As the band played again at Promontory Point, a cheering crowd clapped as John stood a little awkwardly at the side of the stage, next to all the businessmen, whom, only an hour before, had been congratulating Latham Cole.
Tilly sat on her horse off to the side of the crowd. She had not been invited up to be thanked because she was a woman and a disrespected one at that.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." a large man with an even larger moustache boomed, getting up in front of the crowd. "...as Chairman of the Transcontinental Railroad, I'd like to express our gratitude to this masked man, this...Lone Ranger." He considered and the crowd cheered as he gestured for John to come up onto the stage.
John stepped forward, a little embarrassed at all the fanfare as the chairman handed a box to him.
"A small token of our thanks." He said and the crowd clapped. "There'll be more where that came from." He added, nodding over at Tilly who was watching on, happy that John was getting what he deserved, but with a raised eyebrow. She hadn't missed the chairman's last remark.
"Time to take off the masked, son." The chairman said to John, who looked down at the box, which had an intricately engraved pocket watch inside. He looked back at the businessman before glancing over at Tilly. She didn't nod, or shake her head. She was letting him make his own decision about what to do.
John looked back at the watch before taking it out and shutting the box.
"Thank you, sir." He said and tossed the watch to Tilly who didn't catch it quite as deftly as she usually would've. She was obviously surprised at his bold move. "But not yet." John added to the chairman, handing the box back to the man.
The chairman looked as if he were about to protest, but John had already left the stage and climbed onto his horse. The crowd parted as he walked over to Tilly.
"Train's headed west. There's nothing holding you here anymore." He said.
"There is." She replied.
"What's that?...Someone, perhaps?" He asked, playfully.
"Oh, he's no one really. Kinda tall, kinda handsome, a city boy. A bit thick sometimes though." She replied with a shrug.
"Thick?" He asked in mock hurt. "What do you mean thick?"
"As in he hasn't asked a question, which I would more than happily answer." Tilly replied, kicking her horse into a walk as the crowd parted.
"Wait. What question?" He called after her and she rolled her eyes. He'd cotton on soon.
Together, they rode out of town and met Tonto on the border.
"I thought I'd call him Silver." John said nodding down at his horse.
"It is a good name, Kemosabe." Tonto replied.
"Yeah, Kemosabe. I was thinking. If we're gonna be outlaws, then I'm gonna need a better name." He said. "How about, "The Mask of Justice"?"
"No." Tilly replied, adamantly.
"What about "The Lone Rider of..."?" He tried again.
"No." Tonto disagreed.
"Fine." John said defeatedly before asking Tonto. "Is there a question I was going to ask Tilly but forgot?"
Tonto turned around and looked at her before looking back at John. "Stupid white man." He said shaking his head.
"Don't worry. You'll get there eventually." Tilly said to John, who smiled at her fondly before leaning over in his saddle to kiss her.
"Where to now?" He asked.
"Wherever we want." She replied as the trio looked out across the long, barren plane.
"Well, wherever we're going. We won't get there at this pace." John said and reared his horse. "Hi-yo Silver! Away!" He shouted dramatically, and Tilly shared an alarmed look with Tonto.
"What?" John asked looking at them.
"Don't ever do that again." Tonto said.
Tilly grinned at the man she loved as the proud look on his face disappeared.
"Sorry." He apologised.
"Ha." Tilly spurred her horse and together, the trio galloped across the plane towards the sunset and their next adventure.