Karen's anticipated meeting with Dr. Dorsch ended up disappointingly uneventful. She'd expected some excitement after the way Arthur went on about how devious and terrible he was.

Before Arthur had entered the examination room with Charlotte and a midwife, at the doctor's office downtown, he had pointed a finger at her and said under his breath, "No guns."

She'd stuck out her tongue when his back was turned and hadn't agreed to it.

And after that, Karen was left alone with Dr. Dorsch in the waiting room. She sat in a wooden chair, a nervous energy coursing through her as she watched him sort files at the reception desk.

She was just thinking he seemed more distracted than diabolical when he remarked, "If I'd known I had a medical professional as a house guest, I would have introduced myself sooner."

"Sorry for not announcing myself properly," Karen answered, biting her tongue to keep from saying more.

"You're a nurse?"

Don't sound too experienced or he'll question your qualifications, but neither too green or he'll suspect you of being false, came Charlotte's advice from their ride over."I just finished my apprenticeship with a doctor in Strawberry."

"Strawberry?" His nose wrinkled with displeasure. "What a ridiculous name for a town."

She shrugged. "I suppose it is."

"I hear you were quite occupied this afternoon," Dr. Dorsch said. "How does my sister fare?"

Karen answered without thinking, "She's bored."

He narrowed his eyes on her. "I meant in a medical sense."

"So did I," she shot back defensively. "Ms. Rosie doesn't need to be locked up like a prisoner. Her symptoms aren't affecting her day to day so I can't see a reason why she should stay in a facility meant for invalids."

Dr. Dorsch harrumphed, but made no additional comment. Karen didn't know if that meant he cared for his sister's predicament or not and she expected an interrogation of her skills at that point. But it never came. Neither did he try to test her on her general knowledge of anatomy or illness or broken bones.

Instead, Dr. Dorsch asked pointedly, "You know this Callahan character well?"

"He ain't a stranger to me," Karen said carefully. The more she connected herself to Arthur, the less likely Dorsch would see her as an innocent party. Yet, she couldn't resist smoothing her hands down her waist to feel the small guns there.

"What would it take to remove him from the picture, so to speak?"

Dorsch was fixated on Arthur, so distracted that he was unable to see Karen's dishonesty as anything less than the truth. Her barefaced lies had worked.

It surprised her, but maybe it shouldn't have. Men like him—rich, powerful, authoritative—they tended to see women as either useless or decorative. Neither did he question her current living arrangement with Charlotte and Arthur. There was no concern Karen could be the one corrupting his daughter when an argument could be made she was the worse influence of the two.

Dr. Dorsch waited patiently, fully intent to hear her reply. Karen had been too quick to dismiss his deviousness. She finally admitted, "I've known Arthur more than a few years and he's loyal to a fault."

"Is that so?"

"I don't understand why all you see is the bad in him. He ain't no angel, but he's doing alright on his own these days."

"Indeed. At the detriment of my daughter's once promising future, it seems."

"So?"

He cut a sharp glare her way. "Excuse me?"

"Charlotte's in love and about to start a family. Maybe the man she's with ain't exactly a prince, but she could have done worse."

"She could do much better."

"Arthur will fight for her until his dying breath, I guarantee you that. That's more than a lot of women can say."

Dr. Dorsch's lip thinned with displeasure and he narrowed his eyes on her with sudden suspicion. "Miss Jones, where is it you hale from again?"

"Uh..." Karen opened her mouth even though she was unsure how she intended to answer. Luckily, she was saved by the reappearance of Charlotte and Arthur exiting the examination room.

Charlotte informed him, "Well, Father, the midwife's report should please you. By all your tests, I'm in good health."

His focus shifted to his daughter and Karen breathed a silent sigh of relief. "We shall see."

Charlotte said accusingly, "I hope you didn't hold that midwife hostage tonight only for me."

"She'll be well compensated for her time," he said shortly.

