Chapter 36-Our next move
It has been a week since Alicia had joined the gang. The gang has been doing good. They had been making money, and they still had a good amount of money from Dutch's chest. Sean, Kieran, and Tilly had been enjoying their jobs at Mcfarland ranch. Charles has been hunting with Alicia and getting hides and meat. Colt had yet to receive anything from Sam. He was sitting down in his tent, reading a book. It was still early morning. Abigal comes over. "We should be breaking John out," Abigal says.
Colt looks up at the woman. "How do you expect me to do that. If I go anywhere near Lemoyne, I'll be arrested the same for everybody else," Colt says as he stands up.
"No, Sadie and Alicia," Abigal says.
"You don't think Milton would be a little suspicious of Sadie, and Alicia has a bounty," Colt says.
"Alicia had a bounty down here. Nobody is going to be looking for her up in Lemoyne, and Milton has nothing he can pin on Sadie. I know this plan is a little risky, but they could kill John the longer we wait," Abigal says.
"Let's wait until Alicia and Charles get back, and then we'll talk to them," Colt says. Abigal nods as she walks away and back over to her son. Colt walks over to the map he had. He was trying to track movements of the Pinkertons, and O'driscoll's so far, he had nothing. Uncle walks over to Colt. Colt turns when he hears the older man. "What is it, Uncle?" Colt asks.
"I found a business opportunity," Uncle says. Colt looks at the man with a raised eyebrow.
"What is it?" Colt asks.
"I was in Blackwater," Uncle says. Colt looks at the man.
"Are you dumb?" Colt asks.
"Calm down. I was well hidden. Nobody saw me," Uncle says.
"You better hope on that," Colt says. "What is the business opportunity?" Colt asks.
"Well, I heard them talking about how hard it was to get hide sometimes. I thought we could do our own business. We could deliver hide to people and make money, and it would all be legal," Uncle says.
"That might be the first smart thing I have heard come out of your mouth in months," Colt says. Uncle frowns.
"Shut up," Uncle says.
"That could work. Make something a poster I don't care, just something. A way for us to get people to know," Colt tells Uncle, who nods and walks away. Kieran rides into camp. "I thought you were working," Colt says. Kieran gets off his horse.
"I am. Mr. Mcfarlane asked me to deliver some mail to you," Kieran says as he hands to envelopes to Colt. Colt grabs them.
"Thanks, Kieran. Ask Drew if he has any hide around the ranch that he's not using," Colt tells Kieran, who nods as he leaves and heads back to McFarland ranch. Colt opens the first letter. Hey, Colt, it's Cripps. I know it hasn't been a year, but I'm back, and there has been a lot to hear about. I arrived in Saint-Denis and heard about a bank robbery and a lot of other things. I send this letter to multiple places after printing it. I hope this letter finds you Colt, and if it does, I'll be in Blackwater Cripps. Colt reads the letter and swears. "Uncle, come here!" Colt shouts. Uncle comes over.
"What is it?" Uncle asks.
"While you were in Blackwater, did you see a man in Blackwater old long white beard? Brown hat?" Colt asks. Uncle things for a moment before he nods.
"Yes, I saw him at the bar," Uncle says.
"I need you to go back to Blackwater and grab him. He's a friend. Mention me and nothing else. We clear?" Colt asks. Uncle nods and walks over to his horse before he leaves. Colt sits down and opens the second letter. Colt, this is Milton, of course. I don't know if you'll ever see this, but I feel lied to Colt. He betrayed me, and I don't know why. I hope one day that I will. I don't have enough evidence to arrest you. I wish I did so I could get my answer but I can't. That doesn't mean if I see you that you won't be arrested. I will find you and Dutch and Dutch will die, and so will the rest. But I'm gonna give you an out Colt. You bring me Dutch, and I will let you live, including Hosea. Think about it, Colt. Colt reads the letter from Milton and sets it down on the map. Colt stands up as he hears two horses ride into camp. He walks out of the tent and over to Charles and Alicia, who both had deer on the back of their horses.
"With how many hides were bringing back, we should be able to head to the trappers soon," Charles says.
"Uncle had a better idea. Something we can do with the hide that will get us more money. But we'll talk about that later. I need to speak with Alicia for a moment," Colt says. Charles nods as he walks away. Alicia looks at Colt with a cheeky grin.
