The camp was engulfed in a palpable tension after witnessing the discord between Arthur and Hosea with Dutch. The morning was fraught with unease, starkly contrasting to the usual lively atmosphere. The sight of the three gang founders in conflict, especially over the camp's safety, was disconcerting for everyone. The lunchtime meal was a sombre affair, devoid of laughter and story-sharing. Johanna, taken aback by the sudden shift, chose to remain silent. The unexpectedness of the situation left her momentarily speechless, adding to the thick tension in the air, a tension that seemed to hang heavy and suffocating.
With her morning chores completed and the laundry left to dry, Johanna seized the opportunity to indulge in her favourite pastime-reading. She retrieved her book from her tent and set off towards the cliff edge, a serene spot she often sought for her reading sessions. However, her plans were interrupted when she spotted Javier. He was seated at a small table behind Ms Grimshaw's tent, facing the river and cliff edge. She couldn't see what he was doing with his back to her, but her curiosity was piqued. Stepping around carefully, Johanna noticed his head was down, and brows furrowed as Javier was busy cleaning his revolver, the gun in pieces as he scrubbed and polished. Her curiosity about Javier's actions added an element of intrigue to the scene.
"Good afternoon, Javier." She greeted him, smiling when he jumped; her presence and voice startled him. He cursed in Spanish under his breath, quickly picking up the pieces of his weapon that he'd dropped onto the table. "Sorry." She stated, lips pursing together in a slight smirk.
"Hola," Javier greeted her. His face was shy as he gazed up at her. The sun easing into the West illuminated her strawberry-red hair, gleaming like gold. "You…uh…planning to read?" he asked, nodding towards the book in her hands.
Johanna smiled, her eyes flicking down to the novel. "Yes," She looked back up, meeting his eyes. "The laundry is drying, and Pearson's doesn't need me yet." The silence that followed her words was thick and awkward, and Javier nodded nervously. His heart raced in her presence, and he struggled to find the right words, afraid of offending Johanna as he had done before. His gaze dropped, trying to focus on finishing the maintenance of his gun, dabbing at the inner mechanics with a cloth soaked in gun oil. "Why are you doing that?" Johanna asked, her eyes squinting down, watching his hands work. Without asking or being invited, Johanna gripped the back of the spare chair at the table, sitting on Javier's right, her back facing the cliff. The seat left only the back view of Ms Grimshaw's white and blue striped tent in front of her, giving Javier her full attention.
"Keep it working," Javier spoke, feeling himself tense as Johanna sat next to him. He explained further that routine maintenance and cleaning kept the revolver functioning, as the last thing someone needed was for their gun to jam up in a shootout. Johanna blinked. She didn't understand guns and couldn't even tell the difference between a rifle and a revolver, but if it gave him a fighting chance, she understood his need to take the gun apart and clean it, needing every piece working at the utmost precision. She watched him for a bit longer, Javier's keen eyes inspecting every inch of the disassembled revolver, making sure no spots were missed.
Johanna smiled. She liked how dedicated and precise he was with the gun. It meant he had a level of care for his safety and the safety of others. Opening her novel, she turned to the page she'd marked with a leaf, reading quietly to herself.
"I thought you promised to read to me."
Her eyes lifted, and she looked at Javier. His gaze was still downturned, focused on his gun. She pursed her lips. "I did." She muttered, eyes narrowing as she studied him. He was barely paying her attention now, but she knew better. There were subtle movements to his hands, his jaw rolling and heavy inhales of breaths through his nose. He wanted her attention. His interest in her meant he craved it. It was why he had always picked fights with her and teased her upon first meeting her—anything to have her focus on him and only him. Shifting through the pages of her book to chapter one, Johanna cleared her throat. "Chapter One: Discourses of Raphael Hythloday, of the Best State of a Commonwealth." The title was long, causing Javier's brows to furrow. Still, he didn't interrupt Johanna, listening to the woman speak slowly, making it easier for him to understand what she was saying.
She didn't even get to finish reading the first chapter when Arthur approached, calling out to the pair. He seemed calmer after the morning's events, yet there was still a tenseness to his shoulders, making Javier and Johanna's eyes narrow. "Arthur," Johanna spoke, nodding in the man's direction as he came to stand over the table. "Is there something you need?" She asked, folding the corner of the page she was on before closing the book.
