Chapter Seven: Getting Out
Chapter Text
Chapter Seven: Getting Out
1885
Uncle Dutch, your nose is all yucky." Hazel says as she hands him a rag that she had been trying to stitch back together.
"You are not getting out of your sewing that easily missy." He says as he pushes the rag back at the girl with one hand and pulling out his older bandana out of his pocket to wipe his nose. Dutch was fairly annoyed with his current predicament, if it wasn't for his wayward sons he wouldn't be bundled head-to-toe as close to the fire as he could be without catching ablaze himself, being constantly hounded by the mother hen that was Hosea when any of them got sick.
Dutch hadn't been on the receiving end of this in a while. Then Arthur and John had gotten into a shoving match and John ended up in the river. Arthur jumped in after him and Dutch had to go fish them both out since the current was strong from the recent rain fall.
And only Dutch had gotten sick.
"You still sound gross too." Hazel shrugs as she stabs the needle back into the ripped fabric.
"Thank you, just what I always wanted to hear."
"Maybe you shouldn't talk?" Hazel says after a few very short minuets of silence. "That's what papa always tells me when I sound like you?"
"Uncle Dutch doesn't know how to not talk." A stern voice came from behind the pair, a cold hand was planted firmly on Dutch's forehead as Hosea checked if he had a fever or not. "I don't know if you're as hot as you feel or if my hand is just cold. But you definitely have a fever."
"You should kiss his head papa, that's how you always know if I have a fever?"
"I don't think Uncle Dutch wants me to kiss him. Why don't you go find Arthur and tell him to come find me please?" Hosea says while he flips his hand over on Dutch's forehead to try and get a better read on his friend's overall body temperature. Hazel tosses the rag to the ground, the needle disappearing into the crab grass, as she runs towards the boys who were cleaning the guns. Hosea wanted to roll his eyes; someone would run it into the bottom of their foot before the week was out.
"Hell of a time for Annabelle and Susan to go on a trip." Dutch says with a cough.
"I know, with them gone there is no one to help me keep you in line." Hosea says as he digs into the trunk at the base of the wagon that held most of their supplies.
"I look after myself just fine Old Girl." Dutch snuffles as he pulls the blanket tighter around his shoulders.
"Sure you can. That's why you were getting lectured by a five-year-old." The older man says as he pulls out his mortar and pestle along with a handful of dried herbs, plopping himself down on the fallen log they used as a bench around the fire.
"She's turning into a mother hen like you. She keeps this up the boys are in for a hassle when she's older and learns she can boss them around."
"I think she already knows she can boss them around, she just doesn't realize how much. Now shut up, you keep straining your voice and the world will never get to enjoy any of your speeches."
"I don't-"
"I said shut up." Hosea says, tossing a handful of useless stems at the sick man.
A few moments later, Hazel perched on Arthur's shoulders, walked towards his father-figures. "Still feeling under the weather Dutch?"
"I feel-."
"Dutch is not opening his mouth at the moment son. I need you to run into town for me and pick up a few things. I'll write them down for you." Hosea stands and sets the mortar down before pulling Hazel off of the man's shoulders. "You sit right here and don't let you Uncle Dutch say one word." Hosea drops Hazel on the bundled man's lap, causing Dutch to grunt at the sudden weight. Hazel was growing like a weed. "I mean it Dutch, not a word." Hosea gently pushes Arthur towards his tent to make out his list.
Hazel locked eyes with Dutch and barley blinked, a very serious look plastered on her face.
"Hazelnut, what-."
"Shh!" she says, pressing her finger hard against his mouth. "Papa said no talking."
Dutch let out a sigh and wrapped his arms around the girl and slouched down in his chair, there were worse ways to spend the day than with his best girl in his arms.
1899
"Hazel, we already told you that you didn't have to pay us back." Maddy says as she tries to give the money back.
