Sadie and Levin arrived in the city of Blackwater after dark. Even at this hour there was still a reasonable amount of activity in the city. Blackwater was one of the first major cities in the state, and was still something of a crowning jewel of West Elizabeth. It was the very border of where the modern world was slowly encroaching upon the ways of the past. Clean, new brick buildings were slowly pushing out older, wooden-frame structures. Store fronts had all-glass windows without those old style wooden slats in them. The streets were mainly cobbled, favouring wheeled transport over horses. Although the most popular form of transport was horse-drawn carriage, fewer and fewer people were simply riding horses and the stone streets were being built with a view to moving to a time of automobiles.

Blackwater had seen its share of hardships over the years though. The Blackwater Massacre, the infamous riverboat heist gone horrifically wrong that all but destroyed it still left its scars on the city to this day. One of the reasons there were so many new buildings was the fact many of the old ones were burned or irreparably damaged in the gun battle that saw dozens dead and the streets awash in blood. The graveyard was filled with entire families who had died within days of each other, many on the day of the shoot-out, but still more dying in the days afterwards with many being unable to be treated for their injuries in time. To look at the people wandering the streets today in the latest styles without a care in the world, it was difficult to believe this had been the site of a blood-bath that rivalled many battlefields.

"It's a lovely city isn't it?" Levin asked Sadie. "I don't think I'd mind living here if I didn't have a home in Baltimore." Sadie just shrugged.

"I never did see the appeal of livin' around so many people." She answered truthfully. "See, as much as people like to dress it up, I don't reckon people were meant to live in real big groups for any length of time. There comes a point where the differences between people just seem too big and then bad stuff starts happenin'."

"You think it's a bad thing people are different?" He asked her sceptically.

"No, I don't. Life would be damn boring if everyone were the same." Sadie replied. "But the way I see it, if one person's different than another person, that ain't a problem. If ten people are different from ten people, then each group gets to talkin' about how different they both are instead of just gettin' on with things. You get a few hundred people talkin' about how different a few hundred others are and…well…sooner or later all those folks talkin' about differences just inspire some asshole with a bad idea and all of them eggin' each other on until it don't seem such a bad idea."

"I suppose given all you've told me it's not surprising you're a little bit of a pessimist." Levin said, before looking to her apologetically. "I meant no offence."

"I don't know. Jake always believed that sooner or later people would start realisin' that their differences didn't mean so much and they'd all just start thinkin' more about what they could accomplish together instead of beatin' each other senseless." She told him. "I guess at times I like to think it might happen, but if it does, I'll probably be long dead in the ground."

They hitched their horses up outside the saloon, at which Sadie headed to the bar to book the rooms. Levin looked around the room and smiled. This was much more like his natural habitat. Civilisation with all the trimmings. No cowboys still caked in inches of mud from their days in the fields, no old, bawdy drinking songs, just a city full of people of the twentieth century, who likely only thought about the Wild West in terms of dime novels and as a novelty of yester year. Sadie came back to him, tossing him a key.

"Got us a couple of rooms." She told him.

"It's still quite early." He responded. "Would you like to continue the story? I could buy us some drinks and…"

"Uh…to be honest, this is a few more people than I'm normally comfortable bein' around." She told him. "I was thinkin' of turnin' in. I want to talk to the local sheriff in the mornin'."

"Well, yes, I suppose it is a bit crowded in here." He replied. "How about I order a bottle and we retire to one of the rooms?"

"Mr Levin, you make a proposition like that to a woman and people might talk." Sadie teased him.

"Oh, no I didn't mean that." He stammered. "It's just…you can't leave the story there tonight surely?"

"Get a bottle of the Kentucky." She responded. "And ask for the stuff from the top shelf. The stuff on the other shelves is always watered. I'm in 103."

Levin went to the bar, waiting patiently for the barman, who greeted him with a warm smile.

"So, what'll it be?" He asked.

"I'd like a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon for the room…the stuff from the top shelf please." Levin told him. "Is the kitchen still open?"

"Not really, but if I'm quick, maybe the cook won't have thrown out the last of the stew." The barman replied. "I'll be right back."

