Mary-Beth

Mary sat against the crate giving up on sleep due to the loud singing and shouting of the others as they continued to celebrate and trying to write she was making progress until she heard behind her a knock on the cart causing her to turn around to see James leaning against it, “Yes James?” “I wanted to apologise for earlier. It was insensitive of me to assume you didn’t have an position to keep/withstand and obligations. I shouldn’t have judged you for it! I just don’t really understand this camps logic much” she got up weeping as she threw her hands around my body to hug me, “I’m sorry for it, I shouldn’t have, I should have explained to him but I felt obliged!” I sat next to her holding her in my arms before stating, “So you...” “Yes I like you a lot, from the way you care for me and Jack and personality you are: caring, loving and encouraging to us all. You? Do you...” “You know I do and so many know about my feelings. Hosea, Abigail, Tilly even Arthur. Hosea wanted me to take you away from here!” she smiled before looking over the others laughing and drinking with Karen sitting on John’s knee as Abigail snapped at them both saw the black and red dress of Molly matching Dutch’s attire, “You know... there is a way. Some of the men have their “girl”, this is identified by the matching colours... however I couldn’t wear your colours because it would challenge Dutch’s and Molly’s position!” I nodded before encouraging her to follow pulled out my spare outfit of black and white outfit in a mock up version of an gunslinger assassin robes, she nodded before pulling a ribbon from Tilly’s small chest which the women used from time to time nodded, “Our colours!” kissing my welcoming lips, “Yes! Ours” she took my arm before walking towards my tent grabbed her basic belongings including her book and followed me to the bed, beginning to undress as we climbed in under the covers and kissing each other one last time turned the light off ready for our nights sleep.

When morning came we changed and walking out wearing her black and white ribbon and the matching Shawl she walked out whilst I remerged with my new attire taking her arm whilst she groaned, “The most comfortable night sleep that I’ve had in months” “Coffee?” “Please!” I nodded pouring the cups looking over to the others who trudged around almost zombie like clutching their heads, “Mary-Beth what’s with all this?” Susan queried lifting the end of the shawl, “My colours!” “Your colours? Colours can only be reserved for couples!” Mary went to respond but Susan, seeing me return wearing matching colours began to apologise, “I’m sorry Mary, I didn’t know” Mary nodded retrieving the coffee, “Mary has a man?” Tilly queried smiling to see her take James’ arm, “And here I thought you liked me!” Tilly joked it was then when the others started to greet us both and Dutch to hesitantly walk up to us looking down before apologetically started to state, “Mary, James I’m sorry, I didn’t know you two were close and about last night... I can’t apologise enough. Ensure this, like the other couples, you are entitled to your privacy; we’ll move your tent away from the others and of course you Mary can go with him or go out of camp freely on dates. Also like with Molly both camp fees will be covered under one!” “Never mind that, just ensure me that no one will touch her again! And especially you” I barked huskily the knife pointing directly against his crotch, meanwhile my throat was still dry from the whisky last night, “Yes of course!” “You... You two are together?” Abigail exclaimed joining the conversation and nodding turned back around to see the slight disappointment in her eyes as she watch my motion, “Yes but don’t worry Miss Roberts, I’ll still look after Jack with you!” she nodded but unable to shake her disappointment away spoke, “I know, it’s just... you actually cared for us both when John didn’t” “I know but I’ll ensure you, I’ll will be around to help when you need it!”

“Look... I’m sorry for the things I’ve said.” Bill spoke but seeing Mary’s disgust heard in response, “Get lost!” “But...” “Mary said get lost or do I have to kick the shit out of you some more?” “Jeez, I’m sorry!” he trudged off before hearing the female boots of Susan walk up heard her apologise (in her own way), “Yes... well I will not be as bossy like before and give you both some space. I hope you two are happy!” before walking off and shrugging at each other I spoke, “Want to hear more terrible apologises or do you want to go back to Blackwater?” “You know what... despite all the gunmen, the risks and other problems I rather go to Blackwater then staying here for more excuses and apologies, what do you want me to do?” “Mount up on Snowdrop and I’ll explain on the way!”

The town was swarming with bounty hunters, law men and Pinkleton’s who were watching every action by anyone; my bet was they were anticipating someone returning for the money but I had a plan a better plan. You see, the Driscoll’s have only one thing on their mind more than surviving... this was getting back at Dutch’s gang. Whilst in Strawberry, I met with Colm’s lieutenant or chief kissass and explained him the situation of the money... Emphasising the amount of money and how important it was to Dutch, who was their main enemy, with a few drinks down him he listened to my plan and with that an offer of an explanation. I explained to them the location and the number of guards but pointed out how there wasn’t an bounty on the O’Driscoll’s and any concern is focused on the Van Der Linde gang. They could sneak in steal the chest’s and ride off West before laying low for a few days circle around and head back out East. My explanation was it would hopefully **** Dutch to act and send people for it, it was a win win they get the money and me some people to hang, hopefully Dutch himself. The man was as stupid as he was gullible so when me and Mary rode into town we would have a few days to not make it look suspicious but what I didn’t expect was the social problems associated with me refusing the sheriffs daughter and seeing Mary made the situation worse...

