Chapter Text
Isaac and Alice decided setting up camp closest to the lake, no matter how far from the town it seemed, would be best. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t bittersweet about this whole moving situation. He hated that Annie was in danger, however he was happy to know that they would be leaving Rhodes soon enough once they got Annie back. Rhodes was draining him.
Between being left alone for various hours of the day while the girls were at work and worrying about when Rhodes inevitably crumbled because of those stupid families, Isaac was tired. He was tired and he missed his Ma and Pa.
Alice started to become restless and irritated halfway through their setting up process. She cracked her knuckles more often and stared off into the water with no certain feeling in her eye. She was worried about her sister, quivering under the reality that she may lose another family member if they didn’t plan this out properly. Isaac was worried as well, but he was the support of this whole thing. He was the protection and falling victim to his thoughts was what would risk Annie.
They spent a good couple minutes in blissful silence, the weight of the situation filling up their minds instead.
He wasn’t sure what Alice was thinking over in her head, aside from longing memories of her childhood with Annie. Alice tended to skip to the bad ending of things without trying. She couldn’t help it, Isaac knew, but it was still irritating sometimes.
However, Isaac sat in front of their campfire, sharpening the blade of his small switchblade while staring dead at the orange flame of the burning fire. His brows had a mean furrow to them, and his hat fell forward on his head, covering his blue eyes and light brunet hair.
His mind was throwing out plans left and right, constant scenarios of how he could play this game. The logical side of his brain told him he didn’t need to get ahead of himself, that he needed to put more clues together before he went on and assumed this was all the O’Driscolls’ doing. If he did, he would add more fuel to the flame that burned deep in the O’Driscolls heart, the flame that he started for himself.
He didn’t need to give them any more reason to try to kill him. They didn’t have enough clues to find Annie, nor enough clues to tell them who exactly took her.
Of course, questioning Mr. Pottenger would give them a better idea. If the man was ever at his damn stand when he needed to be.
He thought back to the three men and their shiny deputy badges. He could use them, actually. And, they were willing to lend him their services.
“Alice.” Isaac spoke up. Alice was standing a few feet from the fire, staring off at the rippling water of the lake, her eyes sporting a thin layer of fresh tears. She spun around quickly, tracks of tears on her face illuminated by the fire. “I forgot to tell you somethin’ in that storage room at Mr. Banks’.”
“Okay…” Alice trailed off, moving to take a seat on the ground, knees pulled to her chest. Her green eyes lit up with the fire, and she stared emptily at it. Isaac didn’t look at her. “Ain’t nothin’ bad, right?”
“Depends on what you consider bad.” Isaac huffed regretfully.
He wanted to feel guilty for spilling his life to those deputies. He wanted to so badly, but he couldn’t. He didn’t feel scared when he was around those men, the ones who were supposed to be the law. They didn’t look like the typical lawmen, more like bounty hunters, and maybe he should feel scared at that too.
Really, his thought process was to tell them so they would understand he meant business and then when he got Annie back, they would flee Rhodes. He wasn’t sure what he was thinking at the moment. He only stopped himself from telling Alice at the store because she looked so damn lost and scared.
“Did you…did you kill someone?”
Isaac scrunched his nose up and chuckled incredulously, “What? No.”
“Cain’t be that bad then, right?” Alice attempted a cheerful grin, but it fell impossibly flat. Isaac appreciated the notion, though.
“Y’know those deputies I was tellin’ you ‘bout?” Isaac peered at her and she nodded. “They caught me just outside of the post office. I was arguin’ with a Braithwaite ‘cause he was demandin’ my respect or somethin’.”
“Demandin’? What’d you do?” Alice laughed. Isaac ran a hand through his hair and sighed sheepishly.
“I mighta flipped them off after they looked at me so judgin’ly.” Isaac shrugged and Alice groaned exasperatedly, a fond grin plastered on her face.
“You just can’t stay outta trouble, Isaac!” Alice giggled and Isaac sighed and rolled his eyes.
“I was gon’ ‘pologize but then he put his hands on me so I grabbed my gun.” Isaac defended. Alice sobered up and listened to the story seriously. “Then those men showed up and defused the situation. After that, I noticed Mr. Pottenger wasn’t at his stand, so I reluctantly answered questions that they had.”
“Was it ‘bout the Braithwaites?”
