[The next day]
This morning the snowstorm calmed, now we could see more than a few meters without needing a lantern, and since we still needed food, i went hunting. Dutch and the other made a plan to rob a train today, it was owned by Leviticus Cornwall, i still don't remember who he was other than he was a bad guy in the game.
Anyway, i went hunting. The deer on my back was heavy, but manageable. Charles had shown me how to make a decent bow out of what we had lying around. The shot was clean, right through the carotid artery. Pure luck, if I'm honest.
"Pearson!" I called, voice a little raspy from the cold.
"Well, would you look at that!" he said, grinning "That'll feed us good. You're gettin' handy with that bow, ain't ya?"
I dropped the carcass with a grunt and rubbed my shoulder "Just tryin' to be useful."
Pearson clapped me on the back and started pulling the animal toward his workbench. I was about to head toward the fire of the smoking pit to thaw out my fingers when shouting broke the quiet.
Abigail stormed out of one of the cabins, her face tight with anger. Jack followed close behind, his head low. I didn't know her that well, but I knew the look on her face. John said something stupid again.
I hesitated, then turned and followed them as they made their way to another cabin.
I approached calmly "Everything okay?"
Abigail stopped and looked at me, then sighed "John's an idiot!"
I blinked. I'd barely spoken to John, just seen him resting in bed a few times, face wrapped up like a mummy.
"Oh." I said. Not the smartest response, but i didn't know what to say.
Abigail looked down at Jack, then back at me "He says things he don't mean." she said. "But sometimes… sometimes I think he does mean 'em."
I nodded slowly "That's rough."
She gave me a look, not angry, more tired "You got kids?"
I shook my head and smirked "No. Never got that far."
"He was really looking forward to seeing John." she said "And that's what he gets." She paused, then added "I should've known better."
Jack kicked the snow beside her.
i crouched down and looked at him "You okay, little man?"
He nodded but didn't look up.
"Your dad's just… sick, that's all." I said "Sick people say weird things. Doesn't mean they don't care."
Jack gave a little shrug. It was hard to tell if he believed me or not. I wasn't sure if i even believed myself.
Abigail ruffled his hair and sighed again "Thanks."
I nodded and gave them space, then i heard Dutch's voice "All right, gentlemen. Time to move!" he was coming out of the cabin John sleeps in followed by Arthur.
"Bill, now you ride ahead and set the charge… at the water tower, just before the tunnel." Dutch called out.
Bill nodded, mounted up, and rode off the camp.
Hosea appeared behind them, his breath fogging in the cold "Why are we doing this?" he asked, low but firm. "Weather's breaking, we could leave. I...I thought we was lying low."
"I just don't want any more folks to die, Dutch." Hosea replied.
"We're living, Hosea, we're living…look at me, we're living… even you..." Dutch paced a little "But we need money. Everything we have's in Blackwater. You fancy heading back there?"
"No. Listen, Dutch, I ain't trying to undermine you, I just…" Hosea rubbed the bridge of his nose "I just want to stick to the plan…which was to lie low, then head back out west. Now suddenly, we're about to rob a train."
Dutch's voice dropped, sharp as a blade "What choice have we got?"
Arthur chimed in, confused "Who is Leviticus Cornwall?"
"Big railway magnate, sugar dealer, oil man." Hosea replied, like he was reading off a wanted poster.
Dutch just scoffed, a bitter grin tugging at the edge of his mouth "Well how good for him. Sounds like he has more than enough to share."
"Dutch!" Hosea snapped, but Dutch was already turning to the rest of us "Gentlemen, it is time to make something of ourselves."
Javier, Lenny, Micah, and Charles moved to their horses. I glanced over at Charles, he gave me a short nod.
Arthur mounted up beside Dutch. The others followed. I hesitated.
I approached Dutch and Arthur "Can i come too? I know it's only been a few days but i wanna help, i'm healthy, i have a gun, and i'm bored here. Telling stories to Jack and hunting for the gang is good, but,... i want to do more."
Dutch turned to me, he seemed to hesitate "Maybe next time, son." he said, almost dismissive.
I nodded, disappointed and a bit frustrated. Either he thought i wasn't ready, or he didn't think highly of me.
"Get your horses ready, we have a train to rob." Dutch shouted.
Arthur gave me a glance, and then they rode out. Snow kicked up under the hooves, and within a minute, they were fading into the trees.
I stood there a moment, trying to shake the disappointment. I wasn't sure what I expected. That they'd say yes? That I'd ride into some wild outlaw story like one of those stories and fanfics?
Hosea stayed behind. I hadn't even noticed he was still there until I turned and saw him standing by the edge of camp.
I walked over.
He didn't look at me right away. Just kept his arms crossed, rubbing one hand along the other like he was trying to warm them up.
"Guess I'm not train-robbing material." I said after a beat.
Hosea gave a small smile, faint and tired "Ain't many are, if you ask me."
I leaned against the hitching post nearby "Do you think Dutch is right? About doing this?"
He turned to look at me now "I think Dutch always think he's right. That's the tricky part."
I nodded slowly. Didn't feel like the kind of thing that needed a big reply.
After a few seconds, he asked "How you holdin' up out here?"
"I'm okay." I said "Well, i'm getting by."
He tilted his head "You feel like you belong?"
I had to think about that one. I looked around the camp. The cabins. The smoke from the fire pits drifting up into the trees. And i heard someone laughing from inside one of the shacks. Appart from Charles, Jack, Pearson, the girls and maybe Arthur, i never really talked with the rest.
"I don't know." I said "Some days I feel useful and welcomed. Others I feel like a stray dog everyone forgot followed them home."
Hosea chuckled "We're all strays, one way or another." He paused "It takes time, son. Folks like us, we don't settle easy. But you keep showing up. Keep being honest. People notice that, even if they don't say it."
"You wanna help?" he said eventually "Stay close. Pay attention. You don't need to be robbing trains to matter." He patted my shoulder once, firm but kind, then headed back toward the cabins.
I stayed there a bit longer, just watching the woods.
Then i glanced at the gun Arthur gave me. I figured if I couldn't be out there with them, I could still make myself useful in here.
So i helped Pearson cook, he offered another sip from his rum but i passed. Then i helped with the wood, cutting logs and going inside the cabins with them to keep the fire. I tried to approach Moly, asking if she needed anything but, "she isn't in the mood." so instead i did my training routine, and then went playing with Jack, we made a snowman, well at least we tried.
[Someone asked what does Dylan look like well here you go (i used an AI and that's the closest i could get unfortunately (just imagine him younger and with a thinner nose (that's as close as i could get)] ->