Chapter 35-Some friendly faces

Colt and Sadie ride down the mountain path that leads towards Armadillo. They get down the mountain path that leads towards town. Sadie looks at Colt. "How do you know the sheriff in Tumbleweed?" Sadie asks.

"Saved him once. A gang that rides around these parts called the Del Lobo's. Took him and another man, and we're gonna hang 'em in Armadillo. A friend of mine helped me save them. That friend didn't make it out of the shootout," Colt says. Sadie nods. "And since then, I helped him with problems in down and bounty hunted for him. He's even come on a few with me," Colt says.

"You said you mostly bounty hunt up towards Valentine," Sadie says.

"I do. Sometimes I am down here," Colt says.

"But you have more friends down in these areas correct?" Sadie asks. Colt nods.

"Then why don't you hunt down here where you could get more help?" Sadie asks. They were getting close to Armadillo.

"Because if the bounties I hunt got free and knew who my friends were, they would go after them and hunt them to get back at me. Same for the families of the people I hunt. I don't hunt down here much because of the friends I do have. I don't have many up towards Valentine. Really it was only you and Jake," Colt says. Saide nods as they ride into Armadillo. They ride through the town quickly. The town was starting to get sick, and Colt knew that. He didn't want Sadie to get sick, and he didn't want to get sick. They get through the time quickly and keep heading for Tumbleweed.

Camp

Charles walks over to Pearson, who was cutting meat. "Mr. Pearson," Charles says. The man looks up at Charles.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Smith?" Pearson asks.

"Do we still have the hides from the animals that we have killed?" Charles asks.

"Yeah, they are in the back of the wagon. Why?" Pearson asks.

"I was gonna take them into town and sell them," Charles says.

"The only two towns near with any are Tumbleweed and Blackwater," Pearson says.

"You know anywhere else I could sell them?" Charles asks.

"There's a trapper up in tall tree. I would take a wagon with the hides and head up there. You should be about to make $200 for the amount we have. I'll help you load them up," Pearson says. Charles nods at the camp cook. Charles walks away from the cook and goes over to a wagon. He grabs two of the horses and hooks them up to the wagon. He backs the wagon towards Pearson's wagon. Charles jumps down and walks over to Pearson. He hops up to the wagon and grabs the hides. They start to move them to the other wagon's.

"Isn't tall trees where the gang called the skinner brothers are?" Pearson asks.

"Yeah, that's what Colt said," Charles says.

"Maybe you should take somebody just in case," Pearson says.

"I should be fine. I'll be quick. I'll be back here by nightfall," Charles says.

"Okay, I trust you, Mr. Smith," Pearson says as they keep loading up the supplies. Charles hops down and walks to his horse. He grabs a rifle and his bow before he walks back to his wagon. He sets his weapons under the seat before he leaves camp.

He gets up to tall tree late in the day. The sun was gonna be setting soon. He was close to the trapper when an arrow hits his wagon. Charles pulls on the reins and jumps down as another arrow goes over his seat. He reaches up into the wagon and grabs his rifle and bow. Another arrow comes towards him and hits the wagon. The horses start to panic. A skinner brother comes from behind Charles and swings at him. Charles moves, and the man cuts the horses free. The horses run. The man swings as Charles, who grabs the man and brings his knife into the man's heart. An arrow goes through Charles's shoulder. Charles lets out a cry of pain and falls on his knees. Charles turns as another skinner brother runs towards Charles. A gunshot goes off that hits the man in the throat. Charles moves behind the wagon and pulls out his shotgun. Another gunshot goes off. A skinner brother comes from around the wagon. Charles raises his shotgun and shoots the man making him fall backward. Blood pouring out of his chest. One more gunshot goes off. "You okay back there?" Charles hears a woman's voice.

"Yeah," Charles says. A woman comes around the wagon. The woman was tan with brown hair. She had blue eyes. She had an average build and was about 5'4 in height. She bends down in front of Charles. Charles holds his gun in his hand tightly.

"I just saved your life, asshole. If I wanted you dead, I would have left you to the skinner brothers," The woman says. Charles nods as he lets go of his gun. "We got to get this arrow out of your shoulder. "I have a cabin not too far ahead," The woman says.

"I can't leave my wagon here," Charles says.

