Author's note: Chapter 4 is next. I'm sorry if the story is not doing too well to you, but nevertheless, I must continue.
A few weeks later
Agnarr got up from sleeping all night. Hosea walked to him with a cup of coffee. "Agnarr." He greeted. "Hosea." The former king replied. He hands him the coffee. "Quite a day." Hosea said. "This place is better than being stuck back in Colter. My daughter's are really enjoying you guys." Agnarr said. "I know. Last week, Anna started calling me Grandpa Hosea. And she calls Micah Meanie-head Micah, and she's callin' Dutch Uncle too. And Elsa is a very sweet girl." Hosea informed him.
Agnarr chuckled a little. "I already told Arthur but I'll tell you too. There's a bunch of the boys already in Valentine. Down at the saloon there. You can go to them if you want. Swanson found something down at Flatneck Station, by the lake, apparently. And Strauss came back with that creepy little smile on his face. I'm sure there's a whole list of unfortunate's he's forced money upon." Hosea said.
"Okay, okay. What are you gonna do?" Agnarr asked. "I'm gonna read a book." Hosea walked back to his and Bill's tent. Agnarr saw Iduna wake up. "I'm gonna head to town. Do you wanna come?" He asked her. "Sure. I trust them enough to watch the girls now." Iduna said as she got up. Then she put her shoes on. The couple walked over to the same horses they used when they first hunted with Charles in Colter.
Then, they start riding for Valentine. Hosea had shown him the way there before. Upon arrival, they find Smithfield Saloon. They didn't enjoy walking in the mud, but they knew there was nothing to do about it. They enter the saloon and find Charles and Javier at the bar. "Hey, Agnarr, Iduna." They walk up to him. "Hey, Javier." Iduna said. Then Arthur came into the saloon. "Oh, Arthur. Arthur. Come here. I want you to meet our friends." Javier motioned to 2 women he and Charles were talking to. "Well, ain't you just a tough as teek mountain man." One girl said. "Oh, you be quiet, Anastasia. Anyone can tell this one is a pussy cat." Her friend said.
"Exactly, he's a pussy... cat. Ain't that so, Arthur?" Javier asked. "I guess. How much you cost anyway?" Arthur asked. "Well, ain't that a nice way to talk to a lady." Anastasia said. "Oh, I didn't know I was talking to a lady." Arthur said. "Excuse me." The girls walk off while Charles reaches out for one. "That wasn't a very smart move, Arthur." Iduna said. "I agree with her. You've got such a fine way with the women, amigo." Javier agreed with Iduna. "Does anyone know where Bill is?" Agnarr asked. "Oh man, I dread to think about it." Javier replied as he took a swig of his drink.
Then Bill marches into the saloon but bumps into a drunk patron. "He about to kiss that guy or punch him?" Arthur asked, then Bill swings his fist at the patron. "Oh, and we have our answer!" Javier declared as he raised his bottle and smashed it on a patrons head. Agnarr wasn't sure of what to do at first but then he joined in on the fight.
Iduna joined too and she helped Javier take down a patron. Agnarr notices that Bill is overwhelmed, he walks over and hits an assailant in the back of the head, knocking him out. Soon, he and Bill got them down. "What's going on down here?!" A voice boomed as an overweight patron came down. "No, Tommy. Stay out of this!" The bartender begged. "Come here, you little greaser!" Javier hits him but regrets it as Tommy starts brutalizing him.
A patron grabs Agnarr from behind, but the king jabs his elbow into his stomach multiple times before he finally let go. Agnarr hits him in the head, taking him down. "Go help Javier Agnarr. We got the others." Bill said. Agnarr walks up to Tommy. "Hey, tough guy." He hits him, making him let go of Javier. But Tommy smacks him in the face before throwing the king across the table, onto the floor. "You want some too, huh?" Tommy picks up Agnarr and tosses him out the window, he lands in the mud, while it's raining. Agnarr managed to get up to continue fighting Tommy. "Come on, pretty boy!" The attacker said viciously. "Pretty boy? Are you serious? Pretty boy?!" Agnarr growled as Iduna and the others stepped outside.