Levin waited by the bar for barman to return. While he did, he had a quick look over his notes. He'd started this journey with Sadie in the hopes of getting a simple tale of how she had become a bounty hunter, and yet now he had heard a story that seemed to lift the veil over some of the most infamous incidents in the state's history. The Hanging Dog Massacre, the Saint Denis shootout, the Cornwall Oil Refinery shootout. If he heard it from anyone else, he'd be struggling to believe it was true. He'd spent long enough with Calloway and more to know that people often told incredibly fanciful tales of their own lives, but when they did the most common mistake, they made was to place themselves on too high of a pedestal. Taking on entire regiments with only a six-shooter was the kind of thing that only ended in anything other than a very quick death in a hail of bullets in dime novels and penny dreadfuls but to hear Calloway talk, one would be expected to believe he was able to shoot bullets out of the air. Sadie's tale had a strange air about it, one that felt real to him. The bartender put down a tray with two plates and the bottle.

"There you go." He told him. "Leave the tray outside the room when you're done, I'll pick it up before I go home."

Levin thanked the man, handing him some cash, before heading up to the room. He had to kick the door since his hands were full, but as Sadie opened the door, she smiled, gesturing him inside.

"I was sure we must have missed the kitchen." She said, taking one of the dishes. "Man, that smells good. I am famished."

"I was somewhat hungry myself." Levin admitted as he sat down. Sadie unbuckled her gun-belt, laying it over the back of a chair before starting to eat. She rolled her eyes.

"There ain't much about this city I like, but the food is damn good." She commented. Levin started to pour the drinks. "Now, where were we? Oh, don't tell me, yeah, I remember…"

Levin got his pen and got ready to write.

Back in the past, Sadie was awake early and cleaning and preparing her weapons for the day ahead. She didn't know too many details, Dutch was really not telling many people much these days, ever since he started to suspect that there was a rat in the camp. The sudden disappearance of many of his gang didn't help his paranoia much, and so he was keeping a distinct series of circles around himself as to who he told what details. Only Micah seemed to be in on the full plan, while Bill and Javier seemed to be told only a little more than anyone else was. All Sadie knew was that they were hitting a train bound for Bacchus Station.

John and Arthur had blown up Bacchus Bridge some time back, which had caused untold havoc to the entire rail network. None of the usual passenger trains were running and there wasn't any real word on when they would resume service other than after the repairs took place. Since the entire bridge, which took several years to build in the first place, was now in the ravine, that didn't really reassure anyone.

The army though still needed supplies and still needed to be paid. Even though Favours, along with a significant portion of his garrison was now dead, the Government would not take long to re-man the fort. A train full of soldiers' wages would be carrying thousands in cold, hard cash, which was exactly what they would need. No more bonds papers, no more jewellery or gold or wagons to fence, cash. Enough that by the time the Government did have the replacement guard in place, the Van Der Linde Gang would have bought passage to some wonderful new country where they would live out their days in peace thinking of nothing but farming fruit. It only occurred to Sadie now for some reason that Dutch never seemed to check if anyone knew anything about growing fruit, and somehow, she doubted Bill knew where he'd even get the seeds from a banana.

Arthur came riding back into the camp. He was looking worse than ever as far as Sadie could see. He was slightly slumped in his saddle, and his flesh was pallid. As he got off his horse, he wobbled a bit on his feet. Sadie came over towards him.

"Arthur." She greeted him with a hug. "Are you alright? You look…"

"Like I'm dyin'?" He asked her, spluttering a little as he laughed. "Yeah, I guess I do. The ride down were a little longer and harder than I recall."

"Mary-Beth, Pearson and Uncle got out." Sadie whispered to him. "I reckon with all that's goin' on today the others should be able to slip out while we're…"

Sadie's words tailed off as she started looking around. There was someone who was very conspicuous by his absence.

"Arthur, where's Charles?" She asked him.

