It had been a few days since Corrin and I had confessed to each other and it was absolutely fantastic! She was more willing to show affection like kissing in front of the others and she absolutely loved cuddling. If we were sitting around the fire with the others, she was always right there sitting in my lap. Everything just felt right with her and I was on Cloud Nine.
On another note; holy shit they found Kieran! That timid little shit from the O'Driscoll gang had somehow kept himself alive long enough to be brought on for Colm's train job. Arthur apparently nabbed him on the way back from the mining camp. He was absolutely shocked to see that I was still alive, I guess the feeling is mutual. I tried explaining to Dutch that he wasn't harmful in the least but without people to convince him otherwise like Arthur, Hosea, and Corrin did with me; he didn't have much hope. He's still tied to a post outside rambling on about how "he ain't no O'Driscoll". I liked Kieran well enough but holy shit the wimp can't even own up to being a member like I did. Whatever. I don't think they'll kill him but I am pretty sure Bill wants to play the neuter game with some gelding tongs. Fucking yikes.
I've also been practicing with my drawing quite a bit too! I'm getting pretty good, even if I have to say so myself. I drew a rough layout of Colter and even the Ferry at Blackwater.
I was brought out of my journal writing by an adorable yawn. I looked down to see a sleepy pair of ruby red eyes looking up at me. Corrin had fallen asleep with her head rested on my lap, it was fairly common by now and I loved it.
(Y/n): Good Morning, lovely Dragon.
Corrin: Good Morning, and lovely dragon? Really?
(Y/n): I thought it was fitting.
Corrin: If it were anyone else but you, I'd think it was absurd.
(Y/n): Awwh I'm glad I have privileges~
Corrin: Shut up and kiss me.
I leaned down and kissed her as she gently gripped my my chin. She ran her hands through my hair and I did the same to her. She sat up and wrapped her legs around my waist and I started to move my hand up her left thigh. Once our lips separated, we got lost in the moment as we gave each other Eskimo kisses. We were brought out of our moment of euphoria by Dutch's loud talking.
Dutch: Today is the day gentlemen!
Corrin: I think he's wanting to rob a train.
(Y/n): Fuck yeah! As long as I get to see the locomotive up close I'm happy.
Corrin: You've got a thing for trains?
(Y/n): I've always thought they were cool since Joshua bought me a toy train when I was little.
Corrin: Aww just when I think you can't get any cuter!
She playfully poked my nose as she said this.
Corrin: Your brothers mean quite a bit to you don't they?
(Y/n): Absolutely, I always loved my time with them. It's been years since I last saw them.
Corrin: Where did they go?
(Y/n): They left when I was young. That whole part of my life is a repressed blur that I've tried to forget because of my Mom and Dad. I know Lanius went west to where the massive canyons are. Joshua is the tricky one, he's always traveled around but he told me he was very fond of another country to the east. Maybe he went there, I don't know. I hope to find them one day.
Corrin: So those two and Colm were your influences?
(Y/n): Yeah, not the most sheltering crowd I know but my brothers and Colm taught me most of what I know. What about you? Do you have any siblings?
She paused for a few seconds and then looked down, playing with her hair. I could tell the subject made her uncomfortable so I gently took her hand.
(Y/n): I'm sorry, in my curiosity I didn't consider how it made you feel.
Corrin: No it's alright, it's just a bit tricky to talk about.
(Y/n): If you don't want to talk about it, I understand and respect that.
She immediately smiled and hugged me.
Corrin: You're so sweet. I'll tell you sometime, when there's not so many prying eyes and nosey ears around.
(Y/n): I look forward to it.
Corrin: Now come on, lets go rob a train.
(Y/n): Hell yeah.
We both got up and stretched. We then walked outside to see Hosea trying to talk Dutch out of this job. I couldn't blame him for being worried after how things went at Blackwater.
Dutch: Bill, now you ride ahead and set the charge at the water tower just before the tunnel.
Bill: Ain't a problem.
Hosea: Why are we doing this? Weathers breaking we could leave, I thought we were lying low.
