Chapter 2-Jake Adler
Colt wakes up the next morning. He gets out of bed and heads downstairs. He walks out of the hotel and over to his horse. He climbs up and starts to ride up towards the mountains. He reaches the mountains by 3:00. He rides the trail that leads to the Adlers. Colt turns the corner and stops. He sees the house burnt to the ground. He clicks his tongue. He gets to the house and stops. He sees a grave by the house. Colt walks over to the grave and bent down.
Jake Adler is what the grave said. They were a piece of paper attached to the cross. He grabs the piece of paper and opens it—Colt its Sadie. Jake's dead, a gang attacked us, Jake saved me. I was in the cellar for three days. I was found by Dutch Van Der Linde Arthur Morgan and Micah Bell. Mr. Smith and Mr. Williamson said they would bury Jake before we left. I asked them to leave this note here for you. I have a feeling that you have been asked to hunt down Dutch, but please don't do anything yet. We're heading down towards Valentine. I hope that you are able to find me.
Colt closes his eyes and puts his hand on the cross. "I'll take care of her, my friend," Colt says before he stands up. He walks over to his horse and rides back to the old mining town. He walks into a building and starts a fire in the fireplace. He sits down and eats. After he eats, he heads to bed.
The next morning he wakes up and goes outside. He gets on his horse and starts to head for Valentine. He reaches Valentine by noon. He hitches his horse beside the Saloon and gets off. He walks into the Saloon and sees Two men sitting together, one Indian and the other Mexican. He walks over to them. "Mr. Smith, ," Colt says as he sits down. They both tense as they look at him.
"What do you want," Charles asks. Colt pulls out the note from Sadie and hands it, Charles. Charles looks at the note for a moment before he grabs it. He opens the note and reads it. "Probably should have read this before I left it there," Charles says as he finishes reading the note. Charles then hands the note to Javier who reads it.
"Nice job," Javier sys
"I don't want a fight, I just want to see Sadie," Colt tells them.
"We can't take you into our camp," Charles says.
"Look, Mr. Smith, I am working with the Pinkertons. You have a few choices. One, you could kill me right now and be arrested. Two, you can leave me, and I contact Agent Milton. Three, you can let me see Sadie," Colt says to them. They both stay silent for a moment.
"How about you meet Dutch somewhere first? Then he can lead you back," Charles says.
"How do I know he won't just kill me?" Colt asks.
"Because I have a feeling that once Sadie finds out you're here, she'll want to see you. Dutch like peace, and who knows, maybe this could help us all," Charles says.
"Fine. There's a burn little down by the river below Valentine. Meet me there in an hour," Colt tells them before he leaves. Charles and Javier get up and go out to their horses.
Charles and Javier ride fast back to camp. They stop as they get into camp. Dutch look at them. "Is there a problem, boys?" Dutch asks. Charles gets off his horse and walks over to the wagon where Sadie was doing dishes. He pulls out the note and throws it down in front of Sadie, who grabs it.
"Where did you get this?" Sadie asks. Everybody was looking at the two.
"Your friend found Javier and me in Valentine," Charles tells her.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur asks.
"Mrs. Adler had me leave this note by her husband's grave. I never read it. The note was for a friend who's a bounty hunter," Javier tells them.
"I didn't think he would find us this quickly," Sadie says.
"What did he say to you two?" Hosea asks them.
"Said he wanted to see Sadie. He also told us that the Pinkertons hired him. We made a deal. We have to meet him in about an hour at the burnt town down the mountain," Charles tells them.
"Sadie, what's your friend's name?" Hosea asks.
"Colt Morgan," Sadie tells them. Hosea frowns.
"Do you know who he is, Hosea?" Bill asks.
"I have never met him, but I have read about him. He had become pretty well-known bounty hunters over the last few months. Brought in a lot of well-known Bounties," Hosea tells him.
"Ok, then. Arthur Hosea Charles. We are going to meet this Colt," Dutch says. Hosea walks over to Sadie.
