"Hi beauty. It's been a while since I took good care of you, isn't it?" I say to Isabella petting her soft mantle.
I take a sugar cube and feed it to her and then I take the brush to start cleaning her.
"It's a beautiful animal" I hear a voice behind me.
I turn my head and see Javier right behind me, staring. I turn again and focus on my job, hoping that we won't do anything stupid. I sense him coming closer, but he simply walks past me and heads to his horse.
"Where are you going?" I ask curious.
"I've got some work to do, with John" he answers.
"That job with the Braithwaite's horses, remember?" asks John showing up from my right.
"You haven't done it yet? It's been days" I remark with a mocking tone.
"Hey, it's not an easy job. We need time and finesse" he answers saddling up his horse.
"Good luck, then" I reply with a shrug.
"Why don't you come with us?" asks John.
I move my eyes from him to Javier, waiting for him to say something, but he limits to stare back at me.
"Why not?" I say taking the saddle.
We follow the same road I made some days ago with Arthur and Hosea to get to the Braithwaite property, but when we reach the crossroad we take the right trail instead of the left.
We find ourselves in front of another big house surrounded by plantations. Passing through them I notice that some of the fields must have caught fire, and recently too. A thick smoke lays upon the burned plants and the overall image seems to be taken from one of those English novels that provoke terror to the readers.
"My God, what happened here?" I hear Javier mumbling.
"How can I help you?" asks one of the guards at the entrance of the property.
He doesn't sound friendly.
"We're here to talk with Herbert Gray" says John officially.
"Who sends you?" asks the man.
"No-one, Mr. Gray asked for us" replies John.
The man watches us from head to toe and then, still not fully convinced, nods to us and tells us to go inside.
"Mr. Gray is at the stables. Follow the trail on the right" he says while we walk through the gate.
We get to a large and low building that must contain at least a dozen animals. We stop and get down our horses.
"And who are you?" inquires an old man coming out of one of the fences.
He has grey hair, thick eyebrows, a discreetly long beard and sad eyes.
"Friends" answers John.
"I don't reckon I know you" says the man getting defensive.
"No sir, we don't know each other. But this don't mean we're not here to help you" says John.
Mr. Gray keeps moving his eyes from John to Javier and then he turns and signs us to follow him.
He sits under the shadow of the stable roof and gazes at us for a little time before speaking again.
"Do you think I don't know what kind of people you are? I know you're working for the Braithwaites" he says with a severe look.
"Braithwaite?" asks John like he has no idea of what the man is talking about.
"A family of degenerates of this area who..." he replies with despise.
"Look, Mister… we are good men, like you" John stops him after he exchanges a look with Javier.
"You don't know me. You turn up in this town and you're helping everybody. And everywhere there's troubles. Bandits who attack my camps, men get shot… just… who are you?"
Maybe he's old, but his mind still works fine and, from how he's looking at John, I think he understood everything about us. Just like the Braithwaite woman.
"Like I said… we're just here to help" answers John.
Then, I see him turn around and look behind me.
"Oh... and, have you met my partner, Arthur Morgan?" asks John to Mr. Gray.
I move a little aside to make space for Arthur.
"No" the old man answers.
"I met you son, the sheriff?" says Arthur.
"Okay" he replies.
"Mr. Gray here was saying how he had problems with a family. A family of degenerates" John explains.
"Oh well, nobody likes degenerates" replies Arthur.
"That hag and her inbred sons, they've ruined this country. They killed my uncle, you know?" says Mr. Gray.
"And that ain't right" replies John.
I can't understand anymore where the conversation is aiming, so I step back and lean on the fence behind me, waiting for them to finish.
"Problem is we can't be seen to get too close" the old man keeps saying.
Now I truly have no idea what they're talking about, I think frowning. What was I thinking when I agreed to come?
"And?" asks John.
"We've got gold, Yankee. We've got gold" answers the man standing up and using a strong voice just like John offended him in some way.
"I ain't no Yankee, friend. I ain't nothing. My daddy came over on the boat from Scotland" replies John.