"What's up, boss, man?" Alicia asks. Colt had learned over the past week that Alicia was a very silly person and liked to make a lot of jokes.
"I need your help with something?" Colt says. Alicia nods as Colt leads her back to his tent. Colt motions Sadie to follow. "Abigal brought up John and how we need to get him out, and she's right we do. We need the Pinkertons to still think that we are still in that area. Most of us can't head up that way. You two can, and that is what I want you to do. Head up towards Annesberg. There is a man there that will let you take a hot air balloon ride. Alicia will scope the prison out. You know what John Martson looks like, right?" Colt asks the woman, who nods.
"Okay, after you two will make a plan, get John out and bring him back here. You think you can handle that?" Colt asks. They nod.
"Good, if you're not back in a few days, we'll come looking," Colt tells the two women who nod as they leave. They climb on their horses and leave camp.
Blackwater a few hours later
Uncle hitches his horse outside of the bar in Blackwater. He walks into the building. It was past two by now. Uncle spots Cripps sitting by himself at the bar. He walks over to the man and sits. "You, Cripps?" Uncle asks. Cripps looks at the man.
"Yeah, why what you need?" Cripps asks.
"I'm with Colt. I'm a friend. He asked me to come and get you," Uncle says.
"What is Colt's last name?" Cripps asks.
"Morgan," Uncle says.
"Does he have any family?" Cripps asks.
"A brother and his parents are dead," Uncle says as he stares the man straight in the eyes. Cripps nods as he stands up.
"We ain't got all take daylight is wasting let's go see Colt," Cripps says. Uncle nods as they leave the bar. Cripps climbs up on a wagon, and Uncle gets on with the man. Cripps moves the wagon and Uncle whistles for his horse to follow.
Camp another few hours later
Colt was sitting in his tent, looking at the map, when he heard a wagon. He walks out of his tent and puts his hand on his revolver, as does the other gang members. Kieran and Sean included who had been let off work early. The wagon comes into view, and Colt sees Cripps and Uncle. "It's okay. I know the other man. I sent Uncle to get him," Colt says. The gang calms down as the wagon stops. Cripps looks around.
"Looks like you have quite the story to tell me," Cripps says as he gets off the wagon. Colt walks over and hugs the man.
"That I do, my friend. That I do," Colt says. "Guys, this is JR Cripps. He was my business partner before Milton gave me the bounty. He went off to deal with some family matters," Colt says. The gang nods as they introduce themselves. After Colt leads Cripps to his tent and sits the man down.
"So, this is not how I expected to find you after all this time. You got some explaining to do," Cripps says as he sits down. Colt sits down. He starts to tell Cripps about what had happened to him after the older man had left.
Colt finishes his story, and Cripps looks at him. "Wow, you have been through the ring. You found your brother, but you lost Jake. You found Sadie and joined the gang. After a while, you got caught by Colm O'driscoll after beaten for two weeks, they found you, and you planned a robbery that went wrong. Moved down here after the others didn't return and have sent Sadie with Alicia to go get John, and you and Sadie definitely have feelings for each other. Did I miss anything?" Cripps asks.
"No, you didn't miss anything," Colt says.
"Good, now Uncle told me about his idea to start a hide selling business. I'm gonna go help him. Good to be here, Colt," Cripps says. Colt nods as the man leaves. Colt closes his tent flap and goes to sleep.
With Sadie and Alicia
Sadie and Alicia hitch their horses outside the bar. "Go in and get us a room. I finish with the horses," Sadie says. Alicia nods as she walks inside the bar. Sadie was almost done with the horses when she heard footsteps behind her.
"How have you been, Mrs. Adler?" Milton asks. Sadie freezes for a moment before she turns around to face the agent.
"Good, and how about you, Mr. Milton?" Sadie asks.
"Oh, you know here and there. Have you seen Colt recently, Mrs. Adler?" Milton asks.
"No, we haven't talked in a few weeks," Sadie says.
"Really, well, in case you didn't know, your friend is in with a bad gang. So if you hear anything, please do tell," Milton says.
"Of course," Sadie says.
"Good night, Mrs. Adler," Milton says.
"Same to you, Agent Milton," Sadie says as she walks inside. Sadie and Alicia head up to their room and go to bed.
Thanks for reading. I like this story, and Cripps is back, which is cool. As always, suggestions are welcomed.
