The Dusty Shamrock ~ OC RDR2 fanfiction

Chapter 21

The year was now 1889, sometime in February, I believe. After our success with the bank heist and poker game, we moved near the Indian reservation. We helped out where we could and kept ourselves busy as best we could. Our camp had lost none of its inhabitants and we were all doing well, Sean had come to stay with us too. I had seen very little of the Van Der Linde gang, only hearing of their antics from the odd town local here and there.

Today was different to any other regular day. I knew of the exact date, it was a particularly special day for me. It was St Valentines Day, this day was significant for me, in Ireland it was almost as significant as any Catholic holiday - or even St Patrick's day. The day celebrated romance and courtship, where one may spoil their significant other with gifts aplenty. Although it was a part of my culture only, I still felt as though I should celebrate it as I normally would. I'd made many enquiries to local trappers about locating a particular quiver for my significant other and had finally struck gold. I recalled, a few months back, Charles mentioning a Bearskin quiver he'd dreamed of buying. Knowing how stubborn the man was, I knew that I'd have to go behind his back to find this item because, if he knew, he would certainly not want me to spend that kind of money on him. However, me knowing him far too well, I managed to get hold of a trapper who had exactly what I was searching for. I'd gone out to pick up the item today, it was wrapped in cloth so that it wasn't visible.
I returned to camp to find Charles sharpening his tomahawk, I timidly padded over to the small campfire next to which he was sat.
"Charles!" I called, he looked up at me as a smile graced his features. "I, uh, I got you somethin'" I mumbled.
"Oh yeah?" He raised an eyebrow "what's the occasion?"
"It's Valentines Day - It's stupid, I know but-" he cut me off before I could finish my excuse.
"You didn't have to get me anything." He firmly stated, I pulled the cloth laden bundle from behind my back and presented to Charles. With a rather knowing look in his eye, he gently took the gift into his own hands, a smile still hovering on his lips. He slowly uncovered the quiver, his fingers tenderly rubbed against the new, clean hide of the quiver.
"... This is very high quality, bear hide even. Thank you" I grinned at his response. Before I could walk away, he reached behind him to pull a similar cloth bundle from a leather satchel that was near him. He held it out to me. "I got you something too" he fessed. I took the cloth and unwrapped the item enclosed. What lay in my hands was a beautifully crafted blue, glass bead necklace and a leather sheath which protected an exquisite new hunting knife. The hunting knife had a small piece of string attached to the rough handle which tethered an eagle feather and a few decorative beads to the knife.
"Wow" I breathed. "I could kiss you right now" I laughed, remembering when I first said that to him and how that turned out. Staying true to what I said, I leant down to Charles and placed a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth. He smiled up at me in return to the gesture.
"Y'know I made the handle myself, it's deer antler actually" I gasped at the mention and carefully took out the knife to inspect the handle that Charles had so lovingly hand-crafted himself. I tackled him into a bear hug which he soon returned. "I'll take that you like it then" he chuckled.

That particular day could not be spent as leisurly as I would've liked though. We had to move Campsites. Hans and Renée had packed up everything into the wagons which now had 'O'Cealleigh Clockwork' proudly printed in bold, white paint upon the side. We were a clock making company as a cover up, much how Van Der Linde had Strauss to be his cover up business. We were moving down into West Elizabeth again, except slightly closer to Blackwater this time. I sent Alvor to scout ahead and make sure there were no bounty hunters or anyone else who might be on our tails. Victoria was in the wagon that Charles and I were manning, she'd been a bit down these last few weeks. Being without Javier for so long has really hit her hard. Part of me hoped that we'd come across the Van Der Linde gang once more just so that I could see her be happy once again, part of hoped that she'd move on and let go. However, I knew that she would never let go of her true love - she always looked so happy whenever her and Javier were with one another.

We found a shaded spot just north of Blackwater to set up shop, Hans set up his fence a little ways away from camp. I hopped down from the wagon.
"A'right, make yourselves at home" I ordered "Clementine, Dolly, Florrie and Etha! Get this camp into shape" I told our camp girls. The camp followers that Alvor had gotten for us, Clementine and Florrie, had been an amazing help to us. They were young and kept the place clean and tidy. However, our most helpful of the lot, Etha was exactly what the doctor ordered to get our camp into shape. She was an ex-crimean war Nurse and not only nursed our camp members to health, but our accomodation too.

"Vix! C'mon we're going to Blackwater to see what we can find" I gestured for my best friend to follow me to the horses.
"Why?" She asked, I looked at her bewilderment before answering her vague question.
"Because you need to get out more, now c'mon" Victoria huffed but still did as I had asked her. I placed my foot in Nolan's stirrup and hoisted myself atop the saddle before settling myself into it. Vix did the same, then we spurred our horses on into a trot and set off for the town of Blackwater.

We hitched our horses outside the tailor, around the back of town.
"C'mon, walk wi' me"
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"Jus' 'round town, see if there's any work or any lost souls hangin' 'round" As if on queue, we spotted a young girl - a few years younger than us, perhaps. She had red hair and face of freckles, she was sat on one of the benches with two small suitcases beside her feet. "'Scuse me, Miss?" She looked up at me and my companion. "Are you alrigh'? You seem a tad like you've lost your way"
"I'll be honest, I came here to get away from my family an' I didn't really think ahead..." she trailed off, she spoke with a strong Dublin accent and wore fairly fancy clothes.
"We've got some room at our camp if you'd like to come a stay with us" I replied. It was evident that she was a city girl and the odds of her accepting the offer to come and stay with a band of misfits were slim to none, but I still asked nonetheless.
"Um..." she trailed off in thought. "Would you be able to pick me up tomorrow mornin'? I've already booked a room at the saloon for tonight" My eyes widened, a posh, city girl? Accepted my offer? The world was changing. I nodded and we agreed to pick her up tomorrow morning.
"I'm Bronagh O'Cealliegh" I introduced myself.
"Molly O'shea."