“Yeah.” Isaac snorted. Alice pointed a mock threatening finger at him.
“I told you. Them Gray’s love to know ‘bout those Braithwaites. Nothin’ more.”
“I shoulda known.” Isaac chuckled. “Anyway, I ended up talkin’ ‘bout Annie ‘cause I needed to keep asking people ‘round town. They offered to help. Told ‘em I didn’t think they’re power would do much with the O’Driscolls, who I reckon they know.”
“‘Cause they’re the law.”
“S’what I said.” Isaac nodded. “I ended up tellin’ them ‘bout me an’ how I grew up. Can’t lie to you, Ally, I told ‘em ‘bout me killin’ two men. Two O’Driscolls.”
Alice sucked in a sharp breath and shook her head, “No…”
“I did.” Isaac said, all choked up. “Told ‘em it wouldn’t matter since after I found who I was lookin’ for I’d be outta town.”
“They–” Alice stuttered, trying to control her breathing. Isaac hated himself at the moment. For causing that reaction. It was the last thing she needed. He knew that, but still added onto it by blabbing away to those random lawmen he didn’t know. “They gon’ get’chu, Isaac.”
“I don’t know, Ally. I don’t know if they will or won’t. Either way, they offered to help. We need it, I can’t lie. They offered to help after I told them what I had gone through.” Isaac announced. Alice still had tears streaming down her face through her confused knitted brows. He felt the same way at the time. “Let ‘em help.”
Alice swallowed, “If we let ‘em help. Say they find Annie, an’ we all get outta there alive. What’er we gon’ do if they try to take you? They’re gon’ hang you, Isaac!”
“I’ll deal with it, okay? I will.” Isaac promised through a stuttered breath. “I just need you to prepare for when that happens an’ we might have to go our separate ways, okay? I ain’t gon’ get you mixed up in all that ‘cause I went an’ blabbed to lawmen.”
“We ain’t splittin’ up, Isaac.” Alice scowled hard at him. Isaac shook his head and looked away.
Alice Adler was one stubborn girl. She meant it. God, everything became so confusing so quick. Isaac hated this so much. He wished Annie were here to take the stress of his shoulders for a second. Long enough for him to breathe without questioning if he’s a bad person or not.
“Alice—”
“We ain’t, okay?” Alice doubled down and Isaac held up his hands. They remained silent for a moment, the tension hanging between them like a dull weight. “Kick dirt over the fire, we need to go into town. We’re gettin’ Annie back.”
Isaac swallowed at the tone of Alice’s voice, the vicious determination and fire exploding behind her eyes. He hadn’t ever seen that look on her face. For the years he had known her, she was the bubbly twin, the one who took care of everyone. Isaac didn’t know what to think as he slowly realized he was watching that girl fade away into the past.
Alice was becoming hardened, the final straw being Annie being taken away. Alice had been hardened by many things in the past, like her family’s deaths. Though being down to your last family member, you’re willing to fight much harder. Annie and Alice hadn’t ever been split up, Isaac remembered.
He was watching Alice become like him and Annie. The way they both didn’t hesitate to pick up a gun, didn’t hesitate to threaten a man, and didn’t hesitate to break a rule. Alice tried to be good in her life, tried to make her parents proud in every way. Isaac admired that to the bone. He wanted to do the same thing, though that was destroyed before the idea blossomed in his small head. He had made her disappointed a few minutes after her death.
There was nothing for him now, but there was hope for Alice.
He paused knowing that too was fading away. She didn’t hesitate to pick up her gun and holster it, and Isaac watched with fear for her. He reckoned it was to happen one way or another. It happened to him, though it worsened over time. It happened to Annie, as if she were born for the role.
It’s happening to Alice and by fate’s own hand.
“Come on, Isaac!” Alice snapped and Isaac blinked away his dreadful realization. He used his boot to kick dirt over the lively fire and checked his revolver for enough ammunition. Alice mounted Elmer, her face set with anger and determination. Isaac followed behind her the second the fire started to die down, and Bucky chuffed at the quick mount. “Surely he’ll be at his damn stand, right?”
Isaac paused at her tone, but nodded, “Has to be.”
Alice took the lead and urged Elmer towards town. Isaac saddled up next to her and made a point to not peer over to her vexed face. As much as Alice was loudly protective, she never went as far as to threaten someone with a gun. Tonight could go multiple different ways if it continued to play out this way, with the simmering anger beneath the surface and raging realizations.
