It had been an interesting few years. The outlaws from the west adapted to their new way of living, working smarter and travelling in small groups to chase leads and then return to their base. What was first used as a cover-up, became a surprising source of income and allowed those who didn't want to partake in the shadier opportunities afforded to the gang to do so at their leisure.
Surprisingly, Ada found herself less interested in travelling out to do jobs, unless poker was involved when Trelawny twisted her arm until she agreed, and found her time fuller when she spent it giving back to those in need. While out scouting to see what shook loose, she came across an orphanage and became a regular there to teach the kids for free. Their little faces when they read their first sentence or did their first sum was worth much more than any money she could rob from a train. It didn't take long for the Van der Linde gang to become frequent donors there, either. With Jack turning eight, he often accompanied Ada out and spent time with kids his own age and became a rather useful helper during class. Tilly too had expressed an interest in learning to teach and so made a trip down of her own from time to time.
One person who thankfully found a purpose was Swanson. On a very drunken night during a painfully hot summer, Karen and Sean had insisted he officiate their wedding. Nobody had thought to tell them it's probably a bad idea to do that while under the influence, or whether Swanson was actually qualified to do so, but the two didn't regret it one bit come morning. It not only inspired John to marry Abigail properly, but also Lenny who had been in a very stable relationship with Jenny for some time.
All the love in the air fuelled Mary-Beth's writing, so much so that she'd begun talks with a publisher about taking it further and starting a career. Hosea had been especially proud and often proofread her works (all the while suggesting she add in a murder case which she promptly rejected).
Susan was truly in her element, with so much work to be done she ran a tight ship with all things farming-related and had a number of willing stable hands and ranchers to order around. Pearson too was in a similar situation as he was previously, but with more readily-available stock to allow him to cook some more adventurous dishes. Everyone was glad that stew stopped being their only option for nourishment. Even Strauss had a big part to play and was in charge of all the finances that passed through. Uncle didn't change much, except having the sole responsibility of ensuring the liquor remained topped-up in camp; seemingly the only thing he would do thanks to his personal connection to the task.
The main people that continued to go out travelling and return with money were Arthur, Charles, Javier, Sean, and Bill. Their jobs had become more infrequent as time passed since the necessity lessened considering the success of the work at the ranch. In fact, many of Arthur and Charles' trips out become hunting trips, and the two made a nice bit of money with their honed skills in quick kills and good-quality pelts. Their small family along with Cleo found a perfect rhythm in their day-to-day life.
Ada often thought she'd stumbled into one of Jack's books with how picture-perfect everything was. She made a couple of journeys to see Roy, updating him on the lack of criminal activities the gang partook in and receiving reassurance that they were still very much safe in their haven. Life was everything she wanted and more, waking up beside Dutch every day and being surrounded by so much happiness. However, she'd seen him with a thoughtful look on his face while he sat alone on their balcony on more than one occasion.
"Evening," Ada steps into the setting sun, placing her arms around his chest from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Hello darling," he says, holding his hand to her forearm.
"What's on your mind?"
Dutch pauses, turning to look at her and she releases him to stand up straight. "Nothing, why do you ask?"
She shrugs, his desire to keep whatever is on his mind to himself confirming her suspicions. Dutch had seen how happy everyone was, but she had a feeling he was beginning to get bored on occasion. His love for a fast-paced life wasn't something he could control, but he had put his gang first after all the success they'd experienced. Ada knows him well enough by now, and is comfortable with the idea that he is genuinely happy and enjoying the life he's living, but just can't help his thoughts stirring every so often. She's had an idea over the past few days, and after letting it fester for some time, she decides it's time to put it in motion. "Arthur was telling me about this huge white buck he and Charles saw while travelling north. It got me thinking, perhaps you and I should do a bit of travelling of our own?"
"Like a job?"
"Not really," she moves round to take a seat on his lap, careful not to sit on a dozing Nova by his feet and throws her arm over his shoulder. "I just want to see a bit of the country, the only travelling I've ever done is with the gang. We don't have to, but if you're up for it I think we should take a few months out."
He nods thoughtfully, "but I can't leave."
