Dutch's Girl

Chapter Four

Dutch

I awoke when I heard rustling. My eyes had to readjust to the dim light of the wagon, but once they did, my eyes darted to Chelsea. She was waking up, and I got anxious. Cmon darlin'.

Chelsea opened her chocolate brown orbs and looked around before she settled on me. Her breathing picked up a bit, and I squeezed her hand to comfort her, but I forgot she probably didn't realize I was holding it. "Don't be afraid, it's only me," I said gently. She sat up and slammed her hand to her face. She must have a terrible headache.

"How long was I out?", she asked quietly. "A few hours. You lost a lot of blood, but thanks to Miss Grimshaw you're alive." Chelsea looked back at me once more. "Thank you for saving me from those bastards. They killed my family." I nodded. I felt truly bad for her. I normally didn't care about matters such as this, but anything that made her sad made me sad.

"Is there anything I can get you? Food? Water?" I patiently waited for her answer. I was pretty eager to take care of her. She nodded. "Water would be nice." I hopped out the wagon and hurried to get her a mug of water. As I was heading back, Arthur appeared at my side. "She awake?", he asked. "Yea, she is. And she wants water, so I'm bringin' it to her." Arthur sighed. "Dutch, don't go and embarrass yourself by turning into her maid."

I rolled my eyes and hopped back in the wagon. "Here Miss Wolff, I have that water you was needin'." She smiled gratefully at me, and I was taken aback by how genuine and happy it was. This girl is gonna be the death of me. She gulped it down in a matter of seconds, and I felt upset. Knowing Colm, he probably was going to rape her and then kill her. He didn't care if she dehydrated or starved. Although, that plate she used to hit someone with had food on it, so maybe he was going to keep her for a while.

Arthur climbed into the wagon and sat on the other side, facing me. "Dutch, we've got to talk." I turned to him. "Arthur, Miss Wolff needs me." My friend looked down to see she was staring at me. "Hello there Miss Wolff, how are you feeling?" She turned and nodded her head at him. "Apart from the massive headache, I feel fine. Just a little sore." I was drinking in every word that rolled off her lips. Maybe she'll let me kiss those one day.

Arthur sighed. "Dutch, go ahead. She's awake, now is a good time to ask." Chelsea looked between us in confusion. I sighed and looked her in the eye. "Now Miss Wolff, I had hoped to have this discussion with you when you were better on your feet, but since it's been brought up, I might as well." Chelsea nodded her head for me to continue.

"It's a dangerous world out there. N-Not saying that it's any safer here, but we could protect you, look out for you. I was hoping maybe you'd stay with us?" The look on her face made me nervous, so I looked to Arthur for help. He nodded and spoke. "Look, we know you've been through a lot and this isn't exactly somethin' most people ever wanna think about. But you gotta understand, we don't know if Colm and his boys have actually let you go. He had a plate of food for you; under normal circumstances, he woulda raped ya and killed you. Or he woulda tortured you to death. The point I'm tryna make is, he had bigger plans for you. We can protect you from him. You've been seen associating with us, so you are a target now. Join us Miss. I think you'll find most folk in the gang make for good company." I nodded my head. I sure hope that worked.

Chelsea looked at her hands. I spoke up. "We'll leave you alone so you can make a decision." Arthur and I started to get out, but just before I hopped out, I felt a small hand lock itself into the crook of my arm. I turned and stared back at Chelsea as she was blushing. In a flash, she snatched her hand back. "I-I think I'll stay. Atleast for a while." Her voice was so small and shy.

I smiled and nodded my head. "Well, I have things to do, so you get some rest and if you feel up to it, you can go for a ride with me. I want to talk more with you." Chelsea nodded and turned on her side to go back to sleep. I wanted to lay there with her and hold her, but I barely knew the girl, so I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

Once out of the wagon I let my eyes scan the small area called Horseshoe Overlook. It was a pretty decent site, and I felt like it was easier to breathe in this air; not the thick, grimy air of Blackwater. That place went downhill so quickly, I never woulda saw it coming back in the day.

