Arthur and Benjamin worked together to extract Miss Jones from the wagon, where she'd passed out completely on Charlotte's shoulder. Arthur managed Karen himself in getting inside the cabin. After he settled her in her bed, Charlotte took over. She undid Karen's hair, removed her shoes and covered her with a blanket before she eventually joined Benji in the kitchen.

Certainly, her next concern was Arthur. She wanted to make sure he hadn't overexerted himself in pulling Karen onto and from the wagon, and carrying her inside. However, he'd left the house to unhitch Vee from the wagon and unsaddle Jane, and hadn't yet returned.

In the kitchen, Benji leaned against the door, watching Arthur outside through the window with narrowed eyes, his mouth set in a grim, thin line. It wasn't the openly curious study from earlier today and she wondered at the change.

"What are you doing?" she asked her brother and he jumped in place.

He recovered quickly enough and asked abruptly, "Who exactly is Arthur, Char?"

She moved across the room, heading for the fireplace and feeding a log to the dimming blaze. "Please don't start this again."

"I'm serious, Charlotte." Benji followed her over, stopping at her side. "Miss Jones said some curious things."

Charlotte waved a hand. "There were a lot of curious and silly things tonight."

Unfortunately for her, Benji wasn't prepared to let this one go and his face reflected a somber earnestness. "Miss Jones claimed Arthur is an outlaw."

Was, she wanted to amend, but that would be admitting truth to the statement.

"She said she is one too," he added.

"Like I said, dear brother," she replied evasively, "a lot of silly things."

"You're telling me that's not true? That she was lying?"

He was pinning her down because he knew she wouldn't lie, especially to her own brother. Charlotte bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

"Karen weren't lyin'."

Her concentration was so focused on Benjamin that she hadn't noticed Arthur had entered through the back door.

"I am an outlaw," continued Arthur, "and so's she."

"In that case," Benji's posture straightened defensively. "I don't think you should be around my sister."

Charlotte's mouth parted open in shock at his misguided assertion, not expecting from him a blatant attempt to manage her life.

"It ain't about what you like, boy." Arthur spoke before she could think of a word to refute it. He shrugged off his coat, hanging it up by the door and facing Benji again. "You ain't got a say in it."

"M-mother and Father won't like it."

"We gonna get into this again?" Arthur crossed his arms. "I reckoned we settled all you and your brother's nonsense the day we met."

"Certainly, a criminal would have me reconsidering my previous stance."

Charlotte knew Arthur didn't like being backed into a corner, no matter who it was. He gritted his teeth. "Is that so?"

"Benji," Charlotte scolded, laying a hand on her brother's arm. She didn't want this to get any more out of hand. "Enough of this. What's got into you?"

"Charlotte, you shouldn't keep company with someone dangerous."

"You're being ridiculous. Arthur's been here for several months now and I've not been in any sort of danger."

She caught a facial twitch near Arthur's eye and knew he was recalling the Rhodes shootout only yesterday morning. She ignored it and gripped Benji's arm in reassurance. "I'm in good hands with Arthur. I always have been."

"And Miss Jones?" he challenged.

"I trust both Arthur and Karen," Charlotte told him firmly.

Her brother gazed at her with disbelief. "Even after tonight?"

"Tonight had everything to do with trust," she said. "Karen seems to be testing the boundaries of our trust."

Benji stared at her skeptically and glanced at Arthur with the same uncertainty.

"This has been a trying night for all of us. Now, I suggest we settle in for the night, rest our minds..." She made it a point to catch her brother's eye. "...and think over the things we've said. We can readdress everything in the morning. Does that sound agreeable to the two of you?"

The two men stared at each other, Arthur on edge and Benji indecisive and unsure. Again, Charlotte was surprised at Benji's insistence on the issue.

Arthur responded first. "I say we listen to your sister."

Benji nodded slowly, frowning between her and Arthur.

Arthur withdrew into the bedroom. Charlotte took a moment to make sure the fire was keeping steady before saying goodnight to her brother and joining Arthur.

She closed the bedroom door and said quietly, "I'm sorry for Benji's behavior."

"I've heard worse. Besides, it ain't no insult if it's the truth."