"Of course you can," she chuckles. "They'll survive a bit of time without you, Dutch. I'm sure they'd encourage you to get out a bit."
Thankfully, the time Ada spent reading Dutch in their earlier years together has come in handy. She knows he wouldn't admit to any ill feelings of his own accord, and wouldn't accept if he knew she was doing it for him (which isn't true anyway, she does have a desire to see some of the country). But by dressing it up as something she wants and something they can do together, it squashes any guilt or concern that could potentially arise in his mind.
"I don't want to go without you," she brushes a hand over through his soft curls, "but I only want to go if you actually want to. Don't feel obliged, it's just an idea."
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth and a faint shimmer glows behind his eyes. "As in, just take the horses and a tent, and... travel around? With no plan?"
"With no plan," she snorts pointedly. "See where it takes us. If we don't enjoy it, we can always come straight home. And if we do enjoy it, home will be waiting for us when we return."
Dutch sighs, and for a moment she suspects he's going to catch her out on her motivations for the idea. Whether he's cottoned on or not, he just presses a kiss to her cheek. "You're a far better woman than I deserve, you know that?"
"The only things I know are things that are true," she teases. "And I know you'd have a good time."
"I don't doubt that."
"Okay," she stands, knowing her work is done and he has to decide the rest himself if he's truly going to commit to the idea. After taking two steps towards the door, the wood of the chair creaks when he twists round to face her.
"Ada?"
"Hm?"
"It sounds perfect. Let's do it."
Ada only smiles at him, nodding her head and continuing her path into the house to go and find a map.
It takes a couple of weeks for the two to plan a rough route, asking various members of the gang for recommendations of places to visit. With the essentials packed on their horses, Dutch does a few final checks to make sure they have everything.
"Okay, Jack," Ada kneels down and holds Nova to her side. "You're in charge of looking after Nova, she's going to miss us so you've got to give her extra attention and cuddles. Think you can do that?"
Jack nods fervently, thoroughly pleased to be given such an important task. "Of course! You have nothing to worry about, she'll be spoiled."
Ada smiles, giving her dog a last squeeze and embracing Jack. "Thank you."
She stands and Jack bends down to stroke Nova's belly, as the others all stand by the front of the house to wave them off.
"I'm not sure who I should tell to look after who," Hosea muses, head tilted as he observes the pair while Ada makes her way to Altair.
"My money's on Dutch looking after Ada," John begins. "No, Ada looking after Dutch. No..."
"We could always take bets on who causes the most trouble," Arthur suggests.
"You gonna let me play this time?"
Arthurs huffs in amusement, shoving John in the arm who offers him a boyish grin. "Maybe."
"I don't trust either of them, it'll be a surprise if they both come back in one piece," Karen teases.
"Oh hush," Ada gives her final embrace to Abigail. "We are going for a relaxing trip, not stirring up every sheriff's office in the country."
"Not sure I believe Ada Harris can resist such a temptation as that," Hosea hums and she rolls her eyes in response, mounting up while Dutch finishes his goodbyes.
"We'll be back soon. You know our rough route and how to reach us, please keep us updated on how everything's going," Dutch informs them, mounting up beside her.
"Don't worry about a thing," Arthur says. "Ain't no way Grimshaw will let us slack off while you're gone."
They laugh and give their final waves, for now, before taking the first steps of their journey in the fresh morning sun.
✯
"You drive me insane, Ada," Dutch huffs, reaching over to tug on Altair's reins to halt him so he can check the small lesion on her forearm.
"Will you give it a rest? It's just a scratch."
"It is more than a scratch," he dabs at the blood, "I told you those muskrats are more viscous than they look, but you had to go and try to pet it, didn't you?"
"Oh, come on, it's hardly like they can do much damage. And in my defence, they are rather cute."
