May 30th
I've been stuck in camp due to orders from Miss Grimshaw, Dutch, and Hosea to deal with all the injuries I had gotten. While it wasn't bad being stuck in camp but it was weird since I had been on the move so much since joining the gang. John and Bill had taken the job at Sunrise Farm for me and Hosea.
I sighed as I lifted the ax over my head and brought it down on the log, splitting it in two.
Hosea had gone on a hunting trip a week back for a few days with Arthur. Then once he got back he only spent a day at camp before heading back out for any leads on potential jobs, so I didn't have the old man to talk to as I worked.
The bruising had almost completely faded and my lip was still healing nicely, the stitches now long gone.
Unfortunately though Sean had decided that while he was back he could occupy my time with stories of adventures of his.
"Aye, I thought I was a goner fer a minute. But you know how ol' Sean MacGuire is eh," Sean asked taking a swig of beer.
"That I do," I muttered under my breath as I set another log up.
"Sean, can't you see the man is working," Karen asked as she came closer.
Sean nodded enthusiastically, "That I can but who wants to work with nothing but the wind?"
"Me," I answered instantly, the ax swinging down and splitting another log.
Karen snorted and folded her arms while looking between us two, Sean's mouth hung open for a second before morphing into a grin.
"Ah you don't have to lie Drew! You know you love my stories!"
I chuckled and shook my head, "No I really don't."
I set the ax against the base log and stacked the split log with the rest of them before walking over to Pearson's station. I had been able to go hunting and had bagged another doe a few days beforehand and had been waiting on Pearson to finish making me a satchel.
Pearson looked up as he was finishing up chopping up some vegetables, "Mister Booker. I suppose you came for the satchel?"
"I did, was wondering if you were done with it," I asked, scratching my aching. I had grown a small beard within the last two weeks and it had its moments where it itched badly.
"Well I just finished earlier and I gotta say I think I did a damn good job," Pearson asked, reaching under the counter and pulling it out.
It was a deep tan and looked slightly larger than Arthur's with a longer strap. I slipped it on and nodded as it fit at an angle that didn't get in my way.
"How much do I owe you," I asked looking back up to Pearson.
"All I ask is a favor when I need it," Pearson replied as he went back to chopping up vegetables.
I nodded, "Alright, I can do that."
I walked around the chuck wagon to see the O'Driscoll which I had learned was named Kieran Duffy.
"Mister Booker, you got any water," Kieran asked as I approached.
"Look, just because I don't think you're an O'Driscoll doesn't mean we're friends," I replied.
He nodded, "I know mister but please."
I sighed, "Alright hold on."
I walked to the back of the chuck wagon and grabbed a tin cup before filling it up with water from a small bucket.
"Here, hold still," I said, putting the cup to his lips as he greedily gulped it down.
He sighed as he leaned back against the tree, "Thanks mister."
I nodded as I put the cup back where it was and turned to walk away.
"Mister Booker," came a voice with a strange accent from behind.
I turned to see Herr Strauss walking over with his book in hand.
"Something I can do for you, Herr Strauss," I asked, turning around and putting my hands on my hips.
The old man nodded, "Yes Arthur is busy with collecting some debts. I have one here, a mister Thomas Downes. He owns a ranch up near Cumberland Falls. I need you to collect the debt and bring it to camp."
"Have you asked Dutch or Miss Grimshaw if I'm free to go," I asked. I didn't really wanna collect the debt as I knew that typically meant having to beat people to get it.
Strauss nodded, "I did. Dutch has you must take it easy."
I nodded, "Okay. I need a map to get there and how much does he owe?"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars," Strauss said as he pulled a folded up map out of his book and handed it to me.
"It's marked on the map, bring it back to me when you've collected the debt. And make sure not to kill anyone, it's bad for business, " Strauss said before turning and walking off.
I walked over to Quinton and climbed on, "Got places to be bud," I said, patting his neck as we turned to the trail out of camp.
I had a bad feeling about this but there wasn't much that I could do. If I didn't do it then Strauss would just send someone else to do it.
