AFTER THE GROUP SNAPPED OUT of their dazed state, they all mounted their horses, preparing to travel once again. 

Belle patiently sat upon her white horse, petting the soft mane as the boys slowly stumbled on their respective steeds. Josiah rode up beside Belle, pressing a light kiss to the corner of her red lips. Belle grabbed Josiah's scarf, bringing it up and over his mouth. 

"It's a tad windy today, darling, don't want sand to fly in your mouth, do we?" Belle chuckled, pulling his hat further down his eyes as well. "Or in your eyes, while we're at it."

"Thank you, mother," Josiah muffled through the fabric of his scarf whilst rolling his eyes. 

--------

The group were now travelling through a village that belonged to a small society of Mexican-Indians.

"Hey, Chevez, how come they ain't killin' us?" Charley asked, still slightly groggy due to the peyote from the previous night.

"Cuz we're in the Spirit World, asshole," Chevez answered. "They can't see us,"

--------

The small family were now residing in an abandoned house, not big enough for the seven of them, but enough to relax in. 

The boys were patiently waiting for Belle to finish up the dinner. She didn't have a lot to work with, but she did her best with the lack of materials.

Belle placed all of the boys' plates in front of them, each of them praising or thanking her for her work. Finally, Belle sat down with her own food, opposite Josiah and next to Billy and Chevez. It wasn't as much as she made for the boys but it was enough to get her through the next few days until they needed more food. 

Josiah noticed her lack of food, so once she closed her eyes for Dick's prayer, he slid over some of his own food onto her plate, trying his hardest to be quiet. 

"Lord, forgive us for our low doings, for our misguidance by heathen religions. Thank you for keeping us alive. Please Lord, guide us doing the right thing. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name -" Dick recited from memory before Billy interrupted his holy prayer.

"Please, Dick, it's getting cold!" Billy sighed. Dick whipped out his gun, with Billy following his actions immediately after.

The two boys aimed their guns at each other from either end of the dinner table. Belle sighed, proceeding to eat her dinner, occasionally glancing up to see that the two men hadn't lowered their pistols yet.

Belle tore her gaze away from the two guns and to Josiah. Belle rolled her eyes dramatically, resulting in Josiah trying to suppress a laugh.

"Belle, this is a divine dinner you've cooked up for us," Josiah grinned over Billy's hand. "Richard, would you be so kind as to pass the potatoes please?"

"Thank you, dear. And gentlemen, this isn't exactly what I'd call dinner etiquette," Belle commented, a gentle smile directed to Dick and Billy. 

Both Dick and Billy ignored Josiah and Belle's attempts to lighten the mood. 

"When we've finished this meal, you little rodent, we're gonna go out in the yard and see who has the right to run this group of Regulators," Dick lowly spoke, still aiming his gun at the fair-haired boy.

"Enough!" Belle shouted, slamming her cutlery onto the table. "I have had enough of you two going at each other's throat. Do you really think Mr Tunstall would approve of this behaviour?! No, he would not! Remember what you're fighting for. You're fighting for the only man that saw potential in you, the man who trusted a group of criminals enough to give them shelter in his own goddamn house. He put everything on the line for the both of you, all of you. And look at you, you're fighting over who should be the leader. We do not need a leader! We are a family, not a dictatorship," Belle spoke, annoyance dripping from her tone.

Belle stood up, grabbing her plate with her, walking towards the kitchen to wash up her dish.

Belle angrily rubbed the plate as tears pricked her orbs. The girl hastily brushed away a tear that escaped her eye. Belle heard a commotion in the dining room. Belle composed herself before she popped her head back around the doorway to see Steve breathless and hastily explaining that there was a man coming down the road to the house. 

"What's happened?" Belle asked. Belle noticed that Billy and Dick still pointed their guns at each other, not tearing their cold glares from the other. Belle stood behind Dick and physically lowered his gun, placing her hand on his bicep and pushing it down to the table. She sent a cold, assertive glare to Billy, indicating that he should do the same, which he did. 

"Far away hill man coming this way!" Steve breathlessly said, his half-eaten chicken leg dangling in his grip. 

"Just one?" Dick said, still staring at Billy with annoyance.

Charley shot from his seat and look out the window. "Oh no! It's Buckshot Roberts!"

"We got a warrant for him," Dick commented, recognising the name.

"Do you think he's coming to surrender?" Josiah asked, casually sipping on his drink.

