Chapter V – Echoes of Dutch

"Nearly home" Arthur remarked with a smile, they had been on the trail for what seemed like a lot longer than the few days it had been. Although it wasn't a good home, they were all missing the makeshift camp at Copperhead Landing.

.

"Arthur, I have to ask, what the plan is for all of us?" said Sadie inquisitively. "I mean obviously we stay together, but I think… I think we need someplace safe and permanent, like the plan Dutch had".

Before Arthur could respond Charles shouted over the horses and said "Sadie's right you know, I'm not saying we go to Tahiti but I am saying we need someplace safe."

Arthur was silent, he knew both Charles and Sadie were looking at him but they could only see his back.

"Arthur?" Sadie shouted jokingly over the sound of the galloping, Arthur didn't respond, "what's up with him" she thought to herself.

"I think…. I think that I might ask Mary Beth to make an honest man of me, you know, get married and get out of this life completely, I mean obviously we can all stay together if that is what everyone wants and I do agree we need someplace where no one will be in danger".

"I think that's a great idea Arthur" Sadie said with a warm smile, "but just make it somewhat more romantic than what people would expect from an outlaw" she chuckled.

A short time later they finally arrived back at camp, but there was no one to be seen apart from a few birds perched on a wagon, a loud, close BANG suddenly was heard.

Arthur shouted "follow me! Sounded like it was over by the lake" without thinking both of them did as they were told and dismounted their tired steeds.

As they ran to the shoreline they saw the whole camp gathered behind John, "and I said get the hell out of here lady!" yelled John, in front of him stood a women, she didn't look too old, her jacket was blue, her brown hair came down below her white hat.

"And I said I ain't leaving until that Morgan guy gets 'ere" she spat at the ground.

Exasperated, John gave up and went to walk away before suddenly spotting Arthur, "Arthur, this lady has been here for three days, we can't get rid of her, and she said that she will only speak to you".

Feeling annoyed and tired Arthur marched towards her, "look lady I ain't in the mood for this horseshit, you hear me?" he growled.

The lady turned around to face Arthur, "I'm here to speak to the right hand man of my father".

Arthur looked puzzled, "I ain't no one's right hand man at the minute ma'am, you must be mistaken, now if you'll please leave" he said with frustration, he went to put his hand on her back to usher her along when she smacked it away with her gun.

"Where is my father Mr Morgan?" she said with an intense look in her eye, "or do I have to put a bullet in every single one of yo...ou" as she faltered Arthur yanked her gun out of her hand and threw it away.

"Quick little lesson miss, if your threatening to use it, you better damn well use it" he said half shouting at her, "Now you better leave before Mrs Adler puts a hole in you".

Arthur turned to leave, "DUTCH, my…my father's name is" she paused for a second "Dutch".

Arthur stopped in his tracks, his blood ran cold and his fists clenched, an overwhelming anger came over him, his hand flew towards his holster and he drew his weapon. "Miss, you leave right now or I'm gonna fill you with bullets, last warning" he said it with such anger and hate.

"Now now, Mr Morgan, let's not be hasty" a voice said from behind the group, as Arthur turned, the young woman picked up her gun and put it to Arthur's head. "Remember me Mr Morgan" he said sarcastically.

"How could I forget, Mr Ross" Arthur went from angry to sarcastic and smiled at him, "what can I do for you today Mr Ross?" he said with a grin spread across his face.

"Here's the deal Mr Morgan, I have a loose end that needs tiding up"

"What loose end?" asked Arthur, as the gang shifted, John and Charles looking at how to kill Ross without Arthur's brains getting blown out.

"You kill Micah Bell and your little friends here are cleared of all crimes, if you refuse, they all die right here, right now" as the words left his lips a posse of a dozen men appeared from the trees. John allowed his gun to drop, there was no way three men and Sadie could shoot their way out of this.

"What about me?" Arthur said knowing it was too good to be true.

"Oh you'll be hanged for your crimes Mr Morgan, there's no way out of this for you, but I suggest you help save your friends….or don't and we'll have some target practice".

Ross then turned to the woman stood behind Arthur, "well done Lucy" he said with a sinister smile, "we may find your father yet"

"Good" she simply replied without much emotion, "I'm gonna blow that man's head off and feed the mess it leaves to the pigs".

"Anyway" Edgar started up again, "I'll leave you scum here, but you Mr Morgan, you are coming with us. I'll leave a few men here to discuss a strategy with Mr Marston and the… (looking disgusted) red skin, oh, and you Miss Lucy, I think you should stay as well… look after things".

