"We left the money behind again! That place is going to be on lockdown, we'll never get back there before the boat leaves to Tahiti." John paced back and forth as the last of the gang came riding up, "We never get anywhere." He sighed, exasperated, "That's all we ever do, Dutch! Flee, bring in a good amount of money, get caught, flee again and leave the money behind. We never have time to grab the money, it's an endless, vicious cycle and I'm done with it!"

Bill immediately took offense to John's words, his face screwing up as he practically spit at him, "Have some faith, we're going to figure this out." He stood leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest and staring at John.

"Thank you, Bill." Dutch nodded his thanks at him before putting a hand on John's shoulder, "We are going to be ok, son. This is just a set back. As soon as the law calms down we'll go back and get that money. Then we can catch another boat, I don't know when but there has got to be another boat going out to Tahiti sooner or later. Hell, we may be able to finally get that money from Blackwater by now if we're real careful too."

"It ain't about the money, Dutch." John pulled away from him and stared back at him challengingly, "How much longer are we going to be running now? Hmm? We're always getting money, until we can get that money back we'll keep stealing more to get by and all the while, the law keeps growing and growing. We can't live like this anymore, Dutch. It's getting too late. we're losing time we don't have."

"I know son, I know." Dutch took a deep breath, "Look," He turned to the gang and gestured to everyone, "We're ok. We're all ok. We stay here for a few days and then we go back for that money and we're out of here. At this point it don't matter where we go as long as we leave."

Celina stepped forward and placed her hand on Dutch's arm, he was getting too worked up, that much was obvious. They had rode practically all night to flee the law and tension amongst everyone was high, obviously for good reason. She addressed the gang, "All that is going to happen tonight with what we just went through and the fact that we are all in desperate need of sleep is nothing good. Let's not make any big decisions until morning."

Arthur nodded but did not look too convinced that everything would truly be alright. Given the fact that the people there knew him pretty well, his attempt to seem convinced... well, wasn't convincing, "I agree. We'll look at this from a new perspective in the morning."

Dutch looked around at everyone only for his brow to furrow, "Where's Molly?"

Celina took a deep breath and did her best to show some empathy even though the loss of Molly was no loss to herself, "She got shot, Dutch, back in the cave. The law, they took her out."

Sorrow crossed his face but he tried not to show it all too much. He just nodded instead and slowly exhaled, "Well, that is unfortunate. I know not all of you liked her all too much, but she really could be a good woman."

"Of course she could be, Dutch." Arthur spoke up, "I'm sorry to hear about her death." He shook his head a it sunk in, "She was young, too young."

John huffed, "Ok then, I guess we'll just go to sleep, not like we may be shot in our sleep if the law managed to track us down out here. You know they would do that at this point. How many law men we killed. This isn't going to end good." John walked over to Jack and Abbigail and put his arm around his woman whom he had admitted before that he was not always faithful to, "Looks like we're really sleeping in the dirt tonight. Didn't even get the chance to bring a thing with us. This is great, Dutch, This is just great."

Celina had had enough of John talking like their unfortunate situation was all Dutch's fault to the point that she couldn't keep herself from saying something back to him, "You can shut up, John. This ain't all Dutch's fault, how could it be? Things like this happen in the life we've all chosen to live. Dutch? He's in this with us, so before you go pointing fingers at him and saying- acting like it's his fault, why don't you asses things that you could have suggested we do differently. I can guarantee you that everything that has happened in the past few days, you jus followed and didn't even try to help plan anything out. So, shut up."

Her rant had apparently surprised everyone else in the gang as they are stared silently at the scene that had unfolded before them. Celina made eye contact with several of them, not addressing them particularly but everyone as a whole, "Do any of you have anything to say? If you do, you best speak up now. I'm tired of all of you following silently as if there's no question about the plan but then when things go down, you blame Dutch immediately or whoever was involved in the plan. If you don't try to step up and help, then you have no business judging and complaining when things go wrong." She could feel that her blood pressure had risen quite a bit as she spoke, getting more and more ticked off at the fact that what she had just called out was so true for quite a few members of the gang. "All of you, if you think that you can make it on your own, think you can survive and do better without Dutch and the gang then I don't give a crap if you leave. Go, be my guest."

