Chapter 9-The party

Colt opens his eyes and groans as he feels pain in his side. "You're awake, Mr. Morgan," The doctor says.

"How long have I been out?" Colt asks.

"Two days," The doctor tells him.

"Can I leave?" Colt asks the doctor.

"Yes. Your weapons and in the closet. Once you are done, you will need to pay me $50 before you leave," The doctor tells Colt, who nods as he stands up. The doctor leaves as Colt gets his weapons and satchel. He walks out and puts $50 on the counter. "Thank you. Agent Milton wanted to see you in the sheriff's office," The doctor tells Colt, who nods as he leaves the building. He walks over to the sheriff station and sees Thea outside. He walks up to his horse and pats it before he walks inside. Milton and Ross look up at him.

"Ah, Mr. Morgan, you're awake. How's your side?" Ross asks.

"It still hurts a little, but I'll be fine," Colt tells them.

"What happened out there, Mr. Morgan?" Milton asks.

"Everything was going as planned when suddenly gunshots when off and everybody around me was dead. The last thing I saw was Dutch Van der Linde before I was shot and fell off the wagon. I thought I would be dead," Colt tells them.

"You would've have been If a rider didn't find you as you came out of Strawberry. He brought you here. While you were knocked out, they also grabbed Mr. MacGurie," Milton says.

"What do you want me to do?" Colt asks.

"You did good finding Mr. Bell. Sadly that turned bad. Go back to Valentine. We'll be heading there in two days," Milton tells Colt, who nods as he leaves the building and gets on his horse. He leaves Blackwater.

Colt gets to camp by sundown. His side was sour, so he gets off his horse. "Who's there?" Bill asks.

"It's Colt. Could I get some help?" Colt asks as he holds his side. Bill comes down the hill and wraps his arm around Colt's shoulder to help him walk. Colt clicks whistles, and Thea follows them. Dutch was the first to see them.

"Colt. Bill sit him down," Dutch says as he comes over and helps. He wraps his arm around Colt and helps him sit down. Sadie comes over and hugs him and then smacks him on the shoulder.

"Your ain't idiot," She says.

"Don't I know it," Colt says. "How was your party after you got Sean and Micah back?" Colt asks

"We haven't partied yet. We were waiting for you. Glad your ok, son," Hosea says. Colt nods.

"Let's celebrate the return of Micah Sean and Colt," Dutch says. Everybody cheers. Arthur comes over with a beer and hands it to him. Colt nods.

"Glad you're ok," Arthur says.

"Me to brother me to," Colt tells him. Sadie sits down beside him. Dutch starts to play music. Colt looks at his brother. "Go ask Mary-Beth for a dance," Colt says to Arthur, who blushes but nods as he walks off. "I would offer you a dance Mrs. Adler, but I feel I might make my side worse," Colt tells Sadie, who smiles.

"Dancing really isn't my style anyway," Sadie says. "After your better, maybe you could take me bounty hunting again," Sadie says.

"I would love to," Colt says. Sadie smiles as Micah comes over and sits down and looks at Colt.

"I guess I owe you a thank you," Micah says.

"I suppose you do," Colt says.

"Thank you, Mr. Morgan. Just so we're clear, I don't trust you," Micah says.

"I don't trust you either, Mr. Bell," Colt says.

"Maybe we could learn to trust each other," Micah says.

"Maybe," Colt says. Micah nods before he leaves.

"I can't believe you risked your life for him," Charles says as he comes over. Sadie nods, agreeing with him.

"I didn't do it for Micah. I would have been fine if he died. I risked my life to make sure nobody died that didn't deserve to die," Colt says. Charles nods as he sits down. They all look at Arthur and Mary-Beth, who were dancing.

"You trying to set your brother up," Charles asks.

"Maybe," Colt says with a smile. Dutch comes over and sits in front of Colt.

"Thank you, Colt, for doing what you did. You showed that you were loyal to this gang," Dutch says.

"Of course Dutch," Colt says.

"Go enjoy the night. Tomorrow we get back to work," Dutch says. Colt nods as Dutch walks over to Hosea. The song ends, and Arthur comes back over.

"I hate you," Arthur says to his brother, who smiles.

"Come on, let's go join the others," Charles says. The other three nod as they walk over to the others. Colt sits down on a log. Sadie sits on his left as Charles sits on his right, and Arthur sits beside Mary-Beth, who was beside Charles. Sean looks at Colt.

"Sean MacGuire," Sean says.

"Colt Morgan," Colt tells him. Sean nods as he takes a drink. The gang parties and drinks it was getting late, and Sadie was pretty drunk. Colt grabs her. He walks over to his tent and lays her down. Sadie kisses Colt on the cheek before she falls back down on the bed. Colt lies beside her and moves away, so each of them is on one side of the tent before he goes to sleep. Mary-Beth walks over to Arthur.

"Sadie is out, and your brother is asleep. You still plan on doing the train job?" Mary-Beth asks.

"Yeah, I just need the right crew," Arthur tells her. Mary-Beth nods.

"Goodnight," Mary-Beth says.

"Goodnight," Mary-Beth says. Arthur walks to his tent and opens his journal.

I'm glad my brother is ok. Even though we are in a bad position, I'm happy. Maybe things will turn out ok. I hope everybody makes it. I find myself liking my time with Mary-Beth. I hope there are more moments with her. Arthur writes before he goes to sleep.

Thanks for reading as Always suggestions are welcomed. I am enjoying this story. I love writing it. I also love writing the gang. Charles and Arthur are really fun. Until next time.