Author's Note
I was listening to music while writing this chapter and 'She's My Religion' by Pale Waves came on and it kind of reminded me of Sadie? Like, if I had to tell you how Dani felt about Sadie, that song sums it up. Definitely recommend giving it a listen sometime!
I feel like we go through a lot in this chapter, let me know your thoughts!
Dani walked out to the balcony where Dutch was standing with Hosea, "Abigail said you needed somethin'?"
"We're just waiting for Arthur, we need to discuss somethin' with you both." Hosea explained.
He seemed impatient, irritated. Dutch seemed antsy. It worried Dani, but she nodded and stood next to Hosea. She noticed Arthur riding back into camp. "Looks like we won't have to wait very long." She said. When Arthur walked out onto the balcony, she asked again, "So what's this about?"
"We want your opinions on somethin'."
"On what?" Arthur asked.
"We can take an insult and scurry off like cockroaches, or deal with business the right way." Dutch said.
"We don't need to take revenge, we hardly know the guy." Hosea argued.
"I take it that trolley station job didn't go so well?" Dani questioned, sighing.
"This ain't about revenge, Hosea." Dutch ignored her question. "Angelo Bronte don't mean shit to me. This is about the fact that we are plannin' to rob a bank in his town. A bank that he no doubt protects, a town where his men are gunnin' for us. Before we do that, we need to put him outta commission."
"I disagree, there's always an easier way." Hosea insisted.
"There ain't no easier way, now I know his type. He is a vindictive little power broker who rules by fear. Now, we pull that stunt in his cesspit of a town, we're doomed. You wanna leave this place? Leave this country? We need that money."
"It just don't feel good, Dutch."
"This is it." The dark haired man drawled, "This is the last job that we are ever gonna pull. Before the year is out, we are gonna be harvestin' mangoes in Tahiti. Farmers. But we need seed capital, and we need to leave. You know it, I know it."
Farmers? Dani thought, And where the hell is Tahiti?
"Forgive me if I can't think too much about the mango harvest, I'm-,"
Dutch cut him off, "This is it. Trust me." He turned to Arthur and Dani, who had been listening carefully, "Arthur...Dani…"
Hosea looked at them pleadingly.
Dani shook her head slightly, "I...I don't know, Dutch. I don't like Bronte either, but, I don't know about this one..."
Arthur sighed, "If it's business, well...business is business."
Dutch turned back to Hosea, "Angelo Bronte stands between us and our future."
"You'll damn us all." Hosea said, darkly. Dani had never heard him like this before.
"Arthur, come on." Dutch walked back into the house.
"Dutch!" Dani called after him, a slight whine in her tone. He ignored her.
"I hope you're right about this one." Arthur said to him.
"I am." Was all Dani heard as he and Arthur walked off.
Hosea sat back down in his chair, shaking his head and sighing. Dani put her hand on his shoulder, "You know somethin's not right with this, right?" He asked.
"I...I don't know." Dani said, "We don't usually do things for revenge...but Dutch says this isn't revenge, so...I don't know. I just want everyone safe."
"Well so do I. I just don't think goin' after Angelo Bronte is gonna help everyone be safe."
"But...we gotta have faith in Dutch, right? He's never really steered us wrong before...well, until Blackwater I guess."
"Exactly. Ever since Blackwater, damn near nothin's gone right."
"Yeah…" Dani wasn't sure what else to say. Part of her was grateful for what happened with Blackwater. If none of it happened, maybe she would never have met Sadie.
"How's Sadie?" Hosea suddenly asked, as though he read her mind.
"What?" Dani blushed.
"I heard you yellin' at Abigail earlier." He smirked.
"Oh," her blush intensified, "I...she's fine."
Hosea stood, smiling, "As long as you're happy, Danielle." He put a hand on her shoulder and Dani, suddenly overcome with emotion, pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you." She whispered, and he knew she meant for more than just accepting her love for Sadie.
"You're welcome." Hosea replied, smiling, when they pulled back from the hug. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"
Dani let out a breathy laugh, trying not to cry, "Thanks."
The sun was starting to set, "You should go, spend time with your family." Hosea pushed her gently towards the door leading back into the house.
