneeled beside Charles to inspect and they Indeed only looked maybe a half an hour old.
"There's deer been here, and recently," Charles muttered to himself.
"How can you tell," asked Arthur as he stood by the horses.
"How can you not," said Charles standing up.
"The older the track the more rounded the edges of the track tend to be while the newer ones tend to be crisper and have sharper corners," I explained before turning towards Charles, "Right?"
He nodded, "Yes. We're gonna walk from here. You're gonna need your bow. Don't leave it on your horse."
I turned towards Maggie and pulled out two arrows as that was all I should need.
"I'm going to let you two track this one down. Remember stay low, move quietly," Charles reminded us.
I notched an arrow and put the other one in my hand that held the bow. I started to follow the track but got off point somewhere and I turned to see Arthur continuing to a small little gathering of trees. I followed after him as quickly but as quietly as I could.
"You see the tracks," Charles asked Arthur, making sure he was on the right track.
"I think so...maybe not," Arthur muttered back, focused solely on the ground.
"Focus. Concentrate, look at the track, memorize what it looks like, then keep following it," Charles advised.
Arthur continued tracking while I looked around trying to see if I could spot a deer.
"It's easier to track in snow but once you get used to it you can track pretty much anywhere," Charles advised following us.
We continued to follow the track down by the river before stopping between two trees as we saw a deer by the river further along.
"Shhh. Do you two see it," Charles whispered.
Arthur nodded, "Yeah," I whispered back.
"Okay. Arthur you're gonna get a little closer to it. Andrew your gonna circle around these trees in case Arthur misses and it goes that way understood," Charles whispered.
We both nodded in understanding, "Good. Try to aim for the neck or head area, it drops them fast."
Arthur started forward while I started to creep around the trees. I hoped that Arthur would get it cause if it came my way I don't know if I'd be able to hit it.
I knelt and waited until I heard crunching in the snow behind me I turned to see Charles walking towards me.
"He got it. See if you can track down another one," I nodded before standing up and walking into a clearing.
I walked around before finding a set of tracks and crouched as I began following them.
A few minutes later I came to a stop right against a tree. Around fifty feet away a doe drank from the river unaware of my presence.
She lifted her head up and got ready to turn but before she could an arrow was sprouting from right behind her front leg and she dropped like a sack of potatoes. I stood up and walked towards her.
I knelt beside her and nodded, thankful that she was dead. I swung the bow back over my shoulder before pulling the arrow out of her before putting it in my back pocket along with the other one and throwing the deer over my shoulder. I bent down and flipped the deer over my shoulder with a slight struggle.
I started walking back towards where Charles and Arthur had been. A few minutes later I arrived at where the horses were.
My face must have been red and my breathing was labored as I threw the deer onto the back of Maggie.
"You alright kid," Arthur asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine I just had to carry her up that steep as hell hill," I explained between breaths.
"Tie her up to make sure she won't fall off then we can leave," said Charles already sitting on Taima.
I pulled some rope out of one of the saddlebags and started to tie her to Maggie.
"I was going to help with that bow but you did good," said Charles sounding impressed.
I shook my head and hid my grin, "I got lucky. I doubt I'd be able to do that if given a hundred more chances."
Charles chuckled, "I'll give you some lessons once we get down the mountain."
I nodded as I finished tying the horse and climbed onto Maggie.
We started back for Colter, "Nice work. This should keep us fed for several days," Charles said with a hint of pride.
"You're the one who found'em," Arthur argued.
"I didn't find Andrew's or your second one, but you two did a lot better with those bows than I thought you would," Charles said.
"It's easier when they ain't shooting back," Arthur retorted, laughter in his voice.
Charles chuckled, "We seen enough of that."
"Considering how things were looking a couple of days back. I think we're finally back towards the right track," said Arthur.
"Seems to me we should be putting our effort into getting off this mountain now."
"Isn't it a little soon to be thinking that," I asked.
Arthur nodded as we crossed the river, "People are still weak and you've seen how snowed in those wagons are. We ain't going nowhere until we get some more thaw."
"Hmmm. You're probably right. And even if we do get off this mountain, what then? We still have a big price on our heads," said Charles as we turned away from the river.
"This is a big country. There's plenty of places to lie low," I countered, "'Specially if we go somewhere not occupied much."
I could almost feel Arthur nod behind me, "That's right. Besides Dutch and Hosea will think of something...they always have."
