A few weeks had passed since Evelyn had helped out Arthur with the two star-crossed lovers. Since then she hadn't seen Arthur much as he was always busy besides passing glances and friendly 'hello's. She wasn't really sure why she was keeping track, either, but she knew that the fact dismayed her. She smiled as Annabell and Jack ran by chasing after their new pet dog. No one knew where it came from but it had just wondered into camp one day much to the excitement of the children. Dutch named it Cain, and she figured the name suited him enough.
She looked up as Karin approached her.
"Hey, you any good at actin'?" The woman asked. Evelyn eyed her curiously. The two hadn't spoken much, the woman was usually drunk out of her mind by noon.
"I suppose, why?" Karin held out a satin emerald evening gown and winked.
"Got a job for ya. We're two high class ladies and I slept with your old rich husband. Make a scene, essentially. Gotta get everyone's attention so the boys have time to strike." Karin explained handing Evelyn the gown.
"Sounds easy enough. I'll be ready in a minute." Evelyn smiled and hid in her tent to get dressed. As she stepped out Karin examined her closely. She lead her over to the tents the other women slept at and procured a few items from a chest. With a flourish Karin revealed the items to Evelyn. A jeweled hair pin, a stunning necklace that matched her dress and a pair of white silk gloves. Evelyn put the items on with Karins help to do her hair. Karin twisted the top portion of Evelyn's hair into an updo and secured it with the jeweled pin.
"That should do, though usually your hair would be curled but we don't have time for that. Here, put this on your lips." Karin offered a lipstick to Evelyn which she put on.
"Okay, I'm ready." Evelyn said. Karin lead her over to where Bill and Lenny were waiting. Karin gave her a glance and chuckled.
"You look like a high and mighty society gal. You'd give Molly a run for her money I reckon." Bill and Lenny joined in on the laughter, making Evelyn blush.
"Oh. I guess it's not surprising." She said, feeling bad for poking fun at Molly. The poor girl seemed so miserable, all by herself mostly and everyone could hear the accusations she'd throw at Dutch. Bill looked behind Evelyn and gestured at someone behind her.
"Hey Arthur! Come here!" Bill yelled. Evelyn looked over her shoulder to see Arthur walking towards them. "We got some unfinished business, since we was plannin' on robbin' the bank before you stirred up all that nonsense." Bill explained. Arthur sighed.
"I didn't stir up nothin', it was just somethin' that happened to come up is all." Arthur complained.
"Come on Arthur, hit the Goddamn bank with us! It'll be fun! We even got Evelyn the high society lady to join in." Karin smirked and nodded at said girl. She had just returned from changing into a gown much like Evelyns, but a deep red color and she donned a hat. Arthur finally noticed Evelyn standing to the side. Evelyn swallowed tightly as Arthur took in her outfit.
"You look wonderful Mrs. Kings, but are you sure you wanna get involved in this?" Arthur asked her, concerned. Evelyn shrugged.
"I don't see why not. I've been cooped up here for weeks and Annabell is too distracted with the new dog to worry me about leaving her." She said. "Plus, I want to help out where I can. I owe it to everyone."
Karin grinned, leaning her weight on to Evelyns' shoulder. "See Arthur? Ain't nothin to worry about."
Arthur groaned. "Alright. Worth takin' a look I guess." He called over his horse. He gestured to Evelyn as Lenny, Bill, and Karin mounted up. "Here Mrs. Kings, you can ride with me." Evelyn blushed and took his hand so he could hoist her into the saddle behind him.
The small group set off, kicking up dust as their horses kicked up bits of dirt. Evelyn held tight to Arthur. Evelyn listened as the gang discussed the essentials, not feeling experienced enough to add to the conversation. The closer to Valentine they got the more nervous Evelyn grew. It had been a month, maybe two, since she'd last been in the town and she worried she'd be recognized. She voiced her concerns to Arthur who shrugged.
"I don't figure anyone would recognize you as you are right now. Even I had to take a second look at ya." Arthur assured her. Evelyn felt better, but wondered if he meant that she looked bad.
Evelyn entered the bank, her head held low. She fanned herself to help conceal her face a little bit more. Her palms were damp with sweat and she hoped no one around her could hear just how loud her heart was beating. The line slowly moved forward and a customer left. Soon after the bell rang, signaling someone entering. Evelyn looked up and saw Karin. She took a deep, steadying breath. She snapped her fan closed and pointed.
"You!" She yelled. The bank grew silent and all eyes were on her. She marched over to Karin. "You harlot! You dare to show your face around me?" She continued yelling, adding a slight French accent to her dialect. Karin rolled her eyes and crossed her arms indignantly.
"Whatever do you mean sweetheart?" Karin drawled boredly. Evelyn huffed furiously.
"You know exactly what I mean, whore. You sleep with my husband and expect me to just say nothing?" Evelyn got into Karins face. Karin sent her a subtle wink.
"What're you gonna do, old lady? He's bored of you, it's only polite that I entertain him. Poor guy-" Karin was cut off as Evelyn slapped her across the face. With a dramatic flourish Karin fell to the ground.
"Hey! Knock it off you two!" The clerk yelled as he came out from behind the counter. Someone grabbed her arms and pulled her away, as someone else ran to Karin's side. Everyone was completely engrossed in the scene. Evelyn smiled and nodded to Karin who smirked back.
"You'll regret that!" Karin growled, loudly so the boys outside could hear her. In an instant the men, Bill, Arthur, and Lenny flooded in guns at the ready. Karin and Evelyn took position at the door, giggling as the men ransacked the safe. Lenny stayed behind with them.