"I know, but I want to give it to you. A thank you for all that you did. Most people wouldn't have taken me in and cared for me. This is the least I can
do. I'm leaving as soon as the coach returns. The postman it's due back tomorrow afternoon. I intend to leave when it gets here."
"Where will you go?" She asks as she finally takes the green bills from my hand and places them on top of the fireplace.
"I'm going to take a stage to Riggs Station and then a train ticket home. If Strawberry had a train station I'd be gone sooner. I have to go home."
"I'm going to miss you. This past month has been so much nicer with your extra help. You've helped us so much." Maddy wraps Hazel in a hug.
"You'll always have a place here."
"Maddy, give the girl some room to breathe." Norman says with a small laugh as Maddy pulls away, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I knew you would go, I just can't believe it's happening so fast."
"I saved up more than I realized, and the longer I wait the more they worry."
"Didn't you write them and tell them where you were? I thought you did that weeks ago, I know that you said they were trying to get to New York but I figured you would have heard from them before traveling all that way?" Maddy asks as she walks back towards the kitchen of the small cabin.
"I did, I just didn't hear anything back, and mail gets lost all the time. If they did make it all the way to New York I want to be there sooner."
"That it does. Well, we are going to enjoy one last family meal before you go."
Night fell over the small town, yet Hazel could not sleep. Wrapped in the shawl Maddy had given her over dinner, apparently she had been waiting to give it to her for a few weeks now, Hazel went out to the back porch and watched the water glisten in the moonlight. It reminded her of some of the camps that had been set up by moving water. John always stayed as far from it as possible, so Arthur would pitch the tent they shared as close to it as he could get away with. John slept outside a lot when they had been younger.
"Can't sleep?" a deep voice sounds from the doorway, causing Hazel to jump. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay Norman. That's what I get for day dreaming."
"Is it still day dreaming if it's night?" he says as he sits on the chair beside her, lighting a cigar that he pulled from his pocket.
"I think so, because night dreaming is what you do when you're asleep. And as you said I am very much awake."
"I wish I was dreaming." He blows out a billow of smoke and Hazel takes a breath, it's the same brand that Dutch smokes on occasion. "You ready to face the big city in a week or so?"
"I've never been to a place as big as New York, it will be a big change that's for sure."
"It's big, buildings are closer together than they are here."
"When were you there?"
"Years ago. I was seventeen when I ran away from home and somehow I ended up there, not for very long though. I was more for the open spaces than big buildings."
"When I was little my family ended up in Montana for a few months. You've never seen more open sky, it went on for miles, and at night when the starts were shinning…..there wasn't any need for a fire to see by."
"You're family seems to move around a lot. You seem to have a story about everything."
"So do you." Hazel says as she turns in her chair and looks at the taller man. "I think you and I both know the kind of life that leads to all that travel."
"That we do, I haven't been a wanted man in several years and I plan on keeping it that way."
"I won't say anything. You and Maddy helped me so much when no one else would even glance in my direction. If anything it's amazing what you're built here. I don't know if I could ever live a different life."
"I didn't think so either, then I met Maddy and before I knew it James was here. I didn't want to raise my family in that life, and the people I was with wouldn't have really let me anyway. They weren't the best of people."
"My father tried to get out when he met my mother, and then she passed a few days after I was born. He was alone and he knew he couldn't do it alone. I've never lived another way. I need to find them. My pa, brothers, everyone else….I need to find them."
"How did you get separated from them? They sound like a big group?"
"Now that is a long story and one I don't actually know the answer to. It happened very fast and before I even knew what was happening I was alone. New York is my only lead."
"If you get there and you can't find your family I want you to know that you can always come back. Maddy and I would love to have you here."
"Thank you Norman and I might have to take you up on that offer since New York is really a shot in the dark."
The man smiles and stabs out what was left of his cigar before standing and stretching out his back. "I better get to sleep, but if I were you I'd stay awake as long as possible and sleep that boring train ride away." He pats my shoulder. "I have to get the last of McKay's order cut in the morning, but I'll be there to see you off. Goodnight." He gives a small smile and walks back into the house.
