Dutch, and the rest of the gang, arrived back at Shady Belle, just as the sun was rising.
They had ridden all through the night. It had been a fairly uneventful ride back. Casie, was exhausted. She would occasionally fall asleep, during the ride, but as soon as her back, touched Dutch's chest. She would awake, with a groan, as the pain, shot through her back.
As soon as they reached the hitching area, Dutch and Micah, jumped off their horses. Micah, lifted Casie, off of Dutch's horse, and the two men, supported her either side, as they entered the house.
Blood had already started to seep through the oversized shirt which Casie was wearing.
Once they had carried Casie to her room, they removed the shirt, and lay her, on her stomach.
She immediately drifted off to sleep.
Dutch sat by her side.
"Micah, please can you go and find Hosea. He'll know what to do."
Micah nodded, and headed off. Hosea, had become almost like the camp's resident physician. Well recently anyway. He was the one, who removed bullets, stitched people up. Although Micah wasn't sure what he would make of Casie's injuries.
Micah found Hosea, checking on Arthur. As much as he, and Arthur, didn't get along, he knew that the gang, needed Arthur. One look at him, and he knew that things weren't good.
"How is he?" he asked, matter of factly.
"Not good," Hosea replied, he raised an eyebrow, "don't tell me your worried about Arthur?"
"No," Micah scoffed, "only in as much, that Casie, will be upset if anything happens to him. Which brings me to why I'm here. She's in a bad way, can you take a look?"
"What happened? she's not been shot again, has she?" Hosea asked, concern in his face.
Micah shook his head, "Colm beat her half to death, it ain't pretty. A gunshot wound would be more straight forward, I reckon."
Hosea picked up his bag, and headed towards Casie's room. He opened the door, and looked across at where Casie lay. The colour drained from his face.
"Jesus Christ, Dutch. What did that bastard do to her?" he growled.
Dutch shook his head "Can you do anything Hosea? Javier cleaned it up as best he could, but the ride didn't help much."
Hosea took a closer look. The bruising, that the belt had made was starting to come out. But the cuts, were of more concern. Hosea looked closer and sniffed.
"At least they aren't infected," he said, "you have Javier to thank for that. Let her rest for a while, I'll come back later."
Hosea thought for a moment. "I think we'll bring Arthur in here, that way I can keep an eye on the pair of them."
Dutch sighed. "How is he, Hosea? I'm sorry I've been so pre-occupied with Casie."
Hosea shook his head, "he's lost a lot of blood, I removed the bullet, and stitched him up. He has a fever." Hosea looked at Dutch, "You, my friend, need to get some rest, I'll arrange to get Arthur moved, and the ladies can sit with them for a while."
Dutch nodded, and stood up. "You should probably do the same Hosea. Arthur and Casie need you, probably more than me, right now.
Charles and Javier, moved Arthur later that day. There were still two beds in Casie's room, from when she had been brought back from Cumberland falls. Susan Grimshaw, Tilly and Mary-Beth took turns in sitting with Casie and Arthur, whilst Hosea and Dutch got some much needed rest.
Mostly they put cooled clothes on Arthur's head, to try and help break the fever. They kept a close eye on Casie, but didn't touch her back, until Hosea could advise them, what they should do. Casie mainly slept. Occasionally moaning, if she moved.
Once or twice, Micah looked in, to see if there had been any change, to either of them. Him and Arthur, hadn't really got on, until Casie came along. Then the three of them, started doing things together, and as much as the two men would disagree, they had kind of bonded.
Micah was a little cross with Arthur, because he thought that if the three of them had gone out that day, then perhaps Arthur wouldn't have got shot, and Casie wouldn't have been beaten, half to death. But telling them both that, would have to wait. He would have to wait, and see if they both survived.
Hosea walked towards Casie's room, armed with medical supplies, and warm water. This wasn't going to be pleasant, but it had to be done.
He immediately saw Micah, opening the door a crack, and looking in.
Hosea rolled his eyes. "Micah, would you please go and find something to do, rob someone, or shoot something, just stop keep lurking around here! I'll let you know, if there is a change to either of them."
Micah scowled at Hosea, grumbled something under his breath, which Hosea, couldn't quite make out, and headed down the stairs.
Hosea smiled to himself, that man had changed, and for the good. Thanks, in no small part to Casie.
He entered the room, Tilly was sitting with Arthur, Casie was still sleeping.
Tilly smiled, "He seems to have improved slightly" she said.
"Why don't you take a break Tilly, I'll look after them both, for a while," Hosea smiled, at the young woman, as she left the room.
Hosea walked over to Arthur, and placed his hand on his forehead. It was warm, but not clammy. The fever had finally broken.