"Not from you," Arthur rasped, shifting his gaze from the redhead to Javier. "Lenny said you had something for me?"
Finishing putting his gun back together, Javier leaned forward on the table, looking up at his companion. "I heard about a house. Could be interesting." He gestured his head to the side, acknowledging the thought. Johanna rested her novel on the table, her green eyes flicking between the two men as they spoke.
Arthur shrugged with his shoulders, his hands resting on his belt buckle. "What kind of a house?" He questioned, needing more information on whether the house posed as a possible gig.
Javier scoffed. "I don't know." Moving to stand, he recorded his gun with the right main hand before gesturing off in the direction of Valentine. "Couple of fellers I heard in town, they said…said it was really freakish. Family local bogeymen, I guess…But they're crooked in every way." He explained, leaning on the table. This was a slight smirk on his lips towards the end, hinting that he was intrigued by what he and Arthur stumble upon at the house. One thing was sure: if the locals at Valentine were weary of this property, they would need to go in prepared for a fight.
"So?" Arthur responded blankly, making Javier look annoyed at him. Sitting between the two standing men, Johanna's lips thinned as she tried not to snort. She was reminded that Arthur needed convincing to rob the train, and she wondered if the older male was dense or just overly cautious.
"So, these boys thought they was sitting on a lot of cash. They're highway robbers, kidnappers, apparently…They're well hidden in the woods." Javier spoke, the grin returning to his lips. Arthur nodded as he listened to his friend speak. It wasn't much to go off, especially if it was just some rumours being passed around by drunks at the local saloon.
"Sounds pretty dubious," Arthur responded, his tone hinting that he was now messing with Javier, which went over the Mexican's head.
"Of course, it's dubious—" Javier retorted, his pronunciation of 'dubious' making Johanna snort. Both men looked down at the woman, watching her hand fly up towards her mouth, covering her lips and trying to silence the slight chuckle. She waved them off with her free hand, but they continued to eye her off, sharing a brief look of confusion.
"Something to share, Ms Lynn?" Arthur asked, arching a brow at her. He leaned down low, meeting her eyes, but she glanced away. He could see the twinkle in her emerald eyes. She was finding something about the men's conversation hilarious. "Really? 'Cause you seem to be laughing." He exclaimed, flicking his eyes up at Javier. The Mexican was staring at Johanna, a hint of red on his cheeks, which made Arthur smirk when he noticed.
"It is nothing of concern," Johanna answered, her hand dropping from her mouth. She was smiling. Her answer wasn't enough for Arthur, who continued leering at Johanna, waiting for her to blurt out the truth he desired from her lips. When he hadn't pulled away for a few more seconds, Johanna rolled her eyes, looking at Arthur. "The way Javier said 'dubious'," She smirked, watching Javier shift in the corner of her vision, making him slightly uncomfortable as he was self-conscious of his English. "It was rather adorable." The answer made Arthur's lips twitch, the large man fighting off a snicker. He looked to Javier, whose face had vastly reddened at the woman's statement, who was looking away from them, focusing on anything else but what was taking place before him.
"The house!" Javier barked, trying to change the subject. "Shall we?!" He stomped off, heading off towards the horses. Arthur snickered finally, enjoying that Johanna had broken the Mexican's stoic exterior, turning him into an embarrassed mess. Standing up, Arthur sent Johanna a wink, thanking her for a laugh before heading after Javier. The two mounted their horses, and Arthur waited for Javier to take the lead. "It's up north, on the other side of the river from Valentine. Best way there is through Cumberland Falls, though. You know it?" Javier spoke roughly, not looking at Arthur, which was for the best, as his actions were still causing Arthur to snicker.
"Sure, more or less," Arthur responded, his eyes trained on Javier. They didn't speak as they rode out of the camp, Arthur trailing behind Javier. Javier had already taken the initiative to check out the property from a distance, never risking getting too close for fear of getting caught. Javier knew someone of his heritage wouldn't be well received if captured. Five years in America had taught him through firsthand experience how racist the country was, even after the Civil War, which was meant to end slavery and racism that non-whites faced, but it didn't. There was no racism back home in Mexico, only classism.
"Okay, we're pretty close now. Let's stop and go on foot from here." Javier spoke, bringing his horse to a halt, dismounting and leaving his horse to wander by the side of the side. Leaving the horses nearby unhitched was best if he and Arthur needed to get away quickly. "Just up the hill this way. Follow me."