On the carriage ride back, Charlotte fell asleep and even Arthur was nodding off. Karen shook them both awake when they reached the castle house. She followed the two of them up the stairs, steadying them when they stumbled until they reached their bedroom and sleepily bid her an early goodnight.

Really, the two were hopeless without her.

OOOOOOOOOO

The next morning, the goodbyes were prolonged with Charlotte's mother, who persisted in keeping them there until midday with her final attempts at persuading her daughter to stay.

Karen stood on the outskirts of the group as Charlotte hugged her mother and father while Arthur spoke with Ben and Clark.

Felicity came up next to her, joining her in watching the family. She tilted her head graciously. "Thank you, Miss Jones, for looking after my sisters during the celebrations."

Karen shrugged. "They weren't a handful or nothin'."

Silence fell between them and to break it Karen said, "Your party was fun."

"Thank you," she answered in a polite, well-bred manner.

"Did the doctor's drama with Arthur take away from the big day?"

"Good gracious, no." Felicity smiled softly. "It was lovely meeting everyone and I hope we can host the family in our own home one day."

Martha erupted into a loud sob that Karen thought might be mostly exaggerated and clamped onto a bewildered Charlotte.

Karen winced. "Sorry you'll have to deal with that when we're gone. Bet she ain't gonna quiet down for a long time."

"Martha can be a handful," Felicity acknowledged. "She could go on the rest of the evening like this, but I believe I have the perfect distraction for her."

"Really?" Karen eyed Felicity with curiosity.

"Clark and I have been married for five months." Her smile turned sly. "We didn't spend all that time traveling the states."

The audacity of that subtle reveal had Karen regretting not sharing a real conversation with Felicity sooner. Here Karen thought she was the only actress under this roof and this mischievous thing had a pregnancy of her own under wraps.

Karen grinned and told her simply, "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Felicity tipped her head modestly.

Eventually, Charlotte had to speak in stern tones to her mother, insisting they had to leave or they'd miss their train back home. Soon enough, the three of them were whisked away from the castle house and dropped off at the train station.

As they waited for their turn to board, Charlotte commented to Karen, "Rosie took an instant liking to you."

Karen nodded and averted her eyes "I guess she did."

Likely unable to hold in her curiosity anymore, Charlotte questioned, "What did she ask of you that had to be said in private?"

The whistles in the train station blasted, providing Karen a reason to postpone her explanation. They filed onto the train and Karen took a seat to herself, sinking into contemplation once Charlotte and Arthur sat ahead of her.

Karen wanted to tell Charlotte of what Rosie had said. She did. But she worried about Charlotte's reaction, whether it would be to discourage or encourage her. Because Rosie had liked her. Maybe too much.

It had started out with an innocent enough question. Rosie had asked, "How well have you liked Chicago?"

"I ain't seen much of it," she'd answered, maybe a little evasively. Because the city beckoned to her, almost seductive in its call. Her blood buzzed at the possible pursuits she could participate. Even the little bit of time spent on the boardwalk had been a taste of a more entertaining life she could lead.

"I'd like to hire you," Rosie had said next with her familiar bluntness.

Karen had laughed a little. "What?"

"You've heard my sob story. We had an engaging conversation and you suffered my less sparkling qualities fine. Fill in the shoes as my live-in caretaker."

"Me?" Karen stared, shocked. "I ain't a nurse."

Rosie brushed that important detail away with a wave of her hand. "Of course, you're not. That's the point. Today, I realized I don't need a nurse. Rather, I need someone with a backbone."

Her thoughts swirled. "You want me to pretend to be a nurse—"

"To help me fight my brother and regain my independence," Rosie finished and continued, matter-of-fact, "I'll pay you a reasonable wage, of course. You can live in the city. There's plenty of room at my house."

Karen's mouth had dropped open, but she didn't know how to respond. The woman must be desperate to make such an offer. Rosie had to suspect Karen was guilty of at least petty theft. Not exactly the makings of caretaker of any sort.

"How about a year?" Rosie had persisted. "After a year, you can leave with the payments I'll give you and embark out on your own. By then, I should be better established and able to replace you without Howard's interference."

