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Chapter 7

Tillie took a deep breath; she was nervous. This was a situation that she had never been in before. Kissing Kate had gone over each detail with her- more than once (not to mention how many times Ray had gone over it). She scowled, thinking about the training sessions she had to complete.

It had taken multiple lessons for Tillie to be able to ride a horse convincingly. It didn't help that she wouldn't listen to anyone's advice and that Ray just laughed when she fell off. In the end, Kate had decided that it would be best if Tillie rode with someone else, that way if she fell off there would be someone there to catch her. Her other training sessions were much more fun. With Jacque she had learnt how to shoot straight and Frank had taught her some basic self-defence which she practised against her mother (none of the men would hit her).

It was still odd for Tillie to accept that her mother was an Outlaw. She'd had such a sheltered upbringing that this way of life was something she never expected.

Greg Harrison didn't do warm weather. He was alright when he was cooking but when he was forced to face the Sun he just sweated. He knew that the early part of the plan relied on him and Tillie which made him sweat even more. As the Outlaws cook, it had taken a lot of training for him to be ready for this heist. Kissing Kate didn't want anything to go wrong so the entire band had had to learn the plan inside out and so well that they could recite it in their sleep.

The cafe that they were sat in didn't provide much shade from the heat. Every now and then Greg would check his pocket watch and dab his forehead. They tried to make small talk but their conversations trailed off only to be replaced with nerves. Checking his watch again he saw that it was time for them to move into their first position. From his trouser pocket he found correct change for the slice of cake Tillie had eaten and left it on the table, wiping his hands on his trousers as he did so.

Within five minutes, Greg and Tillie had reached the bank. 'The town that they were in was different to Green Lake', thought Tillie. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was called. In Green Lake everything was central to the lake which meant houses and shops were intermingled. In this town, shops ran parallel to each other creating two neat, straight lines of shops and businesses. Houses were a ten minute walk from the main high street.

As they had walked Tillie had linked arms with Greg- they were meant to be father and daughter.

Upon entering the bank Greg made two observations; it was contained about fifteen people and it was cool. The building was one of the oldest in the town, having been built first (storing money was of great importance to the original settlers in this area). Checking his watch again, he moved forwards and began to engage in conversation with the nearest cashier whilst Tillie looked around in an interested manner.

"Good afternoon sir. Can I help you?" asked the man sat behind the desk.

"Yes. I would like to open an account here. I've heard that this is a very safe bank and in these times I need a safe place to keep my money", Greg replied.

The cashier looked very pleased, then confused, "Sir, if you would like to open a bank where is your money?"

"Do you think I'm a fool? I would not wander round brandishing my money around like a lunatic. That would not be wise."

The cashier didn't respond, he just looked embarrassed and muttered something under his breath.

Tillie made her way over to Greg, "Father."

"Not now Ada", he told her. They had decided on using false names.

"Please Father, I don't feel well", she told him.

"Ada, Father's busy", he told her.

Tillie took a deep breath and as if on cue she fainted (sort of convincingly) onto Greg. The only thought going through Greg's mind as he caught her was, 'I hope the others are in position and are ready'.

"Ada?" He scooped her up into his arms and looked at the cashier. "She needs water, do you have a room I can take her?" he asked looking distressed.

The cashier was taken aback put slowly he lifted the counter separating the floor of the bank from the cashier's stations. He lead them through a door that was concealed as panel like the ones lining the walls in the rest if the room.

"I'm not supposed to do this", he told them, for the reply to be Greg's fist knocking him unconscious.

As the cashier fell Tillie jumped to her feet, his keys in her hand and first locked the door they had just come through. It took a large amount of fumbling but she found the correct key and unlocked the door leading out of the bank, which could be accessed via the room they were in. The moment it swung open Kate moved swiftly into the box-room, closely followed by Frank who snatched the keys from Tillie and jammed the first one he could into the door which led to the vaults. Behind the three of them Ray, Luc, Crow and Jacque set up a human chain so they could move the stolen items quickly into the carriage they had just exited. Greg filled a space in the line and prepared himself for heavy objects.

Frank fumbled again with the keys causing Tillie to slip past him, take the keys and with a quick study she pushed the correct one into the lock. Frank turned a faint red colour as the door to the vault clicked then opened.

"C'mon", called Ray. He was getting impatient.

Linda was sat on the porch of her house staring off into the distance. Green Lake was disappearing into an abyss of dryness. It had not rained for months and now the lake was being swallowed by the ground beneath it. This was when Linda Walker her great idea. It can often be in times of stress that people can summon the inspiration for grand ideas to occur. Dropping the book she was pretending to read she dashed inside her house and took the stairs two at a time to reach her husband.

"Trout- I've had a great idea."

The sudden arrival of his wife made Trout jump, although he would never admit it. He looked at her expectantly.

"We've always been after Kissin' Kate 'cause o'the reward money, yes?"

Trout nodded, "Yes, yes I know."

"Well", said Linda, standing a little taller, "why don' we be after her money instead? She has more than we would ever get as a reward."

Trout thought about this before saying, "that's why I married y'. Come here".

Linda walked towards him, slightly wary, but continued the same. He indicated for her to lean towards him- she complied. Unexpectedly he kissed her tenderly causing her to wrap her arms around him.

Almost all the contents of the vault had been loaded into the carriage leaving only a sack of gold which was clasped in Frank's hand. From the other room he heard the cashier stirring. Greg and Tillie had left earlier when the majority of the goods had been loaded. They had told the other cashiers that the one who was currently unconscious was checking the vaults. They had walked out of the bank and rode into the horizon on their way back to camp.

"Frank. Move your posterior. We have to go!" called Ray ushering Luc out of the first room and towards the carriage.

"I'm on my way Ray", replied Frank between gritted teeth.

"I'm just sayin'. If we wanna get away scot free we need to go now".

Frank's temper blew at that moment. 'It was the little things', he told himself that annoyed him about Ray. The first thing was that he had been in Kate's gang longer and he was 4th in command of it. Ray had just swaggered in and amazed Kate with his non-existent sense of style. The fact that Kate's daughter was now in the picture didn't help but she wasn't Ray, she was just a hindrance. Another was that Ray talked down to him like he was an idiot- he would show him. It was in that moment that he decided he would show them all just what he was capable of.

Ray had been taken completely by surprise when Frank's fist had collided with his face. The force had knocked him off of his feet meaning that he lay, winded on the floor.

"We don't have time for your personal vendettas against each othe'. We gotta go or we'll be in trouble", said the defiant voice of Kissing Kate.

"Sort ou' y'problms some other time", she told them.

Luc helped Ray up and brushed the dirt of off his back. Then without speaking they all climbed into the carriage and sped away from the bank.

The knock on the door shocked both Trout and Lind Walker. It took a moment for Linda to answer it being not dressed all to fully. The man who stood there was not someone she expected to see.

"I heard that you're looking for Kissin' Kate Barlow", the gruff voice of Frank Herzog said.

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