(Through John's POV)
It was around a year ago when John Marston first laid eyes on her. The camp was fast asleep, except for those on guard duty. They had woken up to Dutch's arrival. He yelled for help and those who were patrolling rushed to him. They immediately saw the girl in front of Dutch.
The men helped her get down the horse. Her eyes filled with fear and she shuddered at the touch of those who was helping her. She was dressed in her night gown and a coat that looked too big for her frame. It had been raining when they rode to the camp, so she and Dutch have been soaking wet. Her night gown clung to her pale skin – John thought she looked like an angel from one of those Victorian paintings he'd seen during one of those 'runs' with the gang.
In the middle of the commotion, the girl had passed out. Bill was able to carry her with ease to one of the tents. Ms. Grimshaw and the girls helped her get out of her wet clothes and into some dry warm ones. Ms. Grimshaw stayed with her until dawn. She hasn't woken up since and slept almost the entire day after.
Dutch shared with the gang the next morning over the campfire, that he and Arthur were at the Sherriff's office. The two were looking into some bounties among other prospects, when she barged in, dressed in her night gown and looking distraught.
"Good God! What's wrong, [Y/N]?" The sheriff stood up. Alarmed at the sight of the girl in her night gown. He instinctively took off his coat and wrap it around her.
"There's… there's some men at the clinic… Dad's treating one of them now… but" she paused to catch her breath. "I think they're bad men, Sherriff. There's about 10 of them and they're all heavily armed. They got the house surrounded."
It didn't take long for the Sherriff, as well as Dutch and Arthur to assemble and mount their horses. The Sherriff insisted the girl stay there with the Deputy, but she was having none of it, her dad was still there. The Sherriff didn't want to waste anytime arguing with the girl, so he agreed, as long as she rode with the Deputy and that she kept a safe distance.
The group arrived at the clinic a few minutes after. The armed men outside recognised Dutch and Arthur and instantly pulled their guns out and aimed them at the men approaching. Dutch, Arthur, and the Sherriff dismounted their horses. The Deputy, as instructed, stayed with the girl at a safe distance.
"Good evening, gentlemen." The Sherriff greeted.
Colm O'Driscoll came out of the door; his left arm was in a sling. He held the girl's father at gunpoint. Amused to see Dutch and Arthur with the Sherriff, he announced he'll let the doctor go, if the Sherriff will leave them be and let them escape the town unpursued.
It was a blur at that point, as it was never known who fired the first shot. Colm had shot the father, and the girl screamed in horror as it rained bullets. The clinic was set ablaze. A bullet landed on the deputy's eye and on the sheriff's chest too, but Arthur and Dutch survived and were able to kill a couple of O'Driscolls. Unfortunately, Colm and some of his men used this opportunity to slip and escape unharmed, much to Dutch's frustration.
When hell died down, it started to rain heavily, putting out the fire. Dutch held the girl firmly while he calmly reassured her. He instructed Arthur to try and get some medical supplies for the camp. With that, Dutch left Arthur to his task, he mounted The Count with the girl and rode back to the camp like lightning.
Poor girl, John thought as he overheard Dutch tell her story. The sight of the girl he had seen last night filled his thoughts as he went on his day. He was not quite sure what to make of it, but there was something about her – the thought and sight of her, fascinated him as he couldn't take his eyes off the tent where the girl was sleeping.
The day passed and evening came. It was John's turn at guard duty. He was patrolling the grounds around the camp when he suddenly heard a rustle from a shrub nearby. With his gun in one hand and a lamp in the other, he cautiously followed the noise. When he found the source of the noise, he held the lamp in front of him, and to his surprise, he saw the girl's face again. Her face was pale, and her eyes held the same fear he saw on them last night.
Without uttering a sound, the girl panicked and scuffled on the ground. Her hand desperately fumbled on the ground for anything she can use to defend herself. Her hand found a rock and she aimed it threateningly at John (as if it was going to really help).
John, upon realising it was just the girl, relaxed and put his gun down. He slowly knelt on one knee in front of her, placing the lamp on the ground and holding his hands up in the air.
"You're okay. I ain't gonna hurt you, okay?" John spoke reassuringly.
"You're okay." He repeated calmly in his low raspy voice.
"Looks like you don't remember where you are or what happened to you last night." He continued. "Here, let me help you up." John offered his hand in front of the girl. The girl took a few seconds to process what was happening, her face now looking more confused than terrified, she took his hand, and he carefully helped her up.
A weak ow was the first sound John heard from her. He examined her and realised she had twisted her ankle.
"Looks like you hurt your foot too. Come on, lemme help you get back to your tent." He said. He held the girl's wrist gently, placing her arm on his shoulders, his other hand at the girl's waist. The girl limped, but slowly but surely, they made it back to her cot.
"My name's John. What's yours?" John asked, as he assisted the girl settle on the cot.
"[Y/N]." the girl answered softly.