She glanced at Arthur, who sat on the edge of the bed. "It isn't like him to resort to such misplaced protective measures over my well-being."

"Were they misplaced?"

She frowned at him. "Arthur."

"I don't blame the boy for his concern. He's been hopin' I was some super agent or somethin'. I don't know. Something worthy of his respect and instead he got a rundown outlaw with nothin' to his name."

Charlotte studied Arthur, his hands between his knees as he clenched and unclenched his fists, not looking her way.

She strode to stand in front of him, running her hands over his stubble when she reached him. She lifted his chin, not letting him hide his eyes from her. "How are you tonight?"

"Fine."

She read weariness and worry, a contrast to the gradual relaxed state he'd managed in the presence of the other guests at the Christmas party. If they'd stayed longer, she thought he might start enjoying himself. They'd begun to mingles with some of the other residents of Annesburg once the sheriff had shown off his appraisal.

Everything changed when Benji came running up to them, pulling Arthur away and claiming he needed help with Karen. Charlotte hadn't known the severity of the situation until Benji returned without Arthur, pushing her to the door to get the wagon. They'd all three been quiet on that ride home.

Charlotte rubbed her thumb over Arthur's scar. "You don't have to hold a brave face for me."

As if that was his permission to release his tension, Arthur closed his eyes and reached for her. She stepped into his embrace and he hugged her midriff. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him.

After a minute or two, he stated, "It was no good idea lettin' Karen stay on."

The remark surprised her. "Why do you say that?"

She heard him swallow. "Karen's too much of a loaded gun these days. We got lucky tonight that most of them folk at the party was half gone by the time she started throwin' my name around. I knew there'd be trouble down there."

"Actually, I fear her outburst may be my fault, at least partially," Charlotte admitted. It had been bothering her the whole time she'd held the other woman in the wagon. "I pressed Karen on some uncomfortable topics before we left."

"It ain't you. She's...she's got demons."

"Hmm. Don't we all?"

"If you got demons, I ain't never seen 'em." He released a sigh. "Sorry I got Ben against you."

"I'm confident he'll be more reasonable in the morning." Charlotte lifted a shoulder. "Someone in my family was bound to discover your identity at some point, but I think he'll hold off saying anything."

His entire body tensed and he muttered, "I reckon you ain't in as good a-hands as you said."

"What do you mean?"

"Seems like lately, I've gotten you into more trouble than not. I ain't been a good protector." His arms tightened around her.

She glided her fingers through his hair, to soothe him. "I believe we can protect each other, Arthur."

He said nothing to that and she wanted to know what he was thinking.

Her fingers trailed to his chin again and she tipped it, encouraging him to look up so she could see his eyes.

His blue-green eyes were like islands surrounded by ocean, beautiful and distant, yet startlingly close and a window into his emotions. And they revealed to her clearer than his words could. Fear. Pain. Turmoil.

"Arthur, you must stop worrying over things that haven't happened," she said softly. "And never will happen."

He wanted to disagree with her on that point, she could tell. His brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed and his mouth opened to begin his rebuttal. But she saw no reason for him to speak those fears and give them life.

Charlotte stopped Arthur's unspoken arguments by sealing his mouth with hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted forward, sinking into his lap. He groaned and tightened his grip on her, his hand was a warm comfort on her back. His kisses matched her fervor, heated and making her breathless.

Therefore, it confused her when she felt him pulling back after a few minutes. She whispered, "What's wrong?"

"What 'bout your condition?" he asked, his voice gravelly.

For a brief moment, she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about and then his eyes strayed downward.

"Arthur darling, perhaps we'll have to make some concessions when I'm further along." She smiled and leaned into him again. "But that time is not tonight nor will it be for months."

Reassured, his whiskers skittered across her skin in delightful strokes and she was lost to his touch once more.

OOOOOOOOO

The next morning, when Charlotte entered the kitchen, Benji was in a more upbeat mood. As she'd guessed, Benji wasn't feeling as close-minded as last night, but he did spare cautious glances Arthur's way when he joined them for breakfast. As for Karen, Charlotte peeked in on her, but she wasn't yet awake.

Watching her exit the bedroom, Benji asked, "So, what do we do about Karen?"