Dutch: What do you want from me Hosea?
Hosea: I just don't want anymore folks to die, Dutch.
Dutch: We're living, Hosea, we're living. Look at me, we're living...even you. But we need money, everything we have's in Blackwater. You fancy heading back there?
Hosea: No. Listen, Dutch. I ain't trying to undermine you. I just wanna stick to the plan which was to lie low then head back out west. Now, suddenly we're about to rob a train.
Dutch: What choice have we got?
Hosea: Leviticus Cornwall's no joke Dutch, he's—
Arthur: Who the hell is Leviticus Cornwall?
Hosea: He's a big railway magnate, sugar dealer, oil man.
Dutch: Well how good for him. Sounds like he's got more than enough to share.
He turned towards us and called out.
Dutch: Lady and Gentlemen, it is time to make something of ourselves. Get your horses ready, we have a train to rob.
Hosea quickly walked over to Corrin and I. He put a hand on each of our shoulders and spoke, he looked very worried.
Hosea: Please be careful, I don't want more of us to die because Dutch got too overzealous trying to one-up Colm.
Corrin: Hosea, I'm hurt. This is us we're talking about! Right (Y/n)?
(Y/n): Yeah we stared down Blackwater and left a mountain of bodies in our wake.
He couldn't help but smile.
Hosea: I wish I had your optimism. I know you're all smart and skilled in your own way, I'm just worried is all. You're both too young to get killed in some job gone awry.
(Y/n): We'll be careful. We're all too damn good to get murdered by some oil man's hired guard.
Hosea: That's all I can ask, take care.
Corrin: You too Hosea. Don't stress too much, it isn't healthy.
We both walked over and mounted our horses and rode off.
Dutch: Alright, we're moving out! Follow me!
We rode a bit until we crossed the river. Dutch then began to go over the plan.
Dutch: Okay. listen up, all of you! According to the information so kindly provided to us by the O'Driscolls, the train will be coming north from Big Valley. We're going to pick it off after is crosses the border into the Grizzlies. There's a raised spot there which should give us good vantage. Charles, you'll keep lookout for any outriders. How's that hand by the way?
Charles: I'll be fine.
Dutch: Good. I'll take the driver and engineer, then run point. Lenny and Javier, you two take the front cars and deal with any guards. Corrin and (Y/n), you two take the flatbed cars, there's always guards on them for easy shooting on any riders. Arthur and Micah, you take the back car. That's what we're after, Mr Cornwall's private car.
Micah: You and me Morgan.
Arthur: Great.
Micah: Awh have you got a problem with that?
Arthur: Not if you keep your head for once.
Micah: You worry about yourself.
Dutch: Enough! After Bill blows the tracks, we're gonna need to move fast. Is everyone clear on what we're doing?
Arthur: Yep.
Micah: Crystal.
Corrin: Yeah.
(Y/n): Yes Sir.
Lenny: Yes boss.
Dutch: Good. Now come on, let's ride!
We all picked up speed and rode through the snow. We were even starting to get into an area where the snow was lessening and green grass could be seen peeking through it! It was fucking exhilarating riding with the rest of them. I knew all of these people, not like with Colm where I only knew a couple. I felt...powerful...when I rode along with them on our way to a job. Especially a big job like this. I was brought out of my excitement fueled high by Arthur.
Arthur: Out of the snow finally.
Dutch: Feels good doesn't it? But we need to get this done fast now that it's thawing, before anyone gets up here after us. Look at all of you! See? This is what I call a crew. Micah Bell, Charles Smith, Arthur Morgan, Corrin Alexandra, (Y/n) (L/n), Javier Escuella, and what about young Lenny here? Always the first on his horse.
Lenny: I'm just happy we're back at 'em Dutch.
Corrin: *Laughs* Funny, given (Y/n) is newer to the gang than Lenny.
Arthur: Yeah, but (Y/n) ain't new to this outlaw life like Lenny is.
Micah: Yeah, you should have seen that crazy look in (Y/n)'s eyes when that Adler woman tried to stab him! The eyes of a killer.
