Lassoed by love || Sadie Adler x OC

Mrs. Adler

1885
Cassie Lockwood

That day I walked out of that evil house was probably the best decision I ever made but I was only 13. A young girl running off to be something different or at least try and be something different. Breaking the rules was nothing ever seen before in this world. Everything was supposed to be controlled but nothing could stop us. We were outlaws.

The first time I ever robbed someone was back when I was 14, hungry and stupid I robbed one of the shops grabbing as much as I could and dashing off before the shopkeeper could catch me. I giggled the whole time I ran away, it was thrilling and different. Nothing to get me killed but enough to get me in massive trouble. I was so young and naive, how things have changed. I don't like recalling my past and all the things I've done to get to this point in time but little things like that seem to pop in my head unable to leave me alone.

I turn my head noticing a man watching me closely nothing but disgust and confusion in his eyes. Here it comes. I light a cigarette bringing it to my lips to have a taste of another thing that can kill me.
"Hey, you!" The man shouts as I blow the smoke out high in the sky. I paid no attention to him but he didn't stop.
"You disgust me! This!" He says gesturing towards my outfit and everything about me.
"This is what is wrong with people! Woman like you y'all are going to be the death of us all" He says and this time I finally looked at him. He was a fancy prick wearing a suit and a stuck-up hat. He had no facial hair and not an inch of dirt on him.

I don't say anything just simply bring the cigarette up to meet my lips again.
"Woman should not be dressing like this! Have some respect young lady. This is what a man should wear not a lady. I wish the law could hang women like you, thinking they can be us?! You are a woman go and put some proper clothes on and act like a woman" He didn't have any time to blink before the barrel of my gun was under his chin with my finger on the trigger and the cigarette still dangling in between my lips. Fear coated his eyes as I dug the barrel deeper into his skin. I take the cigarette out of my mouth and stare at him.

"I can wear whatever I damn well please. Do not come up to me and say how shameful I am to society. Does it look like I give a shit about society?" I asked him raising my eyebrow.
"No no...no ma'am" He says stuttering.
"Now that we have that cleared do not give me another reason to blow your brains out" I say removing the gun from under his chin.
"Run away now boy" I say hostlering my gun. He nearly falls over his own feet running away from me. I could feel everyone's eyes on me now but I didn't care to look. I brought the cigarette up to my lips again when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

I sigh knowing that it's some other prick here to tell me off.
"Did you not hear what I said, fuck off" I say throwing my cigarette away.
"Oh I heard what you said alright" I heard a man say and I turned my head to see a man but this man seemed different. He wore a bright red vest with a chain dangling on it, a white shirt, and dark pants. His long hair was pushed back under his hat and he had a mustache big and bold but the one thing that really caught my eye was the guns he had on his belt.
"You have quite a tongue on you my dear" He says and I stare at him trying to figure out what he wants.

"I don't mean to intrude but judging by how you handled yourself with that man you aren't a simple lady" He says.
"And you are?" I ask him still annoyed. He smiles extending his hand out to me.
"Dutch Van der Linde" he says. I look down at his hand and before I can stop myself I shake his hand.
"Cassie Lockwood" I say.
"You know I hate men like that who think they are better than the average man. Makes my blood boil, makes your blood boil too huh?" He asks.
"Yeah, it does" I say.

"We've been looking for a woman such as yourself, and I think we've just found her" He says and I frown.
"Hey, I ain't that type of lady" I say putting my hand to rest on my gun.
"Oh no no no" He says laughing.
"Not that type of lady. An outlaw! A gunslinger! Whatever they call it" He says and I stare at him even more confused than before.
"You are a gunslinger ain't you? You did draw your gun faster than my eye could keep up with makes me think it ain't your first time"
"I suppose you could call me that, never called myself that but sure why not" I say resting my fingers against my gun belt. He smiles.

"Look I'm going to be honest with you there ain't many of us but we are looking around for more" He says.
"And what you looking for?" I ask.
"People. A gang. A family. Whatever it means to you" He says.
"So you're inviting me to join your crew?" I ask.
"Yes exactly"
"And how many are there in your gang?" He stays quiet for a moment before speaking.
"Five" He says and I laugh.
"Not much a gang then is it?" I ask.
"No it ain't but nothing that can't grow" I stare at him.

"Look Cassie you are a strong powerful woman and I have no doubt that with us you will be as strong as ever. Don't you want redemption? The rich have had control for too long it's our time to take from them and give to the poor" He says and I think about what he said.
"Redemption?" Of course I want redemption but I doubt I'll ever get it" I say and he gives me a soft smile.
"Ride with us and maybe you might end up getting your redemption" I look at him. Redemption huh?

1899

I pulled my coat tighter against my body as the cold wind fought to enter my body. I'll never forget the day Dutch found me and brought me to the gang but back then it was only the five of us. 14 years of being with them, my true family. Now I sit on my horse my legs aching as my horse picks his feet up against the snow. The Blackwater Massacre. The others should have never gone along with Micah and Dutch's plan but they followed him and now we are on the run, homeless and cold. The mountains were our best bet at safety and it was true. The law will not follow us up here until the storm settles.

I look back at the wagon and see that Davey was getting weaker and weaker. He would not last the trip. Poor bastard. I face the front again and try and bury my face in my horses mane for some type of warmth but he was just as cold as I was.
"There. Arthur! Any luck?" I hear Dutch shout and I pick my head up again to see Arthur approaching us moving his hat away from his face.

"I found a place where we can get some shelter. Let Davey rest while he...you know. An old mining town, abandoned, it ain't far. Come on." I catch up to Arthur.
"I know that place you talking about. People call it Colter" I say hunching over my horse again.
"How you doing?" He asks me.
"Cold" I say and I hear him chuckle softly.
"What happened back at blackwater Cassie?" Arthur asks but I stay quiet hiding away from the cold as we go through colter stopping at some hitching posts. I pry myself off of my horse hitting the slippery floor.

"Try to stay warm boy" I say patting his neck as I take my things off of him. We go inside after Hosea had cleared the one house. It was freezing and dark in here. No one had been up here in years. I find myself a corner and sit down tossing my things next to me as I pull my hat down over my face ignoring Dutch's speech. I didn't even realize I had closed my eyes until I suddenly woke up. I tilt my hat back up and look around the room. They had a fire going and most of the gang was huddled up next to it. I slowly get up groaning at my stiff muscles.

"Where's Arthur?" I ask Mary Beth putting my hand on her shoulder.
"Went out with Dutch. They should be back soon" I nod my head and take a seat next to her as she moves over a bit to give me some space. The door opens and in walks Tilly, Karen and a strange woman. She had dirty blonde hair, her face was red and puffy and she wore only a night gown. She held a blanket around her shoulders and kept her eyes on the ground.
"Mary Beth, Cassie. Make some room by the fire" Tilly says and I get up moving away so that the woman could get some warmth.

"This is Mrs. Adler. Dutch and them found her out at a cabin with some O,Driscoll's" Karen says as Mrs. Adler sits by the fire and starts softly crying.
"They killed her husband" Tilly whispers to me.
"Not surprised, the O'Driscoll's don't like to keep men around" I say looking down at her. My eyes linger on her for a moment before I turn around and stuff my hands in my pockets.
"Goodnight" I say walking away from them and grabbing my things and setting up on my bedroll. I get inside the blanket and rest my head against the pillow. Some proper rest might do me some good. I hear Mrs. Adler cry louder and I sigh.

Welcome to the rest of your life Mrs. Adler.