Hazel sighs and leans her head against the said of the house. "At least if New York is a bust I'll have a roof over my head."
The smaller saloon in Valentine left much to be desired Hosea thought as he pushed what was supposed to be oatmeal around the bowl. Arthur was shooting the bull with some desperate sod who was trying to write a book about Jim Calloway. Said Jim Calloway was slumped over on the bar with a glass of the crap whiskey that was served here. But if there was money to be had and Arthur got some amusement what was that harm in hunting down a few has been gunslingers?
"Not enjoying that mess Old Man?" Arthur grunts as he sits down, flipping through some cards he was given at the bar.
"Pearson makes better food than this. What did you find?"
"Gonna go find some old gunslingers and be lulled to sleep by old stories about the good ole days. What about you? You were looking awfully pleased with yourself when I got here."
"I'm thinking about going hunting. I need to get away from camp. How much time until you have to head back?" Arthur and most of the men had ventured to Blackwater to try and find Sean and Arthur and Javier had returned and said that Trelawney would send word when they could get to him.
"A few days maybe, said he'd send word when we could go. I want Lenny to be back before we head that way."
"Him and Micah headed out yesterday to scout around, they should be back before the days out."
"Every time Micah goes anywhere it never goes well."
"Lenny has a good head; he'll keep that moron in line."
I hope so." Arthur says taking a swig of the beer that Hosea had bought with his lunch.
"Wanna go hunting with me? I could use a break."
"Dutch mind?"
"Let me deal with Dutch. I'll head back to camp and get what we need, meet me there in an hour or so."
Hosea left the mush on the table and mounted Silver Dollar and rode back towards camp. The trip to town hadn't been a total loss. There had been talk all over the town about a huge bear that was causing problems up north for a while. Then he had lifted a map from a loud mouth who claimed he had eaten shit and had a grudge against the whole town. He had been so loud and obnoxious that he almost cost Hosea a poker game. The map showed where a lot of large animals supposedly were and Hosea had felt young again looking at all the places he would have to go for the hunt. Big animals meant big profit and big profit is what they needed. Hunting was also legal and would help with that low profile thing Dutch had been spouting off about when they got camp set up.
Hosea waved to Karen who was leaning against a tree and smoking on her cigarette. He handed the reins to Kieran who was still as jumpy as ever. Not that Hosea blamed the boy, but what he lacked in calmness he made up for in the care he gave all the horses. "I'm gonna be heading out in about an hour so keep him saddled."
"Yes Sir Mr. Hosea."
"Put some apples in the bag for me too." Hosea says walking away before he could stutter back an answer. Dutch was sitting outside his tent with his nose in a book. At the older man's steps his head lifts and a small smile graces his face.
"How was your trip Old Girl?"
"Eventful, Arthur is going to chase down some old gunslingers and ask them about the good ole days for cash."
"Okay….not the strangest thing that man has done for money."
"Nope, remember when the woman asked him to string her husband's clothes to a line and string it to all the buildings in Osage in the middle of winter?"
"I still want to know how he even got mixed up in that little marital spat."
"I'm taking him hunting; we'll be gone a few days. Leaving as soon as he gets back."
"I need my best man out there-."
"Big animals Dutch, big animals mean big profit. I'm not chasing down a grizzly alone anymore and if I have to be stuck with someone away from camp for a few days it's going to be Arthur. We'll be back before anything happens."
"There are plenty of animals running around here, why do you need to be gone so long?"
"Because what I'll get for this one bear is what I would get for about twenty deer."
"Okay, okay. You win, just be careful out there, it's still cool at night so wear your thicker coat and bring your herbs."
"Now who's being the mother hen?"
"Hazel would double check your bags before you left camp." Dutch says with a short laugh that falls dead on the air. "Hosea-."
"It's okay, and she would." Hosea sighs and looks over the edge of camp. "We found Sean, maybe he knows where she's at, or at least maybe he saw her."
