Although nothing beat Blackwater's rushed retreat, leaving Lakay was one of the faster packing days they'd completed. Grimshaw whipped them into a frenzy with the lash of her sharp tongue so their haste was unsurprising. When they were ready to set off, Karen joined Tilly, Abigail and Jack in the back of the second wagon. Miss Grimshaw sat in the driver's seat, taking off as soon as Dutch signaled.

Karen was glad for leaving Lakay. She was sick of the goddamn swamps, the sweltering humidity, and them evil-eyed gators. Not to mention those creepy ghost people the reverend once warned them about.

Tilly liked to tease Karen for being as superstitious as Mary-Beth, but it was hard not to be with some of the strange things they'd seen lately, especially in this area. Even now, the wagon that carried them creaked its way up the hill through oppressive trees, shadows flitting between trunks like specters.

Dutch and Micah led the party on horseback, followed by Pearson's food wagon, where he suffered the companionship of Uncle beside him. Next, was their wagon with the other girls and Jack. Herr Strauss rode a shire on one side of the caravan train and Sadie with Bob on the other. Javier took up the rear of the train atop his horse, Boaz.

For traveling, it was preferable for Karen to be off the bottle. She didn't want to be more uncomfortable than she already was. Riding, either on a horse or in a wagon, always made her sick when she was inebriated. Karen felt woozy, unsure of the last time she'd eaten, but well aware of what she'd consumed last night.

She was drinking too much, even for her, but everything had seemed hopeless lately. When Sean died, he'd taken the liveliness with him. His cheerful compliments of her always brightened her mornings even when she'd found him an irritating shit most days. Everything around camp had been joyless since then, barring the night they'd gotten Jackie back.

Sure, they lived dangerously. It was part of the fun of it all. But Sean wasn't supposed to die how he did. He should have went out on a bank robbery with a wink and a cheeky retort to remember him by. Not shot in the head, and brought back bent over Bill's horse like a sack of potatoes, all the life drained out of him.

Arthur told her after the Valentine bank robbery that he didn't see those kinds of jobs as fun anymore. She hadn't understood what he'd meant, chalking up his change of opinion to his age and Hosea's influence.

After all, in Valentine, they'd completed it without casualties, brought home a good take and all on reliable information from her. But Arthur's comment that he was tired of burying friends came back to her like a slap. Now she understood was he was getting at. They were losing each other on a daily basis, it seemed.

Kieran got murdered, likely tortured before. Poor bastard weren't no close friend to her, but there weren't nothing wrong with him once she'd talked to him some. And Mary-Beth had sure took a shine to him.

When Molly left, everyone could've celebrated. Karen tried to talk with her when she'd worked herself up, but the woman was impossible. Besides, they could survive better without the drama of Molly O'Shea.

When everything went wrong at the Lemoyne bank, Karen didn't know what to think anymore. She hadn't realized she should have been biting her nails in worry like Abigail, waiting anxiously that night for a return that never happened.

When the boys got lost in the robbery, she'd settled with the idea that they was all lost. The gang was falling apart. Only a blind fool would miss it. How the hell were they supposed to survive with half of them gone? It was only a matter of time before they were all dead.

It weren't no hard feat to turn to the bottle for comfort. It'd proven a faithful companion in the past, when she'd first had to learn how to make money for herself, with no skills and only the body of a growing woman at her disposal.

Karen shook her head of the memories best left forgotten and looked around at her companions. Notably missing on the wagon was cheerful Mary-Beth, who had been subdued as of late and soft-spoken Charlotte. Charlotte's absence wasn't so much a mystery. Her and the other girls had been gossiping about Arthur's eruption when he discovered her in Lakay. It was only a matter of time before he sent her away.

It made sense. The woman wasn't forced to live this life. She had a home and money of her own. Well, if the gang hadn't lost it all for her, Karen mused idly. Maybe she'd have to sell her property and join them after all.

However, none of that explained Mary-Beth's absence. She lightly bumped Tilly with her elbow. "Where's Mary-Beth?"

Tilly shook her head, wordless.

Across from her, Abigail's lips pressed into a thin line. "She left with Charles."

"For what?" Karen asked, not comprehending the tension.

