All I'm going to say about this one is, well, at least it's not right before Christmas!

Chapter 48: Leaving

Once Arthur finished running letters for Beau and Penelope again, he stopped by the post office to see if he had any himself. He smiled when he got one from Hamish, saying that Arthur and Isaac were certainly welcome to come up for a few days to hunt. Or longer, given the circumstances Arthur described in his previous letter. Hamish understood Arthur's desire to get out of the south.

It wasn't that Arthur didn't want to stick with Dutch and see these jobs through to the end. He cared about the gang and wanted to help. But he was worried. Things were getting too complicated, and he couldn't risk his son getting caught up in the middle of a shootout.

Really, he wanted to take a group north. The whole gang, if he could, but there was no way Dutch would just abandon this job while there was still money to be made. But Abigail and Jack, if John had to stay for the job. Tilly, since she didn't like being down here. Lenny, maybe Mary-Beth if she wanted to join them. Annabelle, since the south clearly didn't agree with her.

There were some spots in the mountains that would make a good camp, and they wouldn't starve during the summer months. Deer and elk were plentiful, and the lake was full of fish.

He wished he could bring Charles, but camp had to eat. If he did this, the second hardest part would be leaving Charles behind.

The hardest would be telling Dutch.

When he got back to camp, Dutch was planning with Micah again. Arthur tried to avoid eye contact as he walked to his tent, but Micah spotted him. "Morgan! We need you for a job."

"I'm not sure about this, Mr. Bell," Dutch said.

"I agree," Annabelle said. "It's an unnecessary risk. Why would we want peace with O'Driscolls anyway?"

"What?" Arthur said.

"Besides, it's a trap," Hosea said.

Micah wouldn't relent. "But what do we have to risk finding out?"

"Just what the hell is going on?" Arthur said.

Dutch sighed. "Mr. Pearson ran into some O'Driscolls on the road, and apparently they want to set up a peace talk. Which is why I was waiting for you to get back, son."

"You see, you'll cover us while Dutch and I-" Micah started to say, but Dutch cut him off.

"No. I waited for Arthur to see if he thought it was worth the risk."

Arthur did get some enjoyment out of how Micah's face fell at that news. Micah may be enjoying his new position while they were in the south, but he knew nothing about their feud with the O'Driscolls.

"Now, if you think we should try for peace, then we will," Dutch said. "But if not…"

Arthur shook his head. "Hosea is right. It's probably a trap."

"Come on, Morgan," Micah said. "You won't even be the one in danger! If it's a trap, you can shoot the lot of them."

"It's not worth it. Knowing Colm, he'll have a lookout, too," Arthur said. He'd kept a man on the roof of that farmhouse when they had him, after all.

"I agree," Hosea said.

"But-"

"It's decided, Micah," Dutch said. "Pearson! Where exactly did you see these O'Driscolls?"

"On the way into Rhodes."

"We need to post extra guards," Dutch said. "They obviously know we're down here. We need to start wrapping up with these two families. Do we have anything?"

"So, Bill and I have been drinking with them Grays," Micah said. "They blame the Braithwaites for the tobacco fields and don't suspect a thing."

"Good. Keep at it, see if they have any more financial opportunities for us."

"They were talking about increasing security."

Dutch noticed Arthur still lingering at the side and said, "Arthur, have you learned anything new about the Grays?"

"Just that the Gray kid is probably going to grab his girlfriend and get out of town," Arthur said. "Probably for the best. Can we talk, Dutch?"

"Sure," Dutch said. But Micah didn't move.

"Alone?"

"Of course. Excuse us, Mr. Bell."

"Sure, boss," Micah said, but Arthur noticed how he lingered pretty close. Arthur didn't want to know what Micah would whisper in Dutch's ear once he left.

Dutch invited Arthur into his tent. "Now, what is it, Arthur?"

"I'm thinking about taking a trip into the mountains. Get out of camp for a bit with Isaac. And now with O'Driscolls in the area, I think it might be best if I stay up there a while."

"For how long?" Dutch said with a frown.

"I don't know," Arthur said. "A week or so, maybe longer."

"Arthur, I don't think you need to be too worried about these O'Driscolls. Between your gun skills and the camp guards-"

"It ain't just that, Dutch. It's the people down here and this job that's got me worried."

"What do you mean? The job is fine."

"It just feels like we're getting used. Sooner or later they're going to figure out we're involved. Maybe I can scout out some places in the mountains for us to hide in case this goes bad."

"They won't find out! Hosea and I have this under control. Are you doubting us, Arthur?"

"No! Of course not, you and Hosea know what you're doing. I just… listen, in Blackwater-"

"Don't bring up Blackwater again, Arthur. I've heard enough about it from Anna and Hosea," Dutch said.

"I'm not talking about the ferry job, exactly," Arthur said. "But we didn't have a good exit strategy when it went wrong. The camp was just packing up when I went to help in town, and a lot got left behind. If I take some folk now, the ones that ain't safe down here, and set up a new camp somewhere else, then you can join us when you're done."