“So what's the plan when we get there?” She asked, her voice flat. Isaac blew out a breath, eyeing the red and purple colored sunset.
“Well,” He started. His mind was blank. Almost. He knew what Annie would do, though that would cause a shootout. They’ve never done this before; question around a missing person when they knew their life was in danger. At least the girls didn’t know Jake was in danger. Isaac can feel the stress wafting off of Alice. “Question him first. Somethin’ innocent. If he looks guilty, we ask further.”
“With guns?”
Isaac side glanced at her, “Last resort, yes.”
“He has to know somethin’.” Alice grounded out, ignoring Isaac’s words. He sighed wearily and nodded, despite his inner arguments. There was a large chance he didn't know anything at all. It was worth the try, sure, though Isaac did not favor collateral damage. “I’ll make him tell me.”
Isacc believed she would, too. With Jake, they had spent years away from each other prior to the hunt for the older man. The girls didn’t know if Jake had expanded his family past his wife, they didn’t know if he had moved since the last time they heard from him; they were walking into it blind.
With Annie, it was different for Alice. They have been by each other’s side since the very beginning. They have gone through damn near everything together. Evidently, Alice wasn’t handling the separation very well. It was disturbing to see the girl he had only pictured as calm and logical, become so demanding and cold.
It wasn’t like Isaac could say much.
He was sure his Ma would be worried for him, extremely so, after seeing how he turned out. To everyone he met, he was quick-witted, he bounced back easily, and he was silent in movement. Back then, he was a bubbly child who loved to chase birds and fish on the river bank. He still loved those things, but he didn’t maintain that child-like innocence anymore when he did them.
“Be smart ‘bout this, Alice.” Isaac warned, glancing at each tree they passed behind Caliga Hall. He liked the place a lot, a home only rich people could afford. It sucked to remember that the home that the Braithwaites lived in was much prettier, despite the horrific actions taken at that manor. He favored the vast amounts of land, open with seldom things or buildings on it, and how it didn’t look haunted. Really, it could’ve just been the sunset. “We don’t wanna be stupid ‘bout this and potentially get kicked outta Rhodes ‘fore we can question everyone.”
Alice merely grunted, shaking her head, though she didn’t respond. They passed through the open area into town and noticed men already making their way to the saloon, a few ladies on their arms using their fans. Isaac surveyed the area for deputies, only to find Mr. MacGregor at his usual spot on the porch of the Sheriff’s office.
They trotted through town with one place on their mind. Isaac decided to follow Alice’s lead, and let her do the talking.
As they rounded the corner to the butcher’s stand, Isaac felt relief flood his bones at the sight of Mr. Pottenger finally where he was supposed to be.
“Mr. Pottenger!” Alice shouted. Isaac tensed up. Mr. Pottenger froze and peered up at them on their horses. The man’s white apron had blood rubbed all in it and his salmon colored shirt had its sleeves rolled up the elbows. His thick beard covered mostly his whole face, but his balding head shined beneath the sunset's red color. “Hello.”
“Ah, hello.” He greeted not unkindly, but it came across a bit guarded. Alice dismounted Elmer and eyed Isaac, silently telling him to stay on Bucky. To which he nodded his agreement. Alice strode up to the front of the butcher stand and gazed at his small collection he kept laid out on the wooden table. “You lookin’ to buy?”
Alice shook her head, but kept looking. The man looked over her head and up to Isaac. He didn’t give away his emotions to the man, nor did he move to tell him anything. This was entirely up to Alice at the moment. He’d fall in after.
“I just had a question, actually.” Alice spoke up after some silence. Mr. Pottenger grinned and nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. Alice cleared her throat and blew out a breath. Isaac braced himself for nothing in particular. “Y’know the girl that helps you skin animals here? Anna Adler?”
“....Yes.” Mr. Pottenger stuttered a bit. Isaac clenched his jaw. He wasn’t liking this one bit, not at all. Mr. Pottenger shifted on his feet, swallowing thickly. “Is somethin’ wrong? Do you know her?”
“M’ shocked you don’t know me, Abraham.” Alice grounded out. “My name’s Alice Adler. Anna’s twin sister.”
