When you have two papers and a poem due in a week and you've started neither of them... good thing I keep two chapters ahead on this story as a safety net HAHA!

Chapter 40: Scarlett Meadows

Annabelle woke to the sunrise trickling in between the tent flaps. She groaned and buried her head into Dutch's chest. He chuckled, wrapping an arm around her back.

"You awake?" he asked.

"No."

"That's too bad," Dutch said. "If you are awake, we can do some fun activities."

"Like what?" she asked with a grin.

"Oh, it doesn't matter," he said, kissing her neck. "We can't do them if you're still sleeping."

"Stop it," she said, rolling onto her back. Laughing, joking, not serious at all. He knew it, too, following her to kiss down her neck to her collarbone. "People are starting to wake up."

"And? We'll be quiet?"

"We're in a tent, they'll hear us," she giggled.

"No they won't!"

"Yes, we will!" Arthur said, his voice muffled as it came through the canvas.

"Shut up, Arthur!" Dutch called back.

"We heard you last night!" Arthur said.

Dutch frowned. "Oops," he said. "I guess we aren't as discreet as I thought."

"You think?" she said, still laughing.

"I can't help it," he said. "Though, I suppose we can hold off. Maybe get a hotel room for the night."

"Just not this night," she said. "I have a robbery to attend."

"What robbery?"

"John brought me in on a train of rich tourists coming through Scarlett Meadows tonight."

"Sounds promising," Dutch said. He leaned down to capture her lips in his own.

"It should be," she said. "After all, rich city folk are terrified of guns."

"Shall we get some coffee and spare camp and more noises?" Dutch asked.

"Bring me one? I'm not ready to get up yet."

"Of course," Dutch said, swooping in for one last kiss before leaving the tent.

Annabelle stretched her legs, then curled up in the cot again. She and Dutch were sharing a small, single person cot since their nice, large one got left behind when they abandoned Blackwater. The gang's unorganized packing of the wagons left no room for it, but for the moment, they were making do. She knew Dutch not-so-secretly enjoyed cuddling.

"Here you are," Dutch said, swooping in with a steaming cup of coffee. "My lady."

"Thank you," she said, taking a sip. It was slightly burnt, but in a way almost familiar to their camp. "How are we doing? The gang, I mean, and heading back west."

"Oh, Anna, it's too soon to try heading west," Dutch said.

"I know, I know," she said. "But seriously, how are we doing?"

"We're making money again, that's for sure. The big problem right now is getting past Blackwater. The mountain passes are treacherous, especially with all our wagons. I'm still looking at New Austin, though perhaps that is too close to Blackwater. We could find some land in California."

"Maybe we could send some of the girls to scout around Blackwater?" she said. "See how things are?"

"I don't know," Dutch said, sitting down on the edge of the cot. "It's still too hectic over in Great Plains. If one of the girls got recognized, what could we do? We can't exactly ride into Blackwater."

It was true, but Annabelle wondered how long they should wait before they try. And how long could they wait? They hadn't come all that far from Blackwater, after all. But that could be a problem for another day. "What do you have planned while I'm away?"

"Oh, you know. Maybe some Miller. Your favorite," Dutch said, nudging her side.

"Ah, of course. So, I go earn us money and you read?"

"I'll earn the money next time," Dutch laughed. "Maybe take a trip into Valentine, see what I can dig up."

"Maybe I'll join you," Annabelle said. "Now, I need to get up and check in with John. Make sure everything is good for tonight."

"Oh, already?" Dutch said.

"Thanks for the coffee," she said, pulling on a pair of jeans and heading outside.

She looked around for John, finding him over by the cliff with his plans. "Hey, Anna," John said.

"Morning, John. We ready?"

"I think so. I'm going to check with the station to make sure the train is still on time. Want to meet at the wagon around sunset?"

"Sounds good," Annabelle said. "Do we need anything else?"