"Javier. Wait up." Arthur called out to the man as he started to trek up the hill that would give them a view of the house in the distance. Javier paused, turning to face Arthur while the older man busily dismounted his horse. Javier didn't speak; his lips thinned together, and he waited for Arthur to speak. He knew what conversation was coming. "You and Johanna—" Arthur started, only to make Javier groan. "Now, now." He raised his hands, trying to calm his friend down. "Just curious as to when you started courtin' the girl."
"Courting?!" Javier questioned, his eyes widening.
Arthur nodded. "Yeah. You two were looking awfully cozy when she read to you."
"She offered to read her book to me," Javier excused. "And what has that got to do with courting?" He was generally confused, unsure if reading was some American custom he hadn't been exposed to. Javier had seen couples out and about, walking in pairs down the roads in towns, talking away, or even having picnics in local parks.
"Johanna offered? Didn't think she'd be so bold." Arthur spoke, shocked that a woman in their day and age would act against society's norms. Women had no say when it came to marriage and courting, relying on their parent's approval for marriage and for the man to choose them. Marrying for love was rare. Arthur knew that. In his younger days, he found himself in love with a woman well above his station, a woman who was willing to elope with him after her father had turned down Arthur's proposal for marriage; the only thing she asked was for Arthur to leave the life of crime behind for her. Arthur rubbed at his jaw. "A man and woman reading together is what couples do when sparking."
Javier stuttered, finally understanding Arthur's point of view. The idea of Johanna trying to court him had surprised him. He'd only ever had one woman he'd actively courted, the local girl from his village with whom he'd grown up. Had it not been for that stupid officer who tried to force himself on her, Javier would have still been in Mexico and had eventually married her. Since coming to America, Javier hadn't tried courting anyone else, only spending time with prostitutes when he felt a need, much like everyone else in the gang.
"You got to take charge," Arthur rasped, stepping forward and smacking Javier on the arm, pulling the man from his stupor. "Be the man in the relationship! Women love commanding and assertive men."
The advice had Javier's brows furrowing. From what he'd seen, Johanna wasn't the type to be commanded, always speaking her mind and just walking ahead, almost blind to the reason of others. But simultaneously, a woman was expected to follow and serve her husband. This was true for both Mexicans and Americans. Javier nodded. "Be commanding…" He repeated the words, Arthur cheering him on with a 'yeah' and another firm smack to his arm. Javier straightened his back, standing tall and letting an air of confidence overtake him. He had been too shy around Johanna lately, which needed to change.
"That's it, Javier!" Arthur smiled, stepping back and nodding approvingly. "Johanna won't be able to resist you now!"
Javier smiled in response. Remember the task at hand, he jerked his head back up the hill behind him. "Come on, there's a spot up ahead where we should be able to get a good look at the place. I want to make sure we don't run into any surprises." Javier led them up the steep hill, stepping over loose rocks and fallen branches. "Apparently, this family's been so isolated for so long they've started talking in their weird dialect. They really don't like outsiders, especially on their turf."
Arthur glanced at the back of Javier's skull, a single brow raised. "You just keep selling me on this job, don't you?" He rasped, shaking his head in disbelief. It was common for some families in the South to be…inbred…but it was a rather distasteful thought. A man bedding his sister to the point of children being born was gross, and those children were known to be 'not right'. Arthur thought these inbred families also tended to be more aggressive because of their low intelligence. Reaching the top of the hill and resting by the base of a cliff, both men scrunched down, keeping low. Arthur cleared his throat and reached down into the pouch at his left side, grabbing his binoculars and focused on the property in the distance, barely visible through the dense pine trees.
"Big place, right?" Javier whispered, rubbing at his jaw with a lone finger. It was wise for them to stay low and quiet, even at this far of a distance.
"Pretty big barn in the back. Not a bad place to start looking. There must be a lot of people living here…large house. The stash could be in any one of them buildings, and who knows how many people are in there. I aren't sure about this…" Arthur whispered back, putting his binoculars away.