Dutch stared at her in just as much surprise as everyone else. It was rare to see Celina as angry as she was in that moment but when she got to that point, she was willing to speak her mind no matter if it hurt people's feelings or not. Dutch cleared his throat after her rand was over and she walked away from the rest of them likely to take a breather and try to calm herself down, "All of you know that if you want to leave I am not going to make you stay. But I would greatly hate to see any of you leave. We are family, we've got to stick together through this and we will come out on top. Miss Knoll, she is upset, clearly, she just needs some time to calm down. We all need time to calm down." He gestured in the way they had come, "That back there, that was a lot. It was a lot of nothing good, we lost Molly and we are lucky we did not lose more. We could." His voice raised somewhat, "We could always lose more which is why we've got to stick together and when the time comes, we fight back." He took a deep breath, "All I ask is that everyone please, eve if you've made the decision to leave after all of this, stay at least for the night. We all need sleep and odds are in small numbers, it just may not be safe out there."

Everyone listened as Dutch spoke, he and Celina's speeches getting different, mostly quiet reactions from everyone. When Dutch walked away to make his way over to Celina who was sitting on the ground off a bit away, Arthur caught up with him, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Dutch immediately nodded, "Of course son. Always, what is it?"

"I-" Arthur started and then stopped himself as if unsure of how to say what it was that he waned to say, "This is a real bad situation, Dutch.. I know that, you know that." Arthur scoffed and threw his hand to the air, "Everyone knows that. We've got to get out west, Dutch we have to. There's no way that we're getting on a boat and leaving here, not out of Saint Denis, not out of New York.. this whole country is going to be on lockdown to find us after this mess we've made in this year alone." He whined a bit, "West is our only hope, if we can even make it out there. This world, it's changing and too fast. We- we're not wanted anymore and it's going to be a bit before people start forgetting about us. What I say," He sounded uncomfortable but not uncertain, "I say we start heading west tomorrow, make a break for the money in Blackwater... just a few of us, nothing too noticeable. That area should be calmed down enough that some of us who don't have too big a bounty on our heads should be able to sneak in. We forget about the money up near Annesburg. We cannot afford to go back that way."

Arthur licked his lips before continuing "I would like to think that once we make it a good bit past Blackwater we will be in good shape. We just need that money and then we can get ourselves a real nice patch of land, do that farming thing all of us. We need to get away from living like this, Dutch, it's not working. Not no more." Dutch tried to say something but knowing what he was going to say, Arthur didn't give him the chance to say it, "I'm not saying that we live a civilized life, Dutch. Not at all. I'm just saying that we need to live a quiet one. I'm not saying that we shouldn't do small jobs from time to time." He raised his hand, "That should be fine, but we have go to be quiet about it. We've go to be."

Dutch, despite himself, found himself nodding in reluctant agreement with Arthur, "I know, son. I know." He took a deep breath and released it slowly, looking over at Celina who had laid her jacket on the ground and curled up on it in attempt to go to sleep. As far as he knew she was to far away to make out what they were saying, "We..." He huffed, "We were so close. The boat was supposed to come tomorrow and all of this was supposed to be behind us."

Arthur nodded, "I know, Dutch. I know. But we're bad people, we've done some really, really bad things. Maybe there is a God.." He looked up to the sky and shook his head, "I don't know but it just feels like we're being punished." He knew that what he had to tell Dutch next was going to make him mad if none of the other things he had just said did, "This trip, out west... it's going to be hard and it's going to be risky. I ain't going to lie." Dutch nodded in agreement again, "So, I think we have to consider who we're dragging along with us."

Dutch shot a quizzical look at him, "What are you talking about?"

Arthur counted out on his fingers, "John, Abbigail and Jack. We need to let them go Dutch, they can live a civilized life. It ain't fair to be raising Jack in the middle of all of this when it's no choice of his own. We need to cut them lose. Give them some of the-"

Dutch cut him off then, holding a hand up to stop him, "You're serious about this? Let them go?"
He sounded hurt, almost offended.

Arthur nodded, not budging on his statement, "Yes, I'm sure, think about it Dutch, dragging a young family across he country in an ATTEMPT to escape from the law?" Arthur shook his head, ""I'm sorry but it's just not practical. Their safety is too much of a concern to put them through that. I'm afraid I have to insist."

"Insist?" Dutch stared at him for a moment as if he had grown three heads."

"Yes," Arthur sighed, not breaking eye contact with him but holding it rather firmly, "I insist."

Dutch chuckled and took a step back, his eyes assessing the man that he thought of as a son, "Ok," He relented, "Whatever you think is best. Have it your way, Arthur."

Arthur felt his heart sink a bit at the tone of voice Dutch used, it worried him, hearing him spit the words at him the way that he did. What if... what if Celina was wrong? What if Micah wasn't Dutch's biggest problem at all? What if his biggest problem was himself? What if he was just changing.. naturally? Becoming more of the person he was always meant to be? Arthur reached out to Dutch, "Look, please, just listen to me if you would, ok? I didn't mean to make you feel like-"

"Oh," Dutch raised a brow at him, "You didn't make me feel like anything. I understand that you feel like you have to look after this gang when you can't trust ol' Dutch to make the right calls."

