The gang had now settled into a routine at Horseshoe Overlook. Arthur regularly rode out to hunt deer and other game for Pearson's stew, which was now tasting better once Miss Grimshaw had gotten her hands on some herbs to secretly throw in. The new woman, Sadie Adler, was still with them, still coming to terms with the sudden loss of her husband and home. Most of the others left her alone, apart from friendly greetings, but it was Abigail frequently consoled her. Apart from that, everyone else actually seemed happy. Hopeful. They just need to get back on track.
One morning found Arthur being approached by Herr Strauss.
"Herr Morgan, I have a job for you," the older Austrian man said, opening his ledger book.
"Let me guess, you been lending money to people who can't afford to pay it back."
"Those with the means do not require loans. And while they are happy to borrow money from me, they are more enthusiastic about paying it back to you."
Arthur sighed. "Alright, who are they?"
"Chick Matthews, farmhand at Guthrie Farm, Mr. Wróbel runs the operation at Painted Sky, badly I might add, and Miss Lilly Millett, a ranch maid at Emerald Ranch."
"And here was me believing Dutch's bluster about us helping folk," Arthur sighed as he took the list from Strauss.
"It is legal work, Mr. Morgan. Debtors belong in prison. We are doing them a favour."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll make sure they see it in them terms."
Arthur rode out first to Emerald Ranch, then to Guthrie Farm to convince Lilly Millett and Chick Matthews to repay their loans. Neither were particularly willing, but in the end some... creative convincing seemed to do the trick.
Painted Sky was located across the river from Horseshoe Overlook. It seemed a nice spot, Arthur thought as he rode up to the house. No one seemed to be around outside so he forced his way through the door.
"Knock, knock, Mr. Wróbel," he greeted the startled man who was now trying to wipe spilled soup off his front.
Mr. Wróbel spoke in something other than English, backing away from Arthur.
"Goddamn it. English? You speak English?" Arthur demanded.
"Me? Uh.. " he asked, confused.
"I'm here for money that you borrowed from a German man."
"Ah, German," Mr. Wróbel started speaking in a foreign language again.
"Look, I don't speak whatever the hell you're saying," Arthur approached him and spoke louder, "I'm here for money. MONEY. That you borrowed from Leopold Strauss."
"Ah, Leopold Strauss," Mr. Wróbel recognised the name.
"So where is it?"
"Well, no, have nothing," Mr. Wróbel said apologetically, "It's very bad winter."
"We've all had a bad winter pal, so where is it?" Arthur grabbed Mr. Wróbel and threw him to the ground.
"No, no, nie, nie," Mr. Wróbel pleaded as Arthur started beating him. He spoke in that language again.
"Nope, still don't understand ya," Arthur said as he punched him again. "Where is it? Gold, dollars, anything!"
"No, no, I have nothing, but I have this," Mr. Wróbel gestured to a cabinet in the corner, "It is.. valuable, yes? Warszawa."
"So I have your things? Anything in here, or out there?"
"Yes," Mr. Wróbel cried as Arthur let him go. He crawled away and leaned, exhausted against a small table near the back rooms as Arthur started looting the place.
Arthur was becoming more irritated as he found very little of any value. There were a few bits of jewelry, but not quite enough to cover the debt amount. Then he noticed how Mr. Wróbel was guarding the table. "What's that you're hiding there?"
Mr. Wróbel looked confused, spoke again in his language. Arthur shoved him out of the way.
"Move aside." He opened the drawer to see a small box. He opened it and found a gold wedding ring. Next to the ring box was a platinum pocket watch. Arthur put both in his satchel.
"No, no, no!" Mr. Wróbel tried desperately to take them back, but Arthur pushed him hard to the floor. He finished searching the rest of the house, satisfied that he had recovered enough to cover the debt.
Arthur exited the door to see Grace riding up on Tuula. The hell was she doing here? She dismounted and greeted Arthur with a smile.
"Hi, you know Mr. Wróbel too?"
"In a way, I suppose," he mounted his horse just as Mr. Wróbel stumbled out of the house.
"Panna Grace, Panna Grace!" he shouted.
"Oh my god, what happened?" she ran to him, taking in his bruised and bloody face.
"It was him!" he pointed at Arthur.
"What did you do?" Grace turned to Arthur angrily.
"He owed us a debt, I was merely getting what we were owed," said Arthur. He watched as Grace and Mr Wróbel spoke in that funny language. She glared at Arthur and walked over to him.
"Give me the wedding ring and the watch," she held out her hand.
"No, he owed us."
"Please, Arthur," she started to reach into her own satchel.
"I said no," he kicked his horse and galloped away.
"Arthur!" he heard her yell a moment later and turned to see she was now chasing after him. He kicked at his horse to go faster. They had just reached the river crossing when he was suddenly pulled backwards off his horse by a rope. He landed in the water and was pulled further back to the shore.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted as he felt the rope slacken. He removed the lasso around his arms and turned to Grace who had now dismounted.
