When the snow finally thawed, the gang left the melting tundra. Now that it was habitable, the law and their enemies would be searching for them again. There was no time to waste, they had to leave. Dutch had his eyes on a little town south of the mountains. It was still far enough away from civilization, but close enough that they could try their luck again. Ethan was skeptical and so was Arthur, but they had to have a little faith or else their efforts would be in vain. Plus, they had enough money now to pay off the cheaper bounties, this way they'd be able to show their faces in town.
Ethan drove the wagon, as Miss Grimshaw sat beside him. Mary-Beth, Karen and Tilly sat in the back. He was following behind two other covered wagons, with another following behind them. The one in front housed John, Abigail and Jack.
Arthur and Dutch were on horseback, leading the wagon train to their new home. Every once in a while, he fell back to check on the others. Ethan was more anxious now than when they were on the run. He guessed the unknown was frightening to him.
"Hey...take it easy." Karen griped.
"Sorry," Ethan tossed over his shoulder. "The road won't cooperate."
Miss Grimshaw scoffed. "These roads ain't meant for society people...just us degenerates."
"Well it's nice they left something for us."
"There's nothing left for us free folk."
Miss Grimshaw was right. Everywhere he turned, people were looking at them funny, shunning them from their stores. It wasn't like they wanted to be a part of society anyway, they preferred their way of life. Granted, Ethan could go a day without running or worrying, but it all came with the territory.
He sometimes liked to imagine what would happen if he was an upstanding citizen? He would probably work in a factory, live in a room above the saloon. Find himself a nice, sweet woman, get married and have a family. He still wanted all that, but didn't think he'd ever be an upstanding citizen.
After spending his entire life outside of the law, trying to fit inside sounded awful and downright boring. Plus, with his name and face plastered everywhere, he didn't think it was a good idea. He would be putting a lot of innocent people at risk, and he couldn't do that to them.
He still remembered the day they met Mary-Beth. It was probably a year or two ago now and it took him back to a time when the gang wasn't running and they were actually on friendly terms with the O'Driscoll's.
1897
Ethan and Javier leaned against the bar, on their third shot of whiskey. It probably wasn't a good idea, but they'd been working all week and needed to unwind. Actually, they'd been planning for another heist and scouting out the planned location. It was work for them.
"Colm said he had some locations for Dutch...wonder where this time?"
Javier heaved a sigh. "I'm tired of looking, amigo."
"My Pa said something about a ferry? Apparently Dutch has his eyes on it."
"Dutch has his eyes on a lot of things."
"And none of those things are Annabelle."
Javier snorted.
Ethan smirked.
Suddenly, Ethan felt someone behind him, fingers digging into his pants pocket. He spun around and the someone he felt was a very beautiful brunette. She stood with a gasp, seemingly frozen to the spot, then in a flash she was gone. Ethan tore off after her, Javier following close behind.
"Hey! Hey wait up!"
She ignored his shouts and ran through the narrow hall, where she took a sharp right out the back door. Ethan and Javier were right on her tail, but when they exited, she was nowhere in sight.
"Where'd she go?"
"Let's split up."
Ethan went behind the saloon, as Javier went around the front. She couldn't have gotten far, but then again, a common street beggar knew every hiding place there was, even if it wasn't a typical hiding place.
As he rounded the out house, he heard the rattle of some trash bins. His head jerked to the side of the Saloon, near the back door. He couldn't see anything, but he knew someone or something was behind them. He rushed over, hoping to get there before who or whatever it was, decided to run off again. And just as he suspected, as soon as he neared, the pickpocket from inside the Saloon, stood up and started running again.
He caught her by the wrist and yanked her back, she screamed and raised her hand. He grabbed her other wrist mid-air, pinning her against the wall.
"Stop!" He panted.
"You stop! I ain't doing nothing to you!"
"You tried to take my money!"
"What else am I supposed to do?"
He guffawed. "How about work?"
"I am!" She spat. "...I am. But it ain't enough for a room and food and I'm tired of having to choose what I want more!"