"Dutch!", called a familiar voice. When I turned to see, my best friend Hosea was approaching. "Dutch, there's a small town just down the road a ways. I sent in Javier and Charles to scope out the place." I stared down at the ground for a moment before turning my attention to the wagon that held the woman I cared about. "I think I will go later today. And, I'm taking Miss Wolff too."

Hosea looked at me with a surprised look on his face. "You sure about that Dutch? I mean, the poor girl has been through a lot. We should atleast give her a few days to grieve. She can earn her keep later." I sighed. He did have a point. "Maybe you're right, but if she feels up to it, I want to get her away from camp and talk to her, see who she is." Hosea didn't buy that lie for one instant, but I knew he wouldn't. He sighed. "Whatever you say Dutch. I'm going to go clean my guns," he said as he walked away.

I walked over to my tent and lit a cigar before taking a puff on it and blowing the smoke into the air in front of me. My eyes continuously scanned camp, but they stopped on the wagon that held Miss Wolf. Chelsea Van der Linde one day I hope. "Mister Van der Linde!," called out Miss Grimshaw. "You have a visitor!"

Approaching me was none other than Josiah Trelawny. "Ah, Dutch Van der Linde! Still alive and well I see? How are you? You've stirred up quite a bit of trouble back in Blackwater." I chuckled. "I'll be doing better when we make some money. How did you find the camp anyway?" Trelawny stood next to me. "I passed Mister Escuella and Mister Smith on the road near Valentine and asked if I could see you as I have something important to tell you. They pointed me here."

I didn't reveal this to Trelawny, but I was very upset with Javier and Charles for pointing this sleazy roach here. We had to be careful. As much as I appreciated the uses that he has provided, didn't mean that I trusted him with our camp location. Sure, if he absolutely needed to, I would allow him to run with us for a while, but this man had a habit of pulling disappearing acts, and I had no doubts he would squeal like a butchered hog if someone truly wanted to know where we were. I'll have to deal with those two later.

"What do you got for us Trelawny?", I asked with an easy tone. As far as Josiah could tell, I was content as I showed a laid back demeanor, but in reality I was being extra cautious. He cleared his throat and began talking in riddles about how the world had a funny way of presenting opportunities to make fortunes and live rich lives, but he eventually got down to business about the bank in Valentine and someone at a place called Emerald Ranch that would be useful to us.

"Now, Valentine is a livestock town. Most of the people living there rely on their animals to pay for their lives, it's a very simple place really. The thing about it is, the bank is pretty loaded. People can make themselves rich by selling and buying livestock, and everyday more and more money is entrusted in that bank. Your best bet of getting anything worth while in Valentine will be in the bank." Trelawny looked to me for some response to show I had listened. "Okay, what about that potential fence in Emerald Ranch?", I asked.

Trelawny patted my shoulder. "There's a man there who has a shifty way about him that I took notice of as I was investigating the place. Emerald Ranch is a very peculiar place indeed might I add. Take some time to dig around there if you can, there is a whole bunch of potential there. Anyway, the man I'm talking about, he needs to be buttered up some, but I just know he's smuggling elicit goods and rare items, something that could benefit the gang. Plus, you can sell stolen goods to him as well. Maybe send Mister Matthiews to go and speak with him?" I nodded and thought about all that Trelawny had said. We may be able to make quite a bit of money here before we have to leave again.

Josiah pulled out a watch and glanced at the time before clearing his throat once more. "I'm sorry Mister Van der Linde, but I must go. I have my own matters to attend to. Good day to you." And with that, Josiah Trelawny slinked away and out of camp. I rubbed the back of my neck and went into my tent to write down some things before giving out orders to those who I thought could handle some jobs.

I informed Hosea about Emerald Ranch and told him to make sure whenever he was ready to do anything for that man to make sure he took Arthur with him. That boy will get any job I assign him done. He is truly like a son to me.

I looked up at the sky and then slowly let my eyes travel to the wagon that held Chelsea. Despite my better judgements, I strode over to it and peered inside. I froze. Where the hell did she go?!