"I'm Scottish" says Mr. Gray.
"And the Braithwaites?"
"Goddamn peasants! I don't know… mongrels, slave fuckers. All you got to do is look at them" inveighs Mr. Gray turning his back to my companions.
John and Arthur exchange a look and shake their heads.
What the hell are they talking about? I keep asking myself.
"How much gold?" asks Arthur going near Mr. Gray.
"Enough. These are prized horses I'm talking about, them they'll get you… five thousands" he replies.
I suddenly pay attention. Finally they're talking about what I came here for. I get near the group to listen better to what they say.
"Five thousand? For horses?" asks John sceptic.
"Easy" adds the old man.
"And where do we sell them, these five thousand dollar horses?" asks Arthur.
"Over in Clemens Cove. Feller over there will run them out of state and give you fifty cents on the dollar."
"Mister, you got yourself a deal" says John.
"Just keep us away from this, publicly I mean. And... go to the stables on the south side of the manor, that's where they keep the thoroughbreds" says Mr. Gray while we go back to our horses.
When we get out of the property, is John who talks first.
"Crazy old fool..."
"If he only knew we just torched his tobacco crop" laughs Arthur.
"That was you?" asks Javier before I can.
"The old man was cursing the Braithwaites about that" John says amused.
"Burning rich folks property? Sean was like a pig in shit" adds Arthur.
"Jesus" I murmur, picturing it in my mind.
The Braithwaite property is really close to the Gray's and we reach it in no time. When we're almost there, John asks about the plan.
"The place is well-guarded, so there ain't no point in blasting in there. We'll make them think we're there looking to purchase" explains Arthur.
I think about all the men who were guarding the manor the other day.
"Three armed men? And a woman?" asks Javier glancing at me.
"You'd be armed if you were about to spend five thousand on horses" remarks Arthur.
We ride round the Braithwaite property until we reach a gate with just a man keeping watch. He watches us with a suspicious look while we get closer with.
"I'll speak to him, okay?" says John.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" asks the man at the entrance.
"Yeah, we're here to see about some horses" answers John.
"Horses?"
"Yes, we had an appointment with… Mr. Braithwaite, I believe."
"Yeah, I've never heard about any of this."
That's not a good start, I think with a sigh.
"Our partner wanted to make a significant investment in some stables down here, but… perhaps we should look elsewhere" adds John with a fake disappointed voice.
"Well, I… okay then. Head on up to the stables…" says the man in the end opening the gate.
We go through it and enter the property.
"Okay, the stable must be down there. There's no need to rush. We don't want to draw any unnecessary attention" says Arthur.
When we reach the stables, we decide to hitch the horses outside the gate.
"Let me do the talking" says Arthur pointing at the man right in front of the stable door.
"Hello there" Morgan greets him.
"Can I help you?" he asks looking at each and every one of us.
"I hope so. Heard you got some horses" replies Arthur.
"We always got horses" he answers vaguely.
"Fine horses, I mean."
"I don't get you, friend."
"Yeah, you do, come on..."
"Listen, why don't you get out of here? You, the lady, scar face and your greaser buddy. I don't like officials."
"We ain't officials. We're connoisseurs. Looking to do some breedings. Come on now, partner."
"Okay, fine. Follow me" the man gives up turning around and entering the stable.
Arthur and John get inside while Javier draws near me.
"Keep watch" he whispers and roughly pushes me back before following the others.
I look at his back in bewilderment.
Why this angry attitude all of the sudden?
I decide not to ask any question for now and lay my back on the doorjamb waiting for them to do what they have to. From the inside I hear the Braithwaite man describe the horses to my companions. Then, a thump and the noise of a body that falls on the ground.
"Okay, let's cover our faces. No-one has to recognize us" says John in a murmur.
I put the bandana on my nose and mouth. The three man get out of the stable leading a horse each.
"Javier, you're gonna lead the stallions. Marston, you ride point. Me and Fred, we'll cover up the back. If there's any problems we regroup at Clemens Cove" orders Arthur hitching the horses to Javier's.