"I hope so."
Hazel spent the morning making sure all her junk was in packed. She kept feeling the pocket of her jeans for the money for her stage ticket and her satchel for her revolver.
Maddy had made a delicious breakfast of meat and eggs, and she gave Hazel a bag of snacks for the ride and a new pen.
Norman had headed out right after breakfast and Hazel tried to help around the place as much as she could, waiting for the stage to come.
"You and Norman have a good talk last night?"
"Yes, he told me about your offer if New York is a bust. I appreciate it."
"But you hope you won't have to take me up on it?"
"Yeah, I really want to find my family."
"Words of advice, when you're on that train and people ask about your travels, say you were visiting a cousin and are now on your way home. The story you gave us wasn't very consistent."
"I've never had to come up with a story before. Good to know that I'm really bad at it so I don't try anymore."
"I'm also good at figuring things like that out. I knew who Norman was when we met. He was rough a dirty. Ran around with a few nasty fellers, you don't live life like that and come out without scars. But we made a good life, and I want the same thing for you. You don't have to live that life."
"Thank you Maddy, I mean it. It means a lot. And you have shown me something I didn't think I would ever get to experience. One day, maybe I'll get me a little cabin with a dog and some chickens, away from it all."
"I wouldn't say we're away from it all-,"
Outside sudden yells and gun shots shook the windows in the cabin.
"See what I mean." Maddy says as she puts the rag down and calls for James to get inside. I grab my satchel from the hook and toss it over my head and step outside on the porch.
The town is in chaos. Woman trying to herd their children out of the road as men on horses fill the street. I stay slow to the edge of the road as possible and walk towards the center of town, there was some sort of brawl by the general store. A large group of men are wrestling with a larger man and another mad in a green vest is tied to the railing, Norman is standing off to the side speaking with the sheriff. I'm standing by the scared newspaper boy when they finally get the larger man in the red shirt restrained and as they haul him to his feet my mouth drops open when I see a bruised and bloody Micah Bell.
I look around the street trying to see a familiar horse or better yet a face. But I only recognize Baylock who isn't hitched anywhere at the end of the lane.
"You better let me go or you'll pay for this!" Micah's loud voice cuts over the rest of the noise as he is trussed up tighter than he seemed to be a few moments ago. The sheriff walks over to him.
"Micah Bell, you are under arrest for public drunkenness, theft, and murder. I'm sure by the time I dig around some more I will find several more sins to read at your hanging. Get him out of here."
"You'll regret this Skinny! Mark my words!" Micah yells as he is pulled up the streets, the other man walking calmly behind them. The sheriff walks back towards Norman who was holding a gun in his hand, giving it a little spin.
"For bringing this man to our attention we'll let you keep those guns, they look like they've had a lot of work done on them. I'll need you to come by for a statement."
"I didn't know the other man they were with, looked like a kid. Some poor black fool that thought Micah was the way to success. His horse looked like a palomino mustang." Hazel sucked in a breath, that had to be Lenny. Maggie was a mustang with a light palomino coat and Lenny still looked young enough and was young enough to be called a kid by most people, even Arthur called him kid.
"Our boys are on it. They'll catch him. I'm gonna go get that scum locked up."
"Thanks Vernon."
Norman walked away from the mob that was now gathered in front of the jail, when he got closer to me he put the guns in the bag that hung from his shoulders. "How's that for small town? I didn't think I'd ever seen that bastard again."
"You know that man?" I ask trying to pretend I didn't.
"Yep, ran with him years ago. He's a crazy, ruthless man. If Jeff is smart they'll hang him from the highest tree in town. They'll have to send for the judge and with all that crap in Blackwater it might take a moment for them to get here. They'll have to double the men on watch while he's here."
"They said another one got away?"
"Yeah, skinny dark kid, not much older than you from what I saw of him. Was quiet when I was pushing the liquor into Micah's hand. As soon as the law approached he took off on his horse that way." Norman points out the southern entrance of town.
