This chapter continues the story some time after Van der Linde gang relocates to Clemens Point but before infiltrating Rhodes.


„Goddamn you Sean!" Karen's sudden scream upsets the birds which immediately fly off the surrounding treetops where they were carefree and daydreaming just moments ago. „Where's my damn clothes?!" she peaks out of her tent with her head, holding the cloth presumably to hide the rest of her.

„Maybe it's a sign you should wear something that doesn't make you look like one of them saloon girls." Javier shares his thoughts guarding Sean who's squirming on the ground of a tent opposite to Karen's.

„I don't care what I look like, just give them back!"

The crazy expression she holds with raised eyebrows and tightly pressed lips frighten Javier who looks at Sean over the shoulder. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea."

Sean stands upright, dressed in Karen's shirt and dress spreading his arms. „What do ya think, mate?"

„Well, with some hard make up on you could easily pass..." Javier scratches his chin as Charles walks by ignoring them. „To a blind man!"

Sean swears at him, they start an argument and the noise kicks Flo's attention away from the book she's been reading. Leaned on the rock next to her tent, she's reading Sense and Sensibility for second time. It's a copy she stole off a stagecoach several months ago. Sean's been back for a while and didn't really do anything besides messing with Karen, drinking or stirring the gang up with his tiring pranks. But she couldn't distinguish if everyone was always this tense since she's been with them for less than a month and sometimes even years aren't enough to really know someone. However, Flo understands where Sean's need for amusement comes from even if it's not always appropriate.

„May I ask why?" she gets up, leaving the open book on the ground, and approaches the boys while wiping the dirt off jeans.

Sean looks at her and his frowny expression lights up. „Okay Flo, I think you might be the right person for this job." He admits still ignoring Karen's hopeless shouting. He's the only one calling Flo by her nickname.

„I ain't gonna take you seriously 'til you give the poor girl her clothes back, okay?"

He presses his lips looking down on the ground and obediently shuffles towards Karen's tent, unprepared for whatever punishment she's got for him.

„So what's the job?" she asks Javier through an uncontrollable smirk his irresistible eyes cause.

„He found a saloon in Saint Denis that sits on a whole lotta cash."

„And how does him pretendin' to be a woman fit in?"

„That's the thing uhm, they sell girls to rich folk."

„What? Tell me Sean ain't doin' it for money." She sighs, crossing arms over her chest. She already knows the answer. „Tell me he's doin' it to stop 'em."

„I mean," He scratches the back of his head, switching his weight bearing. „you can tell by his clothes why he's doin' it."

„You wanna help?"

He furrows his brow knowing it's bad and easily accepts the offer she gives him. Between all the wrongdoing he's committed, might as well do some good in the world for a change.

Trusting she gave Sean enough time to change, this time it's Flo the one screaming his name. „Forced prostitution?! Is that what ya want to be known for next, Sean?!"

He almost trips coming out of Karen's tent and paces back towards them. „What are ya talkin' 'bout, lass?"

She forces her index into his chest as she makes her demand. „You're gonna take us to that saloon and we're gonna stop this."

„Stop what?" Arthur, obviously eavesdropping, gets off his horse upon returning from a day-long hunting trip.

„Ah Morgan, my friend!" Sean pushes between Flo and Javier, arms reaching out to Arthur as he desperately tries to get someone who will support his plan. „I found a fancy saloon that has a side job every night."

„Forced prostitution." Flo adds, cold-bloodedly, not to spare Arthur of the key detail.

He takes his hunting gloves off while they eagerly wait for his answer. „Best not to mess with it."

„What?!" both Flo and Sean exclaim.

„We can't tell how big this is, I mean I ain't ever heard of it and he says it's happenin' every day." He bumps thighs with his hands trying to show how badly they can't do anything about it.

„That is a reason more to stop them."

„It's too risky."

„We can go there and inspect the situation." She moves closer to him to continue the persuasion. „If it's easy enough we shut it down."

„And if it ain't?"

„We turn around and pretend we weren't even there." She lies but does it well, not breaking eye contact while Arthur looks away.

„We should do it." Javier breaks his silence and stands next to her, partially because he wants to do it for her.

„I found this job so I can't promise I ain't stealin' any money." Sean slows his movement towards them. „But, I guess it's for a good cause."

Arthur observes at all three of them relying on his approval. What surprises him the most is that he finally needs to approve something positive, something the civilized world would actually consider good, not outlaws. A glimmer of hope emerges in him indicating that they're not past their time yet, if they're willing to change and fit in with the rest.

„I see you made the decision for me. Just tell me when we're goin' and we'll deal with the rest on the way."