Karen finally got her jaw to work and responded, "I promised Arthur and Charlotte I'd help them with the baby."

"By no means am I attempting to pull you from any other promised obligations, especially my own niece," Rosie told her, but added in a curt tone, "However, once the child is born, how long do you think they'll need you?"

Knowing Charlotte's nature well enough, Karen didn't believe she'd never be kicked out if she needed a place to stay.

"When you change your mind," Rosie said crisply and without doubt, "write me and I'll get the paperwork started."

Karen had been struck dumb to say anything so she'd nodded and they'd left Rosie on her lonesome again at Schofield. Now, on the train home, Karen's mind swirled again with the possibilities.

Truth be told, she really liked the offer. Playing companion to a rich lady and living in the big city? It was right up her alley.

It sounded too good to be true for someone like her. It could be the start of a solid future. But Karen didn't feel ready. She wasn't sure she trusted herself, especially surrounded by all the temptation a city offered. In the same vein drinking had been her crutch for a long time, living with Charlotte and Arthur was now her safety net.

If she worked for Rosie, she'd have to stay straight. To hold onto such a job, there would be no more wild partying and no more robbing. It would officially be the end of Karen Jones, outlaw, robber, thief.

She scoffed to herself. She wasn't even doing any of that right now anyway.

So Karen went back and forth in her mind with indecision. The train rushed from the luxuries of Chicago and back into small, insignificant towns, occupied by fewer people and the less refined. Smokey, dirty Annesburg opened its arms and they entered her embrace.

As Karen dragged her luggage through the inside of the train station, she selfishly started to regret her hasty retreat from an actual city.

"Hold up, Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Balfour," called out the train clerk from behind his window. He exited his booth. "Don't head out straight away."

"Why?" Arthur and Charlotte stopped while Karen eyed the man strangely.

Unexpectedly, the train clerk left the building in a hurry and without explanation.

"What in the hell are we walking into now?" Arthur muttered.

The train clerk returned a moment later with the gunsmith, Mr. Schultz trailing behind him.

"Hallo, folks," Mr. Schultz's German accent tinged his friendly tones as he lumbered up to them, welcoming them as if they'd just walked into his shop.

"What's going on here?" Arthur demanded.

"Sam and I didn't mean to startle any of you," Mr. Schultz said apologetically. "Sheriff Jones wanted us to nab you before you headed home."

"For what reason?" Charlotte asked.

"We didn't want you to get ambushed by them strange fellas from down south."

Judging by Arthur's face, Karen knew she wasn't the only one to suddenly feel growing alarm.

"Claimed to be a posse of bounty hunters, but ain't none of them too shy to flout Confederate garb. Been here for two days." Mr. Schultz smoothed a hand over his mustache. "Their leader says he has authority behind him, but he's got a real personal grudge against you in particular, Mr. Arthur."

Having an idea on who they might be dealing with, Karen asked, "That leader a tall bastard with a mole under his eye?"

"Yes, miss. That's him alright. You know him?"

"Sure do." And it might be some deep shit. "It's Ollie Fink, no doubt about it, Arthur."

Arthur's brows drew together. "That officer down in Rhodes, friends with them Raiders?"

"Yep," Karen confirmed. "I'd wondered if he'd stuck around. Always was the sort with a real stickler for his pride and you sure stomped all over that."

"And now he's hunted me up here." Arthur said grimly and glanced at Charlotte, down to her stomach and then faced Mr. Schultz. "Any of 'em make it up to the house?"

Mr. Schultz looked offended. "No one's said nothing about it. No one trusts hardly anyone around here and that goes double for outsiders of any sort. Sheriff wouldn't even let them stay in town. Made them camp out aways."

"Where at?"

"Up the hill—"

"Tell me on the way," Arthur interrupted, dropping their suitcases.

"Arthur," Charlotte protested with apprehension.

He clutched her shoulders. "They're here for me. We got lucky this time that they ain't found us straight off. I'll take care of it."