Mr. Pottenger didn’t respond, but a look of shock slid across his face gracefully. As Alice and the man fell into a staring contest, Isaac took the chance to glance around them. A few saloon customers were watching from the porch, and Mr. MacGregor leaned against a pillar on his porch with a cigar hanging from his lips. Isaac bit his lip as he surveyed the people, the seldom amount, watching. He whipped his head back to face Alice to see her point a threatening finger at the man.
“Where is Anna, mister.” Alice leveled him with a serious, cold look. Isaac was tempted to dismount his horse to intervene, but he trusted Alice with questioning more than Annie, so he let her have this until he absolutely had to intervene.
“I–I don’t know, miss.” Mr. Pottenger stuttered. Isaac hissed lowly. The stuttering made him look suspicious, as if he were hiding something that he knew was messed up. Isaac sucked on his teeth out of nervousness. “She–She…”
“She what?!” Alice shouted. Isaac snapped his head over to the men that loitered outside of the saloon. The shouting wouldn’t earn them an intervention from some random adult they didn’t know, but it would earn attention from Mr. MacGregor and he would get involved. Isaac may have told those three men his past, though it was solely due to his unknowing trust he found in them, but that didn’t mean he wanted Mr. MacGregor sniffing around them. This town wasn’t the time to get involved in disputes where it didn’t involve them, something Isaac found interesting. It was different in Van Horn, at least. “Tell me, mister, or you’ll regret it.”
Mr. Pottenger swallowed and shook his head, holding his hands up, “They was bad men, miss. You ain’t wanna get involved with them.”
“Does it look like I care?!” Alice shoved herself further into the wooden table to get up in the man’s face. “Tell me.”
“They paid me.” Mr Pottenger muttered uselessly. Isaac cursed loudly and Mr. Pottenger flinched like an abused child. Alice shouted multiple cuss words and nearly flung herself over the table and at the man.
“Alice!” Isaac yelled and the girl pushed herself back, huffing and puffing her breath out of unfiltered anger. She bared her teeth and shook her head disappointingly. “Calm down for right now.”
“Calm down?!” Alice laughed mirthlessly. “Calm down, Isaac? Annie could be dead!”
Isaac swallowed his words and bowed his head. His mind worked overtime trying to put clues and plans together in a feeble attempt to soothe his worried thoughts.
“She could be dead, Isaac.” Alice stepped towards him on his horse. “Dead, ‘cause this bastard–”
She flung back around and shoved her unsheathed knife in the butcher's face. Mr. Pottenger reeled back in fear and sputtered. Isaac nearly dismounted Bucky. He hadn’t ever seen this reaction out of Alice ever, his fingers tightened around the reins in his pale hands.
“What’s goin’ on ‘ere?” A voice rang out. Mr. Pottenger swallowed and huffed. “Earnin’ quite the crowd over at this small butcher stand, huh?”
Isaac snapped his head to the voice that he was starting to become used to. Hoagy McIntosh filled his vision. Alice never took her cutting, hatred filled eyes off of the shivering man.
“Mr. McIntosh.” Isaac greeted with a polite nod. “Thought you was off at night.”
“McGregor had us runnin’ ‘rounds ‘round town.” Melvin cut in with a kind smile. Isaac couldn’t shake the feeling that they were lying, however he decided to ignore it in favor of making sure Alice didn’t murder a man in cold blood on a nice night. In his mind, at least one of them deserved to make it out of this outlaw life without fear of being tracked. Alice seemed like that person. “How’re you doin’, Isaac?”
Isaac observed the man, looking him up and down, “Good. Saw you only a few hours ago.”
“We took your words from a few hours ago and have been lookin’ for your friend. Anna, was it?” Hoagy announced and Isaac lit up, a hopeful sparkle in his eye, though a slight shake of Hoagy’s head told him all he needed to know.
“Yes.” Alice cut in, moving to the side of Hoagy’s horse. “Did’ya find anythin’?”
“No, ma’am, we did not.” Hoagy spoke solemnly. Isaac muttered something beneath his breath and licked his lips. This was slowly getting away from them.
“Damn it!” Alice screamed. She marched back up to the butcher’s stand and pulled her knife again. “Tell me! Not tellin’ me will make it worse for you, mister.”
“Alice–” Isaac urged on stronger. Hoagy trotted forward, holding a hand up at Isaac. He scowled at him, but he listened.
