AN:I'm on break if I'm feeling like writing you'll get another chapter this week.

May 13th

I yawned as I slowly sat up, my back very loudly complaining. I groaned as I slid out the back of the wagon. It looked like it was somewhere around seven in the morning.

I pulled on my boots and pulled my gun belt on as I grabbed my hat. I walked over to the campfire, Hosea sat at the nearby table reading a book.

"Ah, good morning Andrew," came a jovial deep voice to my left.

I turned to see Dutch standing at the entrance to his tent smoking a cigar, "Morning Dutch."

"Heard you ran into some O'Driscoll's yesterday," Dutch said as he took a drag of the cigar.

I nodded, "Was it that obvious," I asked, hiding a grin as I rubbed beside my mouth.

Dutch chuckled, "I suppose it was yes."

I laughed and shook my head.

"I was going to tell you that I want you to head up to Valentine and see Javier, Charles, and Bill. They're looking around for anything we can use. You fell asleep before I could though," Dutch said, scratching his nose.

I nodded, "Sure thing, pretty sure they were there yesterday too."

I walked over to Pearson's station and grabbed some pieces of deer meat that had been cooked the night before. I took a bite as I walked over to the table in the middle of camp and sat down.

Hosea remained silent as he continued to read, I took another bite of the meat before pulling out my Cattleman and examining it. It was starting to look a little dirty and I would need to clean it soon.

"Gun oil is with the ammunition. Behind Arthur's tent," Hosea said, not looking up from his book.

I finished off the meat and nodded, "Thanks."

I stood up and walked over to the wagon, Arthur still lay asleep snoring quietly. I grabbed a bottle of gun oil and a stick with a rag at the end of it.

"What are you doing," asked a high pitched voice behind me.

I turned to see Jack standing behind me, "'Bout to clean my gun."

"Can I watch," he asked.

I nodded, "Sure. But you're gonna get bored real quick."

Jack frowned, "No I won't," he said, defiance in his voice.

I chuckled, "Alright if you say so."

I sat down across from Hosea once more as I began to clean the gun. Jack took a seat between Hosea and I and watched fascinated at first but he quickly grew bored.

"Do you think I'll ever shoot anybody Andrew," Jack asked nonchalantly.

I saw Hosea glance from his book to Jack and then to me before turning back to his book.

I shrugged, "I can't say for sure, a lot can happen in a lifetime. There'll be times when you have to defend yourself or someone. But hopefully you won't have to," I said, glancing between my Cattleman and Jack as I talked.

Jack nodded before sliding out of his seat, "I'm gonna go play now."

I smiled, "Alright. I might join you later."

Jack smiled and nodded before running off to his and Abigail's tent.

"Do you really think that," Hosea asked looking up from his book.

I paused before shrugging, "I hope so. Like I said though he probably will when he has to defend himself or someone."

Hosea nodded as he turned back to his book, "We need to get out of this life soon. Jack can't keep growing up like this," he said quietly, almost to himself.

I paused and looked at the table as I listened. He wasn't wrong, if Jack stayed in this life he wouldn't last long. I stayed silent before going back to cleaning my gun.

I finished cleaning my Cattleman and slid it back in its holster as I closed the bottle of gun oil back up. I stood up and walked back to Arthur's spot to put the gun oil up, Arthur's cot was empty.

I put the gun oil up and turned towards the cliff to see Tilly standing by herself holding a cup of, more than likely, coffee.

I wonder who that man was yesterday that was harassing her.

I walked over to her, looking up at the sky, seeing a group of dark clouds heading our way.

"Morning Mister Booker," Tilly said as I came to a stop beside her and facing towards the edge of the cliff.

"Morning Miss Tilly," I said, putting my hand on my hip as I looked out.

"Thank you for yesterday," Tilly said, giving me a small smile.

I nodded, "Of course. Was that man somebody you knew?"

Tilly nodded, "I used to run with Anthony Foreman and his gang, until his no good cousin tried to take a pass at me."