As we hitched up I was met by the towns folk who hugged and praised me leaving the shocked Mary to watch on as I was met by the crowd who continued their warm affection with the men now shaking my hands as a thanks, “Settle down, settle down!” I spoke to the groups of grateful citizens, “I thank you for this warm reception but alas I still haven’t completed my task. What happened to Isabelle, Jonathan, Lydia and the other citizens we lost was wrong but I like to think that with the two men I killed and the lady that this is some sort of justice for them. My only regret was killing woman, she was innocent to this and as such I ask for forgiveness that she was caught up in the shooting. Hear my words: I WILL GET DUTCH AND HIS GANG AND WHETHER I ARREST THEM, SHOOT THEM OR LYNCH THEM ALL THE MEN WILL BE ACCOUNTED FOR AND WILL HAVE ANSWER TO OUR JUSTICE!” they cheered before quickly dispersing as they saw the white haired man walk along the floorboards until there was a singular thump, “Sheriff!” “Deputy!” I turned around before nodding heard his gruff voice bark, “So... my daughter!” “Yes Rebecca!” “She was heartbroken!” “How can she be heartbroken over a man she met once and in that time talked to him for less then five minutes!” “She set her mind to her being your bride but I respect that you didn’t lead her on” he stopped before seeing Mary nodded understood it all, “How long have you and ...” “Mary-Beth!” she spoke, “You and Mary been together?” “If it’s any comfort we haven’t been together no more than a few days” Mary stated taking my arm, so nodding he joined our sides, “So tell me of your progress! What do you know of the gang?”

We walked towards the office as I began my detailed notes, “I counted 11 active members. The rest are civilians. One kid; they are heading east towards the towns and as we expect obviously are looking for a way out. I sense however the gang is under strain in terms of what they need to do. What I have heard in a conversation between two of the lady members is: they should stay low but the men are going to carry on with their crazy ideas. I sense from traders who dealt with them, Dutch is going slightly demented and his plans are being criticised by other major figures in the gang” “So what do you suggest?” “Three options. As we both know and agree, the civilians should be separated from the gunslingers and given the chance to live a new life. My suggestion is we offer them a pardon; to those who aren’t gunslinging stating they are free if they promise to live a normal life. My other suggestion is cutting the gang off forcing the women, the child and non active men to be stuck; we will then see the slingers loyalty to them or not; failing that we will have to regrettably treat them all as outlaws and take them all” “Anything else?” “In my opinion; I think we need to **** more of an wedge between Dutch and the other senior figures if we can separate them maybe the group will split into the women and civilians led by some of the more reasonable gunslingers and the radicals. I think we would both agree letting 2 gunslingers live with the civilians is far better then having everyone dead” he nodded before encouraging Mary to walk forward spoke “And the fact Mary is one of them means nothing to you?!” “I don’t know what you mean?” “You think I am that stupid... I virtually helped raise you for a time before sending you off to THEM. Is SHE or is she NOT an gunslinger for their gang?” I laughed before stating, “Mary?! Mary-Beth?! She can’t even hold a gun, she hates it when she sees someone shoot an wild animal in front of her. I have spent days trying to teach her!” “Her role then?!” “A maid for them with the odd touch of petty thieving... I would also gun anyone down who dared touch her!” he laughed before nodding spoke, “Relax, we both know of our secrets for example my brothers past and if she is honest in her intentions then we will have no problems!” “No we won’t, she wants to write and from what I have read from her notes she is really good at it!” he nodded before hearing the door slam groaned knowing whose heels were walking down the wooden steps and towards them.

“So you will return?!” Rebecca spoke stopping in front of him which caused James to state, “Yes, just to inform your father on the latest news relating to Dutch’s gang” “And here I thought maybe you had come to apologise...” she stopped seeing Mary who stood next to him defensively which made Rebecca “understand” “so you were seeing another woman...” “No I “found her” after the rejection in fact a few days after!” “He was quite torn about refusing you even if he didn’t know you that well!” “Whether he knows me or not; it doesn’t matter. He stands to become Sheriff and a placing in the gentry of the town and he would throw it away for some common whore!” “Watch your mouth Rebecca!” her father barked at his daughter scorning her, “But father it’s...it’s... he lied to you!” “No, we never agreed he would take over being Sheriff; I just assumed he would and I also said he would have to marry not that he had to marry you!” she growled before looking at Mary snapped, “Good luck with him!” “I don’t need your luck!” Mary retaliated I nodded before freezing heard the stampede of Horses rush towards the town so grabbing his shotgun and scoped rifle turned to the Sheriff who nodded spoke, “Get the women inside, Haytham get everyone into positions!” I looked back over to Mary and handing her a gun I stated, “Just in case!” “Stay safe James, please!” I met her lips with my lips before pushing her inside spoke, “Stay down!”