Chapter 10

The first thing that I saw when I came to was the top of a tent. The pain in my chest and shoulder burned as I moved my head around taking in my surroundings. Noticing how soft the blankets where and the books in the tent I realized that I saw in Dutch's tent. One end of the tent was closed while down near the entrance, one of the flaps were raised, letting some of the sunlight in.


There was a small bucket of water next to the bed and there was a couple of bloody and damp rags hanging off the side.


"What the hell was she thinking? Going on a god damn train robbery." I heard Dutch ask himself outside of the tent.


"She was bored Dutch. Ever since we all found out that she's your daughter, you've kept her confined to the camp. She's a teenage girl Dutch. She's meant to go out and travel, she's more than old enough to be going on robberies. Hell Arthur and John were coming out with us when we were first getting the gang started. Plus Trelawny stated before that she has been on robberies before." Hosea said, I'm guessing standing next to him. "It could have happened to anyone of them."


"It's my job to protect her though. I lost her mother, twice! I can't lose her also. It hurts Hosea. I've lost to many people I loved, Annabelle, Reena, I can't lose Y/n as well. It-It would be too much Hosea." Dutch admitted to the olderman. With a small groan I pushed myself up so I was sitting and held in a cry as I moved my injured should slightly.


I heard someone else come up to Dutch and Hosea, which they started talking, much more quietly before the other tent flap opened, causing more light to flood in.


"Your awake! How are you feeling?" Hosea asked as he, Dutch, and Arthur walk in.


"It hurts like a bitch. Damn asshole got me, but in the end, I won." I laughed out painfully as the wound ached.


"Well your gonna be on bed rest for a couple of days, just until your wound starts to heal up and then, you can start to move around the camp. Then once your fully healed we will let out outside of the camp." Hosea said as he took a seat in a chair near the head of the bed. Arthur decided to stand between Hosea and Dutch, while Dutch sat down at the foot of the bed.


I could see the guilt and anger in Dutch's eyes as he stared down at the floor of the tent. His hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched as he seemed to fall into a deep thought. I let out a small groan as I rolled my eyes and let my head fall back onto the pillow. My shoulder and chest flared up in pain and I let out a sharp hiss and grabbed my shoulder with my free hand.


"This damn wound is gonna be the damn end of me." I growled as the pain began to slowly subside.


"Well your lucky that it wasn't worse. The knife could have punctured a lung or worse, your heart." Hosea said as he leaned forward in his chair. I let out a airy, pained laugh as I looked up at the older man.


"That is the 'Van der Linde' luck. Kick ass, get money, escape with our asses." I shot back as I heard Dutch let out a small snort as he grinned softly. Arthur shook his head and Hosea smiled softly. "Did anyone else get hurt?"


"No, everyone else is just fine. Once your healed up, well get out back out there, STARTING with patrols and then hunting. We are gonna wait a bit before we get you back up to robberies and such, maybe staying away from trains." Arthur said with a teasing tone when he started about trains.


"Screw off."


"I'd be careful Arthur, she may cut you."


"You too old man, I ain't' afraid of you. The only one I know can kick my ass is Dutch."


"Damn right I can."


~*~


Me and Hosea sat around the fire in camp, a couple of books in our hands. Dad let me read a couple of his 'Evelyn Miller' books and so far it wasn't that bad. It's been a few days since they finally started to let me walk about the camp, and a week and a half since the train robbery. My wound was healing greatly, and it begun to scab, and now scar, over along my chest, while my shoulder was taking slightly longer to heal.


Me and Arthur have grown closer within the time. We've gone on a few rides together, while getting me back into routine with camp. Charles joined us on a few of them, so did Javier surprisingly.


He let me ride Boadicea also, and damn is she one of the best horse's I've ever rode. Honestly if I could I would take her and give Alea to Arthur, but she doesn't let a lot of people ride her if i'm not there. Alea's starting to warm up to Jack though. I've seen the little boy sneak her sugar cubes and carrots, she's even start to follow him around sometimes.


"Y/n! How is reading the wonderful 'Evelyn Miller'?" Dutch called out making me jumped slightly as I marked my page and turned towards him.


"Not that bad, I prefer more fictional works rather than philosophy. They are a bit more entertaining." I replied as Dutch sat down next to me.


"Well, whenever you are done with the book, even if you don't want to finish it, feel free to leave it in my tent, I won't force you to read it." He said as rested his arms on his knees and leaned over towards me.


"I can finish it! It's just going to take me some-"


"Y/n! You want to come on a ride with me and Arthur!" John yelled cutting me off as he made his way over towards me, Dutch, and Hosea.


"Where are you boys going?" Dutch asked as he turned towards John.


"We are gonna head into the Heartlands, there's a simple herding job over there and we want to take it, we just need a another person. Don't worry, there isn't gonna me any shootin' just takin' some sheep from Emerald Ranch over to Valentine." John said raising his hands slightly. I looked up at Dutch asking to let me go without words.


He was silent for a couple of seconds before letting out a sigh and nodded. "Yeah fine. But you be careful now! She gets hurt it's on your asses." Dutch said pointing a finger at John.


I cheered and quickly hugged Dutch before racing off towards Alea. "Thank you dad!" I quickly reached Alea and saw Arthur sitting on top of Boadicea and John getting on Old Boy. "Come on!" I laughed as I spurred Alea's sides and raced towards the Heartlands.



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