Time to say goodbye

The next morning was an expectedly busy one. There was no use in going to the village early since it would endanger our whole plan if they spotted us too early, but that made final preparations and checks even more necessary.

After everything was prepared, we started our way. Our main forces, including basically everybody who could handle a weapon, waited at a safe distance, in order to not be spotted while our sharpshooters already took position around the village. Along with them came one scout who was supposed to message us as soon as the villagers had left into the mine. That would be the time when our attack would begin.

Whatever would happen beyond this moment would be the really difficult part of the whole operation.

After getting up, I collected my things. Actually, I hadn’t gathered much stuff even after living in this place for several months by now, so there was no real need in deciding which things I would want to take with me to my next life or which things would be necessary in battle.

The only things I had acquired during this time were my revolver, coming with a gunbelt and as many bullets as I would need today, my notebook, of course coming with a pen and some ink, and a small shoulder bag. I had bought it some time ago but never used it, since there was no need to carry the few things I owned with me all the time.

After I had packed all my belongings and checked my weapon, I left my room, looking back with a feeling of uncertainty. Did I take everything with me? Would I ever return? Under which circumstances? Why did it have to come to this? Would Troef really attack us if we just left him alone? Maybe this whole operation was nonsense in the first place.

“Protect them!”, said a faint voice in the back of my mind. There was a promise I had made and that I had to keep. It didn’t matter if or if not Troef would bother us. There was a realistic chance he would in the near future, and it was my task to prevent it from happening.

“Time to finally do something meaningful.”, I mumbled to myself.

When I left the saloon, everybody was already prepared to leave. We left behind enough fighters to protect the remaining people, at least for the time it would take us to come back here in case something went horribly wrong. Assuming, of course, we would still be able to return then.

“Alright! Time to leave!”, I announced.

Everybody tried to make a strong or brave impression not to worry the people they left behind, but that made the scene playing before me only more heartbreaking. Like soldiers being called to war, they said farewell to their families and prepared themselves to never see them again.

I felt a little lonely being surrounded by so many people, who had somebody who deeply cared for them, but in feeling so I felt selfish. My worries were minor compared to those of these people.

Ignoring those thoughts, I made my way to my horse at the very front of our attack team, or rather the only horse that was willing to listen to my commands.

“I will have to bother you one last time, my friend.”, I spoke to it and petted its side before climbing onto the saddle.

“Shota!”, somebody shouted from behind me.

Turning around I saw Casey hurrying towards me, before she came to a halt directly next to my horse.

“Take me with you.”

“The people here need you.”, I tried to convince her.

“I don’t care.”

There was no time for a long discussion, and it would be futile anyways. I turned around. The carriage was bursting with people, trying to fit into the little space the gatling gun had left on it. The other horses were heavily packed as well.

Casey was dressed very differently from her usual style. Apparently, she had spent the last night to make one of Archies sets of clothes fit to her. She wore a pair of jeans, apparently shorted, together with a belt to make it fit better. She had added another hole far beyond the last originally positioned one, so it would even have an effect at all. Her shirt was slightly too large, and the sleeves had been shortened as well. To make up for the length, she had just stuffed it into the jeans. Her long hair was tied and stuffed under a hat she must have bought for this day, since Archie’s head was much larger than hers.

I sighed.

“You won’t accept a no, I guess?”, I asked.

“You know me too well.”, she smiled.

“Get up here then.”

Casey seemed surprised that I didn’t give her more of a fight, but she didn’t question my decision either.

“Let’s ride!”, I shouted, and we started our way.

As we started to move, Casey wrapped her arms around me in order to not fall off the horse.

“So why did you want to join us?”, I asked.

She was holding onto me tightly, maybe even a little too tight. Also, she pressed her body against mine. Maybe she was afraid to fall down?

“I can’t just let you leave. Maybe we need to change the plan.”, she explained herself, but I got the feeling that this was less a reason, than an excuse.

As she said this, she changed her grip around me, leading to an even tighter embrace.

“Is everything alright back there?”

“Just great!”

“Sure…”

“Casey?”

“Yes?”

“I can’t breathe.”

“Sorry.”

She changed her grip yet another time, but just enough to ensure I myself wouldn’t fall off the horse due to lack of oxygen.

“Better?”

“Thanks.”, I replied, trying not to think about why she suddenly acted so strange.

As I was just done trying to convince myself that there was absolutely nothing strange about her behavior or the situation, she placed her chin on my left shoulder.

“Casey?”, I asked.

“I can’t see a thing back here.”

“Sure.”