"I…I think we need to draw them out somehow," Javier raised himself but stayed low, creeping past Arthur. "But I got an idea. Follow me." Arthur held his tongue and followed after the man, believing that Javier knew what he was doing. Compared to some others at the camp, Javier was one of the more cunning of the gang. They stayed low as they approached the property fence, hiding behind bushes and trees. Javier had commented on how dense the forest was, preventing him from seeing the place on his previous visit. Arthur had responded that it would make them harder to spot them, too. Javier liked that. "I hear voices," Javier whispered just as they passed an outhouse on the corner of the property, hiding behind a hedge of shrubs. "Come on, let's hide behind this shed. See if we can hear what they're saying." Sneaking forward, they hoped the old rotting fence that circled the property, using a small shed as coverage.
Peaking over the half-wall of the shed, Arthur practically eyed the three men, more so boys, as they each appeared to be in their late teens. Javier couldn't understand what they were saying, but Arthur could make out some of the conversation. The boys seemed to be arguing that much was clear, but what Arthur couldn't say. Each boy flinched when an older male appeared—the father. The older man quickly yelled at the boys, barking orders at one son in particular while pointing at the shed, and the young man promptly followed as directed.
"You understand what they're saying?" Javier whispered, looking at Arthur for guidance, hoping that the man had understood something that could help them.
Arthur scoffed."Not much of it. What we doing, Javier?" He looked at Javier from the corner of his eye, focusing on the four males. Two were standing not far from the shed, and the boy who'd been ordered away by the barn whilst the father was walking away. There was also the question of 'Edie', a daughter or mother around somewhere. That meant at least five individuals to worry about.
"Okay," Javier licked his lips, spotting a boulder off to the side of the shed, closer to the main house. "You take cover by the rock over there. I'll create a little distraction, then you jump 'em, okay?" He had an idea in his head, one that had him smirking. Arthur had a question about what kind of distraction, and Javier had to bite his lip to refrain from chuckling. "You'll see." He whispered, his eyes focused on Arthur as he slipped away to the desired spot.
Javier waited until Arthur hid behind the boulder and had his revolver ready. He took a moment to peek around the shed, ensuring the coast was clear, before fiddling with his pockets. He pulled out a single match stitch, flicking it along the side of his boot and tossed it into the shed, the small flame burning into the hay and quickly spreading. Javier jumped the fence, not wasting a second, and took cover behind the outhouse, listening as the two sons standing not too far away were alerted to the smoke and fire. A third unknown man had come running out of the house close to Arthur. Six individuals.
Spinning from his position behind the outhouse, his revolver raised, Javier pointed toward the three men. "¡Aquí, tontos!" He yelled, dragging their attention from the fire to himself. He fired a single shot, landing a blow to one man's shoulder and sending him flying backwards. His brothers scattered, racing for cover while reaching for the guns at the hips, yelling out to the rest of their kin. "Now, Arthur, let's take 'em out quick. The rest will be on their way." Javier yelled, jumping the fence and moving back onto the property. Arthur stood, coming out of cover behind the rock and running to the house, peering around the corner to spot the rest of the family.
Ducking behind anything that acted as suitable cover as the sounds of gunfire echoed in the open land of the property, Arthur and Javier did their utmost best not to get shot at by rifles and revolvers wielded by an inbred and backwards crazy family of southern hicks. As the fight took off, Arthur finally spotted the one called Edie, the family's only female. The daughter was residing in the barn loft, taking potshots off at the invaders with a rifle, screaming at them in the family's unknown language. Arthur hissed when a shot came close to his head, taking out the corner of the house and spraying debris. Javier had called out to him when he'd heard Arthur yell out in response to the close call, but Arthur waved him off. They needed to focus on clearing out the last five of this cursed family.
With renewed vigour and aggression pulsing through his system, Arthur stepped out from his cover of the house, taking well-aimed shots at the two other sons that stood in their way, hitting them in the chest, shoulder and neck. Arthur didn't bat an eye as they fell backwards, his gaze flicking to the father to his right, immediately being taken out by a shot from Javier. There were the screams of Edie and the final son when the two siblings realised they were the only ones left. Arthur beamed at their despair. He wanted them to suffer after jerking him and Javier around, wanting them to die fast. The faster they got the stash, the faster they could return to camp. Another shot and the final son fell, his body collapsing into a pile of hay.
After a few more minutes of gunfire, Javier had laid the final shot into Edie, the young woman falling face-first out of the loft window and into the ground below, her body landing in front of the barn doors. "I don't see any more of them." Javier breathed, finally catching his breath and letting his racing heart return to normal, yet he remained on guard, not putting away his revolver. "Alright, quick, let's look for the stash."