"You're my family too." Dani smiled.
"I'm fine, gonna read my book in peace while Dutch is gone." They laughed, "Go on now."
Dani headed back inside, but paused in the doorway, "Hosea?" She turned back to face him.
Hosea, who had just sat back down, looked up at her.
"I...I love you." She wasn't sure why she said it. She didn't say it often. Maybe that was why? Either way, she felt the need to say it.
Hosea blinked in surprise before responding, "I love you too, kid." He smiled, "Good night."
"Good night." Dani smiled back before heading inside, walking straight to her room, hoping to find Sadie there.
She bumped into Mary-Beth in the hall, "Hi Dani," she giggled.
Dani's eyes narrowed, "Mary-Beth…" she greeted.
"I heard you and Sadie worked things out," she kept giggling.
Judging by the giggling, Dani knew exactly what the blonde meant by "heard" and blushed, "Oh. Well. Yeah. We did." She rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
"I'm glad. Really, jokes aside, I'm happy for you." Mary-Beth smiled.
"Thank you." Dani smiled back, her blush fading. "Have you seen Jess again?"
It was Mary-Beth's turn to blush, "Yes, actually. That night you came back from that party, I had just got back from seein' her."
"Oh yeah?" Dani smirked.
"Yeah. She's...I never imagined feelin' like this about a girl, Dani, ever! But it feels so right, you know?"
"Yeah," Dani smiled, "I know."
At that, Sadie came out of Dani's room, "Hey." She smiled at the other two women.
"Hi Sadie!" Mary-Beth smiled back.
"Hey," Dani smiled, wrapping an arm around Sadie's waist and pulling her close.
"I got hungry, think there's any dinner?" The older blonde asked.
"I think Mr. Pearson just made some," Mary-Beth answered, "I'm actually on my way out." She blushed again, looking at her feet.
Dani and Sadie gave each other a knowing smirk.
"I thought you looked extra pretty today," Dani winked.
"You really think so?" Mary-Beth asked, her eyes filled with hope, "I wasn't sure if it was too much or-,"
"You look great." Sadie assured.
Dani nodded, "You'll knock her socks off," she smirked, "literally."
Sadie smacked her arm playfully, "Dani! Don't embarrass the poor girl!"
Dani just laughed.
"I…" Mary-Beth bit her lip, "You think so? I...I'm real nervous."
Dani and Sadie stopped their teasing, "Really." Dani nodded, "And if she don't think so, come back and tell me so I can talk some sense into her."
"You'll be fine, Mary-Beth," Sadie assured, "She's probably just as nervous as you."
"Oh," the younger blonde laughed, shaking her head, "Jessica doesn't get nervous."
"Sure she does." Dani said, "Everyone gets nervous with stuff like this when it's with someone you really care about." She smiled at Sadie.
Sadie smiled back, "Right."
"Okay," Mary-Beth nodded before taking a deep breath, "I'm...I'm ready. I think."
The couple laughed, "You are!" Dani nodded. "Get goin'!" She teasingly pushed Mary-Beth, and off she went. She did look back once, but Dani and Sadie just waved.
"What did Dutch want?" Sadie asked Dani as they walked to get some food.
The redhead sighed, "Him and Hosea wanted me and Arthur's opinions on somethin'. Arthur and Dutch are handlin' it."
Sadie narrowed her eyes, "And you didn't go with them?"
"No. It...The trolley station was a bust. Bronte told us about that place so Dutch wanted to go after him for it. Hosea thought it was a stupid idea, I wasn't sure."
"And Arthur?"
"Arthur trusted Dutch's judgement."
"And you didn't? That don't sound like you." They each grabbed a bowl and filled it with stew from the pot.
"No...I just wasn't sure. We've never really done somethin' for revenge, it didn't feel right. Dutch thinks it's a good idea because we wanna rob that bank, so gettin' Bronte outta the picture will give us more freedom or somethin'. I don't know anymore." Dani sighed as they sat down.
"And...what happens after the bank job?"
"I don't know about that either. Dutch mentioned some place called Tahiti? Becomin' mango farmers or somethin'." She shook her head as she started eating.