I rode in silence all the way up to the Downes farm.
I sat on Quinton under some trees and watched the place for a while. A man who I assumed was Thomas Downes was toiling in the garden stopping every few minutes to have a coughing fit.
"Must be sick huh bud," I asked, scratching Quinton's neck.
I sighed before climbing down and checking to make sure that my Cattleman was loaded. I didn't want him to suddenly start shooting at me and I be unprepared once he learned I was a debt collector.
They took the debt, they made a choice. You're just doing your job.
I holstered my Cattleman and took a deep breath before walking over to the garden.
"Thomas Downes," I called while walking into the garden.
"Yes that's me," the man answered leaning against the hoe and breathing heavily.
"It's payday."
"Wait, it's not me," Thomas said, fear casting onto his face.
"Downes, I just need the money. You give it to me and nobody gets hurt," I said, poking a finger into his chest.
I saw bring the hoe up and swing, I ducked under and swung at him.
The punch sent him sprawling onto his back.
"Just give me the goddamn money," I said, pulling him to his feet.
He rammed his head forward and hit my nose, I let him go and stumbled back feeling for blood but there was none.
I glared at him before grabbing the straps to his overalls and throwing him into the fence.
"You think I like doing this Downes?! Tell me where the goddamn money is!"
I grabbed him and held him up to the fence, the man gave me a look of both fear and pain before shaking his head.
I let him go and took a few steps back. He fell to the ground and began coughing violently. I needed to compose myself before doing it again.
"Thomas," called a voice from the house.
I turned to see a middle aged woman who I assumed was his wife and a teenage boy around my age that looked like their son.
I turned and looked at the coughing man as the two ran into the garden.
"Listen, I just want the money that YOU owe US," I said pointing between me and the family.
"We don't have it," the wife said with venom.
"Then how the hell are you supposed to pay back the debt," I yelled.
The teenager glared at me as if I was the scum of the Earth.
"We...we'd have to sell the house to pay it back," Thomas said weakly.
"Just get me the money," I said walking away.
I couldn't beat that man again, not as sick as he was. I would come back in a week or so and see if I could get the money then.
I climbed onto Quinton and rode off. Guilt was already hitting me hard for that. I had killed people for God's sake and felt less guilty than I did now. I shook my head and just tried to focus on the scenery as I headed back.
I ignored Javier's greeting as I rode back into camp. I climbed off of Quinton and walked towards the cliff where Strauss normally was.
The older man turned as he heard my approach, "Ah. How'd you get on?"
I shook my head, "Not good. He's half dead already and their barely surviving from what I could tell. I'm thinking about heading up within the next week or so and seeing about collecting at least part of the debt then."
Strauss nodded, "Well we don't always get the debt back but thank you anyway."
I nodded, "Uh huh," I turned and walked away quickly. I could hear yells from Kieran as I walked away. I already regretted telling Strauss that I was thinking about heading back next week.
"Hey John, Andrew, come with us we got a social call needs making," Arthur called as he was walking to his horse.
"What's the job," I asked as I walked over, Kieran was walking with us.
"We're going to take care of the O'Driscoll's once and for all," Arthur answered.
"Is Dutch alright with this," I asked as I climbed onto Quinton and gave him a pat.
"Dutch'll be fine with you doing this job," Arthur answered.
"So where we headin'," I asked.
"Up into the hills behind Valentine," Kieran asked, pointing in the direction.
"John you take this little shit with you, any nonsense, kill'em," Arthur threatened.
"Sure," John replied as he climbed onto Old Boy.
"We're going to pay your buddies our respect," Arthur said with a grin.
"Is he taking us to Colm," John asked as we started for the trail.
"It's what he says," Arthur answered.
"I'm taking you to him, look I'll give you directions when we're on the road," Kieran said his voice trembling slightly.
"I'll lead," John said as we rode onto the road.
"Take a right here," Kieran said.
"Sharing a horse with an O'Driscoll, who'd a thought," John said with a chuckle.
"I already told you, I ain't no O'Driscoll," Kieran retorted.
