Unshaken

Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern

His ride back to camp was relieving for him. He was out again and able to ride. By the time he reached Clemens Point, it was dark. He couldn't wait to lie down and get some sleep. He climbed off of Colter and heard frantic voices coming from a crowd by Dutch's tent. He noticed Micah sitting by himself at the fire. "Calm down. Everybody just relax. We are doing all we can." Dutch told them. Liam quickly approached the group. "What's going on?" He asked. Dutch turned to him, worried. "Jack's missing. Have you seen him?" Dutch asked. Liam grew confused. "No. But don't he always stay in camp?" Liam asked. "Yes, well, he's supposed to. This is madness." Dutch said turning back to the group.

Liam heard another horse ride up and watched Arthur hurry to the group. "Arthur, have you seen that boy, Jack?" Dutch ran up to him. "No." Arthur was able to get out before Abigail ran out of John's tent screaming. "Where's my goddamn son? Where is he? Where's my son? They took him didn't they? They took my son!" Abigail screamed. "Who took him?" Arthur asked. Hosea hurried to them, out of breath. "We think... the Braithwaite woman took him. That Kieran saw a couple of fellers... sound like Braithwaite boys." Hosea got out. Liam grew infuriated. "Where's my son? If anything... where is my son Dutch Van Der Linde?" Abigail frantically asked.

"We will find him. We will bring him back to you. And we will kill any fool who had the temerity to touch one hair on that boy's head. Abigail, you have my word." Dutch promised as John ran up. "Just get me back my son." She pleaded. "I will get that boy back, so help me God." Dutch said as he quickly made his way to his horse. Arthur, Liam and John followed. "Dutch! We just heard about Jack. You need some extra guns?" Bill asked with Charles, Sean, Lenny and Javier by his side. "Yeah, why not?" Dutch said grimly, filled with anger. "Micah, Kieran, anyone strange turns up, you kill 'em!" Dutch demanded as he climbed on his horse.

"Rest of you, let's ride!" Dutch ordered as the gang rode off. "Okay, let's go get that boy back!" Dutch told them. Liam rode in the back behind Lenny. "They must've figured out what we was up to, Dutch." Hosea said. "Yeah, we just got shot to hell by the Grays in town." Arthur said. "I know. They got what was coming." Dutch said. "I swear. I'll kill everyone there." John said with an anger Liam hadn't seen from him before. "Easy, John. Try to stay calm." Dutch said. "I'm fine." John lied. "How the hell did they get to him?" Hosea asked. "I don't know, but we are getting him back and they will pay. I promise you that." Dutch said. "What about the gold?" Bill asked. Liam rolled his eyes. "Who gives a damn about the gold, they got Jack!" John yelled as the group rode on. "I hate to break it to you, but... I don't think there is any gold. Or if there is, it's hidden somewhere where no one knows. I've turned every stone." Hosea said. Liam knew it was a sham the whole time. "For Christ's sake, Hosea! After all that? Another perfect scam!" John yelled. "We underestimated them." Hosea said. "No, they underestimated us. Enough talk. There's no point in arguing about how we got here, this is where we are. And we are going to fix it. So come on!" Dutch yelled as the group approached Braithwaite Manor in the dead of the night. Fog covered the moonlit driveway.

They rode through the gates onto the driveway. "Okay, get your heads right. Nobody makes a move until I say so." Dutch ordered. The moon shone through the trees as they rode through the humid air. They approached the archway in front of the house. "Alright, everyone, dismount and come to me. We'll go in on foot from here." Dutch said as they stopped and climbed off their horses. Liam made sure his guns were loaded and grabbed his Lancaster Repeater and Springfield Rifle and threw the straps over each shoulder. "We should've stayed out of all this." Lenny said. "A bit late for that, ain't it?" Bill asked, annoyed.

"Quiet. We're going to fix this, right now." Dutch told them. Liam had his brown leather chaps, black shirt, bandolier and hat. It would be hard for them to spot him in the dark. The group met at the archway entrance. "Come on, let's get this done. John, you sure you're okay?" Dutch asked with concern. "Like I said, I'm fine." John said, a bit calmer than he was on the rode there. "Follow my lead. Both these redneck families think they can ruin us? I don't think so." Dutch said with a grimace as the group started towards the house. They walked in unison forming a long line covering each end of the Braithwaite's driveway. "There they are." Hosea said, pointing to the men near the doors of the mansion. "Who steals a goddamn boy?" Dutch angrily asked.