We turned back towards the river mostly just following it.
"Have you noticed how Pearson has had a bottle in his hand ever since we fled Blackwater? We give the camp cook five minutes to grab the essentials and go, and he doesn't even bring a crumb of food," said Arthur, the irritation in his voice was evident.
"Good thing we caught more than one. A lot of mouths to feed," said Charles matter of factly.
"And that girl from the ranch now too...don't think she'll be eating much though," said Arthur.
"She has a wild look in her eye."
"Can't exactly blame her for that. She lost her homestead to the O'Driscoll bastards. Not to mention anything else they may have done," I retorted.
"True but what are we gonna do with her," asked Charles.
"We'll keep her safe until we get down the mountain. After that...it's up to her whether or not she stays," Arthur answered with a shrug.
"So it was O'Driscoll's you ran into right," asked Charles as we passed a giant rock sprouting out of the ground, "What's the deal with them?"
"You ain't dealt with them," Arthur asked anger in his tone, "I guess we ain't really run into them much in the last six months."
"Yeah...I've heard a lot of talk about them," Charles offered, not going into detail.
"Well...they're a big gang, nothing but nasty sons a bitches. We've been fighting over scores for years now. Their leader, Colm, and Dutch go way back and not in a good way," Arthur explained.
"So I heard," said Charles as we turned inland and started away from the river once more.
"Hold it," Charles said quietly bringing Taima to a stop, "Bear up ahead."
We stopped for a second and merely watched the bear. It was both fascinating and scary to actually see a bear in person.
"Let's find another way to camp," said Charles, turning Taima farther away from the river.
"He's got a lot of meat on him," Arthur stated.
"We've got enough. No need to push our luck," said Charles heading up the hill.
Arthur followed behind him. I watched the bear for a few more seconds before clicking Maggie forward.
"He must be real hungry. Spring storms are the worst for hibernating animals."
We started riding up the hill while also keeping an eye out for any more potential predators.
"We ain't ever talked that much, me and you. How long you been with us five? Six months now," Arthur questioned.
"Something like that," Charles answered.
"Huh. I figured you'd been around longer than that," I interjected.
Charles looked back at me, "Why's that?"
I shrugged, "Just the way you act around camp. You just seem to feel like you've been in the gang for a long time."
"Yeah. But I bet you weren't expecting this," Arthur said chuckling.
"What?"
"Any of this. The Blackwater mess. Being up here," explained the bearded man.
"Sooner or later a job is gonna go wrong. It's the way of life," Charles said with a shrug.
"Just thought you'd have moved on by now," Arthur added.
"Do you...want me to move on," Charles asked hesitating heavily.
"No," Arthur answered immediately, "No, not at all. I just...know you could make it on your own no problem."
"You do seem like the type," I added as we started back towards the river.
"I did that for a long time. I'm done with it. Always wondering if somebody is gonna kill you in your sleep," Charles said shaking his head.
Arthur chuckled, "I still wonder that most nights."
"Hell you don't have to be an outlaw to think that," I added smiling.
Charles and Arthur chuckled as we turned towards a hill and started up it.
"I reckon you two are alright," said Charles chuckling, "But this suits me. Sure I could fall in with another gang but Dutch...Dutch is different."
Arthur chuckled, "Oh yes. Dutch is certainly different."
"He treats me fair. Most of you do. And for a fellow with a black father and an Indian mother that's not normally the case," Charles explained.
Sadness overran me, I knew that it was still mostly socially acceptable to discriminate against any non whites in this time, but it was still sad.
"Well," Arthur began in a somber tone, "We need you now. More than ever."
"Good."
Arthur turned towards me, "What about you kid? You thinking of sticking with us once we get off this mountain?"
I nodded, wiping some snow out of my eye, "Yeah. It's like I said I have nobody to go back to. Besides y'all seem like a family, that's something I've been needing for awhile."
Arthur nodded, "Good. Me and you will talk to Dutch about that later."
"So how long you been with these boys," Charles asked once we quietened.
"Me? Uh twenty years? Something like that. Since I was a boy," Arthur answered.
"Twenty years?!"
I already knew this but it was still mind blowing as most gang members from what I'd read would leave after a few years to do there own thing when the heat got too high.
Arthur chuckled almost bashfully, "Yeah. Dutch taught me to read. John too. He taught me a few other things, him and Hosea."
