Arthur is finally able to stand up, but he still can't ride or shoot so he can't work. Everybody else is getting busy so to find something big, maybe something about the Braithwaites or the Grays. Hosea talked to me about them and he told me he believes both families own some kind of fortune.
I volunteered to go in the city and find something about the Grays so to keep myself busy; after all, apart from that mess at the saloon, I haven't caused any more troubles in town, so they shouldn't recognize me and acquire some information shouldn't be hard.
Hosea approved and he also said he's happy that I'm doing my best for the gang. I think what he really meant is that this is a good start to try to get even with Dutch.
When I get to Rhodes, the town is half deserted.
Maybe it's because of the scorching heat of the last few days that people decided to stay home, I think getting down Isabella, being careful to leave my weapons on her, and walking through the city.
But, if most of the people chose not to venture on Rhodes streets, this doesn't apply to the elder ones, who decide to challenge the high temperatures and to sit under the shadow of the shops, talking amiably between them.
They are my target.
Who knows better the secrets of the place and of the families who live here if not them. After all, I've already done this in Valentine and it doesn't seem difficult to get the favor of the local people. If Dutch did it…
The first man who gets my attention is an old war veteran, seated in front of the general store, but I don't have to catch any attention and talk with the first man I meet could make the other people suspicious, so I keep walking.
I walk past houses and stores, pass the sheriff's office and greet a man who should be his deputy. I follow the main road until I see five men seated down the porch of a house, playing poker.
It could be my chance: a passerby, curious about their game, who stops to talk with them.
I get near the table and observe silently, waiting for one of them to raise his eyes and ask me something.
"Can we help you?"
"Me?" I ask faking surprise.
I must look stupid, so they will treat me in consequence and it will be easier to make them talk.
"Yes, you. Can we help you?" the man asks again.
The others, distracted from their game, look at me.
"Oh! No, no, don't stop playing. I'm just curious. You know, I never learned how to play. Actually, I'm not good with numbers. You know, my father died when I was a child and my mom, she helped me with the letters and the numbers, but she wasn't good neither so…"
I start laughing in a stupid way.
"I think I'm a little bit like her" I say in the end.
"Okay… well if you want you can take a seat and watch it closer" says the man looking at me with a snooty gaze.
I seize the opportunity.
I show interest to one of the most boring plays I've ever seen, until one of them wins and I congratulate with him. He, curious about me or just for kindness, asks about my past. I start to talk, making up a heartbreaking past that could push them to feel piety for me.
They seem to start trusting me, so I ask about the city. They tell me about the Grays.
"They seem to be fine people" I say when the oldest of the men finishes the story of how the feud started, a story that I believe is more legend than truth.
"They are, indeed. And their fortune is the prove of it. You know what they say: God helps those who help themselves. And they deserved all the good they received."
"They must have a really big house" I say naively.
"Well, yes. But fortune also means…uh, property and gold…" explains another man.
"And they have it?" I ask again.
"I think so. Or at least, voices get around and they say both the Braithwaite and the Grays have a lot of money. And they also say that a big part of that money disappeared with two of them."
"What do you mean?"
"A Braithwaite woman and a Gray man, a lot of years ago, they say they run away. Puff… disappeared. Some think they're in England right now, some others think they're dead."
I fake a thoughtful expression.
"I wonder how they can keep all that money under their beds" I say.
"Sorry, what?" asks one of the old men.
"The money. You said they have plenty so…how can they keep them under the mattress, isn't it dangerous? For thieves" I explain.
The table cracks up in a loud laugh.
"They don't keep them under the mattress, you silly girl!" shouts one of them.
"And where, then?"
"In the bank, of course. Or in hidden places. Places only them know."
"So you don't know where they are?"
"Of course we don't. If we did, we wouldn't be here waisting our time with you!"
The table laughs again.
I finally end the conversation, stand up, thank them and go away.
Behind me, I still hear their laughs.
Who laughs last, laughs best, assholes.
When I'm back to camp I look for Hosea, who's seated at the table under the big tree, as always.