“Let’s calm down, alright?” Hoagy dismounted his horse and settled a hand on Alice’s shoulder, which she tore away from with a hard clenched jaw and a flailing knife in front of Mr. Pottenger’s face. “Calm down, Alice.”
Alice ripped away from the stand and Hoagy and glared at him, “How do you know m’ name?”
Isaac pulled on Bucky’s reins, confusion washing over him. He hadn’t told them Annie’s sister’s name. He hadn’t even told them Annie’s nickname. Isaac felt dread shower him and he allowed it to show on his face. Arthur took his previous spot and held a careful, and a bit shaky, hand out in Isaac’s direction.
“I never told y’all Anna’s sister’s name.” Isaac accused, narrowing his eyes. Hoagy sighed.
“We appear to have a friend in common, Ms. Adler.” Hoagy backtracked, keeping his voice void of a threat. Isaac appreciated it, though it would get him nowhere. Alice was already coiled like a tight spring with Annie’s disappearance. “We got your information from a woman named Sadie. She was married to your older brother?”
Alice’s eyes widened and she shook her head in disbelief. Isaac’s eyebrows hit his hairline.
“That don’t make sense.” Isaac answered when Alice wouldn’t. He didn’t have to see the girl to know there was a thin layer of tears covering her green eyes. “We was told Sadie was dead.”
“Well that can’t be right.” Melvin chuckled. “‘Cause she’s been livin’ with us since her house burnt down.”
Alice still hadn’t uttered a word. Isaac found himself speechless.
“This is a sick joke, mister.” Alice grounded out, angry tears falling down her face. Hoagy sighed tiredly and shook his head.
“We had a feeling you might say that. So we brought her along.” Hoagy moved out the way and tossed an arm out as an unfamiliar woman rode up on a horse.
Her dirty blonde hair was tied into a braid and her yellow top popped against the brown fur of her horse. A black hat sat upon her head, and it looked like it had seen much better days. Alice let out a whimper and knelt down to the ground. The woman dismounted her horse and lightly jogged over to Alice. Isaac wanted to follow suit, but his body wouldn’t move. Everything lined up.
Their stories matched what they had seen.
This woman, the one comforting Alice, was Sadie Adler. Jake Adler’s presumed dead wife.
“No…” Alice muttered brokenly. “No. This isn’t real.”
“It’s real…” Sadie whispered, her voice a bit choked up herself. Isaac huffed in shock and peered down to Hoagy.
“Holy…” He broke off and looked back at the heartwarming sight. A part of him hoped Sadie would help Alice not lose herself even further. The butcher sighed in relief and Isaac cursed under his breath. Isaac gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. “Oh, you–”
He moved to dismount his horse, but stopped at the sound of Arthur’s voice.
“Isaac.” The tone came across as a warning. Isaac stopped at the familiarity of the sound. He was temporarily thrown back a couple years, before he killed a man, before his Ma was killed, before he knew the truth of his Pa being an outlaw. “We’ll deal with this.”
“We will.” Sadie promised, not cradling Alice’s head to her chest. “Believe that.”
“Why don’t you two come back to camp with us, huh?” Melvin suggested happily. Isaac felt the need to chuckle at the man’s joyful tone in the current moment of revelations. “We can talk further there. And there are many conversations long over due, don’t you think?”
“That is true, yes.” Hoagy nodded and laughed. “What do you say?”
Isaac considered it. He thought about the camp they’ve already set up and how unreliable he knew it would be. He accepted it in the moment because it was the best they were gonna get. He thought about how often they wouldn’t be at the actual camp itself due to their focus being on Annie.
“S’ just you three?” Isaac questioned. Hoagy sucked in a breath and shook his head. “Figured.”
“Yes.” Alice spoke up and with Sadie’s help, stood back to full height. She briefly glanced at Isaac before settling her gaze back on Hoagy. “We’ll go with you. At least I will.”
Hoagy nodded and Sadie hugged Alice close, petting her hair lightly. Isaac didn’t respond, instead mulling over the proposition. He had no reason to not trust these men, though he had no reason to trust them either. He spilled more about his life than he should’ve. They were law. This could be a trap. One that Alice was already in because of Sadie actually being alive. Alice was gonna go where Sadie went, Isaac already knew. And Isaac had a terrible habit of going where Alice and Annie went.
