Cowboys and Angels

Chapter Sixteen

Author's note: This chapter's song is "Hurricane" by Luke Combs. I'll link it above.

Adeline told herself that she didn't want to listen in on Dutch and Arthur's conversation, but in all reality, she really wanted to listen. They men were the only ones awake in the camp and they were sitting around the fire. Adeline was sitting in her tent with the other girls, pretending to be asleep so she could listen to Dutch and Arthur's conversation.

"Thank you for getting Sean back, Son," Dutch said. Adeline heard him clap Arthur on the back. He seemed to do that a lot. It was kind of a sign of respect.

"You're not gonna like what I did on my way back though," Arthur said softly.

"What?" Dutch seemed scared.

Arthur sighed. "I saw Marry. I helped her out?"

"WHAT??" Dutch exclaimed before remembering to keep it quiet. "what?" He whispered this time. "You mean Mary, like the one who you weren't good enough for years ago?"

"Yeah... That Mary. She's a widow now and she came lookin' for me."

"After she called off your engagement because you weren't good enough for her family," Dutch said. "Here she came crawling back to you."

"No, it's not like that," Arthur said. "She asked me to help her find her little brother who'd gone missing up in the Cumberland Forest. Little Jamie had nothing to do with how the rest of her family treated me."

Adeline's head reeled. She knew Arthur must have had some romantic past but she never thought that he would practically go crawling back to the woman who nearly broke his heart. Especially now that she was a widow and had nobody left. Adeline bit back a feeling of jealousy. It wasn't like her and Arthur were a thing and it was in the past anyways. She was sure Arthur wouldn't actually go back to Mary.

"Besides," Arthur began. "I wouldn't go back to her. We are both different people, or at least I am."

'Bingo!' Adeline thought.

"Good, Arthur. Don't stoop that low." Dutch said. "There are plenty of other fish in the see. Tons that are more deserving of you."

"I'm not really into fish at this point in my life. I'm too old now. I can't handle the chase anymore." Arthur said softly, but Adeline could detect a hint of sadness. "Besides, anybody who gets too close to me gets hurt."

Dutch sighed. "I can understand that, Arthur. You just have to get a lady who can defend herself," Dutch joked, lightening the mood a bit. "In fact, I can think of one in this camp who meets all of the criteria." What Adeline didn't see was Dutch mouthing 'Adeline' to Arthur.

"Get outta here, Dutch. We're just friends," Arthur said with a small chuckle. Adeline heard one of them get up from the fire and walk over to a tent. She assumed it was Dutch. She sat awake in quiet anxiety for another hour before going to sleep. She never did hear Arthur get up and leave the fire.

~~~

The next morning, Adeline woke up and wrapped herself in her shawl. It was a bit colder than usual. A late spring freeze probably. She got up out of the tent where only Karen was still sleeping and went to get breakfast. Her braids from the previous day had left her long, brown hair in waves. She tried to rub the tired out of her eyes but was interrupted by a yawn.

"No sleep last night?" Somebody asked from behind her. She turned and saw it was Arthur. Her blood ran cold. Did he know she was eavesdropping?

She decided to be a discreet as possible. "It was fine, just kind of restless from the cold." Arthur nodded before stepping in line behind Adeline. "What's on your agenda for today?"She asked him today.