IT WAS DAWN BY THE time that the Tunstall's and the Regulators decided to travel back to the ranch. Belle was half-asleep behind Josiah, her arms limp around his torso and her head propped against his back. 

The boys began to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' drunkenly, slurring their words with loud voices. Their mixed voices were the only reason that was keeping Belle awake. 

"Darling?" Josiah quietly asked over his shoulder. Belle quietly hummed, indicating for Josiah to carry on. "Hold on,"

Belle raised her head questioningly but did as she was told, wrapping her arms more tightly around Josiah's torso, linking her fingers together for more support. Josiah pulled on the reins attached to his horse, resulting in the creature to pick up its pace. 

Belle screamed in shock, but her yells soon turned to laughter as she started to feel more awake with the gushing wind rushing past her face. Belle and the Regulators rode around the open fields on their steeds, as John stayed on his spot on the hill in his wagon, watching the group with a smile on his face. Belle turned to wave at him with a smile, but a frown grew on her face as she watched a group of men approach him from behind.

Belle watched in horror as the men raised their guns at her father, pulling their triggers, sending bullets through his body. John stood up, accepting all the shots that were given to him. 

Belle screamed in terror, jumping from Josiah's horse and began to run to her father. Josiah followed her hastily, pulling her back into his chest. Belle struggled against Josiah's grip, desperate to reach John. Josiah turned her around to face him, pulling her head into his neck. Belle cried into the crook of his neck, her hands shaking uncontrollably. 

"Belle. We have to go," Josiah picked the girl up in a bridal style, carrying her to his horse. This time, he placed her in front, to ensure that she wouldn't fall or try to run back to her guardian. Josiah rushed away from the criminals, following the rest of the shook up Regulators with a traumatized Belle in his arms. 

-------

The next day, Belle organised John's funeral with her boys. Belle stood in a cemetery, dressed in a long-sleeved black gown, with a black fascinator hat placed delicately on her head. Her bright ginger hair seemed dull in its pinned-up style, trapped in many pins, clips and nettings. 

Josiah encircled his arm around Belle's back, rubbing her arm comfortingly. The sombre group listened to Dick's prayer as he officiated the funeral. 

"For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother, we, therefore, commit his body to the ground. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust," Dick read out from his bible. Dick closed his holy book, taking a moment of silence. 

A few silent tears escaped from her cerulean blue orbs as she stared down at her father's burial site. Belle nuzzled her face into Josiah's neck, her tears dripping on his shoulder, causing him to tighten his grip around her.

------

Belle and Alex McSween, The Tunstall's lawyer, were talking to Wilson, a law enforcement officer. 

"Murphy's henchmen have to be brought in, J.P. I'm gonna take it to court and bring Murphy down," Alex told the elderly man, confidently.

"Have you talked to Sherriff Brady?" Wilson furrowed his brow with worry.

"Brady? Are you serious? Half of the murderers are members of his posse. He wouldn't think of touching them!" Belle argued back, her anger building up tremendously. 

"You're the Justice of the Peace, Wilson! You have the power to serve warrants through special constables," Alex continued, throwing his arms over his head in frustration.

"What special constables? No one's fool enough to going after Murphy's men," Wilson countered back easily. 

Belle glanced her Regulators, who were fidgeting in their place, waiting for the trio to be done with their important conversation. As if a light bulb appeared over her head, Belle came up with the most brilliant idea. 

"Deputize my boys," Belle pointed towards Josiah, Dick, Chevez, Charley, Steve, Billy and McCloskey. 

"Miss Belle, as you said, they're just 'boys'," Wilson shot down her suggestion immediately. "Ain't one of them over 21. Murphy's men will shred them in half within a day."

"They may be young, sir, but they are more intelligent than you think. I have spent nearly half of my life dedicated to educating those boys to be civilised men, as well as being highly trained with a weapon," Belle raised her voice, stepping closer to the man, pushing her finger into his chest, her glare piercing through his skull. 

