~~~~♛~~~~

The cool wind hit your face as you rode through the Heartlands. The sounds of birds chirping filled your ears. After a long night of thinking, you decided all you could is talk with Dutch. You had to stand your ground and not let anyone, especially Micah, get in the way.

You hoped you wouldn't get to much shit for not going back to camp last night, you didn't plan on not coming back, but you didn't want to see anyone from camp. The ride was long, but you ended up making it back just as most of the camp was waking up. You hitched up your horse, and slowly wandered into camp.

"Ah, the queen has returned." You hear from the one person in camp who makes you want to get right back on your horse and leave again. You tried waking past him but he grabbed your arm. "I was hoping you wouldn't come back, I feel like your out to hurt Dutch" he says.

"You don't know what your talking about Micah, now leave me alone." You said yanking your arm away from him.

You heard him chuckle to himself as he walked away. You rolled your eyes and wandered over to where John and Sadie were standing.

"We was worried when you didn't come back last night." John said, taking a sip from his mug.

"Just needed to get away for the night, after that stunt Dutch and Micah pulled." You responded.

"Arthur told us about that. He's trying to get us all killed." Sadie chimed in.

"I need to talk to Dutch. See if I can do anything to stop all of this." You said.

"I really hope it works, I don't want us to go down like this." John said, a frown plastered across his face.

You took a sip of coffee before walking over to Dutch's tent. The flap was down, but you watched Micah leave so you knew he wasn't in there talking Dutch into doing something stupid again. You lifted the flap, Dutch's eyes leaving his book to look at you.

"About time you got back." He said in an annoyed tone.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back, I just had a lot of my mind." You responded sitting next to him.

"Where did you go?" He asked. You could see a little worry in his eyes, maybe he did still care.

You chuckled a little. "You remember that little clearing you took me to right outside Horseshoe Overlook?" You asked.

"Where I kissed you for the first time?" He responded.

"That's the one, can't believe you remember."

"Of course I remember." A small smile appeared, and disappeared just as quickly. "Why did you go there?"

"I don't know, just where the night took me I suppose." You responded, fiddling with your fingers. You took a deep breath, and looked up at Dutch. "What are we doing?"

He looked at you and raised an eyebrow.

"We are being hunted, picked off one by one, and you and Micah still go out there and shoot people."

Dutch rolled his eyes. "Great, now your sounding like Arthur."

"Listen to me. I care about you. I care about Arthur, and I care about John and his family. Why can't we just leave now and save ourselves from anymore deaths." You asked.

"We need money y/n." He responded.

"We have money, I have money. We don't have to go anywhere big, just get out of here while we still can."

"Micah and I are planning something big, and then I promise we will get out of here."

"That's the problem Dutch. Micah." You held your breath as you said his name. You had a feeling this was going to strike anger in Dutch. But it didn't. He stayed silent.

"Dutch, I know you trust him, I can't stop that, but please don't let him get in your head about these stupid plans." You said, resting your hand on his arm.

His gaze slowly moved to your hand, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I want to make sure you get out of this safe y/n. We can go somewhere and start new. But we need money first." He said quietly.

"I understand, let's just be smart about it." You reassured him. He finally put his book down, resting his head on your shoulder. "I wish Hosea was here, he would know what to do." He said.

You sighed. "I wish he was here too."

You both sat in silence for a while, it was comforting. You hoped that maybe Dutch would open his eyes to what Micah has been doing.

"I'm going to head into town, see if I can find anything." Dutch says after a while, standing up.

"Okay, be safe." You said following him. As you were about to leave the tent he lightly grabbed your arm and spun you around, pulling you into a hug. "I will keep you safe. I promise." He whispering. You smiled. You can't remember the last time you both had a moment like this. You looked up at him and nodded.

You both headed out of the tent. Dutch walked towards the horses, and you headed to the fire.

"He was worried about you last night you know." Javier said, strumming his guitar.

"Well I'm back, no need to worry." You responded. You sighed, not being able to remember the last time you and Javier had a proper conversation.

You looked down at him, sadness taking over you. You missed the bond you used to have. "I'm going to lay down, I'll talk to you later Javier."

You walked over to your tent and sat down on the bed. You put your head in your hands, replaying the conversation with Dutch in your head. You could only hope that he would listen.

• • •

I remember how it used to be

when nothing else matter but you and me.

Music, country roads, and future dreams.

I miss you, I wish you could see.

Although you are here, I miss you and me.

I remember when you said how happy I made you,

and you really meant it...now, it's just a phrase

you say without thinking.

I miss those days when you'd call just to say, "Hi,"

or, "I love you." Those days it was so hard

just to say good-bye for a while.

I remember how wonderful it felt the first time

you held me in your arms, and how after all those

years you still made my heart melt.

I miss the old you and the old me,

The old us that could just sit and talk for hours

and never run out of things to say.

I remember when time simply stood still,

when in each other's arms was the only place

we wanted to be...forever.

I miss us as I remember how it used to be...

when nothing else mattered but you and me.

Melanie Edwards