𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝙷𝚢𝚖𝚗 | 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝙸

Act I | Chapter IV

. Hostages .

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Not too long after, shouts could be made out outside. Arthur's gruff voice could barely be heard over the howling winds. "Here we are, you sack of shit. Let's introduce you to the boys."

Jane, far too curious and hopeful that she wasn't alone in this predicament, found herself carefully to the doorway. She took to peeking out of a tiny gap in the wooden threshold, silently hoping she wasn't the only one whisked away from her father's camp.

The stranger begged in fear, "No, don't hurt me please!"

Arthur's words were heavily laced with sarcasm. "Nah, don't worry. They're real nice."

Dutch exited his cabin, his booming voice sounding rather nonchalant about Arthur's success in retrieving the stranger. "Oh! You found the little shit, didn't you?"

"Yep." Arthur, holding the stranger over his shoulder, dropped him carelessly into the snow. The stranger elicited a terrified gasp, making Jane flinch in sympathy. "I got him."

Dutch smiled down at their new hostage without kindness from behind the train robbery plans, praising Arthur. "Very good."

As Arthur cut free the man's ankles, Dutch began welcoming the hostage as hostages are typically treated. "Welcome to your new home... hope you're real happy here."

Arthur roughly lifted their hostage up onto his feet, holding his bound arms with a fierce grip, shifting his focus to Dutch as the stranger shifted uncomfortably against his grip. "You want me to make him talk?"

The gang leader shook his head, rolling up the plans tightly. "Oh no, now all we'll get is lies."

Two men, Bill and one other whom Jane did not know, exited the cabin straight across from her current residency striding past the small campfire to the small group. Dutch noticed them and ordered, "Uncle. Mr. Williamson. Tie this maggot up someplace safe. We get him hungry first."

Uncle and Bill took over Arthur's position in holding the stranger, each taking a grip onto his arms and shoulders. Dutch took a step closer, utilizing his intimidating appearance as he sauntered over to be right in his face. Jane shifted, feeling anxious for the stranger. In all honesty, her gut told her that this gang really wasn't all that different from her fathers. So far, thy were just as dirty, and just as ruthless.

"I got a saying, my friend..." Dutch lilted, his head tilting to the side as he peered right into the man's eyes. "We shoot fellers as need shooting, save fellers as need saving, and feed 'em as need feeding. We're gonna find out what you need."

Worry lines currently creased the man's face as he stared back at Dutch with a mixture of defiance and cowardice.

A big disbelieving guffaw erupted from Dutch as he turned around, his arms raised in gesture. "I can't believe it! An O'Driscoll in my camp!"

The hostage struggled against the grips of Bill and Uncle as they began to drag him in the direction of the cabin Jane took residence in. He looked over his shoulder and denied, "No, I ain't an O'Driscoll, mister! I hate that feller!"

Jane then got a good look of the man as the fire's glow hit him just right. She's seen him around the camp the few times she was allowed to exit her old cabin back at Ewing Basin. Dark hair that reached the nape of his neck, with a ruggedly trimmed mustache and beard.

"Oh, whatever you say, son!" Dutch called after in blatant sarcasm. Jane squinted at the gang leader and Arthur, who had stood back and watched the entire conversation. Dutch looked to Arthur in pride and praised, "Well done, Arthur."