A wave of sympathy washed over him. He remembered being in the same situation - they all were at one point and stealing always provided when they couldn't. There was many a time when rich folks paid for a room and a nice hot meal they had no idea about.
"If I let go of you, you ain't gonna run right?" He panted.
"Why should I stay?"
"Promise me you won't run?"
She huffed. "Fine."
He let go of her arms, but stood in her way so she couldn't take off. She rubbed over her wrists, looking very much annoyed. Ethan almost laughed - if she was annoyed, she had no clue how annoyed he was.
"Now, why'd you try to steal from me?"
"I told you why! I ain't getting paid enough to survive. I'm sorry but I ain't ready to die just yet."
Ethan nodded. "Would you believe me if I said I understood?"
She scoffed. "Not many people do. They just see a Saloon gal and figure I either sell my body or I steal. I just steal."
"I reckon that's not as bad as the other."
"What would you know about stealing?"
He laughed. "Trust me, I know a lot."
She glanced up, her blue eyes catching the sun, though her gaze was more judgmental than curious or kind.
"You some sort of outlaw?"
"Why would I tell you that?"
"You said you know a lot about stealing, what else can you be?"
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Promise not to tell anyone?"
She grinned. "What's it like?"
"What's what like?"
"Being an outlaw!?"
"Shhh!" He scolded. "Don't say that out loud."
She leaned in. "Are you wanted or something?"
"Not me. But several people I know are."
"You got any room for a lady?"
"You?"
"No Catherine Braithwaite," She rolled her eyes. "Of course me."
He blushed. "I uh, I don't see why not. But I don't even know your name."
"Mary-Beth Gaskill."
"Ethan Morgan-Gillis. Though most folk just call me Ethan Morgan."
Javier rounded the corner from the front of the Saloon and slowed once he saw the two. Ethan looked up and Mary-Beth looked over her shoulder.
"This is Javier. Javier, this is Mary-Beth Gaskill."
She nodded. "Pleasure to meet you."
Javier smirked. "Somebody should teach you how to pickpocket, cause you ain't too good amiga."
"What's that mean?"
Ethan chuckled. "Means friend."
"Oh...well yeah, I just started about a week ago. I told you, I can't afford room and food. Sometimes you have to do things you don't wanna do."
Ethan turned to Javier. "You think the others back at camp'll mind another head?"
He shrugged. "I'm sure Grimshaw and Abigail won't mind it. Pearson might."
"Pearson is a miserable fuck anyway."
"Wait - is this Grimshaw a woman too?"
"Who, Miss Grimshaw? Yeah, she's a woman alright."
"I'll come with you then. I just have to grab my things - won't be a minute!"
She ran up the stairs to the second floor, leaving both Ethan and Javier flabbergasted. First she was trying to steal from him and now she was coming home with him.
"Never a dull moment, huh?"
Ethan snorted. "Yeah that's for sure."
The gang finally reached the bottom of the mountain, after a minor mishap. The wagon wheel broke and they had to stop and change it. Up on the ridge they saw some Indians watching them and they thought there might be trouble, but they just watched, probably glad to see them leave. The air temperature rose dramatically as they came down from the mountain. It was at least a twenty degree increase, which felt tropical to the frozen outlaws.
The town of Valentine was a muddy mess, but some place they could call home for a while. The girls grew excited knowing there was a mercantile, with food and clothes and whatever else their heart desired. There was a saloon, hotel, gunsmith, blacksmith, bank and a church. It was as close to civilization they wanted to be.
"Can we go into town?" Karen asked.
"Not yet, we have to find a spot to settle down first. Dutch and Pa probably won't allow any of us to go anywhere for a while."
She huffed. "Fine. I'll just wait impatiently then."
"Oh hush now, good things come to those who wait."
"Yeah but better things come to those who go out and get it." Karen retorted.
"Keep it down back there, ladies!" Miss Grimshaw scolded.
Ethan grinned as he gently pulled on the reins.
"Hey, remember how we's met?" Karen asked, propping her arms up on the wagon seat.
"How can I not remember?"
Miss Grimshaw shook her head. "I'd like not to remember that."
