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Chapter Text

Callander Brothers

Mac is a year younger than Arthur so during black water he is 35.Davey is 5 years younger than his brothe, Mac but he is not the youngest in the Callander family. (Davey is 30 during blackwater)

Mac and Davey look alike, same height,same build and same hair color.differences with their appearancesthat Mac has a scar on his cheek, Davey has one under his eye.
Davey has green eyes and Mac’s are brown. Davey also has a younger look but him and Mac are still very similar.

The two have thick Southern accents

Micah may have liked the Callander brothers but the sentiment is not shared.they tolerate him.

Mac’s horse is a female dutch warmblood with a seal brown coat named Betty

Davey’s horse is a male mustang with a buckskin coat named Boston

Jenny Kirk

Youngest in the gang (next to Jack obviously) she’s 19 but her birthday falls in December,making her the youngest.

Her grandparents on her fathers side were immigrants from Spain.
Meanwhile her mom was an American with aspirations to live in Oregon.

She’s got long brown hair that she keeps down most of the time. And her eyes are a light brown.

She has a hint of an accent and can hold conversations in Spanish with Javier.(due to grammar and words differences though they can have a few miscommunications)

Micah says something about having sex with her and since I fucking hate Micha that is a nasty rumor he made up.

She goes on small bank jobs similar to the bank job with Karen.

Jenny’s horse is a male Appaloosa with a blanket coat named apple

Chapter Text

Mac was angrily dragging his little brother out of some bar he’d nearly drank himself to death in.
He bite his lip in an attempt to keep his temper at bay.
Of course this is how Davey would spend his money, and of course he’d left his dear old brother to pick up his mess.
He shoved the younger man on a bench outside a hotel.
“Stay here Davey,” his voice gruff and annoyed,”you move,and I’m putting a bullet in your leg,”.
Davey most likely didn’t hear a word Mac just said. But the wouldn’t stop him for making good on the threat .
Mac huffed as he threw the doors to a hotel open,the desk clerk flinched at the loud noise.
“Ah,welcome Mister, what can I do for you,” the clerk smiled.
“Need two rooms and a bath,” he answered,Mac heard the door swing open behind him.
A well dressed man decorated in expensive looking jewelry walked in with a charming grin on his face.
Following behind was a young man and a boy both giving each other annoyed glares.
“Here’s you key sir,you’ve got room 1 down the hall to your right. We’ll come get you when that bath is ready.”
The hotel manager smiled.
Mac took the key and exited the hotel in order to retrieve his brother.

Davey was awake and had a grin on his face,”you see that fancy fella that walked in the hotel ?,”he asked.
“Sure,”Mac mumbled motioning his brother towards the hotel.
“Well fancy fella had a expensive looking watch, so I decided to relieve him of it,” The younger man pulled out a golden watch.
Mac whistled and took it from Davey’s hand.
“Nice job Dave,” he congratulated,” seems like you can do something other than drink,”.
Davey scoffed and snatched the watch out of his brother’s hand,” now if only you could do something other than look’n ugly we could be rich”.
The two walked back into the hotel,still bickering and arguing.
The fancy fella was still at the check in with the two men he walked in with looking bored.
Mac noticed the hotel manager was missing from his desk.
“Hello gentleman,”fancy fella smiled.
“Hello sir.” Davey muttered not paying attention.
“ you gentlemen wouldn’t have happened to seen a watch when you came in,I appear to have lost mine,”.
Davey shrugged,” ain’t seen no watch mister,”.
The man laughed as his two possible lackeys stared them down,”you boys aren’t as smart as you think you are,”.
“Don’t know what your talking bout mister,” Mac’s tone becoming more agitated.
“Give him the damn watch,” one of fancy fella’s men growled. The scrawny one narrowed his eyes as-well.
“Your gonna have to take asshole,”Davey snapped back.
…