That had to be Lenny. He wouldn't draw attention to himself but he wouldn't just leave Micah either.
"This won't hold up the stage will it?"
"Nah, shouldn't cause a problem. In fact it might be in a bigger hurry to get out of here."
"I'm gonna go buy some candy as a goodbye gift for James, I'll see you back at the house."
Normal nodded and took off towards the house and I walked into the store, I bought candy and pretended to browse the shelves, the crowd outside the jail was thinning a little, but I didn't dare approach it yet.
I needed to talk to Micah and see if they were close.
I soon left and went to play five finger fillet with Arnold and Phillip. I had some extra money to spend and the game table was in a good position to watch the jail.
1885
"Uncle Dutch, what is that game that John and Arthur play that makes Papa so mad?" Hazel asks from her spot at Dutch's feet where she is scribbling on some paper. To Dutch it looked like a tornado but Hazel insisted it was a tumbleweed.
He was still feeling under the weather but his fever had finally broken. Arthur and John had been sent into town to fetch Susan and Annabelle while
Hosea was off in the woods at his newly found creek and was promising to return with lots of fish.
"If your Papa gets mad that they are playing it why would I tell you?"
"Arthur says it's easy money if you can play it right, which is what he always says to John. And making money is important. So I should know how to play it."
"You can't play five finger fillet without a knife and I am not giving you one. If you want to learn you're going to have to ask someone else."
"I know how they do it, I just didn't know what it was called. I've been practicing with a stick. I'm thinking of playing with Arthur. He always beats John and I think I can beat him." Hazel says as she draws what looks like a fork.
"That good huh?" Dutch asks as he coughs into his bandana that hasn't left his side in a week."
"Yeah! Watch!" she sits up and closes her book and using her pen she stabs it quickly between her little fingers faster than Dutch was expecting. She wasn't nowhere near as fast as Arthur or John, but with more practice she would be pretty fast. But there was also a huge difference between a pen and a knife. Dutch didn't want to be within a thousand yards of Hazel if she ever cut off her finger playing that stupid game. Hosea always smacked the boys if he caught them playing it and the one time Arthur had boasted that the money he brought it was from winning a tournament of sorts Hosea had scolded him so bad Arthur didn't even ask for his bleeding and cut up hand to be looked at.
"Good job Hazelnut, but how about you wait until you're a little faster to play against Arthur. You want to beat the pants off of him you have to be a bit faster. Bring that up here and I'll show you."
1899
The fire did a good job at keeping the chill away from the small camp he and Arthur has set up. The rabbit was long gone and the coffee was boiling on the ground. Hosea figured by the time they made the ride all the way to the base of the mountains they would have to make camp since they left Horseshoe so late in the day.
Arthur was scribbling away in his journal, looking up at him on occasion and rubbing the back of his hand against the page when he didn't like a line or something he drew. "I'm glad you finally decided to get a new journal, regardless of what you said after the fire you enjoy it. We all need something that brings us joy."
"It's just another thing I have to keep away from Karen when she gets drunk and starts digging into things." He grunts pulling his knee closer to his face, the fire light probably wasn't the best thing to draw by.
"Since it doesn't seem to leave your satchel I don't think that will be a problem, and you don't leave crap around like Bill, have you read his discharge letter?"
"If my first name was Marion I'd keep that locked up tight too. Is it Bill or Marion on his posters?"
"I don't know, I'll go look through Hazel's stash and find out."
"What are you going to do with all that?" Arthur asks lowering his pen and looking at Hosea. "I mean, she has so much random junk in the trunk I'm surprised anyone can lift the thing."
"I don't know, I'll wait and speak to Sean and see if he saw her before I make any decisions. I know she was talking about tossing some of the stuff away too. She probably has some posters for those gunslingers you're going to be chasing after."
"If she ever gets her face on a poster I'm going to frame it since she has all of mine in the stash. You know she has one of Dutch from you're first job? The one in Canton?"
