Red Dead Redemption 2 - Unofficial Novel Adaptation

Outlaws From The West

The snowy wind blew heavily around the mountainside, a complete whiteout during the night. The horses and carriages struggle to keep moving but they're forced on in their desperate escape, the wheels and horses bodies barely staying above the thick snow they were treading upon. Lanterns and blankets were plenty among the passengers, trying as hard as they could to stay warm in the freezing weather. One of the passengers of the front carriage descended from the open portion at the back, leaving behind an injured man and the couple of other folks watching over him, and hurriedly walked towards the driver of the carriage. He tucked his hat slightly to avoid having the fierce wind blow his words back down. In this weather, he was able to keep pace with the carriage.
"Abigail says he's dying, Dutch. We'll have to stop some place." The man at the left side of the driver's seat on the carriage had barely heard his companion over the howling storm, but manage he did. He looked over towards the walking man in order to make sure his voice would reach him as well.
"Okay. Arthur's out looking. I sent him up ahead." A small nod in response from the man below came before he returned to the back.
"If we don't stop soon, we'll all be dying." The man on the right said to the driver, Dutch, who was looking behind him to see their passengers. Aside from the supplies they brought, there were a few of the women in the gang and a severely injured man laying on the floor of it. "This weather, it's May... I just hope the law got as lost as we did." He blew into his hands to try and provide what little warmth he could. Then he noticed something and pointed to the road ahead of them and Dutch said in response, "There." Dutch was relieved to see it was a man on horseback, the horse neighing as it was pained from sustained riding in the cold.
"Arthur! Any luck?" Dutch called out, with Arthur just a few paces ahead now, only barely visible through the intense snow.
"I found a place where we can get some shelter. Let Davey rest while he... You know." There was a short pause for a moment as Arthur turned around to lead the caravan further along towards the promised shelter. "An old mining town, abandoned, it ain't far. Come on." He waved his hand, beckoning for them to follow and began riding back the way he came. Dutch turned to face the rest of his caravan, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Come on!"

* * * * * * *

The man from the right side of the carriage, Hosea Matthews, swung open a wooden door, left hand clutching the lantern at his side while his right aimed his revolver into the darkness, prepared for any hostility that may come out into the freezing weather to assault whatever trespasser was at it's home. But nothing emerged. The place was empty, like Arthur had said. Hosea was even more sure after poking around the room with his lantern, everything was coated in dust. Poking his head out of the doorway he entered, he called out to the rest. "Bring him in here." He moved an old bench to the side of the room to make space for the rest of the gang who filed in one by one. Two of the men helped carry in the injured man but it was already too late, Davey had already succumbed to his wounds. Dutch brought the rest of the gang in to gather around.
"Miss Gaskill, get that fire lit quick. Miss Jones, bring in whatever blankets we have. Mr.Pearson, see what we've got in terms of food" One of the women snapped. Abigail stood over Davey's cold body for a moment, lowering her head to confirm what she had already feared before letting the rest know.
"Davey's dead." A look of grief was scattered among most of the group. The first to speak again after the moment of silence was the man who had broken the expected news to Dutch during the ride earlier, Reverend Swanson.
"There was... Nothing more you could've done." Coins were left atop of Davey Callander's closed eyes. A tribute to his time in the gang, a customary and honorary burial.
"What are we gonna do? We need supplies." Hosea asked worriedly.
"Well, first of all you're gonna stay here... And you are gonna get yourself warm." Dutch spoke to him, knowing he was going to have to address the rest of his crew too. As leader, they'd all be looking to him for guidance. But first he'd have to relay business to Hosea. "Now, I sent John and Micah scouting out ahead. Arthur and I, we're gonna ride out see if we can find one of 'em."
"In this?" Arthur asked skeptically, gesturing towards the weather. Dutch faced back towards the door for a second, likely pondering the same thing for himself.
"Just for a short bit... I don't see what other choice we have." The well groomed leader stepped away from his two closest friends and looked towards the whole group. Everyone had their eyes on him, looks of concern and fear, while Dutch tried to keep his composure. At least he wasn't alone, Hosea was on his left and Arthur to his.
"Listen... listen to me all of you, for a moment." The room was silent, aside from Dutch's authoritative and booming voice, and the low whistling of the gusts outside. As if they needed a reminder of the cold, they could see the icy breath coming from Dutch's mouth as he spoke to them. "Now, we've had... well, a bad couple of days. I loved Davey..." He began to choke on his words a little. Mourning the loss of his brother in arms just like the rest of them. "Jenny... Sean, Mac... They may be okay, we don't know. But we lost some folks. Now, if I could... throw myself, in the ground, in their stead... I'd do it... Gladly. But... We're gonna ride out... and we are gonna find some food. Everybody, we're safe now. There ain't nobody following us through a storm like this one... and by the time they get here, well we're gonna be... We're gonna be long gone. We've been through worse than this before. Mr. Pearson, Miss Grimshaw, I need you to turn this place into a camp. We may be here for a few days. Now all of you... All of you! Get yourselves warm! Stay strong. Stay, with, me! We ain't done yet!" Dutch turned quickly and picked up the lantern he had left by the door. "Come on, Arthur." The duo head back out into the storm, leaving the rest of the gang to their tasks.
"Alright, we've got some work to do." Miss Grimshaw exclaimed.