"Well you sure look like one and...ugh you smell like one too," John said in disgust.
"I smell like horseshit," Kieran replied.
John chuckled, "That's right! Boy are you high!"
We rode along the railroad tracks the forest to our left and plains to our right.
"You alright kid? Thought you'd be happy to take out some O'Driscoll's," Arthur asked.
"I'm fine," I answered curtly.
"Hey, if-if I got my bearings right it's in this direction," Kieran directed, "I know this country take the path through the rocks."
"How you holdin' up John,'' Arthur asked.
"Fine, still ain't right but I'm fine."
"Damn well should be after all that bed rest," Arthur replied.
"Hey alright, Abigail wouldn't let me up. You know her, she won't be reasoned with," John argued.
"Well while you was having your failure of reasoning and hiding behind your woman. We were getting shot at," Arthur said as we rode through the rocks.
"And I'd do the same for you, if you was in a bad way!"
Arthur shrugged, "I hope so. But I fear you don't know how to help anyone 'ceptin yourself."
"You see O'Driscoll? If this is how he treats his friends, imagine how he treats his enemies," John said.
"I got an inkling of what you do to your enemies when you put them gelding tongs to my parts."
"Very funny," John retorted as we came to a three way intersection.
"Now we go left and the road will take us up 'n around," Kieran directed.
We followed the path, following the train tracks for a few minutes.
"Those are the hills, we gotta head up there," Kieran instructed.
"Save your horses, we got a climb boys," John said as we followed the road up.
"You know...you lot ain't that different from the O'Driscoll's," Kieran said.
"What'd you just say," John's reaction was immediate.
"I been watching you all these weeks and…," Kieran trailed off.
"You was tied to a tree, you don't know nothing about this gang!"
"Yeah well I'd say you don't know much about the O'Driscoll's," Kieran defended, "Or maybe I know about you than you know about them and I know all about them so."
"Tell us then, how are we anything like those mongrel dogs," John asked.
"You're outlawed like them, you're out to survive like them, you live rough, you live hard. Fighting the law...nature, you're out for yourselves," Kieran explained.
While Kieran had a point it was a well known point.
"See? This is why your an O'Driscoll, O'Driscoll. Your out to survive, we're out to live! Free! Colm's a sneak thief and a killer. Dutch is...Dutch is more like a teacher," John explained.
"From where I've been you just look the same is all."
"Then you looked but you ain't seen," John retorted.
"John, short that boy up," Arthur instructed.
"Enough out of you," John said jostling Kieran.
"Boys! We're almost of'em. Now, who knows if this son of a bitch is talking true but...if it is how he says it is. We can end years of fighting right here," Arthur explained as we rounded a bend.
"Okay cut left here, we-we ride down the hill into the forest."
"We're gonna go in quietly. Takin'em out as we go, tryin' not to set things off," Arthur instructed, "But if we do? We move quick and hard just like we know how okay?"
"Okay by me," John replied.
I nodded, "Sure thing."
We rode onto a small path.
"Through the trees here."
We rode back onto the main road, "We're real close. I'd leave the horses on the other side of this clearing," Kieran told us.
I pulled my repeater over my shoulder along with my bow and the quiver as we neared the top of the hill.
"Alright cabinet's on the other side of this hill," Kieran said as we came to a stop.
We all climbed off our horses, making sure our weapons were ready.
"Follow me," Kieran said walking up the last bit of the hill.
"We might have shared a horse but that doesn't make us friends. Remember I'm watching you, every moment," John said as we followed him.
"I ain't gonna shop you now. Come on, it'd be suicide," Kieran whispered as we reached the top of the hill.
We all settled into a crouch as we continued forward. A small overhang lay on the other side and we came to a stop on top of it.
"That's it in the clearing down there," Kieran said pointing at the cabin. Wagons, tables, and tents surrounded the outside of it.
"There'll be a bunch of fellers hiding out there too."
"Are these fellers armed," Arthur asked.
"Armed, drunk, wary of strangers. Yep," Kieran answered with a nod.
"What about Colm," I asked looking over the place.
