Lamb To The Slaughter (Red Dead Redemption 2 Fanfic)

The Sheep of Men: Part Two

It was an easy drive into town, the sheep had done this a hundred times. In a way Fae felt like the sheep, being pushed around by a yelling man on a horse. A few boys drove them into the pens for Arthur and John, Fae figured it was best to stay back while they negotiated. The last thing that was needed was the confusion of a woman in the mix. From the looks of it, it was a tense conversation. Arthur walked away in a huff, rubbing his jaw like he did when he was mad. He snatched his reins up from Fae and mounted Hughes in a hurry. He was putting some distance between himself and an almost bad situation.

"Dutch is waiting for us at the saloon." John added into the tension as he made his way back up the muddy side road to the right.

"He is?" It wasn't normal for Arthur to sound this surprised, then his tone shifted back to the irritation in his eyes," Eighteen precent?! I thought we was the ones doing the robbing?"

"Still good money." John chuckled

"Thanks for all the help with this." Arthur blew a frustrated breath,"Can't herd, can't swim."

"Can't parent." Fae snickered

"Give it a rest will you. We ain't kids no more." John grew tired of Fae and Arthur's belittling

"Never really was." Arthur always knew when it was best to speak the sad truth

They hitched outside the saloon, Fae ran her hand over Tupelo's neck before giving her a pat,"Good girl." She whispered, the horse gave a gentle nicker back. They had a better understanding of each other then her and Fritz ever would.

"Come on sunshines, I'll buy you a whiskey." John chuckled at a fond memory

Fae followed the two up the rickety muddy steps of the smelly old saloon. Before entering she paused for a moment and looked around at the town. It felt odd. Something was definitely off she couldn't quite put her finger on it: first the men at the auction yard, then the roads were almost completely empty with just a few riders and maybe a wagon or two, then the people acted strange they all kept their heads down and didn't make eye contact with Fae at all. She brushed it off as they were nervous with all these new boys in town. Valentine felt like the kind of place where everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone's business. When she entered the saloon finally, she caught the tail end of a conversation between Dutch, Strauss which was weird to see him out of camp, Arthur and John. John and Strauss brushed shoulders with her while they went for the exit. Strauss gave her a friendly formal greeting, Fae gave him a two finger salute, she didn't have time for slimy little men like him. But it was ironic, little did she know she'd marry one,one day.

"Oh there she is!" Dutch expressed loud and boastfully,"The apple of my eye, my youngest. Please dear, have a drink with us." He gestured to the seat across the table from him, when she sat, laying her arms on the table he asked,"Whiskey?" He already began to pour her a shot

"Is that the rotten egg shit uncle was talking about?" She chuckled as her fingers wrapped around the shot

"Unfortunately." Dutch laughed along as he poured him and Arthur a drink,"Nothing like talking to old Strauss to make you want to blow your own brains out. I should have left him where I found him all those years ago, bookish little Austrian fresh off the boat, his eyes out on stocks."

"Well I guess the Dutch Van Der Linde finishing school has some strange graduates." Arthur bantered back

"That it does. To your good health." He cheersed with Arthur

"Thank you."

"And to you little lady, to yours."

Fae smirked and lifted the shot to her lips after they clinked glasses as well," Why thank you Dutch."