"You found something?" he asks when I sit in front of him.
"Both families have a lot of money and they keep it half in the bank and half in some hidden places. But I can't assure you this is the truth, maybe they're just voices. My source isn't certain" I explain.
"In the bank, huh?" he says scratching his chin.
"I don't think it's a good idea. Considering who keeps the money there, the bank will be well guarded…" I say understanding his thoughts.
"You're talking about banks?" asks Dutch getting closer.
"Maybe we found something. The Gray and the Braithwaite could keep their money there" answers Hosea.
"But, I'm not sure. What if I'm wrong?" I ask sitting upright.
"We'll check before doing anything" replies Hosea.
Not sure about it, I move my eyes from him to Dutch who nods slowly.
"Alright, do it" he says before going away.
Yesterday, Hosea and I went back to Rhodes and paid a visit to the bank.
We checked the doors, number of guards, we went inside and asked to open an account for Tacitus Kilgore. While Hosea talked with the boy behind the glass trying to understand if the two families actually have some money in the bank, I wandered around the room and try to memorize all the important details.
When we came back to camp we called some other members of the group and started organize the heist.
There are five guards, two outside, three inside. The employees are three. The doors are two, the front one and the back one. The best moment to act is at noon when two of the five guards leave for around half an hour to make a pause at the saloon.
"Great, I think it will be you, Bill, Javier and Miss Faraday here who found the job" says Dutch to Hosea when we inform him of the plan.
"Me?" I ask making the two men turn in my direction.
"What's the problem?" asks Dutch.
"I've never done something like this. I-I don't know where to start" I answer.
"It's easy. You put the bandana on and threat people with your gun" replies Dutch with a voice that doesn't allow a 'no' as an answer.
I nod, resigned.
"He wants you to do it" says Hosea when Dutch leaves.
"This will be your peace offering."
The first and last one I hope, I think sighing.
The morning after I prepare all the necessary for the job I have to do. I clean and recharge the gun, I saddle up Isabella and I take the rifle John gave me some time ago.
"So, it's true."
I turn around and smile to Arthur who's coming closer, his arm still bandaged.
"What's true?" I ask.
"You're going to rob a bank with Hosea" he answers.
I open my mouth, but close it right after unsure of what to say.
"Something's wrong?" he asks.
"I've never robbed a bank and I don't know if I'm capable of that. What if something goes wrong?" I ask.
"There's always something that goes wrong in these kind of jobs, especially when Bill is involved" he adds laughing.
But then he sees my worried face and gets serious again.
"Hosea knows what he's doing, Javier is smart and Bill, he's an idiot yes, but he can fight. And you can handle it, I know it. Everything will be fine" he says.
I nod trying to look convinced.
"It's a pity you can't come with us" I say looking at him.
His face gets an awkward expression that he tries to hide with a laugh.
"So I have to stand Bill and all the mess he'll do? Nah thanks, I think I'll stay here."
We stay in silence for a while until I start to feel uncomfortable.
"Okay, I have to go. Try to rest" I say finishing to settle Isabella.
When we reach the entrance of Rhodes, Hosea gives us the last directions.
"Okay, Bill, Javier, you can go. We'll see you inside. Fred…"
We exchange a look.
"Let's go" he says with an encouraging smile.
We separate from Bill and Javier who have to take care of the guard at the entrance and to check the perimeter of the bank. Our job is to distract the employees until they join us and then to make them open the vault where there must be the safes of the Braithwaite and Gray families.
We reach the bank, get down our horses and go inside greeting the only guard at the entrance. The boy behind the glass recognizes us and greets us with a broad smile.
"Mr. Kilgore, Miss Kilgore, welcome back. How can I help you?"
"Alec, my dear boy. Yesterday I talked with some friends and they gave me some doubts about the account we opened. Can I ask you some explanations?"says Hosea getting close to him.
"Well, of course, sir."
While the two of them discuss, I walk around the room.