"He'll be in the cabin passed out booze blonde likely as not," Kieran answered.
Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention, three men were walking back to the cabin.
"Over there," I whispered.
John grabbed Kieran and held a hand over his mouth and his gun to Kieran's temple. Arthur put a finger to his lips as we continued to watch.
"I'm gonna drain it. I'll-I'll catch up with you," said the one with an Irish accent stopping in front of a tree.
"No, no. We ain't falling for that trick. We're gonna wait, so you can tell him yourself," another man replied.
"If anyone was gonna shoot the messenger it'd be that sonofabitch," said another.
"What do we do about them," I asked Arthur.
He glanced behind me, "Get a little closer if you have to and shoot the one pissing with your bow while me and John take out the other two."
I nodded and took out an arrow as I slung the bow of my shoulder and notched the arrow.
I slowly walked down the hill getting within thirty feet of the man, hiding only slightly behind a tree. I watched John and Arthur get close to the other two and turned back to the one pissing and pulled back the arrow.
I let all the air out of my lungs before letting the arrow go. It shot forward and pierced into the guy's neck. He fell to the ground, the only sound was his gurgling.
I turned and watched as John and Arthur grabbed the men before stabbing them in the necks with their knives.
I jogged over to them and slowed back into a crouch as we crept closer.
"I left our guide back on the hill. I don't think he'll run," John whispered as we got closer to the camp.
As we got closer I noticed a man sitting on a log a little ways away from the camp.
"Take that feller, quietly Marston," Arthur said as we got closer.
John went a little faster than us to get to the man.
"Get your hands dirty for a change," Arthur muttered.
John stood once he was behind the man and sent several brutal stabs into the man's upper body.
"Jesus," Arthur muttered as we stopped at the log.
"Now what," John asked looking at the camp.
I could hear a few voices talking from the log.
"Spread out, look for anybody on the perimeter. Take them quietly. Once we've done that, let's meet up back here," Arthur said before going left.
I turned and headed right, I heard John right behind me.
A man leaning against a tree came into view as we rounded another tree.
I notched an arrow and pulled it back before letting it go. It struck the man in the chest, he stumbled before looking up only to see a throwing knife plunged into his throat.
"Nice throw," I said as we got closer and I pulled out my arrow.
"Nice shot," John replied, pulling out his knife.
After finding no more O'Driscoll's John and I headed back for the log. Arthur crouched there waiting until we got closer.
"How many did you find," I asked, stopping beside him.
"Three. You two," he asked looking from the camp to us.
"One," I answered.
Arthur nodded, "Alright find you some cover cause we're going in."
Arthur snuck up behind a wagon while John stayed where he was while I went behind a tree.
I spotted an O'Driscoll standing by a fire and talking to another.
I pulled the Litchfield to my shoulder and lined up a shot. I waited for one of two to shoot before I did.
A bang rang out and before the O'Driscoll I was aiming at could react, a bullet into his head sent him to Hell.
"Run and hide if you know what's good for you," Arthur as he continued to fire.
I spot another O'Driscoll running for cover. I sent three quick shots the man's way, the first missed but second got the man in the leg and the third went into the man's chest.
Several bullets hit the tree I was taking cover behind. I ducked and ran behind one of the wagons, bullets followed me as I went.
I laid down on my stomach and crawled under the wagon and aimed at an O'Driscoll that was focusing on one of the other two.
I sent two shots his way, one barely missing his head and the other getting him in the side of the neck.
"Come here you bastard," I heard somebody say before suddenly getting dragged out from under the wagon I dropped the repeater and pulled my Cattleman out before sending two shots into the man's chest.
I sighed and holstered the Cattleman and grabbed my Litchfield before climbing to my feet. I ran around the wagon and looked behind the tents. I ducked back as a bullet whizzed past my head so fast I felt the heat of it.
I sent several shots into the tent and stopped once I heard a grunt. After one or two more shots the camp went silent.
"Kid you alright," Arthur called from the other side of the camp.
"I'm fine," I called back, walking into the middle of the camp.
