Because Lenny had wanted to be a part of the next big job, he'd agreed to do what Hosea asked before hearing what it really called for. Lenny expected to be sent on a robbery, not scouting all day in the woods. He discovered too late Hosea and Charles were of the same mind that Milton was likely gathering forces in order to soon ambush them at Beaver Hollow.

It had been hours and they were still riding, so far from camp now that he wouldn't be able to get back without direction from Charles. They were following a path, no doubt, but where it led, Lenny could only guess as Charles didn't willingly offer up any information.

They stopped and investigated a clearing just off the beaten path, Charles taking long moments to decide silently if there was enough room for the wagons to park.

Lenny waited, but eventually had to break the suffering silence, "You think moving camp will put us in the clear soon, with all this law after us?"

Charles only grunted as he returned to Taima, making it obvious they would be continuing on, their search not yet ended.

"It's sure been a crazy time," Lenny went on, wanting a conversation. "but Dutch ain't led us wrong yet."

That did elicit a reaction, but not the affirming one he was hoping for. "There's a first time for everything."

Charles wasn't the only one Lenny had heard disparage Dutch's leadership in such a way, but it surprised him to hear it all the same. It made him feel like he was missing something obvious.

"Dutch is doing his best with what we've got."

Lenny received from Charles a side look full of contempt. "His best? What was all that mix-up at the bank then? Seemed like you all had it under control and then Dutch led us into an unnecessary trap."

Maybe it'd been an odd move, especially since Lenny had been the lookout and knew no alarms had been raised of their presence until Dutch and the others had rolled into town. There was something insufferably incomplete with not seeing his and Hosea's planning play out successfully that day.

"And then his refusal to accept that the Pinkertons are nearby?"

Lenny glanced over his shoulder as if speaking of them would manifest them hot on their trail.

"You believe what you want, Lenny, but Dutch's decisions lately certainly haven't been his best."

Charles left him to stew in that statement and certain doubts filled his mind to support Dutch's increased failures as of late. His disappointment hadn't made sense when he, Charles, and Javier had rescued John without direction. Lenny had heard about the clashing Dutch had had with Charles over encouraging everyone to go up to Willard's Rest instead of Beaver Hollow.

But that was all water under the bridge now, wasn't it? Dutch had sent him, Sadie and John to rescue Arthur and the others from bounty hunters. Surely that meant they were all on the same page again.

"Charles Smith!"

Lenny, having gotten used to only the sound of nature surrounding them, startled at the sudden voice. Ahead, a man with long, black hair tied back, sitting on a white and auburn pinto, waved them down.

"Paytah," Charles greeted, his brow clearing of consternation.

Paytah met them halfway and asked, "Were you on your way up to the village?"

"Not exactly. Is there trouble?"

"There's always trouble, my friend," Paytah replied with grim acceptance. "But perhaps you will mediate between Eagle Flies and the chief?"

Charles motioned to Lenny and the two of them followed Paytah on horseback. "Over what?"

Paytah's brow darkened. "Army men stole our horses many days ago and Rains Falls refused to send out men with Eagle Flies to get them back."

"Anyone killed?"

"No," Paytah denied, "but this fight between father and son has been brewing for days. I dare not step between them."

The road Paytah led them down opened up to reveal a small village of devastated people that Lenny observed might actually be worse off than them. They were morose, quiet, as the three of them slipped from their horses. There was no liveliness to be had and the people hushed when he and Charles passed by.

"They're inside—"

Paytah was interrupted by a young man storming out from a tipi. "You sit and you do nothing, Father, while our people starve."

An ancient man emerged next, slower. "Sometimes, my son, the correct, the bravest path is the least obvious and the gentlest."

"Your peace-loving ways will be our death," the young man, who Lenny presumed to be Eagle Flies, spat out. "They took our horses. If you would have given me the men, I could have recovered them."

The father, Rains Fall, told him without raising his voice, "We can not spare anyone else in senseless fighting."

"Without horses, we cannot hunt. Without hunting, we will starve."

"Even so," Rains Fall said sagely, "we must endure, for war with the army would be futile."

Eagle Flies, too inflamed to find another angle to argue, turned his back, which had a few people nearby silently reacting. "Let's go, Paytah."