The younger of the two men shook his head in denial, "It ain't like that."

"Ok," Dutch spoke in a dismissive tone towards him, "Whatever you say." He spread his arms wide, "Whatever you say. But I need to get some sleep, boss. We have a long day ahead."

...

Celina woke up, back stiff from sleeping on the cold, hard ground all night, well, at least for the rest of the night. When she opened her eyes at the crack of dawn as usual, she saw that Dutch was already up and conversing with Hosea, Bill and Arthur. She yawned and stood to her feet before picking her jacket up off the ground and slipping it back on as she made her way over to them, "We planning the trip?" She came to stand between Arthur and Bill, looking at Dutch to answer her question.

Dutch nodded, trailing his hand over the map that they had laid across the rock in the middle of them as he tries to figure out the best route to take, "That would be what we're doing as you can see. Just trying to figure some details out is all at this point."

Celina looked at the map herself, thinking that the poor item which was typically tucked away in Hosea's bag had seen better days, "What kind of details? Is there a certain way you want to take?"

Dutch shot her a look of annoyance, "If there was a certain way we wanted to take then why exactly would we be standing here, mulling over a map?
How many details could there be exactly? Wouldn't one think details of where to sleep.. where to hunt?" His tone was short and filled with annoyance to match the current look on his face, Celina kind of slunk back at that, he having made her feel stupid for even asking let alone walking up to them.

That immediately added tension to the air around them as no one knew what to say or how to react. But Bill, Bill, well, he wasn't having any of it, "Why don't you try being nice to her, Dutch? She don't need you talking to her like that."

That only made the tension worse and Celina looked over at Bill in surprise as did everyone else at his sudden outburst. Dutch stared at him in silence like he couldn't believe what he had just heard, "What did you just say to me?"

Celina looked over at Bill nervously, "Just let it slide, it's fine, Bill." She touched his arm lightly, "I don't know why he's being like this." She kept her voice at the quietest whisper possible, hoping that t wouldn't make it to Dutch's ears.

Bill didn't listen to her, of course he didn't listen feeling like he had to be the tough guy, "I said that you should be nicer to her."

"Oh," Dutch acted like being spoken to as he had been was unthinkable, "I should, should I?"

"Dutch, just let it go. There's no need to start a fight over this." Arthur sounded both tired and concerned, "Celina was only asking a question, there was no need to snap, I know we're all under a lot of stress. I'm sure he didn't mean to-"

Dutch basically let Arthur's words go in one ear and out the other, "My problem now is with Bill." He stepped around Hosea and Celina who watched worriedly as Dutch approached the veteran, Dutch shaking Hosea's hand off him when he grabbed his arm in attempt to stop him.

Celina moved closer to Bill as Dutch approached, "This is stupid, Dutch. It was just a comment, he thought you hurt my feelings, let it go."

Dutch stared down at her, his eyes holding nothing but anger, "Are you going to defend him now?" Dutch scoffed, "Miss Knoll, move out of the way. Please."

Celina refused for a second but Hosea reached out and pulled to towards him and out of the way, "It's better to just move out of the way dear." He explained as he watched the two men worriedly as well. Arthur just looked disbelieving as to what was going on, not trying to break it up yet unless things got too out of hand. Without doubt a lot of the others were probably watching as well but Celina didn't care to pay attention to them at the moment.

Dutch stepped closer to Bill, challenging him, "What makes you think that it's your place to tell me how I should and should not act? I did not lay a hand on her nor try to hurt her in any other way and there you are at the slightest sign she got her feelings hurt, ready to defend her. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there something you want to tell me? Because this, this ain't like you, Bill. So tell me, what's this about?"

Celina closed her eyes tightly and looked at Hosea, "Are they serious right now, really?"

Hosea shook his head, "It definitely seems that way, dear. I don't know what got into Dutch this morning and last night but he has definitely had a dramatic change in attitude." Arthur sighed and shook his head, walking off a little ways away to avoid being aught up in whatever was going on between Bill and Dutch. Celina and Hosea followed him upon his request and listened as he described the conversation he had had with Dutch the night before.

As for Bill and Dutch, Bill puffed his chest outa bit, "There isn't nothing I want to tell you. Nothing to know. Didn't say you hurt her, you just shouldn't talk that way to a woman is all."

Dutch chuckled sarcastically, almost in a menacing way, "Bill Williamson telling me how I should be treating a woman." His voice rose an octave or two and cracked, "I never thought I would see the day!"

