"So much for us being a goddamned family."

Arthur stood stock still, not believing his eyes as he watched Micah take lead of the others—even Dutch for chrissakes—away from Moonstone. Dutch didn't seem to care anymore that he was being separated from men he'd once trusted with his life.

Arthur's mind was in a jumble. He'd felt guilt after Dutch accused him of pulling the family apart. But once Dutch turned his back, all Arthur felt was relief. He and Dutch ain't been on the same page for months and now that it'd come to a head, he was seeing clear enough to know what was right.

Now Dutch didn't care if he orphaned his friend's child so long as he got rich? Leaving Abigail to the Pinkertons? All his goddamn talk, all them years. Seemed like all he'd said was always lies. Or he went crazy. It was a mess and through it all, Arthur missed Hosea's wisdom the most.

"That coulda gone a lot better," Lenny commented, breaking the tense silence between them who was left.

"I'd say," Sadie agreed with a snort, "But it coulda gone a lot worse."

Arthur couldn't agree more. There'd been a dangerous moment where he'd feared for all of them, where he believed Micah would try to kill them all. Arthur was standing beside Charlotte, holding onto her still after Micah had flung her to the ground.

Charlotte sniffled and he looked down at her. He inspected her face. Red marks had started to appear where that bastard had grabbed her.

"You alright?" he asked of Charlotte.

"Yes," she answered, but with a wobble in her voice. Her hand trembled as she swept back a strand of her hair that had loosened. She was attempting to put on a brave face, but he could see straight through the act.

She should have never been put in the middle of this shit. I'm sorry, he wanted to say, but the apology caught in his throat. Even if he could get it out, he knew how she'd respond, 'cause she'd made it clear to him before. She'd made her choice and for some reason she'd decided to throw in with his lot.

Arthur had been a fool in all of this. He should've been more callous about leaving Charlotte in Saint Denis so she could make her own way again. Instead, he'd allowed her to burrow her way under his guard. He'd gotten too comfortable with her presence. The truth was, he liked having someone normal around, someone who ain't seen the worst of him. Her being here, it helped hold himself to a higher standard.

Before he could try to sweep away any of Charlotte's remaining fear, John said loudly, "Now what the hell we supposed to do?"

"What do you mean?" Sadie glanced up from loading her rifle and scowled at him. "Thought the reason we sided with you fools is because we were going after Abigail."

"Well, sure. But if she's still in Van Horn, it ain't gonna be easy, and Dutch took all the men, ammo and guns we need with him."

Sadie finished loading her rifle and cocked it. She said fiercely, "Not all of it, John Marston."

"We're gonna need more than that to jump into a fight with the Pinkertons," Lenny pointed out.

"I disagree," Sadie said hotly. "We kicked their asses before and it only took three of us to finish off the O'Driscolls, didn't it?"

Lenny argued, "But they weren't expecting us. It seems more likely than not, we're walking into a trap."

They all looked to him expectantly and Karen was the one to say aloud what they all wanted to ask. "What do you think, Arthur?"

Somehow, he'd just been promoted to their leader without even asking for it. He cleared his throat, trying to come up with something that weren't half-cocked and fully stupid. "I reckon...me, John, Lenny and Sadie head to Van Horn. Karen, you stay here with Charlotte and Jack—"

"That's horseshit, Arthur!" Karen burst out. "I'm just as good a shot as the others. Why am I getting left behind?"

Arthur grimaced and couldn't rightly answer her because he didn't know how. He'd just started delegating without taking into consideration much else except who he thought would better suit the job. But now he did consider her. Karen weren't wrong. She was a good shot, even better these days since she'd sobered up. Was he being unfair?

Before Arthur could work out how to resolve their first conflict, Lenny said, "Karen, you need to rest. I saw you struggling out at Hanging Dog Ranch against the O'Driscolls. Your arm's still hurting from the fire at Charlotte's house, ain't it?"

Charlotte's brow furrowed with concern. "Is that true?"

An angry flush crept up Karen's cheeks and she pressed her lips together. She said stubbornly, "Maybe, but I can handle myself fine anyway."