Tommy manages to hit the king in the stomach, making double-over in pain, but he regained his footing and continues fighting. "You need some help?" Arthur asked. "I got him." Agnarr said. They continue fighting until Tommy tackles him to the ground and shoves his face into the mud. But Agnarr managed kick him in the nuts and pushed him off before grappling him and starts punching Tommy very hard. "Hey cut that out!" Javier said, attempting to stop Agnarr, but his rage blinded him. Tommy's face was covered in blood. Agnarr raised his bloody fist one more time, until someone stepped in. "Stop, please! Come now, sir you've won the fight. Surely, that's enough?" He said. Agnarr let Tommy go. He couldn't believe it, he almost killed someone because of his anger. Agnarr stepped out of the area, with his wife and friends following him.
"Looks like you weren't lying about your new friends, Dutch." Someone said. Dutch walked up to them with a man in a black suit, blue vest and top hat. "Look who we found sniffing about." Dutch said. "Josiah Trelawny." Arthur said as Trelawny bowed. "The very same." Van der Linde finished. "Haha, I thought you'd gone to New York." Arthur said. "And miss all this glamour? You must be joking." Trelawny said. "How are you?" Arthur asked. "Well. Quite well indeed. I went to Blackwater looking for you gentlemen. You're not very popular there it seems." Trelawny replied. Then he looked over to the others. "Ah, Javier, and Charles. I've missed you. And Bill looking as well as can be. Gentlemen, always a pleasure." He said happily.
"You're right, we ain't to popular in Blackwater." Dutch said. "We left a lot of money there." Arthur said. "And young Sean, it seems." Trelawny said. "Sean? You found him?" Dutch asked. "Yes. He's being held by some bounty hunters, trying to see how much money the government will pay them. I know he's in Blackwater, but there's talk of them moving." Trelawny explained. "Well, if we set foot in Blackwater." Arthur rubbed his sore jaw from where a rather strong patron got him. "Well, then we're dead men for sure." Arthur finished.
"There'll be pinkertons all over the place, but if he's alive, we gotta try." Dutch said. "Yeah, of course." Arthur mumbled. "It's you they want, Dutch." Trelawny looked over to the leader. "Always is." He replied. "Charles, go find out what you can, carefully. Josiah, take Javier. Arthur, go join them when you can. Agnarr, go get yourself cleaned up." Dutch said. Agnarr nodded and walked up to a barrel full of water next to the saloon. "Is there anything I can do?" Iduna asked. "Well, your kids have been wondering where you two went. But I don't really have anything for you right now." Dutch said. "Well, what about me?" Bill asked. "Well, exactly. What about you?" Dutch said. "What does that mean?" Bill asked. "Oh, Bill. Come on." Dutch groaned and the two cowboys walked away while arguing.
Iduna walked up to Agnarr as he finished getting the muck off. "Are you alright?" She asked. "Gonna be a bit sore for a few days. But I'll be fine." He groaned as he rubbed his sore jaw. "Shall we get back to camp?" Iduna asked. "Yeah, let's go." They got on their horses and rode back to camp. "Who goes there?" Karen called out. "It's us." Iduna called back. "Good to see you both in one piece." The young woman said.
As they entered camp, they dismounted the horses. Agnarr noticed Uncle lazing about and sleeping while leaning on a wagon. "I'm gonna go deal with Uncle." Agnarr said to Iduna. She nodded and walked off. Agnarr walked up to the lazy old coot and kicked him in the leg. "Ow!" He yelped. "Be careful not to work yourself to death there, Mr. Uncle." Agnarr said sarcastically. "I've been thinkin'." Uncle got up and spoke. "Does it help camp or get us money?" Agnarr asked. "Eventually." Uncle said. "So, let me get this straight. While the rest of us are stealing, killing, lying, fighting to try to survive, you get to think all day." Agnarr said.
"It's a strange world we live in, your majesty." Uncle said. "I don't really wanna head back into town, but I need to buy some things." Agnarr said. "I need to get some stuff, too." Uncle said. "Alright. But go make sure the horses are ready." Agnarr said seriously. Uncle groaned in disgust but reluctantly walked off to get the horses prepared. "If you're taking the old man to town, can you take us too?" Karen asked. She had Mary-Beth and Miss Tilly with her. "Do you need anything?" Agnarr asked.
