Van Horn. What could anyone say about Van Horn? In exactly the same way as the Van Der Linde Gang, the O'Driscoll Boys and a handful of others were a relic of a time that no one wanted to admit had passed by 1899, Van Horn was a complete relic that seemed to never have developed since much earlier in the century. Van Horn was a trading post, but it had always very much had the "frontier spirit" as they called it. The idea that someone should be able to forge their own path with their own labours, but without any kind of interference from anyone else. For many that meant the Government, but for them that included law enforcement.

The sheriff's office had been burned down some years previously and the sheriff run out of town and never seen again. The whole incident was still open to a lot of conjecture as to why they had done it, since those in Van Horn rarely spoke to outsiders, but the one thing that was true was there had never been another sheriff appointed. Some said that the Government simply had written off the town and didn't care to appoint another sheriff, while others maintained they could never convince anyone to take the job. Either way, the citizens of Van Horn never really were too concerned, they preferred to handle justice their own way. If someone committed a crime in Van Horn, the people would usually resolve it in a hail of bullets. It said a lot about the kind of power Milton could command that he could all but seize control of Van Horn. They did not like anyone telling them what to do, least of all outsiders, and definitely not law. Milton embodied the very kind of person that should fear for their life setting foot in the town.

The whole ride over, Sadie could sense the rage in Arthur. Years of following Dutch, listening to his gospels, believing in him, all gone in only one conversation. As Dutch left him for the last time, he couldn't even look Arthur in the eye as he rode away, leaving Abigail to her fate. Sadie had listened to him, even reminding him that she would be dead if they hadn't come and saved her from the homestead and that even what they were going through now was better than being dead. She wasn't sure how much of that she believed herself. There were many times she thought about it all being over. Now she'd settled things with the O'Driscolls, she didn't have anything else. Jake was still gone, her home was still gone, everything she ever cared about was gone. The only thing keeping her going now was getting Abigail back. Once that was over with, she really didn't care what happened to her.

All the time she could only think of Dutch and how he had done the same thing to her. He had spun her a yarn with his honeyed words, his promises of support and family and always being there for each other. To him, when he saw Sadie, he had only seen someone like Eagle Flies, Sean, Lenny, John, Javier, Bill…hell, even Arthur himself. She was a broken, angry woman, full of hatred that he had bent and shaped into something useful for him. He had made her into a weapon to aim at the O'Driscolls and then turned her loose. Once he got what he wanted, to see Colm hang, he cut her loose. He didn't care about her vengeance, only his own. She didn't know how much she believed about Heaven or Hell or any of that, but now, after all she'd done, she wondered if Jake would even still recognise her, if he'd still want her.

They arrived in the southern end of Van Horn. The main pier was at the north end, by a large store that doubled as the local fence. Since Milton was going to take a boat, they figured he was most likely going to be at the northern end, which was why they were coming in the other side. Somehow, they didn't think he was going to be taking a fishing boat.

Arriving in the town, they could already see a lot of suits. Van Horn was not the kind of place where many people wore suits, so they knew without even seeing the badges that they were Pinkertons.

They sent the horses away, but as they did, Arthur had another coughing fit. It troubled Sadie to see him like that. She could swear that it was getting worse. She knew Arthur was determined, but even he had to have his limits. She was probably the most stubborn person she knew, but even she knew that willpower alone only got someone so far.

"How are you feelin'?" She asked as she went to his saddle, pulling out a sniper rifle.

"I'm OK." He said as he tried to compose himself. She wasn't convinced how much strength he had left. He'd looked like he was on his last legs now for weeks, and all this had to have been draining what little he had left. Sadie wasn't too sure how much she had left either. Her ribs were still killing her, pain shooting through her with every movement. She would have thought of no one that she'd rather have by her side going against this army than Arthur, but right now…now she wasn't convinced he'd just be something else for her to worry about. She offered him the rifle.

"I think you should cover me and I'll go in there and get her." Sadie told him. Arthur glared at her with his bloodshot eyes, his frustration obvious. "Because you're the better shot I mean!"

"That ain't what you mean!" Arthur said, shaking his head. "I can still fight!"

"I know, Arthur." She said, trying to think of another way to try and convince him she didn't mean that she thought he wasn't up to it. She looked around, trying to find something to say to him, some way to convince him this was the best plan. "But, just…do it my way, honey, it's for the best."

Arthur looked away from her, but didn't say anything. She hated to think she'd left him thinking she didn't have faith in him. She did, she would have loved nothing more than to have him with her, but with his current health, she thought having him being a watchful eye at a distance would be the next best thing.

"Get up some place high, like the lighthouse or something." She said, pointing to the lighthouse or something and cover me."

She held out the rifle for him.

"Please." She added meekly. Arthur just took the rifle from her.

"Okay." He replied, before sprinting up the path towards the lighthouse. Sadie took her repeater and started to head in towards the town.