Arthur wouldn’t have guessed the twin thieves would be much of a fight.
They weren’t big or strong looking,but they were tough.
Arthur broke one of their noses and the man barely flinched. He head butted Arthur and punched him in the jaw.
His eyes flicked over to John whose hair was being pulled.
It wasn’t even about the watch anymore, it was about who tired out first.
Arthur was finally able to pin one down and he held a knife to his throat,”if you want this bastard to live, I’d start handing over that watch,”John and the man stopped.
His eyes went wide for a second,”damnit Mac,”the man seethed,”shut up you idiot,and give him the watch,”
“You keep being a sour bastard I’m just gonna let him slit your throat!,”
“I’ll drag you down to hell with me if you even think about it!!,”
“Id like to see you try you cow fucking asshole!!!,”
Arthur felt the man struggle beneath,”get off me so I can break his neck!!!,”arthur saw the rage in the man’s eyes and did as asked.
The second he got up the man swung at his partner. He connected with the man’s nose with a sick crack.
“You broke my nose!!,”he sputtered.
“I’ll break it again if you don’t give them the damn watch!!,”john and Arthur stared at each other in shock.
Dutch had an amused look in his eyes and seemed to be planning something.
The one Arthur thinks is Mac,took the watch from his brother’s hand and held it out for Dutch to take.
Blood was running down both their faces and they looked worse for wear.
“You gentlemen are quite the fighters I must say,”he chuckled.
“You men staying here long?,”Arthur glanced to John.
“No sir,”the nameless brother said as he wiped blood off his face.
“Well me and my friends here could use a couple survivors like yourselves,”he smiled at them and held out his hand for them to shake.
“Dutch van der linde,”they looked at him with confused glances,”I’m Mac Callander and this is my little brother Davey”.
“I’ve herd of you, you robbed a bank in buffalos crossing a few weeks back,”Davey says,”some guys in the bar wouldn’t shut up about it,”
“That we did,now what do you gents say about heading back to camp with me and my friends here and we’ll get you boys cleaned up so we discuss this some more,”.
The two men looked at one another for a second,”alright,”Mac sighed,”try anything and we will kill you,”.
“Wouldn’t dream of it friend,”he looked over the the young man he came in with,”that bath will have to wait John. you’ll have to apologize to Susan when he get to camp,”.
The boy shrugged not seeming to bother miss getting bathed,and headed out the door.

Chapter Text

Hosea wasn’t too pleased with the new editions to camp,Especially when they are as loud and hectic as the two brothers were.

But the two were good on jobs,and Hosea couldn’t argue with results.

 camp was now in a permanent state of yelling and arguing due to the new camp members.

Either starting fights with others or each other. Davey didn’t do anything sober,and he always had some sort of drink in his hands.Mac wasn’t much better,the man had a temper on him,and Davey liked to make him angry.

They had rare Moments of peace as well,they knew some interesting card games and had some funny jokes.

Still, Arthur didn’t know how to feel about them.

One day sunny afternoon when all was
 quiet in the camp,Arthur was almost relaxed when Davey came up to him.

“You up for a game,Arthur?” He asked with a cup of dice in hand.

“Not if your gonna threaten to shoot me again,”Arthur scoffed before tipping his hat over his face.

“Oh, c’mon Arthur,it’s the easiest game out there,and I’m sober as a dog right now,cross my heart,”Davey drew a large X on his chest and grinned. 

Arthur groaned before sitting up,”fine,but I’m shooting you in the head if you threaten me again,”.

Davey barked out a laugh then started setting up the game.

“You ever played lyres dice,Morgan,”Davey asked while setting up the game.

“Once or twice,when we were in thieves landing,”Davey nodded as he shook his cup.

“Two threes,”he said setting the cup down.

The two of them went back and forth for a while, Hosea even joined them at some point.

“I swear your cheating,”Davey mumbled staring daggers at Hosea. Arthur laughed,” what’d you except from a dirty conman.”

Hosea laughed as well,Davey grumbled something .

“Dave! We got a some mail,”Mac shouted.

Bill was walking in with him a box of supplies in tow.

“Sorry to end the game boys,but I got mail to read,”Davey stood up leaving his dice behind.

“Wonder who’d be sending those two letters?,”Arthur asked giving Hosea a curious look.

“Only god knows who would send those crazy bastards letters,”the old man joked.

___

Mac stared at the letter on in his hand,” is it from Grace ?,”Davey asked.

“No, it’s from Andy,”Mac murmured as he read over the letter.

“Andy?, what the hell is he doing writing letters,”Davey snatched the letter from Mac’s hands.

———

To my Dear brothers,

We haven’t spoken in a few years now,and Grace has informed me of your new,employment.

She says you’ve been cleaning up y’all’s act and are doing better.

Perhaps you both will return home and we can discuss things in person.

Mama ask about you sometimes and she wishes to see you both well.

You will probably get a letter from our sister soon,she is the only one who wished to stay in contact with you for some reason,but maybe I was wrong about her foolishness.

Hope to see you soon

Your big brother,Anderson Callander 

__________

Davey scoffed,”what lies was she telling him,”.

“That bastard hung around pa too much as a boy,”Mac grumbled before crumbling up the letter.

“How’d he even know were to send it,”Mac shrugged,”I’m gonna go burn this,”.

Davey followed him out towards the fire Where John and uncle sat.