"Nothing, really." Karen replied. "We're bored out of our minds. We've been cooped up here for 3 weeks now. Karen's just about ready to murder Grimshaw." Mary-Beth said. "Well, can Ms Grimshaw spare you?" Agnarr asked. "Can Ms Grimshaw spare you? We've only known you for under a month, look what happened to you, Agnarr. 3 healthy young women want you to take them places. Let's go!" Karen said. "Can we come too?" Anna asked as she ran up with Elsa.
"Ask your mother first." Agnarr said. The girls ran off to Iduna and asked, she nods her head and they come running back. "She said yes!" Anna said. "Alright, we're ready." Uncle said. They all got on board. The girls were in the back, while Agnarr and Uncle took the front. "We get to see civilization!" Tilly said. "Yeah, Valentine. The very embodiment of civilization." Uncle said. Agnarr commanded the horses to move forward. They drove out of camp and onto the road to Valentine. "Ladies, sing us a song." Uncle said.
"I got a girl in Berryville... can't be screwed 'cause she's too damn ill. So I don't go down there no more. There's a blue blonde horse lays outside her door. I got a girl in Valentine... likes to drink that fancy wine. Plumes in her hat was two feet tall... the crack in her pants paid for it all." The girls sang. Elsa and Anna didn't understand much of it but were trying to sing along anyway. "Go right here, it's quicker." Uncle pointed at a trail that ran through the railroad tracks. Agnarr turned and they were in it.
The girls continued singing, then Uncle noticed a stagecoach going out of control. "See that coach? He's all over the place!" He said, then the horses broke free of their bonds and 1 ran to the nearby trees. "Doh! No, shit! The horses!" The driver yelled. "One of you gonna get that guy's horse?" Tilly asked. "I got Lumbago. It's very serious." Uncle said, looking for an excuse to not help. "I'll go help." Agnarr volunteered. He got off and mumbled, "Lumbago? Really?" He ran off to help the driver. "Uncle, what's Lumbago?" Elsa asked.
"It's a fatal condition I got. A very serious illness. You are lucky you don't have it." Uncle said. "Is Uncle really your name? How old are you?" Anna asked. "Yeah, my name is Uncle. And as for the age, well, let's just say I was born sometime between the Fall of '49, and the Fall of Rome. I had 2 wives. My second wife always described me as 'ageless'. Though, she did leave me for a younger man." The old man said.
Then Agnarr came back after returnibg the orse to its owner. "Come on, let's go. To Valentine!" Uncle urged. They continued driving. "You really are a fairy godmother there, Agnarr." Uncle said. "I'm not really a fairy godmother." Agnarr replied. "But you have a heart, Agnarr. Really, you do." Mary-Beth said.
"Auntie Mary-Beth is right, Papa. You are one of the best people ever!" Anna agreed. "And you don't have a heart, you repulsive old lizard." Karen said to Uncle. "Lizards have hearts!" He countered. They continued into town after waiting for a train to move. "Look at all the snow on the mountains. Sure don't wanna be back up there." Mary-Beth said. "Do you think we should've asked Molly to come with us?" Tilly asked.
"Oh, no!" Miss O'shea is far too high and mighty for the likes of us. She's a society lady now." Karen said. "The sheriff's office on on the left. Sire you can pick up some bounties there, Agnarr." Uncle said. "Smell those sheep. Or is that Uncle?" Karen said. "Oh, very funny." Uncle said sarcastically. "Park over there. By the stables." He said to Agnarr. They park near the stables. "We can get up to some mischief here, alright." Karen said. "Please remember, keep a low profile." Agnarr warned. "Will you remember that, Agnarr?" Karen asked. "Unless something bad happens. No need to forget." He said back.
