Chapter Four: Those Goddamned O'Driscolls
Eating their rice bowls, Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, and Shippo all watched as Arthur sat at the end of his bed writing in some diary of some sorts whilst whispering to himself.
"I'd almost forgotten how good modern restaurant food was," Kagome smiled, "After so many years, it's really satisfying."
"We have been running for weeks," Arthur said to himself, "We found shelter and been resting here at some abandoned mining town while we wait the thaw. Hardly the spring I had been hoping for…"
With that, Arthur rose to his feet as he walked towards the fireplace in the abandoned building where Dutch and Hosea were talking.
"So what now, Dutch?" Hosea asked.
"We get strong, we get warm, and we wait," Dutch answered as Arthur approached, "When the storm breaks, we move. But we're safe here. Warm enough."
"I guess…" Hosea said.
"You sound doubtful," Dutch said.
"Not doubtful. Just worried…"
"We've been shot at before, Hosea. I don't feel like this is honestly anything new."
"I hope not."
"We had a bit of bad luck, but that storm covered our tracks, so now we wait a bit, and we go back to Blackwater and get our money, or we get some more money and keep heading on west."
"But we're heading east."
"For now. For now…" Dutch nodded, "We've got this. We're safe. Stay strong, Hosea."
Arthur began inspecting shelves and drawers finding oatcakes, tonics, and other supplies. Knowing his cold and tired friends probably weren't much for conversation, Arthur made his way outside to check on the ladies. The icy snowy winds were still beating down mercilessly on the little makeshift camp, he talked with them all including that widow woman, Sadie Adler.
"Ma'am," He began, "That horse we took from your barn…obviously, we'll…we'll give him back."
"That was one of theirs," She shivered and answered bitterly, "Kill the damn thing for all I care…"
"Oh, okay…" Arthur answered with a slight smirk. The horse was a big fella in pretty good shape. Free horses were always welcomed, "Well, you try and stay strong, okay?"
"Whatever," She hissed.
"Okay, see ya," Arthur nodded turning to see Abigail tending to John's injured face, but thinking better than to talk to him as he went back outside to see a big hairy man standing outside a building for some reason. He had to see what was up. He said good morning to him and went in.
"…up with you boys because I thought you liked action!" The arrogant voice of Micah Bell spoke up, "Couple of days on the lam, and you all turn yella!"
Arthur, sensing that Micah was trying to warm up by drinking liquor and developing drunken bravado, took the bottle Micah was holding from his hands and began to drink.
"Apart from you, of course," Micah said to Lenny.
"Shut up, Micah," Lenny grumbled.
"I ain't never seen so many long faces," Micah grumbled, "I guess…I guess folks just miss them, that fell. Well, when I fall, I don't want no fuss."
"When you fall," Lenny answered, "There'll be a party."
Everyone started chuckling as Bill said, "A party…probably…"
Annoyed at the insinuation that everyone would be happy when he died, Micah got to his feet and went to Bill.
"That funny, huh?" He asked.
"Sure," Bill chuckled again only to be punched hard right in the face by an angry Micah Bell. As he got to his feet, both Arthur and Lenny held him back.
"Maybe I don't feel like being laughed at by the likes of you two!" Micah shot out.
"Stop it!" Dutch's voiced boomed in as he entered the room. "Now! You fools punching each other when Colm O'Driscoll's needing punching hard! You wanna sit around waiting for him to come find us? All of you, we got work to do. Come on."
As all exited to go to their horses, Arthur turned to Dutch.
"You sure about this, Dutch?" Arthur asked.
"Yes," Dutch said out flatly.
"Folks been through a lot recently," Arthur pointed out, "We hardly back on our feet, yet."
"And the last thing we need is to get bushwhacked by Colm O'Driscoll," Dutch retorted, "Let's go."
"I know you hate him, Dutch," Arthur said.
"He's here for us."
"I doubt that."
"No, you're just doubting me."
"I would never doubt you, Dutch," Arthur said incredulously, "You…you always said revenge is a luxury we can't afford."