"I need able-bodied folk for this mission. I can't have you going down there already at a disadvantage," Arthur told her firmly. "Besides, we need someone to stay here for Charlotte and Jack either way. Can you do that?"

Karen looked like she wanted to fight him over it, but she was wise to her own injury. She grumbled out, "Sure."

Karen didn't seem too satisfied over his decision, but she moved to John, holding out a hand for Jack. "Come on, Jackie. Let's find something fun for us to do around here."

While John, Sadie and Lenny readied the horses, Arthur remained next to Charlotte, wanting to have a conversation, but unsure of how to start it. The last time they'd spoken privately was their disagreement over what he'd do next. Her persistence to help had been well-meaning, but it'd also been a weight on his mind last night.

"That's my business," he'd snarled at her.

"I've made it mine," she'd stated defiantly back at him.

He hadn't known how to respond to her boldness. Uncle in his ear straight after hadn't helped things either, with all his talk of Amazon beauties and comments of Charlotte's hopeful intentions.

Charlotte was the first to break the silence between them. "Will it be difficult for you to find Miss Roberts?"

He noticed she'd waited until Jack was out of earshot to ask. He answered honestly, "I don't know. More concerned about how we're gettin' her out than anything. I reckon Milton ain't gonna make it easy."

"No." She shuddered and hugged herself. "He's proven himself quite the cold-hearted monster when it comes to preserving human life."

Arthur knew some of the atrocities she'd been witnessing since joining up. Unfortunately, there were so many, he didn't know which particular one was disturbing her to think back on. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. Into...us."

Her head lifted and she watched him. "I'm sure I've expressed it before, but I have no regrets in meeting you, Arthur. If you hadn't shown up at my house that rainy afternoon, I'm certain I'd be dead by now."

Arthur would deny it if he ain't seen the truth in it firsthand. But did him teaching her some survival skills make up for all the danger she'd been swept up in after? He wasn't sure.

Arthur told her, "Karen will keep you two stay safe, much as she's makin' a fuss over it right now."

Charlotte nodded. "I trust Miss Jones."

He hesitated, remembering what Charles had suggested to him before they'd parted ways. "Just in case..."

He lifted the flap of his satchel and withdrew a small revolver. It was the one he'd confiscated from Algernon after the man had been in despair over some woman. It was a neat and decorative weapon, silver with a golden bird etched behind the barrel. The grip was light-colored with its own intricate design and embedded with Tahitian pearls, if Algernon had been speaking true.

It was a snappy little revolver Arthur had used a few times, but he preferred a longer barrel to this one. Not to mention, it caught the eye too easily when it hung in his holster, and he liked it better when his adversaries didn't take notice of when he intended to draw on them.

He held it out to her and she took it. He advised, "I don't got time to give you a real lesson like with the rifle."

Despite this claim, Arthur couldn't help but show her briefly how to load the barrel, how to hold it, and where the sights were. He did want her to have some protection, but he hoped she didn't need to use it.

He finished explaining, "Just go easy on the trigger. This one won't have the blowback of the rifle, but there's still a little kick in the wrist if you ain't used to it."

She'd listened to it all without interruption. "I'll bear it in mind."

"Karen can show you more while we're gone."

"Do you think you'll be gone long?"

He sighed. "Much as I think Dutch's trip to Blackwater is dangerous, I ain't expecting Van Horn to be any easier a task."

Arthur didn't know what else to say to her, and she didn't seem to have nothing neither, but he felt like something more should be said. The others were jumping on their horses and rushing to get out of here. He understood their haste, he did. But he took Charlotte's hand anyway, wanting to tell her things was gonna be fine, that they were almost done. Then she lifted her gaze and the words were lost.

He ain't never done anything with colors when it came to his drawings, but sudden inspiration struck him. Charlotte's eyes met his, as green and lovely as the flower fields in Big Valley, as open and wondrous as a rare blooming queen's orchid. She woke his muse something fierce.

"Be careful," she said in a near whisper, as if she hadn't quite found her voice neither.