They all get down. "We'll start at the saloon." Mary-Beth, Tilly, and Karen head for Smithfield's. "Girls, with me." Agnarr said and Elsa and Anna followed him and Uncle. "Let's head for the general store." Uncle said, and they follow him. As they enter, the girls are amazed at the sight of the items. "You look a little tired there, Agnarr. Why don't you buy some coffee." Uncle suggested. Agnarr walked over to the clerk and bought some coffee grounds and a percolator to brew it. "Papa, can you buy this? It looks like uncle Dutch's hat." Anna held up a Homburg hat she had found near the door. And it did look exactly like Dutch's. It even had the bow-tie Van Der Linde's had.
Once, Dutch told Agnarr that every time he took his hat off, if Anna was nearby, she would try to sneak up and steal it when he had his back turned. "Sure." Agnarr said as Anna handed him the hat. "That'll be 4.25$." The clerk said. Agnarr nodded and pulled out some American money he had made from selling a pelt that Iduna said it could get some money. She even taught him how to skin a deer. He buys the hat for Anna, and she squeals in delight as she puts the Homburg hat on. "We'll meet you two outside when you're done." Uncle and Elsa exit the store and sit down on an empty bench next to the door.
Shortly after, Agnarr and Anna came out too. "You look very cute with that on, Anna." Uncle complimented the girl. "That's Anna Van Der Linde to you." Anna said playfully while stifling a giggle. Then Mary-Beth came up to them. "Guys, I think I got something good. I snuck into this fancy house, acted like a servant girl, and usually works. Someone said their sister was taking a trip to New York or someplace. Train full of rich tourists headed for a boat there and then cruising off to Brazil. They'll appear at someplace called Scarlett Meadows I think." She said. "Scarlett Meadows. It's out near New Hanover. Yeah, it's real quite out there." Uncle said.
"Where's Tilly and Karen?" Agnarr asked. "I think over at Smithfield's. They were trying to pick up men." Mary-Beth answered. "Why?" Agnarr asked. "It seemed easy at first. But they have been gone for quite a while." Mary-Beth said. "I'll go find them." Agnarr started walking. "There's Tilly, right there." Mary-Beth pointed at the young woman who was being attacked by an angry looking black guy. "That does not look ideal." Mary-Beth muttered. "Stay here with the girls." Agnarr said as he started advancing towards Tilly and her assailant. "Be careful, Papa." Elsa said. "Just a word." Agnarr said back. He walked up to the side of the bank where Tilly was being held. "Think I wouldn't find you, Tilly Jackson?" The attacker asked viciously. "You can go kiss a snake for all I care!" Tilly spat back. "Let her go, you fool!" Agnarr demanded. "Who the hell are you?" The stranger said. "A friend of mine." Tilly said from the wall. "I said let her go!" Agnarr said. "Hey, take it easy. There's no problem here." Foreman said. Not wanting to kill him in public. "You're making a big mistake, Tilly Jackson!" He growled at the woman as he let her go.
"Just get lost!" Tilly said. "I ain't doin' this with you right now." Anthony Foreman walks away. "Are you okay?" Agnarr asked. "I'll be fine." Tilly said. "Do you know where Karen is?" Agnarr asked. "I think she's over at the hotel there." Tilly walked up to him then pointed at a building closest to the butcher. Agnarr nodded and made his way to the hotel. He enters. "May I help you with anything, sir?" The clerk asked. "I'm looking for a woman. Blonde hair, mid 20s. You'd remember her." Agnarr said.
"Sure, she came in with a drunk fella too. They're up at room 2B." The clerk directed. "Are you a friend of his?" He asked, talking about the male Karen was with. "Friend of her's." Agnarr started walking up the stairs. He went right and upon the first door, without looking at the room number, he opens it up but finds a man using the toilet. "Oh, get the hell out!" He yelled. "Sorry, wrong room." Agnarr apologized and then walked to the door next to the first one and he heard ruckus in there and Karen yelling. Agnarr attempts to twist the handle, but it was locked.
He proceeded to kick the door open and finds Karen lying on the floor with a bruise on her face. "Hey, leave her alone, you animal!" Agnarr demanded. "Who are you?!" The drunk asked. "A friend of hers." Agnarr replied. "Get out of here, buddy, I'm paid." The drunk said. "Ain't paid to hit her. You idiot!" Agnarr growled as he and the drunk started swinging fists. Agnarr managed to dodge all the attacks, thanks to the enemy being drunk. He started punching him in the face until he was down. "Are you alright?" The king knelt down to help the poor woman up. "I'm fine. He only punched me." Karen said.
