The Wolf and the Lamb

Daughter of the Leader

John~

The sun peaked through the small slit hitting my eyes. I heard Abigail yelling as I slowly woke up. I looked around at the unfamiliar tent, the smell of perfume lingered in the air. I took a deep breath and noticed something resting on my chest. I looked down, Edith's small hand rested gently across my body. I listened to her breathing as I laid on her chest.

Abigail kept yelling, and I knew it wouldn't be long before the whole camp came after me just to get her to stop. I slowly sat up earning a sleepy complaint  from Edith. She looked so beautiful, yet so fragile as she laid in the cot. 

I got up and stretched for a moment, peaking out to make sure Abigail wouldn't catch me so quickly. Especially not leaving Edith's tent. Her words popped back into my head, he pained expression as she talked about her captivity. My chest tightened at the remembrance of it, a small sigh escaping my lips as I walked toward the campfire. 

Javier sat beside it as normal, "It's bout time you showed up" he complained placing his hand on his temples. I shook my head ans sat across from him. 

I heard her stomps as she charged at me, a series of questions came quickly as she interrogated me as to where I was last night and this morning. "Will you leave me alone woman" I asked. "You're wakin the whole town." She glared at me and huffed, "If you didn't run off every chance you got, then I wouldn't haveta yell at you" she argued storming off until she could find something else to yell about. 

I shook my head and returned to the fire dancing before me. Time passed slowly as I sat there, coffee in my hand and small conversations weaving in and out. I watched Edith leave her tent, smiling as Arthur approached her. A twang of emotion pulled at my chest as I watched him, I hadn't felt jealousy before, yet here I was. "You keep lookin at em like that and they'll catch ya" Micah spoke as he sat down. "Shut up Micah" I replied. He laughed, "What's wrong scarface, pinning after the daughter" he teased. I glared at him and looked away from Arthur. 

"What do you mean daughter" Javier asked. Micah laughed, "Well you know that one's off limits" he said crudely "She's bout as close to a daughter Dutch has go." Lenny joined and chimed in, "How you figure." Micah rolled his eyes and laughed, "Ya'll are bout idiots. That girl is bout Dutch's kin. He got er when she was still small, now... well now she's big" His smile twisted into something perverted as he laughed. I got up, leaving the group as they argued over who was on and off limits.

I grumbled as I moved to a stump not too far from camp, not long some steps began approaching. "John Marston" Dutch spoke. I turned to face him, "Hey Dutch" I responded. He stood beside me leaning on a tree as he smoked a cigar. "I've got a job for you if you're up for it" he said, "You can take a couple others if you want help." I looked at him, "I don't often need help Dutch." 

He nodded and shrugged, "Just thought you might... Anyway it's a small thing, just recon on a homestead. O'Driscol homestead, so maybe keep it low from Miss Adler, and Edith." 

I looked down and nodded, "Alright, where is it at?" I asked, Dutch tossed the butt of his cigar and told me the location. 

As I began to pack my saddlebag Abigail was complaining. She didn't understand why I had to go when there were many other, more capable men that could go. I ignored her words as I loaded up my horse. "John..." Abigail sighed angrily as she stood by Old Boy. I scoffed as I began to ride out of camp. I hadn't gotten far from camp, just into Valentine when I heard a familiar voice from behind me. "John Marston" Edith cooed. I was on the steps heading into the general store and turned. She smiled, Arthur beside her, "Edith Hallows" I mocked. 

"What are you doin?" Edith asked as I walked into the store. I shrugged, "Some light work for Dutch I guess." She smiled, "Great! That's what I was doin, but I'm done so I can go with ya if you want" Her posture and the air around her was different today, brighter. "No" I said firmly, almost cold toward the small woman.