With a sigh, Dutch applies pressure over the wound and Ada chuckles at him. While he doesn't smile, she knows he wants to but welcomes the contact even now, after two months of exploring the country with just him by her side. Surprisingly, they hadn't run into any trouble with the law or had anyone recognise Dutch; his bounty and the gang long forgotten by anyone who would've wanted to see them swing. It'd been nice to see him so relaxed, while it took some adjustment for him to not fret about the goings-on back home, he was soon distracted by all the new things to do and see. It spurred his thoughts too, mainly regarding potential opportunities they could get involved with back home. It gave him time to finally vary his reading material, taking an interest in agricultural projects that he decided to pitch to the gang once the two of them returned home.
Ada shifts forward to tug Altair's reins and move him away from The Count, as he tries to nip him in the neck. "I wish they'd get along better."
"Perhaps they'll learn to love each other," Dutch smirks, lifting his eyes up to Ada's. She hums her amusement and pats Altair in thanks for calming down. "Adaline, will you just hold still -"
"Everything alright here, folks?"
The pair look behind them at the young man with dark hair, dressed in a thick coat with a repeater slung over his back.
"Just fine," Dutch says flatly, his uncertainty around strangers something Ada has finally gotten used to.
"You sure? It's not a bite, is it?"
When Dutch narrows his brow, Ada pipes up with the hopes of not coming across rude. "No, no – just a scratch. Nothing serious," she snatches her arm from Dutch and gives him a look of warning, "he's just being dramatic."
The young man barks a laugh, scratching at the back of his neck. "You sound just like my wife. Y'all travelling?"
Ada answers, still feeling the concern radiating from Dutch. "Yes, actually. Have been for a couple months now. You?"
"Nah," he bats his hand, "I live close by. Why don't you folks come for something to eat? Ain't often we get visitors this far north."
"That won't be necessary," Dutch rejects the man, who nods in acceptance.
"No -" Ada comments before he can leave. "That'd be lovely! Please excuse him for being so rude." At Dutch's tut in her direction, she just smiles indifferently.
"No offence caused," he raises his hands in surrender with a warm and welcoming expression. "I can understand the apprehension. With few people living up this way we tend to be a bit friendlier than most. Well, the majority of us are, at least. The name's Jake." He offers out a hand to Dutch, who looks the man up and down and Ada rolls her eyes before shoving him in the arm.
Reluctantly, Dutch offers out his hands and amusement spreads across Jake's face.
"His name's Dutch."
"And that's Adaline," Dutch hums, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's Ada," she corrects him and takes her turn shaking Jake's hand. "I apologise, it would appear my partner has forgotten his manners." Ignoring Dutch's huff, Ada jumps down from Altair. "You said you live close by?"
"Do indeed. Come along, my wife'll love you," he laughs.
As Jake leads the way, Dutch begrudgingly dismounts The Count. "You're far too trusting," he mutters in Ada's ear.
"Oh hush, he's nice," she swats him away, leading Altair behind Jake and giving Dutch no choice but to follow, but she doesn't miss his hand resting over his revolver.
Jake leads them to a nice-sized cabin, a stable off to the side of it and various equipment strewn about the place. Ada and Dutch hitch their horses outside the abode, and Dutch visibly relaxes a little when Jake climbs the front steps and calls out to his wife.
"Hey, we've got some company." He opens the door and the pair follow him inside, greeted by a blonde woman standing over a stove. "This is Sadie. Sadie, this is Ada and Dutch." Jake gives his wife a quick kiss on the cheek before setting his things down at the wall.
"Pleased to meet ya," Sadie extends her hand out, a friendly grin on her face and a strong southern drawl to her accent.
"You too ma'am," Dutch shakes her hand after Ada does.
"Ah, that's how it is. He only nice to women?" Jake teases and Sadie rolls her eyes while Ada laughs.
"Sorry partner, it's not personal. I just -"
"I know, I know. I'm just messing with ya," he claps Dutch on his upper arm as he moves past him. "You're right to be wary of people, but you got nothing to worry about with us."
Sadie barks a laugh, checking on the food she was making previously. "Tell me you weren't threatened by him?" she gestures in her husband's direction.
"Oh no, Dutch just likes to throw his masculinity around wherever he can," Ada leans up by the counter, smelling the delightful aroma from Sadie's cooking.
"My God, there's two of them," Jake murmurs wearily and Dutch snorts.
Sadie smiles smugly, leaning beside Ada. "Y'all married?"