“Hello boys, wanna drink,”uncle slurred a bottle in his hand.

Davey nodded and smiled,”after we burn this,”he laughed.

“What in that letter was so incriminating you gotta burn it ?,”John asked taking a sip of his beer.

“Ah, it’s just family trash,”Mac scoffed throwing the letter in the fire.

“Didn’t know you two boys had any family,”Dutch walked over his rings shining in the fire.

“Yeah, back east in Mississippi, family owns a rundown ranch,”Davey explained as he grabbed a beer off pearson’s wagon.

“You boys ranchers?,”Dutch got a look in his eye.

“We know a thing or two,”Mac sat down on a long,”why,you need us to do a job?,”

Dutch stroked his chin,”maybe,I’ve got some leads in town,but I’ll need three men on the job,”Arthur happened to pass by and Dutch grabbed his shoulder,stopping him.

“Arthur,how’d you like to learn how to herd cows,”Arthur looked at him confused and annoyed.

“What?, you gonna teach me,”he chuckled.

“No,but our new friends here will,”Davey and Mac waved at him.

“You two know how to heard cow?,”he asked suspiciously.

“We know enough,”Davey sneered.

“You sure about this,Dutch?,” Arthur asked trying to keep his voice low.

Dutch patted him on the shoulder,”Why not? It’ll give them a chance to prove themselves. Trust me son,I’ve got a plan in the works”.

Arthur let out a heavy sigh,”alright,when do we start,”

“I’ll tell you more about it later,for know just see what you can figure out about a farmer named,Ayden O’Malley,”

Arthur agreed and headed towards the horses.

“Take Davey with you if your heading out now,”Davey was already on his second bottle and looked just as annoyed as Arthur about him going.

“Fine. Come on let’s go.”he motioned for Davey to get up.

The man groaned and stood up and saddled up his Mustang,Boston.

“Let’s go boy,” he muttered kicking Boston into a gallop.

Chapter Text

Mac and Davey had told arthur to meet them in a town a few miles away from where they were staying.

Mac’s and Davey’s hair was tied up and they’d almost look like decent folk if not for the scars and shifty gazes.

“Ready to rustle some cattle,”Davey cheered.

Arthur grumbled as he rode beside Mac,”Davey will lead the cows and I will show you how to heard them,”Mac looked about as excited about this as Arthur felt.

They approached a heard of grazing cows,it was dark and the white fence glowed in the moon light.

“Open the fence and we’ll get them going,”Mac whispered to Arthur.

He nodded and quietly approached the fence.

One of the cows looked at him curiously and approached him. It sniffed at Arthur’s hair while he opened the gate.

Davey and Mac quietly drove the heard out towards the entrance.

“Alrighty Arthur, to move them out you gotta get behind the heard,”Mac instructed him as he rode beside him. The sun was rising by the time they were off the property; They made it out of the ranch with no trouble,and started towards the auction site where they decided to sell the cows.

Arthur rode in-front of Mac as Davey lead from the front.

“Your riding too close to them!,”Mac shouted.

Arthur rolled his eyes but slowed down,”now get on their right to make’em go left!,”.

They heard steered toward the auction yard,”they should enter the gate on their,”Davey called out.

A man closed the gate behind the cattle and walked over to them.

“Fine cows Mister,”he smiled,”should get good money for them,”Mac nodded.

“You staying for the auction,or will I need to send you boys the money?,”.

“Send the money to Hester Miller,”Mac told him as they walked out.

“Good job Morgan,”Davey congratulated,”You’ll be a cowboy in no time,”.

____

Dutch was pleased when they said Arthur’s trial run went well.

“So what’s this job you got brewing,”Arthur asked as the two Callander brothers walked away.

“That reminded me of when you tried riding that bull at the state fair,”Mac laughed.

“If I remember correctly,you didn’t do much better,”Davey scoffed.

The two sat down by the fire,uncle and bill already drinking.

“How’d rustling work go,”uncle asked before taking a sip of whiskey.

“Morgan did alright, he’s got a strange way with animals,” Mac took the whiskey bottle from uncle.

“What’ve you boys been up to,”Davey asked taking the bottle from Mac and emptying it.

“Ah, drink here a drink there.” Uncle laughed.

“Have you ever done anything other than drink?,”Davey asked with genuine curiosity.

“Well,back In the day I was known as ‘One Shot kid’,”Mac nudged bill in his side and chuckled,”yeah and I’m King of England,”.

“You young’ns have no respect,”the old man huffed.

“Mac, your turn on watch,”John said as he set his riffle down.

“See you in an hour gents,”he patted bill on the shoulder as he left.