"Yep. Back when I still had color in my hair. They never could get my nose right."
"I hope Sean says he saw her. I keep going over it again and again trying to piece that mess together. Goliath could have handled us both, he would have been slow as dirt but we both could have gotten out."
"My guess is she stuck to the outskirts of Blackwater. The law chased the boys off that boat all the way towards the bank, and then they broke off when our boys separated. John said he went down by the saloon and crawled over to that spooked nag that died in the mountain. That's why Charles rode back with Old Boy behind him. None of them saw her and they were in the heart of Blackwater. Somebody would have seen her if she went deep into the city."
"Maybe she got away? Stole a horse and booked it out of there. Went to one of the safe spots we set up in New Austin?"
"If that's the case she'll have a hell of a time tracking us down. Going the opposite direction we set out for, having to make her way in a state that's under lockdown." Hosea rubs the back of his head and yawns. "Let's call it Arthur, gonna get an early start in the morning. Grizzly's wait for no one."
Dawn broke and Hosea tossed a few sticks at Arthur as he poured himself some coffee. Arthur was not a person to sleep a lot, so when he did get a decent night's sleep he was a bear himself in the morning. Hosea wanted the sleepiness out of his system before they headed after their prey.
Hosea was packed up while Arthur downed the rest of his coffee and was rubbing his eyes. Telling the boy how to mix the bait was so reminiscent of when he was a child it made Hosea smile as he rolled up Arthur's bedroll and strapped it to the back of the Shire that Arthur decided to keep for himself instead of selling it as Hosea suggested a few days before they left.
Soon they were on their way and Hosea was impressed with the tracking lessons Arthur had been having with Charles, Arthur had been a decent tracker before Charles was picked up, now he was much improved, seeing things that even Hosea missed.
Then they giant bear almost ate them both. Arthur had stood his ground and shot at the thing while Hosea had scrambled behind a rock. As Arthur pulled him to his feet and he felt all the twinges in his back and hips he had no hesitation in handing the map off to Arthur. He wasn't a young man anymore. No matter how active this life was there was no way to out run old age. Hosea was under no impression that his time on this Earth was long, he knew he had more days behind him than in front of him, but he would make his last days mean something for his family.
Hosea and his oldest child rode at a slow pace back to camp, telling stories and Arthur stopping every time he spotted ginseng on the side of the
road for Hosea's collection.
They were back at camp for about an hour when Lenny came galloping back into camp shouting that Micah was going to be hanged and Hosea shook his head at the story and he wasn't in any hurry to send Arthur into that town to get his out. Gang or not, Micah was a liability they really didn't need right now, but Dutch was focused about no man being left behind. Even though they had left several in Blackwater.
Hazel was grateful that Strawberry was built on a hill; she had no issues ducking behind the jail to the side of the building that had a window into the basement cells. She heard talking and grunting and she kicked the bars to get Micah's attention. His face broke out into a sickly sweet smile when he saw her.
"Well, well, well. Looks like you aint so dead after all princess. Hosea will be so thrilled."
"Not as thrilled as I am to see you behind these bars Micah. What the hell are you doing this close to Blackwater?" Hazel crouches down to get a better look at the man. He's going to have one hell of a shiner on his eye.
"Scouting, making sure we weren't followed. You?"
"Stumbled in about a month ago, I was getting ready to head to New York to find Trelawney."
"He aint in New York, so be grateful I showed up before you did something that stupid."
"Is everyone okay?"
"Look, as much as I'd love to play catch up now is not the time for it. Get me outta here."
"Tell me where they are and I'll get you out."
"Get me out and I'll tell you. You never liked me so why should I trust that you'll get me outta here."
"Because you'll swing if I leave you here, and as much as I'd love to see that Dutch wouldn't." Hazel hisses in a low voice.
"Lenny got away, he'll send someone for me. We both can just sit tight, nice and cozy in this little town."
"Damnit Micah, I have no time for your bullshit. Tell me where they are?"