I mount and wait for the three of them to do the same.
"What the hell you doing?" yells someone.
It's a Braithwaite.
"Come on, let's get out of here!"
John leaves followed by Javier with the horses.
"Stop! Stop! They're robbing us!"
Arthur spurs his horse and I do the same. We ride hearing some shots behind us, but not so many as I expected: I believe they don't want to risk to hit the horses.
We get rid of them fast.
"Mierda! One got loose" shouts Javier.
"I'll go catch him. See you at the meeting point" says Arthur following the loose horse.
I take his place and we head to Clemens Cove.
A low wall, a little paddock and two men: that's what awaits us when we reach the spot.
I thought that, who buys illegal horses, had a real hidden place where to hide them.
Arthur comes some minutes after. With John and Javier they start talking with the buyers. I draw back, where I can't hear their voices, so I don't have to listen to another discussion.
One of the two men, who from the distance seem exactly identical, throws some money to John and then takes the reins of the three horses leading them inside the paddock.
My companions come back, but from their faces I can understand things didn't go as expected.
"What?" I ask curious.
"Marston got tricked again" says Arthur harshly.
"Hey, we all believed to the story of the five thousand dollar horses" replies John.
"So, no five thousands?" I ask.
"No five thousand" says John.
He sounds a little low.
"Well, we couldn't know that. It's not your fault, John" I say kindly.
He looks at me and I smile, but it doesn't seem to work.
We head back to the camp, in silence.
"Miss, are you going to work from time to time?" shouts Miss Grimshaw when I get down Isabella.
"What do you think I've been doing? A little promenade?" I reply pointing at John, Arthur and Javier behind me.
"Really funny. Now, come on" she commands.
I sigh desperately and follow her.
"I need you to move this water. One per tent" she says pointing at some buckets.
"Why wait for me? Anyone could have done it" I remark.
"You're the strongest of the girls here and these aren't exactly light. Now, stop with the questions and get busy" she replies going away.
"Good morning, Molly" I say to Miss O'Shea leaving a bucket to Dutch's tent.
"You alright, Jack?" I greet the boy bringing the water to Abigail's tent.
"Look, we have a dog!" he exclaims pointing to a grey haired mongrel.
"Hi, Mary Beth, Tilly" I say to the two girls bringing a bucket to them.
"Arthur. Hey, you going somewhere?" I ask to him when I reach his tent with some water and notice he's changing his clothes.
"Williamson found something in Valentine" he replies.
"Valentine? You're fools if you think you can go back there after what happened" I exclaim with disbelieve.
"We'll do it fast. They won't notice us until we..."
"Oh! Herr Morgan" Strauss steps in.
"Herr Strauss" Arthur greets in turn.
"Guten Tag, Miss Faraday" Strauss says to me.
I don't answer.
"That man, the debtor, Thomas Downes..." begins the Austrian.
I tense up and turn my head to look at him.
"...apparently he's dead."
I feel the grip of my hand around the water bucket loosening. When it reaches the ground, it reverse itself and all the water inside spills both on the ground and on my boots, but I don't mind it.
Both Arthur and Strauss turn to look at me.
"You did it" I say to the Austrian grinding my teeth.
"Sorry, what?" he asks.
"You killed him" I repeat.
Rage mixed with distress turns in tears in my eyes.
He stares at me with a lost look, pretending he has no idea what I'm talking about.
"You killed him!" I yell.
"I-I… Miss I have no idea..." he stutters.
I don't let him finish the sentence. I reach my arms forward and take his throat between my hands.
His eyes look like they're about to pop out.
"You killed him!" I shout again.
I feel some hands on me and then Arthur's voice.
"Stop! It wasn't him!"
I let Strauss go and turn to him.
"You're right. You're right, Arthur. He sent you to kill him!" I shout.
"What?" he asks.
"So it's your fault, too" I say with tears running down my cheeks.
"What's going on here? Why you're yelling?" asks Hosea coming near us, half of the camp people with him.
I ignore them.