Karen rolled her eyes. "You weren't even there."
"Hey, at least you didn't rob me."
"Hey!" Mary-Beth chirped.
He shot a grin over his shoulder. She blushed and went back to her journal.
"Well that wasn't very nice of you." Karen quipped.
"Oh hush you."
1895
Ethan counted to three and both Arthur and Hosea took their shots of whiskey. Arthur made a crude noise in the back of his throat - Hosea hissed. Ethan took his shot of whiskey and coughed at the bitter taste. Now he understood why Arthur and Hosea made such noises.
"No more." Arthur warned.
Ethan huffed. "That's fine."
"You fellas need anything else?" The barmaid questioned.
"Another round for us, sarsaparilla for him."
Ethan rolled his eyes.
The blonde barmaid smirked. "He your son?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Just a hunch," She began wiping down the bar. "You like gunslingers or something?"
"Business men."
She nodded knowingly. "I ran with a few of them before - didn't get far. Wound up here tending bar, keeping fools from fightin' and drinkin' too much. I reckon you can say I'm livin' the dream."
Arthur smirked as he downed another shot. He slammed the glass down with a hiss. Hosea did the same.
"Easy there. Break them glasses, you be fixin' to clean it up yourselves."
"You got spunk." Hosea pointed out.
"Sure do honey."
"You lookin' to leave?" Arthur asked.
She scoffed. "I'm always lookin' for a way out. Why, you got one?"
He nodded. "Sure do - come with us. We got a big camp. It ain't nothin' of luxury, but you won't have to deal with this shit no more."
Ethan held up his mug of sarsaparilla. "There's plenty of ladies, so you won't feel uncomfortable."
She raised a brow. "They like me or like them high society broads?"
"Nah they're like you. They wouldn't be with us if they were high society."
"How many you got in your camp?"
"Ten or eleven. Not many."
"For not many that seems like an awful lot. How is it you all get along?"
Hosea cleared his throat. "We all sleep in tents or the wagons."
"Sounds...nice."
"It's nicer than it sounds," Ethan added. "You don't have to answer to nobody, except Miss Grimshaw. But she's usually harmless."
"You lookin' for an extra body?"
"Always." Arthur lifted his shot glass.
"I'll go grab my things. Be right back."
"Uh, what's your name?" Hosea asked.
"Karen Jones."
As they neared Valentine, Ethan grew nervous like folks could see right through him. And maybe they could; civilization was changing daily. Seems like they could never keep up. Arthur fell back from the front of the pack, after having decided he was fit to ride Bleu again. He trotted alongside the wagon, no longer donning his blue woolen coat.
"Won't be much longer now - me and Charles are gonna go scout out a spot to camp. You all go hang in town for a while and try not to get in any trouble. I mean it."
Ethan smirked. "What kind of trouble do you speak of?"
"Don't mouth off. You ain't too old to put over my knee."
"You've never actually done that, ya know? Just threatened it a whole buncha times."
"Well did it work?"
"When I was younger, yeah."
Arthur shook his head. "You're catching on, kid."
Ethan smirked. "Go on, old man. We're fine back here."
"I ain't old." He grumbled.
"I ain't a kid."
Tilly popped her head up in between him and Miss Grimshaw. "You and your Pa have such a strange relationship."
"Yeah we do, but it works for us. Why change?"
"Well...I like it actually. It's refreshing."
"I'm glad you think so. He sometimes gets on my last nerve-"
Tilly smacked his arm. "Don't you go talking about your Pa like that."
Ethan raised a brow. "Well...sorry."
"Did I hear him say we're going to town?"
"Yes Miss Jones. Now shut up!" Miss Grimshaw barked.
1896
Ethan sat outside the mercantile, smoking a freshly rolled cigarette, waiting for Arthur and Hosea to get back from scoping out the bank. That was their next target and hopefully a prosperous one. Arthur sent him to the mercantile, because too many men outside the bank may cause unwanted attention. And also, it was a good vantage point. He saw everything from this spot.
"Psst. hey!"
He turned his head and saw a young black girl poking her head around the corner. She looked as if she was hiding from someone.