"It don't look that way," Charley spoke, clearly spooked from the situation.

"He any good?" Billy asked Charley.

"He's killed more people than smallpox," The group heard that the older man was right outside their house now, hearing the loud clatter of metal and guns clearly.

"Well Hell, Let's introduce us!" Billy said excitedly, standing from his seat, sending a smug smirk to Dick. Dick followed immediately. Belle grabbed her pistol from her side, but Josiah stopped her.

"Belle, darling, I don't want to you fighting this round, ok. You heard Charley, I can't risk you getting hurt, doll," Josiah spoke quietly, as the boys gathered their weapons and headed outside to greet Roberts.

"But, Doc, I don't want you getting hurt either -" Belle began to protest.

"I know, sweetheart, but just for me, stick this one out, I promise I won't get hurt," Josiah grabbed Belle's upper arms and pulled her into his frame, pressing a long kiss to her lips, resulting in Belle melting into his touch. Before Belle could argue with Josiah any further, Josiah pulled away and ran out with his rifle in hand. 

Belle huffed and decided to listen to Josiah, but thought it wouldn't hurt to stand in the front doorway, to watch the situation.

The ginger furrowed her eyebrows at the older man, dressed head to toe in thick fur and riding on a brown donkey, holding two rifles in his grips. The group of young Regulators took long strides down to the man until they were face to face.

"We got a warrant for you, old man!" Dick announced.

"I ain't got no business with that warrant no more," Roberts shrugged. "I'm on my own. I've come here to get that 150 dollars Sheriff Brady is putting down for the Kid. The rest of you little shits is only worth 110, but I'll take it. What a sweet disposition," Roberts carelessly dropped one of his rifles, preparing the other one with bullets. "Let's dance!"

The Regulators scattered, hiding behind different piles of logs and wagons. Belle moved from the open doorway, hiding behind the wall. Belle crouched down, crawling towards the open window, preparing her gun hastily. Belle leant towards the window, aiming her pistol at Roberts, but before she fired, she watched as Roberts shot at Chevez, sending a bullet through his shoulder with a pained groan. Belle cursed and began shooting at the older man. 

Roberts shot Josiah in the hand, provoking his rifle to fly from his grip. Josiah screamed in pain, scurrying behind a wagon with Chevez. The bullets stopped momentarily. Belle scanned the area, her eyes flittering back to Josiah every five seconds to see if he was managing with his new wound. 

Crimson liquid dripped from his pale hand cause Belle to wince in distress. The shotting continued when Billy emerged from behind the logs. The Regulators relentlessly shot at the toilet where Roberts was hiding. 

Suddenly the shootings halt. Belle tore her teary gaze away from her injured partner and wounded friend. Belle anxiously watched Dick slowly approach the port-a-loo. Still hiding inside the house, Belle nibbled on her fingernails out of fear. 

Three gunshots emitted from the loo. Three bullets aimed at Dick. Three bullet wounds straight through Dick's chest.

Belle screamed in terror as she watched her best friend fall to the ground. The middle of the shooting, Belle ran out of the house and straight to Dick's limp body. 

The Regulators shouted and protested for Belle to move out of the dangerous area. Belle fell to her knees beside his body. Her shaky hands skimmed over his face. She tuned out all of the commotions and shouting of her boys behind her and focused solely on her dead friend. 

Dick was the first boy that John brought to the ranch. The first boy of the bunch that met Belle. Dick and Belle were extremely close - they loved each other as if they were brother and sister. Bells' heart ached as she scanned Dick's face, searching for any signs of life.

She found none.

Belle faintly heard Josiah shouting at Charley to get her away from the scene. She didn't react when she felt Charley's arm circling around her torso, she just allowed him to pull her away from Dick. But she still stared after Dick's static figure. 

"Come on, Miss Belle, we got to get outta here," Charley tried to calmly speak, but Belle still heard the sadness and anger in his tone. 

Belle shakily nodded and jumped on her horse. Belle finally turned her attention away from her dead friend and instead towards her remaining boys who were riding in front of her. Belle turned her steed around to take one last glance at her closest friend. Josiah rode up beside her, turning to see Dick too.

"Well, that was one lousy promise you made back there, darling," Belle tried to chuckle, but it came out dry and hoarse.

Josiah mustered up a small smile, remembering that he promised that he wouldn't get hurt before he left, but here he was, with a hole through his hand. "Sorry, sweetheart,"

"Don't apologise, it could've been worse,"