The next day Julia went to the post office to see if the Pinkertons had sent her some information, but when she arrived and asked the postman, he answered that nothing had arrived.
She thanked him and went out of the post office, walking towards the shop where she bought some oil-gun, a chocolate bar and some candies.
She always had a sweet tooth.
She came back to the camp without rush, enjoying the fresh morning air and the sound of the nature around her.
The wounds she had on her forehead and cheekbone had closed and now they tickled because of the blood that had started to dry.
At the thought of those men, her blood boiled in her veins, but then she remembered Lenny's words that made her smile.
"I think you look tougher than before. Looking at you I'd think: "better don't fuck up with that woman" he said the night before while they were seated near the fire.
Once she arrived at the camp she sat near the cliff, her legs dangling while she was eating her candies and listening to the others doing their daily chores.
Suddenly she heard some light steps behind her and turning around she saw little Jack while he was going to sit near the cliff to play with what seemed to be a wooden toy.
She looked at him for a while, trying to find the similarities with Marston and she noticed that the curve of his nose and his eye color were very similar, just like the hair color, a little lighter than Abigail's.
When the child turned towards her, she smiled at him while Jack stared at her, moving his gaze to the candies. Julia noticed it, so she took the candies bag and stretched it towards him, encouraging him to get closer.
The child stayed still and looked at her again. Then he got up clumsily and walked slowly towards Julia, his toy in his hand.
"You can take it if you want" she said.
Jack out a tiny hand in the little colorful bag of candies and took out one, putting it quickly in his mouth.
A sweet smile appeared on his face.
"You having fun with that?" asked Julia pointing at the toy.
"I guess" he answered.
"Can I see it?"
Jack gave her his toy that Julia took and examined.
It was an old wooden horse with a snapped tail.
"It's really cute" she said giving it back to him.
Jack sat near her, making his short legs dangling with hers.
"Where's your momma?" asked Julia.
"She's working" answered Jack.
Julia nodded, then they continued to eat candies in silence.
"It's true that uncle Dutch left you behind?"
Julia turned to look at the child, his little dark eyes on her.
"Yeah, it's true"
"Why?" asked again Jack.
Julia sighed.
"Everyone can make a mistake, even Dutch. But he's gonna repair it"
"How?" asked Jack taking another candy.
"He...he has to give me something and then I'll go away"
Jack frowned and then looked at her.
"Why you don't stay with us?"
Julia looked Jack in the eye, noticing an innocence that only a boy his age could have.
"Because I can't"
"Why?"
"I have someone to take care of. He's far away from here" she answered looking at the skyline in front of her.
"Who is he?"
Julia smiled.
"Now, ain't you a really curious boy?"
Jack smiled in turn as if he had received the most beautiful compliment in his life.
"He's my friend. He took care of me when I was younger. I must do the same for him now"
Jack nodded bringing another candy to his mouth.
Julia heard some steps behind them and turning around she saw Abigail with a not-so-friendly look on her face.
"Jack. Come here"
Jack got up and ran to his mother.
"She gave me sweets, momma. She's not as bad as they say"
"Go to your tent. I'll come in a minute"
Jack turned to look at Julia and then waved to her before he went away.
Julia looked at Abigail again.
"Listen I..." she started, but the woman stopped her.
"I'm grateful for your help, but I've to ask you to stay away from my son"
Julia nodded.
She understood that the situation was already complicated for her and Jack without a famous assassin at their camp. She was a threat to them, and Abigail couldn't risk that her son thought otherwise or worse, he becomes attached to Julia. And she couldn't allow it too, despite her kind actions.
"He's a good kid"
Abigail nodded and then walked away.
Julia couldn't take a step that she heard Hosea's voice behind her.
"You have to excuse her. She only wants to protect him"
Julia turned to look at the old man seated at a table with a paper in his hands.
"I know. I don't blame her for anything" she answered before she went away.
She reached Wind Catcher, freeing him from the heavy saddle before she groomed him and clean his hooves.
"This is gonna sting a little, boy" she said fixing one of the horseshoes.
When she finished, she gave him something to eat and then she took her rifles from her saddle and sat near one of the campfires where she started to clean them with the gun-oil she had bought that morning.
