When Julia saw the Pinkertons' camp in the distance, she slowed down and forced her thoughts about Arthur to the back of her mind.

Now she had to concentrate.

She hadn't thought about what to say to Milton and Ross; actually, she didn't even know what to tell them. If they knew something about the gang's movements and she would have told them something different, they would have gotten suspicious. She needed to know what they knew and then she would have improvised.

Julia got closer to the camp, where the two men on watch let her pass after she said she needed to talk with agent Milton.

She left Wind Catcher near the other horses and then walked towards Milton's tent where the flaps were opened and some male voices were coming out of it. She entered without thinking twice and soon she caught the attention of Milton, Ross, and Abney.

"Look who's here. The Hound honors us with her presence" said Ross with scornful tone.

Julia glanced at him and then reached the table.

"I believe our miss has an explanation why she didn't show up these past few days. Been working on the case, right?" said Abney staring at her with a friendly smile.

Looking at him, Julia couldn't understand if he was trying to help her or he was mocking her. However, she moved her eyes to Milton, who was curiously looking at her.

"Please, sit" he said, and Julia did as he asked.

Milton walked towards a small table full of bottles and took a small glass that he filled with some whiskey. Then, he came back to them and served the small glass to Julia before he sat.

Julia stared at him the whole time, then when he sat, she sipped the whiskey and left the glass still half-full on the table.

"So, you've got anything new to share?" asked agent Milton, his hands joined together.

"Nothing crucial. I believe they're somewhere in the Lemoyne or the Bayou" Julia said in a convincing tone.

"The Bayou? Not ideal, is it?" asked agent Abney.

"Because being an outlaw it is? They're chased by the government, bounty hunters, Cornwall's men and me. If I were them, I'd try every place where to hide" she said looking at Milton who stared absently at the map on his table.

They all stayed silent, waiting for him to say something, but he didn't.

"What about you?" Julia asked not able to stand that silent for long.

Ross and Milton exchanged a look.

"We heard someone arrived in town a week ago. It's more or less when we arrived here after that bloodbath in Valentine" said agent Ross.

Julia raised her brows.

"In Rhodes, you mean? Who?" she asked faking surprise.

"Some men. People said they've been helping the Grays taking down the local gang. They're called..."

"The Lemoyne raiders. Yeah, I've dealt with them a couple of times while exploring the area. But why Van der Linde should help the sheriff?" asked Julia.

This time she didn't need to fake her questioning tone, she really didn't know why Dutch would do something so stupid. Catch all this unwanted attention.

"Maybe he wants something. The Gray family is rich. He can be playing the do-gooder to rob them" said Milton.

Julia frowned.

"Quite risky for someone like him, but I think he would do it, pushed by desperation. However, if I were an outlaw, I wouldn't help the sheriff catching another gang that can potentially distract him while I rob him" she said.

"Yeah, you're right. It doesn't make sense" said Ross frowning.

Julia glanced at him, confused as much as him by his approval.

"Not to mention the fight at the saloon. Maybe it was them" said agent Abney.

Julia looked at him, realizing he was talking about the night she gave away the moonshine with Arthur and Hosea.

"I've heard it was just an old man with an idiot brother and his wife trying to sell some poor liquor" she said.

Milton was staring at her now.

"So, what do we do, Andrew?" asked agent Ross.

Milton sighed and got up walking towards the small table again.

"We stay here and wait. Ross you send some of your men in town. Tell them to keep their eyes open to any strange activity. Abney, you'll take a unit and search the Bayou. Return only if you find something relevant. The Hound, you'll come back tomorrow and report what you discovered. Anything that can be related to Van der Linde I must know"

The three of them got up and nodded at agent Milton who looked at them one after the other.

"Alright, then. Off you go" he said before he sat again.

Julia swallowed the whiskey Milton had offered her and then walked out of the tent.

She didn't stop to talk with agent Abney, who seemed incline to chat with her, and instead, she headed towards her horse, getting on it and galloping out of the camp in a rush before someone else could see her.

Someone like Nathan.