"How'd you get out of the gang," I asked, turning more towards her.

"I slit his cousin Malcolm's throat while he slept, and stole one of their horses before heading back to where I was raised. They found me eventually but Dutch took care of them," Tilly said, looking back at Dutch's tent.

"Heaven forbid me ever getting on your bad side," I joked with a grin.

Tilly grinned and laughed, "I don't think you're that type of man, Mister Booker."

"Thankfully for me I'm not," I said with a smile.

Tilly laughed and shook her head before turning back towards the cliff.

"I gotta get going, I got some work I gotta do in Valentine," I said as I turned back towards the camp.

"Bye Andrew," Tilly called.

"Bye Miss Tilly," I replied with a wave.

I walked towards the group of horses, Quinton snorted when he saw me and lightly headbutted me.

"Hey bud," I said rubbing his neck, as I grabbed an oatcake from the saddlebag.

"Here you go," I said, eagerly, he nipped it up.

I grinned and shook my head as I climbed on his back.

"You heading to town, kid," Arthur asked from behind.

I turned to see Arthur on his horse slowly heading towards me.

I nodded, "Yeah. Dutch wanted me to see if Javier, Charles, and Bill found anything yet."

Arthur nodded, "So was I."

"Let's go then," I said, clicking Quinton forward.

"Morgan, Booker. Heading out," Arthur called out as we passed Karen standing guard near the entrance. She gave a wave to signal she heard.

"Do you think they've found anything," I asked as we passed a carriage.

Arthur shrugged, "Javier and Charles might. Bill...probably not. Bill'll more'n likely be drunk out his mind."

I nodded as Valentine came into view. The clouds from earlier were much closer and a lot darker than before. The town was bustling now that it was around midmorning.

"There's their horses," Arthur said, pointing towards Boaz, Taima, and Brown Jack.

We came to a stop in front of the saloon and tied up our horses. Thunder cracked across the sky as we stepped up on the porch of the saloon.

We walked in, and to my surprise the saloon had a lot more people than I thought there would be.

"Oh Arthur! Andrew! Over here," Javier called, obviously having had at least a little to drink.

"Arthur, Andrew. I want you to meet our friends," Javier said, gesturing towards the two prostitutes between him and Charles.

I walked to the other side of Charles and ordered a whiskey.

"Pleased to meet you," Arthur said, nodding to the two women.

"Aren't you just as tough as teak mountain man," said the red head.

"What's wrong with you honey," the dark haired woman asked, walking over to me and leaning against me, "Cat got your tongue," she whispered in my ear.

"I'm just fine," I said, my cheeks feeling hot.

"How much you two cost anyway," Arthur asked.

"That's not a nice way to speak to some ladies."

Arthur scoffed, "Oh I didn't know I was talking to a lady. "

The red head scoffed before walking away, dragging the dark haired woman with her.

Javier sighed, "You sure do have a way with women my friend," he said before knocking back a shot of whiskey.

"I know," Arthur said leaning against the counter while knocking back his own shot, "Where's Bill?"

Javier sighed, "Oh I dread to think about it."

A yell from the entrance caused all four of us to turn. Bill had grabbed onto a man, more than likely just to help him hold himself up.

"Is he going to kiss the man or punch him," Arthur asked.

Bill reared his arm back and sent a punch into the man's chin.

"Ooh and we have our answer," Javier said, grabbing a bottle and smashing it over somebody's head.

Fighting started happening all over the saloon, Charles and Javier charging headfirst into it, while Arthur and I hung back near the counter.

I saw Charles break a chair over someone's back before I was grabbed from behind and pulled into a chokehold.

I struggled and tried pulling the man's arms away from my neck. He had a strong grip and I couldn't budge them.

I reached as far back as I could and grabbed his head before jerking my body forward and flipping him over my shoulder. He let out a gasp of air as he landed, before he could recover I stomped my boot over his head. Not enough to kill him but enough to knock him out...hopefully.

"Let's just shoot the bastards," Bill called.