After a while, she saw Sean walk towards her with his usual idiotic smile.
"Mind if I sit?"
"As long as you shut up, no" answered Julia without raising her gaze.
She heard the young man sitting in front of her and taking out his knife he began to sharp it.
"So..." he started.
"Shut up" said Julia, stopping him in time.
Sean sighed.
Once she finished with one of the rifles, she took another one.
"You really care for them guns, don't you?"
"You really can't shut up, can you?"
Sean chuckled.
"Oh, you're funny"
"And you are not"
Sean shifted in his seat, leaning forward.
"Why you hate me so much?"
Julia looked at him. His idiotic expression was enough for her to get nervous.
"You might not remember what you did to me when we were young Mcguire, but I do, so..."
Sean laughed.
"I didn't even remember what your face was like! C'mon, I couldn't be so terrible with you"
Julia clenched her jaw.
"Mhm...well, lets' see...you hid a dead snake between in my sheets, you stole my clothes while I was bathing, you said to the girls you were my first"
Sean stayed silent for a moment, looking at her.
"Well, at least you can plume yourself on something"
Julia got on her feet, pointing her rifle at Sean that turned white and raised his hands.
"Leave before I blow your stupid brain" she hissed.
"C'mon Julia, they were stupid jokes!" said Sean, trying to defend himself.
Julia pumped her rifle.
"Now!" she howled.
Sean got up slowly and then stepped back still staring at Julia with a terrified look, shaking his head once far enough.
Julia sat again, continuing her work.
When she finished, she put the rifle back on the saddle and then washed her hands near Pearson's wagon, who was cooking the stew for that day.
"You're preparing something good?" she asked peeking inside the big pot.
"I'm trying. I'd appreciate some turkey some of these days"
"Noted" answered Julia before she headed to her tent.
On the way to her small private corner, she noticed Morgan and Marston talking. The two exchanged a few words, many of which came out Marston's mouth, then they nodded and divided.
They're talking about the robbery for sure. Tonight we're gonna do it.
Julia stared at Morgan while he walked away towards his tent where he took off his hat and sat on his cot, taking out his diary from the bag.
She observed him while it seemed he was writing something when suddenly he raised his gaze on her. She stared at him and the same did Morgan until Julia moved her eyes and walked away.
The afternoon arrived soon and when Julia came out her tent Morgan reached her quickly.
"We have to go"
Julia nodded and followed him to the horses, getting on Wind Catcher.
"I thought you wouldn't have told me about the robbery" she said when they got far away the camp.
"So then I would've heard your complaining about the money and stuff" answered the man giving her a look.
"I don't complain..."
"Yeah, you do"
Julia gave Arthur a dirty look but stayed quiet.
When they arrived at north of Dewberry Creek, where they had left the wagon, they heard some shotguns near them.
Julia looked at Morgan who did the same.
They got down their horses and, with their hands on their pistols, they drew closer to where the shotguns were coming.
Not very far from the wagon, they saw a redhead man, shooting at some empty bottles. They got closer from behind, hearing the young man swear because he couldn't hit one of them.
Morgan stood behind Sean observing and when the Irish boy tried to shoot again, he missed again.
"Well, at least it ain't your" job said Arthur chuckling.
Julia leaned against a tree near them, taking out a cigarette from her bag.
"Ah shut up Arthur" answered Sean trying again, this time hitting a bottle.
One in ten, thoughJulia bringing the cigarette to her lips.
"Yeah, your job's starting the fights it ain't winning them" continued Morgan.
"I can scrap Arthur...I'm just no good at homework"
Another missed shot.
"Besides, what do you care Englishman. You've got no time for me. I tried to find you work but then you're off cutting jobs with other folks, especially with her. And your boy Sean doesn't get a look" in said the Irish pointing at Julia who raised a brow.
"Guess I don't wanna to get shot, that's all" answered Morgan.
"Ah, you're a real fucking funny shit, Arthur Morgan, huh? Real fucking funny" said Sean really annoyed this time while he was recharging his pistol.
Morgan looked at him, understanding that he was upset.