“Uncle!! Williamson!!,”Grimshaw smacked uncle on the head causing his hat to fall.

“There are chores you two needed be doing,”the two men groaned.

She gave them a glare scary enough to shut them both up and get them working.

.

___

The day of the job was one that was destined for disaster.

The plan was to ride to the ranch and for Arthur,Mac,and Davey to play as hands looking for work.

They’d do a day’s worth of work,then They say that they don’t have anywhere to stay, and hopefully are offered to stay on the ranch. When night falls they rob the house and leave as soon as they can.The plan was almost perfect.

However, it was raining and muddy when they set of for the O’Malley ranch,making Mac’s horse ,Betty, anxious, forcing them to go slower than they had wished and arriving late.

The ranch was decently sized,though it was desperately in need of farm hands.

Arthur knocked on the door and was surprised when a child answered.

“Hey kid,we’re looking for a Mr,O’Malley,”the girl then explained that her pa was out of town.

“Looks like you learned all that heard’n for nothing,”Davey stated as they walked away.

“So what are we going to do,Morgan?”Mac asked,”We can’t go back empty handed”.

Arthur was quiet for a second,”we’re just gonna have to rob it the old fashioned way,” my muttered walking towards the horses.

Betty and Boudica were calmly sitting and waiting for their owners.

“Where’s Boston ?,”Davey asked approaching the animals.

The three men looked around for a few minutes till Mac let out a laugh.

The man started doubling over and almost fell.

“What’s so funny,”Davey spat trying to see what his brother was looking at.

Arthur finally saw and tilted his hat downward as he started smiling,”out in the field,”he chuckled pointing towards a fence.

Davey stared out,Boston was tied up in his reins almost looked like a dog wrapped in its leash.

“DAMN IT!!,”he yelled and ran to untangle the best.

Mac just started to recover from his  laughter,when Davey got hit in the gut my Boston’s head.

___

The sun set over the hills and the lights in the house went out.

Mac cracked open the window allowing him and Arthur to sneak in while Davey kept watch.

The two men split up as they searched the home.

Mac found a few pieces of jewelry and some whiskey. The house didn’t seem as promising as Dutch told them it was and it was starting to get on his nerves at the lack of money.

Arthur quietly called for him in the kitchen.

A trap door under the rug. Arthur was able to pry in open and reveal a safe.

They were just about to open it when a small gasped echoed through the room.

“My lord!,”Mrs,O’Malley and the girl from earlier were standing on the stairs.

Mrs O’Malley had a revolver in her hands.

“Shit.”Arthur Murmured,before a shot rang out.

The bullet his Mac’s arm,and he went to shot back when Arthur stopped him.

“What the hell morgan!,” he shouted.

“We ain’t shooting innocent people,now get up and run!!,”he pushed Mac towards the window while more shots went off.

One grazed Arthur’s shoulder just as he crawled through the window.

“We gotta go,”he yelled at Davey who looked at them confused.

They rode for awhile till they were in the woods.

Mac was staring daggers into Arthur,”You should’ve let me shoot her!!,”He barked and jumped off his horse.

“We could’ve gotten killed!!,”Arthur got off Bo.

“We don’t hurt innocent folk, I know you’ve only been with us a few weeks but you gotta learn,”Arthur was taller than Mac and he tried using it to intimidate the other man.

“I value my life,I’d rather a dead woman than my body on the ground!!,”Mac snapped.

“We don’t hurt innocent people,she was protecting her home!!”Mac went to punch Arthur but Arthur was a bit quicker and nailed Mac in the stomach.

Mac hadn’t been prepared for that hit causing him to fall back.

“I’m going back to camp,”Arthur grumbled getting on his horse.

Davey stayed back and kept asking Mac what happened,”Nothing!! Let’s just go back to camp,”he shoved Davey away when he tried to look at the man’s arm.

Davey quietly did as told and followed him back to camp were Arthur was already speaking with Dutch.

“Mr.Mac, would you come here a second,”the man called. Hosea was there as well, patching up the scrape on Arthur’s shoulder.

Mac had time too cool off and was calmer than when Arthur and him last spoke.

“I hope Arthur was able to knock some sense into You boy,”Hosea muttered before pulling Davey down so he could look at the bullet in his arm.

“Yes boss,”he muttered.

“Next time you get the idea to shoot an innocent women,you can go ahead and leave this gang,”Dutch’s voice was cold and serious.

Mac glared at him a second,and his face morphed to a look of concern when his eyes flicked over to Davey.

Davey was standing close by anxiously watching Hosea pull the bullet from Mac’s arm.