"Get. Me. Out. And I will tell you."
"You're such as asshole." Hazel says as she kicks at the bars, just missing the man's fingers. He just chuckles at her. "I had to get my stuff, as soon as I bust you out they'll be all over the place. Five minutes."
"Baylock is by the scaffold, put your shit there and get me out."
Hazel walked slowly back towards the house. The stage was there, Hazel could leave, but again she has no idea where to go. New York was out since Josiah didn't end up that way for some reason and there was a whole county in the direction that Lenny headed into. If the new camp was even that way, he could have just been looking for a quick out.
She didn't have another feasible choice than to try and bust the moron out.
She only had her satchel and a small bag with the few belongings she had accumulated since she arrived in town. Normal was hanging the revolvers above the fireplace when she walked in.
"I do not want them in this house Norman!" Maddy hissed gesturing at the weapons. "That maniac saw you; we need to get out of here."
"He's in jail Maddy, he's going to swing this time."
"How many times has be busted out?"
"Not this time."
"I swear Norman, those things better be gone when I get back." Maddy says spinning on her heels and calling for James walking out of the room.
"Everything okay?" Hazel asks looking at the tall man who was staring at the revolvers that Hazel knew had been a gift to Micah from his father when he was a teenager.
"I've seen these guns cause so much pain and death, but I know what they mean to that man. Him dying knowing I have them is something that will haunt him even after the rope snaps. I might even bring them to the hanging."
"If they make Maddy this uncomfortable maybe they shouldn't be on display. No one will know why they are important."
"The group you run with, any of them have a gun that is just theirs? No one else can even look at it without getting a dirty look?"
"My brother has a cattleman that he's customized everything possible on it. Takes it with him everywhere even if he doesn't use it."
"That's Micah and these guns. No one else has to know their significance because I do."
"If it makes you happy." Hazel says with a grimace. Norman was almost giddy at the thought of Micah swinging. If Hazel could she would be right there with him. Micah had been the biggest pain in the ass since he showed up. He was a good gun, but he had a short temper and always ended up drawing more attention that needed.
He was also the one who put the ferry in Dutch's path and refused to let up on it even when Hosea and Arthur had a lead with their scam.
Hazel knew Micah was right, Lenny would have gotten away and Dutch would send someone after him. But Hazel couldn't stick around that long. The whole town knew she was leaving today and if she didn't they would wonder why and she didn't have a good explanation. And if she stuck around until someone, probably Arthur, John, Charles, or Javier showed up to bust him out and she left at the same time she would never be able to come back. Hazel liked Strawberry and she had found a family in Norman and Maddy.
She had to bust Micah out and get on the stage like what she had planned. She could meet Micah at Riggs station and go from there.
Hazel gathered her stuff and stepped out on the porch to watch James mount Hoagie and take off out of town. "As long as that maniac is here he'll be safer helping at the stables." Maddy said waving at her son as he rode off.
"I know things are crazy, so you don't have to walk me to the stage. I just wanted to thank you again for everything." Hazel embraced Maddy and thanked her again for all she had done. Norman had said his goodbyes before going back into the house. He was going to take a nap before he went to give his statement. They weren't saying anything, but there was a chance they would have to leave as soon as he gave his statement. Micah could rat him out and then Norman would be right there with him.
Hazel went to the stage and got in, asking for a ride to the lumberyard that was up the hill. So it looked like she left town like she said. Then she walked back into town.
Rain started to fall as the sun went down. Hazel approached Baylock who was a sweetheart even though Micah was an ass. She fed him a peppermint and tied her bag onto his saddle and loosened his reins from the post so he could come as soon as called for. She pulled the extra revolver that he had concealed in his bedroll loose.
Hazel walked back towards the jail, her new hat pulled low over her head and her hair in a tight braid at her neck. Her red bandana was tied at her neck, ready to pull up if needed. Creeping around the back was easy; she passed Micah his extra gun from his saddle.
