Dutch's Girl

Chapter Two

Chelsea

At some point, I had managed to doze off last night, but it was by no means a peaceful slumber. I awoke and came to find that I was still in the same spot where I had been last night. I felt exhausted from all the crying, but there was nothing I could do now. They're gone.

I rubbed my tired eyes and sat up and scanned my surroundings. There was no difference to the bedroom, but the smell of food hit my nose. I looked onto the bed, and sitting there was a plate of cooked meat and some rice. I scrunched my nose in disgust. No way in hell I am eating anything these bastards cook!

I rose to my feet and turned to the window. I could see into the yard, and my heart sank as the O'Driscolls were still congregating there. My eyes burned with hot tears of hatred for these monsters. They took everything from me..

Suddenly, the door opened and a man walked in. He seemed very familiar to me, and I narrowed my eyes in distrust. "Hey there pretty lady," he cooed at me. I didn't give him a response. He sighed and got closer. "I don't know if these heathens told you, but I'm Colm O'Driscoll, at your service." Dear Lord, please strike me down where I stand.

Colm was studying me closely, his perverted eyes wandering every square inch of my body. I felt utterly disgusted. "Let me go," I croaked out. Colm just smiled. "Now see, I would love to do that Miss, but I can't put my men in danger by risking some wench goin' and tellin' the law where we are holed up at, now can I?" He smirked at me, and I knew he won this.

The outlaw closed the door and locked it before walking towards me again. "Now, I would like to test you out Miss, for I'm so dreadfully lonely." I backed up into the corner and started to cry. There was no way in hell I could let this guy touch me.

He grabbed me and I shrieked out in terror. "No! Let me go!" The O'Driscoll bastard didn't oblige, but instead threw me onto the bed. The plate of food was still sitting there, and out of desperation I grabbed it and broke the glass across Colm's head. The man groaned out in pain and fell to the floor, blood running down his face.

I sprang from the bed and tackled him and reached for his gun. Colm, in that short period of time, had recovered and kicked me off of him. As I hit the floor, a piece of the plate stabbed deep into my arm and I screamed out. The man was utterly enraged, and so he proceeded to beat me senseless. I cried out in agony; I was begging Colm to stop. After a few more punches, Colm O'Driscoll got up and walked out. Well, he stumbled, and it gave off that I had probably done a little damage, but I couldn't take satisfaction in that for now.

"I'll be back you little bitch," was all he said before slamming the door. I laid there on the floor sobbing. I didn't understand why this was happening to me. The Wolff Pack was nothing special, just a small farm. It was true that it was pretty isolated, but it still wasn't an ideal place for a gang to take over. They would eventually need provisions the farm couldn't provide, and the law could easily catch wind of what happened. We did have friends in Valentine.

After some time had passed, I just stared out the window. My arm hurt like hell, but it was a dull ache compared to what I was feeling mentally. I was losing all faith and will to live. There wasn't anything keeping me here. Just these damn O'Driscolls. The men outside had buried my sisters and Jae, as I could see three graves under the big oak tree in the yard. At least they have a tiny bit of morality left in them. Or some of them do.

As night was beginning to fall, the gang outside were growing restless as Colm had told the men what had happened. They were playing with him, joking about how things go, but of course the gang leader didn't find getting his ass handed to him by a woman funny. I wish I could laugh about it too, but I can't.

Suddenly, a few riders came in hot and yellin', "Dutch Van der Linde is here! He's got his men with him!" O'Driscolls began to run and take cover and gunfire started. Bullets hit the side of the house, the fence around the yard, crates, a few wagons the outlaws had brought here, and men. I was trembling out of fear, and when one of the new men looked up and saw me, I took cover on the floor. Great, another gang of outlaws!

I'd heard of Dutch Van der Linde, and I was very afraid of him. Many townsfolk who had run-ins with Dutch and his gang did not have many nice things to say about the man. He was very sleazy and secretive. He was a con artist. I had warned Shelly, Jae, and August to be on the lookout for any suspicious people just in case the Van der Linde gang came around, but I reckon I should've warned them about the O'Driscolls as well. Stupid me.

It sounded like a war zone outside. Men were yelling, guns were blazing, it just didn't sound too happy out there. I heard men downstairs, more gunfire, and my heart sank as I heard hasty footsteps up the stairs. They're up here with me!

I heard a gun go off, and then silence filled the farm. I could hear a few voices outside, but I was intently focused on the people right outside the door. I was breathing heavily. They could probably hear me. Suddenly, the door burst open, and people filled into the room.

I shrieked and cowered in the corner as my eyes stayed trained on the four heavily armed men that entered. One was a Mexican with his hair in a small ponytail. Another one was a young looking feller with longer hair and fresh scars on his face. My eyes looked to one that was getting too close. He had gray hair and facial hair, but he wore a friendly look on his face. "Easy Miss, you're alright. We killed the O'Driscolls that were here. We ain't like them."

I stared at the one who spoke before shifting my eyes up to the man next to him. He had sleek hair, a nice hat and clothes, and he was staring at me intently. My face turned red, and I felt suddenly embarrassed about myself. Who are you and why are you attractive?

"Miss, we are here to help you," he spoke. His voice was deep and rich, and I just wanted to hear him speak again. "What's your name?" I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to stand up. The gray haired man hurried to me and helped me up. I dipped my head to him, and he copied and said, "My name is Arthur Morgan." I looked back at his attractive companion and nodded. "I'm Chelsea Wolff, I own this farm. Me and my sisters Shelly and August, and Shelly's husband... we owned this place."

The man with the nice clothes and hat nodded and reached out his hand. "I'm Dutch Van der Linde. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." I stepped forward a step and placed my hand in his, and he pulled me closer as he brought it to his lips and placed a gentle kiss. I was blushing madly. Dutch smiled. "Javier, John. Would you two please go and inform the rest that we are leaving soon. And make sure they get blankets to wrap around Miss Wolff. It would also be nice to have Miss Grimshaw and Mister Pearson take a look at her arm and other injuries she has acquired by those O'Driscoll monsters."

I was shaking. I couldn't believe this. I was free; saved from a band of outlaws by another. As I began to take a step closer, I felt a sudden dizziness, and before I could comprehend what was happening, I fell. Luckily, I fell into a pair of strong arms. "Y'all hurry up! We need Miss Grimshaw and Mister Pearson!" I felt myself being picked up, and soon my vision blackened.

I kept losing and gaining consciousness. My ears were ringing. When my vision cleared, Dutch was carrying me carefully down the stairs. I blacked out. My vision cleared again, and more men and women this time were approaching quickly. Dutch was hollering, and even with the loud, insufferable ringing, I could hear the desperation. I blacked out. It cleared again, and I was sprawled out on a wagon with an older woman shouting at people to step back. Before I blacked out one last time, my eyes shifted to Dutch.

And for some odd reason, I think I could see tears running down his cheeks. Why cry for a woman you just met?