“Alright boss,won’t happen again,”Dutch gave a nod and walked away allowing Hosea to finish patching up Mac’s arm.

Chapter Text

To my Dear brothers, Davey and Mac.

Me and my husband are moving to Europe soon.

I will be unable to send letters and will be unable to contact you. Your traveling already makes it hard to track you boys down, and with me leaving the country.

I fear it will be impossible for me to contact you.

I will be worried about you two constantly and will miss you both dearly.

I’ll miss the days when you both would show me how to ride horses when pa refused.

When you taught me how to shoot a gun and defend myself when Andy called me paranoid.

you two bandaged my cuts when ma   Fell ill and she was bed ridden.

You two have been the best brothers a sister could ask for and I hope we see each-other again one day.

I wish you both could hug me one last time ,but it is time for me to transition to a new life.

Tony treats me well and will continue to, and he promises me the adventure I crave.

You boys stay safe out there,I know you like getting into trouble.

Please stay strong and keep out of trouble.

I do not wish to see your names in the newspapers.

I love you both with all my heart.

With love

 Grace Rossi, your little sister 

——-

They stared at the letter in silence,Davey swore he saw Mac tearing up when he finished reading.

“I’m…I’m glad she’s happy,”Davey mumbled to himself.

“Yeah, me too I guess,”Mac replied folding the letter and placing it in his chest.

“Wanna head to town,get a drink,”Davey asked before leaving the tent.

“I’ll catch up with you later,Hosea and Morgan need me for something.”Davey nodded as he walked out.

“Don’t stay there all day,please.”Mac shouted,”I’ll put a bullet in your neck if you do,”Davey laughed hoping it was a joke.

Boston stood hitched by a tree basking in the cool shade when Davey approached him.

The poor boy was getting up there in years, so was Mac’s horse Betty,but he was still a lively boy.

He patted the horse gently before climbing on,”alrighty boy,let’s go drown our sorrows,”he joked to himself.

The ride into deer’s crossing was quiet and melancholy,and the walk into the saloon wasn’t better.

He ordered himself a beer and waited for Mac to join him.

Hours felt like minutes as Davey kept drinking. His movements becoming more uncoordinated and his eyes getting heavier.

____

“DAMN IT MAC!!!  LEAVE IT !!!,” Arthur shouted at him when Mac shot the guy stealing Hosea’s horse.

A shoot out began in town quick after,”I’LL KILL EVERYONE IN THE DAMNED TOWN!!,”Mac was going off the deep end.

“What the hell is wrong with you,”Arthur snapped as he shot at an officer.

“Your asking him that now,”Hosea scoffed before shooting at somebody.

The ran down the streets searching for a place to take cover.

Mac was about to shoot at more people when Arthur and Hosea pulled him into the saloon for cover. 

“Davey?!,”Arthur turns towards where Hosea’s voices was, and their sat Davey.

The man was almost black out drunk with a beer in hand. His eyes were red and he looked like he’d been crying.

However, know he had a big lopsided smile on his face.

“HOSEA!!,”the drunkard cheered ,”good to see ya,”.

Mac glared at his brother from behind a table,”Drunken bastard!!, have you been here all day!!,”

“Maybe, can’t quite recall,”Davey slurred.

Mac got up from where he was hiding,”You’ve been here for 7 hours,you Alcoholic bastard!!,”.

“Yep,”

“Damn you, DAMN YOU,”Mac lunged at Davey but Arthur grabbed him by his shirt collar.

“We gotta go,there is a door out the back,”Hose instructed.

“What about Davey,”Arthur asked looking at the passed out fool.

“Leave him,we’ll come back for him later,”Hosea pulled the two men out of the saloon and into a back alley.

“We’ll loose them in the trees,”Hosea whispered as they left the alley.

“Damn fool,getting black out drunk in town,”Mac mutters as the reach the trees.

“Why was he here anyway,he usually drinks in camp,”Arthur huffed.

“Personal business,Morgan,”Mac slowed to a stop.

Hosea sighed,”we’ll argue about this later,Arthur I’ll ride with you,”.

“Sorry about your horse,Hosea.”Arthur patted the man on the shoulder.

Mac and Arthur whistled and listened for the bounding of footsteps.

____

The ride back to camp was filled with quiet tension.

Mac had his jaw clenched and was quietly seething the whole ride.

“Whose there!!,karen shouted from the entrance.

Karen was a pretty blonde they’d picked up a few months ago. She had tried robbing uncle in a bar but ended up getting caught.

Uncle thought she’d make a good addition to the gang. She took to the gang life like a fish to water and quite enjoyed it so far.