Arthur took a deep breath, taking a final glance around the property, ensuring none of the deranged family were hiding and waiting to pop out. "They weren't shy about defending that barn. Let's check in there first." He advised, nodding toward the large barn at the back of the land. Racing over and stepping over Edie's body, Arthur kicked the doors in, expecting them to be braced to keep someone out. The small space was practically empty, storing hay and firewood. The pair glanced around, not spotting anything that could be hiding a stash of loot.
"Has to be under here," Javier spoke, pointing at a pile of empty wooden crates stored randomly in an empty floor space rather than forced up against a wall, taking up real estate in the barn. "There's no place else they could store it. Hey Arthur…give me a hand here." While working together, Arthur and Javier pushed the crates back, exposing a small rectangular hole and a lock box.
"Ah, well…look what we have here." Arthur chuckled, kneeling to flick it open. He was glad it was unlocked and that he wouldn't have to break a lock. He didn't like locks; it was why Lenny was handy to have around.
Javier whistled at the sight of two neat piles of cash. "I told you it was worth the trouble, didn't I?" He knelt beside Arthur, the more prominent male already picking up the two piles and handing one to Javier while pocketing his own into the pouch on his left hip.
"Here…you take this. Let's split up. I'll meet you back at camp." Arthur rasped, a cheerful tone on his lips after the disaster of a morning that had left him grumpy. "Maybe stop at Valentine on your way and get something nice for Johanna."
Javier stood but paused, his eyes scanning Arthur and the cash in his hand. Typically, they would be expected to donate it all to the camp funds to be shared among the gang, but if Arthur was advising him to buy Johanna a gift, it might be a good idea. If the redhead had made the first move to court him, it was only fair that Javier reciprocates and gift her something to show that he shared her feelings."Like what?" He asked with furrowed brows. While Johanna had lost all her belongings when the stagecoach was attacked, Javier didn't know what she'd lost that she'd want replaced. It wasn't like he could buy her a new dress; it was too forward, and she didn't have time to make one if he got her the fabric.
"I don't know. A hat or shawl? Maybe some fancy brooch? Something pretty that women like." Arthur shrugged, standing up at his full height.
Javier nodded. On the ride to Valentine, he would think of something and see what items the General Store had to offer. There wouldn't be anything of interest for her at the gunship. "Sounds good." He muttered, heading out of the barn, wondering what novelty he could purchase that would spark Johanna's interest.
Javier had been staring at Johanna since returning to camp. He had taken up his usual spot by the fire and the tent he shared with the others, giving him a perfect view of Pearson's caravan and watching Johanna move around as she cleaned up from dinner. He only lost sight of her when she'd moved around the back of the caravan to wash the dishes and the cooking pot. Javier scratched at his chin. He hadn't found anything at the General store, only the standard knick-knacks and living commodities one needed, like soap, hair brushes, or canned food.
"You doing alright, Javier?" Arthur drawled, plopping down next to the Mexican man on a log rolled over by the fire. Before Javier could answer the question, Arthur followed his friend's gaze, his eyes landing on Johanna. She was carrying the freshly scrubbed and dried cooking pot over to one of the worktables in the small makeshift kitchen and heaving it onto the wooden surface, almost straining at the weight. "Ah! Johanna!" Arthur chuckled. "Find anything good in town?"
Javier shook his head. "No. Nothing good." He answered. Had they been in Blackwater instead of a small town like Valentine, there would have been more opportunities to find the perfect gift for the man.
"So? Got an idea?" Arthur asked. When Javier shrugged in response, Arthur sighed. "Hold on…" He rasped. Standing up, Arthur walked over to one of the whisky crates nearby, grabbed two bottles, and returned to the campfire, offering a bottle to Javier. The Mexican took it, thanking Arthur with a small 'Gracias'. They both drank silently, staring ahead and watching Johanna continue preparing for the morning by moving some firewood to the cooking station and organising the ingredients for tomorrow's porridge. She was always trying to do something different each day, creating a variety of tastes for the gang so that they wouldn't grow bored of porridge. Before Johanna, the gang had long since grown sick of simple porridge and the other bland meals that Pearson would cook up. Johanna had been a godsend on the gang's tastebuds.
"What's the point of this?" Javier eventually asked, holding up the whisky bottle to Arthur.