"You'll forgive me, won't you?" Karin asked Evelyn dramatically. Evelyn laughed.
"Perish the thought madam." Evelyn replied, her French accent thick. Time ticked by slowly. The men in the bank who were being held hostage begged them to not hurt them. Some of them needed a rough reminder to stay quiet.
"Come on guys, we gotta go." Lenny called to Bill and Arthur.
"Last one, kid." Arthur called back. Lenny anxiously looked out the window. Soon Arthur and Bill came out of the vault and signaled for them to leave. "You lot count to a hundred after we leave. Then you can get up." He threatened to the terrified customers who all nodded furiously. They left and walked briskly down the strip to their horses.
"Help! The bank's been robbed!" They heard from behind them. In an instant the streets flooded with Lawmen. The gang ran the rest of the way, quickly mounting their horses and whipping them into a strong run. Evelyn held tight to Arthur, her arms wrapped all the way around his abdomen as she kept her head down. A bullet whisked past her ear, making her hair flick wildly around her.
The gang exchanged gunshots with a few Lawmen that chased them into the hills. Up ahead a trains horn blared, and the gang pushed their horses as fast as they could go. Evelyn swore she could feel the heat from the trains engine as they just barely made it across the tracks. They all stopped to catch their breath, Karin laughing in relief. Evelyn shakily loosened her grip around Arthur.
"That was fun, boys!" Karin cheered. Bill and Lenny laughed with her.
"Sure was. We made out good, too." Bill agreed. Karin moved her horse to get into view of Evelyn.
"Sorry 'bout stealin' your husband, sweetheart." Karin joked. Evelyn laughed, still a bit shaken up. "You did great though, I mean it. We'll have to work together more often." Karin winked. Evelyns chest warmed as she smiled.
"I'd love too." She replied. Arthur laughed and shook his head.
"I can't believe you two." He said. "I didn't know you could act Mrs. Kings." Arthur commented, looking behind his shoulder at her.
Lenny agreed. "I almost got upset with you!" He joked. Everyone laughed.
"I didn't know either, if I'm being honest." Evelyn admitted sheepishly. Everyone chuckled, and nudged their horses to face back the way they came.
"You all go ahead, I got somethin' to attend to." Arthur said, passing out a divided portion of money. The three left to go back to camp.
"Where we going, Arthur?" She questioned. Arthur seemed to be a bit tense.
"Some loose ends I gotta finish up." He said simply as he kicked his mare into a canter.
Arthur felt dirty as he made his way back to where Evelyn sat atop his horse. He'd left them at the end of the path to the Downes' homestead, not wanting her to witness what he'd just done. He spit bitterly on the ground, cursing Strauss. He sighed and looked up. Evelyn sat gracefully in the saddle, her deep emerald green gown pooling around her ankles and swaying in the wind. She looked like she belonged in some rich persons party, though he supposed it made sense seein' as how she used to be in that circle. He reached her side and pet his horse's muzzle. In the sunset her coat glistened a shiny deep black-purple and her white muzzle contrasted brightly. He'd named her Midnight, since she was such a dark color and she had a crescent moon shaped white patch on her forehead.
"You okay, Arthur?" Evelyn asked softly. He didn't realize he'd gotten so lost in thought. He sighed deeply.
"Are any of us, Mrs. Kings?" He asked. He swung into the saddle and nudged Midnight forward, back to camp. He sighed, again. "I've done some bad things, Mrs. Kings." He admitted shamefully. "I didn't want to be Strauss' lackey. I didn't want to beat a sick man to near death and leave his family with nothin'."
Evelyn sucked in a breath sharply. She wrapped her arms around him. She'd never seen the strong man so upset before. It unnerved her. "We've all done bad things, Arthur." She said quietly. The Rythm of the horse beneath her lulled her. He rested a hand on hers. The ease in which her presence comforted him frightened him. He shook his head and chalked it up to stress from the past few weeks. He'd hardly had a chance to rest, from going to the saloon with Hosea, saving Trelawney, then robbing a stagecoach with Trelawny, and that shoot out him and Lenny had with some old delusional Lemoyne Raiders at Shady Belle, he felt like he'd been stretched thin and he hadn't even come close to finishing his long to-do list.
"I don't mean to bother you, Mrs. Kings. Just been a long few weeks is all." Arthur apologized. Evelyn shook her head, loosening her grips around his waist to rest her hands loosely on his back.
"It's no problem, Arthur. I noticed you've been awful busy since we last talked. If you ever want someone to come along with you I'd be more than happy to help." She assured him. Arthur hummed his thanks, and they rode the rest of the way to camp in peaceful silence. When they finally arrived back home most everyone was sound asleep, Dutch's old Gramophone playing a soft melody and Javier played along with his Banjo with his own lulling tune.
Arthur helped Evelyn off the horse and tipped his hat to her. "Thank you for your company, Miss." He said. Evelyn smiled and curtsied.
"The pleasure is mine, good sir." She teased. "If you find yourself with nothing to do tomorrow, I told Annabell I would take her to Rhodes to get her a gift and some lunch." She offered, not expecting the man to agree. She was pleasantly surprised when he smiled down at her and nodded.
"I'd like that, Mrs. Kings." Arthur said. She blushed and said a hurried goodbye, retreating to her tent and changing into her night gown before joining an already sleeping Annabell with a burning smile on her face.
Sadie who had been sitting at the fire unable to sleep smirked at Arthur, who just raised an eyebrow at her curiously and also retired to his bed.