Home Sweet Home - A Red Dead Redemption II story

Paying a Social Call

Dutch seemed to be buzzing around camp, muttering something about the O'driscolls, mentioning a score that had to be settled. Ruth decided to pay no mind to it until he eventually calmed his nerves.

Ruth passed him on her way to the chuckwagon, he was reading a book, sitting in the shade on the side of his tent.

She fancied the idea of reading and writing but could only write her name and could hardly read, how she made it thirty-odd years without that skill was beyond her.

"What're you reading there, Dutch?" She asked.

"Evelyn Millers' American Inferno, you read it?"

Ruth awkwardly folded her hands together while biting her cheek.

"No sir, can't say I have."

Dutch seemed to pause for a moment, seemed as if he was ruminating, staring at Ruth.

"Can you read, Miss?"

Ruth's cheeks grew warm.

"Hardly. I only know the basics."

Dutch scooted to the side, gesturing her to have a seat next to him and she obliged.

"Why don't you show me what you can read?"

With her face still warm, she felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead at her hairline.

"Dutch, this is embarrassing." She told him, taking the book into her lap.

"Here, follow my finger."

He placed his index finger on the page, instructing what word she was to pronounce.

"In.. the .. end, what has a..man but his...his.." She looked to Dutch for help on the word.

"Sound it out. Th–Aw–Ts."

"Th-thoughts? I would.."

Dutch instinctually helped her with the next word.

"Pos-tu-late."

"P-post..u..late fur..ther, what is a.. man to stand for, but his th..thoughts?"

Ruth sighed then looked to Dutch.

"Reading ain't too easy for me Dutch."

"Well, that's fine. Can't expect yourself to be totally literate after your first lesson, now can you?"

"I suppose." She handed the book back.

"Maybe Hosea could teach you alongside young Jack if you're eager about learning."

Ruth gave him a grateful smile.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Dutch."

"You're welcome, Miss."

Ruth stood to continue her day.

Dutch didn't seem like such a bad man, not as bad as he was made out to be to the general public, he seemed like a sort of.. teacher. Ruth respected that.

Time had passed and it was about the time dinner was being prepped, so Ruth was naturally stationed with Pearson, chopping veggies, they were having a standard conversation about the weather.

Eventually, one by one the boys came back to camp, Arthur headed straight for Dutch's tent, followed by John, then Bill, who had Kieran by his side, only this time he looked a little less shaken.

Ruth couldn't make out their conversation, but Dutch didn't sound too happy.

Dutch seemed to burst out of the tent, the drapes falling back behind him, slowly the others left too.

Ruth looked toward Kieran, when she heard Arthur's voice.

"I've got my eyes on you, O'driscoll."

It was low and threatening, sending a nasty chill down Ruth's spine which made her body shiver.

Kieran's face returned to donning that shaken look.

He didn't have a place in camp so he solemnly made his way to the tree he used to be tied to.

"Pearson, I'm gonna take a short break."

"Alright, don't be too long."

Ruth wiped her hands on her skirt, going to get a cup of water, she then walked over to Kieran and sat on the ground next to him, handing him the water.

"You looked thirsty.." she murmured.

"Thank you, miss." He gave her a half glance, accepting the water, downing almost all of it immediately.

"Did you want any?" He asked

"No thank you."

With that, he finished it off.

"Thank you, Miss.. for everything."

She looked at him and he looked back.

"You're welcome. Couldn't stand to see you like that." She whispered the last part.

They just shared glances for a moment.

"I've got to get back to work." Ruth got in her feet. "You're welcome to keep me company at the wagon if you'd like."

"No, I think I'll uh.. stay here."

"I understand." She turned to the wagon and went back to work.

-

Dinner was called and once again it was stew, to no one's surprise.

Ruth grabbed her serving and one for Pearson, once again they both sat together. They were joined by Kieran.

Pearson didn't seem to view Kieran like the rest of camp did, Ruth was upset that Kieran was viewed as the 'enemy' when he did no harm to anyone, from what she heard around camp in the past few hours, he saved Arthur's life.

"How do you like the stew?" Ruth asked Kieran.

"It's good. It's real food."

That pulled on her heartstrings.

"You poor thing.. went how long without eatin' you oughta be hungry." She was giving him a sympathetic glance.

She then cleared her throat and proceeded to bite her tongue, embarrassed about her vulnerability.

Kieran was blushing, but said nothing.

Pearson just looked at the two.

It was clear why they sat together, none of them were very social, neither of em really fit into any camp category, so they were the ragtag misfits of the Van Der Linde gang.

Once Pearson got up to place his dish in the washbasin, Ruth turned to Kieran.

"I'm happy you're okay." She told him.

Kieran smiled at her.

"I am too. Things weren't looking too good for me."

Ruth looked down at her almost empty dish then at Kieran's empty bowl.

She thought for a moment, then scrapped her food into his dish.

"Miss, I couldn't."

"Please? I can't finish it myself."

Kieran hesitantly accepted but was grateful nonetheless.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome." She got up to bring her dish to the washbasin where she began her evening chores.

Ever so often, she'd look up to find Kieran, still checking that he was fine.

A weight was off her shoulders, assured that for the moment, he lived.