#rayderlinde

Arthur froze mid–buckle on his saddlebag. His hands stilled on the leather, head tilting slightly before he looked down at the boy.

—What makes you say that? —I saw you kiss her yesterday —Jack said, plain as day. No malice, no shame, just truth. His wide eyes searched Arthur’s face like he expected the answer to be written there.

Arthur’s mouth twitched, caught between a smile and a sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck.

—You’re seein’ a lot for a boy your age.

Jack’s shoulders slumped, like maybe he thought he’d overstepped.

—I didn’t mean to spy… I just...

Arthur crouched until they were eye to eye, the leather of his holster creaking with the motion. He set one big, calloused hand on Jack’s shoulder, steady and warm.

—Ain’t nothin’ to apologize for, —He said gently— She’s… special to me. Real special.

The softness in his voice surprised even him. Jack studied him for a moment, as if weighing the honesty in those words, then smiled. It was that bright, unguarded grin kids had before the world taught them to hide it.

—Good. I like her too. She makes you laugh more.

Arthur huffed out a laugh through his nose, shaking his head.

—Yeah… guess she does.

He reached over, ruffling Jack’s hair until it stuck up every which way, earning a giggle. From across the yard, Bonnie glanced up from where she was tending the horses. She’d caught enough to know. When Arthur’s eyes flicked her way, she ducked her head quickly, pretending to fuss with a stirrup, though the faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

Jack found Dutch leaning against the camp rail near the fire, a tin cup of coffee in hand, surveying the bustle of camp like a king over his court. The boy sidled up beside him, small hands gripping the rough wood, eyes flicking up with a mix of shyness and determination.

—Uh… Dutch?

Dutch lowered his gaze, one brow arched, a smile tugging the corner of his mouth.

—What is it, little man?

Jack hesitated, then blurted:

—Are you and Miss Bonnie in love?

Dutch nearly sputtered into his coffee, but he caught himself, lips curling wider as he chuckled.

—Well now, —He said smoothly— that’s a mighty big question for such a small fella. What makes you think a thing like that? —I saw you kiss her, —Jack said matter-of-factly— By the wagon. You didn’t see me.

Dutch laughed then, rich and low, shaking his head.

—Ahh… you’ve got an eye sharper than half the men in this camp. Hosea better watch out, you’ll be catching him at his tricks next.

Jack shrugged, but his gaze stayed steady.

—Well… are you?

Dutch tipped his head, studying the boy like he was weighing how much truth to give. Then he leaned in, voice dropping into that conspiratorial drawl he used when he wanted to sound like a man letting you in on a secret.

—She’s somethin’ else, that woman. A spirit like wildfire, clever as the devil, and kind enough to shame the rest of us. A man’d have to be blind not to love her.

Jack frowned, brow furrowed.

—So… yes?

Dutch sighed through his nose, a smile tugging again at his lips despite himself.

—Yes, son. I suppose I do.

That was enough for Jack, he grinned from ear to ear.

—Good. I like her too. She makes you laugh more.

Dutch’s eyes softened at that, the smile dimming into something quieter. He reached out, resting a big hand on Jack’s shoulder, gentle but firm.

—She does more than that, boy. She makes a man remember what he’s fightin’ for. And that… that’s no small thing.

From across the camp, Bonnie straightened from brushing down her horse. She caught Dutch’s gaze lingering on her and raised a questioning brow. He didn’t say a word, didn’t need to. The look he gave her was enough.

Hosea was whittling a strip of wood by the fire, curls piling at his boots, when Jack came trotting up, curiosity all over his face.

—Mr. Hosea! —The boy blurted, almost breathless—. Are you… are you and Miss Bonnie in love?

The old man paused mid–cut, knife hovering. Slowly, he looked up, one brow raised, the faintest smirk tugging his mouth.

—Well now… that’s a mighty big question for a lad who still can’t tie his boots right —He set the wood aside, easing back against the log behind him, one elbow propped— What makes you ask a thing like that? —I saw you kiss her yesterday, —Jack said proudly, cheeks flushed— By the creek. You didn’t see me.

Hosea chuckled, the sound low and warm, shaking his head.

—Sharp eyes, huh? You’ll be catchin’ outlaws in no time with that nose for trouble.

Jack puffed his chest, then leaned in, lowering his voice like it was a secret.

—So… do you love her?

Hosea’s expression softened. He glanced at the fire, at the way the coals pulsed like a heartbeat, then back at the boy.

—Jack… love’s a tricky thing to pin down. Slips through your fingers when you try too hard to name it —He smiled, quiet and sure— But yes. I love her. More than I thought an old coot like me had left in him.

Jack grinned wide, rocking on his heels.

—She loves you too, doesn’t she?

Hosea’s smirk returned, the corner of his eyes creasing.

—She does, son. And I’ll tell you somethin’: she loves me best when I’m makin’ a fool of myself. Keeps me humble, see?

Jack laughed at that, then took off across camp, no doubt to ask someone else a question that’d make them squirm. Left alone, Hosea picked his knife back up but didn’t cut into the wood. He watched Bonnie in the distance, her braid swinging as she carried water back from the river. A fond smile tugged at him, softer than he’d ever let the others see.

—Ah, that girl, —He murmured to the fire— Keeps an old fox feelin’ young.

━━━━━「 NAVI 」

main m.list ✧ arthur m.list ✧ dutch m.list ✧ hosea m.list ✧ bonnie m.list