He swallowed hard and nodded. Then he squeezed her fingers and turned around to leave, before he said something foolish in front of her.

As he passed Karen, he said, "We ain't back in 24 hours, you know what to do."

She replied in earnest, "You got it, Arthur."

Arthur knelt down in front of Jack and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. Maybe John had already given his reassurances, but he didn't want the boy to have any doubt. "Be brave, son. We're gonna bring back your momma."

"Okay, Uncle Arthur." The boy managed a solemn nod. He was much too serious for his age, but hopefully this would be the last time he'd have to worry over things a boy shouldn't think about at all.

Arthur mounted Buck and joined Lenny, Sadie, and John, who were more than raring to go at this point.

"Alright, boys," Sadie called out with a whoop. "let's go get our girl!"

XXXXXXXXX

As they reached the outskirts south of Van Horn, they left their horses outside of town and made for the lighthouse. It would be just far and high enough to give them a vantage point to survey the town.

Sadie and Lenny climbed ahead while John helped Arthur with securing the horses. Since Arthur ain't ever known John to volunteer with any work, as soon as the other two were in the lighthouse, he asked, "Alright, what's on your mind?"

John glanced at him a moment and finished tying off the last horse's ropes to a tree. "I guess, I'm still in shock. I can't believe Dutch would turn his back on us like that. Thought the way things went down in Blackwater, he'd never wanna go back."

"I can't believe it neither."

John shook his head. "Blackwater was bad, Arthur. I seen a side of Dutch I didn't know he had. He killed an innocent girl, a hostage."

Arthur recalled Gloria, the guide who had helped them find a path to Javier in Guarma. Although the woman was trying to get more money out of them, Dutch had strangled her without attempting to negotiate. It'd shocked him to see his mentor killing folk in cold blood.

Arthur started up the path to the lighthouse and John followed. "Once upon a time, I would have doubted it possible too, but I've seen him do things he always taught us not to do."

"I know he's changed," John said, "But his decision at Moonstone, that was something else. He didn't even give Abigail a second thought. Like his mind was made up."

Arthur understood where John was coming from. Dutch was a man who raised the both of them. For a long time, they'd both been loyal. Too loyal maybe, until John had gotten wise to Dutch's ways first. Arthur hadn't liked some of the decisions Dutch had made recently, but he'd been in denial.

Going back for the Blackwater money? It was crazy. It was not how things was done. They hadn't chosen money over Sean, when he'd been picked up by bounty hunters. They hadn't interrogated Catherine Braithwaite over money instead of information for Jack. What had changed since then?

Maybe Arthur had been questioning some of his morals the whole time, or maybe he hadn't been questioning them enough. Maybe, he just went along with everything because it was easier than facing the truth.

But this time he knew without a doubt the right thing to do. Leaving that boy without a mother was plain wrong in every sense.

Arthur said, "Thought Dutch still had a heart, but maybe we never really knew him more than we thought we did."

"I guess so."

They reached the ladder that led up to the base of the lighthouse. Before they went up and rejoined Sadie and Lenny, Arthur paused. He pointed at John so he understood how serious he was as he said, "When this is done, take your woman and your son and get lost."

"How? We ain't even got ten dollars between the two of us. Maybe it's enough to get out of here, but then what?"

Arthur sighed. "I don't know."

"You were trying to tell me run a long time ago. I shoulda listened."

"Don't beat yourself up about it now. We all thought there would be more time."

Arthur had thought he'd have more time to convince Dutch of something better. And now, they were here, the family split up, and half of them greedy enough to pursue money over one of their own.

"I thought I could help get you three out of this mess in time, to give you a life. Seems I left it too late."

"Seems we both did," John said.

They had nothing more to express, but regrets for things they hadn't accomplished so the two of them climbed the ladder and walked up the stairs of the lighthouse. They reached the top without anymore discussion.

Arthur opened the door to the outside balcony to find Sadie and Lenny pointing and talking about the number of agents in town. Arthur came up next to Lenny, rested his hands on the railing and asked. "What we got?"

John moved to the other side of Sadie. "Can you see where they're keeping her?"