"Let's get you to the others." They started walking down the hall. "Thanks, Agnarr. I don't really like being saved. But, when I have to be. Stupid bastard, stupid bastard was boasting about the bank." Karen conversed. "A bank?" Agnarr asked as they neared the stairs. "Yeah, I know small-town banks are usually a waste of time. But this is a livestock town. There's lots of cash sometimes." Karen explained. "Okay, well, keep investigating." Agnarr said. "I hope everything's okay up there?" The clerk said as they neared the door. Agnarr opened it up, and let Karen out first, then he followed suite. The girls and Uncle ran up to them. "My goodness. Are you okay?" Tilly asked. "Yeah, he only punched me. Agnarr punched him a lot harder and didn't get hit once." Karen said.
"Shall we get going?" Uncle asked. They all went back to the wagon and drove back for Horseshoe Overlook. Karen and Mary-Beth talked about the tips they heard. They finally arrive at the turnoff and Agnarr commanded the horses to move right and they traveled through woods for a bit, then they were in camp. They all got off and Anna ran up to Iduna who was at Dutch's tent, conversing with the gang leader. "Mama, look!" Anna said as she pointed to her new hat. Dutch turns to look in the tent, wondering if she stole his hat again, but finds his own Homburg hat sitting on the cot. "Did you steal uncle Dutch's hat again?" Iduna asked, not looking in the tent. "No, Mama. Papa bought it for me." Anna said. "It's true. My hat is still on my cot." Dutch pointed to his own hat on his bed.
It was getting close to night. The Moon showed itself early as the sun was setting over the horizon. Agnarr walked through camp until he made it to the main campfire. Hosea was there, along with John, and Bill. "Gentlemen." The king greeted before deciding to walk over to Iduna who sat on a log in perfect of the sunset. "Why did we end up here?" Iduna asked. "I don't know." Agnarr stated. "There's something I need to tell you." The queen said. "What is it?" Agnarr asked. "Let's go to the outskirts of camp." Iduna said as she stood up and they both walked to the nearby trees. "I have to tell you something about my past." Iduna started. "You can tell me anything." Agnarr said softly. Iduna took a deep shaky breath before telling her secret. "I'm Northuldra." She whispered, but Agnarr heard it. "You're what? Northuldra?" He asked. Iduna nodded and tears started running down her face, thinking Agnarr might leave her and she'll lose her daughter's too if she told them. Not even the Van Der Linde gang would be able to help her get over this.
"That voice... it was you I heard that day?" Agnarr asked. Iduna tightened her grip on her scarf before nodding again. "I can't believe the woman i love is Northuldra." Agnarr said slowly. "Agnarr, please." Iduna said. "No, I need some time to myself." Agnarr said as his confusion slowly changed to anger. "Please." Iduna begged. "Not now!" Agnarr growled as he walked away. Iduna silently weeped as she watched Agnarr mount his horse, turn towards the trail and leave camp. She walked through the trees and back into camp as she continued crying. She passed by Dutch's tent, and Van Der Linde noticed her red eyes and tear stained cheeks. "What happened to you?" He asked. Remembering the conversationthey had earlier before Agnarr rode in from town with some stuff. "I-I tol-ld h-him." She said shakily. She turns to face Dutch.
"If you need to talk, you can sit with me." Van Der Linde motioned to the empty side of his cot. Molly was elsewhere in camp. Iduna nodded slowly before she entered the gang leaders tent and sat on the cot with Dutch. "What did he say?" Dutch asked. "He didn't say a lot. But he got angry and left. I don't think he loves me anymore. If he tells the girls, they might not love me anymore either." Iduna said. "Bullshit! That man loves you very much. He wouldn't go out of his way to try to turn your own kids against you. Iduna, just give him a bit of space and a few days, he will come to accept you for who you are. He will always cherish you." Dutch said. He grabbed a handkerchief from his end table and handed it to the queen. She nods in thanks and starts wiping her tears from her face. "But, what if he leaves me and our children?" She asked as she hiccups a little from her crying. "He would never do that. Just remember to let him have some space. He might be gone for a few days though." Dutch said.
