Retribution

A Plan

   A few days later...

   When they had gotten back to camp, thing's were shaken up pretty bad by John's return. There seemed to be a divide now, made entirely by Dutch and his insecurities. Sadie came back to their tent, holding a plate of food for Y/N. They usually ate with John, Abigail, Jack, Uncle and Arthur most evening's but Y/N was feeling pretty sick that night and she had been the night before as well.

   "Thank you" Y/N said, smiling at Sadie. Sadie just kissed her forehead. "I was listenin in on some conversations today" Sadie said. Y/N smiled at her. "You're a little sneak" She teased. "Oh hush" Sadie pushed her shoulder, and laughed.

   "So, what'd you hear?" Y/N asked. "Well... they think John was the rat" Sadie rolled her eye's. "And you know what else..." Sadie said. "What?" Y/N asked. "I think John was right. I think Dutch let him get arrested on purpose. I think he was gonna let him swing" Sadie said.

   "I think he wanted it, honestly" she said. "The way they's talkin about him... especially Dutch..." Sadie shook her head. She poked her head outside the tent to make sure no one was listening. "I think this thing is over" Sadie said. "Arthur and I been talkin" Sadie said.

   "I think it's all gonna hit the fan... and when it does..." Sadie trailed off. "Well... we needa be Ready" She said. "I understand" Y/N said. Sadie shook her head. "We gotta... make our own plan. Not like one of Dutch's plans either. A solid one that we both know and agree on" Sadie said.

   Y/N smiled. "I couldn't agree more" she said. "That's a good start" Sadie smiled. "You know what else..." Sadie said. "I was talkin with Charles and... Dutch is planning on exploiting the Wapiti Tribe for his own benefit" Sadie said.

   "The Chief and his son aren't seeing eye to eye and Dutch is using that to create an even larger divide. He's planning on coming for the goddamn military now" Sadie shook her head. "This... it's all coming to an end. I really don't think there's a choice in it" Sadie said.

   "So... the plan is... we get the people out that we can. People will choose sides... and the people who want out... it's our jobs to help them" she said. "That's the plan" she said. "The real plan" She smirked. Y/N shook her head. She hadn't been in the gang long, nor did she particularly believe in Dutch, along with Sadie... but it was still weird it was happening. It still felt unreal.

   "Where you go, I go. What you do, I do" Y/N said, grabbing Sadie's hand. "After you get better" Sadie winked. "After I get better" Y/N smiled. "Speaking of... how do you feel?" Sadie asked. "Still a bit nauseous but... not as bad as earlier" Y/N said. "Well, that's a start" Sadie said.

   "I'll make you some tea before we go to bed tonight" Sadie said. "Arthur got some herbs, I'll put them in. Supposed to help remedy a sick stomach" Sadie said. "Thank you sweetheart" Y/N said. Sadie blushed at her nickname. "You're welcome honey" She said. Y/N also blushed. She wasn't used to the nicknames like those. It was nice.

Two days later...

   Y/N felt a good deal better, and was back to her old self in no time, thanks to Sadie and her care. Arthur on the other hand... he wasn't looking so good lately. Sadie had a few talks with Y/N about it. Sadie said she thought it was Tuberculosis by the sound of it.

   Y/N disagreed at first because it just seemed like a cold but it was nearly a month later and he was only getting detrimentally worse. Sadie just did little things here and there when they did jobs together to insure he wasn't exerting himself too much. She'd say things like "you're the better shot" or "you do this better than me" and give him a task that wasn't as strenuous on the body.

   Arthur despised it and argued the few times he caught on. Most times Sadie did it subtly enough to get him not to catch on but when he did, he was wounded and did not love it. Sadie knew what was best though. She was no dummy.

   She even did more jobs with him and rode with him more often, just to keep an eye out on him. She was one of his last good friends. John was a good friend, sure but he had a family. Charles, he was busy helping the Wapiti tribe. Sadie put it all on the line, just to make sure John wasn't being stupid and Arthur didn't die.

   No one caught on, they just thought she was eager or passionate. I knew though. I knew how much she cared and how selfless she was. It only made me love her more. This whole thing was close to its end, I could sense it. We were talking with Reverend, Pearson, Karen and Mary-Beth about leaving. We had a plan for them.

   When the time was right, they were to leave and we were going to help. Swanson wanted Miss Grimshaw to leave so bad. He finally agreed not to ask her but to leave a note. If he asked her, she'd squeal to Dutch and we couldn't have anyone on our trail. It was important we got people out. It was important we got out.

   Sadie came rushing into the tent that afternoon. She was livid, I could tell. She grabbed her ax and didn't say a word. I followed her, not saying anything but wanting to know what she was doing and if I should help. She walked up to a tree and threw it, hitting the target that was drawn on perfectly.

   She did this over and over. Then finally Arthur showed up and asked her what was going on. Apparently the last of the O'Driscoll's were holed up at Hanging Dog Ranch. She wanted to finish them off. She asked Arthur to come. He protested due to being tired but eventually agreed to come along.

   Sadie didn't ask me to go but I followed them to the horses anyways. I was going and I wasn't gonna ask her if it was okay. She needed to take out the last of them. This was a part of her healing process.