 The  woman could drink Davey and Bill under the table and wasn’t afraid to get in a fight.

“It’s us,Karen,”Hosea yells back.

“What happened to your horse?,”she ask lowering her weapon.

“Stolen,and then Mac shot up the whole place,”Arthur says glaring at Mac.

Mac doesn’t respond and instead goes to hitch Betty.

“How’d you boys get on,” John ask approaching him.

“fine” he mutters and shoves past him.

He went straight to his tent and started moving things around.

“Bill!!Javier!!,”Mac shouted from his spot.

“What the hell do you want,”Bill groaned,most likely nursing a hangover.

Javier tailed behind,the man was still learning English and was still trying to find his place in the gang.

“Was wondering if one of you wanna switch tents,I’m fucking tired of dealing with Davey,”he mutters putting his some stuff in his chest.

“I’ll trade,”Javier volunteers,”Bill ronca y huele a mierda de caballo.”

“What’d you say about me!!, I heard my name in there,”Javier shrugged and quickly went to pack his things.

“You alright with me moving into your tent,”Mac asked.

Bill huffed,”It’s fine,as long as you don’t talk in your sleep like Martson does,”Mac remembers when John and Bill shared tents for a few days,John only lasted a week before threatening to kill bill if he kept snoring.

“Far as I know I don’t,I already know you snore like a whale,but you can’t be worse than my brother’s kicking,”Mac picked up his chest and moved it towards his knew tent.

____

Davey woke up in the saloon.

His head hurt like a punch to the face and the place was trashed.

The bartender was sweeping up glass and wood with an annoyed look on his face.

“How much for a case of beer,”Davey asked.

The bartender gave a frustrated sigh,”two dollars,” Davey slapped the money on the table and left to sit outside and continued drinking.

____

“Mac!,Me and Hosea are leaving to get Davey,you coming?”Arthur sat on Boudica,Hosea was on John’s horse,Brutus.

“No. If I go I’d end up killing the bastard,”He muttered storming off before anything else was discussed.

“Short tempered asshole,”Hosea looked at Arthur,”You of all people can’t say anything about short tempers,”he laughed.

Arthur scoffed as they rode into town.

“I’ll go check the post office for any bounties,you go find Davey,”the older man instructed.

Arthur nodded and headed towards the saloon.

Davey was outside with a case of beer in his lap.

“God damnit Davey,”Arthur sighed,he hopped off his horse and picked Davey up.

“Heeeeey Arthur,”he cheered.

“Hello Davey,”

“Mac is gonna kill me,was here aaaaaaaall night,”the man was already drunk.

“He is,you better hope he’ll cool off,or this might be the day he puts a bullet in you head,”Arthur threw Davey on his the back of Boudica.

“Nah, he loves me too much,And I’m the only family he’s got now.”Davey swayed on the saddle as Arthur climbed on.

“Do you know where Boston is,”Davey shrugged,”uh,I think he’s by the uh….uhm,”

Arthur cursed under his breath,‘he’d  have to find the poor thing later,’.

“I ever tell you I like playing poker,”Davey asked.

“No,”

“It builds character,I’ll tell you what. Me and you should play,”

“Sure Davey,”

“I bet I can beat even Hosea,”he bragged.

“Sure Davey,”Arthur approached the post office just as Hosea left.

“How long you think he’ll have till Mac blows up,”Arthur ask once Hosea mounted Brutus.

“I ask Dutch to send Mac out on a stagecoach job with John and bill, so I’d give it an hour or two,”Arthur hummed as the rode out of town.

Chapter Text

Mac gasped as he watched red bloom from his jacket.

“Shit! I’ve been hit!,”he shouts.

Bill is the first over to cover him,”Stay down,we’ll finish them off,”John shouts from across the road.

“This has to be the fucking worst week of my life,”Mac mutters keeping his hands pressed on the wound.

“Getting shot will do that,”bill muttered.

Mac groaned in pain as the shots rang through the woods.

“That’s the last of them! I’ll Get the money you get Mac back to camp,”John gets to the coach and starts rummaging through the lock box.

Bill wraps his arm around Mac and lifts him onto Brown Jack.

“Be careful princess,I’ve got a bullet in my gut.”Mac winced.

“Don’t call me that,”Bill grumbled.

The two rode back to camp,Mac laid his head on Bills back.

“If I die,Tell Dave he’s a bastard and he’d  better be praying I die,”Mac groaned.

“Quit whining,and your not dying,”Bill huffed.

_____

Davey woke up in his tent. 

His head pounded when the light came in through the flaps.

“Buenos días, amigo,”Javier’s voice comes from the tents opening.