Don't try to avoid it. You have to talk to him, admonished her conscience.

Julia shook her head and quickly headed to camp.

When she arrived, lunchtime had already passed. However, while she was wandering around camp, Pearson quickly approached her and tapped her shoulder.

"Here. I was able to save you some before those animals devoured it" he said giving her a plate full of stew.

Julia stared at it taken by surprise, but after a moment she took it and smiled at the man.

"Thank you, Simon. I'm starving" she admitted.

The man smiled back at her and then walked away.

She started to eat while walking towards the horses, watching the others.

Her eyes fell upon Micah who was standing near the lake while smoking a cigar. He had a satisfied expression on his ugly face that made Julia sick. It seemed to her that Bell was the kind of man who enjoyed other's pain. He was surely the kind of man ready to sell his own mother to keep his ass out of trouble too.

Turning her head, she saw Arthur talking with Molly near a tree. The woman had a worried expression on her face while Arthur seemed not understanding what she was trying to say to him.

But Julia wasn't interested in what Molly was saying to Arthur. At least she wasn't until she noticed how her cheeks were flushed and her eyes wouldn't meet the man's ones.

Suddenly, she needed to hear what she was saying, so she left her plate on a barrel and slowly walked closer to them, trying not to catch their attention.

What were they talking about? Why were they even talking? Usually, the only words they would speak to each other were: "good morning" and "good evening", but now?

Julia could feel her heart racing in her chest, not like before when she was on her horse with Arthur, that was different. Now she felt upset, annoyed almost angry.

Then suddenly, Uncle interrupted them, and Molly looked away annoyed by the man's intrusion before her eyes met Julia's ones. They stared at each other and then she left, giving Uncle an angry look.

Yeah, go back to your dear Dutch, Julia though still looking at her.

Then, she walked towards the two men, curious to know what they were talking about.

Uncle was saying something to Arthur while he walked away from him.

"...but you can go find other fool to run you errands" she heard the man say.

In that moment Bill and Charles walked near them and the old man called them.

"Bill, come on over here...will you be my other fool? You too Charles" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" asked Bill annoyed.

Julia looked at them amused and when she moved her eyes on Arthur, she caught him watching her.

He shook his head, pointing at Uncle beside him and Julia couldn't stop a smile.

"Arthur's above a little stick up I heard about" said the old man catching Arthur's attention again.

"No, I'm not" he defended.

"Well you just said..." began Uncle but he was soon stopped by Morgan.

"Hey, I'll do it...as long as you ride with us"

Arthur stood beside Bill and Charles, who continued to move their eyes from one to another.

"I got a serious medical condition" said the old man.

"Yes, you're a compulsive liar" Arthur laughed.

"No need to be like that. Charles, have I ever lied to you?" Uncle asked.

Now Julia was beside Arthur who gave her his half-smoked cigarette that she took willingly and brought to her lips.

"I hardly know you" the man answered frowning.

"Exactly. Now you boys should do this, it's easy...and I'll only take a small commission for my information..." said Uncle while Charles looked at Julia confused making her chuckle.

"...but it's now or never" finished Uncle, but his words weren't convincing anyone.

"Then it's never" answered Arthur and did to walk away but stopped after a few steps.

Julia, Bill and Charles looked at Uncle and Arthur waiting for them for a proper answer.

Then, after he invoked God's help, Uncle sighed in a resigned way.

"Fine, I'll do it" he said in the end while Julia heard Arthur laugh.

"Well, what is it?" he asked.

2It's a supply wagon carrying payroll but very briefly unguarded apparently as it passes thought a crossroads near here where there's an old ruined church before it connects with the rest of the wagon train. Very easy pickings" said Uncle while he walked towards the horses and got on his own.

"And who are these payrolls for?" asked Julia catching the attention.

Uncles huffed.

"Some poor unconsidered miners, I believe..." he answered.

"I mean, for who these men work?" she asked again.

"Oh, well...I didn't hear a name...maybe the government" said Uncle not convinced at all.