"Ya overthinking," Arthur stated. "You need to clear ya head." The response had Javier blinking in confusion. Alcohol more so clouded one's mind than cleared it, but it did do well to distract one's thoughts, and Javier needed that right now. He needed to stop overthinking. It wasn't good for him to do so. Johanna was just a woman at the end of the day, and he was a man. Nodding, Javier slammed back the rest of the whisky, letting the alcohol burn his throat. Tossing aside the empty bottle, Arthur cheered him on. The two men quickly fell into blissful drunkenness, downing bottle after bottle of whisky until their speech was slurred and their actions clumsy. They laughed at almost anything they had managed to speak, with Lenny, Uncle and Sean joining them as Charles and John slept and Bill was on the night-time watch. During a celebration, the rest of the gang would generally drink and party with them, but tonight was more about getting drunk because they could.
It was usual for the men to fall into such a drunken stupor, with Karen even joining in, sitting on Sean's lap and cheering on the men, encouraging them to engage in drinking contests. As the night went on, Lenny had been the first to retire for the night, stumbling into the tent. Sean and Karen wandered off, the pair seeking privacy to no doubt engage in some adult fun out of the eyesight of others, their relationship not being a secret among the camp.
When only Javier and Arthur had left around the fire late into the night, and the moon was high above them, Arthur pulled Javier in close, his arm around the smaller male's shoulders. "Ya know what ya should do…?" Arthur drawled, gazing at Johanna's tent, the canvas noticeable under the moonlight.
"What?" Javier asked dumbly, following Arthur's gaze. He smiled at the sight of the tent, picturing Johanna inside. She would be asleep by now, lying on her sleeping palette in only her chemise. Javier grinned more expansive at the thought of the woman wearing a thin cotton underdress.
"Go get 'er," Arthur spoke. He stood shakily, dragging Javier up with him and pushing him forward.
The words of advice had soaked into Javier alcohol alcohol-addled brain and lured him forward. There were no thoughts of reason in his mind stopping him from following the advice of a man who was just as drunk as he was, as Javier was being led by his desire for the woman who lay within the tent just out of reach. His steps were faulted, almost tripping over his own feet as he drew closer to the cream canvas. Peering back over his shoulder, Javier squinted, spotting Arthur's body collapsed by the fire, having reached his limit, but Javier was soldiering on, needing to reach Johanna. At the tent's entrance, Javier lifted the flap and stepped inside, pausing as he caught sight of Johanna. She was awake, sitting up with her book in her hands and the low light of a lantern to illuminate the pages. Her eyes flicked up when she heard the fabric move, her eyes widening as she spotted Javier.
"Javier!" She gasped, tossing her book aside and reaching for a rough cotton blanket to cover her form. Her cheeks reddened. "What are you doing here?" Johanna hissed, her eyes narrowing at him. She curled her knees up against her as Javier slumped in, the flap falling back into place behind him.
"To see you." He smiled, flopping down onto the sleeping palette beside her. Johanna eyed him in bewilderment. She couldn't think of a good reason for him to come into her tent at night while she was only dressed in a chemise, and from his facial expression, there was something off with him. And then it clicked. The man was intoxicated. When he leaned closer into her, ignoring the woman's need for personal space and the social etiquette expected of young unmarried individuals, Johanna used a single hand to push back against his shoulder.
"This is greatly improper." Johanna reasoned. Everything about the situation had her heart racing. She was damn near naked, and he was with her alone. She knew that if anyone were to discover them at this very moment, rumours would circulate, and Johanna's virtue would be questioned. There had been many stories she'd overheard from her mother's girls, talking about how when unmarried women were caught in indecent situations with men, whether or not they had engaged in coitus, women would always be judged, deemed as sinful and tainted, unworthy of being married into a good family. "And you're clearly drunk," Johanna said, her brows knotting together.
Javier chuckled, continuing to lean in despite her attempts to halt him. He couldn't thoroughly think of her words, only admiring how beautiful she looked under the flicking light of the lamp hanging from the tent's ceiling. He'd never had the opportunity to be so close to inspect her face before, taking in the shape of her facial features, so soft and delicate. "Beautiful…" He breathed, freezing her in place. Johanna locked up, her eyes widening again and her lips parting gently.
"Javier!" Johanna barked, pulling herself together. She shoved at his shoulder hard, panicking to create space between them. Johanna was trying not to be too loud, fearing attracting the gang's attention. She needed to get him to leave, preferably without anyone noticing. It was late, the moon high in the sky; therefore, most would be asleep except for Will, who was on watch at the camp's entrance, far from Johanna's tent.
