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Chapter 20: Parsing Dutch
Within moments, Dutch had gathered the other five. He studied them with a grim expression and warned, voice low and grave:
We may be heading into a hard fight. Stay sharp, stay calm. If Colm and his men return, move to your assigned positions at once and wait for my signal.
Everyone nodded, acknowledging the stakes. Dutch then began handing out the specifics.
No matter which pair is on watch, the instant Colm is spotted, one of you sprints to me with the news; the other climbs high ground and keeps eyes on him—track every step.
He continued, The remaining two pairs hold the exits. No one escapes.
Remember: not a single enemy leaves alive. When the rest of our crew arrives, all seven of us cut them down and settle every last score with the ODriscoll Gang.
When the briefing ended, Dutch drew a slow breath, his eyes hard and cold.
He believed their skill and cohesion would see the job through and close the book on his long feud with Colm.
Finally, Dutch quipped, Seven against a hundred-odd—odds clearly in our favor.
The five took turns glassing the derelict mining camp. Johnny spotted a familiar figure—Kieran Duffy—tending a pink turkoman horse.
Johnny jabbed a finger toward the tall, powerful animal and shouted to Arthur:
Arthur, look! That beauty's going to be mine—mine! Gorgeous, magnificent—don't you dare scratch her!
Arthur saw the boy's face flushed with excitement and felt a pang of sympathy; Johnny had always longed for a horse of his own.
Arthur nodded. Don't worry, kid—I'll guard her like my own revolver.
On the ride back, Johnny bubbled with joy yet still fussed at the others:
Brothers—except Micah—remember the other prize: Colm's coat. Go easy on the trigger; I don't want it full of holes.
Dutch, who had been listening, suddenly turned to Javier.
You'll handle it, Javier. Put a poisoned throwing knife straight through Colm ODriscoll's heart.
Javier straightened. No problem, Boss—consider it done.
Dutch looked to Arthur next. Arthur, when it starts, drop Colm's Bodyguards first, then shoot the gun out of his hand.
That clears the path for Javier and keeps the plan clean.
Arthur gave a steady nod. With every role set, they waited only for the moment to strike.
Dutch put Javier and Lenny on first watch; the rest would rotate every eight hours while the others returned to camp.
On the long ride back Dutch painted bright pictures for the four: after this score they would start fresh in a new city.
Spirits soared; they believed Dutch would finally pull them out of the rut.
A brief aside: many players finish the game convinced Dutch changed—that he lost the fire. In truth, he never did. He still dreams of a Robin Hood wilderness utopia, free of any government. But history moves on, and one man can't reverse the tide.
Throughout Red Dead Redemption 2, Dutch hatches plans while the Gang offers no better ideas yet objects at every turn. No one ever suggests a different path—becoming a Bronte-style mafia, a regional godfather, even a territory-wide Batman, owning every business and soul.
They simply reject their leader, then blame him for each failure—though provoking Cornwall really was Dutch's fault.
After so many defeats, Dutch breaks. Ten straight losses in a game can tilt anyone; for a man who sees the Gang as his very life, collapse is inevitable. As Dutch says in the first game, We can't fight the coming of the times.
That's why my protagonist exists—to be the Gang's external brain. Some ask: is Dutch still Dutch if he stops robbing? Yes. Gray industries have their own wars; the targets merely switch from the rich to rival rich.
If you want a story where the hero boots Dutch aside and builds an empire, check the novels next door—some do it well.
Lastly, love every character you meet; each has a spark. As a rookie writer, I cherish my hero's meticulous plans and the warmth inside the camp. May they all feel alive to you. Thank you for reading.