She ran down the path, trying not to be seen. As prepared for the fight as she was, even she knew how things would end if she ran headlong at an army single-handed. Fortunately the Pinkertons seemed to be much more focused on their own dealings as she approached and found herself some cover. The nearest pair of Pinkertons were chatting, one of them bumming a smoke from the other as they waited around for the Van Der Linde Gang to come to try and spring Abigail. It still boiled her blood to think that they wouldn't, and they'd already be on their ship to New York or wherever the hell they planned to take Abigail for her trial, presuming they didn't just kill her on the way. She strained her eyes to the end of the pier, seeing a woman being dragged into the trading post. She smiled a little to see the fight Abigail was putting up. Even now, with John dead and all alone, she was giving them a hell of a time trying to drag her along. She sat in cover, waiting for Arthur to get in position. She shifted her gaze up to the lighthouse in time to see him get to the parapet and set up his position. She turned her attention back down the path, waiting for Arthur to take the lead.

She didn't have to wait long. Blood spurted from the head of one of the Pinkertons closest to her, then the other one in quick succession. The rest had heard the shots ringing out and started to move. Sadie took this as her time to make her move.

She ran forward, the next Pinkerton falling before he could take a shot at her. She lined up a shot to her right, taking down another, while another shot rang out and a Pinkerton fell from the balcony above her. She skidded into cover just as some bullets came her way, taking some cautious shots between volleys. Another couple of shots from the tower and the cascade coming her way diminished. With their repeaters, they were well out of range of Arthur, meaning he had a commanding position over them. Some of them still wasted their shots as they realised where he was raining death on them from, but another couple fell in quick succession. Sadie got up and started running again, taking down a couple more as she ran. She got as far as the northern pier before she saw some more blocking her path, but Arthur had them too. Taking the opportunity, her lungs burning as she ran, she sprinted down the pier, trusting Arthur to have her covered. The last Pinkerton, who she hadn't even seen coming to her from an alley to her left falling before her just confirmed her faith was well-placed.

She got to the door of the trading post and kicked it in, but as she strode in, seeing Abigail sitting before her and a man either side of her, she was just lining up a shot when she got hit from the side. It felt like she'd been stabbed as her knees caved under her and she fell to the ground, fighting for breath. Her ribs, her damned ribs. They could have hit her virtually anywhere else but those damned ribs…She was spun over onto her back as a heavy boot connected to her side, kicking her over. She grimaced, clutching her sides as she rolled around on the floor.

"Close the door! Do you want that sniper to get a shot in?" Milton barked as he levelled a revolver at Sadie. He looked to her and a sick, twisted little smile crossed his lips. "Now, this is a surprise. I thought I knew all of Van Der Linde's little savages, but you must be a new…"

He tailed off as he got a good look at Sadie's face, his gaze straying to the scar above her brow. Even through her agony, Sadie could see the realisation in his eyes.

"My my, now this…this really is something." He commented. "Gentlemen, it seems Mr Van Der Linde has sent us one of his finest. Let me introduce you to Kid Van Der Linde!"

"Kid Van Der Linde?" One of them asked. "Are you sure sir? I mean, she's a…"

"I can see what she is, but do you not see that scar?" Milton asked as he looked down on her. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Go fu…AAAAARGGGHHHH!" Sadie screamed out as he planted a boot on her chest and pressed down.

"When I ask you a question it's best to answer me." Milton told her, squeezing down again, causing Sadie to cry out in pain. "My men here, as well as Ms Roberts can attest, I don't have much patience for difficult interrogations."

"Sir, are you sure about this?" One of the others asked. "I mean, I heard Kid Van Der Linde was the bastard son of Dutch…"

"I've heard all the same rumours you have you idiot, but fortunately I believe the evidence of my eyes!" Milton snapped at his subordinate, rounding on him. "I'd know that scar anywhere! No wonder you idiots haven't found Kid Van Der Linde, you were looking for a man!"

"You don't think I came alone do you?" Sadie grunted out in pained gasps.

"Oh, I'm perfectly confident you didn't." Milton told her. "Tie her up! We'll deal with her later! I'm certain she won't talk, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun trying to make her, and then we'll no doubt hang her right alongside Ms Roberts."

"You ain't gonna be hangin' anyone once Dutch…"

"Oh, I doubt Dutch'll be coming." Milton told her. "My little birdie tells me Van Der Linde is getting ready to use that money he'll have taken from the train by now to try and get upstate to get on a boat. It shouldn't be too hard to track him…"

"Little bird?" She asked. "But…Molly's dead." Milton just let out a derisive little laugh.

"Ms O'Shea? Oh, that's right, I heard you all thought she was the mole. Worked out quite well for us she decided to take the blame for that, for whatever reason she did."

"Molly weren't the rat?" Sadie asked him. Milton knelt down beside her and smiled.

"Not that it matters much now, since we're probably going to hang you, but I figured you'd like to know who it was." He started to tell her. "It was..."

Just then, some more shots rang out from outside. He snapped around towards the door.