"I'll hook it up to my horse," The woman says. Charles nods. The woman smiles. "Sit tight," The woman says before she walks away. The woman returns a few minutes later with her horse and starts to tie it up to the wagon. "You should have gone to a different trapper, Mr. Smith," The woman says. Charles raises his shotgun at her. She raises her hands. "Come on, Charles; If I wanted your bounty, you would have been hog-tied by now," The woman says. Charles nods, knowing she had a point.

"You know who I was when you saved me?" Charles asks.

"No," The woman says as she finishes tieing her horse up. She walks over to Charles and helps him up. She gets him on the wagon and climbs up, and starts to move the wagon. She looks at the hides in the wagon. "Nice load you got here. You'll make some money on with all this," The woman says.

"That was the plan," Charles says.

"Didn't really expect Dutch Van der Linde to want to make money by selling hides," The woman says.

"How much do you know about this gang?" Charles asks.

"I know about your recent activities in Saint-Denis and up that way. That's why it's kinda surprising to see you back down here," The woman says.

"After the bank, Arthur, Bill, Micah, Javier, and Dutch got in a boat. We got somebody else leading us now," Charles says as they pull up to a cabin. The woman gets off and helps Charles down. They got into the cabin, and Charles sits down.

"So is it Mr. Matthews leading you?" The woman asks.

"What's your name?" Charles asks. The woman smiles.

"Names Alicia Carter," Alicia says. Charles nods as Alicia comes back over. "Let's get this arrow out and get your shoulder wrapped up," Alicia says. Charles nods. Alicia grabs a cloth and hands it to Charles. "Bite on this," Alicia says. Charles puts the cloth in his mouth and bites it. Alicia grabs the arrow and pulls it out of Charles's shoulder. Charles bites down on the fabric as the arrow comes out. Alicia sets the arrow down. She cleans Charles's wound and wraps it. "The sun will be setting soon. You should stay here for tonight and head out tomorrow," Alicia says. Charles nods.

"Thank you," Charles says. Alicia nods as she starts to cook some meat for the two of them.

"So who is leading your gang?" Alicia asks.

"Colt Morgan," Charles says.

"The bounty. I read about that," Alicia says.

"You know him?" Charles asks.

"No, but I have read about him," Alicia says.

"Coming back down here is smart. There aren't many Pinkertons left down here. Most are up towards Saint-Denis," Alicia says.

"Why are you out here?" Charles asks.

"Just like you, I'm running from the law," Alicia says as she sits down.

"What did you do?" Charles asks.

"Killed someone who deserved to die," Alicia says.

"May I ask why they deserved to die?" Charles asks.

"They killed my son," Alicia says.

"Why weren't they arrested?" Charles asks.

"Cause they had friends in the right places," Alicia says.

"Sorry to hear about your son," Charles says.

"It was a while ago," Alicia says.

"It's a good hiding place the law won't come up here," Charles says.

"That was the idea," Alicia says. They had been eating as they talked. You can sleep on that couch. "I'm going to bed," Alicia says. Charles nods. Alicia leaves and heads to bed. Charles follows her soon after.

The next morning. Camp

Hosea wakes up and sees that Sean, Kieran, and Tilly were already up and drinking coffee. Hosea stands up and walks over to the three. "You three ready?" Hosea asks.

Sean nods. "We were just about to leave," Sean says.

"Well, good luck to you," Hosea says. The three nod. They get on their horses and head for Mcfarlane ranch. Hosea grabs a cut of coffee. Pearson walks over to him with a worried face. "What's wrong?" Hosea asks.

"Charles left yesterday to sell some hides. I thought he would have been back by now," Pearson says.

"He probably is just camping out. If he's not back in a few hours, we'll go looking for him," Hosea says. Pearson nods.

With Colt and Sadie

Colt and Sadie ride into Tumbleweed. Last night they had camped out in the desert and had left early in the morning. They ride into town. Colt hitches his horse at the sheriff's office. Colt walks in, and Sadie follows. He shuts the door. He turns to the dest and sees the sheriff of Tumbleweed Sam Freeman holding a sawed-off shotgun pointed at them. "Colt Morgan. Mr. Milton is looking for you," Sam says. Sadie and Colt raise their hands.

"That he is," Colt says.

"If you we're anybody else, I would have already locked you up. But I owe you, and I consider you, my friend. So I'm gonna give you a chance to explain," Sam says and motions for the chairs with his gun. Colt and Sadie sit down. "Who is this lovely lady?" Sam asks.

"Sadie Adler," Sadie says.

"Well, nice to meet you, Miss Adler. So Colt, tell me your story," Sam says.

