Chapter 30

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Once you were dressed, you walked out the tent, and headed to where Dutch and Hosea were sitting.

Hosea was arguing with Dutch.

"No good will come of it, he was a powerful man." Hosea chided.

Dutch glared at Hosea, "Its done now, there isn't anything we can do about it, lets just put it behind us, and try and get enough money to leave!"

As you approached the table, both men stopped arguing, and looked at you.

You frowned, "Is something the matter?" you asked.

Dutch smiled at you, "No, baby girl, everything is just fine. Here eat some breakfast, then we'll head out." He pointed to the bowl of stew, which he'd already fetched for you.

Hosea stood up glaring at you, then at Dutch, then strode across the camp. Hosea, didn't usually get angry, but he was today. Just like he was in the mountain, when you wouldn't let him look at your arm.

"Did I do something?" you asked Dutch, in between mouthfuls of stew.

Dutch shook his head, "He's just worried, he'll get over it."

"Worried about what? The last time he looked like that was up in the mountains," you added, as you finished your stew.

Dutch rolled his eyes, "You let me worry about Hosea, now go and fetch that rifle, and stow it on your saddle. Arthur and Bill are waiting for us in Rhodes."

You stood up grinning, "are you taking me on a job?" you asked, hopefully.

Dutch smirked, "just a little one, how's your shoulder."

You rolled it, "fine," you confirmed.

"Good," Dutch concluded, "we'll see how you go today, before I let you loose with the boys."

You ran back over to the tent, and retrieved the rifle. Then you and Dutch, walked to the hitching posts. It seemed like an age since you had ridden Lucky. Thankfully she was a placid mare, so the lack of exercise, hadn't phased her. She had just got a bit on the fat side. You saddled her up, and slid the rifle into the saddle.

"I wasn't sure you'd let me go out doing jobs any more," you commented to Dutch, as you mounted your horse.

Dutch frowned, "I ain't gonna let you do anything too dangerous, but if you're left to your own devices, you might end up going off with Mrs Adler, and doing something crazy," he grumbled.

You smiled at Dutch, "I promised you I wouldn't, didn't I?"

Dutch smiled back, and nodded, "Yes you did, and I listened to what you said, when we were up at Hamish's cabin."

You both pushed your horses into a walk, and headed out of the camp.

"I'd like to live somewhere like that, one day," you admitted, "It was nice to have a proper roof over our heads."

Dutch nodded, "One day baby girl, that's exactly what we'll have. We just need to get back on our feet."

You smiled, you hoped someday you would, but for now this was enough, as long as you could stay out of trouble.

As you both approached Rhodes, you took in the sights of the town. You noticed a veteran, leaning against the side of the general store. He'd lost a leg, but unlike Hamish, he didn't have a false one just a crutch.

"Look at that poor man, he's lost a leg, just like Hamish," you whispered to Dutch, as you rode past the general store.

Dutch glanced at him, "he ain't nothin' like Hamish. Hamish is a good man, he's an inbred slaver. The likes of who killed my Daddy," he snarled.

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