She was pleased at his sincere desire to help, but she had bad news to deliver. "Benji, as much as I appreciate your willingness to involve yourself, I don't think your presence here is a good idea."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're getting on a train for home today."

"But—"

"This isn't a negotiation."

"Arthur?" Benji's plea switched to Arthur, his misgivings over Arthur's outlaw status suddenly washed away.

"Sorry, son. Much as I hate to say it..." Arthur took a bite of the meat on his plate. "...Karen needs some time and havin' you 'round here may scare her off."

Benjamin was too old to pout, yet he managed to ride the precipice of the expression, clearly unhappy.

Arthur offered, "I'll ride down to Annesburg with you, son."

Charlotte went about her normal chores and cleaning up the majority of her Christmas decorations around the house. Karen didn't leave the bedroom for the entire day. Charlotte checked on her following her sendoff with Benji and Arthur after lunch. She found Karen asleep. Allegedly. She suspected Karen may be feigning on her part because of how the blankets that covered her changed positions.

Charlotte didn't stay and confront Karen, only sat on the bed a moment and checked her forehead for fever. Before she left the room again, she set down a tray of water and food.

It wasn't until the evening when Arthur returned home so Charlotte presumed that he and her brother must have had a long conversation and made amends.

He tilted his head toward the second bedroom. "Anything happen?"

"She hasn't left the room, though I suspect she's awake." Charlotte handed Arthur a dinner plate and he sat at the table. "I think we need to do more for her than offer her a place to stay."

"I ain't against it, I s'pose. But I don't see her agreein'."

"What are we going to do about her?"

"I don't know." Arthur scratched his jaw, looking pained. "Ain't nothin' I said ever changed her ways before."

"We have to figure out something," Charlotte persisted. "She's deeply troubled, Arthur."

I ain't good, Karen had said tearfully and Charlotte sensed it wasn't a general disclosure, but the hint of something more.

"She won't talk to me. Already tried."

"I think she wants help, but doesn't know how to get out of the cycle." She contemplated it seriously with a curled finger tapping her chin. "She needs purpose."

Arthur raised his head, pausing in his chewing. "I reckon...you might be right on that. She said on the train here she ain't sure what to do with herself."

"Let me think on it some and perhaps we can find a solution she'll find agreeable."

They readied for bed an hour later, but it took Charlotte some time before her mind could settle fully. There had to be some assistance she could provide. The problem was she was unsure of Karen's particular skill set and she assumed if she asked, she might not know how to take the answer.

Charlotte slept most of the night fitfully, but Karen's troubles bothered her sleeping mind enough to have her waking before dawn.

Without disturbing Arthur, she dressed, throwing on a shawl. In the kitchen, she started a pot of coffee, careful of the sounds so as not to wake the others. Once the coffee finished, she poured a cup and journeyed outside, stepping into the brisk cold. Her breath materialized white clouds the moment of her exit.

Charlotte took a seat on the bench, glad for her shawl. She drank her coffee and watched the sunrise. She'd found the cabin stayed quite warm, at least so far this winter. It was one of many things she'd had to adjust for. It pleased her she didn't need to worry about the cabin freezing.

Charlotte hadn't been at her coffee long when the door opened. Since she knew Arthur to be deep in sleep, she wasn't entirely surprised to find Karen stepping out cautiously, clearly attempting to make as little noise as possible.

"Good morning, Miss Jones," Charlotte greeted, bemused.

"Goddamn it." Karen finished shutting the door before scowling at her. "Don't you people ever sleep?"

"Some." Charlotte sipped at her coffee, a small smile playing at her lips.

Karen declared, "You don't need to worry 'bout me no more. I'm leavin'."

"Won't you have a seat and talk first?"

"No."

"There's no need to be hasty." Charlotte stood, imploring, "Please, Miss Jones—"

"You didn't need to kick your brother out because of me."

Charlotte paused, nonplussed. "Benjamin was due back home. If he hadn't left in the next day or two, the university would inform our parents of his absence."

"Oh." Karen fell silent, her gaze straying across the yard.

"Why do you feel the need to run?"

"I know I messed up."

Charlotte said reasonably, "You've done nothing that can't be repaired."

