Chapter 8-Trust issues

A week later

It's been a week since Colt has joined the gang. He has been slowly gaining the trust of the gang, and he knew he was close to gaining Dutch's trust. He had been trying his best to see Emily and the kids without raising suspicion with the others. Colt puts his guns in his revolvers and starts to head for his horse. "Mr. Morgan," Dutch says. Colt turns and looks at the man. "Where are you going?"

"I got some errands to run Dutch," Colt tells him.

"You have a lot of errands to run, Colt. You're gone for a few hours each time. What have you been doing, Mr. Morgan?"

"With all due respect Dutch. My life is my life. What I do outside this camp isn't your problem," Colt says.

"He could be talking," Bill says.

"If I was, you'd all be in jail or dead," Colt says.

"Colt, I am an understanding person. But unless you want to join that O'driscoll on that post. You will be honest with me," Dutch says.

"I've been through worse," Colt growls at the man who frowns at him.

"Fine, have it your way. I can have Bill escort you," Dutch says. Colt nods as he walks towards Kieran. Bill follows him. Arthur walks up to Dutch.

"Dutch, we all have our right to some privacy," Arthur says.

"He leaves every day, Arthur. Now unless you know what he is doing or where he is going. We are done here," Dutch says before he walks away. Hosea walks over to Arthur.

"I must ask Arthur. Do you know where he is going?" Hosea asks.

"Yes, I do. He ain't no rat Hosea," Arthur says before he walks over to Colt. Hosea follows him. Colt stood with his arms behind his back. He looks at Arthur and Hosea.

"I feel bad for the kid now. This sucks," Colt tells them.

"Let me show Hosea. Abigail and I saying you aren't a rat won't be enough. Hosea will be," Arthur says. Colt nods.

"Take him," Colt tells Arthur, who nods as she walks towards the horses.

"Where are you two off too?" Dutch asks.

"Proving my brother's innocence," Arthur says before he leaves camp. Hosea follows, and Dutch frowns as he goes back into his tent.

Valentine

Arthur stops outside Emily's house, and Hosea climbs off his horse. "Where are we, Arthur?" Hosea asks. They hear footsteps from the side of the house. Walker comes from the other side of the house and looks at Arthur.

"Uncle Arthur," Walker says as he goes up to his uncle and hugs him. Hosea looks at Arthur in shock as he picks Walker up.

"Hey, kid. Where's your sister and Mama?" Arthur asks.

"Lydia is cleaning the mud off her shoes. Mom is making lunch. Where's dad, and who is this?"

"I'll explain that inside. Go get your sister," Arthur tells Walker, who nods as he leaves. Arthur looks at Hosea. "He's going to see his kids, Hosea. Come on," Arthur walks to the door of the house and walks inside. Emily walks out of the kitchen and looks at him.

"Hey, Arthur. You brought Hosea Matthews to my house," Emily says.

"Ma'am," Hosea says.

"Where's Colt? If he's dead, I swear to god I'll kill you both," Emily says.

"He's not dead. He's tied to a post beside an O'driscoll," Arthur says.

"You better start talking, or I'm getting my gun," Emily says.

"Dutch thought that Colt may have been a rat because he kept leaving. When Colt wouldn't talk about you guys, Dutch tied him up," Arthur says. Emily was about to speak when they heard talking outside. Arthur frowns as he walks to the door and opens it.

"Next time you decide to try to hide something. You might want to hide your horses," Dutch says as he looks at Arthur. Arthur looks at Lydia and Walker.

"Get inside," Arthur tells them. They nod as they go inside the house. Arthur walks outside and shuts the door. "You should leave, Dutch. This isn't your business, Dutch,"

"Who are these people, Arthur?" Dutch asks. "I see two kids who listen to you. So either you have kids I don't know about, or Colt does," Arthur stays silent. "This is what he showed you last week,"

"It doesn't matter who they are Dutch. Colt isn't a rat," Arthur says.

"I would like to meet them," Dutch says as he moves to the door. Arthur steps in front of him.