(Y/n): What can I say? She took me by surprise and I was pissed.
Arthur: Save the tempers for the gunfights, my friend.
Javier: You sure you're ready for this, kid?
Lenny: Course I'm ready.
Dutch: Just stay calm, and keep your eyes sharp. No mistakes, not again.
Micah: So we do this, then we go back to Blackwater to collect?
Arthur: How many times are you gonna ask the same question Micah?
Micah: That's a lotta damn money to leave waiting for too long.
Charles: It would be crazy to go back there now. The place will be swarming with Pinkertons.
Dutch: We go back when I say we go back, and that's the end of it. The money's safe, you'll just have to trust me. And if the O'Driscolls are right, there'll be a stack of railroad bonds on this train.
(Y/n): They're definitely right, Colm always has good information.
Dutch: See? Good money, once we work out how to cash them. Now everyone shut up and get your mind on the job at hand, come on! There's the water tower, hold up here on the ridge.
We all rode up to the ridge and stopped. I could see Bill down below rigging the explosives to the tracks.
Dutch: Is Bill there?
Arthur: Yeah.
Dutch: You and (Y/n) wanna go see how he's getting along?
Arthur: Ok, let's go (Y/n).
(Y/n): Right.
Arthur and I rode down and dismounted. We walked over to Bill, who was carefully working the dynamite to the tracks.
Arthur: How you getting on?
Bill: I'm alright.
Arthur: You sure?
Bill: Of course!
Arthur: Can we help a little?
Bill: Alright. Go ahead...and set up the detonator by those rocks over there.
Arthur: Okay, sure.
Bill: Now just unspool the wire and attach it to said detonator.
I set up the detonator like Bill requested as Arthur unspooled the wire. Once he got over to me we began attaching the wire....or trying too anyway. He looked to me and whispered.
Arthur: *Whispers* You know how the hell to do this?
(Y/n): *Whispers* Not at all.
Arthur: *Whispers* I thought you were some sort of tinkerer!
(Y/n): *Whispers* Tinkerer, not explosives expert!
Arthur: *Whispers* Shit, well we'll just have to give it our best guess.
He cut the wire and handed it to me. I tried my best to attach it to the detonator. I just took stuff apart and made new stuff with it for fun and (occasionally) profit. I didn't know much about explosives or electrical wiring.
(Y/n): There we go!
Arthur: Looks good to me.
(Y/n): Thanks!
Bill: Alright, that should do it. You two head back up to the others, I've got it from here.
We both got back on our horses and rode back up the hill to the others. I rode over next to Corrin and whispered in her ear.
(Y/n): *Whispers* Ok so...be prepared for this to go slightly wrong.
She looked at me with an eyebrow raised.
Corrin: *Whispers* Why? Is something wrong?
(Y/n): *whispers* I'll explain later, nothing terrible is wrong but.....
I scratched the back of my head in slight embarrassment.
(Y/n): *whispers* Blowing up the tracks may not go.....quite as planned.
Corrin: *Giggles* You're so cute when you're embarrassed.
Dutch: What's going on?
Arthur: He says all's fine.
Javier: We'll soon find out.
Dutch: Everything ok?
Arthur: I think so.
Dutch: Okay, masks on. Cover your faces, train should be here any minute now.
We all put our masks on. Sure enough as he said this a train whistle blared out, echoing throughout the mountains. All the birds in the area flew off their trees as the big metal steam engine chugged through. I could see the smoke billowing from the smokestack just over the hill! The locomotive turned the corner in all it's glory, I couldn't help but feel excited seeing one up close.
As it rounded the corner and continued it's advance however, Bill pushed the plunger on the detonator down and!...........nothing happened! He pushed it down again and again, screaming profanities that I could hear from all the way over hear.
Corrin: What the hell!
Dutch: You have got to be kidding me!
Arthur: Where did you find that moron?!
Dutch: You said it was fine!
Arthur: So now it's my fault?!
No Arthur, technically it's both our faults, I thought to myself.
Javier: Come on!
