That F**cking Yankee

The Meeting

You awoke in the mid-morning to camp life. Turning over Dutch had already disappeared from your cot. Giving yourself a few minutes to wake up you eventually got up and got dressed.

Leaving your cot you followed the smell of the stew Pearson had cooked up. 

Grabbing a bowl you went and sat by a dim-lit fire where a few of the other gang were sitting. Being quiet you ate your stew then began to write in your journal. 

"Morning, Auntie Y/N" Jack said as he came sat next to you.

"Howdy Jack" You replied as you put your book away and focused on him. 

"What ya doin?" He asked as he wanted to look in your book. 

"Not too much little man. Just waking up for the day" You explained as you ruffled his hair.

"Jack. C'mon buddy. We got stuff to do" Abigail called for Jack in her demanding tone.

Jack scurried off with Abigail and you were sitting by yourself as everyone else had filtered away.

...

A little later int he day you saw Arthur and Micah talking together. You wanted to know what was up so you got off your cot and slowly walked up.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called" Micah said waving his hands around. "Well... however it goes" He chuckled dryly.

"I'm not sure that line of thought serves you or me very well..." Arthur replied looking him dead in the eyes.

"Well, that's because cowpoke... You are a man of profoundly limited intelligence" He chuckled again.

"No doubt"

"while you and the old man and Dutch have been running around... diggin' us ever deeper into shit. Old Mr. Pearson might have gone and lightened the load a little" He explained tilting his head up towards Arthur. "Pearson!" Micah called. "Well, aren't ya curious?" He asked Arthur.

"I guess" Arthur replied as he looked at you then saw Dutch heading your way.

"Gentlemen... And lady" He said gesturing to you.

"Dutch" Micah called. "You tell him fat man" He said pointing to Pearson.

"It's peace, Dutch... The O'Driscolls.. I mean, I think there's a way" Pearson explained.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Dutch asked rolling his eyes.

"Get the words out properly, fat man" Micah demanded now pushing Peaton towards Dutch.

"I met a couple of the O'Driscoll boys on the road into town, things were about to get ugly. But you know how I am in a fight, huh?" He whipped out his knife. "Like a cornered tiger" He laughed but everyone around him seemed unamused. 

"Anyway.." He broke off. "Somehow it didn't... but. We got to talking and they suggested a parley. To end things. Like gentlemen" He continued on.

"Gentlemen?!" Duch snapped. "Colm O'Driscoll?" He walked towards Pearson who was backing out from Dutch's tent. "Have you lost your minds?" He asked deeply.

"You're always telling us, Dutch. Do what has to be done but don't fight wars worth fighting" Micah explained.

Arthur looked at Dutch than to Micah with a blank face.

"They want a parley?" Hosea asked from the table by Arthur's tent. "It's a trap" He called back then going back to his book.

"Well, of course, It's probably a trap. But what have we got to lose finding out?" Micah explained, almost begging.