"Give me the wedding ring and watch," she demanded, coiling up the rope.
"I said, no!"
"For god's sake, I'm going to pay you for them!" she reached into her satchel, took out a wad of bills, and held it out to him. From what he could see, it was a lot more than what the ring and watch were worth.
"Why?"
"Listen, I am more than capable with this lasso so you can either cooperate or get tied up again," she glared at him, holding up the rope. He glared back in an unsettling stand-down before grumbling in annoyance.
"Fine, FINE," he pulled out the ring and watch from his satchel and held it out to her.
"Thank you," she took them and gave him the money. A moment later she started giggling.
"What's so funny?" he frowned.
"You look ridiculous when you're angry and soaking wet," she laughed, "Anyway, sorry about that, but you didn't want to listen." She turned back to her horse.
"Why is it so important you help that Wróbel fella?"
"Because I, unlike you, like to actually help people," Grace mounted up and was about to head back to the Painted Sky ranch.
"Wait, how did you learn to rope like that?"
She turned back to him, looking amused. "I've had a lot of practice," she winked at him. "See you around."
Arthur watched her ride away, irritated and angry and intrigued. He whistled for his horse and returned to camp.
"What happened to you?" Karen asked when he rode in, still wet from the river.
"Uh, horse was startled by a snake," Arthur lied.
"Okay then," Karen smirked as if she didn't believe him.
He put all the money he had retrieved into the camp donation box, not bothering to keep any of it. The camp could use it more anyway. He was about to go change into dry clothes when Strauss called out to him.
"Herr Morgan!"
Arthur sighed, and turned to Herr Strauss approaching him. "More debtors?"
"Just one. Local farmer, preacher fellow, Thomas Downes."
"Oh, the opinionated do-gooder? I know the one," Arthur said, remembering the man asking for donations for the poor and stopping him from beating that man to death in Valentine.
"Good. He owes us a lot of money."
I went to call in a loan, some farmer, local do-gooder. He begged and coughed and sputtered and I beat him half to death. Such is life. Such is the world. His boy looked at me like I was the devil and perhaps for him I was. The whole thing confused me. Maybe that's wrong. The whole thing revolted me/my part. These sad, desperate bastards, their silly expectations of life and then tawdry reality. The unkindness of existence -
Arthur galloped out of the ranch and down to the river where he dismounted, crouched down and washed his face.
"Was that really necessary?"
He jumped, startling a flock of ducks nearby. Grace was standing near his horse, a fishing rod over her shoulder and a basket in her other hand.
"Was what necessary?" he asked, pretending to now know what she was talking about.
"Beating a sick man for money."
"He owes us."
"But beating him half to death?"
"Bah," Arthur waved her off and turned away.
"You also beat poor Mr. Wróbel, who, by the way, has a broken nose and a couple of missing teeth because of you. How many other people have you beaten?"
"That's just how it works. They borrow money, they need to pay it back. Don't matter about anything else."
"How much is the debt? I'll pay it if it keeps people from getting beaten to shit by you."
"We don't need your money."
"No, you don't need money unless you steal it or beat it out of people."
Arthur stayed silent.
"Your way of life is going to catch up to you," she said as she walked away. "Despite everything, you're a good man, Arthur Morgan, you just need to realise it."
"Well that's where you're wrong!" he called out after her. He stood where he was for a few moments then mounted his horse and caught up to Grace.
"Do you need a ride somewhere?" he asked her.
"If you're not a good man, why are you asking me if I need a ride?" she smiled, but didn't look at him.
"Are you going far?"
"No idea," she shrugged.
"How do you not know where you're going?" he asked, confused.
"I know exactly where I'm going."
"But you just said you didn't know how far you're going."
"I don't. But I'll know where I need to go when I get there."
"You could run into anything or anyone out here," he said, "Could be dangerous."
"Could be."
"You ain't worried?"
"Nope."
"Where's your horse?"
"She's around."
"Not worried about her?"
"Nope."
"Do you worry about anything?"
"I worry about you."
"Me? Why the hell would you worry about me?"
Grace stopped and looked at him. "Because I do. It's a dangerous life you lead."
"But why me?"
"Why not you?"
"You don't know me," he said.
"I know you enough." She continued walking down the road. Arthur urged his horse forward to follow.
"You shouldn't worry about me," he said.
"Why not?"
"I ain't worth worrying about."
"I think you are." She turned to the river. "Ah, this will do." She put down her basket and turned to Arthur. "You should probably head back. They're probably wondering how you got on with retrieving the debt."
Arthur then realised they had stopped a little ways past camp, near Limpany. He watched her bait the hook and cast out, but he didn't move.