"Okay." Iduna muttered. "Thank you, Dutch. For everything." She thanked him. Iduna wa still thinking about Agnarr not coming back. Dutch somehow knew she was thinking about him. "Iduna, why don't I show you how to use a gun? It should help you get your mind off your husband for now. And since the world is a dangerous place. Everyone needs some protection still." He offered. Iduna thought about it for a moment before nodding yes.
Later
Dutch had collected some empty beer bottles from around camp and took Iduna to the outskirts, in the woods. He put all the bottles on a log before walking over to the queen. He took out one of his schofield revolvers and handed it to her as he took out his other revolver. "First, you need to know how to load at least a schofield revolver. On this weapon, you must pull back the hammer a little." He moves the hammer a tiny bit with his thumb. Iduna does the same. "Now you need to pull the barrel down to open it." He does it and the revolver breaks open, showing an empty cylinder. Iduna pulls the barrel of her gun down and it opens. Dutch then closed his gun before putting it away so he can grab a box of revolver cartridges. He opens it up and pulls out 6 bullets. "Almost all revolvers are six-shooters. Now, put your bullets into your gun." He gives her the ammo and she starts loading the revolver. When it was full, she pushed the barrel back up, and it closes.
"Now, for starters, use both hands on the gun so the recoil isn't that powerful." She put both hands on the pearl grip. "Raise it to eye level. But keep it pointed at the bottles." Dutch put a lantern near the bottles so she could see better. But it wasn't too close so she would accidentally hit it. She points the revolver at a bottle on the farthest right side. "Now, pull back the hammer fully." Iduna pulls back the hammer, and the gun makes a clicking sound. "The bump on the barrel is a sight. It helps you with accuracy. And if it helps, close one eye and use the other to look down the barrel. Breathe deep, put your index finger on the trigger, and always pull it on empty lungs." Dutch said.
Upon releasing her breath, Iduna pulls the trigger and the gun fires loudly, a bullet flies out of the barrel, but it didn't hit any bottle. The recoil pushes her back a tiny bit but not further because she used both hands. "You're doing fine." Dutch said. "It takes time to master."
Iduna cocks the revolver again and raises it to the bottle she tried to shoot. This time, she closes her left eye and looks down the barrel. She takes a deep breath, and upon release, she pulls the trigger and the gun fires again, the bullet hit closer but not quite. Just a few inches off. She repeated the process on the 3rd shot while Dutch watched. 3 4 5 also missed. She readied the 6th bullet, and after releasing all her breath, she pulled the trigger again, this time the bottle completely shattered, and the bottom fell to the ground. "I did it! I did it!" Iduna yelled as she happily jumped up and down in excitement. "You certainly did." Dutch agreed. "You wanna continue?" He asked. Iduna nodded. "Very well. Now, open your gun." she pulls the hammer back a bit and Dutch grabbed his revolver and started showing her how to remove the bullets.
Once she gets them all out, she reloads and closes the gun. She raised it to the next bottle. She pulled back the hammer and pulled the trigger. The second bottle shattered, just like the first. Iduna was getting happier now that she was getting better. Soon, she had managed to shoot all of the bottles except for 1 that she missed on. Dutch grabbed one of his pocket watches from his vest pocket and saw the time. "It's 11pm. You wanna go back?" He asked her. She nods, having enough fun for one day. She goves him back his revolver and they hike back to camp. Upon entering, the see Anna and Elsa already at their tent and sleeping. Dutch walked toward his tent where Molly was waiting. "Dutch. Thank you for showing me how to use a gun." Iduna said. He nods as he and his lover enter their tent and close the flaps. Iduna sees the lantern go out and she walks over to her own tent.
She lays down and wonders when or if Agmarr will come back. Just listen to Dutch. She told herself before her eyelids start getting heavy, then she was asleep.
Author's note: Trust me this isn't the only huge chapter I've made. Tell me how you feel about it. See ya'll later.