Arthur bickered at Dutch a bit more but I didn't quite hear it since I was riding to the other side of the tunnel to jump onto the train. Corrin and I were the first to leap, she landed on her feet with grace while my landing was a bit rougher as I fell to my knees. Javier, Lenny, and Arthur followed afterwards. Unfortunately Javier landed awkwardly and started to fall. I reached out and barely grabbed his hand but the weight and momentum of his body was too much and we lost our grip! He fell off the car as I looked back.
(Y/n): Sorry!
Javier quickly got up and whistled for his horse.
Javier: Don't worry, I'll catch up!
I turned back around to see Corrin offering me a hand, which I gladly took.
Corrin: He'll be fine, he's a tough one.
(Y/n): I hope so.
Arthur had just helped Lenny back up onto the train after he nearly fell off a car off into the fucking gorge!
Corrin: How did you know Bill would fuck it up?
Lenny: Seriously! What the hell was Bill doing? He had long enough to set that charge.
(Y/n): Well...
Arthur: Well (Y/n) and I hooked up the wire but we won't mention that.
Corrin laughed.
Corrin: *laughs* Holy shit that's priceless.
(Y/n): You gonna tell on us?
Corrin: Hell no, Bill owes me over fifty dollars for me buying him hair pomade so he can take the fall for this one.
Arthur: All that aside, we've got to find a way to stop this train.
Corrin: Agreed, let's go.
As we all started to run along she slapped my ass! Her and I both ran ahead and jumped down onto one of the flatbeds. I snuck up behind one of the guards and promptly snapped his neck, throwing him overboard afterwards. Corrin threw two throwing knives at the men at the front of the car, the knives firmly planted into each man's skull and they fell over. A man inside the other car was alerted but shot in the head by Arthur, which alerted the others aboard the train. We advanced into the freight car but began to take fire. Four guys were ahead in the car. Lenny shot one in the chest as I shot another as he peeked from cover. Arthur shot the last two in the skull and we advanced with Lenny finishing off the last guy whom was barely alive.
We moved to the next car as two more ran in but were both gunned down by Lenny and Arthur while Corrin and I ran ahead to reach the engine. Once we came up on the coal tinder I walked to the engine only for a bearded man to swing a shovel at me! I ducked and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and slammed his head into the side of the coal tinder. His head erupted in blood and I threw him over the side off the train. I walked up to the engine to see the driver panicked.
Train Driver: P-Please! I'm j-just the driver I d-don't want no part in th-this!
(Y/n): *Sighs* Fiiiine.
I couldn't help but feel a little bad for this guy so I moved out of his way and watched as he tuck-and-rolled when he jumped from the train. I walked up to the controls, reached up, and pulled on the whistle string as it bellowed throughout the mountains...I couldn't help myself.
Corrin: Having fun?
I lightly jumped, startled by the sudden voice.
Corrin: You're so cute~
I gently grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer.
(Y/n): Not as cute as you~
Corrin: *Giggles* Hush and stop the train.
I reluctantly released her and turned one of the small levers to the left. I then grabbed the large brake and locked the trigger at the top, pulling it back afterwards. The wheels all stopped and the train came to a screeching halt.
We all jumped off the train as more of the men arrived.
Lenny: Great job!
(Y/n): Thanks!
Arthur: No time for congratulations, we've got more of 'em.
As they rode in on horseback I focused and drew my gun, targeting six of them in the process. I fired my entire cylinder as all six of them were shot clear off there horses. I took cover behind a large rock to reload as Arthur and Lenny killed several more of them.
Lenny: There better be some money at the end of this!
Arthur: All these bastards gotta be guarding something.
More came up from the top of the cars of the train! I drew my carbine repeater and shot two of them in the head, one in the neck by accident since he was far away and these simple repeaters only shoot so far. I was about to focus again but before I could; Corrin had already leapt from cover and butchered all five guys that I was aiming at. We ran up a bit and were about to unleash more hell until Dutch and the others rode up on horseback! They quickly made short work of what few hired guards were left. They all dismounted and walked up to the armored car.