"Huh, I'm sure."
"Dutch saved me. Saved most of us. That's why we need to stick by him through this. We always leads us right," Arthur said as we crossed a river.
We settled into silence for a few minutes after we crossed. I clutched the blanket around me even tighter as the wind seemed to blow harder.
"How's that new horse," Charles asked.
"It's alright. He'll do for now. 'Preciate you letting me take Taima the other night," said Arthur.
Charles nodded, "She's a strong one. It's been as tough for the horses as it has us. I don't know what Dutch would do if something happened to the Count."
Arthur nodded before chuckling, "Same with Bill and Brown Jack. He's a drunk miserable bastard but he sure does love that horse."
Charles and I chuckled, "I hope they all make it," said Charles as we neared the river to head to Colter.
Arthur began chuckling, "I remember I tried to ride the Count once...bucked me faster than a bull. Won't take nobody but him."
We settled into silence as we neared Colter.
"I'm gonna hitch Taima over here."
"Brought some food back boys," Arthur called as we stopped at the hitching post.
I climbed off of Maggie and tied Maggie's lead to the post.
"Come on let's get the deer over to Pearson," said Arthur untying his deer from his horse.
I untied mine and threw it over my shoulder.
"Oh and uh thank you for helping me learn to shoot a bow," Arthur added, throwing his deer over his shoulder.
Charles nodded before turning towards me, "You did pretty well considering I wasn't there to help you."
I shook my head, "I got lucky."
Charles nodded as he walked past Arthur and I.
"Well well well. You did manage to find some game after all huh? Just drop it down in here," said Pearson grinning.
Charles dumped his on the cutting board while Arthur and I dumped ours on the ground in front of Pearson.
"What a surprise to find the camp rat loiterin' around in the kitchen," said Arthur standing by the coals. I stuck my hands out to try and warm them up a little.
"Is that any way to greet an old friend? I feel like we haven't spoken for days," Uncle said with a bottle still in his hand.
"I do my utmost to avoid you," Arthur retorted.
"He loves me really. It's his sad way of showing affection," Uncle explained to me. I nodded as it really did seem that way at least when Arthur was around Uncle.
"No it isn't. Now shoo get lost," Arthur argued with irritation.
Uncle stood up with a groan, "See you gents later."
"See you three got on just fine," said Pearson inspecting the deer.
Arthur nodded towards Charles, "Charles is a wonder."
I nodded, "Indeed he is."
"Have a drink boys. You earned it," said Pearson handing Arthur his Navy Rum.
Arthur took a swig before handing it to me. Figuring it couldn't be that bad I took a swig as well. I swear I could hear glass breaking as the taste hit me. I gagged and coughed before handing it to Charles.
"Jesus what is that," Arthur said, his voice going up an octave.
Pearson chuckled as he took a seat, "Heh. Navy Rum sir. Keeps you sane, it does."
"Yeah. Clinically insane," I said between coughs.
"Seems to have done a number on you. You go rest that hand Charles," Arthur replied.
Charles nodded, "I'll be fine," he said before walking out.
"Mind helping me with skinning Mister Morgan? Mister Booker? It'll go faster if we do it together," Pearson asked.
"Do I get to skin you," Arthur asked.
Pearson chuckled dryly while shaking his head.
"I haven't ever skinned an animal," I said grabbing a knife from beside the coals.
Arthur gave me a confused look, "Thought you said you'd killed deer before?"
I nodded, "I have and I know how to cut it once the skin is off I just have never skinned one."
"It's real simple," said Pearson, walking over to the deer at the cutting table, "Just do what I do."
I watched Pearson cut up the deer and mimicked him throughout the ordeal.
I held up the skin with a smile, other than the small hole where the arrow had been along with a few strips where I messed up other than that though there was nothing was wrong with the pelt.
"Not bad Mister Morgan. You either Mister Booker, especially for your first time," said Pearson.
I handed him the pelt to let him look at it, he nodded as he looked at it. "You know you could trade these or sell these in pretty much any town...if you're looking to make a legitimate bit of money of course," he advised rolling up the skin and tucking it on the shelf below the table.
"Right now I'm just looking to get off this mountain alive," Arthur retorted.
"Well if either of you catch anything else you could bring it to me and I could make you something," said Pearson closing the clamps around the deer's leg.
"Sure," said Arthur, picking up the deer.