"Has Colt ever mentioned a brother to you?" Hosea asks her.
"Yeah, He told Jake he had one," Sadie tells him. "Please don't hurt him," Sadie says to Hosea.
"We won't. I promise," Hosea tells her.
One hour later. Burnt town.
Colt was sitting on the stairs of one of the burnt buildings when he heard horses. He stands up and watches as the four men stop their horses. "Mr. Morgan," Dutch says as he gets down.
"Mr. Van Der Linde Mr. Matthews Mr. Morgan," Colt says.
"I understand you are here looking for ," Dutch says.
"I was hired to arrest you. To hell with that, though. Yes, I want to see Sadie," Colt tells him.
"How do we know you won't just go straight to the Pinkertons after?" Arthur asks.
"I ain't their dog Mr. Morgan. Sadie's more important to me then your bounties," Colt tells him.
"Before this goes on, I must ask, have you heard anything on Sean or Mac?" Hosea asks him.
"Mac's dead, they found him a few days ago. I haven't heard anything about Sean," Colt tells him.
"Here's the deal I'm willing to make. You may come in and out of our camp freely as long as you one help us if we need it. Two if you relay information the Pinkertons tells you to us," Dutch says.
"I'll take that deal," Colt tells Dutch.
"Great. Let's head back to camp. If you would follow Mr. Morgan," Hosea says. Colt nods as he gets up on his horse. He follows then to their camp. They ride in. Everybody looks at them. Colt climbs off his horse. He was off the horse for a few seconds when Sadie came crashing into him. Colt hugs Sadie as she cries into his shoulder. Colt lowers her to the ground as she cries. Hosea motions everybody away from the two. Hosea follows Arthur over to the cliff edge. "What's on your mind, son?" Hosea asks him.
"My brother's name was Colt Hosea. Could that be him?" Arthur asks.
"I was thinking the same thing. I think once you have the chance. You and Colt need to talk. It looks like we may have another Trelawny," Hosea says.
"I hope this one is quieter," Arthur says. Hosea laughs.
Colt was still sitting with Sadie, who had fallen asleep after she finished crying. Colt sees one of the women walking by. "Ma'am," Colt says to the woman who looks at him.
"Yes," The woman asks.
"Is there somewhere I can lay her down?" Colt asks.
"Yes, follow me," The woman says. Colt picked Sadie up and followed the woman. They stop by a wagon with bedrolls. "Here," The woman says. Colt lays Sadie down. "Mary-Beth Gaskill," Mary says to Colt.
"Colt Morgan," Colt says to her as he covers Sadie up. He starts to walk away.
"Mr. Morgan. Can you come here a moment?" Dutch says to Colt as he walks past his tent.
Colt walks over to him and Hosea, who was looking at a map. "Yeah, Dutch?" Colt asks.
"Hosea was telling me about your track record as a bounty hunter. He told me you mostly operate around here," Dutch says.
"Mostly from Strawberry to Annesburg," Colt tells him.
"What can you tell me about this area," Dutch says to him.
"This area is usually pretty calm. There is sometimes trouble. If you don't cause any trouble, you should be able to stay here for a while," Colt says.
"Ok, thank you. I had Miss Grimshaw grab the bedroll from your horse. We had an extra tent. You are set up behind the women towards the cliff," Dutch tells him.
"Thank you, Dutch," Colt says. "What's the box for outside your tent?" Colt asks.
"Camp supplies mainly," Hosea tells him. Colt grabs 50$ out of his satchel. He hands it to Hosea.
"Thank you," He says to them before he heads for his tent. Colt gets in his tent and pulls out his Journal.
Jake's dead. I found Dutch and his gang down by Valentine. I have to make sure nobody suspects that I am working with them. I saw Arthur in person today. I am now even more convinced that he is my brother. I hope that I find out the truth about that soon. I found Sadie and now I have to keep her alive. I'll die for her, and I would have died for Jake.
Remember that right now, we are a few weeks before the beginning of Chapter 2. How are you guys feeling about this story right now?