"Look, I ain't stupid." Her eyes flashed angrily. "I likely ruined your relations in town and you probably want me to apologize. But I ain't gonna do that. I can't kiss the asses of people I don't give a shit about."

Charlotte watched her, quiet for a moment before she asked, "Where will you go, Miss Jones? Will you get in touch with your other friends of the gang?"

"If I ain't ready to stay here without messin' shit up, then I ain't ready to face none of them anytime soon."

"It was one day," Charlotte tried to protest.

"I'll find something on my own," Karen said stubbornly.

"At least wait for Arthur to wake," Charlotte attempted to persuade. "He'll give you a ride into town."

"And face some awkward attempt at him tryin' to help?" Karen scoffed. "No. I'll get on well enough without him. I'll walk on the tracks and stay on 'em until I reach Annesburg. Safe enough route going that way."

Karen appeared set in her decision and determined to carry it out. Charlotte had no arguments coming to mind, but she wouldn't let Karen leave empty-handed.

"Let me give you some money." Charlotte set her mug down and entered the house, hoping Karen wouldn't take off if she left her alone for too long.

Charlotte collected the remaining cash left over from the shopping trip in Saint Denis. She quickly returned outside. Karen, thankfully, remained in the same position, but kept shifting in place, uncomfortable at the wait.

Charlotte passed her a handful of bills and Karen's eyes widened. It was about fifty dollars, give or take.

Charlotte frowned at the cash. "I wish I had more for you, but I'm afraid I splurged in town for the Christmas decorations."

Karen stared at her, as if she thought she were joking. She swallowed. "This is fine."

But Karen didn't leave. She stared at her hand for a long moment. Finally, she clutched the money and pushed it back at Charlotte, saying regretfully, "I can't take this."

"Why not?" Charlotte asked in surprise.

"You've been kind enough and I ain't gonna take advantage of your misplaced generosity."

Charlotte worked hard to hide her rising amusement at the memory of Arthur expressing a similar sentiment. For all of the love of robbery Karen proclaimed, gifts made her visibly uncomfortable. She suspected Karen would have preferred it if she'd been able to steal the money instead.

"Karen," she said patiently, not moving to accept the cash back, "you need this money. Please, take it and know I wish you well. If we can't help you, I hope you can find a way to help yourself."

Karen's eyes watered and she turned away. "This is one of the nicest goddamn things anyone has done for me." She curled her fingers over the bills again and croaked out, "So, thank you."

"You're welcome. And if you're ever in this area again..."

Charlotte trailed off, her stomach twisting suddenly and uncomfortably. She swallowed, pushing down the feeling and tried again.

"If you're ever..."

But this time another sensation accompanied the turning of her stomach. The edge of her vision darkened, as it had when she'd been standing in the Rhodes' sheriff office, when she'd lost consciousness.

"Why you makin' that face?"

Karen's voice was far away and muffled, as if she'd traveled a great distance in only a few seconds.

"Please, excuse—" Charlotte covered her mouth and her eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen.

She hastily moved to the railing and promptly threw up over the side. Instead of backing off, Karen joined her, holding her hair back and clutching one of her hands in support as Charlotte involuntarily heaved again.

"What the hell?" Karen muttered, and turned her head to the house. "Arthur!"

Charlotte shook her head and waved a hand to stop her, but her mouth was occupied. Her grip on Karen's hand tightened. After another minute of throwing up, Charlotte slunk to the porch floor, her mouth tasting of acid, her hands shaking, but her eyesight had returned to normal.

"What the hell was that?" Karen remarked.

Before Charlotte could answer, Arthur burst out from the house with a gun in his hands, wearing only his trousers and boots, bare chested, his hair messy and a dazed gleam in his eyes as he tried to assess the situation.

"Grab a towel," Karen ordered.

His eyes moved to Charlotte. "What— "

Karen snapped, "Grab a towel, Arthur!"

He disappeared back inside.

"I'm fine, really," Charlotte said weakly, as her stomach tumbled again and her heart raced in her chest.

Arthur returned with a towel in place of his gun, handing it off to Karen. He opened his mouth, but Karen ordered him next, "Grab them crackers off the table. And water."

He left again, this time with no protests.

Embarrassed, Charlotte wiped her mouth. "You're going...to worry him."