"We got a clue for it." Lenny handed off a pair of binoculars to Arthur. "Look at their positions."

Arthur took the binoculars and spent a few seconds observing the town. Pinkertons were lined up and down the street, failing at being discreet while hiding at the corner of buildings. He noted the positions and lowered the binoculars.

"They got their backs to the dock," he said aloud.

Arthur hadn't spotted Abigail, but there was no doubt in his mind Lenny was right. Ain't no reason to have that many men stationed around at the end of the dock like that.

Lenny nodded. "I ain't much of a gambler, but my money's on that trading post."

"Well, Milton's ain't made it a secret where they have her."Arthur hated to acknowledge it, but Micah was right. No doubt about it, Milton was using Abigail as bait. He shook off that bastard's voice in his mind and started a plan. "We gotta get down there."

John asked, "What are you thinking?"

Arthur rubbed his chin, concentrating a moment before he decided. The others waited for him to think it through, even John who usually didn't have the patience for such a thing. "John, I want you and Lenny to take the horses and get them hitched on the north side of town. Take the trail just above the town so you ain't spotted. Then, you two can come in from the road, laying it on them agents."

"Sadie, you snipe from up here. I'll go down and shoot us a path through town. From there, we'll all head for the shop until at least one of us makes it." He warned John and Lenny, "Don't no one go in without someone covering his back."

"Sounds like a plan," Lenny said and he and John wasted no time in leaving the lighthouse straightaway. After they were gone, Arthur took a moment to check the guns he'd kept on his person. He coughed, wheezing some before he cleared his throat.

"How're you feeling?" Sadie asked.

"I'm okay," he answered, loading his volcanic pistol. He only used it when he intended to do some damage and Arthur was ready to make sure Milton got what he deserved.

"I think you should cover me and I'll go through town and get to Abigail," Sadie implored, unstrapping her rifle and holding it out.

He sent her a sour look and didn't take it. "Why?"

She lifted a shoulder as if it wasn't important. "'Cause you're the better shot, I mean."

Arthur glared at her fully, seeing right through what she was trying to pull. "That ain't what you mean. I can still fight."

She didn't lower the rifle, and her gaze didn't waver. "Do it my way, honey. It's for the best."

He didn't meet her eye. He knew exactly what this was about. She thought him too weak. She either determined from his cough or his cryptic words back at camp that he wasn't doing well.

"Cover me. Please."

Arthur must really look like complete shit if he got Sadie begging. He let his temper simmer down a moment and tried to take her suggestion under consideration with reason. His cough was unpleasantly coarse today and he hadn't eaten anything, which was almost as bad as a meal curdling in his stomach. Wouldn't do Abigail no good if he collapsed halfway in town. Hell, Sadie was right.

He caved. "Okay."

While Arthur waited in the lighthouse, idle while the others got into position, he wondered where they went from here. He was physically exhausted, tired of fighting, and heart-broken at how everything had turned out. Was there any point he could have fixed it before it had all gone wrong? Anything he'd missed?

He wasn't present for the Blackwater fiasco so Jenny, Mac and Davey would still be gone. He could have pushed for everyone to listen to Hosea about not robbing Cornwall's train, but that didn't mean Dutch would have listened. Micah was already in his ear and always seemed to be encouraging the most asinine ideas. Arthur just never knew enough at the right time, and he'd been stubbornly loyal to Dutch's orders until the full scale of the TB hit him.

Although his diagnosis was a daily rumination, Charlotte flitted through his thoughts too, and how much he'd been leaning on her since he'd dropped her in the middle of the Van der Linde gang.

Charlotte had been strong-willed from the moment she'd met the others. Hell, she'd been strong-willed since the moment he'd met her.

At first, Arthur had thought her deserving of only his pity, after he'd listened to her mourn her husband and tearfully speak of her lack of ability to live off the land. But even at her weakest, she'd proved she had some mettle. When he offered to help her, she'd agreed, but had raised her chin and told him in no uncertain terms, "You better not try any funny business."

It'd been his first hint at the strength she exuded and the longer he spent time with her, the more she proved her capability to adapt.