"Right after the Blackwater ferry job that the Van Der Linde gang did and got in a shoot out during. Mr. Milton asked me to hunt down the gang. I said I would, and I intended to do it. I went up to the mountain and went to see Sadie and her husband, Jake. I found out that Jake had died. He was killed by the O' driscolls. Dutch's gang saved Sadie, and I found them in Valentine. I made a deal with Dutch. He let me see Sadie. I told him what the Pinkertons are planning. I also found my brother Arthur Morgan," Colt says. Sam smiles.

"Should have pieced that one together," Sam says.

"Anyway, I bet you know what happened after because of the papers. I saved Hosea at the bank, and Dutch, Micah, Bill, Javier, and Arthur got on a ship to escape the law. I brought them back down here. I have a plan to get us out of this life. A way to get rid of the gang and get the law off us. But I need your help," Colt says. Sam finally lowers his gun.

"What do you need?" Sam asks.

"I need you to find bounties, high paying ones and send them to Tacitus Kilgore at McFarlane ranch. Also, if you get anything that might lead to Colm O'driscoll sent it there," Colt says.

"You know if I get caught, I will go to jail," Sam says.

"I know," Colt says.

"You're lucky I owe you. Okay, I'll help. I need you to get out of town, though. Can't have you need here just in case they have spies here," Sam says. Colt nods as he stands up.

"Thank you, Sam," Colt says.

"No problem. Hopefully, talk soon," Sam says. Colt nods as he shakes the man's hands. "Mrs. Adler, may I have a moment with Colt," Sam says. Sadie nods as she steps out. Colt looks at Sam. "I need you to do one more thing for me," Sam says. Colt looks at him.

"You and Sadie need to talk about your feelings for each other," Sam says. Colt looks down.

"Now is not the time," Colt says.

"Now is the perfect time. It sounds like this gang is at peace. That might not last for long. Talk to her soon before something happens to one of you," Sam says. Colt nods and leaves. He and Sadie get back on their horses and head back for camp, which they should hopefully get to by night.

With Charles and Alicia

Charles had woken up about an hour ago. He was waiting for Alicia to wake up so he could leave. Alicia walks out of the room she was sleeping in. "You ready to go?" Alicia asks. Charles raises his eyebrow at him.

"Your coming?" Charles asks.

"You owe me, Mr. Smith. I'm hoping Mr. Morgan will let me join the gang," Alicia says. Charles nods as he stands up. They leave and head for the trapper.

Mcfarlane ranch

Kieran was taking care of the horses in the barn. "Your good with them," Kieran hears from behind him. He turns and sees Bonnie standing there.

"Thank you. This is what Colm had me doing for him. I imagine it's the only reason Dutch kept me around. Maybe Colt too," Kieran says.

"I don't know Dutch. But I do know Colt. He sees your value. You're not just there for horse care," Bonnie says.

"Thank you," Kieran says.

"Your welcome. Good luck, Kieran. I have to go check on your other friends," Bonnie says.

"Good day to you, Bonnie," Kieran says.

Camp night

Colt and Sadie were the first ones to arrive back at camp. Hosea looks up at them. "Your back, how did it go?" Hosea says.

"Good, we have the sheriff of Tumbleweed on our side," Colt says as he gets off his horse. "Where's Charles?" Colt asks.

"We don't know," Hosea says.

"What do you mean?" Sadie asks.

"He went out to sell hides. Yesterday," Pearson says.

"Shit. When Sean and Kieran get back, we'll go look," Colt says.

"We shouldn't at night. More of us might get lost. We'll head out early in the morning," Sadie says. Colt nods, understanding her point. They hear a wagon. They turn and see Charles come into camp with Alicia on the wagon.

"You're not dead, thank god. Who is that?" Hosea asks.

"Alicia Carter. She saved me from the skinner brothers. She's on the run from the law just like us. She was wondering if she could join the gang," Charles says as he gets down.

"We could use the manpower, and she did save you. Sure," Colt says. Charles smiles as Alicia comes down.

"Thank you," She says.

"No problem. You can introduce yourself to everybody tomorrow. Kieran and the others should be here soon. But I'm going to bed," Colt says. The others nod as Colt goes to his tent. He shuts the flap and lays down. He falls asleep thinking about what Sam had told him.

Thanks for reading. We are getting somewhere with this story. Tell me what you guys think. I'm having fun making my own story. Sam gave Colt some advice lets see what he does with that. Do you guys want to see more Oc's? As always, suggestions are welcomed. Until next time.