RDR II : The Tulip & the Willow (CANNON)

(Ch14) -Horseshoe Overlook-

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Chapter 14

"A Foot In Both Camps"

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"I hope Dutch doesn't have a fit over us disappearin' like that. I'm sure as hell we all don't need another 'we gotta be out there makin' money' speech."

Willow chuckled, "Oh please, do say that again but in Dutch's breakin' voice."

They all either grinned or gave a small laugh, covered by a cough. Arthur was secretly tempted to, but it was probably a bad idea since they already reached camp. "We were just out scoping a lead, he doesn't need to know it was a big furry one. Well, thank you lot, I probably owe all of you something."

"It was fun." The mute smiled, yawning and turning her head at such an angle away from them, so that no one could really see her mouth. They knew she was never really comfortable about having people look at her while eating or yawning for some strange reason (Tulip would occasionally hide herself).

"Don't worry about it, Hosea." Arthur hitched Brass, giving a proud pat on its golden coat. He couldn't help but be amused that he was eyeing Sunny. A beautiful, loyal companion that has a warm marigold coat.

"I need to head out to Emerald Ranch soon, look into something."

"See you later." Willow went off to their own area to drop off the weapons, while Tulip watched Silver Dollar ride off.

It was turning into a somewhat uneventful afternoon, the air was cloudy and crispy cold. Some folks were busy doing their own thing, Grimshaw cleaning; Mary-beth playing with her crochet; Bill being drunk off somewhere; and Dutch was looking out into the landscape. Tulip decided to see what the O'Driscoll had to say, was it her being sympathetic? Or perhaps something else for the reason?

"Mm.." She walked over, passing by the chuck wagon. The smell of a new stew was made by Pearson, she wanted to improve the food herself, but she had no ingredients. (It always irked her how she had so many spices and add ons in her arsenal of seasonings - but all was left in the dust, dirt, and snow).

She saw the dark figure of the poor man, tied to the tree. Upon closer inspection, Tulip noticed little marks upon his forehead, looking as if he was recently pelted by rocks. She sat on a boulder, he was about to snooze off until he jolted in fear of her. "P- Please, I- I got nothin' to say. I..."

It was then that Tulip gestured a "shh", holding a finger to her lips. Then she lifted her head for either person to have a better view of each other's eyes. The man dropped his tense shoulders, seeing that the woman didn't mean to do anything. She didn't glare like a snake or frown disgustedly at him, unlike the men in the gang.

"What do you want?..." He mumbled quietly, unsure to speak at the frighteningly quiet lady.

It must have seemed very terrifying that the quietest in the gang approached him. She thought. Tulip rummaged around her horse's saddlebag for a different notebook, and returned with a pencil in her hand. She wrote: "Just a conversation." then, sat on the rock.

"S-so you really can't talk?" He shivered from the chilly air, growing ever so colder as the day passes onto dusk. She shook her head in a "no". His tired eyes begged the question as to why Tulip would waste time to speak with him, she merely shrugged.

"Kieran Duffy?"

"Yeah... that's my name." He shifted uncomfortably against the tree, "You know, you seem to like your horse. W-well, everyone here loves theirs. Even other gangs..."