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Chapter 3

"A Cold Day"

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The days were long and miserable, the storm and situation beating down on the morale of men and women in Van Der Linde's gang. The majority of the gang, mainly the women, were all sullenly sitting in the same big cabin, shivering and muttering lowly.

It was early in the morning and the overwhelming storm was beating against the walls of the cabins, making the day look rather more like night. Tulip was up, her Winchester (or Lancaster) holding close to her body. She stared at her journal, shaking her head and grunting as Tulip got up.

The silent gunslinger grabbed a can of cold corn beef in the crates at the corner, she held up the can, tossing it up and down. "Please help yourself, Miss Tulip." It was the elderly woman who spoke up, cleaning away the dusty pieces of furniture to a corner.

"Hm." She took a quick examination at the crates of what dwindling food supplies they have left.

"It won't be long until some of the men will start eatin' all our resources like pigs." Miss Grimshaw pursed her lips, then frowned.

Like she had said, a few men of the gang were already shifting around and taking some of their things like a pack of cigarettes as they got ready for guard duty.

One of them has a gray bushy beard, Tulip just took a step back to watch Grimshaw hiss at him, being cold (or possibly colder) than the storm and snow outside. "Get your hands off of the food supplies, Uncle!"

He tried to sneak away with more than enough cans and wrapped foods. "Oh, well I..." Uncle chuckled, "When you do lots of thinkin' and wor- "

She gripped one can of peaches and pretty much threw it at him, Tulip smirking in slight amusement. "Horseshit you do any work around here, why don't you go head back to the men's quarters before I do it myself? Get it!" 

With him grumbling and the women snickering at the scenario, Grimshaw shook her head with a scowl and began ordering some of the women to arrange and organize the supplies, the place was still quite a mess due to the rushing and bustling.

Tulip fished out a few of the items and handed out to the men, "Mierda, if the storm's not letting up, we'll end up starving here." Javier replied, ever so calm and cool-headed even during their escape from the Blackwater Massacre like Arthur.

Tulip only hummed grimly in deep thought as they both tipped their hats and he went off, Bill Williamson was already in a sour mood, drinking liquor and having grabbing some piece of bread. He snatched the can out of her hand, a frown tracing his features. "I ain't needin' someone to hand me food like I'm some beggar."

Williamson's sour mood didn't amuse Tulip at all, she just leered and narrowed her eyes at him who may or may not be a bit drunk. "Already a bottle in hand, Bill?" Arthur stepped in the cabin with his hands adjusting his gun belt sitting high on his waist than usual. "Why don't ya head off and take that nasty mood of yours out of here. Drink it off."

Bill spat, mumbling as he walks out. "Whatever you say, Morgan."

"Don't listen to that little shit." They both shook their heads. "Hosea wants you to discuss some things over at our place."

She went to Willow without a word or sound, Arthur sighed tiredly as he loitered near the fireplace the ladies had lit up. Instead of grabbing her coat as she has intended to, Willow was tightly clung on her wolf coat like a blanket, so she left her be.

A woman walked over to Tulip, grabbing her attention. "You have any books I can borrow? I know from the others that you've stolen quite a few for the journey." Tulip pulled out three, each having smooth covers and bits of golden tracings on the spine. The woman who had freckles and beautiful emerald eyes chuckled, "Did you steal these from Blackwater?" Mary-Beth asked.

Tulip smirked, snickering lightly. "Uh-huh."

Mary-Beth smiled. "Well thank you, Miss Tulip - I mean just Tulip haha."

Tilly who was at the fire before, went over to Mary-Beth's shoulder, whispering. "Don't make Grimshaw kill ya."

"Aw, she wouldn't tear these books apart knowin' its her's."

"That don't mean she won't tear you up."

They girls returned to the fire and Arthur chuckled to Tulip, "Still a bookworm, I see."

Flashing a smile, she quickly wrote a note for Willow, knowing how long it'll be when it comes to talking with Hosea. The pair would get off track usually, Dutch being in their conversation wouldn't help some times as they all would typically talk about the old days.

Stepping out as the bitter cold greeted her, Tulip didn't waste any time as she would make a brief wave as a greeting to the others, "Mornin', Miss Tulip." Molly was outside, standing ever so elegantly with her fancy and lavish green dress she wore under her coats and rags for warmth, Tulip was slightly confused why she was outside. Sensing her confusion, Molly waved her hand as she leaned on the wood. "It's jus' me an' Dutch." The Dublin girl spoke with her thick Irish accent, she spoke up again before putting rose-red lipstick. "Both Mr. Leopold and Mr. Matthews are there."