"But all this would have never happened if it wasn't for this piece of shit here! You ruined a family!" I yell back to Strauss.
"He was ill" says Morgan from my back.
"He was, wasn't he? Well then… I hope that whatever he had, it comes and takes you two bastards too" I say coldly.
"And you know what, Herr Strauss?" I keep on, ignoring Arthur's shaken expression.
"How much was Downes debt?" I ask opening my sack.
When he doesn't answer I look at him.
"How much?" I ask again raising my voice.
"E-e-erm...Two hundred..." he says.
"Fine, take these. It's one hundred and fifty" I say taking all the money I have and putting them in his hands.
"When I have the others I'll give them too, but I'm warning you… you get close to that family again… I'll kill you" I threat looking from Strauss to Arthur.
With the eyes of the camp on me, I turn around and head to the horses, mounting on Isabella and leaving.
I realize that I have taken the road to Rhodes, when, with my eyes still blurred by the tears, I reach the town entrance.
Some people stare at me, but I ignore them and keep walking. I get through the entire city and stop at the Grey's saloon.
I glance at my watch right before going inside. It's a little bit early to start drinking, but who cares.
I feel the eyes of some of the clients on me while I walk towards the counter and sit on a stool.
"What can I get you, Miss?" asks the barman.
"A glass of… whatever you want" I say without even looking at him.
He fills a glass that I drink straight. My throat burns and I cough a little.
The barman chuckles and takes back the bottle.
"No, please. Leave it" I beg him.
He stares at me for a minute and then, with a sigh, he opens it again and fills up my glass.
"It's alright?" he asks.
I nod and drink again.
Then, he focuses on other clients and I pour another glass.
This time I look at it before drinking. I start to get used to the burning throat. After a couple more glasses my head starts spinning.
I'm so confused.
Could I have done something to avoid his death? But, Arthur said he was ill. But maybe he made things worse when he beat him that day. Or maybe not. Whose fault is it?
I drink again.
I could have definitely saved him. Only if I wanted to. I should have gone with Arthur that day. I wonder what he did to him.
I drink again. My head starts spinning so fast that I have to close my eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.
What am I doing? Why I'm still with these people? Why I didn't go away? Why do I care about what Dutch told me?
I drink again and start to feel sick.
"That won't help you" I hear a voice behind me.
I open my eyes and turn around.
"Go away" I murmur
"Let's get back" says Charles reaching my side.
I shake my head.
He grabs my arm. I try to free myself with a yank, lose my balance on the stool and fall on the ground, hitting my right shoulder and hip. I try to stand up, but before I can do anything, two hands lift me from the ground.
I push Charles away with that little strength I can find and head to the front door, the room swims around me. But he doesn't allow me to go anywhere.
He takes me from my shoulders and draws me towards the back of the saloon.
"We take a room" he says to the barman.
"N-no" I hear myself saying.
The more I try to free myself the more he restrains me, until he starts to hurt me on the shoulder I hit on the floor.
He leads me inside a room and makes me sit on a bed with green covers. Then, he closes the door.
"When you feel better we'll go back to camp" he says.
I shake my head, making it spinning faster.
"You have to come back sooner or later."
"No" I say.
Silence falls.
I raise my eyes on him. He has an odd expression. It's not the usual inexpressive face, but I can't understand what he's thinking anyway.
"You want to go away?" he asks.
"You told me" I reply.
"Why now?"
I don't know what to answer, so I simply stare at the floor.
"It's for Strauss? It wasn't his fault" he says.
"Yes, it was" I snap standing up.
But it is a mistake. I lose my balance again and Charles has to hold me.
"Don't mix up the two things" he says kindly.
"It's not what happened to your family. Strauss did nothing. And Arthur neither. I know him a little and I'm sure he didn't hurt him. He was an ill man."
More tears start to come down from my eyes. My legs give in and if it was't for Charles I would fall on the ground.
"Don't go away" he whispers.
My heart sinks. I surround him with my arms and lean my face on his chest.
I can hear the beating of my heart against his, marking the time, but it's like everything else around us stopped.
