Old Blood

Fish Food

Jack had been bugging John relentlessly, following him around the camp and asking to spend time with him. Despite John's attempts to shoo him away, Jack's persistence was wearing thin. Meanwhile, Arthur had overheard the commotion and saw an opportunity to take a break. He approached John with a interested expression and suggested, "Why don't you let me take the kid fishing, John? Let Jack stretch his legs, and you could use a break." John, tired and grumpy, begrudgingly agreed, seeing it as a chance to escape Jack's relentless pestering.

Jack eagerly hopped onto the front of Arthur's horse, a wide grin plastered on his face. Arthur chuckled and steadied him, making sure he wouldn't fall off. "Hold on tight, kid," he said with a smile. "We don't want you flying off this horse before we even get to the lake."

Abigail approached Arthur and Jack as they prepared to head out. She smiled at the sight of her son's excitement and gratitude to Arthur. "Thank you, Arthur," she said, her voice warm with appreciation. "I know Jack can be a handful, I really appreciate you taking him fishing. He's been driving John mad all day with his constant questions and energy."

Arthur shook his head, dismissing her gratitude "It's no problem Abigail" he said, his voice nonchalant. "Jack's a good kid, and I'm happy to take him out for some fishing. Besides, it'll give John a break from all the noise, and I could use a bit of fresh air myself."

As Arthur and Jack headed out towards the lake, Jack was practically buzzing with excitement. "Are we really going fishing, Uncle Arthur?" he asked, barely able to contain his anticipation.
Arthur chuckled and replied, "Yep, kiddo. Just you and me, fishing our hearts out."
Meanwhile, John had breathed a sigh of relief as the two disappeared out of sight. He took a moment to relish in the silence before he begrudgingly began to tackle his chores, muttering under his breath about being the "unappreciated father" in the gang.

As they reached the lake, Arthur set up their fishing rods and explained the basics of casting and reeling. Jack listened intently, his small hands mimicking the motions Arthur demonstrated. Before long, they were both immersed in the peaceful pastime of fishing, enjoying the feeling of the sun on their faces and the gentle breeze blowing over the water.

They had their lines in the water, and they settled down to wait. Arthur, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. Jack, on the other hand, was a bundle of energy. He kept asking questions about the fish he saw, the best techniques for catching them, and why the bait had to be worms.

It wasn't long before Jack impatiently asked, "When are we going to catch a fish?"
Arthur chuckled and replied, "Patience, kid. It's not just about the catch, it's about waiting too."
Just then, Jack's line suddenly jerked, and he yelped with excitement. "I got one! I got one!" he cried out, his small frame leaning forward as he reeled in the wriggling fish.

As Jack reeled in the fish with help, Arthur quickly helped him bring it ashore. "Looks like you got a good one there, kiddo," he said with a smile.
Jack beamed with pride as he held the fish up, admiring its scales glistening under the sun. "Can we keep it and take it back to camp?" he asked.
Arthur chuckled and nodded. "Sure thing, but we gotta clean it first."

As Jack watched Arthur expertly clean the fish, his face fell a little. "Can I help too?" he asked hopefully.
Arthur replied, "Not this time, It's a bit tricky, and I don't want you accidentally hurting yourself."
Jack pouted a bit but didn't argue. Instead, he watched with rapt attention as Arthur demonstrated the proper technique.

As Arthur was about to cast his line back into the water, he paused, his attention caught by something further down the river. He squinted, trying to make out the object in the distance. "Hold on a sec, Jack," he said, standing up and walking down toward the river bank.
As he got closer, he realized it was a black horse, standing by the water's edge, saddled and seemingly abandoned.

Arthur stopped in his tracks as he noticed the stowed hunting rifle attached to the horse's saddle. His eyes focused as he realized that whoever had left the horse there must be close by, likely armed and potentially dangerous.

Arthur stepped back carefully, still observing the horse and the rifle it carried. A sense of caution overtook him, and he decided not to approach any further. "Looks like this horse belongs to somebody," he said thoughtfully, mostly speaking to himself.

He turned back towards Jack. "Change of plans, kiddo," he called out. "We're heading back to camp."

Arthur looked down at Jack, who was holding his fish proudly. "Alright," he said with a calmer expression. "Let's get back to camp."
He mounted his horse, then helped Jack climb up and sit in front of him. "Hold on tight, now. Wouldn't want you falling off with your prize there," he joked.
 
                        ♤----------------♧

As Arthur and Jack rode into camp, a few curious faces turned to them, seeing the young boy chatting away excitedly. Arthur dismounted his horse, helping Jack down as well.
Dutch, who was sitting by his tent, raised an eyebrow and called out, "Looks like you two had a good time."

"Oh, he did," Arthur replied with a smirk, patting Jack's head affectionately. "But I managed to keep up."
Dutch chuckled, amused by the exchange. "I reckon Arthur can handle it. He's much more patient than you, John."

John grumbled under his breath, clearly frustrated by the subtle jab. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm not the best with kids. Happy now?" he retorted sarcastically.

Hosea approached Arthur and spoke to him in a low voice, making sure no one else overheard their conversation. "Arthur," he said, "I wanted to ask you something. Have you talked to Dutch about the increased O'Driscoll presence yet?"

Arthur glanced at Hosea walked over to him. "Yeah, Dutch mentioned it," he replied quietly, keeping an eye on Jack who was now engaged in a game with Abigail. "He's worried they might be planning something, so we'll have to be extra vigilant."

Arthur glanced back at Hosea again and nodded, his expression grave. Keeping his voice down so only Hosea could hear. "More O'Driscoll boys in the area. Sounds like they're getting bolder."

Dutch finally approached Arthur and Hosea with a serious expression on his face. "Arthur, could you do me a favor?" he asked, his voice low. "I need you to keep an eye out for any O'Driscoll activity, even in town. I don't trust those bastards, and I don't want them sniffing around our hideout."

Arthur's eyes froze as he remembered something important from their fishing trip. "Wait a minute," he interjected, a hint of urgency in his voice. "When Jack and I were by the lake, I saw something that might interest you." Dutch and Hosea turned their attention to him, their expressions serious.

Arthur's words caught the attention of Dutch and Hosea, their expressions growing more serious. "You noticed something?" Dutch asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Arthur nodded, remembering the detail he had witnessed earlier. "Yeah," he replied, his voice steady. "I saw a black horse when Jack and I went fishing. Could be linked to the O'Driscoll gang.".

Dutch and Hosea exchanged a glance, concern and curiosity etched on their faces. Dutch's eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious.
"A black horse, you say?" he repeated, his voice low. He turned to Hosea, who nodded in agreement. "That definitely raises some concerns. It could be a coincidence, but with the O'Driscoll gang in the area..."

"Wait a minute," Dutch exclaimed, interrupting Arthur's description. "John mentioned seeing a black horse near the saloon in town the other day. Could be the same one."
Hosea's brows furrowed in thought, his expression contemplative. "If John saw it there too, there's a good chance it could be linked to the O'Driscolls."

Arthur hesitated, a realization dawning upon him. "Or..." he began. "You don't think it was the young girl's horse, do you? It's a possibility."

Dutch stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind deep in concentration. "Perhaps, son," he said, his voice carrying a hint of realization. "It's possible that the horse could belong to her. It's certainly worth considering."