The two young men strode to the only other two horses besides his and Charles, and rode off. Rains Fall stared after his son, nothing less than sorrow filling his wrinkled face. To no one in particular, he said, "I have wanted him to come around to a calmer way of thinking, but I've long discovered, we can never change a person. As time passes, we only become more of what we really are."

Because of the conversation he'd had with Charles just before they arrived in this village, this struck a chord in Lenny. He wasn't sure if he believed how much people could change, yet he wondered if that philosophy applied to Dutch. Charles had implied that change had been happening, but not in a positive way.

"Anything we can do to help, Rains Fall?" Charles asked.

"Defying the army is an impossible gamble. In my son's haste for a fight, he does not see that."

Charles nodded. "He desires a resolution that does not tear down his pride."

"Charles," Rains Fall turned. "You have given so much of your time for my people already, but would you do me another favor?"

Charles bowed his head respectfully. "Of course."

"Speak with Eagle Flies. Promise me you will discourage these violent intentions of his. I fear if he engages with the army to any degree, it will bring a hammer down on us all. He hungers for revenge when it is not the way."

Lenny couldn't resist saying, "Do we have time for this? Hosea was urgent about us getting back."

Charles leveled a glare his direction. "This will not take long." Charles addressed Rains Fall, "I will do what I can."

As they turned to leave, an army officer rode in. Having dealt with countless Lemoyne Raiders, Lenny automatically rested a hand on his gun at the sight of the uniform, but Rains Fall greeted him with a lifted hand. "Captain Monroe."

"Rains Fall." The bearded army man nodded to him and Charles with respect, but his focus swiftly returned to the chief. "I bring news."

"The vaccines?"

His expressive face fell with regret. "It involves those, among other issues. Unfortunately, the delivery has been diverted south from Valentine. Whether by Colonel Favours' direct order or some other defiant soldier acting on his own, I can't say."

Vaccines diverted? Lenny's gaze moved to a sick child nearby, cradled in the arms of a mother rocking him back and forth and speaking words he didn't understand. From all he'd heard thus far, these people couldn't take many more hits.

"There may still be hope," Monroe offered as an olive branch. "I intend to speak with the mayor of Saint Denis at length, to argue against the oil drilling. My actions may still have an effect if I can explain the situation before the paperwork is signed."

"Excuse us, gentlemen." Rains Fall led Monroe towards a less populated area of the reservation, likely to get out of hearing from the tribe members so as not to cause panic.

Charles stared after them a moment as they grew deep in discussion. Then he moved to the horses, Lenny following.

They hadn't traveled too far down the path leaving the reservation when they were stopped by the emergence of Eagle Flies and Paytah from behind the forest's trees. It amazed Lenny that they could hide so completely they weren't visible to the naked eye until they chose to be.

"Arthur Morgan helped me once before," Eagle Flies said without preamble. "Would he do so again?"

"Maybe," Charles said cagily.

"You are all at Beaver Hollow," he stated.

Lenny straightened in surprise, but Charles seemed to foresee he'd have the knowledge. "Yes."

Eagle Flies insisted, "I will make a request in person."

Charles warned, "Do not expect him to be drawn into a war that isn't ours."

"I will ask him."

"Fine," Charles relented. "But do not raise your hopes."

They must not have been too far from camp after all because, as they continued on, eventually Lenny started to recognize landmarks, even with his limited knowledge of the area. After they crossed a river, Lenny squinting ahead and thinking he recalled the path, Charles halted the company.

"What is it?" Lenny looked around, tension buzzing down his back as he reached for his shotgun.

"Shh."

Faintly, if he leaned forward on Maggie's saddle and strained his ears, Lenny could hear something. A popping of gunfire from down the river. He leaned back in his saddle, ready to spur Maggie on. Was it from camp?

As if Charles had read his mind, he pointed. "It's coming from further south, away from camp."

Lenny turned his horse. "Is it Murfrees?"

Were they attacking another innocent carriage full of people? Robbing was one thing, but what those monsters did to people, it was downright horrific. The quivering lip, trembling body and fear-struck eyes of Meredith, the caged girl they'd found in the caves, would haunt him for a long time.

Charles tilted his head, as if by listening further he could decipher the situation. "It's not Murfrees."