"Arthur and Charles want us to stay with Charlotte," Abigail explained. "She claims she's got land enough to fit us all."

"I like Miss Charlotte," Jack piped up. "I wanna go there, Momma."

Karen asked of them, "So why the hell ain't we headed there?"

"It's not as safe as with Dutch," Grimshaw proclaimed from the front. "And them going off on their own is disgraceful after all he's done for them."

Well, shit. She'd missed a lot this morning, sleeping off her hangover. She'd have to keep her head for the rest of the day. But Charles, Arthur and Mary-Beth were gone? Karen had to respect a move like that, especially coming from meek Mary-Beth.

"That why ain't none of you gone with?" Karen glanced around at all of them. "To be safe?"

Tilly looked shocked. "This is our family, Karen."

Karen snorted in derision. Family? What did that even mean anymore? She nodded at Abigail, "That what you think too?"

Abigail wouldn't meet her eye as she wrapped an arm around Jack's shoulders. Karen took that as her demonstrating who she considered the only family she truly cared about.

Karen leaned over the side of the wagon, addressing Sadie riding alongside the wagon. "What about you, miss boss? You stayin' with us out of 'loyalty' like the rest of these fools?"

Sadie been with them a few months, but the way she carried on all independent, not taking orders from Grimshaw, meant she really weren't with them at all. Karen had been trying for years get a similar standing. Apparently, all one had to do to earn respect around here was go into a murderous rage. Maybe Karen should have tried the same thing years ago.

"Well, Mrs. Adler?" Karen prompted.

The woman's eyes were glued to the treeline, but she answered, "I got business here."

"What kind of business?"

Her mouth twisted into a snarl. "Colm O'Driscoll."

Damn, that girl's hate was fierce. And towards the O'Driscoll's? Maybe she had more of an attachment to the gang than Karen thought.

Tilly bit her lip worriedly. "I hope the others will be okay." She leaned close, watching Miss Grimshaw as she whispered. "Dutch ain't too happy about Arthur and them going off on their own."

Karen waved a hand flippantly. "The men are always fighting about some bullshit. They'll get over it and make up soon enough."

Abigail commented, "If Hosea were here, he'd know how to get everyone working together again."

Maybe that's what was missing around here. All the level-headed folks were outnumbered by the irresponsible and the reckless.

"Whoa." Ahead of them, Dutch slowed his horse and raised a hand. "Hold up."

Karen's heart started an erratic pattering and she craned her neck to see what was obstructing their path. She ended up having to stand on her seat to see past Grimshaw's massively stacked pile of hair.

"Mr. Summers," Dutch greeted warmly and Tilly beside her released an audible breath of relief at the sight of Lenny on horseback.

"How'd you boys get on?"

"Fine, for the most part. All them...Murfrees, do you call them?" Lenny scratched his forearm. "They's all dead, but one of 'em got too close to Bill."

"He alright?"

"Sure." Lenny nodded. "He got his arm sliced up pretty good when one of those bastards got close, but he'll live. He's resting and guarding the camp from stragglers right now."

Karen shook her head. Bill Williamson couldn't go nowhere without getting himself into a scrape. That's why she'd been stubbornly against handing off control of the Valentine bank job.

"There's another small hang up, Dutch," added Lenny with a wince.

"And what would that be?"

Lenny tilted his head as John came into view next, strangely leading his horse instead of riding it. Karen momentarily assumed something was wrong with it before she noticed the girl sitting upright and tense in the saddle.

What the hell had those three idiots done?

Karen asked bluntly, "Where'd she come from?"

"Down in the caves," answered Lenny, shaking his head in disbelief and lowering his voice, "In some cage. Barely got her out without losing an eye. She was feral."

Karen's attention focused on the girl with interest. "No shit?"

Dutch pressed The Count forward, reaching for the girl. "It's okay, miss..."

She flinched away from him, letting out a terrified squeak. She'd hardly had a grasp of the saddle's horn so she teetered when the horse below her sidestepped at her scrambling. The only reason she stayed on at all was because John had a hold of the lead and was able to settle his steed.

Dutch stopped and leaned back from her. He informed her in smooth tones, "We ain't gonna hurt you, miss. Where you from?"