"So, why was it so important that you got that ring and watch back for that Wróbel?" he asked.
"He was married. Came over some time ago with his wife, but she died while pregnant," she said sadly.
"Oh."
"Yeah, but you couldn't have known that," Grace flicked her rod, "Maybe you should consider it next time you rob someone or beat them half to death for a debt repayment."
Arthur didn't say anything for a moment. "So how do you know him?"
"Mr. Wróbel? I met him in town. I've been teaching him English."
"Don't know why you bother."
"I figure it was easier than trying to teach you Polish for when you come knocking again," she smirked at him, "Anyway, don't let me keep you."
He could hear her humming as he turned his horse to head up to camp.
After he talked to Strauss that he was unable to secure the repayment from Mr. Downes, he wandered over to the edge of the cliff. He could just see Grace through the trees, fishing. He took out his journal and sketched a small portrait of her. When he finished, he looked down and saw that she had gone.
He didn't get her. How on earth could she call him a 'good man' just after pointing out that he beats up people for debt repayments? She was pretty young, maybe about the same age as Mary-Beth or Tilly, and seemed fairly naive. After all, she's been following a killer like him for some reason. Was it all just an act to get close and turn them all in? Even though she already said she would've done it already if that was her goal. But maybe that was part of her plan.
"Hi Arthur," Abigail joined him, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, why?"
"Would you do something with Jack? He seems kinda down."
"Why, because I'm your preferred nursemaid?" Arthur shook his head in annoyance.
"Well, because he likes you and you know his father's useless."
"Where is John anyway?"
"I don't know, out scouting a lead or something," she said. "So, will you?"
"Fine."
Took young Jack fishing as a favor to Abigail. As we fished, a couple of Pinkerton agents appeared - Milton was one of them. I forget the other fella's name, they knew all about me. That's a new turn of events. Apparently there's five thousand on my head alone. After Blackwater, or maybe before, it seems we may be in real trouble. I just don't know.
Dutch don't seem too worried but I am beginning to have some doubts to this wisdom in his indifference.
"I'm going to ride into town, see if there are any more Pinkertons about," Arthur informed Dutch.
"Keep your nose clean, we don't want any following you," Dutch said as he sat back down to read his book.
Arthur borrowed one of the wagon horses so his own wouldn't be recognised. As he rode into Valentine, he spotted Grace's horse, Tuula, grazing outside the train station. He hitched his horse near the appaloosa and headed into the station.
He had barely opened the door when he quickly backed out. Milton and the other one, Ross, he thought, was already speaking to her. He leaned close to the window to listen.
"So you're saying, Miss-?"
"Bellerose."
"Miss Bellerose. You're saying you know where they're located?"
"Oh yes."
"Excellent, now if you could tell us... Ross, write this down."
Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing. She had betrayed them. She had betrayed him. He was just starting to think that maybe she was actually decent. Goddamn it, how could he have been so stupid? But now he was going to have to take care of the situation. Of her. He felt his heart sink, knowing what he would need to do.
"Sure, but you better hurry," Grace was saying, "They never stay in one place for too long."
"We know. The location, please."
"Cotorra Springs, in the East Grizzlies."
Arthur perked up. So she wasn't talking about them after all.
"Are you sure it's them?"
"Mr. Milton, I do believe I can recognize Dutch van der Linde and his gang when I see them, what with all of their wanted posters all over the place."
"We had word they were in this area."
"Obviously erroneous information."
"We saw one of his best known associates, Arthur Morgan, by the river down the way."
"Good fishing spots on that river. Worth the trip."
"Even with a young boy?"
"When better to start teaching the young how to fish?"
"Hmm."
"Sir, how can we trust her?"
"You don't have to trust me, but I suppose if you're not all that bothered on capturing Mr. van der Linde..."
"We'll look into it. Thank you, Miss."
"Any time."
Arthur stood to the side of the door, his head down, as Milton and Ross left the station.
"Are we really going up there to search?" Ross asked.
"We have no other leads."
"We should've followed Arthur Morgan and that kid back to his camp."
"Yes, but now we have someone who's been spotted conversing with Mr. Morgan and isn't a part of the gang. There seems to be no doubt he's taken her into his confidence."
They walked away further into town, presumably to ask for more leads. Arthur slipped into the train station and saw Grace sitting on a bench, reading a book.
"Ratting us out?" he asked quietly, sitting next to her.
"Yep. Told them you're up at Cotorra Springs." she said without looking up from her book. "You know how much I'd get if they catch all of you? Wanna split it?"
"Very funny," he said. "Never had you as the lying type."
"I lie when I need to."
"How many times have you lied to me?"
"Exactly zero." She closed her book and looked over at him. "I never need to lie to you, Mr. Morgan. If I were you, I'd spend a few days out of town. Not sure how long those fellas will be here. Might want to tell the others not to come into town too."