"Miss Belle, they aren't qualified-" Wilson began to Belle cut him off immediately.

"They have every right to avenge my father! Don't you dare think that my boys can't handle a challenge because I know they can! My father was shot by 15 or so men. Murphy's men. So I'll be damned if I let those boys sit around and do nothing!" Belle shouted, strands of her ginger hair falling from her headpiece from her shakes of anger, her fiery stare never faltering. 

The boys of the ranch stopped their movements and stared at Belle, all slightly terrified by her outburst. Not one of them had ever seen her raise her voice to that extent, not even when Steve accidentally broke her favourite set of dishes. "Make sure to stay in her good books, Doc," Chevez whispered to Doc, to which he nodded in agreement. 

"Are you gonna deputize them?" Alex asked, placing his hand on Belle's shoulder, pulling her back a nudge.

"Alex. I'm not. Not me," Wilson answered. Belle angrily huffed through her nose, her face heating up in fury. Alex noticed her reddening face and squeezed her shoulder comfortingly before she could explode again.

"Alright, then you go tell them. You've seen how furious Miss Belle can get, just imagine a group of ex-fugitives could get at that news," Alex persuaded, a hint of a smile twitching onto his lips. 

Wilson took a glance at the Regulators over his shoulder, loudly gulping at the thought. 

"Alright, alright, fine. I'll do it,"

------

Belle stood beside Wilson proudly looking at all her boys. 

Wilson reluctantly glanced back at Belle with hesitation evident in his gaze. But as quick as it came, it vanished as soon as he saw Belle's assertive glare.

Wilson placed his bible in front of the young men, indicating for them to all pile their hands on top of the holy book. They all stood back, holding their rifles high and mighty by their sides, their new badges shining on their coats and jackets. 

Belle happily applauded her boys, her simper paining hr cheeks. Belle grabbed her skirt, clutching the silky material in her hands and ran up to them. Belle brought them into a giant hug. 

"I'm so proud of all of you," Belle said, pressing her hand onto each boy's cheek lovingly. "John would be too."

"Thank ye, Miss Belle," the boys said, rushing outside to prepare their horses for the journey. 

Josiah stayed behind to be alone with Belle. "Belle, what's wrong?"

"Pardon? Nothing wrong," Belle furrowed her brow, trying her best to act like she was fine.

"Belle, I've known you for a good while now, I can tell when you're upset," Josiah smirked, leaning his rifle against the wall. "Please tell me what's bothering you."

"It's just... you're all gonna leave me. I hate being alone," Belle whispered lowering her head, tears pricking her eyes at the thought.

"Hey, stop that," Josiah grabbed Belle's face, pulling back up to face him. "I'll never leave you. I'll promise you that."

"But you'll be gone for God knows how long, it could be months," Belle announced.

Josiah rubbed his thumbs along Belle's cheekbones tenderly. "You can come with us. You can ride your own horse, I know how fond you are of your Pop's horses, and I've seen you ride, you're amazing with them! You could definitely handle it out in the open fields, plus I don't think the boys would be able to live without your cooking," Josiah whispered with a smile.

"Josiah, I'll just get in the way,"

"No, you won't. You've never been in the way before, you're not in the way now, and you'll never be in the way in the future," 

"Darling, I'm not necessary for this battle," Belle shook her head. 

"Necessary is something you can't do without. I can't do without you," Josiah leant his forehead against Belle's, locking eyes. "Remember when I said that 'I didn't think I could take not seeing your pretty face for even a day'? Well, sweetheart, I don't want to find out if I'm right," 

"Jesus Christ, Josiah. No wonder you're a poet," Belle giggled quietly with Josiah. "Fine, I'll join you, but only because I believe you when you said that the boys need me for my cooking,"

"You're not gonna give me the satisfaction of knowing that I made you blush," Josiah smirked, poking Belle's hot cheek.

Belle laughed, looking up into Josiah's blue eyes. "Now, why would I go and do that?"