“Hello Javier,”he mumbles,”is Mac here,”.

The man shook his head,”good,”.

Mac was gonna kill him.

He promised his brother he wasn’t gonna stay out drinking all day, and now he was a dead man.

Davey got up and walked towards the stew pot.

The sun was starting to set from what he could tell,and the smell of pearson’s mystery meat stew filled the air.

Reverend Swanson and Karen where chatting by the pot.

“Good afternoon mister Callander.”Karen smirked.

“Miss jones,”he grumbled,” Reverend,”.

Swanson nodded and quickly excused himself.

“Mac left this morning on a stagecoach job,”Karen explains taking a bowl of stew.

“Oh uh,thanks Karen. how’d you know what I was about to ask,”.

“Cause you two are always together,y’know a little independence wouldn’t kill ya,”she laughed.

Davey gave a chuckle,”I’m plenty independent,Karen”she rolled her eyes.

“Sure you are. Your what 22 and following him around like a lost dog most of the time,”.

Davey what to snap at her but the sound of shouting drowned him out.

“Grimshaw! Swanson!, we need some help over here,”bill was pulling Mac off of his big shire. Both men had blood all over them and Mac had a hand pressed against his side.

Davey ran towards the men and helped bill carry Mac ,”shit, what the hell happened,”.

“I got fucking shot,”Mac sneered,”and you better be praying to holy god above I die,Dave,cause the second I’m better I’m beating your ass,”.

“Shut up and let us carry you to your tent,”Bill snapped.

They gently set Mac down and Miss Grimshaw and Swanson quickly ushered them away.

“Well where am I gonna sleep,”Bill angrily asked as Grimshaw went to close the flaps.

“You can sleep wherever you damn well want,Mr.Williamson. Just not here,”she then closed the flaps on his face.

“Wait.”Davey looked at Bill,”are you and Mac sharing tents now,”.

Bill rolled his eyes,”I guess,him and Javier switched this morning”.

“God,i really pissed him off then,”Davey muttered.

Bill shrugged and walked towards a table near by.

_______

Mac sat up and immediately regretted it.

His stomach felt like it was on fire.

He fell back onto his bedroll with a groan.

“Welcome back,”Davey’s voice was hesitant.

Mac didn’t respond,”I know you’re still mad at me,Mac. I want to talk it out with you while you can’t knock my lights out.”

“I can still knock lights out,”Mac muttered.

“Sure you can,”Davey rolled his eyes. 

“You were out drinking for 5 hours,I don’t know how you aren’t dead but I’m sure it wouldn’t stop you if you were,”Mac spat.

“I’m an adult,Mac,I’m not a fucking kid who needs their scary older brother anymore!,”.

“When I see you blackout drunk,at a bar during a gun fight it makes me think otherwise!,”Mac sat up and though it hurt like hell he powered through so he could look Davey in his eyes.

“And who caused that shoot out,hm. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t Arthur and it definitely wasn’t Hosea.”

“What did you want me to do! Let somebody steal Hosea’s horse.”

“I want you to listen when people tell you to leave something alone instead of being a rage filled bastard all the Damn time!”

An unsettling calm filled the air.

Davey sat down beside Mac and sighed,” we are terrible to each other.”Mac sighed.

Davey nodded,”you are a terrible brother,”Mac jerked his head towards him about to shout something at him.

“But you try,and I try as well. And I think that’s what matters the most,”Davey gave Mac a hug.

“I hate you,”Mac laughed hugging him back.

“Ah but you love me more than you hate,”

“I’ll put my stuff back in our tent when I’m better,”Mac says laying down.

“Nah,Karen was right when she told me I need to be more independent,”Davey stood up and went towards the exit.

“And Javier doesn’t smell like a drowned skunk,”Mac cursed at him just as Davey left.

Chapter Text

A party was going on in the gang, in honor of sean joining their merry band of outlaws.

He had tried killing Dutch just a few hours ago but that didn’t deter the Irish bastard from getting everyone to celebrate his arrival.

Davey was in the middle of a drunken re telling of when  Arthur tried his hand in ranching.

Arthur rolled his eyes and would cut in when Davey would start getting details wrong.

John sat next to him,not really listening to the drunken man exaggerating the story.

He was instead looking at Abigale who was sitting with the women at one of the tables,laughing and smiling with them.

Abigale,one of the camps newest additions, was laughing at something Mary-Beth had said.

Abigale’s smile  John’s heart do flutter in his chest.

Arthur nudged Davey in the ribs , pointed at the young man and snickered.

“Little Johnny Martson has a crush,”Davey teased.

John’s face immediately turned a bright red.