Paytah nodded. "Fights with them are quick and usually silent. This is a drawn out gunfight."

Lenny tensed. "Pinkertons?"

Charles replied, "I can't say for sure. But, if it is, who could they be attacking?"

"We gotta check it out," Lenny declared with decisiveness.

"Do we?" Charles said it with rare amusement, as if he found Lenny's enthusiasm humorous.

Lenny reasoned, "We wouldn't want nothing led back to camp, after all."

"We will join you," Eagle Flies offered, with Paytah nodding.

Lenny took the lead, following the sound of gunfire as it increased in volume. They kept to the river bank, the echoing onslaught of bullet sounds to their ears not easing.

It was abrupt when the gunfire stopped and happened as they reached the scene of a small battlefield. It wasn't lawmen or Murfrees or even goddamn Pinkertons.

It was O'Driscolls.

At the heart of the strewn bodies, some floating face down in the river and the others fallen on the shoreline, were Sadie and Karen, looting valuables.

"Mrs. Adler," Lenny called a greeting so as not to startle them into shooting them too. "Miss Jones."

Sadie nodded their way, but remained focused on her task of pilfering pockets.

Karen swung her rifle to rest on one shoulder and said cheerily, "Hey, boys. You stayin' as busy as us?"

"Maybe not quite as productive," Lenny told her, eyeing the massacre, impressed. "Y'all headed back to camp?"

"I don't know." Karen called back to Sadie, "You ready to take a time out on your slaughterin'?"

"They brought it on their goddamn selves," Sadie answered scornfully, but whistled to her horse and added, "But we're done here."

Charles and Eagle Flies led the company, Paytah and Sadie followed next and Lenny took up the rear with Karen, riding side-by-side.

Karen tilted her chin ahead. "So, who're our new friends?"

"Paytah and Eagle Flies," Lenny explained. "They want to ask Arthur to help them in some way in pushing back the army." He asked his own question, "So you two just killing O'Driscolls all afternoon?"

Karen shrugged. "We did some interrogating too. Apparently, Colm's set to hang in Saint Denis in the coming days, but she wants to plot with Dutch to ensure it."

They soon discovered making murder plans with Dutch would have to wait for another time because when they entered camp, it was near empty. Javier no longer held his guard post while Tilly and Jack were at the main table eating an early dinner with Pearson. Hosea and Uncle were drinking, one coffee, one beer, at the main campfire.

Sitting against a log was Bill, who Lenny couldn't tell was napping or moping with his eyes closed. Two strangers no one seemed to be alarmed by sat by themselves near the cave entrance. Dutch's tent was open, but he wasn't present, nor was Arthur, John and the rest. Lenny felt his stomach drop, fearing he'd been left out of some great heist.

They met Hosea at the campfire and he stood to greet them. "Any luck, you two?"

Lenny shrugged, feeling slightly miffed at not being included with the others' unknown job, while Charles introduced, "This is Eagle Flies. His father is Chief of the Wapiti tribe in this area."

"Hosea Matthews." Hosea's eyes lit up with curiosity and he held out a hand to shake. "How do you do?"

"Not well, sir." Eagle Flies had cooled down some on their ride over and he shook hands. "Our people, we've suffered too much. Been lied to too much. Now, they've taken our horses."

"Who has?" Hosea asked patiently.

Charles offered, "The infantry division posted at Fort Wallace. It seems to be a spiteful act of one colonel in particular who relishes in their resistance."

"I imagine, not the first act committed in bad faith," Hosea said with understanding.

Surprise lit Eagle Flies' face. "Yes."

Hosea murmured, "I see not much has changed around here, despite the passage of time."

Eagle Flies' tone grew impassioned as he continued, "Colonel Favours is a liar and a murderer. His people won't stop until we're all dead. And because of Father's hesitation, we lost the opportunity to strike and get our horses back. They are lost forever because of my father's stumble in leadership and his failure to see it as an act of war."

"No," Hosea replied concisely. "Not war. Genocide."

"Yes," Eagle Flies agreed with vehemence. "Arthur Morgan helped me before. I hoped he would be here to help me again."

"Arthur isn't here, but I'll hear you out. What is it you're seeking?"

"Help in fighting against these thefts done by the army."

"A bold measure, to be sure. And a foolish task even for such fools as us."

