Old Blood

Tess Belmont

The realization of who had spoken dawned on her as her gaze fell upon Dutch, his slight smile and the lit cigar in his hand confirming her suspicions.

Her confusion subsided, and she found herself looking back at Dutch, her heart rate slowly returning to normal as she silently acknowledged his presence.

Dutch, amused by her surprise, took a puff of his cigar before speaking again.

"You enjoying the view, I see."

His tone was friendly, a small smile still playing at the corners of his lips as he observed her taking in the scene unfolding in the camp.

As she glanced back at Dutch, she noticed a book in his hand, which seemed to draw her attention away for a moment. Her curious eyes lingered on the book, intrigued by its presence.

She couldn't help being drawn to the book cradled in Dutch's hand. It added an air of mystery and piqued her curiosity.

"Arthur told me you didn't have a name dear.."

Dutch's question surprised her, hinting at the lack of knowledge surrounding her identity. Her expression remained neutral.

"Why don't you?"

Dutch's calm tone masked his underlying curiosity about her missing name. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

She spoke softly, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. The answer she provided was vague, lacking in specific details.

"I guess I don't remember..."

Her words left more questions unanswered than when Dutch had originally asked.

Dutch's confused expression was evident as he took in her words. Despite his evident curiosity, he refrained from pressing the matter further. His response was composed, a simple acknowledgement of her situation.

"Alright then"

His words echoed with a sense of understanding, giving her a moment to breathe.

The atmosphere was momentarily quiet as Dutch opened the book. His words held a slight note of contemplation as he shared the saying that caught his attention.

"There's a paragraph in this book about a girl named Tess...Tess Belmont"

As he spoke, his voice carried a sense of reverence for the significance of the words and the girl named Tess, adding depth to the simple statement.

Dutch's gaze shifted toward her as he posed the question about books, a small spark of curiosity igniting within his eyes.

"You know much about books?"

His words hung in the air, leaving room for her to respond and reveal her knowledge of books.

The shake of her head confirmed her lack of experience with books. The revelation that she hadn't been allowed to read struck a chord of curiosity in Dutch's gaze.

"No... I never had time to read..."

Her words, tinged with a hint of regret, held a poignant significance. The mention of her limitations sparked a mix of surprise and sympathy within Dutch.

Dutch's voice carried a sense of admiration and passion as he shared his favorite author. His face lit up with enthusiasm as he named out who he was.

"Well, my most beloved books come from an author named Evelyn Miller,"

The mention of Evelyn Miller's name painted a picture of Dutch's literary inclinations, his passion for books subtly on display.

The young girl's gaze shifted towards the red-headed woman leaving Dutch's tent, curiosity evident in her eyes. The mysterious woman, cigarette in hand, added a touch of intrigue to the scene.