"Three more mouths to feed Hosea. Arthur— she was a whore then and she's a, well I don't know what."

"You watch your damned tongue Dutch. Arthur's sacrificed a lot for us. It's his child, he has every right to take them in."

"I-she watched her husband get murdered by the O'Driscolls. She was raped by them-the girl I don't know. Baby boy was that man's son they killed him." Arthur said, sitting in the main cabin.

"That girl is a spitting image of you."

"Micah terrified her and when she ran to my leg I knew. Micah raped Sadie, with her baby boy in the bed. You can't let that stand Dutch."

"Arthur, Sadie can stay in here with you for the time being and the girl. Dutch, I ain't having it."

"I don't like it. You don't need them—

"You let Abigail and Jack stay. If this an issue of me leaving or loyalty, just say it."

"It's not that-

"If you don't kick Micah out, then I'll leave. I know what he's capable of and I'm protecting my lot."

"They ain't got nowhere else or anyone else." Arthur said, softly striking the table, "I'll be damned if I let her go again."

"Son, Micah is a valuable member of this gang. His beahvior—I am sorry, he'll be confined to quarters for the time being. He'll handle the horses only. Happy?"

"Extremely."


Sadie sat stone faced as Tilly treated her cuts. Abigail had fixed a poultice for her to help the more sensitive areas.

She shivered as she rocked her baby boy back to sleep. He'd been crying ever since The O'Driscoll's had found them. She ran her finger across his forehead, and he cooed.

Bea was over playing with Jack and Sadie was barely keeping it together.

Arthur walked in and placed his hat on the table. He sat down next to Sadie, and she instantly pulled over to him. A hug of desperation.

"I thought you was dead. Killed in a fight in Rathskeller Fork." She whispered, gripping tight to his winter coat.

"I know. Is she?"

"Yes, she is yours. A month after, found out I was pregnant, Jake did good with her. This is Hosea, he was born three months ago. We can stay?"

"Yeah, you can stay. I'm not gonna ask if you're okay but would you and Bea want to stay with me?" He asked, him feeling her lean into her shoulder.

"I'd like to but after what they did to me-Arthur-I hurt so much. I-They never touched her, I took it all."

Arthur shuddered and hugged her. What else had they done?

"How old is she?"

"Eleven. Those bastards tried to grab her, but I didn't give them a fucking chance." Sadie said gripping him tightly.

"Mama have you seen my storybook? The Otis Miller one with Black Belle." Jack asked as he walked over to Abigail, "I want to read it with Bea."

"I-not now Jack. We need to get you to bed. I'm sure y'all can read tomorrow once we settle in." Abigail said, guiding the boy to his bedroll.

Bea walked over to her momma and sat in between her and Arthur.

"Okay-okay, we're in the main cabin. I'll take the floor and y'all can have the bed. I can add some bedrolls to my list."

"Is he my Papa, Mama? I miss Papa. Where are we going?"

"We are going to my room sweetheart. I can carry you if you'd like?" Arthur asked as the girl walked to him.

"Okay."

Sadie took a breath and watched as the two held each other. She held her son tight as she followed behind Arthur.

He helped settle them in and let the ladies take the bed. Arthur held little Hosea and helped him sleep.


She lay under the blankets and held Hosea to her breast. Beatrice lay in a bedroll by her feet and she slowly sat up in the bed. The events of last night had to have been some horrible dream and Arthur was dead at Rathskeller Fork.

They had talked some last night but had not made any solid plans.

He promised her he'd raise Jake's son like his own and she had to sob softly.

Abigail had given her some blankets after settling in. Arthur being Arthur was nowhere to be seen but he had left a note.

Sadie,

Gone hunting and won't be back till noon. Hosea (my friend) knows where.

Arthur

He woke earlier than most and headed to the older paint he had saved from the O'Driscolls. His sleep had been fitful.

They needed food and with his Krag and an extra saddle bag he headed out. He went out past Spider Gorge and towards the Heartlands before veering off the path.

Hunting.

It had always cleared his mind but not after last night.

Two elk down and enough meat for half the pot. Mac Callander had often told of buffalo in the hills of Amabarino.

Beatrice Adler.

Beatrice.

Only two women knew that name and one was long gone, dead and buried. One loved hummingbird sage, that sweet fragrant smell as it burned through the night.

She used to make it when he was little and it reminded him of home, back in Eugene.

"Arthur, you left without saying. Dutch sent me to find you. See you back." Charles said, mounted on Taima.

"Needed to get out for a minute. Sadie, I-I offered without thinking. Without even thinking Charles, she knows what I am and yet, she stayed last night."

"She's worried sick about you. Didn't leave the cabin, her daughter was begging her to get out that room." Charles said, lifting the last of the carcasses on top the paint, "it took Mary-Beth and Abigail to get her out. Just for some food the girl had."

"Watcha you callin this old paint?"

"Colter, after this place. He's snowy with some black patches." Arthur said pointing to the muzzle and crest, "got a scar there on the poll."

Arthur stayed silent on the ride back. Charles watched him carefully and saw how he stuck close to the horses. That was until Micah started something.

"Look at the widowed whore—

"I'll kill you. I should have— I will you fucking piece of shit." She screamed as Abigail held her back.

"You go ahead and try; I'll make that bitch and bastard a real orphan."

"Micah, you should stop." Abigail said, helping Sadie away from him.

Micah slapped her and it went dead silent across camp. Arthur stopped feeding Colter and went for his pistol, firing a shot straight by Micah's leg.

"What the hell Arthur? The bitch will only slow you down. Same with that whore." Micah said, grumbling as he gripped his leg.

Arthur walked slowly and deliberately.

"Don't you dare talk like that to her. I'll bury you with Davy. Sadie, let's get in." Arthur said, holstering the pistol and grabbing her by the shoulder.

"Oh that so Morgan? She was really fine last night.

Abigail pulled her pistol and shot around him, three times.

"I'll find a goddamn reason if you don't stay away from her."