Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 8: Just a few

We made our way up the trail, the shadows of the trees fading from the setting sun. Entering the clearing there was no one near the horses or over at the tents, stopping my horse by Neal I hopped off when Elizabeth and Shea stopped by Junior. I looked over to the campfire where a couple figures sat around it, Elizabeth hopped off Patricia standing beside me. "Another campfire," She chirped. I looked back at Shea, who was still on her horse. "I have some business to attend to, I'll be back later. "I nodded before Elizabeth spoke. "Don't be gone for too long." Shea tapped Sybil's side leading her down the trail.

"Yes, I know." I turned, looking at the campfire. "Well let's go over, don't wanna miss any of the good stories." Elizabeth said, making her way over to the fire. "Alright, I'm comin'." I made my way over to the campfire sitting beside Joseph. "Where have you been all day?"

He said, I turned to him. "In town with Elizabeth, Shea and Jameson." He nodded, looking back at the fire. I looked across from me where Penny, Thomas and Brandy were, he sat making a stick tent while his parents sat beside each other on two boxes. To the right sat Elizabeth and Jameson, she leaned her head on his shoulder. I Smiled at them; Elizabeth's gaze set on the fire along with Jameson's. Joseph suddenly got up and walked over to his tent, I watched him make his way over to his tent slightly tilting my head.

"What did you guys find in town?" Archie looked up from his guitar at Elizabeth. "Oh, not too much when we went." I nodded before speaking. "Shea got some money stolen from her and we got in a little trouble at the saloon, nothin' mind blowing." Thomas shrugged at my words, I looked at Ida who was sitting beside Archie. "How are you likin' camp, Ida?" She looked at me for a moment before speaking. "It's a lot more fun than I thought it might be." I nodded, turning to Otis. "Got any more of your totally real tales of your life?" Otis turned to me with a glare. "They are real, even if they weren't you have to admit there are good stories." I nodded with a slight laugh. "You do have a point there Otis." Otis stood up from his seat before speaking.

"Cowboys, prospectors, and miners weren't too picky about their alcoholic beverages." Otis said, waving his arms around, catching gazes. "At one saloon in the Sierra Nevada, saloons sold Tarantula Juice, which contained strychnine." Elizabeth picked her head up from Jameson's shoulder, looking at Otis with an odd expression.

"And strychnine wasn't the only harmful ingredient in the drink. Tarantula Juice also contained wood grain alcohol distilled from turpentine." Archie tilted his head then looked back at Ida who shrugged her shoulders.

"What happened to the men who ordered Tarantula Juice? The strychnine gave them a burst of energy, similar to the body's response to methamphetamine. But as drinkers processed the concoction, their skin would begin to crawl as though tarantulas were running up and down their arms. That sensation was often followed by muscle spasms and lockjaw." Ghale tilted his head before I spoke. "Tarantula Juice? That doesn't sound real at all." I shook my head; he turned his gaze to me. "B-B-But it is, you youngins have no imagination." He sat back down crossing his arms.

Henry stood up before speaking. "Anybody want a bottle?" I removed my gaze from Otis to him. "Sure, why not." He looked over to Jameson and Elizabeth. "I'll take one." Jameson said, Elizabeth looked at Henry for a second. "I'll take if there's beer." Henry chuckled at her words. "Alright, I'll be back shortly." I turned my gaze to Archie who had stood up and made his way over to the tents, Ida followed not far behind him. Penny stood up taking Brandy's hand. "It's time for you to get to bed, Brandy." Brandy looked up with a sour face at her words before walking with her to the tent.

"Have you checked out the town yet Thomas?" He removed his gaze from the fire. "I caught a few glimpses but no, not really yet." I nodded before Elizabeth chimed in. "You should check it out some time, it's really something else." Thomas nodded, standing up and looking at Ghale. "I'm going to head to bed, are you three okay with Ghale?" I looked at Ghale then Elizabeth and Jameson, Jameson shrugged. "I don't mind." Jameson added, Elizabeth smiled at him. "I'm okay with him staying." Elizabeth said softly, I turned my gaze to Thomas before speaking. "Let the kid stay up a bit, he is a teenager after all." Ghale smiled at us as Thomas spoke. "Alright see you five in the morning." Thomas made his way out of the light casted from the fire as Henry handed me a bottle. "Your usually?"