"Sounds fancy…" Sadie took a mouthful of food too.
"Yeah, I know we gotta get outta here but...I can't imagine us fittin' in someplace like that. I don't even think I know what a mango is!" They laughed, "But...I think the only place I wanna be is where you are."
Sadie rolled her eyes, "Sap."
They laughed again and ate the rest of their food in comfortable silence. That is, until Jack came running over, having just finished his food.
"Aunt Dani!" He hopped up onto Dani's lap.
She winced as his weight piled onto her unexpectedly, "Hey Jack."
"Hi! Hi Sadie!" He smiled at the other woman.
"Hi Jack." Sadie smiled back.
"You okay kiddo?" Dani asked, brushing his hair from his face.
"Yeah. The gun noises were kinda scary, but I wasn't too scared."
"Of course you weren't," Dani said, proudly, "you're a Marston." She winked and he beamed back at her.
Jack thought for a moment before whispering into his aunt's ear, "Are you and Sadie together again?"
Dani looked at Sadie and smiled, who smiled back with a questioning look on her face. "Yeah, we are."
Sadie realised then what the boy's question was, and her smile widened.
Jack smiled too and climbed across the table into Sadie's lap, hugging her tight. "You make Aunt Dani really happy." He said, simply. "She was sad when you weren't together."
Dani's eyes widened in shock before she looked down at the table.
Sadie gave Jack a sad smile, "Yeah...I was pretty sad too. I'm gonna make sure that doesn't happen again though."
The redhead looked up again, a big smile on her face now.
"Good." Jack nodded, hugging Sadie again.
"Jack!" Abigail called from the porch, "Bed time!" She waved at Dani and Sadie, who waved back.
"Coming Mama!" Jack hugged Sadie once more, "Good night Sadie!" He climbed back over the table to Dani hugging her next, "Good night Aunt Dani!"
She kissed his head, "Good night kid."
"Good night Jack!" Sadie called as the boy ran to his mother.
Looking back at each other, Dani and Sadie laughed. When the laughter died down, Dani let out a fake, exaggerated yawn, "Well. I think it's bed time for me too." She smirked.
Sadie smirked back, "Oh really?"
"Yup." Dani stretched her arms out. "I'm real tired."
"Good night then." The blonde said, standing to take she and Dani's bowls to the wash basin.
Dani's smirk dropped, "What?"
Sadie thought she looked like a sad puppy, "You said you're tired. So good night."
"But…" Sadie was already gone, and Dani was left at the table alone. She got up, huffing as she did, and walked to her room, shoulders slumped.
When she entered her room, Dani threw her hat on the bedside table, kicked her boots off and stripped to her underwear. She threw herself down on her bed, her back to the door, and pulled the blanket over her body, up to her neck.
After what felt like an eternity, but was really only 15 minutes, Sadie walked in. She smirked and raised a brow at the sight of Dani. She put her own hat slightly on top of Dani's, kicked off her boots, also putting them next to Dani's, and stripped down to nothing, not even underwear. Before she walked to the bed, she remembered Abigail walking in on them earlier and put a chair against the door. She knew Dani was ignoring her. Trying to make her think she was asleep. Sadie lifted the blanket and slipped under it, wrapping an arm around Dani's waist and pulling her close, moving her red hair and kissing her neck.
It took all of Dani's strength to keep her eyes closed, but Sadie noticed her breath hitch. "Dani?" The older woman tried, kissing Dani's neck again. She smirked when she got no response, "I know you're awake. You ain't really mad at me, are you?"
After a few more kisses to her neck, Dani sighed and turned in Sadie's arms to face her, "No...I just didn't wanna come up here by myself."
The blonde chuckled and kissed the slight pout off Dani's lips. "I just wanted to mess with you, I'm sorry."
"I know, it's okay. I'm sorry for...bein' silly."
Sadie laughed again, "It's okay."
