Cowboys and Angels

Chapter Thirteen

This Chapter's song is "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" by Darius Rucker. Even though Adeline is getting over her Loss, she still thinks about everything she has lost. I'll link it above.

Arthur didn't want to eavesdrop but he heard his name come from the girls' tent. He just couldn't help it. He knew Adeline was in there with the girls but he wanted to make sure she was ok. She suffered quite a lot today.

"Arthur doesn't just rescue a girl from O'Driscolls and robbers and bring her back to camp so she'll be safe." He heard Mary-Beth say. "Sure he can be a kind man at times, but never that kind."

"You must have quite a hold on him," Tilly added.

"We're just friends, trust me. I know Arthur isn't the type for relationships anyways. He's very closed off." Adeline said. 'Just friends' Arthur played that back in his head. He knew everything Adeline had said was correct. He was closed off and he knew it. He could never get too attached or he would get hurt and so would everybody else involved.

"Well you have to admit, he's kinda cute. In a rough and scruffy kinda way," Karen giggled. Arthur was taken aback. He didn't think Karen saw him like that and he certainly didn't see himself like that.

"She's right, you know." Tilly added. He hadn't expected that from Tilly either.

Adeline sighed. "I'll admit, he's very cute but there's no point wishing because it'll never happen." Something in Arthur warmed at the idea of Adeline thinking he was 'cute' and even picturing them together. He shook the idea out of his head and left the perimeter of their tent before he heard too much. He headed over to the dying fire and sat down by it.

Arthur knew he had to distance himself from Adeline before anything could go further. He knew how she felt about him and he couldn't say that he didn't feel something as well. He had to stop whatever this was before she ended up like Eliza and before he got his heart broken again. He had to keep his guard up and push her away. Dutch could deal with trying to weasel the money out of her.

Speaking of Dutch, he came strolling up to Arthur with a grin on his face. "The girl you brought to camp, Miss Blackwell, I think she'll be a good addition to the camp."

"Why do ya say that?" Arthur asked, not wanting to talk about her anymore.

"You should have seen the way she spoke to me. 'I don't care what you think, I know I'm telling the truth.' She's got a lot of courage. The makings of a good outlaw." Dutch put his had on Arthur's shoulder. "Now that she's part of the camp, getting that money should be easier. Nice job Arthur."

Arthur felt a pang of guilt through his chest. Because she had gotten close to him, she had nearly been killed and her house was burnt to ashes. "Dutch, I don't know if we should keep playing her like this. She's lost everything and that just don't seem fair." Arthur explained, not able to look Dutch in the eye. He hated the idea of not getting the job done. But he also hated extorting somebody who had already done so much for him. Arthur sighed. "Dutch, she already paid double what Thomas Downes owed Strauss. She paid his debt for him because he was sick and dying and if I went near him, I would catch it and die. She's already given this camp her money."

Arthur gave Dutch a pleading glance but it didn't seem to faze him. "We aren't stealing from her. We are just going to get her to donate the money all on her own." He explained impatiently. Arthur sighed and looked into the fire for a few moments. "God, Arthur, you have feelings for her, don't you?"

Arthur sighed. Is that what everybody thought? "I can't afford myself that luxury." He answered shortly.

Dutch smiled a coy smile. He could read Arthur like a book. "Arthur, son. It is ok to have feelings. It is what makes us human. Without 'em, we're no better than those damn O'Driscolls." Dutch said comfortingly. "Just remember, son, you can't shield yourself and others from the inevitable." With that, Dutch stood up and went to his tent.

Arthur soon did the same and finally got some well-needed rest.

~~~

The next morning, Adeline was up with the rest of the girls. She wanted to help out. Miss Grimshaw came to check on her in the morning like she promised. She was surprised to see Adeline up and ready with the other girls. "Are you sure you don't want to take some time to rest? You've gone through a lot." Miss Grimshaw offered.

"I appreciate the offer but some work will help take my mind off of everything." She countered.

"Alrighty then, I'll show you how it all works round here." She led Adeline to a line of people. "This is where you can come get breakfast and dinner or if you have food to drop off for the camp, this is where you'll put it. The cook's name is Pearson." Adeline just got a slice of bread with some jam on it. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries on her first real day here.

After she had scarfed down her bread, Miss Grimshaw gave her a tour of the camp. She pointed out who's tent was who's and where to go if she needed certain things. "We can get you more clothes, if you want. Yours are covered in some ash." She offered. Adeline hadn't even noticed the state of her dress.

"Thank you," She said. Miss Grimshaw handed her a pile of clothes from a wagon. She pointed her to a place to change. Adeline came out wearing a cream and dull orange striped blouse paired with a brown skirt. She automatically felt better, wearing some clean clothes that blended in more in camp.

Adeline noticed Arthur mount his horse and ride off out of camp. He hadn't spoken to him since he first got her here. "Where's he going?" She asked, pointing at Arthur.

"Probably out on a mission for Dutch or Hosea," Miss Grimshaw said. "Now, I'll have you on laundry duty today. All you do is take this basket of clothes down to that nearby creek and wash them out. Then you take them back up to camp and hang them on that there clothesline," She explained. "You've done laundry before, correct?" She asked.

"Yes," Adeline chuckled.

"Then just do as you normally would and come find me once you're done." Miss Grimshaw stated, turning to leave.

Adeline picked up the basket of laundry and headed down to the creek. This task gave her plenty of time to think about her home, her new friends, and even Arthur and his antics.