Cowboys and Angels

Chapter Twenty-One

Author's note: this chapter's song is "Stay" by Florida Georgia Line. It mostly goes with that last few paragraphs of the chapter. I'll link it above.

Just as usual, the plan to steal the sheep involved guns and near death. Arthur, with his sniper rifle, shot near the ranch hands to scare them away. Once they had run back to wherever they came from, Arthur, John, and Adeline worked on herding the frightened sheep back into one group.

Adeline drove the last sheep back into the group. "Marston, take up the back and cover us. Miss Blackwell and I will herd the sheep." Arthur commanded.

It was a really simple task- ranching that is. Adeline rode on one side of the sheep and Arthur on the other. They just had to keep them in one group. The whole time, Arthur and John had been bickering.

"Well I heard you took Jack fishing today? Not really your place is it?" John spat at Arthur.

"Well you weren't taking him," Arthur argued. The two ignored Adeline completely. "If he ain't yours like you say, why does it matter?"

"What do you think Adeline?" John said, snapping Adeline out of her thoughts.

"Me? You're asking what I think of Arthur taking Jack fishing?" She clarified.

"Well yeah. Surely you've got an opinion." John said.

"Well," Adeline began. "I think it was nice of Arthur to do that. Even if Jack isn't yours, it's important to little kids to have memories with their parents or at least parent figures." Adeline sighed. "Take it from somebody who's parents died when they were really young, those memories are important. I wish my dad would have taken me fishing when he was still alive."

John mumbled something.

"You put him in his place," Arthur chuckled to her.

"It's true," Adeline said sadly.

"We're here!" John called out.

They had reached Valentine and Arthur helped Adeline herd the sheep into the fenced area. The workers shut the gates for them and the three outlaws dismounted their horses to meet them.

"Fine sheep," Arthur said.

"They're decent- especially for some sheep with an air of ambiguity." The ranch worker said. "I get twent-five percent of whatever they make at auction and I won't tell anybody about your secret." The ranch worker somehow knew the sheep were stolen and Adeline had no idea how.

"No, Mister, you've got the wrong ide-" Arthur began.

"Fifteen," John butted in.

"Twenty," the ranch worker fired back.

"Eighteen," John answered.

"Fine," the rancher agreed. "My lips are sealed. You'll get your payment after the auction."

John shook his hand as Arthur walked back to the horses. "I thought we was doin' the robbing?"

"Quit your griping. It's still good money." John said.

"Whatever. Dutch wants us to meet him at the saloon when we're done." Arthur explained.

Adeline audibly sighed. She didn't know they'd have to see Dutch. She was still trying to avoid him. "I've gotta get a few things from the general store. I'll just meet you all back at camp." She nodded to the men, leaving them standing there, confused. She walked off towards the store and when the men finally understood what she said, they left for the saloon.

~~~

Adeline browsed the shelves of the general store. She wanted to get a few books for Jack and for herself. She looked through the shelf and saw nothing but books she had already read. She picked out an old book she read in the past called "Jane Eyre" and she got a story book for Jack and a slate to practice writing on.