"Maybe some more ammo? I plan to grab some dynamite from a fence at Emerald Ranch." John unrolled a map. "I'm thinking we could place the wagon here, just past this bend. They'll be going to slow to make the turn, and should give them enough time to see the wagon and stop. Then, we'll come out of the woods and take the train."

"I'll see you there," she said. She had more than enough time to get ready, and figured she should do a few chores in the meantime. Starting with the dishes, which weren't done the night before. Which meant the food residue would be caked onto the plates. Maybe she should haul hay bales for the horses instead.

"Nice pants. Haven't seen those before," Mrs. Adler, who was next to the food wagon, said. She didn't mean it as a joke, rather she was surprised and curious.

"Thanks," Annabelle said. "I usually wear them for work nowadays, but skirts were easier with the bandages on my leg."

Mrs. Adler nodded, starting on the very dishes Annabelle had been contemplating avoiding. Instead, Annabelle decided to join her.

"How are you settling in?" Annabelle asked her.

"I'm… about how you'd expect," Mrs. Adler said. "I lost my husband and all my possessions. And now I'm living in a camp with the idiot who burned down my house."

"I'm sorry," Annabelle said quickly. "For what the O'Driscolls did, and for the idiot. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you."

"I'd rather make sure he can't bother me himself," Mrs. Adler said.

Annabelle hesitated, then said, "I can't fix your house, but I can take you into town for some new clothes, if you want."

"I'd like that," Mrs. Adler said, after thinking for a moment. "I don't have any money."

"Considering the situation, I think we can cover you, Mrs. Adler," Annabelle said.

"Please, call me Sadie," she said.

"Of course, Sadie. How about we head out as soon as the dishes are done. You can borrow one of the Tennessee Walkers if you want, or we can take the wagon."

"I'll ride," Sadie said.

They tacked up their horses soon after. Leonardo was happy to get out of camp, tossing his head and dancing in circles while they waited for Sadie.

"Nice horse," Sadie said, admiring the Arabian.

"He is," Annabelle said. "He's a little skittish, at times, but hasn't let me down yet. Did you do a lot of riding up in the Grizzlies?"

"We did some riding, but mostly we drove our wagon down the mountain to get supplies." Sadie adjusted her borrowed skirt awkwardly once she was in the saddle. "Sometimes I would ride out to do hunting when the deer and rabbits decided to avoid our homestead, but most of the time we didn't need to go far."

"Did you like living up there in the middle of nowhere?"

"I did. I grew up on a homestead in the middle of nowhere, so I guess I never cared much for conventional lifestyles." Sadie hesitated, then said, "I didn't get along with most men, particularly those who just wanted a wife to stay at home and cook for them. Jake… he was different. We both wanted simple things. Some land to live on and someone to share it with. Now I don't know what's going to happen.

"Is there anywhere you want to go? Or want to do?" Annabelle asked.

"I want to kill Colm O'Driscoll," Sadie said, her face hard and angry.

Annabelle nodded. "I want him dead, too. The world would be better for it. I just don't want to risk the gang to do it."

"Arthur said something similar to that," Sadie said.

"He saved my life," Annabelle said. "Colm wanted to kill me to hurt Dutch, but Arthur gave me time to get away. Knowing that we are all safe is important to Arthur, not revenge."

With that, they continued to Valentine in silence. At the general store, Sadie searched through the piles of skirts and dresses before finding holding up a pair of jeans. Annabelle gave her a smile of approval and a bit of cash. "Here, for the clothes. I'll be in the gun store."

She browsed a bit in the store for any new guns available, but eventually just bought some extra ammunition for the robbery. She just finished paying when there was a shout outside, followed by a gunshot.

"What the hell?" Annabelle ran outside, only to see Sadie aiming at a body on the ground, with a familiar green neckerchief, firing again and again. "Sadie!" she shouted, grabbing the revolver (when did Sadie even get a revolver?) and wrestling it out of her hands.