"Thank you Mister Morgan."
"That sounds good," I said, putting the other deer on the cutting table.
"Just make a good stew. Folk need it," said Arthur patting Pearson's shoulder.
He turned and started to walk out into the snow, "Come on kid. We need to talk to Dutch."
I hurried after the man holding onto the blanket in one hand and tucking the other against my body to keep it warm.
We hurried into the building and I turned to shut the door behind me. Dutch and Hosea sat by the fire, I could see Molly sitting on the bed in the room she and Dutch shared.
"Arthur. I heard you went hunting with Charles. Find anything," asked Dutch, turning away from the fire.
Arthur nodded as I brushed the snow out of my hair, "Found three deer. That should keep us fed for a few days."
A relieved look came over Hosea's face, "Didn't see anybody else did ya?"
"Only a grizzly," I answered walking forward and stopping beside Arthur.
"Hello there Mister Booker," said Dutch taking a puff of one of his cigars.
"Sir," I said with a nod of my head.
"The kid says he's gonna be staying with us once we get down the mountain," said Arthur pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
Dutch blinked, surprise on his face while Hosea had an almost satisfactory look in his eye.
"Is that so?"
I nodded once more, "Yes sir it is."
"No need to be so formal son. You can call me Dutch same as everybody here," said the leader.
"Okay sir-Dutch. Yeah it's true," I corrected with a bashful grin.
"May I ask why you want to stay with us? You seem like you'd get on just fine by yourself," said Dutch, before taking a puff of his cigar.
"You have a family here, from what I've been told everybody pitches in one way or another. Whether that's from earning money from robbing banks and things like that or keeping the camp clean and orderly. I've been looking for that for years Dutch. And it seems like your gang is the place I'm meant to be," I answered truthfully. That was completely true. I didn't have to lie at all for that. I just wished mom and Joe was here with me.
Dutch remained quiet for a few minutes. I started to fidget in place as I glanced around the room. I felt an elbow in my side, I turned to see Arthur offering the cigarette as he blew the smoke the other way.
I grabbed it and took a puff before handing it back to him. I slowly breathed the smoke out as I saw Dutch slowly start to smile.
"I think you'd fit right in with this gang," Dutch said smiling, "What so you Hosea?"
The older man gave me a smile as well, "I couldn't agree more."
I smiled, mostly in relief, at being accepted into this weird, makeshift family.
"Before I forget I had Miss Grimshaw find you a coat so you don't have just that blanket protecting you from the cold," said Dutch standing up and walking into his bedroom.
He came back out with a large coat that was an almost exact replica of Arthur's except it was forest green instead of blue.
Arthur took the blanket off my shoulders and folded it over one arm, his cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I grabbed the coat with a thanks and slung it on. I could tell the difference immediately, while I could still feel the cold I wasn't freezing with the other one.
"Warmer," Dutch asked, the corner of his mouth quirked up.
I nodded as I buttoned up the coat before grabbing my blanket, "Much. Thank you for this."
He waved his hand dismissively, "I was going to do it even if you did decide to leave when we get down this mountain. Same as Missus Adler, we're gonna get her some clothes as soon as we can."
I nodded, "Thanks anyway."
"We're gonna get you a revolver of your own within the next day or two. Can't have you borrowing guns left and right now can we?"
I blushed and shook my head.
"Do you know the mantra of this gang Andrew," asked Dutch walking forward and placing a hand on my shoulder.
I shook my head no even though I knew it word for word.
"We save people as need saving, shoot people as need shooting, and feed people as need feeding," said Dutch.
"Sounds complex but so simple at the same time," I said with a one shoulder shrug.
Hosea laughed while Arthur and Dutch chuckled.
"That's the way it is. This world is so complex yet so simple that it's simply mesmerizing," said Dutch.
I nodded and stifled a yawn.
"You should get some sleep. You had a busy day keeping Jackie busy then hunting some deer," said Dutch with a smile.
I nodded before walking out the door and heading towards the building where I slept. Feeling very satisfied now for some odd reason.
I woke up from my nap and ate some stew to quieten my growling stomach. I told Jack that I was still tired and I'd play with him tomorrow, luckily Abigail backed me up.
I was still hungry but I didn't want to eat too much and not leave any for the others. Karen and Reverend had already fallen asleep as well probably just to pass the time and I couldn't blame them.