"Heh, I'll see what I can do."
Arthur spent the next few days in camp, feeling a bit more restful and relieved that Grace had misled the Pinkertons. But he couldn't understand why she would do such a thing. Surely she'd want to take advantage of the bounty money, it must be an absolute fortune for all of them.
He left camp a few days later to replenish the meat supply for Pearson's stews. He stalked a large buck and was just about to shoot it when he noticed a horse and wagon stopped just beyond. The buck bounded away and Arthur went to investigate the wagon. Nearby was an older woman, brushing dirt off what looked like the bones of a giant.
Met a lady scientist, Deborah something or other. Seemed to be more mad than sane, but I don't have much frame of reference for scientists. Wanted me to see if I could help her find dinosaur bones and send her the details. Maybe.
He sketched a picture of the bone he helped load into the wagon. When he was just about finished, he heard hoof beats approach from behind.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Morgan."
"You still following me?" he looked up at Grace on her horse.
"Nah, I was just passing by and saw you up here," she smiled at him. "Digging for buried treasure?" she looked over at the large hole.
"Nah, some woman is looking for dinosaur bones."
"Fascinating!" Grace dismounted and walked over to the hole. "Find any?"
"Yeah, this one," he showed her his sketch. "It was huge."
"Wow," she said, impressed, "You're quite good. Wonder what kind of dinosaur this is from."
"Said it could walk, fly, and swim," Arthur closed his journal and put it back in his satchel.
"Huh, hard to tell from just those bones."
"Wants me to send her locations of any others if I find any."
"I'll keep an eye out too," she said, "that is, when I'm not busy following you." She winked at him and mounted up again. "I'm no stranger to digging up old bones."
"What, you go grave robbing in your spare time?" Arthur joked as he mounted his horse.
"Nah, but I helped with an expedition up in Canada some years back and we found some dinosaur bones. Loads of them. They thought they might be a new species."
"'Some years back'? You must've been a child," Arthur frowned.
"Eh, I'm older than you think," she replied.
"How old are you?"
"Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age?"
"Didn't know you were a lady," Arthur joked.
"I know, it's debatable sometimes, isn't it?" she laughed. "I should write Mr. Tyrell and see if they've found anything else. It really was a most interesting time."
They rode together along the road in silence. Arthur kept looking over at her, wondering about her actual age. She looked fairly young, but perhaps she was older than she looked.
"You trying to work out how old I am?" Grace smirked.
"No, just... you're a very curious woman."
"Indeed I am, and you are a very strange man."
"Well, I guess you ain't wrong there." They rode a bit longer before he spoke again. "So, where do you find these dinosaur bones anyway?"
"I'd check dried up river beds and river banks, or anywhere with visible bedrock. But really, they could be anywhere."
"Huh. How do you know they're dinosaurs and not just other animals?"
"You ever seen an animal that could have a pelvis the size of the one you drew?"
"Good point."
"Besides, they'll look a lot older. If the bones were, say, those of a bear or a deer, they'll probably look cleaner, I suppose. They wouldn't have been buried in the ground for millions of years."
"Millions of years? Jesus."
"Mmhm," she halted Tuula, "Well, I have things to do so I'll leave you here."
"What sort of things?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," she smiled at him, "Oh! Did you find whatever that map was leading to?"
"Yeah, but there was another map."
"Oh, where does that one lead?"
Arthur stopped his horse and dug into his satchel for the second map. He handed it to Grace and her face fell slightly when she looked at it.
"Oh. Well, that's going to be a tough one right now," she said, "This is at Cotorra Springs, where I just sent the Pinkertons."
"Damn."
"But I could go get it for you, if you want," she said, still looking down at the map.
"What if the Pinkertons are up there?"
"I'll tell them you moved somewhere else. Maybe out west into the desert," she grinned, "That should frustrate them since they have roadblocks all over the place out in the plains."
"That's where we was supposed to go after Blackwater," Arthur sighed as she handed the map back to him, "So, you really going to go get this?"
"I mean, you could do it yourself, but you risk running into Pinkertons up there," she said apologetically, "If I had known, I'd have sent them elsewhere. But I'll head up as soon as I can and bring back what I find."
"How do I know you ain't gonna keep it all?"
"Well, you don't, but I'll give you everything I find. I promise. See you around, Mr. Morgan." She smiled at him then rode off.
Arthur watched until she disappeared in the distance. He didn't even know if he trusted her or not. It could still be an elaborate ploy to lead the Pinkertons to them all, but if it were, why wouldn't she tell them where to find the gang in the first place? Unless she was waiting for the bounty to increase on their heads. He hoped there wasn't much to find at the Cotorra Springs map location since he might not ever get it.
He tried to put it all out of his mind as he returned to hunting for deer. He had a difficult time concentrating as he kept thinking whether he should be concerned about Grace's intentions.