On the other side of the counter there is just another employee today, apart from Alec. The two guards are one seated on a chair near the vault and one standing next to the back door.
Time passes and there's no trace of Javier and Bill. Hosea almost finished the excuses to entertain the boy, who starts to show some impatience.
"Yes, sir. As I already told you…"
We hear a bang that echoes inside the room and the back door opens showing Bill who, with his face covered, the rifle in his hands and heavy steps, goes near the guard and hits him in the face making him pass away. The other one, who was half asleep on his chair, wakes up and takes his gun, aiming at Bill.
Ready, I take my pistol and hit him on the head making him fall on the ground.
"You don't want to do that, son" I hear Hosea saying and when I turn to him I see he's pointing his gun at Alec.
The other employee, scared, exits from behind the counter and runs towards the back door that Bill left open after he's come inside, but he can't step outside because Javier, his face covered too, blocks his way and punches him right on the nose. Screaming, the employee brings his hands on his face and steps back until he reaches Bill who slams him against the wall and whispers an angry: "You stay there."
"Okay, boy. Why don't you open the safes of the Braithwaite and Gray family?" says Hosea.
"I-I don't… have t-the authorization to…" he stutters.
"I don't care about your authorization, just open them" says the man.
Even though his voice is calm, I can feel the threat in it.
"N-no you d-don't understand. I-I don't have t-the combinations" replies the boy looking at us with tears in his eyes.
"Shit!" swears Bill.
"Calm down, we'll find a way. Who has these combinations?" asks Hosea to Alec.
"The d-deputy manager. Usually he's here, but t-today he said he wasn't well."
"Where does he live?" Hosea asks again.
"J-just around the corner and then down the street, at number three. He's name is Miller. Robert Miller."
"Will, Ernesto go take him. Kindly! We don't want to draw unrequited attentions on us" orders Hosea addressing Bill and Javier.
"Don't you think it's better that one of us stays here? Just in case something happens and you need a… man with you" says Javier glancing from Hosea to me.
When I understand what he means, I get a little upset, but then I think that an old man and a girl couldn't handle an army of men, if one shows up.
"You're right. Miss Kilgore you go with Ernesto and bring Mr. Miller here" replies Hosea.
I look at Javier who stares back before going out from the back door.
"Okay, Alec. Why don't you open the vault while we wait" I hear Hosea saying as soon as I exit the bank.
I follow the Mexican who takes down his bandana and starts walking fast towards the end of the street.
"Relax, we don't have to catch the eye of the citizens. Just slow up a…" I start to say grabbing his arm, but he roughly pushes me away.
"The sooner we end this, the better" he snaps without looking at me.
"Hey, we're here together. Don't think I like what we're doing" I reply following him.
"If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be here" he says with a harsh tone that surprises me.
"You can't blame me if that idiot doesn't know the combinations!" I exclaim.
He limits to snort.
We go down the road when two men come out one of the side streets and walk in our direction.
They're armed, but they don't seem neither aggressive nor suspicious, so I simply keep walking and don't mind them. But Javier apparently doesn't share my opinion because he slows up, takes me from my shoulders and drags me inside a little side street, pushing me against the wall.
"I think they've seen us" I say with complain for his rough and useless action.
"They could recognize us if we get too close" he address to me, but looks at the main road where the two shadows are drawing nearer.
"So you don't think they will turn their heads to see why we're hiding here?" I reply with sarcasm.
He stares at me.
I can already hear the voices and the regular footsteps of the men.
"Follow my lead" he says before placing his face near my neck and his body on mine.
Shocked by the sudden contact, I feel the need to push him away. But then, I hear the two men really close to us and, closing my eyes and repressing the instinct to withdraw, I put my arms around him.
After an endless time the two walk past us. Javier turns to them and checks if the way is free.
"Good, we can go" he says turning back to me, but he doesn't move.
He keeps staring at me with this expression of rage mixed with…
He throws himself on me again but this time he aims at my lips. I jerk my head just in time, so he gives me a kiss on the cheek.
