Chapter 39-The End of The O'driscoll Gang

It was the evening before the job. Colm, Milton, Hosea, Sadie, and Charles had stayed behind in Valentine as everybody had headed to Rhodes a few hours before. They knew that if they traveled in a big group, it would look suspicious. Colt climbs onto Thea as the others climb onto their horses. They leave Valentine.

They arrived in Rhodes around 3:00 Am. The rest of the gang were in the Sheriff's office where they were sleeping as the Pinkertons were spread around. Most blending in with the crowd. Colt, Hosea, Milton, Charles, and Sadie when to sleep after they got there.

It was early morning when they woke up. They knew the O'driscolls were gonna try to surprise the law in Rhodes by doing it early. They had their horses locked up when they got there. So the five stood with their backs on the wall as they waited for Colm and his gang. Colt stands there and checks his gun. They had to wake an hour before they finally heard the first gunshots and screams. Colt looks at the people with him. "You ready to end this son of a bitch?" Colt asks them. They nod as Colt opens the door. He looks out and sees that everybody was in position, just waiting for his signal. Colt sees two guards by the door. He nods to Sean, who was behind the general store. Colt shoots one man as Sean shoots the other. Everybody comes out of hiding from behind the buildings and around town to surround the bank. Colt could hear Colm inside. He was asking about what was going on. They had the bang surrounded in under a minute.

"Colm O'driscoll. You are under arrest. Please come out," Milton says. Milton was beside Colt. Hosea was on his other side. Colt watches the window as he sees Colm look outside of it.

"Working with the Van Der Linde gang now are you, Milton. I thought you were better than that. A man of law," Colm says from inside.

"We made a deal, Colm. Once all this is over, you'll be dead, and we'll be free," Colt says.

"Ah, Mr. Morgan, how are you scars doing?" Colm asks.

"Just fine," Colt says.

"I'm assuming you know by now he was a rat. And you are still working with him. What has happened to honor?" Colm asks, trying to get under their skin.

"There are things more important than honor, Colm. This deal helps everybody here besides the one in that bank," Hosea says.

"I bet by now this bank is surrounded, and you think I'll just surrender. That is what Dutch should have done and Saint-Denis. Imagine Hosea. If it weren't for Mr. Morgan, you would be dead," Colm says.

"I'm not dead yet. And you're right, but that does not matter now. What matters is your death," Hosea says.

"Well, I think there has been enough talk. Now I have a better deal for you. You let me go. And none of you die," Colm says.

"You're the only man here who has to die, Colm," Colt says.

"That is what I thought," Colm says. Nobody says anything. The air was tense as everybody waited for Colm's next action. Colt could feel the cold air hitting his skin. "Well, boys, light these bunch of pussies up!" Colm yells, and with that, the gunfight started. Colt falls to the ground and crawls to cover. He could see the others were in cover. He peaks up as, and O'driscoll runs out of the man. He aims his rifle and pulls the trigger. The bullet goes through the man's eye, making him fall to the ground. A group of O'driscoll's run out of the bank and Colm could see one of them flee to the side past the men and the Pinkertons. Colt stands up and gets out of cover. He knew that Colm's human shields had seen him. Colt jumps his cover and starts to run after the fleeing figure. Colt feels a sharp pain in his shoulder. He staggers a little but keeps running after the man. Colt pulls out his Revolver and shoots the man in the leg. The man lets out a yell of pain as he falls to the ground. Colt catches up to the man and turns him up as his face was on the ground. Colt raises his gun to Colm's head. "Do it, Colt. Come on, you know you want to! Come on, get your revenge for all the pain I put you through. Come on! Shoot me!" Colm yells at Colt. Colt stares at the man.

"You're right. I do want to kill you. But revenge is a fool's game, and I'm not risking everything for it. I'm done letting what you did to me affect me," Colt says as he stands up.

"You pussy. You spineless piece of shit. You sack of crap!" Colm yells. Colt stares at him for a moment before he kicks Colm in the face and knocks him out. Colt grabs his lasso and ties Colm up. Colt picks the man up and puts him on his other shoulder. The one without the bullet. Colt could feel the sun on his face. He closes his eyes and stops. He stands there for a moment before he walks back to the bank. Colt could see a few men tied on their knees. Colt walks over and throws Colm on the ground. Milton looks at him.

"Good job. I was worried that the bullet might have slowed you down. This isn't all of his men," Milton says.

"I know. Why are they still alive?" Colt asks.

"Well, whichever one of them tells me where the rest gets to go free. The rest will enjoy the rest of their lives in prison," Milton says. None of them says anything. "Going once, going twice," Milton says.

"Wait, they are at Hanging Dog Ranch in Big Valley," One of them says. A man that was no more than 25 said.

"Good, cut him free," Milton says to Ross, who frowns before he cuts the man free. "Go, I better never see you again," Milton says.

"You won't, sir, I promise," The man says as he runs away.