"As long as we get paid or you get shot I'm happy" said Arthur looking at Uncle.

Then they all moved towards their horses while Uncle continued to mock Arthur.

"How you get wind of this, old man?" asked Bill while they headed out of camp.

"Well, while you boys been off fishing or playing lawmen or whatever the hell you've been doing, I've been getting down to business"

"Finding the nearest grog house" mocked Williamson.

"Hey, if you don't want in on this, Williamson, that's fine by me. Do us all a favor. Head home"

"Just give it a rest, you two" said Arthur sighing.

"Just have a little faith for once, will ya?" said Uncle with a sort of offended tone.

"Oh, please. Not you too with the faith" groaned Julia rolling her eyes.

"You got a problem with that?" asked Uncle peering at her from his shoulder.

"Of course I have. I wouldn't hear talking so much about faith even in church" answered Julia.

"Well, it's what Dutch's been telling us for weeks now" replied the old man.

"According to Dutch we should all close our eyes and let him lead us to salvation. It's a pity he lost himself" said Julia making Uncle chuckle.

He was the first one who didn't find her words against Dutch provocative and offending. Maybe the old man was old enough to recognize a lost cause. And Van der Linde was one for sure.

"Well, this is my plan and I can tell you this is gonna be easy and successful"

"Funny how are always the ones who do nothing to have the best plan ever thought" mocked Julia and this time Arthur was the one who chuckled.

After a while, they reached the road, just a little bit further from their camp and this wasn't something Julia liked.

If this would have gone wrong, and something made her think it was exactly how it would have ended up, they were way too much close.

"Okay, hold up here" said Uncle.

"We should cover our faces" said Charles.

The first words he said since they had left camp.

"They'll be passing thought the crossroads up ahead" said Uncle while everyone covered his face.

Julia took Arthur's neckerchief from her bag and quickly tied it behind her neck and raised it over her nose.

"When?" asked Bill.

"Soon, Williamson. Christssake. It should be due any time now" answered the old man annoyed.

"Let's keep this quiet and clean. Nobody needs to die here" said Charles wisely.

It was just a matter of seconds and then they could see a wagon in the distance, heading towards them.

"There. You see gentlemen? Just like clockwork" said Uncle and soon after spurred his horse towards the wagon.

The others followed him and after Julia exchanged a look with Arthur, they did the same.

They reached the wagon just when he turned left, ignoring the first Williamson's attempt to stop it by yelling at it.

"I said: stop the damn wagon!" he yelled again and this time the driver accomplished, pushed by the desire of not being shot by the man.

Uncle and Bill were on the left of the wagon, both of them had their guns pointed at the two men, while Charles was on the right, his gun still in his holster. Julia got closer to him while Arthur stayed behind the wagon.

"Now, don't try anything stupid and we won't do anything unkind" said Williamson in a not necessarily loud tone.

"You know boys...I...I don't want to get shot, but this is a mistake. I work for "Cornwall Kerosene&Tar"...Mr. Leviticus Cornwall"

Julia's eyes widened at the man's words and quickly turned to look at Arthur who rubbed his forehead.

"Oh, great..."

"So you know him?" asked the man while Julia heard Bill laugh.

Idiot, she thought.

"Who doesn't?" asked Charles in a low tone.

"You knew it was Cornwall's men's payrolls?" asked Julia at Uncle.

"I hear he's rich enough to share the wealth around and not miss it too much" said Bill ignoring Julia and the same did Uncle.

"Oh, he'll miss it" replied the man.

"Okay, one of you check out round the back" said Arthur cutting them off.

Julia turned and looked at him in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" she asked while Charles got down his horse and reached the back of the wagon.

"We started this we finish it" he said.

Julia was about to open her mouth when Charles interrupted her.

"Arthur, help me out here"

He jumped into the wagon and checked the smaller trunks while Arthur checked the big one.

Julia looked around nervously, not sure if she should've stopped them or not.

"Okay, we're looking good. Must be nearly a thousand here" said Arthur, but in that same moment Julia heard something behind them and turning around she saw a dozen of men riding towards them.

