𝘍𝘖𝘙𝘎𝘐𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘌𝘚𝘚 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘙𝘌𝘛𝘙𝘐𝘉𝘜𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕 | ʀᴅʀ

Chapter Twenty-Four

1895: Texas

After Rosalie bandaged Javier's neck, Arthur took him over to John's tent. As they didn't have much room for Javier anywhere else, he and John would be sharing a living space for the time being, and as a precaution in case the shy, eager demeanor Javier had been supporting was only an act. If he decided to do something nefarious under their noses, John would be privy to it immediately. There wasn't much that could go undetected when sleeping next to someone.

Rosalie didn't think there was much to be suspicious about, but she understood why they needed to have someone watching over Javier. Even when the young girls were brought into the gang, such as Mary-Beth and Tilly, they were regarded with some suspicion, such as members double checking their own pockets at night and keeping a watchful eye over their valuables. Javier's circumstances were different, though, as he was a full grown man, meaning he could be much more dangerous. They had no idea who he was or where he came from. He could have been on the run for mass murder for all they knew. So, for the time being, until they knew more about him, he would be kept under a watchful eye.

But Rosalie thought Javier seemed fine enough. She didn't think there was much judgment she could pass on a man who couldn't tell her his story with his own words. So for now, all she had to go off of was his actions. Which, again, wasn't much, because as soon as Arthur showed him where he'd be sleeping, he passed out and slept for hours. He didn't get up for food, water, or to go to the bathroom. There came a point where Rosalie wondered if they should wake him to make sure Javier didn't starve to death in his sleep or something of the sort, but Dutch waved her off and told her to leave him alone. If he had truly walked all this way from Mexico, the man was in need of some proper sleep.

It wasn't until a day and a half later, at night when they were having a bit of a party around the campfire, did Javier wake up. Not that Rosalie noticed, as she was rather busy.

"Drink, Germany! Drink! Drink!" Sean chanted while he clapped with each word. Rosalie stood by the campfire, Sean lingering and making sure she got every last drop of the beer bottle she was draining by the second as he whooped and hollered.

Sean was clapping and cheering her on, along with many other gang members who were sitting around the fire, drinking and engaging in their own antics for the night. Sean was the only one standing though, as everyone else sat on a log or crate as they lounged about. He felt she needed a bit more encouragement to empty the massive bottle he'd swiped from from a supply wagon.

"Y...You ain't gonna do it!" Bill shouted, drunk and slurring his words as he yelled at Rosalie, beer bottle in his hand as empty ones littered the ground near his feet.

He had bet Rosalie money that she wouldn't be able to stomach the alcohol all at once, but now he was regretting underestimating her, as she seemed to be proving him wrong by the second. At this rate, he was going to lose ten dollars to the woman who irritated him the most.

Rosalie chugged the large beer bottle held with both hands. Her head was tipped back as she got every last drop, the contents slowly draining as she drank it, her throat bobbing and excess beer dribbling down her chin. It was obvious that she was struggling a bit though as she reached the halfway mark. She was slowing down, her brows pinching as the urge to cough rose in her throat.

Bill scoffed and shook his head, in disbelief that she was drinking the alcohol at such an insane rate all in one go. "Jus' give up! Ain't no shame in it!" He shouted, slapping his knee. "I won't hold it against ya'! I... actually... I ain't gonna promise shit..." He trailed off, looking confused.

"Boo! C'mon! You can do it!" John called from a log around the fire. He cupped his hand around his mouth, beer bottle in the other and hung lazily by his leg. "Don't be a pussy!"