Riches to Revolvers | rdr2 | Wattys2019

O'Driscoll Vs Van der Linde

Arthur has been in and out of camp for two weeks, avoiding Sarah at all costs. But Sarah was having the best time of her life at the moment, she's currently teaching sweet little Jack how to tell poisonous berries from edible ones.
She has become a big help to the camp, even when it feels like the gang is starting to fall apart.

While sorting the berries, a feminine scream fills the air. It made Sarah jump with fear, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. She stands, dropping the handful of red berries to the ground.

Jack gasps, tears springing from his brown eyes. He suddenly jumps up from the table they're sitting at, sending more berries flying everywhere.
He runs towards the front of the mansion, despite Sarah's attempt to stop him. "Jack, stay with me!" She calls but he keeps running, assumably to his mother.
Sarah runs after him though, it's her duty to protect him.

As she rounds the mansion, she spots Jack with a frightened Abigail, her eyes travel to the spot she's staring at now.
Unfortunately she's met with a lone horseman but...his head is no longer on his shoulders but in his hands. Her face turns white with fear, heart pounding as she recognizes the man.

"ITS KIERAN!" Marybeth cries, which startles her further.

"Everyone take cover! O'Driscoll boys are coming!" Dutch shouts from the balcony.

All at once, gunshots ring out. Abigail runs towards a stunned Sarah grabbing her hand roughly the. pulling her into the double doors of the house. "WOMEN AND CHILDREN INSIDE!" One of the men yell, the deafening shots keep firing.

Sarah is terrified and her mind keeps going back to her mother and...Arthur. Is he okay? Will she ever see her mother again?

Arthur comes bounding down the stairs, pistol in hand. "Away from the windows and doors!" He booms.

He throws the doors open again, letting the rest of the gang in.

"Get inside fast! Cmon quick! Don't let anyone back through the door!"

He slams them shut, everyone crouches down or behind something. Pants and cries mixed with the gunshots.

She is scared beyond belief..

Jack snuggles into Abigail's arms, she's trying to stay strong but I know her heart is quaking with fear...she is now seeing the rough life that causes so many of the gang members to be the way they are.

"We need to go up stairs! Now!" Miss Grimshaw scurries up the stairs as the fight carries on and seems to be getting closer to the battered plantation. They all rush upstairs as quickly as they could, some scarcely dodging stray bullets from the broken windows.

Once upstairs, a loud thud down below thunders followed by Dutch's commands, "get them doors barricaded!"

The loud shuffling and guns downstairs made her anxious and her body felt heavy with fear. The loud thuds made her jump worse than the gunshots. "Get them doors barricaded quick! Good! Now everyone I got get these windows covered quickly.. John you take the windows over there! Charles you take the side door there. Arthur you take the windows in the back..GO!"

More shots ring and glass shatters. "Is everyone accounted for?" Arthur asks.

"I think.." John responds quickly.
"HEY! I said 'is EVERYONE accounted for?'"
"I don't know! I think!" The tension was high within the gang now, it's life or death and everyone's at each other's throat.

The smell of blood and perspiration hung strongly in the hot air, the battle is weighing in heavily on the small gang. Sarah drops to the floor, covering her face in her knees.
"Ahhh, ahhh!" A raspy scream rings out, a woman that sounds desperate and filled with rage.

"That's Mrs Adler! She's still out there! Cover me!" Arthur's familiar voice makes Sarah squirm with fear and anxiety. His bravery is honorable but also foolish. But Sadie is a good woman.. she would've done the same if she could.

More time passes, then gloriously the shooting finally stops.

Hosea, takes off downstairs. Everyone follows, Sarah slowly behind as he throws the doors open.

"Cowards!" Dutch's raging voice declares.

"We okay?" Hosea asks.

"I think so...except for Kieran here. Ugh! Poor kid.. Mister Swanson, can you take this boy and bury him? Someplace near but not too near."
Reverend Swanson nods solemnly.
"Of course, Charles, help me with the body."

The women step outside slowly and timidly, except for Jack and Abigail.

As the camp gets busy putting things back together, Sarah is absolutely hysterical. She isn't crying nor mad but she is so upset and unbelievably shocked at how fast the gang picks up the pieces and moves on! It took her a month to get over her beloved cat Lucy's death..

"Are you okay?" Tilly asks making Sarah jolt out of her thoughts, she's smiling sadly at her.

"Of course! Of course, never better. Um..I'm going to help Miss Grimshaw." She hesitates, then smiles at Tilly. "Thanks for asking I just don't know how to feel about this and I can't leave. I don't even know my ways around and I'm scared. But I'm trying to keep going.."

"Wait...Sarah.." Tilly stops her from continuing, dropping the forced smile now.

"Hmm?" Sarah turns slowly, trying to hold back her shock and hurt. She meets Tilly's chocolate brown, the hurt in them is distinct and clear.

"You aren't okay. I remember my first few days in the gang.. it was rough but not as rough as my home life was. I hope you can find your place with us outlaws." She gives Sarah a broken yet genuine smile.
"Thank you Miss Tilly, I appreciate it."
"You should join me later, I don't know if you drink but Karen and I would love your company."

"I'm not much of a drinker, well I've never actually drank before but I might take you up on that offer. Well I'm off, I guess we have to learn how to get along somehow."
She nods in agreement to Sarah and they part ways.

Sarah sits on the steps of the mansion, watching the gang when she finally spots Arthur. She eyes the dead lying around him as he stands tall and unbothered.. it unnerves her..

Arthur is with Dutch as always, exchanging words of anger it seems.. then they part ways. John and Arthur are left to pick the pieces up and put them back...even if it's all they can do, it isn't helping. The members are broken and lost. But they keep on going.

Sarah is beginning to break as well. If her mother wanted her to have a life away from the one before, she got what she wished for.