AN:I might post another chapter depends on how I'm feeling.

May 14th

"-drew. Wake up."

I opened my eyes and groaned as my lip throbbed.

"We got to see how many men they," Charles said as he sat over by the fire.

I sat up and nodded as I rubbed my eyes, "Yeah. You got anything to eat," I asked.

"Yeah. Here," he said holding out a piece of meat as he chewed on some.

I took the mildly warm meat and popped it in my mouth as I got up to stretch. I looked over to see a small tent set up, a small snore coming from inside.

"Josiah and Javier showed up last night after you fell asleep," Charles said between bites.

"Where's Javier," I asked as I walked away from camp to let nature take its course.

"He's in Blackwater, having a look around. Seeing how bad Pinkerton's and bounty hunters are," Charles explained.

I nodded as I walked back, "I was thinking last night about an idea to make sure this Sean is in the camp and see just how many men they got."

Charles raised a brow.

"I'm gonna act like I'm a bounty hunter and I want confirmation that he was captured," I explained.

"Okay, that could work. But what if you trip up somehow and they find out you're not," Charles asked.

"Then that's when you ride in as my knight in shining armor," I answered with a grin.

Charles chuckled and shook his head, "Alright, Unless you manage to say something to piss them off I think you'll be fine plus it can help us know what we're up against."

I nodded and started to pack my blanket back.

After doing so I rode back onto the road and down towards the camp. I could already see several Pinkerton's on the streets of Blackwater from here.

"Who are you," asked a guy standing near the entrance to the men's camp.

I tipped my hat and made my voice slightly gruffier, "Morning. I heard you got one of them Van der Linde boys. Mind if I take a look?"

"What for," asked the man, giving me a suspicious look.

I frowned, "I'm a bounty hunter, wanna see them so I don't have to waste my time chasing them. Plus one of the bastards shot my sister in cold blood. I wanna see them swing."

The man hesitated before nodding, "Let me ask the boss."

I nodded and leaned on the horn of the saddle. I looked in the direction the camp was at and could just vaguely see the outline of a horse and Josiah's tent.

I heard footsteps coming towards me and I turned to see the man from before followed by a man who I assumed was the boss. He looked to be in his mid forties was balding and had a thin mustache and sideburns and was pockmarked.

"Hello mister…," the man said, holding a hand out.

"Luke Harris," I answered, shaking his hand.

"Winston Smith, so you a bounty hunter mister," the man asked.

I nodded, "That I am."

"You look like one, you said one of the Van der Linde boys shot your sister?"

I nodded.

The man nodded, "Alright, weapons stay here though. We need MacGuire alive."

I nodded and pulled my Cattleman out of my holster and swung my rifle off my shoulder before handing them over as I climbed off of Quinton. I tied him to a hitching post before following Smith.

"One of the boys killed my Ma so I know how much you must hate them," Smith said as he led me into the middle of the camp where a man sat with his arms tied behind a post and his legs to another.

I counted over thirty men in the camp as I passed them and that wasn't even counting the ones I could see.

"This is the man," Smith said, stopping beside who I presumed was Sean.

"Ah anot'er one of you dogs coming to feast ya eyes on me huh," the Irish man said with a glare.

"Sean MacGuire, I see your boys left you. All alone, to die," I retorted, hoping to sell it to Smith.

"Stop by where you entered to pick up your guns," Smith said before walking off.

"We'll bust you out soon," I said as soon as Smith was out of earshot.

Sean's eyes widened, "What? The fuck are ya talkin' about now?"

"You ain't dying," I answered before standing up, "I hope the maggots eat you while you're breathing."

I turned towards the entrance and walked away, grabbing my guns on the way out. I climbed onto Quinton and set off for our camp.

"How many men are there," Charles asked as he leaned on his side.

Javier lay beside him on the overhang binoculars to his eyes as he watched the camp.

"Thirty plus, I didn't see all of them," I answered, climbing off of Quinton and walking over.

I laid down between the two and looked at the camp, "Now what do we do?"

"Now," Javier answered, handing the binoculars to Charles, "We wait for Arthur and Trelawney."

I looked back to see the tent had been taken down. I nodded and turned back towards the camp.