"They started this mess."

"And they'll finish it quick enough too," Hosea said sharply, "especially if you make yourselves out to be a threat."

"They already perceive us as one when we've done nothing to provoke it."

"Then I fear it's already too late."

"Father would have us sit on our own hands and watch our people be ruined."

"And if you piss off the army anymore, Colonel Whats-his-name won't waste any more effort with the front of brokering peace."

"You sound like my father," Eagle Flies spat out as if it were an insult.

Hosea didn't take it as such. "A wise man."

"My father has confused wisdom with weakness. Have you as well?"

Charles put in, "Colonel Favours has also redirected much needed medical supplies meant to be delivered to the tribe, including vaccines."

Hosea absorbed this information and faced Eagle Flies. "Say we help you in your endeavor. Do you expect this Favours not to retaliate?"

"If we do not act, there is no reason to think these attacks will stop either way."

"What does Favours hope to gain with antagonizing your tribe?"

"Leviticus Cornwall seeks our land for oil."

"Cornwall, is it? A hand in every pot that man has, I see," Hosea commented. "My advice, son, is that you convince your father of a departure of these parts."

"No!"

"It's not ideal and it's not fair, but to preserve your people, it's the best option."

Eagle Flies argued, "I will not concede to this lawlessness done against us, especially by a man bent on killing us."

"Favours isn't your problem," Hosea told him, matter-of-fact. "He's just the messenger. A brutal messenger, to be sure, but it's true all the same."

Eagle Flies seethed, seemingly unable to disagree with that.

"Sounds like the government is backing Cornwall in this and Favours is the man in charge of the gate-keeping. There's no getting around it. Save your fighting. It's better you accept it now before it's too late."

Bullheaded, Eagle Flies told him, "They mean to destroy us."

"Yes, and you're right to be angry for it," Hosea said without judgment. "But think, son. You want to fight a battle that you have no way in winning. They want an erasure of your existence. Wouldn't it ruin their plans more to survive, to thrive?"

"These acts against my people should not go unpunished."

"No," Hosea agreed. "But they will."

"So you refuse to help us," Eagle Flies said angrily.

"Steady now. I didn't say that," Hosea corrected. "But we won't challenge the army. Got enough heat on us without adding them to the list."

"What else is there?"

He rubbed his chin, thoughtful, carefully assessing Eagle Flies' situation. In a measured tone, he said, "We can get your vaccines, but it won't be through reckless acts of violence. That serves no gain for anyone except the men looking for excuses to tear your people apart. We'll recover your vaccines, but that's all I can offer."

Eagle Flies fumed, but managed to hold his temper from overflowing. His hands clenched into fists, trembling.

"If you accept, I want something from you in exchange."

"I have money," Eagle Flies said bitterly, "but paying for our own vaccines is nothing less than theft in itself."

"No, keep that money," Hosea agreed unexpectedly. "But perhaps you've heard from Charles some of our own plight?"

"Some."

"We seek ourselves a safer location in this area. We could use your wisdom and insight to direct us in that direction."

Eagle Flies looked around, examining the camp with a critical eye.

"We need some place that can keep us better out of sight from the law until we can make more permanent arrangements."

Lenny noticed Eagle Flies didn't ask what was wrong with Beaver Hollow, giving credence to Charles' insistence to them all that they weren't safe here.

"You will do nothing further to support my cause?" Eagle Flies finally asked with bitterness, a last desperate attempt for aid.

"No. It's just not in the cards for us."

Eagle Flies looked away, obviously seeing his planned visions fall apart without the backing from the gang and the lack of support from his own father. "We will accept the pittance you offer."

Hosea told him sagely, "You see compromise as an admittance of defeat, but ask yourself, Eagle Flies, what is better for the preservation of your people? Open war or a brief hit to your pride as you retreat and live?"

"There is glory in death," Eagle Flies said in defiance before he turned his back. "Come to the western side of Elysian Pool with the vaccines and I will provide a location for your move."

Eagle Flies and Paytah left camp and Uncle stood up from the ground, scratching his belly. "Ah, the energy of youth. I remember the days when just hate could get me through the worst of fights."

Hosea responded, "He has more reason to cling to that hate than any of us and my words won't do anything to change that, but it had to be said." Hosea turned to Charles. "Charles, you up for some mischief?"