"I love you." Javier smiled stupidly. The grin was lopsided, one corner higher than the other, and some teeth showed. To Johanna, he looked loopy, out of it, yet she knew that in his drunken state, he was only speaking the truth, the very truth Hosea had already told her. Only Elizabeth, her mother, had ever said that she loved Johanna, and to hear those words being said to her from another was strange. Javier had leaned in, his lips rough and capped upon meeting hers. Johanna flinched, trying to move away, but he was swift, one arm slipping around her middle and pulling her in with only her hand still on his shoulder, keeping them somewhat separated. With his free hand, Javier plucked his bowler hat from his head, tossed it aside, and leaned in further, deepening the kiss.
Johanna didn't know how Javier could love her; they hadn't even known each other for a month and were still strangers. She didn't want the connections she built with the Van Der Linde gang. She didn't want one of them caring for her to the point of love. She was their enemy, a traitor in their midst. The blood of the man they hated. An O'Driscoll. She sat there, not fighting back against Javier, letting him have his moment of bliss. It would be ripped from him when he discovered the truth, the memory becoming sour in his mouth, the kiss losing all sweetness.
It hadn't taken long for Javier to press Johanna down into the sleeping palette, his kiss increasing in fever as Johanna didn't fight back, yet as she felt his need for her growing, she locked up again, trying to shove forcefully at his shoulder while holding tight onto the blanket hiding her form, a barrier keeping their bodies apart. Yet, being the innocent maid she was, Johanna didn't know the need coursing through Javier's veins, how a simple taste of her drove his craze to new heights. Javier's movement hastened, pulling his cravat free of his throat and his fingers plucking at the buttons of his blue waistcoat.
"Javier!" Johanna gasped against his lips, her fear heightening as she caught sight of him beginning to disrobe, but the act of her opening her mouth even the slightest was enough cause for him, his tongue slipping through and making her squeal in shock. She pushed harder against his body, but the dead weight of him was too much. Johanna was panicking beneath him, her mind reeling about ways to stop him, to shove him away and halt him from taking this indecent act any further, and the feeling increased tenfold when she heard the jingle of metal—his belt buckle.
Javier was crushing her into the bed palette, his lips rough and tongue invading, making her squirm and paw at his chest, her fingers brushing against his bare chest and fine chest hair. In his drunk haze, her action spurred him on, thinking that Johanna's movements were her clinging to him. He groaned, his arousal peaking and the need to unfasten his pants growing, shifting above her, fiddling with the opening of his jeans and shoving them down his hips just enough to free himself from the confines of the stiff material. Finally, breaking the kiss, Javier gazed down at Johanna lovingly, that dopey grin back on his face. "Mi amor, te quier," He breathed, one hand moving down the side of Johanna's body, grabbing at the cotton blanket and hem of her chemise.
Johanna squirmed, jolting beneath him when she felt the cold air hit her thigh, catching on to what Javier was planning. "Javier…" She trembled, reaching down to stop his hand. The blood raced in her heart, making her pant and head throb. It was all too much. Javier mumbled something, his head dipping low, his tongue tracing against her neck and making Johanna tremble. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for what came next, but nothing did. Johanna felt Javier slump against her, his body unmoving. Open her eyes and shifting her body, she gasped when she noticed he'd fallen asleep.
"Oh, thank God…" She breathed. Using all of her strength, and with the bonus that she no longer had to fight against him, Johanna shoved Javier off of her, his body rolling onto the bed beside her. Johanna yelped. Closing her eyes and turning away, her face flush red, she tossed the blanket from her body to Javier's, covering his shame. Slowly, she opened her eyes and, turning back to him, Johanna peeked down at him, somewhat at ease that she could no longer see his lob, yet there was the apparent bulge to the blanket where his shaft hid. "Jesus Christ…" Johanna cursed, groaning into her hands and brushing her hair back. She didn't have a clue on what to do. She could not wander the camp and get someone to help drag Javier away. It would bring too much attention to her, and then the rumours would start that she and Javier were indeed coupling in private. Johanna groaned again. Turning her head, she stared at his face, observing how easily he slept and how peaceful he looked. "Lunk…" Johanna hissed, glaring at him. Settling on just sleeping, Johanna rolled over, her back to the man as she decided to rest and worry about it in the morning.