"Wait…" Shippo frowned, "…that's their line in the sand? Revenge?"
"Yeah," Kagome said, "These guys lie, cheat, steal, drink, smoke, gamble, maim, torture, and even kill, but they have a problem with taking revenge of all things?"
"This is the right call, Arthur," Dutch said with a nod of his head, "Take this."
He handed Arthur a long gun. A Carbine Repeater.
"And this is about more than revenge for business long ago," Dutch said, "They were talking about trains a detonators. Here."
He handed Arthur a long rope.
"Colm always had good information," Dutch said, "Come on."
"And you think right now is the right time to hit a train?" Arthur asked knowing the law was on the prowl for them, and stirring up more trouble would only serve to exacerbate the problem.
"Now you might fancy living on deer piss and rabbit shit," Dutch growled, "But I'm getting too old for that life. Mr. Matthews, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pearson, would you please look after the place? There are O'Driscolls about!"
He gave a heel to his white horse with a "H'yah!" as the posse of his men followed behind him.
"Southwest, right Arthur?" Dutch asked.
"Yeah, he said follow the main trail southwest," Arthur answered, "They're camped near some lake."
"Okay," Dutch nodded, "Let's go find these bastards before they find us, and rob this score they're planning."
The gang rode and rode for nearly half an hour before happening upon a deep trench in the snow with sets of trails.
"What's that?" Arthur asked.
"Tracks," Dutch answered, "Horses, quite a few of 'em. Far as I can tell, the only fools out here are us and them. They must be this way."
"You good, Dutch?" Arthur asked.
"Of course," Dutch replied, "Listen, I know you don't think much of my ideas recently, but this is the right move."
"Okay…" Arthur relented, "…you know I got your back."
"Are you sure this is a gang?" Kagome asked, "With the way Dutch seems to shoot down any concerns and worries, and gets people to follow him anyway, this looks more like a kind of cult."
"I learned long ago that you hit Colm O'Driscoll," Dutch said, "Wait for him, and the people you love will die."
Sighing, Arthur said, "This feud between you and him…needs to be put to rest, one way or another."
"It will be!" Bill spoke from the side.
"Some things I can forgive," Dutch said, "Others I can forget. What he did to Annebelle…I can't do neither."
"You killed his brother, Dutch," Arthur pointed out.
"Yes…I did!" Dutch scowled with pride, "And I hope the bastards'll be reunited soon enough! That's how this'll end!"
"Damn right, boss!" Micah cheered from the back.
They rode up a short mountain as a trail of smoke was seen from the other side.
"See that smoke?" Dutch pointed, "Let's cut up here and take a look. They said it was near the lake, so we must be close."
Riding to the top, Dutch told them to hold up.
"Alright, gentlemen, this is it." Dutch said, "Are we goddamn ready?"
"Ready, Dutch."
"Good. Now, Mr. Morgan and I, we're gonna head up here a little, see if we can't get a sense of layout of the camp. Mr. Williamson. Mr. Bell. You take up a hidden position just outside the camp. Mr. Summers. Mr. Escuella. You two hold up position here. Let's go."
Arthur dismounted his horse and followed Dutch uphill to a ledge as he pulled out his binoculars. Both looking down and around they saw a small abandoned down with decaying buildings being used as a camp. It was like their own camp, only it had a bit more in it. Dutch spoke.
"There. That's definitely them," Dutch nodded.
They both looked to a guy in a very long coat approaching a black horse.
"Colm?" Arthur asked.
"I think so."
"Yeah…that's him."
They watched another man hobble to him to engage in conversation.
"Who's he talking to?" Dutch wondered. "He don't seem very happy."
"No…" Arthur agreed as Colm picked the other guy by the throat and gave him a good smack across the face as they all went to their horses.
"Are they leaving?" Dutch asked.
"Seem to be," Arthur said, "Should we go get 'em?"
"No. Colm can wait," Dutch reluctantly sighed, "Best to get some of them outta there. And much less fun to rob him and his score if ne never finds out about it."