"He's an O'Driscoll! He deserves it!" she snarled at the corpse.

"I know, but we need to move, now!" Annabelle said, dragging her to the horses as the lawmen, slow to respond as usual, began to emerge from their office. Once she got Sadie to mount up, Annabelle led the escape away from Valentine and down towards the Dakota River.

Annabelle pulled Leo up near Flatneck Station, both she and her horse panting from the exertion. Sadie's horse wasn't much better, but the widow didn't seem affected. Her face was still tense and angry. "You alright?" Annabelle asked.

"You should have let me kill them all."

"There were more?" Annabelle asked.

"In the doctor's office. A whole bunch of them."

"Well," Annabelle said. "still, that's a lot of trouble to cause in town."

"Are you going to tell Dutch?"

"Maybe not all the details, but he should know there are O'Driscolls in town, too." She checked Sadie over for injuries, but didn't see any on her bright yellow shirt and clean blue jeans. "Nice outfit, by the way."

"Thanks. You were right, easier than a skirt," Sadie said with a smile. "I've never had luck finding mens pants that fit before, but these are just fine."

"I'm glad," Annabelle said. "The trick is buying them a little big. You don't need to worry about them staying up if you have suspenders or a belt."

"I'll remember that," Sadie said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You're a good shot, too. Maybe we can do some target practice sometime."

"I have handled a gun before, you know."

"I know. I just want to see how good you are," Annabelle said. "Shall we head back?"

Later that afternoon, once Annabelle was sure Sadie wasn't about to kill all the O'Driscolls in New Hanover single-handedly, she went to the hidden oil wagon. She heard gunshots. Drawing her own weapon, she crept closer to the sound, only to sigh when she realized it was Sean. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Going on the raid with you," Sean said.

"Does John know about this?"

"Sure!"

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"No?"

"That's what I thought."

"Come on, you're going to need guns, you're going to need men."

"Maybe we have all the men we need," Annabelle said, checking that the horses were hitched to the wagon correctly. "This needs to be done calmly and correctly. You don't seem to do calm very well."

"Oh, I can handle myself just fine," Sean insisted.

Before she could reply, John showed up. "What are you doing here, kid?"

"I'm coming, John, on the job!"

"I said you weren't coming."

"Well, Anna says I am."

"Don't put words in my mouth," Annabelle said.

"Come on, Anna? John?" Sean said.

John sighed. "What do you think?"

She considered it. Sean was young, foolish, and loud enough to warn the train of danger before it even crossed the state line, but without experience, how would he ever grow? "I'll keep an eye on him," she said, even as Sean climbed onto the wagon in the prime position of the gunner's seat. "We ready?"

"Yeah, train is due through tonight."

"Alright then. Charles?"

"I'm ready."

"Alright!" Annabelle said. "Let's do this!"

She drove the wagon while John hung off the side, directing them towards the train tracks. "Hey, are all the horses untethered?" Charles asked.

"Think so," John said.

"Good, they'll follow on behind us."

"This shouldn't be too difficult," John said to the crew. "With the wagon blocking the tracks, they'll stop for sure. And apparently, the train picks up a new team of guards at the state line, so there shouldn't be much in the way of guns to deal with."

"See, this is what I mean," Sean complained. "I disappear for a couple of weeks with old Arthur and you cut me out of all the action."

"Just the action that requires a brain," John said.

Sean laughed. "Oh, you're a funny feller, John Marston. From what folk say, you had your feet up the whole time playing sick, and fondling that new scar like you're gonna buy it breakfast in the morning."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Stay close on this, wouldn't want you getting scratched by a squirrel or something. That could put you out of commission for the rest of the year."

"Why do you have to speak so much? It's incessant," Charles said.

"Because I've still got some blood in me veins! You old bastards have forgotten how to live."

"Too bad Arthur brought you back with him," John said.

Annabelle chuckled. "I'm surprised Arthur didn't leave him in the woods."

