Retribution

Headed Back

"Alright ladies, thank you so much for your help" Ms. Altman smiled adoringly. "If you need me, you know where to write" Sadie said. Ms. Altman just nodded. "You take care, alright?" Sadie nodded. "You too. Both of you" Ms. Altman hugged Sadie unexpectedly.

Sadie stiffened up at first, as she normally does when hugged unprompted but then gave her a hug right back. Sadie nodded at Ms. Altman, and Ms. Altman back at her. "You ladies be careful out there. Remember what I said. It's not a kind world" she warned.

Normally we would have laughed at that warning because I mean come on... look at the company we keep but we both agreed that her warning had other implications. Like maybe she knew... about us. We theorized on that a lot. The final answer... we don't know what she meant by that but one can make assumptions, I suppose.

"Ready?" Sadie looked at me. "I'm ready" I smiled. "Let's hit it, cowgirl" she winked. "Hee-yaw!" She yelled to the horse and we were on our way back. I couldn't help but wonder what we would say or if we'd say anything when we got back to camp... about us.

We were a bunch of outlaws, yes... but homosexuality was extremely prohibited still and looked down upon by many... if not most. The lot of us were rather progressive, I'll give them that but still... it was enough to make me nervous. I can imagine Sadie was too.

We rode back, in comfortable silence a decent amount of the way. We sang a couple songs, played a couple games... I spy and things like that. It was a faster trip home than it was to. I think because Sadie and I were a lot more comfortable with each other, it really broke the tension that we had on the ride up.

"So... you wanted kids?" I asked. It was on my mind, since Sadie mentioned it to tell you the truth. "I did... I don't know how much I'd want them with the life I have now... but in an ideal world, I'd love to have one or two" Sadie said.

"Sadie Adler... a mother" I smiled. "What? That seem odd to you?" She smirked. There was a silence. "No... actually it doesn't" I smiled. She looked at me, taken back by my response. "Y-you think?" She asked. "I can see it" I looked over at her, she was holding back a smile.

"What about you? You said you would... if you were interested in men?" She laughed. "I feel the same way. Not with the life we're living now but... in another life, I suppose. Not really possible... with a woman" I said. "That's not true" Sadie said. I lifted my eyebrow at her.

"I'm just saying... there are ways" she shrugged. "I don't know about that... last I checked... neither one of us have an important piece of that puzzle on our person" I said skeptically. She laughed. "And we don't need that piece... not us" she said. "I'm not sure what you mean by that" I said.

"I just... know there are ways" Sadie said. "By sleeping with someone or picking a kid up off the street? Stealing one?" I laughed. "Is that all you know is stealing?" She laughed. I shrugged. "It... Is a big part of what I know, sure" I laughed. She shook her head.

"I know it's a slim chance but... could happen... one day" she smiled. "I suppose it could..." I said. She looked at me. "When I asked you... you said "not with the life WE'RE living now" You included me in it" she smiled. "Did you realize that?" She laughed.

"I know what I said" I smirked. She looked at me, shocked. "Don't act surprised. You're a catch Miss Adler and I don't intend on releasing you" I smirked. She tried to hide her smile by looking the other direction. I didn't hide mine at all.

"Alright... good to know" she said softly. There was a silence for a little while. I noticed her staring at me. I looked at her and she looked away. "I saw that" I said. "Whatchu talkin about?" She tried to hide a smile. "Mhmm... okay Miss Sadie" I laughed. "Okay" I said.

There was another silence. "You know... I don't either" she said. I looked at her. "Letting you go... I don't plan on it either" she said, smiling ear to ear. "Good. Now we know how each other feels" I said. "I guess we do" she said with amusement in her voice. She smiled.

The sun was getting lower, it cast a beautiful golden hue on Sadie's face and hair. It made her look damn near an angel. I stared, unashamed and very blatantly. "Take a picture. It'll last longer" she sassed, side eying me.

I reached into my saddle bag for my camera. "Oh shit, you're really taking a picture" she laughed. "Sure am" I said, getting the camera ready. "You're gonna do that, riding a horse?" She laughed. "I'm good at multitasking" I smirked. "Oh, I'm sure you are" she laughed.

I pretended to be shocked. "Miss Adler" I put my hand on my chest. "Don't go gripping at your pearls now" she teased. I just smiled and took a picture of her. "You're something else" she smiled at me, with a crooked smile. "What? You said it'd last longer... and I want it to last longer" I said, shrugging. She shook her head at me, smiling.

   We made it back to camp around 8:15 that night. Everyone was still up and greeted us, as we came in. Felt like nothing had changed... even though everything had changed for Sadie and me. I wondered how long it'd take them to notice because even if we did decide to hide it... the way Sadie looked at me and me Sadie... it'd be out in no time.

   There weren't a lot of particularly bright crayons in the box in the gang but anyone with eyes could see the way we felt, if they looked long enough. We sat by the fire with everyone. Sadie had a few beer's and we sang with Javier. All together Sadie and I made a decent chunk of change from Ms. Altman. So, the camp got a share of that too.

   Dutch was happy, the others were happy. It was a good evening. Almost a celebration of sorts. I know they weren't celebrating our new found relationship but it felt like it. We were sitting by the fire, Sadie and I next to one another on a log. She rubbed my back, holding her beer in her other hand. The alcohol was making her touchy. I liked it. It was nice... but again, I wondered if anyone would notice us.

   She kept looking at me with her deep brown eyes, the fires reflection shining in them, making them sparkle. God... she really was breathtaking. Arthur sat down on a log next to Sadie and handed her another beer. "Thanks Arthur" she nodded. "Yes ma'am" he replied.

   She didn't need more alcohol to be honest, she was already cutting loose enough. She finished her beer, and rested her hand on my thigh. I gasped at her touch. As the night went on, her hand got higher and higher. I realized something... She didn't really intend on hiding it.

   I don't think she was going to shout it off the roof top but I don't think she wanted to hide it either. I smiled at her. I realized something else as well.... I didn't care either. If they didn't like it... screw them. I had Sadie and that's all I needed. I knew she felt the same way.