"Fun?" Sango gasped in disbelief, "This…Colm killed Dutch's friends and apparently his girlfriend, and all he cares about is rubbing it in Colm's face that he stole his score behind his back?"
"Alright, let's go pay our old friends a visit," Colm smirked as they walked down on foot rejoining Lenny and Javier, "Don't forget to grab that rifle from your horse."
Arthur hurried back to his horse to get the repeating rifle.
"You two cover us from up there," Dutch said to Lenny and Javier.
"Sure thing," Lenny nodded as they went to the cliff edge.
Arthur pulled out the rifle and attached it to his back.
"Good," Dutch nodded, "Come on, let's go. Seems easiest to take the same path down as Bill and Micah. Like you said, Arthur, revenge is a luxury we can't afford."
"Yeah, just…wasn't sure you agreed with me," Arthur answered.
"Arthur!" Dutch gasped incredulously, "Arthur, have you completely lost faith in me? Our needs right now are supplies, equipment, and a way outta here. Everything else, including Colm, can wait."
"Okay," Arthur nodded.
"There's enough of those bastards down there to deal with as it is," Dutch pointed out, "Now come on."
They slowly trudged along the snowy trail on the side of the mountain leading to the small camp below. As the trail got a bit more winding, they slowed a bit.
"It's steep here," Dutch pointed out, "Be careful."
Getting further and further down the hill, they could hear the chatter of arguing in the camp.
"Maybe I should take the lead on this," Arthur suggested, "They're going to be gunning for you."
Sango smiled at this display of courage to protect a friend. Even though she didn't care much for these "friends."
"They ain't got me yet," Dutch dismissed.
"No, but the way our luck's been running…"
"Hush," Dutch said, "Let's just get down there first. Down through these trees, quick."
They headed through the trees to a decaying wall.
"Stay low," Dutch whispered.
They both crouched moving quietly through the camp.
"Lot of buildings. Any chance of a train station here?" Inuyasha asked.
"Not an active one," Amy answered, "If there ever was one here, it's long gone now."
Dutch and Arthur were in position.
"So how you wanna do this, Dutch?" Arthur asked, "I can take this if you want."
"Just make the call," Dutch answered, "You wanna take the lead? Go."
"Okay, fine," Arthur relented, "You make the move."
He waited looking out at several O'Driscolls as Dutch pulled out his revolver and shot one of them with Arthur coming out with his repeater and shooting another!
"Kill all these bastards!" An O'Driscoll called out to the rest of the gang.
"Let's go!" Dutch ordered.
With that, a gun fight broke out. Micah and Bill appeared outta nowhere providing additional firepower from the street with Javier and Lenny shooting from up above. O'Driscolls all came out as the members of Arthur's team got behind cover coming out to shoot. Arthur was an expert with his repeater as he aimed for heads and shot them with ease. The O'Driscolls were on water towers, on ramps, and even in cabins.
"More O'Driscolls in the cabins," Dutch pointed out, "Take care of 'em."
The gang, now having killed enough to press on, made their move as they approached the cabins and dealt with the O'Driscolls in them.
"We still got some in those cabins!" Dutch called out.
Through the heavy snow, Arthur squinted concentrating on one in the distance, then he took aim and pulled the trigger as his bullet shot the O'Driscoll right in the side of the head.
"I think that's all of 'em!" Bill said.
"Search the bodies!" Dutch said. "Strip everything we can from them!"
Arthur approached the one closest to him.
"You recognize any of 'em, Dutch?" Micah asked.
"Of course not," Dutch answered, "Colm doesn't give a damn about his men. All he cares about is numbers. If you can shoot a gun, ride a horse, and kill without thought, you're in. Think how long some of you have been with me. I imagine Colm doesn't even know half the names of these fools."
Arthur searched several bodies finding ammo, tobacco, tonics, some rings, buckles, and even a chest with a coin purse in it when more shots were heard.
"Aw shit!" Dutch swore, "Look out, more of the bastards coming outta the trees!"
Arthur headed to one of the abandoned cabins and shot at O'Driscolls in the trees.