Karen waited for Charlotte's tears, an objection, anything, but she only said, "Be careful."

Mr. Schultz walked towards the door. "Sheriff's already up there too. He's been keeping a close eye on them since they arrived."

Arthur grazed Charlotte's cheek with a brief kiss and then turned to Karen with a pointed finger. "You two stay put and don't get any bright ideas." He followed Mr. Schultz to the door, asking, "You got a spare rifle..."

As soon as Arthur left the building, Charlotte let out a huff and marched to the bench with their luggage. Karen thought she only meant to sit, but instead she tipped her suitcase and cracked it open.

"What the hell are you looking for?" Karen asked, curious.

"You know, one of these days Arthur will realize he doesn't need to do everything himself."

"You sure about that? Ain't ever known him as nothing but thick-headed."

Charlotte rifled through the clothing, throwing a couple of garments to the side when they obstructed her search. When she faced Karen again, she was brandishing Arthur's revolvers.

Karen crossed her arms. "What are you doing with those? You gonna go after him all pregnant?"

"As a matter of fact, I am."

"And how well do you think that's gonna go over?"

"I'm not remaining here to wait around and worry, Miss Jones," Charlotte told her in a tone that brokered no argument. "Are you?"

Damn. That fiery spirit and the prospect of some gun-slinging action Karen hadn't done in a long time sure was tempting. It was irresponsible and Arthur would skin her, but...she wasn't going to let that ruin her fun.

"Let's do this." Karen only had her derringers, which were useless in a real gunfight so she held out her hand and said, "Give me one of those revolvers."

Outside the train station, Karen grabbed the reins of the nearest hitched horse. She was still clothed in one of her nice dresses from their trip, but she put her foot in the stirrup and threw her leg over the saddle anyway. She offered a hand to Charlotte, pulling her up to ride sidesaddle behind her.

Arthur and Mr. Schultz were long gone by now and Karen didn't have a clue as to where to set off for. But if Ollie had made himself as notorious around here as he had in Rhodes, it wouldn't be hard to figure out.

"Hey, you," Karen called out to a miner crossing the tracks. "You know where them Raiders are camped?"

He stopped, a startled look in his eyes at being addressed, but answered, "Uh, sure, miss." He pointed a finger northwest of the town. "They've taken over the cabin that used to belong to the Reed brothers." He eyed them as Karen directed the horse that direction. "You ladies ain't going up there, are you?"

"We sure as shit are. We got some vermin to get rid of."

His eyes widened with an eagerness. "Let me get my gun and a few fellas and we'll follow you up. Been wanting to chase those men out of town since they set foot here."

"Ain't you a gentleman." Karen winked. "But you'll have to meet us up there because we ain't waiting."

"Hold tight," Karen warned Charlotte under her breath and pressed her heels into the horse and yelped out a "Hya!"

Karen had a general idea of the location of Reed Cottage. She followed the path up the mine's entrance, passing the mouth of it, the buildings billowing dark smoke. As they followed the winding path further up the hill, it steepened. Stumps surrounded each side of them like a graveyard of tombstones.

At the sound of gunshots, she spurred the horse on, Charlotte's arms tightening around her waist. When they reached three hitched horses, they dismounted and continued on foot. Arthur, Sheriff Jones and Mr. Schultz were shooting at men returning fire near a little red cottage below. There was a break in the gunfire before her and Charlotte could join in and that's when Arthur spotted them.

He stormed over. "Can't you listen to one goddamn thing I tell you?"

Karen didn't know if he was addressing her or Charlotte or the both of them, but she chose to respond. "Ain't you learned by now no man is the boss of me?"

Arthur snapped out, "Ain't no man the boss of you, but I'll make it my business to be the death of you."

Karen grinned at his angry barking. "Promises, promises, Arthur."

Sheriff Jones joined the conversation. "Asides them bein' ladies, we could use a couple more guns on this."

"Yeah, Arthur," Karen piled on. "Just tell us where to shoot so we can put these bastards in the ground once and for all."