He walked over to where Casie lay. He gently touched her cheek. As he did her eyes, fluttered, and she woke.
"Hosea!" She gasped.
"I need to take care of your back." He said, quietly.
Hosea, gently bathed Casie's back, she tensed, and gripped the mattress. Each touch, caused her to whimper with pain.
"I'm so sorry Casie, but it'll be done soon." He said, and gently squeezed her hand.
Hosea pulled out the jar of healing balm from his satchel and gently applied it to Casie's back. Although it caused her to flinch, the coolness of the lotion, helped with the pain.
Hosea, helped Casie to sit, and passed her a cup of water.
"Arthur!" She exclaimed, as she saw the outlaw, lying in the other bed. She went to stand, but sat back down on the bed. As a shaft of pain hit her, she let out a groan.
"You, young lady, need to rest." Hosea, scolded her.
"Is he going to be OK? Its all my fault, Arthur getting shot, Colm doing this." Casie held her head in her hands, and wiped away a stray tear.
Hosea took the cup from Casie, "It's no ones fault, that Colm O'Driscoll is a complete bastard, Casie. Now, get some rest."
Casie, laid down, on her stomach, and closed her eyes. Still exhausted from the pain, and shock, to her system, she drifted off to sleep.
Hosea then turned his attention to where Arthur lay. As he checked the gunshot wound, he stirred, and opened his eyes.
Hosea, tilted his head, and helped him to take a sip of water.
Arthur scanned the room, realising he wasn't in his usual bed. He saw Casie, asleep on the bed, and tried to sit. The pain from the wound, caused him to wince.
"Arthur!" Hosea scolded. "You've lost a lot of blood, and you've had a nasty fever. Just take it easy." He put pressure on Arthur's chest, with his hand, making him lay back down.
"Casie, is she OK?" Arthur asked.
Hosea sighed, "She'll heal, and so will you. If the pair of you stop worrying about each other, and look after yourselves. Now damn well get some rest."
Arthur closed his eyes, and he too, drifted off to sleep.
Hosea left the room, and walked downstairs. Micah, was sitting on the bottom stair.
"You didn't find anyone to shoot, or rob then?" Hosea said, grinning.
Micah scowled at him.
"Oh for goodness sake, Micah. Go, sit with them, anything to improve your mood."
Micah, immediately got up, and headed up the stairs.
Hosea called after him "They're both resting, so don't you dare disturb them, or you'll have me to answer to!"
Hosea carried on walking out of the house, and headed to the campfire, to grab some food.
Susan Grimshaw, glanced at Hosea. "Do you need one of the ladies, to sit with Arthur and Casie?" She asked.
Hosea smiled. "No thank you, Susan. Micah is sitting with them."
She laughed "Mr Bell, a nursemaid, your not serious Mr. Matthews!" she scoffed.
"Now, now, Miss Grimshaw. Give the poor man credit, when its due." He chided.
Susan Grimshaw rolled her eyes and walked back to her tent. Giving Micah Bell any credit, would be something, she would always struggle to do.
Over the next couple of weeks, Casie's room housed three people. Micah, barely left the room, looking after Casie, and Arthur in turn.
Hosea came to see them daily, to check on their wounds, and make sure they were healing properly.
After about a week, Casie was able to wear a shirt, without too much pain, and Arthur was strong enough to sit.
The three outlaws, became closer still. Even to the point, where Micah, and Arthur became friends, much to Casie's joy.
Micah, took every opportunity, to scold the pair for heading out on that fateful day, without him. Insisting that, had he been there, then the result would have been entirely different. If he had been with them, Colm O'Driscoll, would have been "pushing up daisies", as he so aptly put it.
Dutch opened the door, to Casie's room. Micah, Arthur and Casie, sat on one of the beds, playing poker.
Dutch rolled his eyes "If you two, are well enough to play poker, I'm guessing you're well enough to ride!"
Micah snapped his head round, to look at Dutch. He was about to open his mouth, but Dutch spoke first.
"Don't worry Micah, seems like you three are joined at the hip, these days," he laughed "I like it! So all three of you, meet me by the horses, we're heading into town."
Casie glanced at Dutch "Are we going on a job?" she asked hopefully. Boredom had begun to set in, so she was hoping the answer would be yes.
Dutch shook his head. "Not yet, but I have a plan, which I need to discuss with the three of you," he smiled, "I think you're gonna like it."
He turned on his heel, and headed down to the horses.
Casie, headed down the stairs of the house, closely followed by Micah, and Arthur. As they approached the horses, they noticed Dutch was already mounted, and was looking impatient.
