Retribution

Return Of The Prodigal Son

Abigail looked worried sick and to be honest, I wasn't doing too hot either. I knew Sadie would be fine and that my baby could handle herself...but all Abigail's worrying was beginning to rub off on me. I was biting my nails a bit and pacing but trying to keep it calm and collected for Abigail, who was about to steal a boat and head over herself.

I handed her another beer. "Here, this'll take the edge off" I said. I thought she'd toss it aside but to my surprise she chugged the damn thing down. I was honest to god flabbergasted. "What?" She looked at me. "Nothin" I said, putting my hands up. She just glared at me skeptically.

"Where are they???" She said for the 70th time that hour. "They will be back any time now" I said... and sure enough, there was a light out in the distance, through the fog. "I bet that's them!" I said. Abigail began shouting John's name.

I had a ringing in my ear from the volume of her voice. I squinted, trying to see them. I took my binoculars out and tried to get a good view. It was too foggy out, couldn't see a damn thing but the light coming towards us.

We just waited there in suspense as the light got closer and closer. Then, that's when I saw her. My girl. An angel rowing towards me in bloody clothes, and a rifle on her back. In the boat, was Arthur and John, everyone still in one piece.

"That's them! That's them!" Abigail shouted. She grabbed my arms and began to jump up and down with joy. I jumped with her, humoring her but secretly wanting to do that same thing at the sight of my Sadie coming back safely.

"I told you they'd be okay" I said to her. "You did! You told me!!" Abigail said. "Thank you for being right about that!!" She ran her fingers through her hair. "Jack will be so happy to have him back" I said. "He will! I can't wait!" Abigail said.

"Your girl is safe too..." Abigail smiled at me. I just looked at her. "I saw you bitin your nails..." she teased. "I just... ran out of cigarettes. I needed one" I said. "Sure... that's why" she laughed. I smiled at her, knowing I wasn't kidding either one of us.

"You guys made it!!!" I yelled to them. "We caught a straggler on the way!" Arthur teased. "Yeah, he needed to bum a ride off us" Sadie laughed. I smiled ear to ear, hearing her voice. "Abigail!!!" John yelled. "John!!!" She yelled back. "Y/N!!" Sadie yelled, mocking them a little.

"Sadie!!!" I yelled back, joining in. "Arthur!!!" Arthur yelled, making all of us laugh. They finally got closer, coming to the dock. Sadie threw out the rope and I caught it, pulling them in and tying it to the dock. They all began to get out, John first, then Arthur, then my Sadie.

John ran to Abigail immediately. They kissed and hugged, nearly bringing a tear to all of our tough, gunslinger eyes. Arthur went straight to them. They all talked a bit. Sadie then walked over to me, a little bashful it seemed.

"I'm so happy you're safe" I said, pulling her in and hugging her. She hugged me back, holding me tight. "It wasn't as bad as you'd think" she said. "Still..." I sighed. "Abigail's worrying rubbed off on me". I laughed. "You were worried about me?" Sadie smiled, laughing a little.

"I was... actually" I said. "Worry no more" she said, pulling me in closer to her and kissing my lips. "Oh and... I heard what you said" Sadie smirked. "I love you too, Y/N. I have for a while now" she said. My heart skipped a beat, the doves flapping their wings faster than ever before. She kissed my forehead.

Then I realized all three, John, Abigail, and Arthur were staring at us. Abigail had the biggest smile plastered on her face, John was floored and Arthur had a knowing smile on his face. "What the hell did I miss?" John asked.

"They're in love John..." Abigail said. "In love?!?" He questioned. "What Marston?? We gotta take you back?" Arthur sassed. "No, nothing like that. I just didn't see it coming is all!" He said. "I thought Sadie was with you honestly" John said to Arthur. Arthur, Sadie, Abigail and myself all said "what?!?" at the same time.

"But I guess I was wrong! Damn!" He said. "Couldn't be farther from the truth" Sadie said. "No offense Arthur" she said. "None taken, I don't think" Arthur said. "In Johns defense...I mean, we haven't made it super known. We haven't hid it and don't really plan on it but... we haven't exactly sold the book rights or anything, you know?" I said.

"Even I noticed... erm...something before, so don't let him off the hook that easy!" Arthur sassed. Sadie just laughed out loud. "What the hell are you talking about?!?" Sadie said, amused at him. "I mean, I haven't been back but maybe a few days... but I walked past y'all one night... Oh and they share a bed by the way Marston, that didn't tell you anything?" Arthur asked, getting off topic.

"I don't pay attention to that shit Arthur! They shared a tent! How did I know they shared a bed?!?" John sassed. "Anyways... you walked past us and saw what?!?" Sadie laughed. "Oh, just... uh" Arthur started getting embarrassed. "Oh, I believe he is blushing" Y/N teased.

"Oh, I am not!" He defended himself poorly. "Then out with it man!" Abigail chimed in. "They was kissin" he said. Sadie just laughed. "That was all?? You got all bent out of shape over us kissin?!?" She laughed. John laughed also.

"I mean, it was more than kissin" Arthur tried to defend himself but was making it worse. "More than kissin?!?" Abigail laughed. "They was... gettin... real... oh forget about it" Arthur got tired of embarrassing himself. They all laughed.

"Anyways... you should have known. They weren't exactly being secretive" Arthur said to John. "Man's got a point" Abigail said. "What?!?" Sadie asked. "What??" Abigail laughed. "You knew??" Sadie asked, amusement in her tone.

"Oh, I knew. I was tellin Y/N that I knew for a while. I just didn't know if you two knew was all" Abigail said. "Well I'll be damned..." Sadie said. "I think the point the three of us are trying to make is that you two ain't gettin any greif from us" John said. "Right!" Abigail chimed in.

Arthur just nodded at them in agreement. "Well, I don't know what to say..." Sadie was taken off guard. She figured they'd support us but she didn't actually know for sure. Now that they all confirmed it though, it was just... it was nice. She or I didn't have to worry about that aspect anymore. All the important people to us knew and they supported us.

Didn't matter what the rest of the camp would say. The people that mattered, knew and it didn't matter to them. We got close to camp. That's when Arthur gave John the caveat that Dutch didn't want them to get him and it may not be the welcoming party he was expecting.

   ...And like Arthur said, it wasn't. Dutch spouted off, complaining about his plan and all kinds of bullshit but we all knew... he was going to let John hang. That's why we did it. That's why we went behind his back. Dutch... he wasn't quite right anymore. We all knew it was up to us to take care of one another.