His scowl deepened and he opened his mouth likely to yell at her some more.

Charlotte told him plaintively, "We're here now, Arthur. Tell us how to help."

More shots fired from the bottom of the hill, interrupting any argument Arthur meant to make.

"Ah, hell." Arthur caved and held out his hand to Charlotte. "Switch guns with me, darlin'. You shoot sharper with a rifle."

Not only that, Karen noted to herself, but Charlotte could stay back and shoot from a distance.

Sheriff Jones explained, "We've picked off most of them easy enough but three or four took cover on the other side of the house.

"Ollie?" Karen asked.

"Don't know for sure." Arthur shook his head. "I reckon, he's hidden himself in the house. Might have to draw him out."

Sheriff Jones said, "I've warned them out of the area, but they got their precious hearts set on you."

Arthur winced. "Yeah, I pissed them right off down in Rhodes. Interfered in a takeover of the town and a coup against the sheriff down there."

"I know there ain't no negotiating with these fools." Sheriff Jones' mouth took on a hard edge. "Had an older brother taken in by the allure of Confederate ideals and the war collected his life as payment."

"It's a bad business," Arthur said with sympathy.

"And it ain't planting its seed in Annesburg. The town barely stands on two feet as it is with the troubles from the mine."

Sporadic gunfire brought their attention to the fight again.

"Charlotte, you stay up here with the sheriff." Arthur ordered and added for Sheriff Jones, "Anything goes wrong, get her outta here. I'm gonna go down there and draw out their leader."

"Arthur, there ain't no reasoning with him," Karen told him much the same thing as she had several months ago, when he'd had the same strategy.

"I know it, but we can't let this bastard get away again. I'll get him talking..." Arthur pointed at a position in the trees across from the front of the house. "Karen, can you make a shot from over here?"

She squinted. Maybe if she had the rifle. "I'll try, but it ain't a guarantee."

"It'll have to do," he said grimly. "Schultz, go with her. Don't get too close, in case any of them that hasn't made themselves known do."

Her and Schultz moved through the trees, taking position where Arthur had indicated. The gunfire stopped and they heard Arthur start talking.

"Fink! I hear you're lookin' for me."

"That you, Callahan?" called Ollie from a broken window of the house.

"Sure."

"I know your real name, you son of a bitch. Morgan. The enforcer of the Van der Linde gang."

Arthur grimaced and he kept his attention steady on the house, rather than the Sheriff, who's head had turned with interest.

"Them Feds have it out for you," Ollie continued. "They thought they killed you, dead by their own doing. But if I bring you in alive...a man can do a lot with five thousand dollars."

Start up a new militia, buy more guns, maybe even succeed the next time he tried to take over little Rhodes.

"Listen, fella, ain't no way any of that's happening..."

Any moment Ollie could burst through that door. The problem was, Karen couldn't see shit from the position Arthur had directed her to. A boulder blocked any kind of decent target she'd have on the front door. She'd have to move closer.

"What are you doing, miss?"

"Stay here," she whispered. "I'm moving up."

She trudged through the tall grass, her skirt catching up thorns and burrs. She found a tree with a better line of sight. Just in time too, as the door opened with Ollie in the opening, a shotgun trained on Arthur.

"You gonna come quietly, Morgan?"

Karen kept her gaze locked on Ollie. Arthur needed to shimmy over to the left some if she was gonna have a clean shot.

As if he'd heard her, he shifted. There. Karen's finger rested over the trigger...

The snapping of a branch was the only warning she had before an attacker grabbed her from behind, constricting her arms to her chest with his arms.

"When I heard you were one of the ones who'd shot at us down in Rhodes," came the rusty voice in her ear, "I was hoping you'd be here too."

Goddamnit. Roy.

She snarled, "And I was hoping you were dead."

"I never did get my night with you, blondie." His arresting and undesired hug tightened around her and he stretched for her gun with one hand.

She chose to forgo conversation and fight. First, she attempted an elbow to the gut which made him cough but not release her.