They both shared a glance.

"Why not Mr Ross….why not."

Ross then pointed at Arthur, "shall we Mr Morgan" he motioned to the horses.

Arthur looked back at everyone, a sea of worried faces met his gaze, "I'll be back real soon don't worry" he said with a tired and withered voice. He then proceeded to follow Ross and his men to some horses, as Arthur mounted the horse his eyes made contact with Sadie's, after what felt like ten minutes Ross shouted "Let's go boys!"

The eye contact broke and Arthur grabbed the reins and kicked the horse, and just like that they rode off into the distance, everyone watched until they became a dots on the horizon

….

"So, Lucy, why you working for man like that huh?" Sadie said aggressively.

"Look, it's been two whole days and we still ain't got a concrete plan, so do excuse me if I'm concentrating more on that then giving you my life story" Lucy said severely scolding Sadie.

Sadie simply rolled her eyes and got up from the table, "the hell you looking at" she said to one of the men staring at her, the man's cheeks went red.

"Aww embarrassed that a girl spoke to ya!" she laughed and shook her head.

She then proceeded to walk towards John and Charles who were both sat around the fire.

"You two got any ideas on how we get Arthur outta this mess" Sadie said optimistically.

"Way I see it we got too options" John said with concern. He then stood up from the stump he was sat on and looked at the men that Ross had left behind.

He then quietly said "we kill these bastards and force Lucy to tell us where Arthur is"

"That's really dumb" Sadie interrupted.

"I ain't finished yet!" John said frustratingly. "Or option two, we play along with this little situation and see where it goes, there could be a few opportunities to get out if things go south, that's…that's all I got."

John seemed tired, these last few days had taken a heavy toll on him, he then glanced at the orange sky stretched out before them. "I….I think our luck may have actually ran out, and I honestly don't know what to do anymore."

Sadie put her hand on his shoulder, "John, go be with Abigail and Jack, me and Charles can take things from here, we'll have a plan by tomorrow I promise".

John looked at her "thanks…I." he stopped, "just….thanks."

John then turned and walked towards the small cabin, "you think he'll be okay" Sadie said with concern, "of course I do" replied Charles, "now come on, let's go and sit by the river, It's further away from them and will hopefully be more easy to come up with a plan"

"Sounds good Charles" Sadie replied playfully.

Hours passed and both Sadie and Charles tried to come out up with a solution, but as more time went on the conversation turned to other things, things that had not been spoken about in years, happy things.

As night fell completely Charles was busy talking away about all the times he and Arthur had gotten in to trouble, as he started his next story he felt weight pressed against his arm, he tore his eyes away from the moon and looked to his side, Sadie had fallen asleep against him, he had never seen her like this before, her guard down and she looked completely peaceful. Charles looked back at the moon and smiled, he slowly lowered himself down. He then shifted his gaze to the stars, and before he knew it he was asleep.

…..

"Get the hell up!"

Both Sadie and Charles both scrambled to their feet and put their hand on their holster's.

"WH…what's going on" Sadie spoke, out of breath and confused.

"Well, I see you both had a good night" Lucy said with a smile.

Both of them just stared at her, their expressions a mixture of angry and confusion.

"What do you want" Charles said getting tired of her implication.

"We have a plan" Lucy said with a serious tone, "get yourselves ready because we are movin' in a few hours, and talk to Ross' men, they will fill you in."

"Yes ma'am" Sadie said jokingly while giving an exaggerated salute.

Lucy raised her eyebrow, she then huffed and walked off.

Sadie then turned to Charles and smiled, Charles smiled back "shall we?" he said motioning towards the men gathered around the table, "Let's go" Sadie replied.

….

"Right, does anyone have any questions?"

"So let me get this straight, we are going to Armadillo, I thought it was rampant with Cholera?" Sadie said with concern.

"Look miss, you don't have to come, none of you do, but it's in your best interest to prolong Mr Morgan's time before he is hung in a few weeks".

Everyone fell silent

"Fine." She then proceeded to walk towards Mary-Beth and Abigail, "you okay to look after things while me, Charles and John are gone?"

"Course we are, I'm just glad you taught me too shoot straight" Abigail then got up and gave her friend a hug, "be careful out there." She then turned to John, "you better not die or I'll kill ya" she said hugging him, "she then whispered "bring Arthur home". Both John and Sadie walked towards their horses, "good luck Abigail shouted!"

And with that, the posse of a dozen people galloped of into the distance, leaving a whirlwind of dirt and loose mud at the camp.

"Great" Abigail thought, staring into the horizon.