"Ah, no," Ada shakes her head while eyeing Dutch. The two had thankfully agreed that marriage wasn't something either of them were interested in, despite Ada's slight desire to take his name. It wasn't a justifiable excuse, and her attachment to the surname she shared with her mother was something she didn't want to part with. The only problem it caused was when discussing Nova, Dutch referring to her as a Van der Linde and Ada referring to her as a Harris. Further still, Dutch often called Ada a Van der Linde too, stating that she doesn't need the name to be one at heart. "Just been together for a good few years. You two are married, right?"
"We are, got married in '96," Sadie says proudly, despite her confident and tough exterior, it's clear that Jake is her soft spot; something Ada can relate to.
"That's real sweet. You sure you don't mind us gate-crashing like this?"
"Not at all!" Sadie scoffs. "If you like, you're welcome to stay a while; I'm sure we can make room for ya. Beats sleeping in a tent anyway."
Ada couldn't agree more. While she'd gotten used to it during her time living in camp, once they'd moved out to the grand ranch house she'd grown accustomed to a big warm bed under a roof. Thankfully, having Dutch to nestle into made camping just about bearable, otherwise, Ada's not so sure she'd have coped for so long. "We'd love to, that's really kind of you."
"Do I get a say in this?" Dutch asks, despite already making himself at home and looking comfortable smoking a cigar with Jake.
Ada thinks for a moment before exhaling. "No, I don't think you do."
"How about me?" Jake echoes.
"Nope," Sadie stated matter-of-factly without missing a beat.
Being back under shelter had led both Ada and Dutch to miss their home comforts, and made the decision after five days with the Adlers that it was time to begin their journey home. Their last night at the ranch owned by their new friends was a bittersweet one, sitting around the campfire telling stories, and it had been no surprise to Dutch that Ada and Sadie had got on like a house on fire.
"You have to come and stay with us though. Whenever you like," Ada insists, taking a swig of beer from the bottle passed to her by Sadie.
"Course! Place sounds great. We could do with travelling a bit ourselves if I'm honest."
"You said there's about twenty of you that live there?" Jake asks.
"There is indeed," Dutch leans back in his seat, still looking just as proud of his gang as he had when Ada had first watched him in his camp all those years back. "You'd think it'd be easy to run the place with so many hands, but since they're like family they often think they can get away with slacking off."
"Sounds like a real good life," Sadie comments, adding another log to the campfire.
"Oh, it's the best," Ada smiles, catching Dutch's adoring look in her direction.
"Actually... I never asked," Sadie begins. "How'd the two of you meet?"
The pair take a glance in each other's direction, twin smiles growing on the faces of the twin flames as they're reminded of the turbulent journey they took to arrive at their destination filled with love, trust, and belonging. Despite the numerous hiccups, neither of them would have it any other way and confidently believe that all they've been through has strengthened their ties and been a testament to their love. Dutch clears his throat before answering and takes a sip of beer.
"Well..."
A/N
:O it's a loop!
Well friends, we've officially reached the end!
What started out as a fic I committed to just so I could just write a lot of porn, ended up becoming a much deeper story about love, healing, and trust. Not just in terms of figuring out how to love each other, but for these two stubborn bastards to learn to love themselves again too. I've had the time of my life writing this story, but nothing means more to me than the response I've had from you all.
Every time I see your usernames in my inbox leaving kudos or comments my heart does a little leap, I feel so fortunate to have people that enjoy reading this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it. Fanfiction would be nothing without those supporting it, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all, especially those who took the time out of their day to let me know their thoughts on the story. It truly makes it all worthwhile.
If you're in need of some more stories to fill your time, the lovely goodbyelisahoney has oneshots and three fantastic OC RDR fics, one of which is currently ongoing! She's a fantastic writer and person and deserves all the love.
I'm probably to spend time writing one-shots for a bit, but I do have some long fic ideas brewing as well as some fictlets that are in the works. In the meantime, if you have any requests or just want to geek out over RDR with me feel free to say hi over on tumblr @ dutchvanwinkle :)
Once again, I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it. Be well and stay safe my darlings <3