Chapter 24-A story

It has been a week since Colt had been saved. Colt was mostly able to walk on his own by this point. He was sitting at the table drinking coffee when Charles rode into camp. He had two letters in his hand. He walks over to Colt and drops one on the table. Colt grabs the note as Charles walks over to Pearson. Colt opens the letter and starts to read it. Colt, if you get this, we have been looking for you. This is Agent Milton and Ross. Nobody has seen or heard from you in three weeks. If you don't show up soon. We will assume you dead. We are still in Valentine. Hope to see you soon, Colt. Agent Milton.

Colt swears under his breath and stands up slowly. Colt walks over to Sadie and Arthur, who was talking with Mary-Beth and Hosea. "I have to go to Valentine," He tells them.

They look at him. "You can't you still recovering," Hosea says.

"Milton and Ross are looking for me. If I don't show if they will think I'm dead. If they think I'm dead, that means they will send someone else after you. Someone one who will not join you," Colt says. Hosea looks down, knowing the injured man was right.

"You need a story. If you tell them the O'driscoll's had you, they could suspect something," Arthur says.

"I already have one. I should be back in a few days," Colt says.

"Somebody should go with you," Mary-Beth says.

"None of you can. If I walk in with one of you, I might as well give myself up," Colt says.

"You could take Mrs. Adler," Hosea suggests.

"That a good idea. Someone who could also confirm your story," Arthur says.

"Fine, Sadie, get ready. We leave in 10 minutes," Colt says as he walks away.

"Does he seem different to any of you?" Mary-Beth asks.

"Yes, he does. But what do you expect after what he went through he would change? Nobody even knows what they did to him. He won't talk about it. He's keeping it all bottled up, and that is not helping him," Hosea says. Arthur nods.

"Maybe you can get him to talk, Sadie," Arthur says to his friend.

"I've tried. He won't even talk to me. I see him at night, tossing and turning sweat on his forehead. Sometimes he would stay in our cabin in the Mountains, and I have never seen him like this," Sadie says.

"Just try. Good luck, Sadie," Hosea says. Sadie nods as she walks to her horse. Colt comes over and climbs on Thea before they both ride out of camp.

They rode in silence for about ten minutes. "So, what's your story?" Sadie asks.

"I had to add you to it, but the story is that after my bounty up in Annesburg, I was heading to Van Horn to meet you, and the Murfree brood jumped and captured me. They held and tortured me for two weeks when you found me. We made it out, and I have been recovering since then," Colt says. Sadie nods as they cross over into the Heartlands.

"You should talk about what happened while the O'driscoll's had you," Sadie says after a few minutes.

"Sadie don't," Is all Colt says as they ride.

"You can't keep it bottled up, Colt," Sadie says, ignoring what Colt had said before.

"Sadie, leave it alone," Colt says harshly. Sadie looks at him and says nothing as they ride on.

They reach Valentine an hour later. Colt rides into town and hitches his horse by the Sheriff's office. Sadie does the same. Colt walks in the Sheriff's office. Milton and Ross look up. "Colt, you came, and you brought a guess," Milton says.

"Mr. Milton Mr. Ross, this is Sadie Adler," Colt says.

"Nice to meet you, gentlemen," Sadie says as Colt sits down.

"Likewise," Milton says. Milton says. He studies Sadie for a moment before he turns to Colt. "You look like shit," Milton says.

"Thanks. Don't I know it," Colt says.

"What happened, Colt. You were doing good, and suddenly you disappeared. No sign or trace that you were ever alive," Milton says. Before Colt can reply, Ross looks at Sadie.

"You're the woman from the ranch in the mountains, right? The one Mr. Morgan here worked for," Ross says to Saide, who nods.

"Yes. The O'driscoll's found my cabin. Killed my husband did some horrible things to me. I was in the cellar when I heard gunshots and then nothing. A man found me a few days later. Somebody looking for my husband, and as we were leaving, I moved too quickly and knocked the table down. My home burnt down, and I left. Found Colt about two weeks later. We have been keeping in contact as I searched for the man that killed my husband," Sadie says.

"So what happened, Colt?" Milton asks.

"I had just finished a bounty, and I was going to meet Sadie in Van Horn. I was jumped by the Murfree brood. They took me and tortured me for two weeks. They did it for fun. They were going to kill me when Saide found me. She got me out, and I have spent the last week recovering," Colt tells Milton, who nods, believing the story.

"Well, once you are better, we could use you again. The O'driscoll's had one of the Dutch's boys. We went for them, and the Fort was destroyed. So get better, Colt, and get back on them," Milton says.

"Of course. Good day gentlemen," Colt says. Sadie nods to the men as they walk out of the Sheriff's office. The sun was beginning to set as the sun has started to set. "We'll stay here for the night," Colt says. Sadie nods as they walk to the hotel, rent a room, and go to sleep.

Thanks for reading. I don't have much to say about this one besides I hope you enjoyed it. As always, suggestions are welcomed. Until next time.