"I can't let you, Dutch," Arthur says,

"Arthur, I respect that you are trying to protect your brother. But I ask that you move," Dutch says to Arthur with a frown. The door opens behind them, and Emily walks outside.

"I'm going to ask you to leave once, Mr. Van Der Linde, before I yell, and every cop in this town is at my doorstep if that doesn't work. You'll leave my house with a bullet in your chest," Emily says to Dutch. Dutch glares at her before he walks to his horse and climbs on top of it. "Mr. Van Der Linde. If you or any of your members show up at this house without Arthur, Sadie, Abigail, or Colt. You won't leave it," Dutch stares at her before he leaves. Arthur looks at Emily.

"Woman, you are scary," Arthur says once Dutch was gone.

"I have two kids. I'm also a single woman. I've dealt with men like him. Come on, join us for lunch," Emily says. Arthur nods as he follows her inside. A smirk on his face.

Camp

Colt looked at the ground and raised his head when he heard footsteps in front of him. He looks at Abigail, who had a cut of water. She holds it out to Cold, who takes a small drink. "Thank you. Give him some too," Colt says as he looks at Kieran.

"He's an O'driscoll," Abigail says.

"I told you, people. I'm not an O'driscoll," Kieran says.

"Abigail, please," Colt says. Abigail sighs as he gives Kieran water.

"Thank you," Kieran says. Abigail ignores him and looks at Colt.

"I'll try to get you some food," Abigail says before she walkers away.

"Thank you," Kieran says to Colt.

"You shouldn't be tied to this post. I've met plenty of O'driscoll's in my day. You are not one of them," Colt says.

"I know that. These people can't seem to wrap their heads around it," Kieran says. Colt lets out a small chuckle.

"Well, now I'm tied up too," Colt tells him as Dutch rides into camp. Dutch climbs off his horse and walks over to Colt. He stands in front of him.

"Your kid's mother is quite something," Dutch says. Colt looks at him.

"If you touch them or even think about them. I'll tear your head off," Colt says.

"Lying isn't something I tolerate, Mr. Morgan," Dutch says.

"I didn't lie. I never said I didn't have a family," Colt says. "Now that you know I'm not a rat. Do you want to untie me?" Dutch smirks as he cuts the ropes. Colt walks to the table and grabs his hat, and puts it back on. He walks to his horse and climbs on Thea before he leaves camp.

Emily's house

Colt walks into the house and looks at Hosea, Arthur, and Emily. "How was your time tied to a tree?" Arthur asks.

"Shut up," Colt says as he takes his hat off and puts it on the table as he sits down. "So what did you say to piss Dutch off so much?" Colt asks Emily.

"I told him if he came here by himself again or any of the gang members did without you, Arthur, Sadie, or Abigail. They wouldn't leave," Emily says.

"She also threatened to shoot him if he didn't leave," Arthur says. "I can say for the first time in my life. I have found a woman who scares me more than Miss Grimshaw,"

"You should be scared. When she was pregnant, she chased me around the house with a knife, for and I quote, "Wearing clothes that made me look like a chick," Colt says. "I had just bought it and got rid of them the same day," Colt tells them. Hosea and Arthur laugh as Emily smiles. Hosea stands up.

"I should get back and calm him down. It was nice meeting you, Emily," Hosea says. Emily smiles at him as Hosea leaves the house. Colt and Arthur stay with Emily and talk to the woman. Walker and Lydia come in and greet their father before they go to their room fast.

"They are hiding something," Colt says as he stands up and walks to their door. Lydia and Walker look up as they set a puppy on their floor. "Where did you find that?"

"He was out in the woods, and he was cold," Lydia says. Emily looks at her kids. "Can we keep him?"

"Up to your dad? He'll be paying for the food," Emily says. Walker and Lydia look at Colt, who smiles.

"You can keep the dog but you have to take care of them," Colt says. "What are you going to name him?"

"Quickshot," Lydia says. Colt laughs as he walks away. Soon Colt and Arthur leave the house and head back to camp. Colt walks to his tent when he gets back to camp and goes to bed.

All I am going to ask is how do you guys feel about Colt and Abigail?