John and Arthur met me there, "You guys alright," I asked, slinging the Litchfield back over my shoulder.
"I'm fine," John said as he picked up a dead O'Driscoll and looted it's corpse.
"I'm alright. You two keep watch out here, I'm going to take care of Colm," Arthur said as he walked to the cabin.
I walked to a dead O'Driscoll and began feeling for anything valuable. A yell from the cabin sent me running towards it with John right behind.
As we got to the front Kieran sent a bullet into another O'Driscoll.
"You okay," Kieran asked.
"Sure. Thank you," Arthur said before growling and standing up.
"Good job," I said, patting Kieran on the back.
"Come here," Arthur growled at Kieran.
"What," Kieran asked, holstering his gun.
"You set us up, Colm ain't here," Arthur yelled pointing his gun at Kieran.
"No I swear! If-if I was setting you up I wouldn't have saved you," Kieran pointed out.
"He's got a point Arthur," I said, putting my hand on Kieran's shoulder.
Arthur paused before lowering his gun, "Fine. Get out of here."
"Me," Kieran asked.
"I won't kill ya," Arthur said.
"But I didn't set you up?"
"Get lost," Arthur said, shoving Kieran away.
"Get lost?"
"I'm letting you run away! Now go on get outta here," Arthur yelled.
"This is good as killing me," Kieran argued, "Out there...Colm's gonna lose his mind about this."
Arthur scoffed, "So?"
"So I'm one of you now," Kieran said pointing at us.
Arthur sighed before nodding, "Alright fine. But I'm warning you," he said before walking towards the camp.
"So you got the cash then," Kieran asked.
"Cash," Arthur said as the three of us stopped and turned.
"Yeah there's usually some cash," Kieran said excitedly, "In the chimney."
"I'll get it, you three search the place for anything valuable," Arthur said walking into the cabin.
We began searching the bodies and tents for any supplies. I got a lot of bullets along with the occasional ring, earring, or necklace.
"You got it," I asked as I let another O'Driscoll body fall to the ground.
"Mhmm decent haul considering it wasn't even a robbery," he said, handing me several bills I quickly calculated to be around a hundred dollars.
"You three head to camp I'm gonna go sell this wagon," Arthur said as he led a horse that had a harness ready for the wagon back to the camp.
I stuffed the money in my satchel and started back up the hill towards our horses.
"Hey kid! Tell Dutch Kieran ain't worth killing! Just yet," Arthur called.
"Sure thing," I said with a chuckle.
Kieran gave me a nervous look.
"Relax Kieran. Now you can get your own food and water at camp, as long as you do chores of some kind," I said, patting him on the back before climbing onto Quinton.
I reached into the saddlebags and pulled out an oatcake, "Here you go bud."
I clicked him into a canter as I followed John back to camp.
At least I didn't feel as bad as I did earlier.
AN:
This is really just answering questions if you wanna read then do if not it's fine.
TheRealPogger:There may go months in between chapters but I'm not gonna let this story die. That much I can promise you.
Blaze1992: You asked some legitimate questions my guy. I actually had to think about a few of these so kudos to you.
Andrew is a smart guy and knows that complaining isn't going to help anybody. Is he complaining? Most definitely, the only reason you readers don't see it is because most of the time something's going on and he gets distracted.
This honestly is a bit of an oversight on my part. After reading this I face palmed because your right they could make at least a little money with doing this so that might change a few things in future chapters but thanks for bringing that up.
Like before Andrew is a smart guy and simply calling Anthony Foreman out rather than tackling him and potentially causing a deadly fight to break out is the better alternative.
In my mind I do picture Andrew as being a lot like Charles, he enjoys hunting so he can do that for the camp and he can be an extra gun during a job.
I can see why you would think Lenny would react like this but in my mind Lenny is still hesitant about working with a man from a place where his family was slaves. I hope this clears that up!
This is a damn good question and one I've been thinking about this myself since I started writing this fanfic. My best answer I can give you is, who's gonna believe one man? Better than that, how much can one man do? In a simpler way though you could just say he's too caught up with helping the gang than to just try and benefit himself.