“Isaac?” Alice asked, her voice sounding too small for comfort. Isaac cracked his knuckles and closed his eyes for a minute. “I meant it when I said we’re not splittin’ up.”
“It’ll be safer if you come with us, Isaac.” Arthur muttered for just Isaac to here. Isaac picked his head up and faced Arthur, looking deep into the man’s eyes for lies or ulterior motives. His Pa taught him what to look for, and his Ma taught him how to lie out of a situation. He had a better fighting chance than Alice did, but he’d save her if it came down to it.
Man, Annie would have his head for agreeing to this.
“I reckon I’ll go.” Isaac sighed with defeat. Alice blew out a relieving breath. Sadie moved closer to her horse, making a move to encourage Alice into mounting her horse. Alice shook her head and muttered a few words while pointing at Elmer. Sadie made an ‘o’ shape with her mouth and nodded. They both mounted their respective horses. Isaac moved around so Sadie could take his spot next to Alice, and he took Sadie’s prior spot next to Arthur. “Where’s this camp?”
“You’ll see.” Arthur said without elaborating further. Isaac shrugged. The group all moved from the butchers stand, leaving the Mr. Pottenger sputtering and at a loss for words at the night. He had a feeling the saloon would be seeing Abraham a lot more than usual. He could only imagine the picture Alice made while swinging her knife around, spitting threatening words. Sadie and Alice rode ahead of them, talking in low murmurs to each other. Isaac hung back with the three men to give them their space. “Wanna go to your camp an’ get your things?”
Isaac thought about it. He could always get it tomorrow.
“I’ll get it tomorrow.” Isaac replied with a shrug. Arthur nodded slowly.
“What about your bedroll?” Melvin asked.
“I’ve slept on the ground before. Plus, I don’t figure I’ll be gettin’ much sleep tonight.” Isaac sighed, glancing up at the two galloping horses ahead of them. The men followed his gaze and nodded solemnly. “Ain’t been sleepin’ well since Annie disappeared, y’know? S’ like family.”
“You’ll fit right in!” Melvin whooped at Isaac with a cheer. Isaac grinned and shook his head. He left the three men to talk amongst each other, his eyes tracking different stars in the dark nighttime sky.
He dutifully ignored the intense feeling of a set of eyes on the side of his face.
***
Isaac wasn’t sure what to prepare himself for with the men’s camp. They warned him that the camp consisted of much more than just the three themselves. Isaac guessed he was okay with that. Alice seemed to not mind it, though that may be because of Sadie’s presence. Isaac couldn’t blame her there. If his father was alive and asked him to go with him, Isaac would say yes in a heartbeat.
What else did he have? Other than the girls.
They rode in silence, Isaac casting out watchful stares to the nighttime sky and the trees they passed. He wasn’t paying much attention to the dirt path they rode along, trusting the men to navigate their way home just fine. He was correct in the end. They rode into the woods, trees everywhere Isaac looked. He didn’t see a single person, but he heard a voice.
“Who goes there?” A young sounding voice called out. Melvin chuckled in good nature, while Hoagy called back.
“It’s us. With a few visitors, of course.” Hoagy responded with a booming voice. The other voice didn’t respond, oddly enough, but the men exchanged knowing and thankful glances with each other that piqued Isaac’s interest a bit. “We’ve got an area for you two to rest for the night.”
“Thank you.” Isaac expressed with a kind smile. Alice stayed right by Sadie’s side the whole ride into what Isaac realized was the actual camp. It was lively, and bigger than what he normally saw. There were several tents, wagons, and crates. He noticed the warm, orange lit fire that was occupied by several people. There were many people, some wandering about aimlessly, others moving with a purpose. Isaac was in awe of the place. None of the people he saw looked alike, of what he could make of them in the darkness of the night. He initially thought the people the men mentioned were just their separate families. “Huh.”
Melvin grinned at him, “Welcome to your new camp, Isaac.”
Isaac gazed over to him, past Arthur, and partially squinted his eyes. He was slowly becoming suspicious. Some things weren’t adding up.
He hadn’t heard of deputies camping in the woods.
“Thank you, I guess.” Isaac muttered unsurely. Alice followed Sadie over to the hitching posts for the horses, and Isaac followed without knowing what else to do. He dismounted Bucky with no struggle and noticed Arthur hitched his horse next to Bucky. “This is a big camp.”
