~~~~♛~~~~

You worked on chores around the camp for most of the morning. Washed clothes, helped Pearson with the food. You were sitting on the edge of camp taking a break when Javier approached you.

"Hey y/n." He said sitting down next to you.

"Hey Javier" you smiled to him.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, noticing you staring off into the distance.

"So many things. I really should get a journal and write it all down." You chuckled.

"I can't imagine all the things your dealing with, this life and all." He said.

"Actually, this is the happiest I've been in a while. I finally have a family again." You said looking at him.

He smiled at you. "You know we will always be here. Dutch will keep us together."

Your conversation was cut off by Arthur coming over. "Y/n, you ready to head into town to meet Dutch?" He asked.

"Yep Let's go, see ya Javier." You said. He nodded as a goodbye and you followed Arthur to the horses.

"Do you have any ideas of what Dutch has in mind with the Sheriff?" You asked.

"No clue, but he had a plan." Arthur said.

You rode into town and made your way to the sheriffs office. You could hear Dutch's loud voice from outside. Arthur opened the door and let you walk in first.

"Ah! Here is my dear friend Arthur Callahan. Boy is a hunter, boy is a killer." He made his way over to you. He placed his hand on your lower back. "And this is my beautiful wife y/n Macintosh." You looked up and smiled at Dutch, and then looked to see Arthur shaking his head with a smile.

"Arthur, y/n, this is Sheriff Gray."

Sheriff Gray started talking to Arthur, you could smell the Alcohol on his breath. He was holding a bottle of moonshine. He handed it to Arthur and he took a swig. "Strong stuff."

Arthur handed it to Dutch and he also took a sip. He looked at you, asking if you wanted any, but you shook your head no.

"Excuse me a moment." Sheriff Gray said before stumbling outside.

"I told you we were moving up in the world, deputies" Dutch said handing Arthur a badge.

"Have you lost your mind." Arthur said to Dutch.

"Amongst these drunkards, hillbillies, and slavers, good honest thieves like us, were bound to be moralizers in a place like this."

Sheriff Gray stumbled back into the building. "Now listen Sir, there is shine in them woods though. And it is costing this county it's good name, and the state a whole lot of income. You boys-" he stopped and looked at you. "And Mrs. Macintosh of course, wouldn't mind rooting it out, maybe we'll make you permanent."

"Not a problem." Dutch starts. "You are in safe hands now."

The four of you walked outside to see Archibald waiting for you. "Arthur, ride with the deputy. Me, Bill, and y/n will follow." Dutch said.

You walked over to Anastasia and mounted up. The three of you followed behind Archibalds wagon. Arthur was talking to Archibald, but you couldn't make out what they were saying. As the ride went on, Dutch and Bill chatted about their new position of temporary deputy, but you were to busy taking in the surroundings. You were brought out of thought when Archibald pointed out a wagon on the side of the road. Him and Arthur went down to check it out, and they came to the conclusion it was the Lemoyne Raiders. You've had a few run ins with them, not the nicest fellers.

The ride continued for a little while longer until you stopped outside the moonshiners camp. You all got off your horses and grabbed your guns.

"Anyone we find here we bring in alive, understood?" Archibald explained. You slowly made your way closer to the camp, getting a better look. You notice a few men walking around.

"Let's split up, Arthur with Bill, I'm with Archibald and y/n." Dutch started.

The three of you slowly made your way around the camp, and quickly captured two men, making sure not to hurt them per Archibalds request. Arthur and Bill meet up with you, bringing two more men.

"What do we do now?" Dutch asked Archibald.

"We better destroy all this. Any of your friends handle explosives?" Archibald responded.

"Sure, anyone but him." Arthur said pointing at Bill. You giggled, remembering what you heard happened at the train robbery back in the Grizzlies.

"Y/n, why don't you go plant the explosives." Dutch said looking at you. You looked at him surprised, he would usually send Arthur for something like this. You nodded and slowly made you way around to plant the dynamite. Once placed, you quickly went and hid behind a tree, while the camp was blowed up.

"Hey! That belongs to the Lemoyne Raiders you sons of bitches!" You heard a voice yell.

"We got men over here!" You yell.

Arthur and Bill quickly make their way over to you and help you get rid of all the men. Once the shootout was over, you made your way back to Dutch.

"Well done. Well forgive me. Me and my friends must return to our lives." Dutch said to Archibald.

"Sure. You guys can take the moonshine, get rid of it." He responded. He made the men you capture stand up, and walk to his wagon. Bill got on the wagon with the moonshine and started to head out.

"I'm gonna ride alongside Bill, make sure no more of them Lemoyne Raider sons of bitches show up." Arthur said to Dutch. He whistled for his horse and looked at you, sending you a quick wink before leaving you with Dutch. Once everyone was gone, Dutch turned to face you.

"Very nice shooting Mrs. Macintosh. I'm very impressed." He said, slowly making his way over to you.

"What can I say, shooting runs in my blood." You replied snarky.

He let out a low chuckle. "That it does." He was now standing only inches from your face. He licked his lips while he looked into your eyes. They were dark, just like they were that day you went shooting with him. He moved closer until his lips were hovering right in front of yours.

"We should get back to camp Mr. Van Der Linde." You said turning around and whistling for your horse.

He raised his eyebrows and ran his hands through his hair, surprised by your action. He called over his horse and you both mounted up. You made your way out of the swamps and started to head back to camp.

"So what did you and Arthur talk about when you went off after our trip yesterday?" Dutch asked.

He was riding next to you, but didn't turn to you when he talked. You could hear the slightest hint on jealously in his voice. "How about we race back to camp. If you win I'll tell you." You replied to him.

"And if you win?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Let's see who wins first." You responded. He nodded in agreement. "Ready set go!" You yelled quickly before taking off on Anastasia.

"Hey!" Dutch yelled, getting a later start. He caught up to you quickly and passed you. "I guess that horse isn't so great after all!" He said laughing. Before he could say anything else, you sped past him. You switched places quite often throughout the ride back. Dutch would lead for a while, but then you would pass him. You rode into camp, you slightly leading. You stopped Anastasia and patted her. "Looks like I one." You said looking back to Dutch. He rolled his eyes and got off his horse.

"So what's your prize?" He asked helping you off your horse. You thought for a moment, your eyes scanning camp. They stopped and rested on Molly, who sat in Dutch's tent. He followed your gaze and saw you were looking at her. You looked up to see him deep in thought. He looked back and was about to say something until he was interrupted by Javiers voice from inside camp. "Y/n!" He yelled.

"Have a good night Miss l/n." Dutch said before walking off. You huffed before putting on a smile to greet Javier. He walked over with something in his hand.

"I got this for you." He said handing you a leather journal. You examine it slowly. It was black, and on the back had an engraving of a deer. "You said earlier you wanted a journal to write stuff down, and i just had this one laying around." He said slowly rubbing his neck.

You knew he went out and bought it for you. "It's beautiful." You said admiring it. "Thank you."

You reached up and hugged him. "Like you." He whispered.

You eyes went wide and you slowly pulled away from the hug. He smiled, "have a good night y/n." He said before turning around and walking back into camp. You stood there and rubbed your arm.

"Shit." You said under your breath.

You made your way over to your bed and kicked your boots off. You mind was running one hundred miles a minute, but you decided to deal with everything in the morning, and get some sleep.