Julia looked at them shaking her head.
"Calm down" said Arthur.
"Better sleep with your eyes open" said again Sean.
Julia looked Morgan now with an angry expression on his face.
"Yeah, well you're gonna sleep with your chest open if you ain't careful, boy"
The two of them stayed silent for a moment, Sean's face white and the air suddenly thick.
Then, the redhead laughed.
Julia rolled her eyes, getting closer to them.
"I love ya, Arthur Morgan. I love ya. Come one, take a shot. Come on, take your best shot, please"
Arthur hadn't the time to take out his pistol that two bottles broke, and the two men turned to look at her.
"Are you done?" Julia asked putting her pistols away.
Morgan looked at Sean.
"Grow up"
He gestured her to follow him and Julia obeyed walking towards the wagon.
"Let me come on the raid with you"
Morgan stopped and turned to look at him.
"Raid?"
"Don't be playing coy with me, son, its' unbecoming. That bloody train you and him has set up"
Julia checked the wagon on the other side of Morgan's, looking for any damage or tampering.
"What you're doing out here, you're going to need guns... "continued Sean.
"Yeah, but not yours" answered Julia.
"And what is she doing here? You need men!"
"So Marston told you? It ain't a big show. I need calmness. If I take you, I might as well bring Micah along" said Morgan going around the wagon.
"Is everything good?" he asked her.
"Yeah, a part for that idiot" answered Julia pointing at Sean behind him.
"Compare me to that oily turd again and you're a dead man" said Sean and Morgan laughed.
"Fair enough"
"Tell me Arthur...what's your problem with me? In fact, don't tell me, I already know"
Julia rolled her eyes.
Why can't he shut up?
"You're threatened by me" continued the Irish getting closer to Arthur.
"Threatened by you?"
"Yeah, my youthful vigor...it intimidates ya"
"Does it?"
Morgan turned towards Julia shaking his head.
"It's a story as old as the hills. The changing to the guard, the fading of the light. You're toast, old man"
Hearing some steps, Julia turned seeing John and Charles. She greeted them with a gesture of her head and then moved her eyes on Morgan and Mcguire.
"Okay...and what are you?" asked Morgan.
"I'm the future, in all its glory" answered Sean widening his arms.
"And I thought we were screwed" answered Julia making Sean turn towards her.
John got closer to him with a threatening expression.
"What are you doing here, kid?" he asked.
"I'm coming John, on the job"
"I said you weren't coming"
Charles gave Julia look who sighed impatiently.
"Yeah, well Arthur says I am and it's his party, boy, so come on, let's go" answered sean getting on the wagon and continuing saying things without any sense while they all shook their heads.
"You sure about this?" asked Marston to Morgan.
"No. Are we ready?"
"Yeah, train's due through tonight" answered John.
Charles and Julia got on the wagon, she straddled the container finding herself behind Sean. He needed a bath.
"Alright then, it's on. Charles?" asked Morgan.
"I'm ready"
When Morgan and Marston got on the wagon as well, Arthur took the reins and hit the road.
John gave him the indications he needed, talking about the job they were about to do.
Sean started to talk again, beginning the umpteenth idiotic conversation with Marston. He talked so much than even Charles asked when he would have stopped.
"You think he's gonna shut up once dead?" asked Julia making them chuckle.
"There's hoping" said Marston.
Finally, Sean shut up, but this silence didn't last long even if Julia heard her thoughts again for about two minutes.
"So we block the tracks with the wagon then jump'em? That's the plan?" asked the Irish.
At least he asked something interesting.
"Pretty much. Charles you deal with the engineer. John, secure the passenger car fast, take charitable donations and make sure everybody behaves. Sean you go straight to the luggage wagon, try to be fast and operational. And Myles..."
"I'll go with him. Make sure he doesn't cause any trouble" answered Julia and Morgan nodded.
"I don't need a goddamn nanny to look after me! I can do it by myself!" said Sean, but by then it was decided.
"Here's good. Stop the wagon over the tracks" said John.
Once they all got down, Charles and Morgan freed the horses making them run away.
"Mr. Marston, Mr. Smith, Mr. Mcguire, Miss Myles, get over there" said Morgan pointing at some trees not so far from the railway.