"Put her next to Ms Roberts and get ready to cover the door!" Milton barked at his men. "Do it now!"

"But…"

"NOW!" Milton reiterated. Sadie was dragged, and dumped right next to the chair Abigail was tied to. Abigail looked down to Sadie.

"You alright down there?" She asked.

"Just peachy." Sadie groaned. "You?"

"Had better days." She replied. "Thanks for the effort."

"We ain't done yet." Sadie told her.

Just then, the door was kicked in. Sadie managed to turn a little awkwardly, turning in time to see Arthur open fire and take out the two Pinkertons either side of Abigail's chair. Seeing him striding in like a triumphant warrior, she started to regret not asking him to join her on the trip in the first place.

"Okay ladies, let's get out of here!" He said as he headed over to Abigail, drawing his knife and starting to cut her bonds. Sadie could see Milton stepping out of the shadowy corner and tried to warn Arthur, but turning sharply caused a pain like a red-hot dagger straight through her that silenced her before she could warn him. Instead, unfortunately, the first warning Arthur got was Milton cocking the hammer on his revolver behind his back.

"Calm down, Mr Morgan." Milton drawled as he pointed the gun at Arthur's back. Arthur slowly raised his hands, but started to splutter as he did so. "That's quite a cough."

"Sure." Arthur told him. "Tuberculosis. I'll be dead soon. And you with me, Mr Milton."

"You'll be dead, sure, but I'm gonna be just fine." Milton continued to taunt him, seemingly unsurprised by Arthur's condition. Did he know? Or was he just unconvinced Arthur wasn't just playing a trick to gain some sympathy with him and lower his guard? Sadie already knew that Milton wasn't a man that put much stock in pity. "We offered you a deal, Mr Morgan you should have taken it."

Sadie struggled to get out of her bonds, but every move was agony. She had rolled over now, so she couldn't even see what was happening anymore, only hear them.

"I'm a fool." Arthur spluttered.

"Not all you boys have quite so many scruples." Milton taunted him. "Old Micah Bell?"

"Micah?" Arthur asked. This revelation hit Sadie like a slap in the face. How could she not have seen it? She'd always known Micah was a slimy piece of shit, but the rat? He'd been the one going around talking about the possibility of there being a rat, sowing seeds of doubt throughout the gang. But selling them out? "You mean Molly?"

"Molly O'Shea?" He asked in a mocking tone. "We sweated her a couple of times. Never talked a word, we had to let her go. Micah Bell, we picked him up when you boys got back from the Caribbean and he's been a good boy ever since."

"Okay." Arthur coughed. "Okay…"

She then heard some shuffling of feet and a struggle behind her. She couldn't see what was happening but assumed Arthur had to have gotten hold of Milton before he could get a shot off. She struggled harder to get out of her bonds, but she was tied far too tightly.

"You're losing your strength, Mr Morgan." Milton grunted as he struggled with Arthur.

"You're still a yapping dog, Mr Milton!" Arthur sneered back.

Just then there was a gunshot, and the whole room went quiet for a moment. For a long, heart-stopping moment she could hear nothing but a body dropping to the ground. She couldn't see who it was. She hoped that Arthur had gotten the gun, but if he hadn't…well…at least for him the suffering was over.

"Awful man!" Abigail declared as she headed over and started to cut Sadie free. Arthur had started to cut her free before Milton jumped him, he must have given her enough slack to work herself free. Sadie had managed to work herself into a sitting position in time to see Abigail coming over and starting to cut her loose. Arthur was slumped against the counter, looking at Milton, still covered in his blood and what was left of his brains. "Now come on, both of you!"

She helped Arthur back to his feet, at which they headed out of the trading post. Sadie whistled for their horses, which came charging back into town. Unfortunately by the looks of things, they weren't the only ones.

"Think it'll matter if we tell 'em they don't have a boss anymore?" Sadie asked.

"It didn't matter to Milton when Dutch killed Cornwall did it?" Abigail replied as the first shots were fired. "Looks like we have to hurry!"

"Find the horses and get the hell out of here!" Arthur called out to them.

"What happened to Jack? Where is he?" Abigail rushed out as they ran down the pier towards their waiting horses.

"He's fine…Tilly's got him." Sadie assured her, clutching at her sides as she fired off her revolver, more out of the hopes of hitting anything than any real aim. By now, even holding the damn thing was a struggle, much less firing it.

"Oh thank God!" Abigail gasped in relief.

"Abigail, you ride mine!" Arthur called out, shooting down the street, forcing some Pinkertons to slow their pursuit. Sadie mounted her horse, and felt Arthur getting on behind her. She was grateful for that, getting on the horse nearly finished her off, there was no way she was shooting as well. Sadie spurred her horse onward, following Abigail out of town with Arthur firing behind him to deal with any pursuers. She knew that they weren't exactly out of the woods, but they'd made it a hell of a lot further than they ever had a right to expect to. If there was ever a moment that confirmed the legend of Arthur Morgan, that was it.