Bill's voice whined a bit, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh Bill," Dutch scoffed, "Really? Really?! Coming from the man who was telling me that he was worried about his future possibly being leading a gang of murderers and rapists? Tell me Bill, how should I take any advice on how to treat a woman when you're capable of that?"

Bill was so taken aback at Dutch's words that he actually physically took a step back as if Dutch had landed a blow on him. Then, he swung his fist at Dutch's face, easily knocking the leader off his feet, "You don't know shit!" Bill spat down at him, "I ain't gonna do something like that, I wouldn't."

Celina, Arthur and Hosea immediately turned back in Bill and Dutch's direction upon hearing the impact followed by the words that Dutch had so unkindly thrown in the veterans face. The three of them immediately started in their direction but didn't get there before Dutch grabbed hold of Bill's leg and pulled him to the ground with him, the two of them rolling about as they threw punches at one another. Celina shouted at the two of them as she ran ahead of Arthur and Hosea who were also shouting, "Dutch! Bill! Stop it, stop it now! You two are acting like idiots and one of you are going to get hurt."

Neither one of them even attempted to stop fighting with the other and of course neither Hosea or Celina could throw themselves in the middle of it. However, Arthur could, so Arthur did, fussing as he separated the two of them from each other, a couple punches landing on him in the process, "That's enough, the two of you are done. Done."

The two men panted to catch their breath as they each reluctantly gave up getting past Arthur and Javier as well who rushed to the scene to help. Hosea looked at the two of them in both annoyance and disappointment, "Get yourselves together, it's time we get out of here if we're ever going to leave." He shook his head and walked away, "Can't believe the two of you, especially you, Dutch."

Celina, herself stood there for a moment and stared at Dutch with a look of such disapproval that she hoped it meant something to him, "That was so uncalled for." She shook her head, "You know, you can do yourself a favor and stay away from me, I just can't talk to you right now, Dutch. And what you said to Bill?" She tilted her head to the side slightly as she tried to comprehend how he would ever think it was ok to say something like that to him, "That's inexcusable."

Dutch glared back at her, wanting to say something, wanting to say something so bad but Arthur interrupted him from being about to say it, "Common, Dutch," He put his hand on his back and led him away from Celina and Bill, "Just walk it off, I'm sorry for what I said last night, I was worried and..."

Celina stopped listening to whatever it was the two of them were saying to each other as they walked off and turned her attention to Bill, the look on her face softening somewhat as she relaxed, "Thank you, you really didn't have to do that, he hardly ever gets to the point he talks degradingly to me.. when he does it's because of something else." She waved it off without concern, "But I appreciate it and what he said to you.." She shook her head at what she had heard leave Dutch's mouth, "There is no way you deserved that. That future, it ain't going to happen. He's just mad... I doubt he really meant it. I know that doesn't make it any easier to hear right now though."

"No, it don't." Bill looked her up and down in thought, "I- well... I never thought." He hesitated as he thought of what it was he wanted to say, "I never thought Dutch would do anything like that. And how he talked to you? I don't care, it ain't right."

Celina smiled appreciatively at him but couldn't help but to think that she had heard him talking rougher to the other women around camp than what Dutch had talked to her. She thought that that was a bit weird, for him to defend her so quickly and especially to Dutch when he could act the same way himself only to the other women. Maybe... was Dutch right? Did Bill like... was there something going on with Bill that not even Celina was aware of? Her memories of him being exceptionally kind to her came to mind immediately, walking her to the motel in Saint Denis... saving her life and opening up to her and now this? No, surely not, he... did Bill have feelings for her? The feelings that a man has for a woman? She forced herself to snap out of her thoughts knowing that she had already probably been quiet for too long for it to be considered normal, "I know." She breathed, "I never expected him to say something like that to you either. As far as how he talks to me though, it's ok Bill, really, it hardly happens ever. Abd when it does," She laughed, "I can stick up for myself just fine. I do actually, I have to in order to be with Dutch."

...

A/N: A heck of a lot of drama in tis chapter, lol. I figured it was finally time for a hint of Bill's feelings to come out towards Celina and I couldn't think of a better or 'more Bill' way to have them come out than for him to stick up for her and almost reveal them himself without thinking.

Arthur insisted that Dutch let John's family go...

And Dutch threw the Williamson gang in Bill's face...

I don't think I've written a more dramatic chapter XD

Anyway, will you guys please comment any thoughts on this chapter and what you think will- or want to happen next? I'm always interested!

Disclaimer: I do not own Red Dead Redemption 1 or 2 or anything associated with it.