It was getting close to lunch as we waited on the two men we needed to show up. A horse could be heard behind us, I turned to see Arthur jump off of his horse and walk over to us before laying down beside Charles.

"Hey, where is that little Irish bastard," Arthur asked.

"Middle of the camp, surrounded by the tents," I answered.

"Anyone been into Blackwater," Arthur asked, "See how things lie."

"Place is crawling with Pinkerton's and bounty hunters. Pictures of Dutch, Hosea, and you," Javier answered.

"We got a lot of money sitting in that town," Arthur remarked.

"That's where it stays, for now," Charles replied handing the binoculars over.

Arthur took the binoculars and took a look at the camp.

"Wonder why they haven't hanged Sean," he muttered.

"Think he's bait," Charles answered, "Or for a public trial."

Footsteps behind us caused us to turn, Trelawney walked towards us crouching.

"Gentlemen, Sean is being moved up the Upper Montana then to a federal prison out west."

"Damn," Arthur muttered as Charles put his head in his hands, "Well we can't be rescuing people from some federal prison. We either rescue him now or…cut'em loose."

Charles turned towards Arthur, "We're not cutting anyone loose."

Arthur nodded, "Course not."

He didn't sound too sure though.

"Ike Skelding's boys are moving him to a camp nearby before handing him over to the government," Josiah explained.

"Then we save him before the transfer right," I asked looking over at Arthur.

Arthur nodded, "Before they get to camp is when we'll get'em," he replied.

He turned and pointed towards the mountains behind us, "Charles, Andrew. You two head up to the northside of the river. That way we got them in both directions."

"Sounds good," I said, nodding as I pushed myself up.

"Let's go," Charles said, standing up and walking towards Taima.

I climbed up on Quinton and followed Charles back the way we had come.

"When we find the group of men is when we can get on the far side, that way they can't have an ambush," Charles explained as we rode along the edge of the cliff until we reached a path and went down it and into the Upper Montana river.

We slowly crossed the river as it got too deep to walk at times and the horses had to swim.

We turned to our left once we crossed and followed the river for a while. Eventually we came to a stop once we got to the opening to a canyon, a few men stood out in front.

"Come on, their camp should be nearby," Charles said as continued forward albeit now in the trees.

We climbed up to the very top of the canyon using a narrow trail and climbed off our horses. A smoke trail across theroad must have been their camp.

"The men should be heading up this way soon," Charles said, pulling out his double-barreled shotgun.

We turned back towards where the canyon started. Three horses stood at the other side of the river.

Charles and I waved, one of the three waved back. The two of us continued towards the canyon.

Gunshots soon flooded all sounds around us, "Come on," Charles yelled running towards the sounds.

I sprinted after him while pulling my Cattleman out. There were several men standing on several overhangs farther up the canyon from Arthur and Javier.

I turned toward one who was closest to me, he was shooting at Arthur and Javier down below and hadn't noticed me yet.

Two quick shots downed the man, one clipping his head and the other hitting him in the neck. One or two men turned towards me and started to fire, causing me to back up from the edge.

A slug from Charles' shotgun ended one of them. I shot at the remaining man only to miss but my second shot rang true, hitting him in the chest.

"Come on there are some more this way," Charles called, running towards where the trail in the canyon rose to the top.

"There you two are," Javier called running up to the same level.

"You guys good," Charles asked.

"Wouldn't go that far," Arthur retorted.

"The camps nearby," I said pointing at the smoke trail before we turned and ran towards the camp.

"Arthur and I got the left, you guys got the right, okay," Javier said.

I nodded, "Sure thing."

"Let's take these hijos de putas," Javier called, firing a few shots.

"Goddamn army of these bastards, how much is Sean's bounty," Arthur called.

"Maybe we should have turned him in ourselves," Charles retorted, blowing a man's head off.

"Still time," Arthur replied.

I ran behind a tree and fired a few shots with my Cattleman, both missed. I quickly holstered my revolver and pulled my repeater off my shoulder before sending a shot into a man's chest, then missing my next shot. I ducked back behind the tree before sending another shot into a guy's head and then another bullet was sent into a man's leg as he was running for cover. I ran behind a pile of logs before sending another bullet into a man's stomach.

"They're running away," Javier called as I looked over the pile to see a few scamper off into the woods.