"Arthur!" yelled Julia catching their attention and then pointed at the men.

"Ahh, great" said Morgan.

"Let's go" said Charles jumping down the wagon.

"Arthur let's go!" repeated Uncle.

Julia waited for him to get on his horse and then she set off following the others.

The men behind them started to shoot at them and Julia lowered her head and tried to turn and shoot in turn, noticing that Arthur had already began.

"We should have left!" she yelled shooting to a man.

"And leave all that money there?" asked Uncle.

"If you get killed you won't be able to spend it anyway, old man!" answered Julia.

"Just shoot those bastards!" yelled Williamson shooting a couple of times but without hitting anyone.

They continued to run, not sure where exactly they were heading and, in the meantime, they tried to kill their chasers.

"Quick. Get off the trail into the woods" said Uncle catching Julia's attention who was busy killing those men.

"Let's shake them and get back to camp" said again the old man while running among the trees.

"No, we need to find a place to lie low. We can't risk leading Cornwall's men to camp" yelled Arthur.

They continued to ride until they got out the woods and Julia could not see Cornwall's men behind them anymore.

They reached an old and abandoned ranch where Uncle suggested to hide.

They all got down their horses and send them away, then looked around for a moment and got into the small barn.

"Alright, let's get outta sight. Come on" said Arthur pushing Julia by her waist into the barn.

"We'll stay until dark and then we'll sneak outta here" he added while Bill and Charles took position to keep watch.

"You knew it was Cornwall's men's payrolls?" asked Julia to Uncle.

"Of course not. But I don't see where the problem..."

"The problem is, old man, that Cornwall is paying half a country to get his hands on you and kill you one after the other! We had to leave!" yelled Julia.

"Calm down, would you? We're safe for now and I think we should rest until it's safe to leave" said Uncle sitting on the ground.

Julia tried to jump on him, but Arthur stopped her by grabbing her.

"I'm risking my life to save yours, you lazy son of a bitch! Next time you hear something like that, just ignore it! I prefer you do nothing rather than endanger us!"

Uncle snorted and lowered his hat on his eyes, while Julia freed herself from Arthur's arms, even if so welcoming, and walked towards the end of the barn, looking outside.

Arthur was behind her while she tried to calm down by taking deep breaths.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"No, I'm not. Every time I think you can be safe for a while you mess things up" she answered looking away from him.

"How was your chat with the Pinkertons?" he asked calmly.

Julia sighed and turned her head looking at him.

"They took my advice to go search the Bayou while others will stay here and into town. By the way, I think it's better if none of you go there for a while unless you need supplies. I'm not sure of how many of you they would recognize" she answered.

"Okay, it seems good" Arthur said in a cheerful voice.

"It was, now...with this...I have to report this tomorrow and they'll surely will not send their agents in the Bayou anymore" said Julia sitting down and Arthur did the same.

"You clever, you'll find a way out. I know, we should have left but it would be impossible to convince Bill and Uncle to give up on the job" he explained.

Julia nodded. She knew he was right but he could have tried at least.

"I think I'm gonna rest for a while" said Arthur lowering his hat just as Uncle did.

"I'll keep Charles company" Julia said looking at the man in the distance, focused on watching out of the barn.

And so, they waited until the sun set and dark came. But Julia noticed something strange. The house near the barn wasn't totally in the dark as she expected it to be. There was someone because the lanterns outside were lit.

She gently pushed Arthur's head away from her shoulder and then stood up, reaching Charles.

"Do you think it's them in there?" asked Charles when she was near enough.

"I don't think so. Maybe they're just squatters" answered Julia in a low tone.

"You were right. We should have left. It seemed this man, Cornwall has his hands on all the country" said Charles looing outside.

"Indeed, he has. But this doesn't mean we have to challenge him every time we get the chance"

They heard a sigh behind them and turning around they saw Arthur who had just woke up.

"Alright...let's try and get outta here" he said getting up.

Uncle woke up soon after and lazily got up while Arthur woke up Bill.