“Yeah,” Arthur sighed, glancing around him at all the people and the tents that stood tall. “It’s home.”
“Looks it.” Isaac shrugged off his suspicion. He turned around to find Alice, but the girl was already trekking off with Sadie into what he assumed to be her tent. He shook his head and spun back to Arthur, who remained standing in front of him. Isaac was confused by that. The man kept doing that. He kept looking at Isaac with that odd look and staying beside Isaac.
Melvin and Hoagy sauntered up beside them.
“Would you like to meet some people, Isaac?” Melvin asked. Isaac balled up his fist, pondering the suggestion. He’ll have to one of these days, depending on how long he and Alice will be here. Plus, it was the polite thing to do since he’s the one coming into their place. “No pressure.”
“I reckon so.” Isaac sighed. “Where’s everyone at?”
“At this time, mostly by the fire.” Hoagy answered this time. Isaac nodded, finding the populated fireside and strolled over to it. He heard the sound of footsteps following him. The air got warmer the closer he got to the fire, and the people that basked in the warmth all had a beer in their hands. There was one that sat by the fire on a bedroll, strumming a guitar. He appeared to be of Mexican descent with the Spanish words that flowed from his mouth at a low tone, and his pitch black hair. “Hello, everyone.”
The Mexican man stropped strumming his guitar and looked up, along with the two men and the woman. So not that many people then. His nerves tended to do him wrong sometimes. Though he had no solid reason to be as nervous as he felt. It was odd.
“I’d like for you to meet someone. He’s the boy we discussed earlier today when I said I wanted everyone on the look out for Anna Adler.” Hoagy commanded the people’s attention, like a leader would. The people at the fire nodded, eyes on Hoagy and only him. “If you’d like to introduce yourselves, please, be my guest.”
Isaac gazed at each of them. The woman was highlighted by the fire, her dark hair pulled into an updo and her red colored dress made a bright color due to the orange fire. Her skirt of the dress was a brown color, lines running down to the bottom. Isaac shifted his eyes to one of the men, the one with the green hat on.
His hair was orange, and it shined against the orange hue. He had one arm braced on his blue jeans and his other clutching a beer with a humorous glint in his eye.
The other man raised an eyebrow at Isaac, his thick brown beard covering most of his face and his leather jacket open to display his white shirt. His brown hat was a bit crooked on his head.
“Hello.” Isaac greeted them first, not keen on waiting for them to speak. “M’name’s Isaac Morgan. S’nice to meet’cha.”
The woman grinned at him, “Well, hello, Isaac. My name is Susan Grimshaw, but you can call me Miss Grimshaw.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Isaac smiled at her and she lit up, gazing up at the men behind him. Isaac heard a chuckle.
“There truly is a first for everything, int’there?” The orange haired man spoke, a thick Irish accent lacing his voice. Isaac raised his eyebrows and muffled a laugh. “Somethin’ funny, Isaac?”
“No, mister. Sure ain’t. Ain’t never heard an Irish accent like yours before, I reckon.” Isaac couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. The man grinned right back at him, winking at him.
“Mm, one of a kind, I tell ya. M’name’s Sean MacGuire.” The man took a long swig of his beer.
“Javier Escuella.” The Mexican man stated bluntly, curt. Isaac nodded resolutely when the man didn’t provide any other words.
“And I’m Bill Williamson.” The bearded man stuck his hand out. Isaac shook it firmly, nodding. Bill looked at him closer, narrowing his eyes. “Whoo, boy I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?” Isaac pushed, furrowing his brows.
“Bill.” Arthur warned greatly. Isaac peered up at Arthur with confusion, and his urge to know was getting stronger. When they met eyes, Isaac could see the man’s look laced with regret but longing.
“Am I missin’ somethin’?” Isaac stepped back. And when no one spoke up, “Someone oughta tell me what’s goin’ on.”
Hoagy sighed tiredly, “Arthur. Why don’t you and the boy ride out to gather the things at their camp. By the time you get back, I expect the truth to be out.”
Arthur looked hesitant, but he agreed. Isaac wanted to refuse, but with the way Arthur light shooed him forward and settled his hands on the top of Isaac’s head to guide him like his Pa used to do years ago. Isaac didn’t know why, but it all made sense right then. It was like everything slid into place with that one action.