But she wasn't having it. Her eyes were wide, but her mouth was occupied with quick, panicked gasps until Dutch moved away.

"She ain't talkin'," John stated. "She don't want anyone near her."

It was no wonder, Karen thought. She's got all these damn men surrounding her. The girl looked frightened out of her mind. With Bill's bluster, John's scarred face and Lenny's suffocating optimism, it was a miracle how they got her on the horse in the first place.

"Where's she from?" Dutch asked.

Lenny answered, "Don't know, boss."

"I'm willing to place a bet on Annesburg." Dutch ordered decisively, "Drop her off down the main road. Maybe she'll distract one of those patrols sniffing for us into picking her up."

Abigail spoke out, "We can't leave the poor girl on the side of the road. Not in these woods. An animal will find her."

"Or worse," John muttered, his gaze going back the direction he came.

"May I remind you, Miss Roberts," said Dutch, "we are outlaws. We are attempting to flee the area."

"But she's just a girl," she continued to protest.

Micah told Dutch, "The longer we sit around discussing what to do with her, the sooner the law will catch up to us." He eyed the girl with a jeer. "She looks sturdy enough. Set her loose, boss."

"Set her loose?" Sadie butted in next. "What the hell's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," said Micah greasily. "I'm..." He glanced at Dutch and swept his arm to indicate all of them. "I'm looking out for the family."

"The hell you are."

Micah had always made Karen uneasy, but, for some reason today, she felt even more uncomfortable about that sleaze. She had a vague memory of his blurry obnoxious face close up to hers.

He'd tried something on her, Karen knew it, but she didn't know what and she almost didn't want to find out. She didn't think she slept with him. Even drunk, she knew he was no prize pony.

"She ain't our problem, Mrs. Adler." Micah sneered. "Just like you weren't our problem the day we found you."

"And how did that turn out for you, Mr. Bell?"

"Enough," Dutch cut in, harassed. "Lenny, will you kindly take the valuable time to return the girl home? Meet us at camp when you're done."

John handed over the reins to Lenny and then joined the women in the second wagon. As for the girl, she was scared out of her goddamn mind, her eyes darting between each one of them as her fate was decided without regard of her input. The girl had obviously went through some trauma, all quivering and wide-eyed as she was.

"One of the girls should go with her." Karen appealed to Grimshaw, "Susan?"

Karen rarely used her first name unless she was asking for a favor or to get on her good side. Apparently, it was too respectful to use it in this instance too.

"We got enough problems right now," answered Grimshaw, in total agreement with Dutch.

Jesus. Karen wasn't much for charity herself, but damn. When had Grimshaw lost her bleeding heart? It pissed her off because this wasn't the gang she was once familiar with. What happened to helping the lost find their way? Especially the girls?

Unfortunately, what Karen saw in this young woman was a reflection of herself. And kindness would have gone a long way for her at that age.

"Hold on a damn minute." Karen stood and moved to the back of the wagon. "I'll come with you, Lenny."

Dutch, Micah and the other wagon had already started forward as if there was nothing else to discuss, but everyone else in the caravan turned to look at her and she straightened, surprised at the attention.

"You?" Grimshaw scoffed. "Are you sober enough to know what you're offering, Miss Jones?"

Karen glared at her, just barely resisting snapping at Grimshaw to shut the hell up. "I ain't even close to drunk."

She dropped down from the wagon and marched to John's horse. "Give me the reins, Lenny."

He shrugged. "Alright."

"Move back," she ordered the girl. "I'm coming up."

The girl's tear-streaked dirty face turned to her and she eyed Karen warily. Yet, she did as Karen told her without flinching or falling off the horse.

Strauss led his shire up to her and Lenny, the second wagon and Javier passing behind them. "I shall accompany you, Miss Jones, Mr. Summers."

Lenny's heart hadn't yet been hardened by the cruelty of the world, so it made sense why Dutch chose him to drop off the girl. But Strauss volunteering?

Strauss continued, "I need to make a stop in town for medical supplies, for our good friend Mr. Williamson."

No way that was the real reason he wanted to tag along. Since when did Old Strauss give a damn about anyone else's well-being? She stared into his cold, dead eyes. He was up to something.

