Cowboys and Angels

Chapter Fourteen

Author's note: the song Adeline sings in this chapter is an actual song by Garth Brooks but I thought it fit the outlaws and this chapter perfectly. It's a really good song so I linked it above for you to check out.

The sun was beginning to set and Adeline was finished doing laundry hours ago and was now mending some clothes with Mary-Beth and Abigail, whom she'd just met. Abigail's young son, Jack, was sitting with them and Adeline adored him. Adeline took quite a liking to Abigail. She was down to earth, sweet, and motherly.

"How's it going over there, Addie?" Mary-Beth asked.

"I've lost count of how many bullet holes I've stitched up." She joked, earning a laugh from the two other women.

The galloping of horses interrupted their conversation. Arthur was back and Lenny was with him. She wondered where they had gone to but it was probably to collect more debts or something. "Lenny," She called out, waving to her friend.

"Addie!" He called out, quickly running over to her and giving her a hug. "Arthur told me what happened. I'm so sorry."

She smiled at the familiar face. "Don't you worry about me, Lenny."

"You know Lenny?" Abigail asked.

"Well I did see him vomit on the side of the road and I made him and Arthur tea for their hangovers. I guess that makes us friends," Adeline explained to Abigail with a laugh.

"Oh, Arthur, Lenny! You're back. Just in time. I wanted to announce something." Dutch called, slightly spooking everybody.

"What's that, Dutch?" Arthur asked.

"Attention, everybody!" Dutch called. "I'd like for us to have a little celebration tonight to welcome Miss Blackwell. And I know we've all been itching for a reason to have a little fun."

Adeline gave Dutch a kind smile, "Thank you," She said.

"Break out the alcohol and do some singing and dancing. Welcome to Horseshoe Overlook, Miss Blackwell."

It was a little over an hour since the party started and almost everybody was drunk. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Adeline was finally introduced to everybody in camp. She met John, Abigail's significant other and Jack's father. She couldn't tell what to think of him. He seemed disinterested in his own family but he also seemed kind enough. The last person she had yet to meet was Javier. He was playing his guitar and singing while the others danced. Once the song ended, she decided to introduce herself to him.

"Hello, I'm Adeline. I don't think we've met." She said, extending her hand out to him.

He smiled at her, "Javier Escuella, lovely to meet you."

"You don't happen to be related to a Jose Escuella, do you?" She asked.

He seemed shocked. "That's my cousin. Last I heard of him, he was trying to make it big in some city."

"He worked for my grandparents. He was the musician they hired to play at parties. I can see that music must run in the family," She chuckled. "He taught me a few things."

Javier seemed happy to hear about his cousin. "You play?" He asked.

"A little. Not well though," She answered.

"Nonsense, come try it out." He exclaimed. By now, everybody was watching. "Know any songs?"

"A few... But I can't sing worth a lick." She chuckled awkwardly.

"No offense, Miss Blackwell, but half of these people won't even remember this in the morning." Javier coaxed.

She laughed, swallowed her fear, and took the guitar. She could feel everybody's eyes on her as she began strumming a few chords.