The moment Charlotte was on her feet again, she was offering Miss Grimshaw and Mr. Pearson a hand. She'd won over Hosea and befriended the other women. Much as he knew Charlotte hadn't belonged, he had liked seeing her around camp, fitting in with the others and taking his lawless life in stride.

Because, Charlotte truly cared for the others, nearly as much as him. She'd offered her own money so they wouldn't risk their lives in a bank robbery. She'd offered her land to hide them from the Pinkertons. And when all was lost to her, she'd chosen to stay on and picked up where the camp needed her.

Most of all, she'd been there when he'd received the news of his TB and she hadn't turned away or froze up or abandoned him. She'd held his hand tightly and asked the doctor questions he ain't had the know-how to do in the moment.

Charlotte had a different kind of strength, where kindness and thoughtfulness conquered the selfishness around her and changed it for the better. She was a lantern bright and steady in the dead of night. She was the comforting appearance of the sun after a tumultuous thunderstorm...

Arthur shook his head in disbelief at his foolishness. Jesus. He was waxing poetic like the worst of them now. He'd claimed to Dutch that he hadn't anything to lose. With how much he seemed hung up on Charlotte, he was starting to believe that hadn't been the truth.

The gunfighting below started while he was wool-gathering. He lifted the sniper rifle and quickly got the Pinkertons and his friends in his sights. John and Lenny were coming in on the road north like he'd told them. Sadie had started on the edge of town just below him and was working her way in. So far, so good. If all went smoothly, they'd get to Abigail in no time.

For the next several minutes, Arthur didn't have time for any more thinking as his concentration had to be on the ground below. He started by first targeting Pinkertons in Sadie's path and then shifted between her and to where John and Lenny were fighting them.

Eventually though, he had to switch his focus to keep only on Sadie. She was moving up too fast, gaining her ground quicker than the other two.

"Damn it, Sadie," he muttered to himself. "Slow down."

She didn't hear him, not that she'd listen even if she had. She was on her own personal mission to get Abigail back. With his help, she had the clearest route to the end of the dock and was the first to make it to the trading post

Arthur followed her movements with the scope, watching as she kicked in the door. He thought he saw Abigail in a chair as the door swung open and he nearly relaxed at the sight.

As soon as Sadie stepped in, an agent hit her over the head and pulled her further inside. Another agent slammed the door shut before Arthur had a chance to shoot. He lost sight of both of the women in only a few seconds.

Goddamnit. Arthur moved his sights to John and Lenny, hoping they'd drawn closer without his assistance. Neither one of them had been able to gain much ground and the Pinkertons remaining had focused all their shooting in their direction. Too many buildings obstructed Arthur's view so they'd be on their own. John and Lenny were doing fine, but neither one knew the danger Sadie was in.

The good news was that the path Sadie had taken was still clear. Arthur could either stay in his position and wait for John and Lenny to move up and hope it didn't take long for either of them. Or, Arthur could go down there himself, push up, and reach the trading post first. He lowered the rifle, rocked back on his heels and only took a moment to decide on what to do.

Arthur set down the rifle and took out his pistols. "Okay, Mr. Milton."

With John and Lenny distracting the others, Arthur had a clear path cut from the lighthouse to the docks. He loped through the town, darting behind buildings, barrels and abandoned wagons so he wasn't noticed. He remained unchallenged except for two agents who emerged from around the corner near the trading post.

Once they were taken care of, Arthur wasted no time. He kicked down the shop's much the same way Sadie had. First, he spotted Abigail in the center of the room, her eyes widening at his appearance, a gag in her mouth muffling her speech. Sadie was on the floor, already trussed up and struggling with her ropes.

On each side of the room were two agents. Arthur lifted his pistols, shot one agent, and then the other without hesitation or mercy. Before they'd completely collapsed to the ground, he was putting away his gun and drawing out his knife.

He approached Abigail and started sawing at the rope. "Okay, ladies, let's get out of here."

Arthur got through one of the ropes encompassing her wrist when there was a distinct click at the back of his head.