Dani finally caved and leaned in to kiss Sadie properly. Sadie had her hair down already, she took her hair tie out after the fight with the O'Driscoll's, Dani fisted her hands in her thick blonde locks, smiling into the kiss as Sadie groaned. Sadie moved so she could straddle Dani's thighs, only breaking the kiss for a second as she did so. Once she was comfortable, she started kissing from Dani's cheekbone, to her jaw, to her ear, to her neck, until the younger woman was a panting mess beneath her.
"Sadie, please," Dani breathed out, and Sadie set about pulling Dani's underwear off. Dani moaned when Sadie straddled her again, their sexes touching as they kissed again.
Sadie shifted so she could pull one of Dani's nipples into her mouth, smirking as the other woman groaned and wiggled her hips. She sat back up again and let her fingers tease around Dani's thighs.
"Sadie," Dani whined, "come on, please!"
The blonde bit her lip at Dani's begging, it wasn't something that would normally turn her on, but with Dani, everything was different.
She moved her fingers to the apex of Dani's thighs, feeling how wet she was, "God, Dani," she groaned. She brought her fingers up to her mouth and tasted Dani on them, moaning at the pleasantly salty taste.
Dani's eyes widened and she whined again, "You're gonna kill me."
"Well, we don't want that," Sadie rasped, and god Dani had missed that voice.
Sadie brought her hand back down to Dani's sex and teased her for a little longer before finally slipping two fingers inside.
Dani bit her lip to keep herself from moaning too loud, but when Sadie pumped her fingers faster and harder, she couldn't stop herself, "Sadie!"
Sadie, her pace never slowing, leaned down to kiss the moaning mess that was Danielle Marston, muffling her moans. Her thumb started rubbing Dani's clit and she brought her free hand up to squeeze her pale breast, moaning as the younger woman pulled at her hair again. Dani's hips were moving erratically, only stopping when she arched her back as she came, holding onto Sadie's hair for dear life so she wouldn't break the kiss muffling her moans. She finally broke the kiss when her back hit the bed again, her hips still twitching slightly.
"Shit...I really," she panted, "really, missed that."
Sadie laughed, "Me too." She kissed Dani's cheek as the redhead controlled her breathing.
"I...I don't think I can feel my legs," Dani breathed out.
Sadie just kept laughing, "That was the plan, I guess."
Dani laughed with her, and pulled her in for another kiss. She pulled away when she thought of something.
"What?" The older woman asked, noticing that thoughtful look on her lover's face.
"I think I wanna try somethin'."
"Okay...what's that?"
Dani blushed, "Um…" she cleared her throat, "What if...what if you, uh," she sighed, annoyed with herself for being so shy, "I wanna...y'know, taste you but...up here? I guess."
After thinking for a few moments, Sadie realised what she meant, "Oh." She smirked, "On account of you not bein' able to feel your legs, you mean?"
Dani just nodded.
"Alright then...just, y'know, make sure you can, uh...breathe."
Dani nodded again, gulping nervously.
Sadie pulled her in for another kiss, it calmed her down a bit. "I love you, y'know."
"I love you too," Dani smiled a goofy grin back at her.
Later, the couple were lying next to each other, panting messes on the bed. They looked at each other and laughed again.
"How did we go so long without doin' that?" Dani asked.
"It weren't that long." Sadie rolled her eyes.
"Felt like a year." Dani muttered, moving closer to Sadie, resting her head on the blonde's shoulder.
Sadie chuckled, "You're ridiculous."
"I know." The younger woman smiled back.
Dani was the first to fall asleep, Sadie, after making sure she was actually asleep this time, kissed Dani's forehead and whispered, "I won't lose you again. And I won't lose you like I lost Jake. I won't let it happen, I promise." She kissed Dani again before settling in herself.
She didn't feel like she was asleep long before she was woken by Dani kicking her, she was about to move her when she heard Dani start muttering.
"No...Hosea...no," she was tossing and turning, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"Dani," Sadie shook her shoulder gently, to no avail.
"Hosea," Dani said again, louder this time.
"Dani, darlin', it's just a bad dream," Sadie tried again in her most calming voice.
"NO!" Dani screamed, bolting upright, almost smacking her head against Sadie's. She was breathing heavily and crying.