There was no way to get him out the front door, but there was a winch that she could use to pull the bars off. It would make a lot of noise, but it was the only way she saw that would get him out.
"As soon as this pulls we need to go. Baylock is ready to go as soon as you're out."
"Let's go then."
Hazel pulled the bar and with a huge explosion the wall was pulled from the building and soon Hazel was in a firefight because Micah wouldn't just get on the horse and leave. She had been distracted shooting at the lawmen on the balconies that she didn't realize they had gone the long way around town and Micah was on a rampage to get his guns back. Norman's body hitting the ground froze Hazel where she stood, a bullet ripped her hat from her head as Maddy's scream was cut short by a loud bang.
Hazel felt sick as she clung to the back of Micah as they finally made their way out of town. They rode towards Painted Sky and stole a Morgan from the barn. Hazel didn't say a word to Micah as he said the gang was at Horseshoe Overlook, right outside of Valentine. He took off and said he would come back when he had something for Dutch. Hazel hoped he got caught again. She wouldn't be saving him ever again.
She rode through the night, cried as the rain fell from the sky and washed her tears away. She didn't know where Horseshoe Overlook was, but she could make her way to Valentine and find a map from there.
She felt numb and confused. How many families had they killed for one reason or another? The only reason it was hurting so bad it because she knew this one. They had taken her in and helped her when she was desperate. They were good people who didn't deserve what happened. Hazel was grateful that Maddy had sent James away so he didn't have to watch his parents be murdered in front of him or be dead right beside them.
Valentine came into view as the sun came up. It was bigger than Strawberry, a livestock town. She could see why the group settled close to here, they would do well in a place like this. She rode past the train station and a rundown saloon that was called Keane's Saloon, she soon saw the door of what looked like the town's jail open and two shabby men stumbled out of the door, one quickly pushed the other out of the way to barf off the wooden deck. Hazel felt her eyes fill up with tears as she recognized them as Arthur and Lenny.
She slipped down from the exhausted Morgan's back and walked towards the men.
"-your idea of a quiet drink?" Lenny says as he straightens up from his mess on the ground."
"The first one was pretty quiet." Arthur's gruff voice still sounds slurred as he rubbed his eyes.
"The only way Arthur knows how to drink it loudly, you should know that by now." Hazel yells as she gets close enough for them to notice her.
They both spin around so fast, Lenny having to grab the railing to stay on his feet, his jaw dropping before a smile breaks across his face and he jumps off the deck and wraps his arms around Hazel. Lenny squeezes her tight before pulling her off her feet and holding her tighter. "I can't believe it!" He says loudly in her ear, causing her to laugh as she tried to pull back to breath.
Arthur was standing a few inches away, waiting his turn. His face is blank but his eyes are blazing with emotion.
Lenny finally lets her go and steps to the side. Hazel smiles at her brother and gives him a small smile. "Hi Arthur." She sniffs to keep the emotion from her voice. Arthur takes a step forwards and wraps her tight in his arms. He too lifts her feet from the ground but he spins her in a small circle before he sets her on the ground. "I am never letting you out of my sight again."
Notes:Note: She's finally back! I was determined to get her back in the chapter which is why I glossed over the Strawberry mess. But it will be brought up later and it's going to impact Hazel as the story goes on.
I did a lot of checking on what kind of horse Maggie is, most places say she is a Mustang while a few said she was a Morgan. I don't think she has the right build for a Morgan but she doesn't really look a lot like the Mustangs. But I think The Count is an Arabian even though he doesn't really look like the Arabian Arthur can ride. So I'm saying she's a Mustang and leaving it at that.
Like most people I have a deep hatred for Micah, but I didn't like him from the start. I went into RDR2 blind and even in the beginning I hated him. So my person dislike for Micah will be a running thing since any chance I have to Micah bash I will take.
I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their day to read this.
I'm sorry for any spelling and grammar errors that litter this thing. It's hard to catch them all when I look over it.