"Charles ain't comin' back." Arthur told her. The news hit her like a hammer straight between the eyes. She was starting to see the lines drawn in the camp, and she didn't like the way they were lining up. Where John's head was at was still anyone's guess, she could only hope that Abigail had managed to talk some sense into him. Javier and Bill would gladly ride off what was left of Bacchus Bridge if Dutch told them to, more fool them. The deck was heavily stacked, and Charles was the only one she could count on to be with them if things turned sour either during the job or directly after. She'd never have thought of him abandoning them now.

"He…he just left?" She asked him.

"Eagle Flies didn't make it." Arthur told her in a sad sigh. "Brave, stupid young fool got back to the reservation just in time to die in front of his father. I think that were the last straw for Charles. He told me he don't want anythin' to do with the money from the refinery. The Natives need to get out of here before the new regiment get in. Charles decided he were goin' with them."

"He really ain't comin' back?" Sadie asked, feeling her chest tighten up a little. She had always thought of Charles being a strong, brave and dependable man, but everyone had their limits. She knew he felt a deep connection to the Lakota, even though they weren't really his tribe. He had always felt like he was being pulled between Dutch and the Natives right up until the start of the war. That was what made him see Dutch for what he really was. He didn't care if the Natives were slaughtered if it gave him the distraction he needed, and that never sat well with Charles. In the end, it seemed, even Charles Smith had reached his limit. He had made his choice, and to him it was more important to see the tribe to safety than to return to a dying gang. "Where are they headed?"

"North." Arthur responded. "They're a lot kinder to the Natives up there than they are down here. Not that that would be too hard."

"I…can't believe he ain't comin' back." Sadie responded. She was troubled to think that the number of people she could count on was now down to just her and Arthur, but she couldn't help feeling sad to think that Charles was gone. She understood why he left, but if he had stayed for that one more job, or…or even just came back to say goodbye. Arthur touched her shoulder and moved her aside as he headed towards Dutch's tent. The way everyone left looked around at him as he strode purposefully towards Dutch's tent it was as though they were expecting him to make a move. They didn't know that Arthur had no interest in taking over the gang from Dutch. To him, the gang, the life he'd lived, the code, everything he had cared about was as dead as he was going to be some time very soon.

"Well, at least you ain't run off." Dutch greeted him without any pretence of civility in his tone. Sadie could only see a desperate old man clinging to the last vestiges of something wasn't yet ready to admit was already gone.

"What are you talkin' about?" Arthur asked. Sadie knew that he knew all too well, she'd just told him she had sent the others away. Only Tilly, Abigail, Jack and Ms Grimshaw remained, and Ms Grimshaw was with Dutch so long no one dared say anything to her in case she saw fit to side with him. She kept a close eye on Micah and his two friends as they kept watch over their meeting.

"They are God damn cowards Arthur!" Dutch said as he got up and started pacing impatiently. Dutch had always said that people were free to leave if they chose. His only rule was that if someone chose to leave, they never speak about any of the gang as long as they lived. That was all. If they did, then they would silence them, just like Molly, but other than that, he was insistent people could leave any time. Looking at the intensity in him now, she could only be thankful that Mary-Beth had slipped the others out without Dutch's knowledge and didn't test that theory. "Of all the times to run off…"

"Well, I guess they didn't want to die!" Arthur interrupted him rather abruptly. Arthur had well and truly lost any of his illusions about Dutch, and knowing that his end was coming soon anyway, he no longer cared about the consequences of speaking plainly. Sadie's gaze shifted from Micah to John, who was watching the whole thing with one hand around Jack, and another in Abigail's. She could only hope that Arthur's example was finally getting through to him.

"Ain't nobody gonna…" He said, before looking around and seeing everyone staring. Micah, Cleet and Joe turned back to the table where they were eating, but Dutch could see John, Tilly, Ms Grimshaw and Sadie still watching. He guided Arthur around the back of the tent to continue talking. Sadie gripped her repeater and tried to measure up her firing lines to everyone in the camp. She wouldn't have been surprised if she'd heard a gunshot from behind the tent, and wanted to be ready if she needed to get those that wanted to leave out. She breathed a sigh of relief as they both came out.