"Shit, there's a lot of 'em!" Dutch swore out, "What do you think, Arthur? Should we hold ground here, or go at them?"
"Reckon we're better holding here," Arthur answered not wanting to lose the cover of the buildings and end up exposed.
"Alright," Dutch agreed, "Pick 'em off as they come through the trees!"
Hiding behind a wall, Arthur saw one crawling behind a snowbank and shot him down.
"Don't lose them in the trees!" Dutch called out.
Concentrating to see in the snow, Arthur took careful aim and began firing shots getting more hits in than all the others combined. The fight lasted for nearly five minutes. O'Driscolls tried to get close, only to get shot down.
Finally, the last one appeared trying to move behind a tree when Arthur locked on him and shot him in the gut as he fell down dead. He then pulled out some kind of vial of medicine and drank it down as the rest of the O'Driscolls took off.
"The cowards are running away!" Dutch cheered, "Good work, boys! Back to the camp. We'll get what we need, and move out."
Arthur went to where his friends were to await instruction.
"Alright, let's wait for Javier and Lenny," Dutch said, "They're coming down with the horses."
"Keep an eye out for any more of the bastards," Bill snorted as Arthur began looting more corpses for more valuables and supplies. Lenny and Javier arrived.
"Good work, boys," Dutch congratulated, "Now let's tear this place apart. Bill, you go search that wagon there. Micah, search that building. Arthur, you take that building to the left. Alright, men, quick! Find those detonators, explosives, anything you can."
Arthur went inside the biggest building in the center of the camp. Sure enough as soon as he entered, there was a giant red box that said in English "dynamite." He opened it to look inside.
"Here," He called out as Bill went to him as Arthur pulled out a few bundles of dynamite, "This looks good…what you think, Bill?"
"Looks fine," Bill nodded as he took one and sniffed it, "Smells good."
Arthur handed Bill a heavy crate of the stuff.
"Come on," He ordered.
"Did we get everything?" Dutch asked from outside.
"Think so, boss," Micah nodded holding up a big roll of paper that he handed to Dutch, "Found this on one of 'em."
"Thank you," Dutch said taking it and having a look.
"This is perfect!" Micah praised.
"Oh yeah," Dutch agreed, "Interesting. This is something about the train they was gonna rob. A Mr. Leviticus Cornwall. Mount back up, let's keep moving."
As soon as Arthur and the others were on their horses, Dutch told them that it was time to get out of there and how proud he was of them.
"Good work, fellers," Micah said.
"Not bad for some starving down and outs," Dutch agreed, "They can pummel us as hard as they like, but we will always get back up and fight. That's who we are. Outlaws for life, fellers. Wait until we got John, Mac, Charles, and Sean back riding with us, and I believe…I know…they will all be back."
"Well, you didn't get Colm," Arthur pointed out, "But this hit will hurt him a lot more than any bullet in the head."
"Especially when we rob this train, too," Dutch smiled.
"Heh! Heh!" Arthur laughed, "Yeah, I guess we'll see about that! As for the whole 'starving down and outs,' Charles and I were planning on going hunting tomorrow. I don't know if we'll find anything big in this weather, but we gotta try."
"You do that, Arthur," Dutch nodded, "We sure as shit need it."
"You know…" Arthur said hesitantly, "…Colm'll come after us."
"Of course he will, just like all the rest," Dutch replied, "But we're gonna stay a step ahead of them. Make sure we always know where they are before they know where we are. We allowed ourselves to get a step behind back in Blackwater. That won't happen again. Alright, fellers. Let's dig in! Let's make some ground!"
They all started riding fast through the snow back to their camp. Suddenly the silhouette of a rider was seen up ahead.
"Hey, you see that feller?" Dutch asked, "Wasn't he at the camp with Colm?"
"Leave him to me…" Arthur scowled pulling out his lasso.
"Alright, we're heading back," Dutch nodded, "Just bring him back alive. He could be useful."