Arthur: Good shooting kids.
Lenny: Now I can see why the O'Driscolls brought so many boys up here!
Dutch: You four okay?
Arthur: Yes, let's get the bonds and go.
Dutch: We got some fellers holed up in this last car.
Arthur: Ah shit.
Dutch: What are you boys planning on doing in there? Listen to me, we don't wanna kill any of ya.
He looked back at us.
Dutch: Anymore of ya.
We all chuckled at his dark jest.
Dutch: I give you my word, but trust me we will.
Random douche-suit: I work for Leviticus Cornwall!
Dutch: Come on boys!
Random Douche-Suit: We got our orders!
Dutch: Okay. You asked for it. Five...
Random Douche-Suit: We ain't—
Dutch: Four...
Random Douche-Suit: Opening this door—
Dutch: Three, Two, One! It seems our friends have gone deaf, wake 'em up a little!
On Dutch's orders we all drew our guns and began firing at the armored train car. The bullets plinked against the armor and created many small dents but the car endured well.
Random Douche-Suit: We ain't coming out! You got no way in here!
Dutch: Mr Williamson, please give Mr Morgan and Mr Smith some dynamite. Let's go blow that door open.
Arthur and Charles both walked up and planted the dynamite onto the side of the car.
Dutch: Now it don't matter too much to us, but you boys in there might wanna stand back a little.
Charles: Seems good enough, now light the fuse.
Bill: Unless you got a death wish, I'd step back fellers.
I covered Corrins ears with my hands as the dynamite exploded, blowing a massive hole in the side of the car.
Dutch: Alright. Come on, just walk on out here.
Out walked three decently dressed men that looked like they had recently soiled themselves.
Dutch: We don't wanna kill you, we just wanna rob your boss. Alright, search that train.
Corrin and I were the first ones to board the car and this fucking thing looked like a fancy house on the inside! This Cornwall guy does all this just to transport three limpdicks and some railroad bonds? Christ, I'm glad we're robbing this guy.
I walked over and quickly noticed a bottle of Fine Brandy and an imported cigar on the inn table. I put them both in my satchel and saw a letter on the other inn table, thinking it would be important I took it as well. Corrin was over looting the large desk. I found another note on the desk and pocketed it with another small bottle of fine brandy. On one of the large cupboards there was a nice platinum pocket watch along with a cigarette card for Blackwater!
I rapidly picked both up and put them into my satchel. I then went over and opened the large cupboard to see a small metal box.
(Y/n): This might be something.
I jabbed my knife into it and broke the locking mechanism, opening the box in the process. There were several little slips of paper in it.
Corrin: Oooh find something?
(Y/n): I think so!
We all exited the now-mangled train car.
Dutch: Find anything?
(Y/n): These papers.
I handed him the small slips.
(Y/n): They worth anything?
Dutch: Oh sure, bearer bonds! I think we can probably sell these pretty easily. Well done. Now would you get rid of all this?
Arthur: I'll take care of it, you all go on ahead.
He said as he patted me on the back.
(Y/n): Thanks Arthur, I appreciate it.
Arthur: Sure, you did some damn good work today.
Dutch: Well in that case, see you back at camp. When you get back, we'll be moving on. Do what you want with these guys. The rest of you, let's ride!
I whistled for Cirilla and she quickly ran up. We all mounted and began to ride back after I waved at Arthur. This heist definitely didn't start as planned but damn it was fun!
Corrin: Wanna race?
(Y/n): Oh hell yeah!
Dutch then pulled up.
Dutch: You know? I think it's about time to remind you kids who the real fastest one is.
Corrin: Dutch I've been on your tail for the past few times we've raced.
Dutch: Close dear lady, but no cigar.
Corrin: Okay. How about whoever comes in last buys us all drinks.
Dutch and (Y/n): Deal.
Micah: Damn I'm in.
Bill: Me too.
Dutch: Alright then! I'm gonna enjoy that drink. Ready, Set, Go!
We all sped off on our way back to camp. It finally looks like things are looking up, so I'm really excited!