"So, now you're taking part of the gang into the mountains?"

"Not yet, but if some of them want-"

"Arthur, we can't be splitting up the gang right now!" Dutch said. "It's too dangerous with all these bounty hunters and Pinkertons around."

"Okay, I get it," Arthur said. He really didn't want to start a fight in the middle of camp. "I'll still do some scouting up north, though. We don't want to stay in the south forever."

"Of course not," Dutch said, patting him on the shoulder. Dismissing him.

"I'll go try to find a deer or two before I go, just so the camp doesn't run out of meat," he said, a small attempt to lighten the mood.

But he didn't end up hunting right away. Instead, he walked through the woods and out into the fields along the lake. He noticed Micah riding out, probably to find more money to impress Dutch, but for whatever reason he turned north instead of heading into town.

Charles found him sitting on an old stone wall outside a crumbling farmhouse.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'll be fine," Arthur said.

Charles sat down next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "What were you talking to Dutch about?"

Arthur sighed. "I was thinking it might be best to find a new camp. Dutch wasn't too happy about it."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. But I'm scared for my son. I don't want him to end up in another situation like Blackwater. But I don't want Dutch to think I'm just running off. What will happen then? We're a family! I don't want to lose that either."

"I'm sure Dutch will understand," Charles said.

"I don't know. He doesn't like it when the gang splits up or someone goes off on their own for a while. Besides Trelawny."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm taking Isaac on a little hunting trip. Talk to him about leaving for a bit, just until this whole job with the Grays and Braithwaites is over. We have a friend, Hamish, who will let us stay for a while. I… I have to put him first, Charles. I don't want to leave-"

"I know," Charles said. "If I didn't think these fools would starve with both of us gone, I'd come with you."

Arthur smiled, leaning into Charles. "I love you."

Charles froze under him. Shit, did he just screw up?

"I don't mean to put any pressure on you," Arthur quickly said. "You don't have to say it back."

Charles dropped his head into his hands, and Arthur's heart dropped. But after a moment, he said, "I don't think I've ever said that to anyone. I'm… not sure if I'm there yet."

"Hey, that's okay."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize," Arthur said. "I just realized how I felt, and wanted you to know."

Charles sat silently with Arthur for a bit before saying, "I'm not sure what to do now."

"Look, I'll be up at O'Creagh's Run with Isaac for a while. Maybe you could come up with us for a few days? I'm sure the gang won't starve just yet."

"It might be better if I stay here," Charles said, staring down at his hands.

"Okay," Arthur said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He trudged back towards camp, praying he hadn't made a mistake. Maybe he shouldn't have sprung an 'I love you' on Charles right before leaving, but he didn't want to leave without saying it!

"Maybe I can come up for a visit?" Charles called after him. "If you plan to stay for a while, that is."

Arthur turned back to him. "Yeah, I'd like that. I'll write."

Okay, he didn't completely screw up. Charles just needed some time. He understood.

When he got back to camp with a deer for Pearson, though, he focused on finding Isaac. It took him a while to spot him, sitting with Sean and Lenny by the shore.

"Look, I tried it, and it's not for me," Sean said.

"Come on, Sean," Lenny said. "I know you can do it."

"It hurts my head, looking at that book."

"You got the letters, though!" Lenny said.

"Yeah, those big letters you drew, sure. But not words!"

"Maybe you need glasses," Isaac said.

"Or I could just not read," Sean said.

"Maybe glasses would help you shoot better," Arthur said with a wide grin.

"Very funny, English."

"Hey, Isaac. I was thinking you and I could go visit Hamish for a bit. He sent a letter inviting us up for a hunt."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I figure if we head out now, maybe camp near Emerald Ranch, we can be up there late tomorrow morning."

"You're just stealing him away, is that it?" Sean said.

"That's right," Arthur said. "Why? You want to come hunt rams in the mountains with us?"

"And get blood all over my clothes like you two? No, I'll stay here," Sean said. "Don't know what you like about hunting anyway."

"I like eating," said Arthur. "Maybe you should try a bit while Isaac and I are away."

"What? You taking Charles with you?" Sean asked.

"No."

"Then, I don't need to hunt, do I?"

"He's got you there, Arthur," Lenny said.

"Maybe I'll tell Charles to force you to hunt!" Arthur said, only half-kidding.

Arthur stopped by Hosea's tent before leaving to let him know his plan. The whole plan. He promised to write, too, once he knew how long he'd be gone, and Hosea hugged him and shared his approval. And then they were off.

"So, Lenny is trying to teach Sean how to read?" Arthur asked as they trotted along the road.

"He found out Sean couldn't," Isaac said. "Sean thinks it's too much work."

"Maybe he knows if he can read, Pearson will send him out with the shopping list," Arthur said.

"And read letters," Isaac said. "Or the newspaper."

"At least he can recognize the name Tacitus Kilgore, or he never would have found us that time he got lost!"

Hosea didn't push anyone too hard to learn to read, except for Arthur, John, and Tilly when they were kids, but he did make sure everyone could sound out town names and their aliases.