"I already promised his father I wouldn't become involved."

"Fair enough," Hosea said easily. "Say, how many horses they lose, Charles?"

"A half dozen, maybe more."

"Hmm."

"What are you thinking?"

"I may have an idea for it, but it can wait until Arthur gets back."

Charles nodded and informed them, "I'm going to trail Eagle Flies, to make sure he doesn't jump into anything foolish."

While Charles left, Hosea kicked the bottom of Bill's boots stretched out near the fire. "Bill, look alive."

Bill was fully immersed in the bottle and not napping as it turned out. At Hosea's kick, he bemoaned his arm wound and then Dutch's lack of attention before passing out.

Hosea scowled and turned to him next. "Well, Mr. Summers. I was going to have you partner up with Bill for the recovery of those vaccines. Thought he could handle that much, but I guess not."

"I'll join you." Karen came up behind them. "Sadie's waiting for Dutch to get back so I got nothing better to do until then."

"If you're up for it, Miss Jones," Hosea said without disagreement. "I don't think it'll be particularly challenging, but you'll do a lot of good in the end."

Karen bumped Lenny's shoulder. "Hell, me and Lenny are getting used to that sort of work."

Hosea advised, "Taking those vaccines has to look like a robbery. Keep your masks up, your guns out, but don't kill anyone. And be...obnoxious about being thieves."

"Why you want us to keep them alive?" Karen asked.

"We need whosoever is on that wagon to report back that it was bandits and not any member of the tribe."

Lenny questioned, "Won't Colonel Favours know it was for the tribe if they end up with the vaccines anyway?"

Hosea answered, "I'll let their chief handle that end of it."

XXXXXXXXX

Lenny and Karen found a ridge that overlooked the road Hosea thought the army would use for transporting the vaccines. Lenny didn't think he'd ever spent this much time in close quarters alone with Karen before. Usually, her place was with the other women in camp and when Sean was alive, she'd stay near him.

While they waited, Karen asked him idly, "So, how's it goin'?"

"Small talk, Karen?" he asked her mockingly.

"Beats the deafening silence with Sadie Adler."

He sent her an exaggerated look of disbelief. "I spent the day with Charles Smith. Don't tell me about deafening silences."

She laughed and it was a refreshing sound after all the gloom of the day. "Okay. You might have got me beat there."

"Damn straight," he confirmed.

Silence fell between them for a stretch, but it was no longer uncomfortable.

Eventually, Karen commented quietly. "Sean would have never had the patience for a job like this."

"No, he sure wouldn't," Lenny agreed. "He always had to go in shooting or talking."

"Or both at the same time."

That Irishman had been stubborn and obnoxious alright. Lenny shared a smile with her, as a memory preceded it. He told her, "Did you know I was trying to teach him to read?"

"No," Karen laughed. "What the hell got you to take up something as brainless as that?"

"I don't know." He thought on it. To his credit, Sean had tried to learn, but he didn't like looking a fool even when Lenny had told him staring at a piece of paper and not understanding what was on it looked more foolish.

"I guess I thought I owed him. He was one of the few who pulled me in on jobs willingly in the beginning. The others thought me too inexperienced. Even Hosea at the time."

All Sean had to do was flap his mouth, wink with mischief and bully whoever was in charge of the operation and somehow he always got his way.

Sean had also given Lenny some advice where Jenny was concerned, but most of it had been too lewd for him to actually act on. It reminded him of something he'd been wanting an answer for, even if the truth stung.

Before he lost his courage, he blurted it out, "Karen, do you think I ever had a chance with Jenny?"

Karen rolled her eyes. "Oh brother."

"What?" he asked, defensive.

"You're still mooning after her even now?"

"I just wanted to know if..."

"Jenny loved you back?" she teased.

"No!" He was too defensive again. "But if she knew I liked her..."

She informed him, "Everyone knew you was head over heels with Jenny."

Lenny balked. "Everyone?"

"But, to answer your question," Karen eyed him. "Compared to the rest of them, I think you had a good shot."

Despite the utter meaninglessness of the sentiment, Karen's words did bolster his ego, if leaving him with a feeling of more regret of opportunities lost.