"Oh come on! We can take these fools," Charles called back.

Heavy breathing and heavy footsteps caused me to start turning towards the stairs only to suddenly get carried into the post in the middle of the room. The air escaped my lungs as I was held up above the ground. A man who was easily twice my size and twice as ugly was holding me up.

One of his huge hands wrapped around my throat and held me up, the other arm reared back and sent a punch into my face. I felt the stitches rip on my lip with the first punch, I felt my nose start bleeding on the second. I was starting to desperately crave air as I saw Javier lift a chair over his head and bring it down on the back of the big man's head.

The man dropped me on my butt as he turned and charged at Javier. I started to cough and I held my throat as I sat slumped against the post.

"Hey, tough guy," I heard Arthur call.

I looked up to see Arthur punch the man on the back of the head.

"You want some too huh," the man asked, turning towards Arthur.

He grabbed Arthur and threw him over a table before walking around and throwing him out the front window. The big man walked out the front door, those in the saloon not knocked out followed him out.

"You alright," Charles asked, blood leaking from a cut on his cheek.

I looked up and slowly nodded, "Yeah," I answered, my voice really hoarse.

"Come on, let's see if Arthur is kicking the big guy's ass," Charles said, pulling me to my feet.

Charles let me go once I was up and able to stand by myself, I slowly followed after holding onto my no doubt bruised ribs.

It was raining outside making it even more muddier than before. Arthur was currently fighting off being smothered in the mud. Javier came out of the saloon and sat down on the steps beside me.

Arthur broke free from the big man's grip and rolled over onto him and began beating his face over and over.

Somebody in the crowd called for Arthur to stop, however he didn't and for that I was glad. If it hadn't been for Javier I had very little doubt the man wouldn't have killed me.

I looked down at the Mexican, "Thanks for saving my ass in there."

Javier nodded, "All the same I wish I hadn't."

I laughed as a man ran forward towards Arthur, "Please sir! You won the fight, surely that's enough?"

Arthur dropped the unconscious man on the ground, "What business is it of yours," he asked.

"No…," the man started to cough, "No business sir…but please…I beg you."

Arthur stumbled to his feet and pushed past the man towards us.

He sat down beside Javier and rubbed his jaw while rotating it.

"Making new friends huh boys," Dutch asked, walking up, a well dressed man behind him.

"You know it. Who's this," I asked, gesturing to the well dressed man.

The man placed a hand on his heart, "I, good sir, am Josiah Trelawney," he said with a bow.

I nodded, "Pleasure. I'm Andrew Booker," I said, holding a hand out. Josiah stepped forward and shook it.

"Bill, Javier, Charles. You three look as well as can be," Josiah said as Bill walked out.

"Though you was headin' to New York," Arthur asked, as Dutch got a closer look at Arthur's face.

"And miss all the glamour? Perish the thought," Josiah said with a wave of the hand.

Arthur chuckled and stood up before heading to a barrel full of water nearby, "How are ya?"

"Quite well. I went to Blackwater looking for you boys, it seems you're not popular there," Josiah remarked.

Dutch snorted, "That's an understatement."

"Left a lot of money there," Arthur said, washing the mud off his face.

"And young Sean it seems."

Dutch turned toward him with a look of disbelief and relief, "Sean? You found him?"

"Indeed I did. He's being held by some bounty hunters...who are trying to see how much money the government is willing to pay them. I know he's in Blackwater right now, but there was talk of them moving," Josiah replied.

Dutch nodded while looking at the ground, "Alright. Charles, Andrew. You two go do some scouting. Find what you can, discreetly. Josiah, take Javier," Dutch said.

"Arthur, go get cleaned up and join them when you're done," Dutch said as Arthur finished washing his head.

"Well, what about me," Bill asked as we started to separate.

Dutch stopped and turned to Bill, "Exactly Bill, what about you?"

"W-what does that mean," Bill asked, confused.

"Ah Bill, come on," Dutch said, clapping Bill on the shoulder and walking towards their horses.