He stuttered to a halt, eyes wide and hands shaking.
“Pa?” Isaac whispered, his voice cracking. Arthur sucked in a breath and he could feel the whole camp still, as if they were all watching him when they weren’t. “No. No. Ain’t—That ain’t possible.”
He stepped forward, stumbling a bit. He turned back to face Arthur, who stayed put in his place. He briefly glanced at the people back at the campfire, and their wide eyes. But he looked back up at his father, practically looking all the way up with their height difference. Isaac really looked at him this time. Suddenly he felt so stupid. The eyes were the same.
They were Isaac’s.
Their hair was the same color. They were different in skin, where Arthur was a tan white, Isaac was a pale white, thanks to his Ma. The nose Arthur had was the same as his Pa’s, same for the mouth and head shape. Everything was the same down to the hat and name.
“Isaac….” Arthur breathed, kneeling down to height level that of Isaac. His eyes tracked the man as he continued to go until he was looking straight, head positioned ahead. Isaac could feel the tears pooling in his eyes, a silent tear escaping.
“I thought you was dead.” Isaac muttered. “Ma–She’s…”
“I know.” Arthur mumbled, his own eyes sporting a layer of tears. “I know. I saw the crosses outside ‘er—y’all’s—cottage.”
“Did you—Did—” Isaac couldn’t say it. His breathing was out of sorts. “Did you think I was dead?”
“I figured the two crosses meant there was no survivors. ‘Magine my surprise when I come ‘cross a boy that looks jus’ like me an’ Eliza combined, fishin’ like I’d taught him to.” Arthur told him and Isaac felt a smile pull at his lips. “I ain’t wanna believe you were my son, but then you’d said my hat was the one your Pa wore. Ain’t exactly know what to think then.”
“Callahan ain’tchur last name.” Isaac sniffled, swallowing down the saliva that gathered in his mouth. Arthur sighed and shook his head.
“No, it ain’t. It’s Morgan. Jus’ like yours.” Arthur confirmed. Isaac laughed through the emotion, a few more tears dropping. He smiled, but it quickly dropped.
“Pa, the O’Driscolls—” Isaac started, but was interrupted. Arthur took a deadly expression, his jaw clenched and hands balled up.
“I know. I’ll deal with ‘em when the time comes.” Arthur vowed. Isaac nodded, though he wanted to argue. He grinned full force. They settled into a bit of a silence, nothing but the sound of low mutters and swaying trees filling the air. Then Isaac laughed a bit, observing the way Arthur smiled at it.
He ran at his father, hugging him with all his strength.
“Oopf!” His Pa let out a sound at the impact, but he immediately hugged back, tucking Isaac’s head further into his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around Isaac’s shoulders and another behind Isaac’s thighs. He picked Isaac up, standing back to full height, and held him as if he were a five year old scared of the world. He cried at being held like he wanted to when he witnessed his Ma get gunned down. He knew he didn't weigh much. His frame was fairly small, too small for an eleven year old, he had been told before. But he and the girls didn't have a lot of money, so it wasn't his fault. “I gotchu, son.”
Isaac let the tears flow silently as he cried into his father’s shoulder. Arthur took Isaac’s hat off of his head and held it in one hand, carrying Isaac on the other.
“I missed you, kid.” Arthur rumbled. Isaac chuckled wetly and nodded his agreement. He missed his Pa like a missing limb. He had gone so long with a parent’s love to the point it started to hurt.
The sobbing and tears started to rain down and there was no stopping it, Isaac realized. The whole time his Pa rubbed his back and mumbled some reassuring words in hopes to calm his son down while he slowly walked around the camp. Isaac cried so hard his head started to ache until he eventually found himself feeling tired, exhausted beyond comparison.
His Pa must’ve felt him go a bit limp as he started to walk through the camp, of which was blurred through Isaac’s tears.
He felt his body being laid down on a cot and his Pa’s worried expression was all he could see. He felt like a little kid again, even if he was still a kid at eleven years of age. His eyes started to droop and he felt a blanket being laid on top of him and his revolver removed from his side. He had half the mind to catch the hand of whoever dared touch his gun, but he was just too damn tired.
Eventually, the world faded out and he allowed his eyes to close, falling into a nice sleep.