Chapter 18-Searching day three-part 1
The gang has been searching for Colt for three days now. Sadie and Arthur have been out the most. Hosea tries, but because of his sickness, he can't. Dutch was sitting down when Micah came over to him. "Dutch nobody is finding anything. I think we should call off the search. Get back to work. Get out of here," Micah says.
"I agree with you, Micah, but I can't call it off without causing a problem with the gang if you can get most of them to agree. We will call off the search," Dutch says. Micah nods as he walks over to Bill.
"Williamson," Micah says.
"What," Bill asks with a frown on his face.
"What's wrong, Bill?" Micah asks. Bill throws his bottle. Everybody looks at him.
"What do you think is wrong. I want to find Colt; I want to come back to his family. I owe him. I'm going to look," Bill says. Bill starts to walk towards his horse. Javier joins him, and they both ride out. Micah frowns.
With Colt
Colt opens his eyes after passing out from the pain the previous night. He sees that his cuts were bandaged. Colt frowns again as the door opens, and Colm comes down with a food and water tray. "As much as I hate this. You need to be fed," Colm says as two guards follow him both with guns. "I'm going to let you go. So you can eat. I wouldn't try anything," Colm says. Colt nods as Colm unchain him, and Colt falls to the ground with a grunt. He pulls himself up and sits, knowing that fighting these men would be suicide. Colm sets the tray down, and Colt starts to eat. "Your strong, Mr. Morgan, and I respect that. I truly do. You're also loyal. I think more to the other members than Dutch, but I don't care. In case you were wondering. We are in a cabin in Fort Wallace. We killed the men and took their clothes, so nobody suspects anything. Mr. Smith and Mr. Summers came by here yesterday, but they thought nothing of it. They won't find you until I want them to," Colm says as Colt finishes his food. One of the men hits him and knocks him out once more.
Camp
Arthur and Sadie ride into camp at noon. They had not returned the previous night. They climb off their horse and walk to Hosea, who looks up. "Anything?" Hosea asks.
"No. We have looked from Big Valley down. He's not down there. Hosea, this is like losing him all over again," Arthur says.
"I know, son. Bill and Javier when out this morning to look. Charles and Lenny followed after. Karen and Sean are sleeping. They got back around six am," Hosea says. Arthur nods as he walks away. He walks down to the lake and sits as the dock. He feels tears. He begins to cry silently. He hears footsteps. Arthur tries to clean off the tears, but Mary-Beth grabs his hand and sits down. She hugs him and lets Arthur cry for the first time since she has met him.
Sadie was in the same position as she sat by the log by herself and cries. Hosea sits down beside her. She looks at him. "I miss him. I see him as a son. Colt has brought so much life to this gang and make people happier. Arthur mainly. Dutch doesn't think we should keep looking. Everybody disagrees besides Micah. Bill and Javier are with us. They have always been loyal to Dutch. Sometimes I wonder is Dutch is leading us to our death. The last few weeks mostly. I want this gang to be happy before I die. We may not know where he is, but I know he is alive," Hosea says. Sadie nods as Hosea hugs her.
As always, thanks for reading. This is only the first part of the day. The next part will be later.