"When she slows board her" he added putting a foot on the railway to feel if the train was about to arrive.
"You all have something to cover your face right?" asked soon after.
All of the nodded but Julia.
"You don't have anything to cover your face?" asked Marston.
"You know, when I do my job I need fellers to look at my face. Besides my job isn't illegal" she answered.
Morgan removed his bandana from his neck and leaned it to Julia.
"Here, I got another one" he said.
Julia took it hesitantly but thanked him with a gesture of her head before she followed Charles and Marston.
When she turned again, she saw Sean ran behind them while Morgan got on the wagon, with his rifle in his hands and his face covered.
The others did the same, tying their bandanas behind their neck and covering their faces. When Julia put Morgan's bandana on, she smelled cigar mixed with sweat and the man's natural scent.
It wasn't so bad.
She heard the train coming closer and closer, while she could see it's light between the tree.
When finally the train appeared in front of them, it started to whistle against Morgan to make him move, but he stayed still.
The train stopped in time.
The driver didn't have the time to yell at Arthur that Charles knocked him out with the back of his rifle.
John ran towards the passenger wagon while Julia and Sean stayed there, watching Morgan get down the oil-wagon.
It was the right moment.
Julia turned and hit Sean's arm who turned to look at her.
"We have to go. Come on" she said and then ran towards the train.
She didn't take that a few steps before Sean pushed her roughly to the side.
"Follow me" said the young man running.
Julia swore against him, but tried to stay calm and don't kill him.
Once they reached the opened wagon, they jumped on it and ran towards the next one where there were supposed to be the luggage.
"C'mon" said Sean looking at Julia before he opened the door.
In a moment, a man showed from inside the wagon and hit Sean in the head, pointing his gun at him, but Julia was faster and pointing her rifle, she shot the man who fell on the ground.
Suddenly another two men showed up on the roof of the wagon. Julia shot one, but then she had to cover herself behind one of the boxes to recharge her rifle. Then she stuck out the necessary to kill the other man with two shoots.
"You alright?" asked Julia to Sean who was getting up, his face a little whiter than usual.
"Yeah, sorry..."
"There's no time, come on" she cut him short entering the wagon.
They started to rummage the suitcases, finding money, jewelry and other valuable objects.
Suddenly Julia heard some steps behind her and thinking that it was another of those men, she turned quickly raising her pistol.
"You've done here?" asked Morgan raising his hands.
"Not yet" answered Julia, opening another bag.
Morgan sent Sean to go watch while he started to check the luggage with Julia.
"Arthur, we got a problem. There's two arseholes on horses" said Sean at some point.
Julia and Morgan exchanged a look.
"How many you say?" asked Morgan.
"I just see a pair of them" repeated the boy while Julia and Morgan reached him outside.
"Alright, in that case we're fighting. Marston, Smith get ready" said Arthur before he covered behind a box.
Julia stayed behind the wagon door, sticking out to see two men, surely lawmen.
"You men come off the train now, do you hear?" said one of them then, silence.
"We said you men come out now!"
"There's only two of you, you fools. We got a lot less to lose. Why don't the two of you ride away? That way neither of you get killed" answered Morgan.
But while he was saying it, Julia could see other lawmen between the tree coming closer.
She took her rifle and pointed it towards them, ready to shoot.
"There's a few more of them turning up" said Sean making turn Morgan who said:
"Me and my big mouth"
"Okay, let's deal with them" he added and then started to shoot.
Julia stuck out the wagon, shooting at a man on the shoulder. He fell on the ground and when he tried to get up Julia shot him again on the leg before she moved her attention to another one, hitting him on his chest twice.
While she was shooting she noticed that from four they become seven and others were coming.
"We got more on the left" said Sean.
Julia turned, noticing that another four men were coming from his left.
"I'll take care of them" she said moving on the other side and shooting those men.
A bullet flew really close to her shoulder, but she avoided it by taking cover in the wagon.
Soon after Morgan reached her to help.
"How is possible that they arrived so soon?" asked the man shooting.
"This isn't the right moment to think of it!" answered Julia, shooting at another man.