Uncle walked towards Arthur ready to excuse himself for the situation he got them into, but Arthur stopped him before he could say a word.

"Look, I was just trying..."

"Shut up. Someone it's coming" said Charles catching their attention.

Julia looked towards the house and now three men were walking towards the door.

They all reached Charles and observed the men knocking at the door.

"Get out here" said one of the men.

"Get out here right now, I know you're in there" yelled again the man.

"Let's just...keep calm...see what happens" said Arthur while everyone took cover.

"Don't shoot!" said someone from the house.

"Open it up!" insisted the man.

"I ain't got, I ain't got nothing to rob, mister"

The man opened the door, his hands over his head.

"Is this your place?" asked another man.

"Kinda"

"And you didn't hear nothing?"

"I-I-I...maybe I heard some noises out by the barn a while ago?" said the man in a shaky voice.

The man nodded so the other got into the house again.

"Alright. Cooperforth, Lowe...go checkout the...the barn" ordered a man.

The other two men nodded and then headed towards the barn.

Julia was still looking at them when she felt herself being pulled by her arm and turning around, she saw Arthur a few inches from her face, with a finger on his lips.

She nodded and turned so she could spy on the man who had entered the barn and now was checking it with his lamp.

"Place look empty to me" said the man to the other who was checking the back of the barn.

"Now, the old guy up there is full of crap" he added.

"Yeah, I don't think they're here. Don't see any horses" said the other from outside.

"Come on. Let's head back" said again the man turning around.

"Boss! Place is empty!" he yelled walking towards the door, but then all of them hear a noise and turned their head towards Bill who had pushed an old lantern on the ground.

"Shit!" he swore.

The man had just turned around that Charles shot him. It took just a few moments before they hear shooting from the distance.

"Looks like we're shooting our way outta here" said Uncle taking position and the same did the others.

As Julia had thought, those men weren't the only ones who were looking for them, in fact, a dozen more were coming out from behind the house.

She started to shoot, but with only her guns it was difficult for her to hit them unless they were close.

"Here, take this" said Arthur lending her one of his rifles.

She took it and thanked him with a gesture of her head before she continued to shoot.

"We got more of the bastards on this side" yelled Bill from Julia's right.

"Where are they all coming from?" said Charles reaching Bill to help him.

"Looks like Mr. Cornwall's gone and upped his security" said Arthur and soon reached the others on the right.

She was shooting the last one coming from behind the house when she saw more coming from her left, so she reached Uncle and helped him.

They were all focused on shooting when suddenly Julia noticed a warm light coming from her right and turning around she saw a small fire that soon enough spread and reached the wood of the barn.

"The place's on fire!" she yelled catching Arthur attention.

"The oil form that lantern!" he said continuing to shoot.

Julia ran towards it to see if she could do something to stop it, but it was too late. The fire was already burning the small building. They needed to get out of there, but first, they had to kill those men.

Julia recharged Arthur's rifle and continued to shoot, beside her there was Charles.

"Nicely done Bill. They teach you that move in the army, too?" he said.

"Can't you keep your feet still for ten goddamn seconds?" added Uncle.

"You got us into this" answered the man.

"But you won't listen to me and instead...Rob. Leviticus. Fucking. Cornwall. Right?" said Julia, at every word she fired a shot.

"I didn't know we were robbing Cornwall, alright?" said the old man.

"If we don't get outta here soon, we're charcoal" said Arthur.

Julia knew he was right without even look at the big fire near her, she could feel the warmth of it.

Suddenly there was a loud noise and looking at the ceiling they sat it partially coming down.

"Come on, old man!" yelled Bill running towards the back of the barn and by using his rifle, he broke some boards and got out the building.

Uncle did the same and after him Charles and Arthur.

"Come on" said the latter helping Julia getting out just before another breakdown.

They ran into the woods while Cornwall's men continued to shoot at them.

Julia could feel her heart racing, her blood pumping in her veins, and her head pulse.

While running Julia saw their horses behind some trees and after a second, she recognized Wind Catcher that, noticing her, started to draw closer to her.