"Colt," Sadie says as she comes up with anger in her eyes. "He's not here. The fat bearded bastard isn't here," Sadie says. Milton turns and looks at her.

"Sounds like he is in Hanging Dog Ranch up in Big Valley. Mrs. Adler, if you want, we'll leave the rest up there to you," Milton says.

"I would be glad to, Mr. Milton," Sadie says.

"Not alone," Colt says.

"You're shot," Sadie says.

"I'll get patched up in Valentine. Then we go kill these bastards. This is as much as my fight as it is yours," Colt says. Sadie nods.

"The rest of you get back to camp," Colt says to the gang. Colt turns to Milton and extends his hand. "Can't wait for our next job Mr. Milton," Colt says. Milton grabs his hand.

"Me either, Mr. Morgan, good luck," Milton says.

"Tell us when the hanging is. And before I have a few words for him. Remember, if you need us send a letter to Tacitus Killgore," Colt says. Milton nods. Colt and Sadie leave and get their horses before they head to Valentine.

After Colt had got patched up in Valentine, they headed for Big Valley. By the time they reached the ranch. The sun could barely been seen, and lanterns were lit around the area. They get off their horses and start to walk slowly to the O'driscoll camp. They stop behind a tree. "We need a plan," Sadie says.

"I got one. Once the gunfight starts, everybody inside is gonna run outside to shoot at us. I bet that bastard is gonna hide inside. So we kill them until we get an opening. I'll keep you covered as you head in there and kill the bastard," Colt says.

"You don't want to be there?" Sadie asks.

"I do. This isn't my kill Sadie. It's just I'll be fine with just seeing his body on the ground. This is it after we're done. No more O'driscoll and Jake will be avenged," Colt says. Sadie nods. They leave the three and start to advance on the camp.

"You two better leave," One of the men says. Sadie raises her gun and shoots him in the head. Colt shoots the other one. They get into cover as the O'driscoll's around the gang starts to shoot at them from various places around the camp. Colt and Sadie shoot the men and watch them fall.

"Go around the back," Colt tells Sadie, who nods as she sneaks away. Colt shoots the men. One starts to run for the house. Colt shoots him through the side. He falls to the ground and cries out in pain as the blood leaks from his body. Colt aims up at the guy in the loft of the barn and shoots him. The man stumbles back and falls off the edge and to the ground, where he dies. Colt doesn't hear any more gunshots, so he stands up and walks to the house. Colt opens the door and hears things breaking things upstairs. He walks up the stairs and watches as Sadie throws a man to the ground. Her face and upper chest were covered in blood. Sadie throws him to the ground. Sadie sits in a chair.

"What would Jake think of me?" Sadie asks as he lays her head in her hands.

"He would think you are the most beautiful woman in the world," Sadie looks up at him. "Just as I do," Colt says. Sadie smiles.

"Get me out of this hellhole," Sadie says. Colt nods as he walks over to her. He wraps his arm around Sadies and lifts her up. He walks out of the house and past the bodies to his horse. He sets Sadie on the back of Thea. He whistles, and Bob comes over. He grabs Bob's reins and head for Strawberry.

Colt gets to Strawberry and has never been more glad that it was night as not many people were out and Sadie was covered in blood. Colt helps Saide inside, and the hotel clerk looks at her. "Bounty hunting is a nasty business. You got a shower or a bath?" Colt asks.

"In the master. Would you like that?" The clerk asks. Colt nods as he pays the man. He helps Sadie up the stairs and into the room.

"Can you wash yourself?" Colt asks. Sadie nods as she walks into the bathroom. Colt sits down as he hears the water running. He waits a little bit, and Sadie comes out in an undershirt and her pants, which had not been covered in blood. Sadie comes over and sits by him.

"We did it. We got Jake's killer. So why don't I feel any better?" Sadie asks.

"Like I have said many times, revenge is a fool's game. People think it will make them feel better, but it never will. I almost killed Colm cause I thought it would. I didn't and now's he's gone, and I feel more feel than ever. You have got to move on, Sadie. You never have to forget Jake, but you have to get past it, or you'll be in a circle the rest of your life," Colt says to Sadie, who doesn't say a word for a few minutes.

"How would you suggest I do that?" Sadie asks.

"Find a nice man. Restart, and maybe that will require you to leave, but if it makes you happy. So be it," Colt says. Sadie looks up at him. Sadie stares at Colt for a few seconds before she leans in and kisses him. Colt kisses her back. Sadie breaks the kiss and stands up. She pushes Colt on the bed and climbs on top of him as she takes off her shirt.

Thanks for reading. Thirty-nine chapters later and it has happened. I honestly had no clue when this was going to happen, but now it felt right. The O'driscoll gang is over. This story is getting closer and closer to the end and in a way that saddens me, but it also excites me. We still got some things left. I don't expect that to take us past chapter 55 put who nods. We still got a few things to knock out, and I am excited for them. As always, suggestions are welcomed. Until next time.