Runaway: Chapter 4 (Javier Escuella x Fem!Reader)
Youâd lost track of how long Karen had gone out to âscope out the new landâs opportunitiesâ. If it were anyone else, youâd be worried sick. But Karen? Oh, Miss Jones was probably off schmoozing some rich city boys, robbing them blind right before their eyes.Â
It was just another lazy day in camp without her. No rowdy day drinking or talking back to Miss Grimshaw. Arthur and Dutch had arrived back at camp just the week before and still, things were quiet as ever.
âJob was a bust.â Dutch had said sourly, dismounting his horse with a huff. âOâDriscolls got to that godforsaken town before us.âÂ
The OâDriscolls⊠it had been a while since youâd heard their name. That dirty band of outlaws. You tried to push them out of your mind. Arthur and Duttch had been gone for a long time. Chances were, theyâd gone far, far out of their way. No OâDriscolls would be coming near you or the rest of the Van Der Linde gang for the foreseeable future. At least you hoped so.
Javierâs calling snapped you back into the present. You blinked your eyes down at the bucket in your hands. Youâd gone to get water, thatâs right- only the bucket was dry and you were standing absent-mindedly at the edge of the clear freshwater creek, the water just barely reaching your shoes. You shook your head and glanced over your shoulder at Javier.Â
âSorry, sorry- Iâve got it.â You called back, wading into the water to gather it in the bucket. Pebbles crunched under the soles of Javierâs boots as he made his way to the creek.Â
âGive it here.â He offered as you stood up. âI can carry.â Hesitantly, you let him take the water from you. âDutch sent me to you.âÂ
âWhy?â You asked as Javier began the trek up the hill to the camp.Â
âSomeone here.â He said curtly. The quickness in his voice made your heart drop.Â
âWho? Authorities? Cops?âÂ
âAh- no.â Javier glanced over his shoulder at you, the traces of a smile on his face.Â
âKeep your chins up, everybody! Iâm back!â Karenâs shrill southern drawl rang through the camp as you walked up with Javier at your side. âEverybodyâs favorite smooth-talking con-lady, all the way from Tucson. Pearson looked up from his butcherâs table for just a moment to groan.Â
âI knew it was getting too quiet around here.â He muttered, though there was no hostility in his voice. On the contrary, he, too, was smiling.Â
âWelcome back, Karen.â You called back with a smile. As if youâd spoken a cue, Javier left you suddenly to fill the horse troughs with the bucket of creekwater the two of you had brought up together.
âFind anything promising out there, Miss Jones?â Dutch asked with a tip of his hat. Karen grinned.Â
âOh, itâs a real good one, Dutch. Howâs a big oleâ city bank sound to you?â As she spoke, it occurred to you suddenly that she was backing up towards you with an array of clearly suspicious steps. With her back to you, she skillfully slipped a bottle of whiskey from her shoulderbag, waving it at her hip out of the rest of the gangâs sight. âIâll fill you in on that bank heist in a bit, Dutch. (Y/N) and I have some catching up to do!â She said gleefully, backing up and forcing the bottle into your hand before she turned around, grabbing you by the arm and dragging you off. She lowered her voice, bringing her face close to yours. âYou donât even have to pay me back for that. Got it for free from some big shot at the bar in town. Bet he thought he could buy himself a marriage proposal with a couple of these! Itâs a damn shame the only men in this country with any money are all brainless fools or Iâd have married myself off to a rich man by now.â
âI donât need this-â Karen cut you off, pushing you back before you could hand her the bottle.Â
âNah, keep it. You look like you could use the break. I bet Miss Grimshaw worked you hard while I was gone, you being the only other lady workinâ and all.â She grinned slyly. âWhy else do you think I took my sweet time cominâ back?â She said with a chortle. âFigure I owe you one.â You opened your mouth to speak, only to be cut off again. âBut donât tell Miss Grimshaw. Youâve got my back, right? After all, the Van Der Linde ladies, weâre in this together you ân me!â She gave you a pat on the back before stopping you to nod towards Javier.  âSo! Whoâs that handsome fella with the accent?â She whispered, whiskey coming off her breath.Â
âHis nameâs Javier Escuella. Dutch picked him up right after you left town.âÂ
âMan, I always miss all the fun, donât I?â Karen looked Javier up and down for a moment. As if he could feel her staring, he looked up from his boots to wave politely and give both of you a little nod. You waved back. âGotta admit, though, (Y/N), you sure do work fast. Iâm almost jealous.âÂ
âExcuse me?â You sputtered, your hand dropping to your side.Â
âWhadaya mean?â Karen glanced to you then back to Javier. âYou mean you two arenât⊠you know?âÂ
âWherever your mind is, Karen, youâd better get it out of there- itâs not like that.â You smoothed down your appearance rather indignantly as Karen flashed a faux innocent look your way.Â
âAlright, good. So heâs not off limits is what Iâm hearing.âÂ
âThatâs very unladylike of you, Miss Jones.â You retorted in a mocking voice, mimicking Miss Grimshaw under your breath. âDonât be so vulgar.âÂ
âWhat? A good conwoman never backs away from an opportunity.â She winked. âYouâd better go and share that bottle with him before I sweep him up off his feet. I fully intend to take him with me on this heist, you know.âÂ
âHe doesnât even have a horse yet.âÂ
âWell, he can just borrow yours, canât he? Problem solved.â Karen mused, and you swatted her arm away from you. Â
âJust donât get him killed. Iâve grown to like him a little bit.â You joked. Karenâs eyes shone with amusement.Â
âPrecisely why you should share that drink with him. Câmon, loosen up a little. Itâll do you some good.â You couldnât help but roll your eyes at the insistence in her voice.Â
âWhat? Day drinking? Miss Grimshaw might tear my head off.âÂ
âCome on. Iâll keep Grimshaw off your back. Cross my heart, (Y/N), you can trust me!â Karen pushed you away, closer to where Javier was standing. âAnd besides, everyoneâll be so wrapped up in my big bank heist idea. Iâm an actress, a performer! I know how to keep an audience captivated. Nobodyâll even notice you two are gone.â With a defeated sigh, you shrugged Karen away, moving towards Javier with the bottle clutched tightly in your hand.Â
âNow go on! Shoo! No funny business, though. Iâll know about it!â And so, you left her behind. Her laughter grew fainter as she returned her attention to the rest of the camp, waving down Dutch, and Javier watched you with keen interest as you made your way towards him, holding up the bottle in offering with a grin.