Arthur walked over towards the tree that Sean was hanging from and shot the rope holding him up.

The four of us closed in on the formerly captured Sean.

"Takes an army of bounty hunters to bring in Sean MacGuire," the Irish man boasted.

Arthur bent down and cut Sean's ropes.

"You know you're a lot less ugly from that other angle Arthur."

"Come on," Arthur retorted, helping him to his feet.

Sean turned towards me, "I remember you! You came into that camp saying how you hope the maggots ate me while I'm breathing. Just who the fook are ya," he asked, getting up into my face.

"Andrew Booker. And he's with us dumbass," Arthur said, dragging Sean back, "Besides he just helped save your neck from a noose."

Sean cooled a bit before smiling and throwing his arms around me, "Aw you ain't so bad then."

Sean backed off before turning to Arthur, "No hug Arthur? I'm a lost brother now found."

Arthur chuckled and shook his head, "You know, nothing means more to me than this gang, the bond we share. It's the most real thing to me, I would kill for it, I would happily die for it. But in spite of all that...I still would have left you to hang if Charles hadn't stopped me."

Sean smiled and chuckled, "I don't believe a word of that."

Arthur sighed and shoved him back the way we came, "Get him out of here."

"You're a great man Arthur Morgan! The kind a young whippersnapper can really admire," Sean replied.

"Shut up," Arthur all but nearly groaned, "We should split up, Andrew, you mind escorting Mister MacGuire back to camp?"

I turned to Arthur with disbelief, "Me?"

Arthur, Charles, and Javier were all grinning.

I slowly nodded feeling like I was being pranked, "Alright. What about you three?"

"We'll scavenge what we can here, we'll meet you back at camp," Arthur replied.

I nodded, "Alright. Come on," I said, gesturing for Sean to follow me.

"So how'd you get with the gang anyway? Must've been while I was a prisoner eh," Sean asked.

"I was freezing to death in an abandoned mining town in the Grizzlies. They saved me, kept me warm, and gave me food. I didn't have anybody to go back to so I decided to stay with them."

"Ah the story of every Van der Linde gang member. They save you, you feel grateful and you end up staying," Sean said with a laugh.

We came upon Quinton eating in a small field full of flowers. I climbed on and helped Sean onto the back of him before setting off in the direction I believed was towards camp.

"So where are we camped now," Sean asked as we rode back onto the road.

"In a place called Horseshoe Overlook, it's near a town called Valentine," I answered as I settled Quinton into a relaxed canter.

"So, what happened to ya lip?"

"Got into two fights in two days."

"Yeah that'll fuck ya face up when it heals," Sean replied.

"I doubt it," I retorted.

"So ya wanna hear how I was captured," Sean asked.

I sighed, "Why not?"

I almost immediately fazed out as Sean began telling how it took over ten men to bring him in. Then how he escaped twice and only was brought back in because he had fallen asleep.

I awoke from my daze as we were on Bard's Crossing.

"I can't wait to see Miss Jones again. Oh what a woman! I'm going to ravish her tonight," Sean said giddily.

"Not something I need to know," I retorted.

Sean laughed, "Come on now! You've fucked a woman before right?"

"Once," I replied.

"Only once? Jesus! Something wrong with ya? Got a small thing down under?"

"What the fuck Sean," I yelled turning to look at the man behind.

The man started to howl with laughter as we turned onto the road that led to the camp.

I grumbled as I sunk my head down and tried to ignore the laughter behind me. The sun's ray's poked through the trees as we neared camp.

"Andrew coming in with Sean," I called as we turned onto the trail to camp.

"Sean," I heard Bill question.

I pulled Quinton to a stop at the hitching post.

"Crack open the beers everyone cause your savior is here," Sean called loudly as he climbed off with me right after him.

I patted Quinton's neck, "You did good, boy."

"Sean," I heard Hosea question.

"Uncle Sean," Jack's could be heard across the camp.

The entire gang it seemed started to swarm towards us as we walked into camp.

Several voices started to talk to Sean, meanwhile said man was basking in the attention.

I felt a hand grab my arm and pull me away from the group, I turned to see Dutch with a smile on his face.