Karen interrupted his musing and pointed. "Holy shit. I think that's it."

They stood together as a little wagon rambled up the road, only two soldiers in sight at the wagon's front.

"Ready, Miss Jones?" Lenny asked, lifting his mask over his mouth.

"Hell, yes." she replied with a thrilled grin, before following his lead in concealing her mouth. "Let's make this quick."

They saddled up and rode down to where the trees pushed in close to the road, timing their interception of the wagon just right.

"Stop right there!" Lenny aimed his gun at the driver. "This is a hold up."

Karen raised her rifle. "Hand over your valuables and this won't turn into a problem."

"Fucking bandits," one muttered loudly while the other addressed him directly. "This is a US government wagon, you know that, boy?"

Lenny said cockily, "Sounds like money to me."

"Hands up or you're dead," Karen repeated.

The two men glowered, but obeyed. Lenny dropped from Maggie and closed in on the wagon.

"You idiots have taken on the wrong mark," the driver went on. "We're only transporting vaccines. They ain't of value to you."

Karen retorted, "They're sure to be of value to someone."

The second soldier insisted, "Ain't no one down here that will buy 'em."

"Shut up."

Karen kept her gun trained on them as Lenny hopped into the back of the wagon. Lenny levered a knife to pry open the first crate. It contained gauze rolls and other miscellaneous medical supplies.

"Lady, you'll regret this. The government doesn't easily forgive theft of its property."

"Got it," Lenny declared as the next box uncovered the vaccines. Lenny swiped them up and shoved them in his jacket pockets.

"Now you two," Karen gestured her rifle at the soldiers. "Give up your personals."

They started emptying their pockets and one of them remarked sadly, pocket watch in hand, "My father gave me this watch."

Lenny cringed, glad for the coverage over half his face. He'd lost the pocket watch his father had given him back in Blackwater. And although Arthur found one to replace it, it wasn't the original gift with the same sentimental hold on his heart.

But he couldn't afford sympathy if they wanted this to be a convincing robbery. They had to take everything or only the vaccines stolen would look suspicious.

"And now it's ours," Lenny yanked the few valuables out of their hands. He jumped over the side of the wagon, ready to beat a hasty retreat.

"Let's go," he ordered.

He and Karen turned their horses and bolted, increasing their pace when the soldiers scrambled for their rifles and began shooting.

They hastened off the main road and down a hunting trail, choosing paths too narrow for a wagon to follow. When Lenny was sure they were in the clear, he slowed and listened for if the soldiers were chasing them.

Karen pulled down her mask and laughed with wild abandon. "Well, I'd say we pulled that off just fine."

Her triumph was infectious and he couldn't resist his own grin. "That we did, miss. And all it took was some luck and skill."

"And stupidity," she added wryly.

His grin grew wider. "The outlaw's trinity."

She rolled her eyes at him. "You're an idiot."

He'd heard Karen make insults before so he knew this was a way she showed affection. "Come on, Karen. You know this was fun."

She relented, "You ain't wrong about that."

Karen had handled herself well, better than Bill would have, that was for sure. Lenny wondered why it'd taken this long for him to go on a raid with her. Then he remembered how she'd been occupying her time recently.

Those weeks when the strongest of the gang had gone missing, when they'd all struggled to keep up the camp's cash flow and the supplies restocked, Karen could have been by their side robbing. Instead, she'd drunk herself into a stupor on the daily, rarely conscious as everyone around her kept checking to make sure she was still breathing.

"You're staring, Mr. Summers," Karen interrupted his thoughts with plain amusement. "I hope you ain't letting all this charity to others go to your head."

He wanted to deny that wasn't what this robbery was, but realized she was right. Sure, they'd gotten a little money off of those soldiers, but under normal circumstances, that wagon wouldn't have crossed his mind as a target.

It'd been awhile for him to be on a robbery where the stakes were low and never had he been in a position where the payout didn't matter in order to pull off a job.

The last time he'd felt this satisfied without much for a reward was when he and Karen had returned Meredith Buckley to her mother in Annesburg. There'd been a sense of accomplishment at something so simple.

But it had him wondering, as he watched Karen from the corner of his eye tease him more about reforming into a generous outlaw, if it was just the jobs creating this fulfillment...

Or the company?