"Okay, you got it," Arthur nodded giving a swift heel to his steed as he broke from the group to chase after the silhouette in the distance. He was a bit aways, but Arthur had the benefit of a faster horse and experience riding in treacherous conditions. He gained on the rider closer and closer until he was in range. Arthur twirled his lasso in his hand, and then threw it on the rider.
"What the hell's wrong with you?!" The rider called as the loop wrapped around his body as Arthur held yanking him off his horse.
"Aw shit, noooo!" The rider panicked as Arthur dismounted and went to the jittery stranger to hogtie him.
"You're…comin'…with me!" Arthur growled.
"Just let me go, come on." The stranger pleaded despite knowing it was no good. Arthur knelt to loot his body.
"Please no!" The stranger.
"Now, just gonna check your pockets," Arthur spoke finding a horse tonic inside, and then picked him up and slung his body on the rear of his horse.
"Shit!" The stranger swore, "Shit!"
Arthur then got on the saddle of his horse and grabbed the reins.
"What's your name, boy?" Arthur asked.
"I don't know!" The stranger yelled in fear.
"You don't know your name?!" Arthur mocked.
"It's Kieran," The stranger relented.
"Kieran what?"
"Duffy. Kieran Duffy."
"Well, I ain't gonna lie to you…" Arthur mocked, "…this is a reeeeeaaaal bad day for you, Kieran Duffy…"
"What are they going to do to him?" Sango asked worriedly, "He seems quite scared."
"Who knows?" Chris said, "We could tell you some pretty disturbing stories about things we've seen in regard to how the Van Der Linde Gang dealt with prisoners. Whatever they do, he isn't going to like it."
"Where are you taking me?" Kieran asked.
"Somewhere you ain't gonna like," Arthur answered.
"Why?" Kieran asked, "What are you gonna do to me?"
"Something you ain't gonna like!" Arthur chuckled nastily, "So I'd advise you to save your breath for screaming!"
"No! Please!" Kieran begged to no one as Arthur rode closer and closer back to the camp, "Don't do this, please…" He figured this man saw him with the O'Driscolls as he tried something else, "I barely know them…"
"You better shut your mouth, you little shit!" Arthur snapped back ignoring his pleas, "Or I will shut it for you!"
"Heh!" Inuyasha smirked as for the first time in a while, a smile appeared on his lips, "Guns aside, this Arthur Morgan's got grit, attitude, a sharp and nasty mouth, and a love for combat! Wish I could meet him in person! I like this guy!"
"You would…" Shippo and Kagome grumbled at the same time.
As they rode a little bit more, Keiran kept trying for mercy.
"C'mon, just name your price," He begged trying to bribe him, "I-I don't know nothing real about them, I honest!" Arthur continued to ignore him as they trotted further, "Please! I'll do anything!"
"Are you…trying to test me, is that it?" Arthur growled, "Because I will break every bone in your body!"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" Kieran pleaded, "Okay…?"
"Not…one…more…goddamned…word!" Arthur shouted annoyed, "Am I clear?!"
"Okay, okay…" Kieran relented.
"That's two broken bones, right there!" Arthur scowled.
"Well, I never!" Kagome snorted.
"What?" Inuyasha smirked, "He did say 'not one more goddamned word' didn't he?"
"You're enjoying this too much, Inuyasha…" Kagome scowled.
"What's not to enjoy?" Inuyasha asked, "You all are wondering how this guy is Michiru's relative, but I already see it!"
"What do you mean, Inuyasha?" Shippo asked.
"Michiru wasn't as snarky or gritty as this guy, that's for sure," Inuyasha admitted, "But when push came to shove, Michiru didn't take crap from anyone! Remember when he saved us from the spider demon and contended with its mocking?"
"Since you escaped being captured, you should run away!" The giant spider holding Kagome, Shippo, and Inuyasha in it's demonic silk taunted at the arriving Shikigami beginner, "Do you want me to suck your blood?"
"Oh, shut up!" Michiru scowled defiantly.
"Heh, heh!" The spider taunted, "How stupid!"
The spider then launched a magic attack at Michiru who stumbled a bit before rising to his feet angrily.