"Thank you. If it hadn't been for you boys...I dread to think about what would have happened if you hadn't saved him," Dutch said, placing a hand on my shoulder, "I'm proud of you."

I smiled, "Thank you Dutch, but it wasn't just me."

Dutch nodded, "I know. But you still helped do it, so you get part of my thanks."

I smiled and nodded, "Alright."

Dutch patted my shoulder before walking back to the group. The group was starting to disperse as they headed for the crates of beer.

Hosea came over, "You'll learn quickly enough how much you're gonna hate him."

"I think I already figured that out," I replied.

Hosea laughed, "Anyway thank you for bringing Sean back."

I nodded before Hosea walked away.

I noticed Missus Adler standing off by herself. She looked awkward and out of place.

I walked over and stopped beside her watching everybody else.

"Missus Adler."

"Mister Booker," she replied, glancing towards me.

"Don't know how to react huh," I asked, crossing my arms.

She shook her head, "I've never met the man."

I nodded, "Neither have I before today. A part of me wishes I had never met him."

A small smile graced across her lips before quickly disappearing.

"Come on, a beer can't hurt right," I asked, gesturing towards the now abandoned crates of beers since everybody had one.

She slowly nodded before following me over, while I didn't like beer I could withstand it if it helped Missus Adler relax.

We each grabbed a beer and cracked them open, I held mine out for a toast.

"To new lives with a family we will always have," I said before she clinked hers against mine.

I took a swig of beer and grimaced as I faced the joyous group of people in front of me.

Sean was recounting how the four of us saved him with a few extra things thrown.

Hosea walked over to Missus Adler and I, a smile on his face.

"Enjoying his story," I asked with a grin.

Hosea laughed his breathy laugh, "Oh yes. Very much, I especially loved the part where he had to save you four."

I chuckled and took a swig of the beer, "I was terrified until I saw Sean coming to my rescue."

Hosea laughed while I heard Missus Adler chuckle.

I saw Arthur, Charles, and Javier ride in. The group letting out cheers as the other three heroes returned.

"I'd best see how Arthur and the others are," Hosea said while patting my shoulder.

"I think I'm gonna go sit at one of the tables," Missus Adler said before walking off and sitting down with Pearson and Uncle.

I raised my beer in salute before turning back to the group.

"'Ey! You ya boy! You didn't tell me ya was only seventeen! You're just a boy," Sean called at me.

"Fuck off," I called back, the group laughing at our banter.

I grinned and took a swig of beer.

"You boys did good," Mary-Beth said walking over to me, "Sean can be...dumb at times but he's still like a brother. We all missed him."

I smiled, "He definitely seems like it. The piece of shit is already on my possible list of people to murder."

Mary-Beth giggled before taking a drink of her beer.

"How's your lip? Heard it got worse in a fight yesterday," Mary-Beth asked with a concerned look.

I shrugged, "Miss Grimshaw said it's gonna scar and besides a dull throb it hasn't hurt me yet."

Mary-Beth nodded in understanding, Karen started to call her over so she excused herself before leaving.

I watched the group start to sing a campfire song I didn't know. I turned towards the edge of the camp at the cliff.

I walked all the way to the edge and sat down, my feet hanging loosely off the side.

"What's wrong Andrew," asked a high pitched voice behind me.

I turned to see Jack standing only a few feet from me.

"Nothing's wrong Jack, I'm just tired. I had a long day today," I answered.

Jack nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! You went with Uncle Arthur, Charles, and Javier to save Sean but then he saved you!"

I chuckled and shook my head, "Yeah. Exactly, Sean saved my butt today."

I faintly heard someone calling Jack's name from camp.

"Come on, I bet your Mama's looking for you," I said standing up and walking with Jack.

"Hey kid. How was the ride back," Arthur asked with a smile as he walked over, a beer in hand.

"I hate you guys. You could have at least warned me," I said as I saw Abigail walking over towards us.

"Thank you," Abigail said as she ruffled Jack's hair.

I nodded, "Sure thing."

I took a swig of my beer, finishing it off, as Arthur finished chuckling to himself.

"Let's get you another beer huh? I need a reason to get drunk and Sean being back is as good as any," Arthur said as he walked to the crates and pulled me another one out.

I was willing to start betting that I was gonna have a hangover in the morning.