Tulip nodded as they both stepped in.

As hours flew by as fast as the snow blowing in the wind, the young blondie stirred awake, groggy and immensely irritated by such cold temperatures. "Mornin', Sunshine." Arthur was busy on his brown, leather-bound journal.

"Ugh, howdy Arth." She yawned and stretched, she hated having to do the usual in mornings like cleaning your teeth and whatnot, the cold definitely doesn't make any of the tasks easier for her. 

"Hi, Willow. Why not join us?"

Smiling brightly, Willow scooted over to the fire. "I see yer readin' like always, Miss Gaskill."

"And I see that you're tryin' your hardest to be happy around here, I appreciate that. Oh, and just call me Mary-Beth, how many times to I have to say it?"

"Lots, Miss Gaskill." Willow teased, grinning.

"Oh, Willow..." She shook her head smiling. 

She glanced at the spine of the book, noticing. "Ain't that one of ours?"

Mary-Beth nodded. "Mm-hm, Tulip lent me a few. There ain't nothin' much to do around here."

"I can't blame ya, everyone's so grumpy, sittin' around."

"Ain't that just the truth." Karen huffed, rubbing her hands together from the frigid air.

The only young child, Jack, was sitting near the fireplace. He was frowning and sniffling, his nose having a slight pink or red hue. "Here, Jack, have this to blow yer nose on." Willow gave a rag from Tulip's belongings.

"Thank you, Willow..." Abigail handed it to her son, who was quiet and shaking from the cold like a leaf. "I hope that dumbass of a man comes back..." She whispered so Jack wouldn't hear it.

Arthur was standing against a wooden beam, sketching or writing in his journal like the usual. "Marston'll come back." Even he looked grumpy from the bleakness of their situation, despite how their problems are beginning to ease. "If he doesn't run away that is."

"Arthur!" Abigail said in a scolding tone with a low voice.

"It's not like- Ah, forget it." He waved his hand as if swatting something in midair, huffing and mumbling, continuing to do whatever he was on his journal.

"Where's Auntie Tulip?" Jack asked, his voice quivering and small.

He looked so innocent, if Tulip was here she'd blame and mumble about this mess being Dutch's fault for making a child like him suffer through this. Perhaps Tulip was holding a slight grudge on Dutch these past few days, like how Arthur was with John Marston.

"She's out checkin' on others an' talkin' with Hosea in Dutch's place. Why ya ask?" She took a seat next to him rather energetically to try and keep a lighter mood, her voice kind and gleeful.

He scooted closer to her because of the chilly air, "I wanna hear Auntie Tulip sing those songs, the words sound funny. But I like 'em!" 

Willow grinned, "Sure, I'll let 'er know, Jack." She noted to herself, having Tulip sing a lullaby to Jack tonight.

Tulip wouldn't normally sing, especially around some folks. But for Jack? Who'd turn down a child who's as innocent and as pure as that boy? He could melt and crumble even grumpy, old man Morgan's tough-guy act as the people around camp would say.

"Arthur, what's she doin'?" She sat up, dusting off her long skirt.

He ripped his eyes off his journal, "Huh? I thought she told ya."

"Not the specifics."

"Tulip's off talkin' to Hosea about where to settle next. I want to get off this God forsaken mountain already."

Willow shook her head, "I could say the same..." She sighed. "Pretty sure everyone here says likewise, I'll be off to go an' see Tulip."

Grabbing Tulip's thick wolf coat, she stepped out into the frigid outdoors, the door yawning and creaking open. Snow being carried by the whistling gale were being spilled into the cabin's entrance, sprinkling on Willow and the fur.

"Don't let the cold get to ya." Arthur replied.

The winds were still somewhat strong, she clung onto her coat, cursing. "Goddamn..." She gritted her clattering teeth, quickly closing the door and trudging through the thick pile of snow to make her way to the other quarters.

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A/N: Just some chapters to put some interactions in. =3
I hope you like them, but I can see why if yall see this as a waste of time and I should be continuing the story shouldn't I? Sorreh about that fellers. 

Published: Feb. 18th, 2019