Meanwhile, his hand moved down her arm towards her gun again. She ain't had to fight off a man in such a way for nearly a year and her struggles embarrassed her.

Roy's hand covered her knuckle. In a moment he'd overpower her and the revolver would be his.

Karen had no choice at that point. She opened her hand and shook the gun away to fall in the grass and out of both their reaches.

Roy clutched her elbow and yanked her arm behind her back. He kept his left arm around her chest and started to pull her back, as if he meant to abduct her. When the hell had he got so strong? She strained to break free, but his grip wouldn't break and nothing she did helped.

Gunfire rang loud and echoed from the clearing and Karen froze. Shit. Arthur. She had to get out of this.

Her right hand had free reign, except she couldn't reach Roy to punch or claw. She patted her waist blindly.

Roy sniffed her neck and she cringed.

Karen reached one of her girls, but Roy's grip tightened before she could lift her arm. She had no choice in her accuracy. With no other option, and her arm trapped behind her, she aimed the derringer in Roy's general direction. She fingered the trigger, and pulled, praying she wouldn't clip her own damn self.

Roy howled and thrust her away from him. Karen stumbled to the ground at the unexpected freedom.

"You bitch! What the fuck was that!" Roy clutched his thigh, blood already reddening his hand. If only she'd aimed more to the right.

"That was Daisy." Karen answered, breathing heavily from the overall struggle. "And you're about to meet her sister."

"You're dead!"

Roy tugged out a pistol from his belt faster than her, even with his other hand holding his wound.

Before Karen could snatch the other derringer, two shots rang out. Roy's chest had two new holes. He dropped to his knees and the life drained from his shocked eyes nearly instantly as he collapsed to the ground.

Her savior broke from the trees and it was Arthur, the revolver he'd kept in hand. Charlotte was behind him, still holding onto the rifle.

Charlotte knelt beside her. "Are you okay, Karen?"

"Better off than him." She nodded. "Thanks, Arthur."

"Sure," He checked over Roy's body while Charlotte gave her a hand up.

"What happened to Ollie?" Karen asked.

"Charlotte got him," Arthur told her, almost as if he couldn't believe it.

"Nice job, sister."

"Revenge was higher on his list than turning me in for a quick buck. He tried to draw on me, but she was quicker."

"Well, folks," the sheriff joined them, "I think it's safe for you to head to Willard's Rest now."

Arthur shook his hand. "I'm grateful for your help, but I ain't too sure why you done it. Reckon it would have been easier to turn me in."

"Annesburg ain't the nicest of towns," Sheriff Jones said somberly. "And we ain't got the nicest of people neither. But we help each other 'round here. I don't care if your name's Callahan or Morgan. We take care of our own."

"I ain't about to forget it," Arthur said sincerely.

"Clear on out now," repeated the sheriff. "I'll round some boys up to take of this mess."

Charlotte, Arthur and Karen began walking together to their borrowed horses. They'd have to ride back into town to retrieve Vee and Jane at the stable. Arthur checked Charlotte over while taking the rifle out of her hands.

"Whoa!" Arthur stopped in his tracks and his hand flew off Charlotte's stomach. "What the hell was that?"

Charlotte laughed happily and told him, "The baby's kicking."

"That hard?"

"It seems he or she will be a fighter." She grasped his hand and laid it on her stomach again. "Like their father."

Karen watched them standing together, Arthur's hand twined with Charlotte's as they shared awed smiles. It was hard for her to believe in that moment he was one of the hardest sons of bitches Karen knew.

It'd confused the hell out of her the first time she'd seen him hesitate at the shootout in Rhodes. She only lately understood his reasons for holding back. He hated when Charlotte saw his shadows. He liked pretending she didn't know what he was.

But there was no reservation or fear in Charlotte's gaze and when the situation called for it, she'd risen to the challenge.

Rosie was right. As nervous as Arthur was to be a father, as concerned Charlotte was for their future, they weren't going to need her here.