"Uh, hi. Are you okay?"
"No I'm not. Listen, I'm in a jam. I need your help."
He turned to her. "Help with what?"
"I need a place to hide out for a few days. You got a house or a hotel room? I won't take up too much space."
"I don't have a house or a hotel room. I have a camp though. I guess you can come back with me, we got a lot of people living with us - women and a baby now."
She nodded as she glanced behind her. "Yeah, yeah, that's fine. Just please help me."
"Okay, alright. I'll take you to the wagon. We don't have a cover, so you'll have to lay low."
"That's fine. I'm desperate!"
Ethan stood and quickly ushered the girl across the street to their wagon, which was located in front of the livery. She climbed in the back and slid underneath the tarp that was used to cover the wagon.
"My Pa and uncle are coming. They're good people."
She nodded.
"Just uh...don't cover your face too much, you won't be able to breathe under there."
As Arthur and Hosea came back to the wagon, immersed in conversation they almost didn't notice Ethan standing there. It wasn't until they approached that they finally noticed him.
"Thought I said we'd come and get you?"
"Yeah well...plans kinda changed. Come here." He waved them both over.
Both Arthur and Hosea rounded the wagon - Ethan lifted the tarp, exposing the young girl underneath.
"Uh, who is this?" Hosea questioned.
"My name is Tilly."
"She's running from somebody and needs a place to stay."
Arthur tossed his cigarette to the ground. "Christ...we have too many mouths to feed as it is-"
"I won't be with you long. I just need to cover my tracks," She huffed." Look, I don't like begging. But I am. So please?"
Arthur looked to Ethan, then to Hosea, who stood a head taller than them both. The older man smiled and shrugged his shoulders, seemingly giving the ok.
"Alright, fine. But no more."
Ethan smiled and turned to the girl. "What's Tilly short for anyway?"
"Matilda. But don't you dare call me that." She warned.
He held up his hands. "I won't...I won't."
"Good." She pulled the tarp back over her head.
Ethan climbed in the back of the wagon beside the new girl, just as it lurched forward.
Arthur and Charles went out to find a spot for the gang to camp, while the rest of the gang stopped in town to do some shopping - if they were going to camp for a while, they would need some things. After a quick trip to Valentine, they were all escorted to their newfound camp. It was still too close to town, but deep within the thick of the woods. Horseshoe Overlook it was called. The ridge overlooked a rushing stream, mountains off in the distance, a meadow filled with beautiful purple and blue flowers. They knew it wasn't permanent, but for a time, at least they would have some peace.
As everyone unpacked the wagons and began to set up, Ethan reached into his brown leather bag and beneath an extra pair of pants was the gold necklace he swiped from the train. Instead of selling it, he decided there was a better use for it.
"Hey."
He smiled. "Hey. You writing?"
Mary-Beth sighed. "I was trying. But...I dunno, I can't come up with anything. Isn't that terrible? I got all this inspiration and not one thing to write."
"Sometimes it happens. Give yourself a break."
"Maybe I should," She closed her journal. "What're you up to?"
He sat down beside her on some potato sacks behind the wagon. He reached into his pocket and cupped the gold necklace. She watched him intently.
"What are you doing?"
He held out the gold necklace with a small heart charm. She gasped and reached for it, inspecting the heart charm and the small ruby inside.
"That's beautiful."
"It is."
Her blue eyes twinkled. "Well who's it for?"
"You." He blushed.
"Me?" She breathed. "...but why?"
He shrugged. "Cause it's pretty and every girl deserves somethin' pretty."
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. It's nothing, just something I found."
"Well the fact you thought of me when you saw it, means a lot to me."
As if he couldn't blush any more, he found his face burning hot and about to break. He ducked, hoping the dying daylight would hide his embarrassment.
"Well I oughta start helping before Miss Grimshaw finds me."
"Yeah...might be safer that way."
She turned, smiling. "I really do love my necklace, Ethan."
He glanced up and gave a nod. "Good, I'm glad that you do."
As Mary-Beth walked away to find some work, he fished a freshly rolled cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lit it with a match.