"Hey, it's okay," Sadie soothed, putting a hand on Dani's shoulder, "it was just a bad dream."
"Sadie?" Dani blinked the sleep and tears from her eyes, "Oh my god." She threw herself into Sadie's arms.
"What happened?" The blonde asked, stroking Dani's hair.
"Th-the bank...it went bad and, oh god, Hosea, he…" she started crying again.
"Hosea's fine, he's asleep, it was just a bad dream, he's okay." Sadie tried.
"It was so real, Sadie," Dani whimpered. "He was gone…"
"I know, darlin', I know." She pulled Dani back to lay down with her, "Just try and get some more sleep, okay? It was just a bad dream."
Dani nodded, clinging onto Sadie, "Yeah...just a-a bad dream. Just a bad dream." She kept repeating it, and Sadie kept stroking her hair, until she eventually fell back to sleep.
Dani got through the rest of the night nightmare free, thankfully. But the one nightmare was enough to leave a bad feeling in her gut. It felt far too real.
When she woke up in the morning, Sadie was already awake, just finishing getting ready for the day.
"Mornin'." Dani said, yawning.
"Good mornin','' Sadie said, turning to face Dani, "How you feelin'?" She asked, sitting next to Dani on the bed, taking her hand and kissing her lips.
"I'm okay." When Sadie gave her a pointed look, she corrected, "Okay, I still feel...strange. That dream just felt so real. Left a bad feelin' inside."
"Yeah, I'll bet." She knew, of course, how close Dani and Hosea were. How Dani considered Hosea, as well as Dutch, the father she never truly had. If her nightmare somehow became reality, Sadie wasn't sure how Dani would cope.
"I have to go see him." Dani said, a finality in her voice. "I know it probably sounds silly but...I just need to see him."
"I understand." Sadie nodded, kissing her love again. "You get dressed and I'll go see if I can find him, tell him you wanna talk to him."
Dani nodded, "Thank you." When Sadie reached the door, Dani spoke again, "Hey," Sadie stopped, "I love you."
"I love you too." The blonde smiled, winking at the other woman before leaving her to get ready.
Dani had just finished getting ready when there was a knock on her door. "Dani? Sadie said you wanted to see me."
She took a deep breath, even just hearing Hosea's voice was a comfort. "Come in." She called.
"What's up?" Hosea asked, frowning.
Dani just crossed the room to him and pulled him into a hug. Hosea was surprised, but hugged her back nonetheless.
"Two hugs in as many days? What'd I do to deserve this?" He joked, and it made Dani's heart sing. He's okay, she told herself.
"I just...I guess I just realised I don't hug you enough. Or tell you that I love you enough. And I do, y'know. Love you."
Hosea pulled back from the hug, but kept his hands on Dani's arms, "I know you do. I love you too." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Is this about the bad dream you had?"
"What?" Dani's eyes widened. Dammit, Sadie.
"Sadie didn't tell me, don't worry." How the hell does he do that? "I heard you yellin', but I knew Sadie was with you so I knew you'd be okay."
"I…" Dani sighed, "Yeah, I...it felt really real so I just...needed to see you." She blushed and looked at her feet, she felt like a damn child.
"Hey," Hosea prompted her to look back at him, "It's alright. It happens. Don't worry." He stood back and gestured to himself, "But I'm here! Still gotta put up with me for a while yet." He smirked, and Dani laughed and shook her head.
"Yeah." Was all she said.
"You feel better?"
"I think so." She kind of lied. She did feel better after seeing him and hugging him, but she couldn't escape that horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Good. Now come on, let's get some breakfast." He patted her shoulder once and she laughed again, grabbing her hat and following behind Hosea.
While eating breakfast, Dani noticed Mary-Beth walking down the long path into camp, her horse alongside her, and she wasn't alone.
"Oh my god." She said, her mouth still full of food.
"What?" Sadie asked, laughing. When Dani just pointed in Mary-Beth's direction, Sadie mimicked her, "Oh my god!"
"What is it?" Hosea now asked, "Who is that?"
"Excuse us, Hosea," Dani said, taking Sadie's hand and running to Mary-Beth, who was accompanied by none other than Jessica.