"No, boy stay there! I'll catch up with you later" she said stopping the horse with a gesture.

When they passed the river, they all stopped to catch a breath.

"Let's split up a bit, try to confuse 'em...Arthur with me" said Uncle.

Arthur looked at Julia who nodded and then ran again towards the trees in front of her.

With the corner of her eyes, she saw Charles and Bill go right while Arthur and Uncle went left.

She preferred to stay alone and avoid catching any attention. If someone would have found her, at least the others were safe.

She found a big fallen tree behind which she hid and then waited.

Julia tried to steady her breath and after a couple of seconds, she succeeded. She stretched her ears, trying to catch any noise and after what seemed an eternity, she heard some shooting.

She started to run towards the shooting when finally she saw Arthur and Charles.

She took cover behind a tree and took out her pistols.

"You boys can't stay out of trouble, can you?" she said shooting a man in his stomach and chest.

One after the other they killed every one of them, even if the dark wasn't exactly helping them.

Julia took cover again to recharge her pistols, but she didn't see the man approaching her, and before she could do anything the man shot, hitting her leg, right up her knee.

She fell in the ground with a cry, her pistols fell from her hands that instead went to the fresh wound.

The man was ready to shoot again when his head blew up and the body fell onto the ground.

Charles quickly reached her and kneeled near her looking at her leg.

"We need to get you out of here" he said.

"No, finish them. I'll be fine" Julia said taking Arthur's neckerchief from her neck and quickly tied it tightly around her leg.

Charles got up and shot two other men before he looked over at Julia who was charging her pistols.

She wouldn't stay there and let those bastards kill her.

Suddenly, the shooting stopped and the air filled with silence and smell of blood.

"We all still alive?" asked Arthur.

"Just about..." answered Bill.

"Arthur!" called Charles.

Arthur and the others reached Julia who was now grabbing her leg for the sharp pain.

"What happened?" Arthur asked kneeling near her.

He looked at her leg and then his eyes met hers.

Just a bastard who shot me. Charles blew up his head she said trying to belittle the gravity of her wound, but her leg felt like fire.

"We need to get you to camp" said Arthur ready to help her on her feet.

"No, it's too dangerous to go back now" said Julia.

"You need a doctor" said Charles.

"I can't go into town right now. Not in these conditions and after this mess and you can't either. Pinkertons are waiting for you there" insisted Julia and then she asked Arthur to help her up.

He accomplished, lifting her from her waist. Julia could not put her foot down, but fortunately Arthur and Charles kept her up.

"You two get the hell out of here, I'll deal with you later" said Arthur in a frightening tone to Uncle.

"We got some money, didn't we?" asked the man.

Arthur left Julia who fell into Charles's arms and looked at the man as he grasped Uncle from his shirt.

"If it wasn't for Dutch, I would've killed you by now. Get the hell out of here. You too Charles" said Arthur coming back to Julia.

"What about her?" he asked.

"I'm not a child, I can handle this" she answered and whistle, calling Wind Catcher.

The horse arrived soon after and with the two men's help, Julia got on her horse.

"You good?" asked Arthur.

"For now" Julia moaned.

Arthur and Charles got on their horses in turn.

"Charles, go. Arthur, we need to find a place to set a camp" said Julia trying not to cry every time Wind Catcher moved.

Charles nodded and then left unwillingly.

Arthur got beside Julia and looked at her concerned.

"You sure you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah. But I need to get the bullet out" she answered screwing her face.

Arthur nodded.

"Follow me. I know a place where we can hide"

...

HI EVERYONE!

So, it seems our Julia is not invincible after all. But don't worry, she'll be alright for a while at least *smiley devil emoticon*

However, I wanted to thank all of you for the support! I can't believe how many views and sweet comments I'm receiving.

One of you also asked me if I do request and at the moment I don't because I'm quite busy with this story and other things.

BUT, if you have any idea that you'd like to share with me I'll think about it and maybe write some request when I'll have some time.

I'll post the new chapter next week, as usual.

KISSES!