"Arthur is a big softy, we all know it!" Sean continued. "And maybe he sees something in me you others don't! You know, my da always used to say-"

"Not the da, please!" John begged, even as Annabelle and Charles voices similar complaints.

"Fine! Damn, you three!"

"Here's good," John said. "Stop the wagon over the tracks. Remember, these are innocent folks. If we handle this right, no one needs to die." They released the horses while John checked the tracks for the incoming train, the rail vibrating just as they started to hear a distant rumbling. "Alright, we'll hide in the woods over there, just in case. We don't want to be next to this thing if it blows. Charles, can you handle the driver? Sean, you look for the baggage car. Anna and I will deal with the passengers."

The rumbling grew louder, and the headlight passed over their small covering of trees as the train rounded the bend. The train blew its whistle when the driver saw the wagon on the tracks, and the brakes screeched when he registered the contents of the wagon. It halted just before hitting the wagon, still blowing the whistle.

"Hey, what's going on here?" the driver asked, getting off the train, but Charles was already there to hit him over the head.

Annabelle and John entered the passenger car from opposite ends, John firing a gun into the air. "Everybody stay calm and nobody'll get shot!" he shouted over screams from several passengers. "Let's go, everything you got! Money! Valuables! Now!"

They had trouble with a few passengers, but a swift hit from Annabelle's gun got them to empty their pockets. The bag was filling up fast, and she was pleased with the result so far. These folk really were rich, though they had to be if they were sailing on a cruise from Saint Denis.

"I can handle this from here," John said when they reached the last car with much less people. "You should check on Sean."

"Alright," Annabelle said. Surely there were a lot of bags in the back. But when she got outside, Sean hadn't even opened the door yet.

"Found the baggage car," he said.

"It's about time," she said. But as the door opened, a guard hit Sean over the head with the end of his rifle. Annabelle barely got her own gun up in time to shoot the man in the head. More appeared, and she kept firing until the last of the guards were dead. "You alright?"

"I'm seeing double."

"Well, now you have twice the chance of hitting something," she grumbled.

"Ugh, I'm gonna have a right old lump on me head," Sean said while Annabelle went through the items. There were several money clips and some expensive jewelry. "These folks are rich alright."

"Anna, we got a problem. There's two arseholes on horseback," Sean said.

"Just two?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, they shouldn't be too hard to deal with," Annabelle said, taking position along the car.

The lawman shouted, "You men come off the train now, do you hear? We said you men come out now!"

"Walk away, you fools!" John shouted. "We got a whole lot less to lose. Run off, now, and you can live!"

"Hey, there's a few more of them turning up," Sean whispered.

"Oh, no," Annabelle said.

And then the shooting started.

For every man Annabelle downed, two more seemed to take his place. They were everywhere! Coming out of the trees on either side of the train.

"We need to get the hell out of here!" John said.

A few more shots, and they had a hole on the left side of the train. "Go!" Annabelle shouted, leaping over the railing. They whistled for their horses and mounted up, galloping back towards New Hanover. Still, they were pursued, until Annabelle led the way through the trees and fog.

"Whoa, hold up," she said, once she was sure they were safe.

Sean was smiling and laughing, despite the possible concussion. "That was fun, real fun. I can see why they call you the professionals of the outfit."

"Shut up," John said.

"At least we made some money," Sean said as Annabelle tossed their shares to them. "And what did I get? Gotta be a hundred dollars here, very nice."

"I'm glad you had fun," Annabelle said, a bit sarcastically.

"What now?" John said. "Was that a set up? Law turned up real fast."

"I don't know," Annabelle replied, shaking her head. "I don't think so, but I don't like it. They seemed like locals, but I'm not sure."

"Think they followed us from Blackwater?" Charles asked.

"I hope not," Annabelle said. "I'll talk to Dutch about it, though. Let's split up and head back to camp."

At least they had some money in their pockets. Not enough to get west, but it was a start.