"We'll go later but you need to get your lip check out," Charles said as we climbed onto our horses.

I nodded, my lip was throbbing badly, as we turned towards the road out of town.

"After you get your lip fixed we can head towards Blackwater," Charles said as we rode. Josiah and Javier had split off at an intersection while Dutch and Bill rode further back.

Arthur, I figured, probably was staying in Valentine for the night. Probably to get his clothes clean along with needing a bath.

"Andrew and Charles coming in," Charles called as we rode into the camp.

"I'll be over at the table when you get done," Charles said as he slid off Taima.

I slid off of Quinton and patted his neck before walking off towards the girls' spots.

"Mister Booker," Miss Grimshaw asked.

I turned toward her, a look of disappointment crossed her face.

"I'll get the stuff, take a seat," she said, with a sigh of resignation, as she headed towards the medicine wagon.

I sat down on the back of one of the wagons.

"How'd this happen," Miss Grimshaw asked as she set the needle and string down as she dabbed a rag in alcohol.

"Fight at the saloon," I answered before hissing as she began cleaning my lip.

"Quiet," she reprimanded.

Eventually she deemed it clean enough to start to sew it shut. I groaned and winced in pain as she began to sew my lip.

"This is gonna end up being a scar," she said as she finished up.

"I figured," I mumbled as she backed up.

I stood up and walked to the center of camp. Charles sat at the table with Abigail and Pearson.

"You have a blanket right," Charles asked as I approached.

I nodded as I took a seat, "I thought you were going to play with Jack," Abigail asked.

I rubbed the back of my neck, "I plan on it, I've just got a job to do."

Abigail sighed and nodded, "I'll let Jack know," she said, getting up and walking away.

"You know kid, it seems like every time I see you, you look worse than last time," Uncle remarked.

I scoffed, "I feel worse too."

Uncle chuckled and took a swig of whiskey from the bottle he bought yesterday.

"Come on. It's best we get this done sooner rather than later," Charles said standing up.

"Gotta go again bud," I said, patting Quinton's neck as I climbed back on his back.

"We should get there around sunset," Charles said as we headed back out.

"Which way we headed," I asked as we got to the main road.

Charles turned towards the right, "It'll be faster if we head through Pellis."

Pellis? I don't remember there being a town called Pellis.

We got into a canter for a while as I followed Charles, the two of us were mostly quiet but I was okay with that as I got to marvel at the beauty around me. Also I got to think about who Sean was and what his role was in the story of the game.

As we neared Bard's Crossing, Charles led Taima onto the tracks to cross the Dakota and head into what I assumed was Pellis.

"So this is Pellis," I said as we slowed into a trot as we entered the town.

It looked to be the same size as Valentine or close to it at least. The town split off to our right near the center of the town and had a few more buildings down that street. I counted two saloons, two hotels, two General stores, one doctor's office, a gunsmith, and a sheriff's office.

"It was West Elizabeth's biggest town for a while," Charles explained.

"What happened," I asked as we neared the outskirts.

Charles shrugged, "Blackwater got popular. Easier access to water I guess."

I nodded, it did make sense seeing how high up this town was from water.

We settled into silence once more as we got closer and closer to Blackwater.

I saw the outlines of buildings as we neared the town.

"Follow me," Charles said as he turned off the road.

We rode for another minute or so until we came to a small overhang that overlooked the town. Down in front of the town was a camp with men walking around.

"You think that's it," I asked, looking from the camp to Charles.

He nodded as he climbed off of Taima, "There's no way it isn't," he said as he started to unpack his sleeping bag.

I climbed off of Quinton and did the same, "We'll camp here tonight, meet with Javier and Trelawney tomorrow. Then when Arthur gets here is when we'll do it," Charles explained as he set up his spot to sleep.

I nodded as I finished up my spot, hopefully we could get this Sean back easily. We collected some sticks and brush and built a small fire to illuminate our surroundings.

I hope everything goes well tomorrow.