"We have work to do my friends, let's go!" Dutch said, whipping up the remaining members of the gang. They all made their way to the horses, mounting up and preparing to head out. Sadie glanced to Abigail and gave a curt little nod. They now only had the manpower to hit the train, the camp would be unguarded except for Ms Grimshaw. This was what they were waiting for. Abigail, Tilly and Jack were going to be long gone by the time Dutch got back, and Ms Grimshaw too if she had any sense.

They were riding hard all the way to Saint Denis. It was while they were on the way Dutch decided to fill them in on the plan. Apparently, the train was going to stop in Saint Denis to pick up the last few supplies and then from there go to Bacchus. They knew the bridge was gone, so there'd be a patrol just up past Annesburg meaning they'd have a very short window of opportunity to stop the train and empty it before they had whole load of army to deal with.

Somewhere along the way, Arthur and John split off to go and collect the rest of the dynamite they'd need for the job. It would give Arthur a little time alone with John in which to tell him that Abigail was going. It was a hard conversation, but Abigail had told Sadie that one way or another, she and Jack had to go or they wouldn't survive the inevitable end of the gang. As much as it broke her heart, all she could do was hope that John would make the choice to go with them. Sadie was still not sure if Arthur would be able to convince John to go, or if John would come back alone and that would be all. At the very least they had saved as many as they could.

She didn't really listen to the conversation on the way. It didn't take long for her to realise everyone around her believed in Dutch's line of bullshit. They were all talking of what they would do with their share of the money. Javier and Bill were arguing about who would build the bigger house, though the thought of Bill building anything was frankly laughable as it was. Arthur and John joined back up with them a little way from Saint Denis. Sadie could only take it as a good sign they were both returning.

"Ah, there you are. You got everything?" Dutch asked them.

"Yeah." Arthur answered.

"Then off we go!"

"Off we go indeed." Arthur sighed.

"One last time Gentlemen, I've got us a riverboat. We'll head north to New York or Chicago, and then get a real boat from there out to the tropics."

"So long as it isn't Guarma." Arthur stated gruffly.

"Oh, it'll be paradise son!" Dutch assured his crew.

"It's all coming together, Dutch. Just like we planned." Micah agreed.

"Is that OK with you John? Arthur?" Dutch questioned them accusingly. "Or do you 'insist' on something different?"

"It sounds as good now as every time I heard it before." John answered. Sadie caught the expression on John's face as he said this, and noticed how tightly he was gripping the reins. Now, she was convinced Arthur must have gotten through to him. Either that or he knew he would have to go to the tropics without Abigail. She allowed herself a little smile as she saw the first glimmer of hope.

They finally got to the train station and dismounted, waiting on the train. It wasn't like it would be hard to spot since it would be the only train running. Sadie did think it was a little odd there were no soldiers around since it was meant to be stopping for some supplies. Sure, there were bound to be some waiting on the platform to oversee the loading surely?

"Alright, Cleet, Sadie, you board halfway along the train." Dutch began the rundown. Sadie was not happy about the fact she was being put with one of Micah's buddies as a partner. The little rat-faced shit gave her a smile that turned her stomach. "John, you and Arthur are gonna board at the back. The rest of you, follow Micah and I and join when they stop the train."

"Here she comes." Bill said, checking down the track. Sadie looked down the track to see the train coming in, fast, TOO fast! It rattled straight on through the station without any hint of slowing down. That's why there were no soldiers on the platform, the train was never stopping at the station at all. Arthur just shook his head and looked to Dutch as it rattled on past.

"Should we just sneak on now?" He asked sarcastically.

"Goddammit." Dutch growled.

"Well?" Micah asked.

"Everybody mount up!" Dutch ordered. Arthur grabbed his arm.

"We still going through with this?" He asked, questioning the sanity of the plan. It wasn't as though robbing a moving train was a new concept, but most train robbers at very least tended to try and board at points where the train was moving at low speed, such as at tight corners or switching points. Not when it was hitting full steam.

"Of course, we are!" Dutch screamed. With that, they all mounted up and rode after the train, spurring their horses as hard as they possibly could.