But he wasn't Micah so she wasn't too concerned at his motive. Karen knew for a certainty that girl wouldn't make it home if that bastard had been the one given the task.

"Come on, fellas." She didn't move slowly so the girl was forced to clutch Karen around the middle to not fall off.

"So, where we headed, girl?" Karen called over her shoulder. "Is it Annesburg?"

"Yes," she said in a tiny voice, barely above a whisper.

"What's your name?"

"Meredith."

Karen recalled a story she'd heard at the bar a few days ago. "Heard something about a missing carriage and no survivors found. Was that you?"

"Yes," she said again. "And-and those men...appeared out of the trees."

That carriage had gone missing a couple of weeks ago. Had Meredith been captive for that long? She was damn lucky to be alive and in one piece. Karen eyed the woods uneasily and was glad for the rifle still strapped to John's horse.

Karen turned her attention to the man who'd randomly decided to join them. She asked bluntly, "Do you got a gun, Herr Strauss?"

He said evasively, "Do you expect I'll be needing one, Miss Jones?"

She rolled her eyes. That was a 'no' then. "What's your reason for even being here, old man? It don't take more than one person to buy tonics and bandages."

Strauss stiffened in his saddle, but answered in an impassive tone, "There is safety in numbers, Miss Jones."

"That so?" She eyed him askance. "And you just wanted to do some shopping?"

"I also have a debt collection to retrieve in Annesburg so this has worked out perfectly all around."

She sent him a look of disbelief. "Since when do you make house calls?"

"Since Mr. Morgan refuses to collect and the others are useless at it."

Lenny tensed and snapped, "It ain't as easy as all that or you'd do them all yourself."

"As I've expressed before, my expertise lies in the creation of the loans, not in the collecting."

Karen eyed the large bag he'd taken care to strap to his saddle. "And you needed to bring that to collect, did you?"

"Yes."

As they closed in on Annesburg, Meredith, little by little, opened up to Karen about the details of what happened, of some of the things the Murfrees had done to her and her family members. Meredith had a mother waiting so she was fortunate in that regard.

They hitched their horses in front of the post office. Strauss decided to stay with the horses as her and Lenny assisted Meredith up to her house. It was one of the many identically built homes crowded tightly together on the hillside.

When they reached Meredith's house, a woman swung open the door before they knocked. She pulled Meredith out of their arms and sobbed her gratitude. Her desperate relief made Karen uncomfortable.

The woman thrust out a handful of cash as thanks in a gesture Karen had been hoping for. But now that it had been offered and they'd witnessed the mother's gratitude, Karen carried no desire to accept it.

She shared a glance with Lenny and his face reflected the same sentiment. Karen gently pushed the woman's hand and the money away.

Lenny told her, "We're just happy she's got a home to come back to, ma'am."

Maybe there was something to all those goody-two-shoes acts Karen always teased Arthur over. It did give her a warm feeling to help another person in need, even though they hadn't gained a penny for it.

"Strauss would have taken it," Lenny commented once they were headed back to the horses.

Karen sighed regretfully. "We're both damn soft-hearted fools for not."

Lenny smiled. "Glad I ain't the only one then."

"We shouldn't make it a habit of refusing free money, Mr. Summers, or we won't survive much longer."

Lenny shrugged. "My Pa always said one good turn will bring about another."

Karen rolled her eyes. "And you took up the charitable profession of outlaw."

"Damn straight." He grinned. "And I wouldn't have it any other way, Miss Karen."

"Idiot." But he had her grinning too.

When they reached the horses, Strauss hadn't moved a muscle, sitting atop the borrowed shire like a statue.

"Any offer of reward?" he asked when they were in range.

Lenny didn't hesitate in shaking his head. "None."

Strauss' eyes moved searchingly to the houses, as if trying to find the one they'd left. "And how did the prospects seem of the family? Are they in need of some...assistance?"

Disgusted at his antics, Karen answered this time, "They don't got shit and the mother was a painful wretch. Damn near attracted too much attention when she started accusing Lenny of thievery and kidnapping. Wouldn't be surprised if she tries to run straight to the law once we're out of sight."