They continued to shoot for a while, but the more they killed the more arrived.
"We need to get out of here" said Charles.
"Let's go!" yelled Morgan jumping down the train.
Julia whistled for Wind Catcher that arrived in a few seconds. She jumped on him, losing the balance and almost falling on the ground, but with the strength of her legs, she repositioned herself, spurring him to go faster and towards the wood.
She felt some bullets flying near her and turning around she aimed and shot hitting one of the lanterns those men had, blowing it on fire. Their attention got caught by the little explosion allowing them to run away.
While she followed Morgan and the others, she felt her blood pumping in her veins and the bandana she had on her nose had started to take away her breath.
Once they got far enough and hidden between the trees, Morgan who was in the lead stopped and so did the others. Once she stopped, Julia took off the bandana leaving it around her neck and breathing deeply.
"That was fun boys, real fun. I can see why they call you the professionals of the outfit" said Sean.
"Shut up"
Morgan shook his head taking from his bag the money and split it into five bribes.
The first one went to Charles, the second one to Marston and the third one to Sean who said:
"At least we made some money and what did I get? Gotta be a hundred dollars here, very nice"
"And you weren't even invited" said Morgan ready to throw the fourth bribe to Julia who shook her head and touched her bag.
With all she had robbed, she must have at least one thousand dollars in her pockets.
"What now?" asked John.
"We still need a real big take so we can pay the Hound and get out of here"
"Was that a set up? Law turned up very fast" said again Marston.
"I don't know. I don't think so. I'm starting to get nervous"
"You think they followed us from Blackwater?" asked Charles.
Julia turned to look at him.
Every one of them had a warred expression on his face, except for Sean who wasn't too focused on his money.
"Maybe. They found me already near Horseshoe, but...I think this lot was just locals" answered Morgan.
"I hope. I'm gonna head to Valentine see if I can get something started there" said John.
"Good idea. Okay then...you know the deal, don't be followed"
"Ah, of course boss" said Sean before he spurred his horse and went away.
Charles did the same towards another direction while John looked at Julia and Morgan before he went away too.
Julia was about to do the same when Morgan stopped her.
"I think it's better if we don't get to camp tonight"
Julia frowned.
"I have to. All my things are there. I can't camp outside without anything" she answered.
"You can go to town and rent a room" suggested Morgan.
Julia stared at him for a while.
"You'd feel good knowing that you sent a woman alone in that town full of drunken fellers?"
"Honestly, I's be more worried for them fellers than you" he answered.
Julia smiled.
"You got enough money?" he asked.
"More than you for sure, Morgan" answered Julia.
The man nodded looking away.
"Okay then. I'll see you at camp tomorrow" he said and making Tundra turned he left.
"Okay...boss" said Julia copying San's voice.
Arthur hid a smile before he spurred his horse and Julia looked at him until she couldn't see him anymore because of the dark.
"C'mon boy" she said petting Wind catcher's neck while she encouraged him to walk towards Morgan's opposite direction.
She didn't feel like going to Valentine, so she decided to wander for a while until she stopped in a thick wood in the Heartlands, near Twin Stack Pass.
There, she lighted up a fire and then she made Wind Catcher squat behind her so she could lean against him to sleep.
She was staring at the fire, her mind full of thoughts about the robbery when she felt Wind Catcher touching her elbow with his snout.
"What's up?" she asked petting him.
She took out a sugar cube from her saddle and gave it to him.
"You earned it" she said.
Then she took out her bag the chocolate bar she had bought that morning and started to eat it.
She didn't eat the half when the sweet taste sickened her, so she put it back in her bag.
Wind Catcher had lowered his head on the soft grass.
"It's time to sleep" said Julia taking one of her rifles and staring at the sky full of stars she fell asleep.
...
HI EVERYONE!
How are you living your quarantine? If I've to be honest, almost nothing changed to me. I'm not a very social person and I like to stay at home, so I have more time to write, am I right? ;)
Anyway, I hope you're doing fine. Don't worry, we'll get out of this situation, don't panic and stay safe!
I'm gonna go now, I'm so tired and it's half-past midnight...
KISSES!
