The Dusty Shamrock ~ OC RDR2 fanfiction

Chapter 17

I took a brief glance at the map from The O'Driscoll camp we'd raided a few days prior, scoping out all the possible places they could be keeping John. My mind tossed and turned with all the possibilities of what they could do to him, he was only a kid. He could barely even read the newspaper, let alone protect himself against grown men.
"Their closest camp is in West Elizabeth, near the Manzanita Post. There's a forest close by so that's where they'll most likely be camping out" Charles was the voice of reason in this situation. We were riding out very close West Elizabeth, the road wasn't traversed much as it lead straight to the Indian reservation.

My thoughts questioned the morals involved, I mean the O'Driscoll's morals. Who the hell steals a boy? John wasn't that old, only about 13 - he'd only just learnt how to ride a horse for Christ's sake.

I had my Lancaster repeater neatly tucked in my long arm shoulder, keeping itself visible yet not hugely threatening. "Careful, we got someone coming up behind" Charles warned, I glanced behind us to see a man riding towards us on a palomino, Arabian steed. He was wearing a brown leather duster that was seemingly new and well kept, his trousers looked fairly expensive yet his shirt showed some wear and tear. He was wearing a slouch cap which did no job of hiding his face any. Our company approached us, slowing to match our pace before speaking.
"My, my, that's a mighty big gun for such a little lady" he commented.
"The fuck did'ya jus' say to me?" I blurted.
"Woah-" Charles started, attempting to calm me at first "Hey, haven't I seen around at the reservation?"
"Yes, I think I do remember seein' you. I go up there for some Indian tobacco" the stranger conversed with Charles whilst I rode alongside. They continued talking until Charles had started to fully trust the stranger we were riding alongside. "The name's Alvor Sheen Wirker, at your service"
"I'm Bronagh O'Cealleigh, this is my-" I paused, unsure of what title to give to Charles. "My companion, Charles Smith" I finished.
"Oh, if you two are an item, that's fine by me. In fact, I have a thing for a certain Native girl up on the reservation" Alvor assured "would you two happened to have come across a certain outlaw with a very unique schofield revolver, would you?" He asked. I thought for a moment, the man who'd kidnapped me had very unique schofield revolver. It was embellished with gold and silver, an ivory handle with a golden star design on it- I happened to pick it up and keep it, but it was back at camp at this present time.
"Ivory handle? Golden embellishments on silver components?" I questioned.
"Yes, that's the one - would there be any kind of trade deal you'd take for it?" Alvor asked.
"Well, it's back at our camp but I'm sure we can come to an arrangement"
"And what arrangement would that be?"
"We could do with an extra gun, y'see a young boy who's very special to me has been taken and we're going t'get 'im back"
"And you'd like a hand with that?"
"Yes. Then you'll get y'r gun" I agreed, Alvor agreed to the terms of our arrangement

Alvor, Charles and I rode to the O'Driscoll camp just off the manzanita post, we hitched the horses just near the camp entrance. We'd made a lucky guess, the camp had one, large main cabin and a barn, and was squirming with O'Driscolls. I gestured for my comrades to stay low and follow me.
"We'll clear out the foreground, then Charles and I'll clear the cabin, Alvor- you clear the barn, keep a look out for John" I whispered the orders to the men behind me, they nodded in acknowledgment before taking their positions. Alvor drew out a Lancaster repeater, I took out mine and Charles cocked his sawed off shotgun. They looked to me, I nodded - signalling then to start firing. "Find my boy!" I screamed as we opened fire on the mongrels occupying the camp.

Within minutes, the rivals were cold on the floor and full of lead. Alvor ran to the barn to check for any remaining occupants whilst Charles led the search on the house with me following close behind. The cabin was much larger on the inside. 3 or 4 large rooms, at least. Charles went into the next room while I searched the room opposite.
"Where is he?!" I screamed as I kicked the door open. One man was inside the room, he dropped his gun as soon as I burst into the room. I grabbed him by the collar, getting as close into his face as possible before yelling;
"Where is he?! Where is John?!"
"I - uh" he stammered, in response I slapped him sharp across the face. I pulled my pistol from its holster and hit him across the face with it, busting his lip and making his nose start to bleed. I repeated my original question. "He-He's in the back cupboard, I swear!" The O'Driscoll squirmed, I held no mercy and put a bullet through his temple.
"Hey- a little help in here!" I heard Charles yell from another room, I bolted to the next room and prepared to help him out of his predicament. Before I could get to my partner, I was tackled to the floor as soon as I passed the door frame. Some ugly bastard had me pinned to the floor, I grasped his wrists and tried to pry his hands from around my neck. I was just beginning to set my neck free as the man on top of me rolled to the side and fell limp on the floor. The first place my eyes bolted to were Charles, he'd just broken out of the O'Driscoll's headlock and now had a gun being aimed at him. I knew the next events all too well and I scrambled to me feet, throwing myself as far forward as I could. I'd turned my back to the O'Driscoll, so that I was facing Charles. A yelp of pain escaped my mouth as a sharp pain erupted from a particular spot in my shoulder. Bullets were more painful than what I'd recalled them to be. I hissed in pain as the other O'Driscoll dropped to the ground. I looked to the doorway to see Alvor, blowing the smoke from the muzzle of his pistol. I nodded in gratitude.
"Get John! He's in the cupboard" I ordered. Alvor swaggered to the cupboard behind Charles and I to free the boy whom I knew was in there. Charles leaned down to help me up and onto my feet.
"Are you sure you can walk?" He asked, I waved a hand, almost as if to brush off his concern.
"I'll be fine" I rasped.
"You don't sound fine, here-" Charles pressed his hand to the wound on my shoulder in attempt to stop the bleeding. He shook his head and took out what looked to be a scarf from his satchel and tied it, tightly, around my shoulder. He put pressure on top of that and kept hold of my waist in order to steady me.
"Got your boy here" Alvor remarked, John scurried to greet me, once he did so, we strolled back out to where the horses were.

Alvor's horse whinnied almost as if to congratulate us on getting John back out safe. I saw Taima too, however, no Ama.
"Where's Ama?" We all stopped in our tracks at my realisation that we were one horse short.
"She must've been taken" Charles reasoned "You can ride on Taima with me, Alvor - are you alright taking John?"
"Sure thing, nice to meet you, son" Alvor introduces himself to John in a friendly manner. We'd have to take a chance and trust our new comrade until we were sure that he was trustworthy. Charles helped me onto the front of Taima, followed by him settling himself in the saddle space behind me. John was on the back of Alvor's palamino Arabian.

We set off for camp, we a had a long journey ahead of us, and I had a painful journey too.