I keep my eyes closed and I don't have the courage to look at him, but I feel his sigh of frustration before he leaves.
I stay still for a while, until my chest stops hammering.
How many times I have to reject him before he understands?
When I find again the strength to move, I go back to the main road. He stopped a couple of yards from me, in front of a house.
"This is it. Go take him" he says with a hatred voice when I get close.
"What? Me, alone? What if there's someone else inside?"
"You'll deal with him" he answers coldly.
This behavior starts making me angry.
"Listen, if you want to put at risk the entire job for a personal thing between you and me, I'm sorry, but I won't allow you" I say placing myself in front of him.
"Which personal thing?" he asks without looking at me.
"Now you're acting like a child, Javier. You go inside there with me or we go back to Hosea and tell him why we don't have the deputy."
Finally, his eyes meet mines.
He sighs and goes up the porch stairs, reluctantly. Then, he covers his face and knocks. I pull up the bandana, too, right before a man around sixty, clear eyes, grey hair, no beard, opens the door.
He wears a nightshirt and his nose and eyes are red.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he asks with a nasal voice.
Without answering, Javier points his gun to his head and makes him go back. I get inside and close the door behind me.
We ask him if he's alone and when he answers 'yes', we tell him why we're here. Javier takes him to the other room and makes him dress up. He does everything we ask without complaining or rebelling.
Maybe he doesn't want to die for some money that don't even belong to him.
"Okay, friend. Now, try not to do anything stupid" says Javier putting the gun away and opening the door.
We walk fast towards the bank, controlling the deputy and, from time to time, the road behind our backs. But the street is desolated and we reach the others without any problem.
"Why it took you so much?" complains Bill when we enter from the back door.
"Mr. Miller! Please, after you" says Hosea coming out of the vault, his face covered as well.
When the two of them disappear inside, I look around.
Alec is seated with his back against the wall, tied and gagged.
"This idiot son of a bitch wanted to die" says Bill pointing at the other employee on the floor near Alec.
"He tried to take my rifle, can you imagine that?" laughs Bill taking his head and showing his passed out face.
Apart for a deep cut on the left eyebrow the man seems to be okay.
What a fool, I think, trying to take the rifle from a big man like Bill.
"If the old man hadn't stopped me, he would probably be dead" ends Bill.
"Ernesto, come help me. Will, you tide this one as well" we hear Hosea's voice from the vault.
Miller comes outside the door while Javier goes inside. Bill tides the deputy and makes him sit next to Alec.
"Okay, that wasn't bad. A few thousands. We can go" says Hosea coming out after a little time with Javier after him.
"What do we do with this one? He saw you" says Bill pointing at Alec.
Hosea, Javier and Bill look at each other. Then Javier takes the knife.
"No, don't kill him" I say standing in front of him.
"He saw you, it's too dangerous" replies Javier.
"He's innocent" I insist.
"We can't risk" he says trying to push me away.
"He won't say anything if we convince him" I keep saying, resisting him.
"Wait, maybe she's right" says Hosea kneeling next to the boy and pulling away the gag.
"You won't say nothing, right boy?" Hosea asks him.
"N-no, no" he answers moving his eyes from Hosea's face to Javier's knife.
"Alright, let's go. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure" says Hosea standing up and heading to the back door.
Bill follows him with an expression of bewilderment on his face.
I go right after him.
"We really let him live? What if he talks with the sheriff?" asks Bill as soon as we're outside.
"He won't" answers Hosea.
"I think this is the first job I'm in that doesn't end with a gunfight" adds Bill while we mount on the horses.
"That's because I took care of the organization" replies Hosea.
Hi Everybody!
I hope everything is OK for you with this virus around. I don't know if you know I'm from Italy, so everything is closed and we can't go out of our house (unless it's for an emergency) and publish this story helps me spend my time.
When I wrote this chapter I didn't knew there was the secret mission with Charles so I thought they never had had the chance to rob the bank of Rhodes and I decided to make something up. Then I found out the actually rob it, but never mind.
I hope you liked it aaand see you soon!