"Are you….trying to test me, is that it?" Michiru growled looking the giant demon in the eyes, "Because I will shatter every inch of your exoskeleton!"
"No!" Inuyasha called out, "He's using power from the shards of the Shikon Jewel! You can't win, you have to run away!"
The spider demon laughed tauntingly fueling Michiru's fury.
"Nothing doing, Inuyasha!" Michiru spat defiantly gritting his teeth, "This eight-legged freak is mine! The question is, what should I do?" He then looked up and noticed something.
"You idiot!" Inuyasha shouted, "Why are you standing there? There's a time for courage and time to retreat! Run! Run away!"
"No!" Michiru scowled closing his eyes.
"You have to run away!" Kagome pleaded.
"I'm not going anywhere!" Michiru snapped back.
"Quickly! Run away!" Shippo scowled as Michiru clenched his fists.
"Look! I'm trying to save your lives!" He shouted, "I need to concentrate to carry out my plan, so will you all just shut up?!"
As soon as he said those words, the Serpentine Rock in the ceiling crumbled and smashed the spider demon knocking the Shikon Jewel Shard out of its body.
"That was the first time Michiru truly proved his mettle and grit when it mattered," Inuyasha smiled, "I see the same no-nonsense when it matters attitude in Arthur here."
He pointed back at the screen as Arthur rode into the fast-falling night woods and snow as the sight of a familiar barn appeared ahead. Soon he trotted back into the camp and made his way to the harnesses where their horses were kept.
"Here we are, you sack of shit," Arthur spoke, "Let's introduce you to the boys." He went to Kieran and pulled him off his horse's rear and carried him to the front of the cabin.
"Don't hurt me, please!" Kieran pleaded.
"Oh, don't worry…" Arthur mockingly grumbled oozing sarcasm, "They're real nice." He arrived near the front of the door as Dutch exited.
"Huh. You found the little shit, did you?" Dutch asked.
"Yep…" Arthur nodded as he tossed Kieran into the snow, "…I got him."
"Very good," Dutch nodded turning to Kieran, "Welcome to your new home. Hope you're real happy here."
"Ugh!" Arthur growled cutting Kieran's feet free and picking him up to his feet, "You want me to make him talk?"
"Oh no…" Dutch said sadistically, "…now all we'll get is lies. Uncle. Mr. Williamson. Tie this maggot up someplace safe." He then turned to Arthur, "We get him hungry first."
"Wait…" Kagome said, "….they're going to starve him until he talks?"
"I got a saying, my friend," Dutch said to Kieran, "We shoot fellas as need shooting, save fellas as need saving, and feed 'em as need feeding. We are gonna find out…what you need. Heh! I can't believe it! An O'Driscoll in my camp!" He then started chuckling as he turned back to his cabin.
"No, I ain't an O'Driscoll, mister!" Kieran pleaded as Uncle and Bill dragged him towards the abandoned barn, "I hate that feller!"
"Oh, whatever you say, son!" Dutch called out to him as he turned to go back inside to study the plans they took from the O'Driscoll camp, "Well done, Arthur."
"I'm just sorry we missed out on Colm…" Arthur frowned.
"Oh, there's time enough for that," Dutch said, "For now, I gotta figure out if we can hit that train."
"Okay," Arthur nodded returning to his sleeping quarters.
The screen went black.
"More sleep for the old cowboy…" Kagome grumbled, "But's is only midday here. What are we supposed to do while we wait for the screen to show imagery again?"
"Talk about what we're going to say to Michiru when he wakes up," Sango said, "We've been watching this for so long, we haven't taken the opportunity to see the advantage we have was Arthur sleeps. When Michiru wakes up for real and sees us, he's not going to be happy. We'll have to be prepared for hostility and we'll have to work on being patient and remorseful."
"That cancels Inuyasha out," Shippo said, "He was practically lusting for Arthur Morgan's snippy and impatient attitude just now!"
"Hey! Shut up, Shippo!" Inuyasha growled.
"See?" Shippo said. Sango and Kagome couldn't help but giggle.