They quickly mounted up, and followed Dutch, out of Shady Belle.
"So, what's this all about, Dutch?" Arthur asked, keen to know what the latest plan would be.
"Patience, my boy. Lets just say, if this goes smoothly, we won't be running any more, and Colm will get his just deserts."
Casie smiled, "Don't mind so much about the running, but, if this means that bastard will get payback, then I'm all for it."
"I'm with Casie, on that. Nothing would give me greater pleasure, than to put a bullet in that bastard's head, for what he did to Casie and Arthur." Micah growled.
"C'mon," Dutch scolded, "enough chit-chat lets ride," and he pushed The Count into a gallop, closely followed by the others.
On arriving in St. Denis, they headed for a Doyle's tavern.
Dutch entered the saloon first, and scanned the room, finding just who he was looking for, Josiah Trelawny.
He smiled, and headed towards the table, closely followed by Micah, and Casie. Arthur took a detour, to the bar, and grabbed a bottle and five glasses, and joined them, at the table.
Josiah, poured the drinks, and handed the first two, to Casie and Arthur,"I hear, you two ran into a little trouble," he said.
Casie smiled at Josiah, "You could say that! Are you gonna assist us, in a little payback?"
Josiah smiled. "In a roundabout way, but this is Dutch's idea, so..."
Dutch laughed. "OK, so two things. First we need payback, for what Colm did to Arthur and Casie. Second, we need to go, somewhere safe, so we can stop running."
"How are these two linked?" Arthur asked, looking slightly confused."
Dutch smiled "In order for us to leave, me need money. We have money, stashed in Blackwater. But, Blackwater, is buzzing with Pinkertons, and bounty hunters." He paused, and took a drink. "But, what if, the Pinkertons, were distracted. Distracted enough, to leave Blackwater."
Micah scoffed. "Why would they do that, they know we won't go back for the money, all the while they're there, or if we do, its curtains for us."
Josiah grinned, "unless, they had a good reason to leave Blackwater. A reason, like Colm O'Driscoll and his whole gang."
Casie laughed. "I think I get it. Are you sure it will work," she glanced between Dutch, and Josiah.
Arthur frowned. "I don't. What are you gonna do?"
Josiah smiled, he did love Arthur, but he could be a bit dense at times. "We let the Pinkertons know, the location of the O'Driscoll hideout. They want him, just as much as they want you boys," he laughed, "well, maybe not as much, but enough. Anyway, when they head out from Blackwater, en mass, then we head in, and retrieve the money."
Dutch smiled. "Then we get a boat, and leave the country!"
"Just one thing? Who's going into Blackwater for the money?" Micah asked, thinking he knew what the answer would be, and that he wasn't going to like it.
Josiah looked at Casie and smiled. "Casie, and I, will be retrieving the money."
"No, its too dangerous!" Micah snapped.
"For once, I agree with Micah," Arthur piped up. "She's been hurt too many times, lately. Someone else should go."
"Oh shut up, I'm going. Neither of you two can go, nor can Dutch." Casie smiled at Josiah, "when do we leave?"
Dutch frowned at Casie, "Steady on, you will be going, but there are plans to be made. Don't worry boys, I have a contingency plan in place, should anything go wrong."
After further discussion, Dutch outlined his plan.
Josiah would go into Blackwater, drop a note into the sheriff's office, with the location of Colm O'Driscolls hideout. He would return to Casie, who would be waiting just above the ford, on the main road into Blackwater, on this side of the river. Charles, would wait with Casie. Once the Pinkertons left Blackwater, Casie and Josiah, would retrieve the money. The route back, was the most important part. There would be members of the gang, waiting along the route back. If for any reason, Josiah and Casie, didn't appear, at the designated time, then they would all meet up near the ford, and fight their way in and out, to rescue, Josiah and Casie if needed. Charles would head to each checkpoint, giving each person, the time when they should expect Casie, and Josiah to be there.
The route was, on leaving Blackwater, Casie and Josiah would head towards the Owanjila Dam, and then onto Strawberry. Arthur, would be waiting in Strawberry for them. They would then take the road out of Strawberry towards Riggs station, over the Dakota River and ride toward Flatneck Station, where Micah would be waiting. They would then head towards Scarlett Meadows. At the Lemoyne county line, Javier would be waiting for them. Once Javier was with them, they would head towards Rhodes, where Dutch would join them for the last leg back to Shady Belle.
They would then wait, for a couple of days, to hear whether Colm O'Driscoll had been killed or captured.
Dutch had decided, that Australia, would be their final destination. Once they knew that Colm was out of the picture, they would get passage on a boat. There would be enough money, for the boat, and to buy some land, when they arrived.