Karen stared, incredulous. "I ain't doin' shit. You're the one sick out of nowhere."

"Arthur knows—"

Arthur returned with the cup of water and crackers. He swiped a hand through the disheveled mess on his head. "She alright?"

"I'm fine," she tried to say with confidence, but even she heard the shakiness in her voice.

It didn't matter as Arthur was looking to Karen, as if he trusted her to know better.

"Let's get her inside," Karen said.

"I'm fine," Charlotte protested for the third time as she stood, much good as it did.

"The hell you are," Karen scolded before Arthur could jump in. "If you don't go inside and sit 'til your illness passes, you're going to worry Arthur 'til he's as sick as you."

Charlotte's gaze drifted to Arthur, who by all accounts, did have panic filling his eyes. She relented, "Oh, alright."

Karen assisted Charlotte to the kitchen table, overriding her arguments by ignoring them. While Karen left her briefly to retrieve another towel, dipping it into a water basin. She folded the washcloth and pressed it against Charlotte's forehead gently. Charlotte closed her eyes as the pleasant coolness washed over her. Really, it was just the thing she needed.

"If you're still feelin' the urge to throw up, sit with your head between your knees."

"I think it's passed," Charlotte told her, opening her eyes.

"Then eat this." Karen handed her a cracker and Charlotte nibbled at it.

Arthur left the room to grab a shirt from the bedroom, pulling it on and buttoning it up as he returned. When he finished, Arthur stared at Karen as if he'd never seen her before.

"What?" Karen asked irritably.

"How'd you know to do all that?"

"I've been hung over enough to have plenty of remedies for it." She shrugged. "A towel to clean-up, crackers to settle the stomach and water to wash out the sick."

Arthur gestured to the table. "You want coffee?"

Karen glanced at the door and Charlotte knew she wanted to refuse.

However, Arthur seemed to take her silence as consent. He poured her coffee and she reluctantly accepted the mug and took a seat across from Charlotte.

Arthur told her gratefully, "Thanks for helping, Karen. She needed you."

Karen muttered, "I didn't do much of anything."

Arthur met Charlotte's gaze and she raised an eyebrow meaningfully and tilted her head at Karen. She wanted to convey that he should talk to her. Charlotte knew this may be their last chance at getting through to her.

Arthur got her silent message and cleared his throat. "You, uh, never did tell me why you chose to settle in Rhodes, of all places."

Evasively, Karen answered, "Maybe I just like the saloons they got."

"Karen..." He sent her an expression that he wasn't having it. "It ain't that shit town that's makin' you nearly drink yourself to death."

She didn't look at him and prolonged answering by sipping her coffee.

"You said it ain't for Sean you're mourning. Then what is it?" Arthur asked bluntly and Charlotte winced.

"I mourned him," Karen said defensively. Agitated, she rubbed her forearm. "Look, I loved Sean. I guess. Maybe. I don't know. But even if he didn't get himself killed, we were never gonna last."

"Then why were you in Rhodes?"

"I don't know, Arthur." She stared at the table. "I wanted to be somewhere else other than Beaver Hollow. Wouldn't you? I woulda stayed in Valentine if I didn't think someone would recognize me from the bank job we pulled."

"It don't explain what the hell's going on with you." Arthur seemed to lose patience with tip-toeing the issue.

Karen met his gaze, her eyes blazing, her scowl indicating him to stop.

"Tell me, Karen," he demanded, not backing down. "I wanna hear it straight."

She stood, her chair scraping the floor. "Why can't your dumb ass leave well enough alone?"

Arthur was already standing, but his stance shifted. "Because you can't keep sober for one goddamn day and I wanna know why."

Karen flinched, but she didn't run away as Charlotte feared she might at being confronted. "You want to hear what I think about nearly every waking moment? Of what ruins my mood before I even get out of bed for the day?"

"Yeah. I do."

Karen's face turned red, her lips pressed tightly together as they were a dam holding back a tidal wave. The dam burst and the words poured out, sharp and self-inflicted, "I killed her, Arthur."

Charlotte frowned and even Arthur looked boggled. "Killed who?"

Pain, grief, hurt, all intertwined as Karen shouted, "I killed Molly!"