Stephen watched in stunned silence as Sean, already half in the bag, downed an entire bottle of whiskey in one go.

  This wasn't just any whiskey; it was the hard stuff, the kind that could knock you sideways.

  Most folks wouldn't dream of drinking it like that, but Sean just kept waving at Stephen, urging him to join in.

  Stephen wasn't quite that wild. He eyed his own full bottle, then glanced around at the ground.

  Quick as a flash, he grabbed an empty bottle and swapped his full one with a nearby onlooker.

  Sean's drinking pace slowed, and Stephen watched his throat bob up and down, realizing what was coming.

  He bolted, putting as much distance as possible between himself and Sean, ducking behind a large tree.

  The others looked confused, wondering why he was running.

  They got their answer in about two seconds flat.

  Sean slammed down the bottle and "Ugh!" proceeded to empty the entire contents of his stomach onto the ground.

  It was a Niagara Falls of booze, an unstoppable torrent.

  Anyone standing within spitting distance got a face full, and a chorus of shouts erupted as people rolled up their sleeves, ready to take Sean apart.

  Whether he knew he'd messed up big time or just couldn't hold it anymore, Sean let loose and then just crumpled to the ground, out cold.

  He was supposed to be the guest of honor, but he'd knocked himself out before the party even started.

  And with everyone thoroughly disgusted, the mood was killed, and the crowd began to disperse.

  Stephen shook his head at the sight of Sean sprawled on the ground, intending to help him back to camp.

  But before he could even move, Karen sauntered over, grabbed Sean by the arm, and hauled him to his feet.

  "I got him," Karen said to Stephen, all business. "You're still nursing that injury, go get some rest."

  Stephen nodded and let Karen drag Sean toward one of the large tents.

  Wait...a tent?

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Stephen whipped around, watching as Karen tossed Sean onto a bedroll inside the tent, then quickly closed the flap, even blowing out the candle inside.

  Well, that's just freaking weird.

  So, Karen and Sean...

  Stephen never would have guessed.

  Stephen grabbed a beer and ambled over to the cliff overlooking Horseshoe Overlook, settling down to smoke and drink alone.

  The view was spectacular at night.

  The white moonlight spilled over the mountains, making everything look so beautiful.

  Fireflies danced in the woods below, twinkling like tiny stars.

  Stephen wished he could capture the moment, but his outdated camera probably couldn't do it justice.

  He felt a twinge of regret, but then figured he couldn't have everything.

  Like the moon in the sky, things are never perfect.

  As Stephen was waxing poetic, he heard the sound of someone approaching.

  He turned to see Dutch.

  "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

  Dutch smiled at Stephen, raising his own bottle.

  Stephen clinked his bottle against Dutch's, and they both took a long swig.

  "Not at all, good booze is meant to be shared with friends, right?"

  Stephen shook his bottle, grinning. "You're a damn good leader."

  "Sean, Arthur, all the others, they all look up to you."

  Honestly, Stephen didn't know much about Dutch. But judging by the way Arthur and the others acted, he seemed like a decent leader.

  Even though Stephen didn't completely agree with his philosophy, he still admired the guy.

  "Thank you for the compliment."

  Dutch chuckled and stood beside Stephen, gazing at the view below, spreading his arms wide.

  "Look at it, isn't the world a beautiful place?"

  Dutch turned to Stephen. "Thank you for saving Sean; I can't imagine losing him."

  "He's one of my partners now, isn't he?"

  Stephen said with a smile, "I'm part of the gang now; no need to be so polite."

  "Oh, of course, I didn't forget that," Dutch said, smiling. "Your joining us is the best news we've had in a while."

  What was this all about? Was Dutch just trying to butter him up?

  Stephen eyed Dutch warily, wondering if he needed a favor.

  Sure enough, Dutch's next words confirmed Stephen's suspicions.

  "What do you think of Micah?"

  Dutch looked at Stephen seriously. "I know you have some reservations about him because of what happened with Mrs. Sadie, but…"

  "What I think doesn't matter, Dutch."

  Stephen cut him off. "What matters is that he's held responsible for what he did."

  "I'm a man who settles scores, you know that."

  Dutch nodded. "I understand, of course, I do. That's why I wanted to ask a favor."

  Stephen met Dutch's gaze, and Dutch stared back unflinchingly.

  "Micah's been gone since he went to Strawberry. I want you to go there and bring him back."

  "I know you have some connections in Strawberry, so you're the man for the job."

  Dutch took a deep breath, then said through gritted teeth, "If he's still alive, tell him to get his ass back here to see me."

  "And if he's dead, I need to know who to take revenge on!"

  Looking into Dutch's determined eyes, Stephen couldn't help but chuckle.

  "I'm curious, Dutch," Stephen asked. "Why do you value that guy so much?"

  "Look at your gang, you have so many capable people. Arthur, Hosea, Charles, Javier, and lively young guys like Lenny and Sean."

  "But I get the feeling that you value that somewhat crazy guy more."

  "No, I don't value him more."

  Dutch shook his head, explaining, "I just – Stephen, you understand, right? He's one of us, and even if he has a lot of issues, we should bring him back so we can deal with it ourselves."

  "We can't just let him disappear without a trace in some hick town. We can't treat our family and partners like that."

  "So, I'm asking you, go to Strawberry and see if that guy's dead or alive."