Unshaken

Further Predicaments: Lakay

He woke the next morning to Sadie shifting around looking around camp. He put his hat on and walked up to her. "What you thinking about?" He asked. "How we're gonna feed everybody. I think between me, you, Karen and Charles, we can do it." Sadie said. "I ain't sure Karen has much experience hunting, but anything can help at this point." Liam said. "I'll take her with me, and you go with Charles. We can most likely find some wild hogs and maybe even some deer if we're lucky." Sadie told him. As he turned to go and get Charles, he turned back to Sadie. "Wait, who's gonna watch and make sure nobody tries to mess with the rest of the gang?" Liam asked. Sadie thought for a moment. I know Susan and Kieran can shoot a gun, and I'll make Uncle get off his ass and keep watch. Let me go tell them to keep guard while we're away." Sadie said as she went back to the shacks.

Liam walked up to Charles, who was sharpening his knife. "Charles, we need to go hunting." Liam said. "I know. There's not much out in these swamps, though it won't kill us to try." He said. "You got your bow?" Liam asked. "Always." Charles told him as they walked to their horses. They climbed on and Charles led the way. "If we're the only ones bringing in food, how are we gonna feed everybody?" Charles asked. "Sadie and Karen are also out doing the same as us, just on the other side of the swamp. And with Pearson's crawfishing, I think we can get by." Liam said. "I've never seen Mrs. Adler like this. She's really helped out, and you have too." Charles said. "And the same goes for you, we all gotta do our share to survive. And if somehow Dutch and the rest of them can get back, that'd be a miracle." Liam said.

Charles came to a spot where they saw a pack of wild boars. "I got this one." Liam said taking his bow out and shooting the boat through the face. "I haven't seen you shoot that bow since Horseshoe. You've improved." Charles complimented as Liam went and skinned the pig, collecting its meats. "Now, let's go try for some deer." Charles said as they climbed on their horses. He led them to another spot. He spotted a pack of deer. Liam could tell Charles was most comfortable hunting deer. He jumped off his horse and crouched, staking his position. Liam followed. He quickly shot the deer through the lungs. They walked over the muddy and wet terrain. Charles picked up the deer and brought it back to Taima. "That should be good." Charles said as he climbed on his horse. They rode back towards Lakay. "I'll be glad when we leave this place." Charles said. "You and me both. I've been in Lemoyne for way too long now, seventeen goddamn years." Liam complained as they rode back into camp. Kieran and Susan were on guard duty. Uncle was asleep near a tree with a repeater over his lap. Everyone was happy at the sight. They immediately brought the game to Pearson to prepare for a stew.

Everyone nudged at Pearson to hurry up. Liam had to admit he was hungry too. Sadie and Karen rode in not long after them. Rabbits hung off of their horses, along with some birds. They brought it over to Pearson. "You ladies did mighty fine." Pearson complimented. "Nobody told me Karen is quite the sharpshooter when it comes to birds." Sadie complimented. "Now, let me get this stew ready for you guys." Pearson said as they dispersed back into camp.

Liam sat on the dock looking across the water to Lagras. He remembered Bronte, and the events that transpired that night. He thought of Arthur, where they all were and if they'd ever get back. He thought about poor Lenny, who still had his whole life to live. And Hosea, who mistakenly lost his life. He then thought about John. He stood up and walked to Sadie.

"What're you thinking about getting John out?" He asked. "I figure we go and have ourselves a look at the Saint Denis Jail." Sadie said. "How are we gonna know if John's in there though?" Liam asked. "Cause you're hunting him." Sadie replied. "Huh?" He asked, not understanding what she meant. "You're gonna go in there acting like a teenage bounty hunter. You say you come from Blackwater in search of John Marston, who's got quite the price on his head. They'll inform you on his whereabouts." Sadie said. "You sure they won't recognize me?" Liam asked. "That's what this is for." She said bringing him a long-brimmed mountain hat and a duster coat. He laughed and slid it on. "Take this too, his bounty poster. Abigail gave it to me." Sadie said.

They climbed on their horses and rode to Saint Denis. They rode into town at the corner of the road of the jailhouse. "Ok, you go in acting all mean and tough, tell em you're from Blackwater in search of John Marston, if they ask why, say he killed your mama or something. Oh, and here, take this." She said handing him a double barreled shotgun. "And this is for?" He asked. "Just to give you that look." She said, riding off. He sighed and rode to the jailhouse, sliding the shotgun over his back. He tugged his hat low and got off of Colter. He pulled John's bounty poster out of his pocket and made his way towards the doors. Lawmen eyed him as he walked in.

He opened the doors and stood in the lobby for a few seconds before the deputy looked up at him. "Can I help you?" The deputy asked. "Yeah, just passing through the area, looking for this man. Y'all seen him?" Liam asked holding up the poster. The deputy studied it for a second and clicked his tongue. "Maybe. What's it got to do with you?" The deputy asked. Liam gave him a look and pointed to the bounty price. "You see that? That's what I'm after. And... I guess I need closure cause the bastard killed my mama back in Blackwater." Liam told him.

"You don't sound like you're from Blackwater." The man said, pointing out Liam's accent. "We had only lived there for a couple of months before the bastard ruined my life. She was the only person I had left." Liam lied. The deputy looked at him for a moment, and then laughed. "Well you'll be happy to hear that we actually have caught Marston, and moved the degenerate to Sisika Penitentiary this morning." The deputy informed him. "Guess I'm okay with that, though I would've preferred that two-thousand, am I right?" Liam said with a laugh. "He'll be swinging in no time, don't you worry." The deputy said as Liam exaggeratively laughed walking out the doors. "Gentleman." He said walking past the police and jumping in his horse. He rode and met Sadie near the city park. They headed back towards Lakay.

"So where's he at?" Sadie asked. "Bastards took him to Sisika. That island prison just east of here." Liam told her. "Dammit." She said. "They plan on hanging him. But I think we really should let things cool off a bit before going after him. No telling what kind of patrols the Pinkertons got out right now." Liam said. Sadie sighed. "I know, let's just hope they don't hang the fool." She said. "That's if he's actually there." Liam said. "I'll go back into town soon and see if I can find us a way to figure that out." Sadie told him as they rode back into camp.

Liam saw everyone lined up at the pot, and he did the same. He hadn't eaten in about a day. That night Abigail and Charles went to the morgue and stole Lenny and Hosea's bodies. They brought them back and gave him a proper burial out in the marsh. The girls sang a song and Charles carved their names into crosses. Reverend prayed over him and ended the burial. They walked back to camp mourning them.

It made him thankful to be alive. And he then realized that he might not have survived had Arthur let him go on the robbery, which made him go over the events between him and Arthur beforehand. Sadie was right, he did end up understanding why he didn't go on that robbery.