"End of the line, Mr. Morgan."

Shit. Milton.

Arthur slowly slid the knife's hilt into Abigail's partially freed hand before he raised his hands and turned around to face the bastard who had caused so much strife for him and the others. He coughed, exaggerating it a little to keep Milton's focus on him instead of Abigail. Maybe one of them could make it out of this alive still.

"That's quite the cough," Milton commented with complete derision.

"Sure," Arthur answered. "Tuberculosis. I'll be dead soon, and you with me, Mr. Milton."

"You'll be dead, but I'm gonna be just fine." Milton kept his gun steady on Arthur. "We offered you a deal, Mr. Morgan. You should have taken it."

Since that was never gonna happen even after he and Dutch stopped seeing eye to eye, Arthur shrugged without care. "I'm a fool, Mr. Milton."

"Not all you boys have quite so many scruples."

"You mean Micah?"

Milton eyebrows rose with surprise and Arthur was satisfied to know one thing ahead of him.

"Yeah," Arthur said. "We've had our eyes on that bastard for awhile. What makes you think you've taken him to heel?"

Milton lifted a shoulder, nonchalant. "He'll serve his purpose, and after he does, we'll take him down too."

"Going back to Blackwater his idea then?"

Interest lit up his beady eyes. "So Dutch does intend to return to Blackwater?"

Arthur froze, realizing his slip-up. Maybe that particular far-fetched idea had been all Dutch's after all. Not that it mattered, as Milton seemed to predict all their moves of late anyway.

"Not to worry, Mr. Morgan. They won't get far," Milton confirmed. "My associate, Mr. Ross, is waiting for them. Perhaps by tomorrow morning I'll have the entire Van der Linde gang locked up once and for all."

Just like Arthur had thought, Blackwater was nothing more than a trap and Dutch was walking straight into it. 'Course, it wasn't like Arthur hadn't just done the same. Difference was, Arthur only had to wait Milton out, until John and Lenny fought their way here. They could arrive any minute. In the meantime, he needed to do his damnedest to keep these women alive longer.

He acted like Milton's information had shocked him. "Okay...okay."

Arthur coughed, loud and gasping, dropping to one knee and lowering his head. He wiped his mouth, for once feigning a heavier struggle to breathe than he usually felt.

Milton took a step forward and Arthur watched under the brim of his hat closely for his shiny leather shoes. One more step...

Arthur leapt from his kneel, going for Milton's gun. He got a hold of it, but Milton wasn't releasing his grip anytime soon. They wrestled for it until Arthur felt himself weakening, but this time no play-acting was involved. Milton was overpowering him in earnest.

Arthur gritted his teeth and fought back. Any time now, Marston.

Milton chuckled. "You're losing your strength, Mr. Morgan."

"And you're still a yapping dog, Mr. Milton," Arthur grunted, suddenly failing to keep the gun from being aimed in his direction as Milton pushed forward.

Arthur was looking down the barrel now, Milton's triumphant grin wider than the cocked hammer. This was about to be the last thing he ever saw.

The gun discharged and Arthur flinched, stumbling from Milton. Yet, it wasn't him that had been hit. Blood had splattered across Milton's cheek, a new hole now occupying the space above his ear and the wall behind him. Milton dropped to the ground, his sadistic sneer wiped away, his eyes now blank and lifeless.

Arthur gasped for air, fatigued at the struggle and shocked at the outcome. He looked to Milton's killer.

Abigail stood there, now free from her bonds and gag, and holding his volcanic pistol. "Horrible man."

Arthur stared at his gun in her hand, confused. How the hell had she gotten it?

Abigail caught his eye and quirked a smile at his confusion. Then, it clicked for him.

Somehow, she'd managed to saw her hands free and pick-pocket him while he'd been chatting with Milton. He shook his head, wholly impressed. "Abigail Roberts..."

"I always was a good thief," she said, handing back his gun.

He grinned. "That you was."

John suddenly burst through the door, two revolvers in hand, whipping them around frantically. He demanded, "Where is she?"

