Reckless Hearts

Chapter 24

Your happiness, of course was short lived.

Nightmares haunted your sleep. Not nightmares of Colm O'Driscoll, but your other nemesis, Micah Bell.

Micah stood there, leaning over you and laughing. You couldn't move.

"You didn't think you'd get away from me that easily, I have a bullet with your name on it!"

He raised his gun, and fired.

"No!" you screamed.

You woke up with a start, immediately sitting up. You could feel your heart racing, pounding in your chest.

Sweat glistening on your face.

You wrapped your arms around your body, shaking your head trying to get the vision out of your mind.

Dutch came running into the tent, having heard you scream.

Seeing the state you were in, he came immediately to the cot, wrapping his arms around you and holding you tightly.

"Hush now", he whispered, "it was just a bad dream."

"It was so real," you gasped. "Micah...he shot me."

Dutch rubbed your back. "No one's gonna shoot you, I wont let them," he soothed.

You looked into his eyes, "I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for you," you whispered, tears pooling in your eyes.

Dutch cupped your face in his hands, rubbing circles on your cheeks with his thumbs.

"Nor I you," he whispered.

He kissed your forehead, and stood up.

Dutch grabbed a pile of clothes that had already been laid out on the chair, which you hadn't even seen.

"C'mon, lets get you dressed, then you can have something to eat, and a little fresh air." He soothed.

Once you were dressed, Dutch stood in front of you.

"Ready?" he asked, holding out his hands.

You nodded, and he helped you off the cot. As soon as you were standing, he wrapped his arm around your waist, and you both walked outside.

You hadn't realised you had slept so late. The sun was low in the sky, a red orb. The camp was dimly lit, with several big campfires. Lanterns were dotted around on the tables around the camp.

Dutch guided you over to one of the campfires, where Javier was playing guitar, Karen was sat on Sean's lap, and Arthur and Hosea were sat on a log.

Dutch sat on the log, and put you on his knee. His arm wrapped around your waist. You wrapped your arm around his neck.

He'd certainly never done this before, not even with Molly.

You thought perhaps he was making a point, to the rest of the camp, that you were his.

Something that you weren't too unhappy about, and it appeared, neither was anyone else.

For the first time in ages, everyone seemed to be relaxed, even if only for one night.

Karen looked across at you smirking, as if to say I told you so. You smiled back.

Charles walked over to the campfire, carrying a plate in his hand. He handed it to Dutch who looked at it, and hummed.

"What's that?" you asked.

"This," Dutch remarked, "is your supper."

You fidgeted on his lap, trying to get a closer look.