Between Two Trees (Mush Meyers x Reader)

XVII

It took a long, long time for "The Boss" to return. You weren't sure how long exactly, but long enough for your butt to start aching from sitting on the floor and for your toes to fall asleep. So at least thirty minutes had passed, in complete silence, before you heard voices coming from a different passage. 

A man and a woman entered the cavern, both wearing smirks on their faces. "Smither's farm's a go for tonight, no sign of anyone in our way and an entry right near the pen. This'll be the last run, but it looks good." the woman declared triumphantly. 

"That's, uh, good news boss, but we have some news too." One of the guys said, scratching his head. 

"Yes?" The woman asked, placing a hand on her hip. 

The man pointed towards where you and Mush sat huddled in the same spot. 

The woman raised her eyebrow, walking over and appraising the two of you. "What's the story here?" 

"Headin' up to check out some noises we was hearin', stumbled into these two, ah..." The rustler who had caught you pursed his lips suggestively. "You said ain't anyone allowed in the caves, so we brought 'em here." 

The woman passed a hand over her face. "You brought them here? Right where we are staying, right where I just said we was going to hit Smither's? What kind of idiots are you? I meant to keep people out of the caves-- away from the action, not in the middle of it. " 

"Well- uh-" The man said, scratching his head. 

"Idiots. All of you. Now I have to figure out what to do with them." 

"Well, we could-" 

"I don't want to hear it." The woman held up a hand, stopping him. "Here's what we're gonna do. After the Smither's run, we're gonna tie 'em up near one of the entrances, nice and tight. We'll leave 'em there-- either someone'll find 'em or they'll wiggle free, but either way we'll be long gone by then."

The man nodded. "Sure will," He added, seeming to try to seek his way back into the good graces of the boss. 

"'Nless the wolves get 'em," put in the one you had kicked earlier, looking at the two of you with a nasty smile. 

Johnny stiffened on his mattress. The second man laughed, an ugly sound. 

"We've got time 'fore the run. Y'all rest, we'll be moving out fast afterwards." The woman instructed, and the rustlers dispersed to their places, all of them laying down but the man who'd come back with the boss. 

"Keep an eye on 'em." He instructed, dropping a small object in the dirt next to Johnny's bed. The boy picked it up, nodding in affirmation to the man's instructions. He turned it over in his hands before setting it down next to his mattress lightly. Drawing his knees up to his chest, he sat across the space from the two of you, watching you solemnly. 

You opened your mouth to say something, but his eyes widened and he shook his head quickly, holding a finger up to his mouth as each rustler took to their bed. You stayed like that for a solid ten minutes before Johnny removed his finger from his lips and said quietly, in a voice much lower than seemed to suit him, "Give it another 5 minutes an' you can run. Take this- I'll say you made me do it. I'll hafta raise the alarm after a little, but I can give you a head start." 

Your eyes widened as you processed what the boy was saying. Mush nodded to your left as Johnny slid the object across to him. It was a small, old pistol. Your eyes widened more. 

"There's only one besides it, an' they won't shoot at you anyways-- cept maybe Hicks, he might. But the rest of 'em really ain't that bad." Johnny said softly, as if he was trying to convince himself as well as you. 

You nodded softly. 

"Sorry about your sheep. I think they're asleep now, though-- you wanna get a move on. I'll get you as much time 's I can, but no promises." Johnny hissed, rolling over onto his side facing away from you. 

You looked at Mush. He stood, balancing easily on the balls of his feet and reaching a hand to help you up. You took it, squeezing it tighter than was probably comfortable as  the two of you crept around the edge of the cave towards the closest tunnel. When you'd gotten into it, you started running. Mush easily kept your pace, letting go of your hand as you filed in front of him. When you'd gotten a decent start down the tunnel you heard a distant shout echo against the rock walls.

"I hope Johnny's okay." You puffed as you ran, footsteps echoing too loudly for your own comfort. "Poor kid. He's kinda cute." 

"I thought you thought I was cute," Mush grumbled behind you. 

"You're different types," You managed, breathing heavily as you kept running. "He's cute like puppies, small children, and tiny flowers are cute." 

"So what am I cute like?" Mush asked, a slight whine to his voice. 

 "You're cute like 'I need you to just push me up against the wall and kiss me alre'--" You skidded to a halt, having rounded the corner to find a completely unexpected sight. 

Peggy and Blink were kissing. And not just, like, a small peck either.  Their candles were set carefully on the ground, too.

"Speak of the devil." You said with a small laugh, and Blink quickly stood up straight, looking over with what looked like slight guilt on his face. Peggy jumped away from him slightly, scratching her neck with a beet red face. 

"What the-" Mush stammered from behind you, looking at his best friend and his practically-sister. "What are you doin'?"

"I-- uh--" Blink said, now blushing too. 

"That's my baby cousin!" Mush said, running a hand over his hair. 

"Mush, we don't have time for this!" You hissed, tugging on his arm. "They know the tunnels better'n us, and if we don't get back with help before they leave they'll be gone for good!" 

"Yeah, yeah, sure." Mush said, nodding. "But-- Peggy--" 

"I promise we'll talk about this later, brother dearest, but based on what you said I was right 'bout the caves thing and we should probably listen to Y/N." 

"Yes, we should!" You said, tugging Mush with you as you herded Peggy and Blink along the tunnel. "Where's the nearest exit?" You asked Peggy over Mush's mumbles of 'idiot', 'you said you didn't like her you little liar', and 'kissing my sister'. 

"Um, this way." Peggy replied, starting off quickly. The other three followed behind her, zigzagging through the dark caves until finally-- finally-- emerging into the bright sunlight.