"I can't wait to see Hamish," Isaac said, changing the subject. "You think we'll go after another bear or some wolves?"

"I guess we'll have to see what big animals are bothering him this time. I'm sure he'll have us take another swing at the Tyrant, if he hasn't caught it by now," Arthur said.

"I'm glad we're going to see him. Camp is nice, but it's way too hot."

"I agree."

They continued up into the Heartlands, and soon they were both pulling out their coats for the first time in several weeks as the sun began to set. Isaac got a rabbit with his bow, and they cooked it over the fire for dinner.

But when Isaac went to sleep in his tent, Arthur stayed up, his journal open to a blank page to compose a letter to Dutch.

He just needed to be sure Dutch understood him. That it was temporary, and not Arthur abandoning the gang. Years earlier, when Arthur considered leaving the gang to raise Isaac in an honest life, Dutch hadn't initially taken it well. He came around, mostly because Arthur almost died. But while Arthur hadn't wanted to leave the gang during his recovery, and didn't really have a reason to leave during the years that followed, he never forgot the conversation.

So, why couldn't he think of the right words now?

Arthur started the letter three times on three different pages, but it still didn't seem right. Maybe he should just go to sleep. Spend a few days with Hamish, and try again.

Arthur stuffed his journal in his satchel, and crawled into his bedroll. He didn't sleep long. As he was blinking in the early dawn light, trying to figure out why there were footsteps approaching their camp.

"Well, look what we have here!" an Irish man said, leaning into the tent entrance and revealing his green neckerchief and black duster coat. "Seems he wasn't leading us on."

Arthur scrambled for his gun, but it was too late. The O'Driscoll slammed the butt of his rifle into Arthur's head, and his vision swam. "Isaac, run!" he tried to shout, but the rifle hit him in the head again.

He felt fuzzy and wrong when he woke up, his body aching. The reason became clear when one of the O'Driscolls kicked him again, laughing. But he couldn't worry about that. He had to find out what happened to Isaac!

He caught a glimpse of Isaac just past the O'Driscolls. They had him hogtied and gagged, but another kick sent him deep into unconsciousness again.

His vision spun when he woke up for the second time, thankfully left alone. The O'Driscolls were crowded around Boadicea, trying to attach something to her saddle. His leg, he realized, wrapped up in one of their neckerchiefs. They were sending a message to Dutch. Or would, if Boadicea didn't kick them first.

Arthur turned his head, trying to survey the camp, and saw Isaac. Staring at him, tears in his eyes. Still bound.

They hadn't tied Arthur as much, just binding his hands in front of him because he couldn't run. He shuffled over to Isaac and untied his gag, holding a finger to his lips to keep him quiet.

"I'm going to untie you, and you are going to get out of here," he whispered.

"No, Pa-"

"You are going to get Dutch and get the rescue party, okay?" Arthur said.

Isaac nodded, still crying. Arthur got to work on his ropes. The knots were tight, but he was able to get his fingers in between the ropes while the O'Driscolls were still distracted with Bo.

"Go," he urged again. Isaac crawled away towards the edge of camp, just as the O'Driscolls managed to get his leg on Boadicea.

"Hey, the kid is escaping! Shoot him!"

"No!" Arthur shouted, lunging at the one O'Driscoll raising his gun. Another dragged him back.

"I got him!" one said, and shot at Isaac. Shot his son! In the leg!

Isaac went down with a yell, and Arthur struggled against his captors. "Let him go! He's just a boy. Let him go!"

"Did I kill you?" the O'Driscoll said to Isaac, and Isaac groaned. He wasn't dead. His leg was bleeding, but he wasn't dead. He could fix it! Fix it and get his son back home!

"Please, let him go," Arthur said again. "You got me. Colm will be happy. I told him to run! Just let him go. Send him to Dutch with your message!"

"Trying to get your kid to escape, huh?" the O'Driscoll said. "Well, I guess we need to teach you a lesson!"

He shoved the barrel into Isaac's shoulder, and pulled the trigger.

Arthur screamed, fighting against his captors as Isaac went limp. "What the hell did you do?" another asked. "We're not supposed to kill them!"

"He ain't dead! Yet. Let's pack this up and send that horse back. We need to get this trap set up."

Arthur kept struggling to get to Isaac until they knocked him out again.

Boadicea ran back towards their home, her owner's fake leg bouncing in her saddle bag. She didn't know why those men grabbed her and let her go, but they had to fire their guns at her feet to get her to leave Arthur.

She didn't see the rope before it fell on her neck, but she fought as soon as it tightened. Pulled against the rope and kicked out, but the man held fast. That horrid man from camp. With his yellow mustache and large white hat and poor horse named Baylock who always came back to camp with marks on his sides.

"Let's go, you horrid beast," he said, dragging her away from camp. Away from help. He shoved her into an old shed and hitched her to a post tight, too tight. "You're going to wait here for a while. Can't let the boss know what happened to Morgan yet."

He closed the door and barred it shut, leaving her alone in the dark.