"Pity." Strauss's mouth puckered distastefully. "Such is the way with some of these ungrateful unfortunates."

Vile man. Like they weren't themselves in one of the worst situations they've been in.

"I'm gonna head back to camp right away, in case Dutch needs me," Lenny told them. "You two gonna be okay on your own?"

"Sure. We ain't helpless." Karen winked. "Well, I ain't."

Lenny mounted up. "Don't have too much fun down here."

With him? Karen mouthed and jutted a discreet thumb in Strauss' direction.

Lenny grinned at her and was on his way. Karen faced Strauss and asked, "Shall we, Mr. Strauss?"

"Ah, yes." The corner of his eye twitched and he didn't move. "Actually, Miss Jones, this isn't an activity that requires two persons. I can turn a blind eye if you'd prefer to use your time at the saloon while I conduct my business."

She was feeling parched. She teased, "You trying to get rid of me?"

"No, no. Of course not," he said a little too insistently. He pulled out a few coins and added, "However, I will be some time. There's no need to bore yourself. The first two are on me."

Karen took the coins from his palm and narrowed her eyes on the money and then him. It was suspicious as all hell to see Leopold Strauss, the penny-pincher, freely handing over money.

Her attention shifted to his bag on the horse again and a reason came to mind why he'd want her out of his company. It all clicked together. "Cut the shit, Strauss. I'm not an idiot. You're trying to run."

"I am not."

"Sure." Karen pocketed the money. "You know, I don't fault no one for leaving. That's their goddamn business. But sneaking off? That's slimy as shit."

"I heard Mrs. Balfour speak of her home," Strauss said defensively. "I know where it is. I'd like to see if it's a better location."

"And if it is?"

"Then I shall endeavor to persuade Mr. Van der Linde to move us up there."

Sounded foolish to her. "And if you can't?"

Strauss steepled his fingers together and a gleam entered his eyes she didn't think he meant to look menacing. Or maybe he did. He'd always been a creepy fuck. "Dutch will surely see the error of his ways. Without Mr. Matthews to guide him from his more reckless decisions, Mr. Morgan will be his fallback for advice."

Karen would believe that if she didn't remember the image of Micah riding as close as he could to Dutch on the trail, whispering about who knew what. Seemed like the position was already taken. "Well, I can't say anyone will miss you in the meantime."

"Business will begin again, you shall see. I'm sure there are plenty of...clients to speak of here in Annesburg. It is all about drilling in the right location to find the oil that we need."

His self-serving ass pissed her off in an instant. "You think you're some kind of savior for us by taking out loans on the poor, but you don't give a shit about any of us."

"That's not true," he denied fervently. "I have donated blood and sweat to keep our heads above water. Time and time again, I have done so. This gang is my life."

Maybe Karen believed him. She had rarely seen Strauss so heated and she'd clearly struck a nerve. She pointed out, "Then why you talkin' like you're seekin' to leave the rest of us behind?"

"A temporary separation, I assure you. Like Susan, you speak as if there were two sides, Miss Jones, when we are all one of the same."

Comparing her to Grimshaw was enough to get her heated. "Bullshit."

"The law's attention is on us and we need to be at our strongest." he continued, unruffled. "Right now, that is not the case. We are headed for war. You need to consider your own position in it."

Herr Strauss turned his filly north, not bothering to clarify if he was referring to a war against the Pinkertons or each other. As she saw it, the latter was the more likely outcome right now.

Unexpectedly, Strauss paused instead of taking off down the road. He asked her, "Well, Miss Jones? What is your decision? Will you join me?"

Karen remembered the fear in Meredith's tear-filled eyes. She ain't even seen it yet and already she knew Beaver Hollow was a cursed place. Maybe Mary-Beth would've called it romantic for one reason or another, but even she'd chose to steer clear of it. Valentine, Saint Denis, Rhodes...how many damned places would Karen pass through until one of 'em decided to take her life?

Strauss was a selfish, wretched, cold-hearted bastard, but he wasn't a complete moron. Plus, for the first time in weeks, she was feeling up for a little rebellion.

"You know what?" Karen mounted her horse, excitement rising. "What the hell? Lead the way, Mr. Strauss."