Red Dead Reborn

xxxvi) The Farm

July 17th, 1899

This had been the most Miss Grimshaw had been worked up in a long, long, long time.

The middle-aged brown-haired woman was straining her vocal cords just by yelling and bellowing at folk for not working as effectively as she'd hoped.

But no matter what she did or said, Dutch was in his own world, imagining just how he could get back his advantage. But they needed a new camping spot first before Dutch could find out just how he could get them more money.

To get them the big one.

Arthur had taken it upon himself to find a new place for the gang to camp while Dutch figured things out. A name had been brought up, and he was well aware of the threats up near Annesburg.

It was bad enough to have the O'Driscoll's and the Lemoyne Raiders pose as dangerous threats to the gang, even the Nite Folk, but nothing seemed to worry Arthur and Charles more than the Murfree Brood.

The mission was ideal for both Arthur and Charles to take up the duty to weed out the Murfree Brood and claim a good camping spot where neither the Brood nor the Pinkerton's would find them.

The two men rode out around late morning and headed North. Charles was already familiar with Roanoke Ridge, so he mostly took the lead as they rode up there on horseback. Meanwhile back at camp, the gang were packing up more and more of their belongings as they waited for Arthur and Charles to return to provide a new hiding spot.

Danny paid no mind to his injury and went on guard duty with Javier. The two men caught up as it had been a while since they had a proper conversation.

"Hola, Javier. ¿Cómo estás, amigo mío (Hey, Javier. How are you doing, my friend)?"

"He estado mejor. Me duele la pierna como una perra, pero los medicamentos están ayudando a aliviar el dolor (Been better. My leg's aching like a bitch, but the meds are helping dull the pain)."

Danny smiled comfortingly as he and Javier wandered along the path a bit out of camp before they stopped in the middle of said path.

"¿Cómo está Mary-Beth? ¿Está lidiando con todo el asunto del embarazo (How's Mary-Beth? Is she coping with the whole pregnancy thing)?" Javier asked.

Danny inhaled sharply and looked down at the tips of his muddy boots. It only just occurred to him that they needed a good clean. "Se las está arreglando, gracias al consejo de Abigail, por supuesto. Ella ha sido la más útil para ayudarla a superar las cosas. Pero empeorarán cada vez más, y seguiré haciendo todo lo que pueda para ayudar a mi futura esposa (She's coping - thanks to Abigail's advice, of course. She's been the most helpful getting her through things. But they'll get worse and worse, and I'll just keep doing everything I can to help my future wife)."

"You two deserve each other. Just try not to take things too much to heart, kid. It nearly got you killed last night."

"I know, Uncle Javier. I just... a lot has happened over the years; especially in the last few months. Losing the others... Sean, Mac, Davey, Jenny, Lenny, dad. It's been... it's been real tough on us."

Javier pursed his lips and nodded his head slowly.

He too was affected by the hardship the gang was going through, but he handled it well by keeping his faith strong to Dutch, as well as the dream he once had every single person reeled into.

The two men spent another half hour standing guard before they walked back into camp separately so that they could rest while Bill and Sky replaced them.