"Mornin' ladies," Danielle smirked at the two blonde's.
Mary-Beth blushed, "Mornin' Danielle."
"Mornin'." Jess said, smirking back at Dani. Dani quickly realised that meant Mary-Beth must've already told the other blonde what was going on with herself and Sadie.
"You two have a nice night?" Dani teased.
"Dani!" Mary-Beth scolded, the blush still present on her cheeks.
"Yes," Jess said, confident as ever, "Mary-Beth was the perfect gentlewoman." She winked at her blonde, who's blush only deepened.
"And I hope you treated our girl right," Sadie teased this time. Dani was glad things weren't awkward between her and Jess.
"Of course, ma'am." Jess teased back, as though she was talking to her girl's parents.
"Alright!" Mary-Beth finally huffed, "You've seen me back in one piece, you two can leave now!"
Dani and Sadie gaped in shock, eyebrows raised, before Dani said, "Alright, we'll leave ya'll to it." And with a final smirk, Dani and Sadie walked back to camp.
"Mary-Beth really likes her, huh?" Sadie said as they sat back at their table.
Hosea looked confused, "Wait...that's where Mary-Beth was last night?" He sighed, "I can't keep up with you ladies."
Dani and Sadie laughed, "Don't worry, old man," Dani patted his shoulder, "we can take care of ourselves."
"Yes, I can see that."
Later, Dani and Dutch were listening to Hosea's plan to tackle the bank, when Arthur walked in.
"Gentlemen," he said, tipping his hat, "Danielle."
They were looking over the map of Saint Denis, "Look," Hosea said, "the bank...Karen, Tilly, Abigail, I sent them all. They all say the same thing. There's no more than one armed guard. And the police, it's a city, there are police, but as far as we can tell, the patrols will all be goin' this way," he gestured to a street on the map, "when Abigail and I cause the diversion, and that's the opportunity."
"What do you think, Arthur?" Dutch asked.
"Well, I don't see we have a lot of choice."
"He's right," Dani nodded, "We stay here too long, we know we're dead."
"But the plan." Dutch said.
"We got a decent bunch. We know how to fight. Those city cops, they don't seem so tough. As long as we move fast." The rest of them nodded as Arthur continued, "I reckon doin' it in the day, with a distraction. If that's what Hosea's sayin'? It's as good a plan as any."
"I-I think I agree." Dutch nodded. Dani didn't like how hesitant he was being. She told herself it was because this would be their last job, so he wanted to be sure.
"And we do it at night," Hosea reasoned, "there's the drama of just getting into the bank. Can't do that silently. They'll pick us off far easier."
"I know!" Dutch said, raising his hands, "I'm just makin' sure."
"Every plan is a good plan if we execute it properly." Dani nodded along with Hosea's words, "Every problem we've had was always because we did not. Execute. Properly. Even Blackwater, from my understanding."
Dutch sighed and nodded, a somewhat defeated look on his face, "You're right." He stood, "Let's rob this bastard. Everyone get some rest. We ride out in the mornin'. Look smart, travel light."
Dani took a deep breath, "You're sure about all this?"
Hosea turned to her, "You're really asking?" She had never questioned his plans before.
"I-I just…" she sighed, "My nightmare gave me a bad feelin', is all."
Hosea crossed the room and put both his hands on Dani's shoulders, making her look him in the eye, "That was just a nightmare, Danielle. We're gonna be fine. I promise."
Dani nodded, "Yeah. Sorry, I'm bein' stupid."
"It's alright, and you're not stupid. It happens to us all." He reassured, "Now, you do what you gotta do. You heard Dutch, we ride out in the mornin'."
"Right."
That night, Dani made sure, however awkward it may be, she told her family how much she loved them. She must've told Sadie a thousand times she loved her as she worshipped her body later. This was their last job. She just hoped they'd all make it unscathed.
Author's Note
Thank you for the continued support! It's definitely been helping me get inspired to continue writing! A reviewer gave me the idea for Dani having a nightmare about the bank job. I didn't use the exact idea, but I definitely like the idea and twisted it a bit so thank you to crocodilesmile55!