Sean,looked at him curiously then turned 

to towards the women and smirked.

“Shut the hell up Davey!,” he hissed.

“Aw, don’t get your drawers in a twist Martson.”Arthur scoffed before taking a sip of his beer.

“He wants to get Abigale’s in one that for sure,”Sean laughed making Arthur spit out his drink.

John angrily stood up,his face redder than a shepherd’s sunset.

Javier was standing by the drinks and waved at John,”hola amigo,”he smiled and handed him a bottle.

“Hey Javier,”he nodded taking the bottle from him.

Javier winked at him,that made John heart race ever so slightly.

John didn’t know why,Javier just made him nervous.

Maybe it was because Javier threatened him once when he was still new to the gang.

Whatever reason it was John just ignored it and continued to talk with the man.

They talked for awhile but where interrupted by a drunk Reverend spilling his own drink on the both of them.

“Damn it Swanson,” John barked whipping the beer of his shirt.

 Swanson slurred an apology before passing out on the ground,”Drunken fool,”Javier muttered.

“I’ll take him to his tent,you can go get cleaned up if you want,”Javier sighed .

John muttered  thanks before heading towards his tent.

Johns tent was the closest to edge of camp where the forest started.

The sounds of raccoons, deer, and other wildlife were constant and always put him on edge.

Arthur may enjoy the sounds of nature but it always made John think something was about to attack him in his sleep.

Why Susan and Pearson set him here,he’ll never know,but he was not happy about it.

“Hurry up before someone sees us,”he heard someone whispering.

He was just finishing buttoning his shirt when he heard it.

It almost sounded like Mac.

John quietly left the tent and walked closer to the woods .

It didn’t take John long to find where the voices where coming from.

“What if someone hears us,” that was bill for sure.

John was hiding behind a bush just out of sight.

“They’re all blackout drunk,even if they see us they’d be to drunk to remember,”

Mac joked moving closer to bill.

____

Davey wasn’t drunk enough for whatever Sean was trying to do.

The Irish idiot had only been here for a day and was a handful.

Right now he was trying to convince a drunk angry Arthur to play five finger fillet.

Arthur had enough sense to turn him down but he was drunk enough to not have the best grasp on his anger problems.

Davey groaned and decided to go get another drink.

Most people where getting ready for sleep and were settling down.

Davey had just grabbed the bottle when John approached him.

“Hey Davey can I talk to you real quick,”John looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

Davey gave him a concerned look and nodded,” sure John, what’s wrong.”

He looked John up and down,”you don’t look to great,”.

John nervously chuckled,”yeah,uh can we. Talk in your tent real quick,” John could see Javier by the fire,trying to warn Sean from getting Arthur angry.

John basically dragged Davey to his tent and closed the flaps,”what wrong,John, your scaring me,”.

John hesitated for a second,”alright, I don’t know how to say this,”he fidgeted for a second and took a deep breath.

“I saw Mac and Bill…how do I say this…”Davey raised his brow expectantly making John more nervous.

“Kissing in the woods,”a thick silence fell over them.

Davey stared at John for a solid minute before he broke out into laughter.

“Oh lord Johnny,you really scared me there for a second,”.

“I’m serious Davey!!,” John snapped.

“I know you are, that’s why its funny,”Davey laughed,”I’ve been telling Mac to grow a pair for years.For some god knows reasons He’s been sweet on bill for a while.”

That made John more confused,”you know he’s a…”

“An invert, yeah known since I was 15,”Davey said seriously.

“And your ok with it,”John asked.

“Well, yeah. He’s all I got John.

My sister is in Europe with her husband, our oldest brother is a piece of shit like our father was, and our ma is a ‘sick’ women who can’t leave her bed…or so she claims,”

“And if you have a problem with it,”Davey’s tone became threatening.

“No…no it’s not like that it’s just…I thought you should know…ya know. I didn’t expect this reaction if I’m being honest.”

“Why?,”he asked with genuine confusion.

“I don’t know, Davey, just an assumption I guess,”.

“Alright, glad you don’t have a problem with it, I’d owe Mac 12 dollars if you did,”He muttered.

“What?,”

“Nothing John, just don’t go telling people though,I’m sure Mac would shoot anyone who tried to poke at him about this but…”Davey trailed off.

“I get it,”John nodded,”so are you a…”

“Oh hell no, the only love in my life is whiskey,”Davey laughed.

“Speaking of whiskey I’m going back to the party,” Davey waved at John leaving his tent. 

John stood there for a second trying to figure out  what Davey meant about owing Mac money.

“Wait do they think,…DAVEY!!,” John stormed out of the tent.