"Get those goddamn things out of my face, Marston," Arthur snapped. "You're too late."

John went pale a moment before Arthur realized how what he'd said sounded like. Luckily, in the next moment Abigail moved around Arthur and threw herself at John and the two shared a desperate kiss.

"A little help here, Arthur?" Sadie demanded with irritation, as she was still tied up on the floor. Arthur moved across the room, picking up his knife on the way.

Abigail pulled back from John and asked fearfully, "What happened to Jack? Where is he?"

"He's fine," John assured. "Pearson made it back with him."

"Thank God," Abigail said and collapsed into John's arms again.

"I reckon we better get the hell out of here," Arthur said, taking Sadie's hand and hauling her to her feet.

John looked to him. "What happened to clearing us a path?"

Arthur saw Sadie stiffen in the corner of his eye and said shortly, "Change of plans."

"Folks," Lenny appeared in the doorway. "It's time to move."

John said, "Thought I'd lost you for a minute, Miss Roberts."

"You ain't gonna get rid of me that easy, John Marston, much as you want it."

"I don't want it, I promise you. I came all this way to get you, didn't I?"

"You did," Abigail admitted, yet added, "but what took you so long?"

"There was a...disagreement at camp."

Hearing his hesitation, Abigail snapped,"What kind of disagreement?"

John and Abigail walked behind Lenny and ahead of him and Sadie, launching into their own disagreement.

Arthur shook his head. "And there they go, right back at it."

Sadie snorted. "Please. Like you ain't wishing you had the same."

"Of that?" Arthur swept a hand ahead of them as John and Abigail's typical bickering grew louder. "No."

"It ain't the fighting, it's the people." Her voice softened just a little. "They got each other."

Arthur watched John and Abigail go at it. It weren't what he'd want for himself, but the sentiment was right. Him and John had been through just about as much, yet he'd come out ahead somehow.

Sadie said, "Seems to me, you weren't expecting to pull through at the end of this."

"Yeah..."

"Well..." She stared at him like she expected him to understand. "Arthur, we got Abigail now. Ain't this the end of it?"

"There's still Blackwater."

"What you mean?"

"I reckon, if they ain't escaped themselves, Dutch, Javier and Bill are gonna need help breaking out."

Sadie shook her head, eyes full of disbelief. "You ain't serious. You'd save their asses after the shit they pulled?"

"We's still family, Sadie."

"No, Arthur," Sadie argued. She pointed ahead at John and Abigail. "That's a family. People who got each other's back."

He looked away. That's exactly what he'd thought he'd had all these years, but Dutch had gone and proved him wrong.

Sadie let out a breath. "Maybe it's time for us to start over, Arthur."

"Maybe," he replied, unconvinced. "But start over as what?"

"I don't know. Go legitimate in some way. I bet you got it in you." She added with some mischief, "And if not, I'd bet Mrs. Balfour's got some ideas for you."

He glanced at her swiftly. "What the hell you talking about?"

"Oh, please. Everyone saw you making doe eyes at Charlotte before we left Moonstone."

"I wasn't—"

"She was giving 'em right back at you."

A sliver of hope took root in his chest, a feeling he ain't sought out for awhile now. Was there something there between him and Charlotte? Enough to start something new?

Even if there was, the existence of his TB ruined it all. He pushed the rising good feelings down. "I've got too much baggage. And my future ain't nothing no one wants even if I cut loose now."

Sure, he'd made it out of this mess this time around more whole than he'd expected. But for how long? He had a bounty on his head from numerous states. He could run, but the law was bound to come looking, and with this illness, next time he wouldn't be so lucky in his escape.

They reached the horses as John was helping Abigail onto Old Boy. Lenny handed Arthur the reins to Buck before he got on Maggie. Sadie hopped onto Bob while the others took off.

Sadie held back and said quietly to him, "If I can start looking forward again, Arthur, ain't no reason you can't."

Arthur stayed behind a moment after Sadie left. He fed Buck a sugar cube and patted him. Then, he jumped in his saddle and caught up with the others. As he followed them back to Moonstone, he let what Sadie said tumble around in his head.