Book 1: Colter

*Isaac*

He had woken up to a freezing cold. He heard Reverend Swanson's voice outside the wagon and the wind in the air. He looked around everybody looked so sad, Jack was soundly sleeping next to him and Davey was at the back with multiple holes in his chest. He placed the blanket on Jack and took a seat next to Davey.

"Abigail said he's stable, Dutch. But we'll all freeze if we don't find shelter soon."

"It's fine, Reverend. I sent Arthur out looking."

Pa had been gone for a few hours now. Isaac wanted to come with him but He had completely forbade him to go. Isaac thought to himself, only a fool would live in this snow.

"You're still alive huh." Davey croaked out weakly beside him.

"Barely.", Isaac laughed.

"Thank… For what you did back there."

Isaac gave a nod of acknowledgment and grabbed the penny dreadful, that Jack almost forgot in Blackwater.

"This weather, It's May." Hosea sighed at the front of the wagon.

"Hey!", A silhouette rode towards them.

Isaac squeezed his head to the front. His father was riding back on Taima, Charles's horse.

"Arthur! Any luck, son?" Dutch said hopefully

"Thus old abandoned mining town by the name of Colter, ain't far. Will let everybody rest. Come on!" Arthur turned his horse and they rode towards this town.

Isaac was surprised, never in a million years did he think people were that stupid enough to live out here but he was wrong. The convoy was shorter than expected, and they arrived in the evening at the town in question by evening. The stop had finally woken up little Jack who was just as cold as anyone else. Isaac stood upright when he saw his father approaching.

"You alright?" Arthur came up to him, worry was clear on his face.

"Yes Sir."

Arthur nodded and turned his attention towards Davey. He and Bill pulled him onto the wooden stretcher and carried him to one of the houses. Isaac walked up with Jack in his corner and passed him to a waiting Abigail.

Dutch called all of them into a building. Miss Grimshaw gave orders to Mary-Beth to get a fire going and for Karen and Pearson to get blankets and food while Abigail took care of Davey.

The room was silent for a moment, everyone was realizing how doomed they were.

"We need supplies, Dutch.", Hosea spoke first and everybody turned to Dutch.

"I sent John and Micah scouting. Arthur and I are gonna go looking, and see what we can find." Pa was kinda surprised by this statement.

"In this?"

"Only for a while."

Isaac stepped up. "Il come too."

His father looked kinda angry and was about to protest but Dutch beat him to it. "No.", He firmly refused. "You've done enough heroics these past few days and we got no horses to spare, son."

Before Isaac could protest, Dutch gave him a look and the boy bowed his head in disappointment and Dutch turned to the rest of the gang.

"Listen… Listen to me all of you. Now we've had a bad couple of days and we've lost a few folks. Jenny,… Sean, Mac… I hope those two are okay. If I could switch places with them I would do so gladly." Pa nodded at that.

"Everybody's safe now, nobody's following us through a storm like this and if they do it, we'll be long gone. We've been through worse but I swear to you it will only get better from here on out!"

Dutch finished his speech and grabbed a lantern. "Come on, Arthur."

Arthur simply nodded and his eyes met with Isaac before turning around and following Dutch.

Everybody was urged into movement. When ever Dutch gave a speech they were always motivated. Isaac walked up to where Hosea was sitting next to the fire.

"Isaac, Lenny come here." The two of them walked over.

"How are you boys?"

After a bit of silence, Lenny spoke up "It's been worse. Don't worry 'bout us."

"Alright then." Hosea nodded. "Lenny, go help Abigail with Davey, her some supplies, will ya."

"No problem.", Lenny gave Isaac a nod before turning to where Davey was lying.

Hosea waited silently for Isaac to take a seat before speaking up.

"What did you do back there in Blackwater? I'm proud of you. We all are."

Isaac grinned at the admiration. "Thank you, Hosea."

"Now you keep an eye on Jack. The boy's gonna bore himself to death."

Hosea silenced Isaac before he could protest, the boy just sighed and walked away.

"Jack you still got that checkers board." Isaac knelt next to the boy who immediately got a smile on his face and ran across the room looking for it.

An hour later, Isaac approached Lenny at a table and made small talk.

"Lenny, how about a game of five-finger fillet.", Isaac smiled.

Lenny laughed, "Last time you did that you nearly caused, Arthur a heart Attack!"

"Come on! Live a little, Old man!", Isaac brought a knife.

"I'm 2 months older than you!" Lenny laughed. "Fine, young man."

They played five-finger fillet for a couple minutes before Isaac had to get a first aid kit. Lenny whose head was in the clouds suddenly mentioned Jenny. "Let's bury her before we leave."

"I'll help you, Bury her, I mean." Lenny nodded in thanks. "I wish I could have done more."

Lenny gasped inaudibly. "You practically did the impossible. Bet your bounty is huge now."

Isaac shook his head. "Nah, I could have saved Mac and Sean. Now we don't even know if they're alive."

Lenny sighed. "You picked off those lawmen one by one. If it weren't for you, Arthur and Micah would've been captured. The only bad thing you did, was save that bastard."

"Well thank you kindly, sir.", They both laughed.

Hosea walked up to them. "Boys, you're on guard duty. Get to it."

Isaac sighed and slowly stood up. "C'mon, brother."